Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Tuesday, March 14, 2023
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Life’s tough, and Jesus knows that just as well as anyone. He experienced every hardship, temptation, and pain that’s common to mankind, all while holding back His power to stop it. He knows how hard it can be to endure, and He has promised that those who hold strong will be rewarded. The temptation to sin will push you and pull you every moment you’re awake, and the world will always try to stomp on what you believe. It didn’t like Christ, and it won’t like you… but like Christ, if you follow the will of God and endure until the end, unceasing joy awaits.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Monday, March 13, 2023
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

One minute doesn’t seem like a long time, until you’re enduring something strenuous or boring. A minute of sleep goes by a lot faster than a minute of running! But running is exactly the metaphor that Paul used to describe how we as believers should live our lives. God put you here for a reason; He wants to use your life to accomplish amazing things, but for that to happen, you need to be willing to run the race. To put aside sin, flee from temptations, and pursue whatever it is that the Lord has given you to pursue.

Friday, March 10, 2023

Friday, March 10, 2023
Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Part of faithfulness as a Fruit of the Spirit is sticking to what’s right and true. Throughout your life, the enemy will try to bend you and break you. You’ll be tempted to chase sinful things, and to doubt the goodness and sovereignty of God. But having faith doesn’t mean you never have temptations or doubts; faithfulness is being able to face the devil’s lies and stand your ground. Faithful is the person whose heart is for the Lord, who mediates on His goodness day and night. Build your character upon the rock that is Jesus, and He will keep you strong.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Thursday, March 9, 2023
John 14:23
Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’

Whoever accepts Christ has invited God into their lives, not just as a spectator, but as a Father. But even so, He is often only as relevant in your life as you allow Him to be. If you shut the door on your Father, He doesn’t stop being there, nor does He stop being God, but it does limit your ability to see Him. Part of being faithful is keeping Him at the center of your life and trusting Him with everything. The Lord isn’t a backseat driver: He wants to take the wheel. But more than that, He wants you to have faith enough in your Father to get out of the driver’s seat and let Him be the God of your life.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Wednesday, March 8, 2023
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

God’s faithfulness is not dependent on your faithfulness. He will remain faithful to you even when you run from Him, and that is one of the beautiful things about Christ’s love. Even when you were a sinner, Christ died for you, and He will continue to pursue you even when you do not want to be pursued. No matter how far you run from Him, He never stops pursing you, and no matter how many times you spit in His face with sin, He is always ready to forgive. Be a faithful servant of God, and He will be a faithful Father to you; but know that no matter how badly you mess up, He will always be waiting for you to jump back in His arms.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Tuesday, March 7, 2023
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

As long as you’re in your physical body, you’re away from your spiritual Father. That’s where faith comes in. We need to believe in God even though we can’t see Him, and trust in His perfect character even when things get bad. Believe that Jesus was the Son of God, even though you didn’t see Him feed the five thousand. Put your faith in His sacrifice on the cross, though you haven’t felt the holes in His hands. Jesus told His disciples that they were fortunate to have seen Him with their own eyes, but blessed are those who haven’t seen, and yet still believe. That’s what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.