READ: PSALM 25:3; ROMANS 8:31-39; HEBREWS 10:19-23 Have you ever followed a celebrity who ended up in trouble? It can make us feel embarrassed that we were ever supporters of this person as their wrongdoings are exposed. We may regret ever spending time following them. It can be so disappointing. People disappoint us in other ways, too. Maybe you’ve looked up to a parent or other adult in your life, and then they left. Maybe you spent so much time trying to impress them, trying to win their love, but they simply left without a glance back. But even when people let us down, we have this hope: following God is not like following a person. When we know Jesus Christ, He stays a part of our lives. We can read His Word, we can pray to Him, we can gather with His people, and we can grow in our relationship with Him each day. We don’t have to be afraid that He will abandon us or turn out to be untrustworthy—His love never fails (Psalm 13:5). Out of love, Jesus died and rose again because God wants to be with us so badly. And one day, He will return to dwell with us forever in renewed creation. In the meantime, He is always with us, and He never leaves us. Nothing can ever come between us and God. Our relationship with Him is unlike any other. Throughout our lives, people will disappoint us. They will let us down and hurt us, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally. But God never forsakes us, and He never changes. God doesn’t mess up or get in trouble. He is always good, always kind, and always the same. “No one who hopes in…[God] will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3). • Emily Acker • Can you think of a time you felt disappointed by someone you looked up to, such as a parent, teacher, pastor, or celebrity? We all sin, and we’re all broken, so it’s not surprising that the people we look up to will fall short. Jesus is with us in these times of disappointment, weeping with us and inviting us to rely on His faithfulness, grace, and mercy. • While we may feel disappointed with God sometimes, He will never fail to keep His promises. He’ll never leave us, no matter what. How could this bring us comfort when we feel abandoned? • Community is a good thing. God designed it! He wants us to listen to wise people who love Him, so don’t be afraid to draw near to others and learn from them. Yet, our ultimate hope is found in Jesus and no one else. Who has helped and encouraged you in your walk with Jesus? Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 (NIV) 

READ: PSALMS 90:1-4; 136:1; 2 PETER 3:8-9 We humans were made to be curious creatures. God made us to learn and to always be full of questions about Him and the world He made. One deep question we very quickly reach is: “Who or what made God? If every effect has a cause, what caused God to exist?” The answer is, nobody made God; nothing caused God to exist. He didn’t come from anywhere—He just always was. Our minds are finite and limited, and there are some things we can’t fully understand as humans. It’s hard to wrap our minds around the fact that God is eternal, which means having no beginning and no end. God always existed and always will exist. Perhaps the closest image we have is a circle. Where does it begin or end? Technically, nowhere. And that’s kind of like God. He is the Eternal One. He never had a beginning, and He has no ending. We think of our lives in minutes and days and weeks and years, but with God, it isn’t like that. Second Peter 3:8 says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” And because God has no beginning and no end, His love is like that too. We see God’s never-ending, unconditional love on display when Jesus, God the Son, willingly became human and died on the cross for us. But the Eternal One couldn’t be held by death. After three days in a tomb, Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death once and for all so that we could live with Him—forever. No matter what, His love for us will never end. • A. W. Smith • God’s eternal nature is a mystery to our brains. What are some other mysteries about God that you wonder about? Who are trusted people in your life you could talk with about these wonderful mysteries? • How can God’s eternal, unchanging, unconditional love for us give us comfort in tough times? Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2 (NIV) 

READ: GENESIS 1 Lord, how I long to turn your creation into art. How I long to paint the light, Where there once was dark How I long to sing of the waters, Where there once was nothing   How I long to write of the flowers, Where once no land was found How I long to sketch the stars, Where once the sky was empty   How I long to play a melody the birds would sing, Where the fish will splash along How I long to photograph the animals, Where once nothing trotted   How I long to act as the people before me, Where once no people were alive How I long to be an artist, Where you were the original Artist   Lord, how I long to turn your creation into art. • Kimberly Brokish • What is your favorite art form? Painting, singing, writing, drawing, sculpting, playing an instrument, photography, theater, etc.? God created everything out of nothing—and He specifically made humans in His image. He invites us to use whatever talents, abilities, and resources He has given us to create things that are beautiful, thought-provoking, or useful out of what He has already made. And, if we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps guide our creative process. How might God be inviting you to use your creativity today? In the beginning God created… Genesis 1:1a (CSB) 

READ: MALACHI 3:6; HEBREWS 13:1-8; JAMES 1:17 We live in a world where things are constantly changing. Music, friendships, clothing styles, circumstances—they all change. Some changes are good; some are not so good. But even in the midst of all this change, we can rest knowing that Jesus will always stay the same. He will always love us and always keep His promises. And once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can be sure that He will never leave us and that we’ll live with Him forever. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” And Romans 8:35-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from His love. In fact, part of God’s greatness is that He’s always the same. He’s the one unchanging factor in an ever-changing world. So, no matter what changes we face in our lives, we can rely on Jesus. He is who He says He is, and He keeps all His promises. Jesus went to the cross, giving up His very life for us, and rose from the grave to beat sin and death. And He will return one day and make all things new—free from sin and death forever. In the meantime, God is working all things together “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This hope we have is real and unchanging: we belong to Jesus, and no matter what kinds of changes we experience in this broken world, we can know that His love never changes. • A. W. Smith • What kinds of changes are going on in your life right now? What about the world in general? How do you feel about these changes? Consider taking some time to talk with Jesus about these changes and how you feel about them. • Why is it important to remember that Jesus is unchanging? How could this truth help us rest in His love, and better love our neighbors? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 145:1-3; ACTS 16:22-25; ROMANS 12:10-18 When you think about snow days, what comes to mind? Maybe sleeping in, then going sledding in all that fresh snow, then drinking hot chocolate to warm up? Snow days can bring unexpected fun and rest, but they can also bring disappointment sometimes. Have your plans ever been derailed by a snow day? While it’s fun to get the day off from school, snow days also mean you probably don’t get to see your friends or do other things you may have been looking forward to because all that snow can make traveling questionable or even impossible. Throughout our lives, we’ll have many days when things don’t go like we expect. But Jesus wants to walk with us through all these disappointments, and He gives us unexpected gifts along the way. No matter what happens, we have an opportunity to rest in Jesus and enjoy being in relationship with Him—every day of our lives. Each day is a gift from Jesus, and He wants to help us rejoice in the days He gives us. We can use them to bask in His love for us, and to show that love to others—whether it’s a school day or not, whether it’s a sunny day or a snow day. We can find something to enjoy every day, even when things don’t go according to plan. So, how can you be attentive to God’s presence on this day He has given you? What unexpected gifts could He be setting in front of you? May today be a day where you find joy and hope in God’s abiding presence and His unchanging love. • A. W. Smith • What things have not gone according to plan today? Consider using the space below to talk to God about your feelings about what’s happened. • What are you thankful for today? Where have you seen glimpses of Jesus’s presence and love? • How would you like to use the remainder of your day? • On days when the disappointments just keep piling up, it can be helpful to remember that Jesus knows firsthand what it’s like to experience the pains of human life, and He longs to comfort us in all our troubles and give us hope. His love for us holds steady even on the hardest days, and He is always worthy of our praise. (Romans 5:5; 8:38-39; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Hebrews 4:14-16) This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (CSB) 

READ: JOHN 10:11-18, 27-30; GALATIANS 1:1-4; 1 PETER 3:13-18 I’ve heard many an argument about who raised Jesus from the dead. The truth of the matter is that God raised Him from the dead. Something important to know about God is that He is one God, and He is also three persons—that’s why we sometimes refer to God as the Trinity (from the Latin word for triple or three at a time). Scripture tells us that all three persons of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit—raised Jesus from the dead! In Galatians 1:1, Paul says that “God the Father...raised him [Jesus] from the dead.” In John 10:18, Jesus, who is God the Son, takes responsibility for raising Himself from the dead when He declares, “No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.” And in 1 Peter 3:18, Peter writes that Jesus was made alive by the Holy Spirit: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work in perfect unity with each other. That’s why Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own” (John 5:30). He totally relied on His Father in what to say and how to say it (John 12:49-50), and also in what to do. On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He said, “So that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me” (John 14:31). In the same passage, Jesus shows the triune God working together in unity when He promises the Spirit: “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26). And remember that Jesus only said what God the Father told Him to say. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God. They all love us deeply, and they all work together in our lives, for they work together in perfect harmony. • Sharon Morris • As humans, we can’t totally wrap our minds around who God is, and that’s okay! He invites us to learn about Him, enjoy relationship with Him (which He made possible through Jesus’s death and resurrection), and continue to ask questions and wrestle with Him throughout our lives. Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to as you ponder the wonderful mysteries of God? If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (CSB) 

READ: ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12; ROMANS 12:15; HEBREWS 10:23-25 When my closest cousin, Jeanna, was barely a young woman, she lost her fight with cancer. I mourned her death with daily tears longer than I expected to. Then I learned of a way to honor Jeanna and others who were battling a cancer diagnosis. I signed up for a walk-a-thon to raise funds for cancer research. Most people taking part in this event had joined teams—from churches, families, or workplaces—and they took turns walking laps along the designated path. I had no team, though. I never thought of asking anybody to share in this effort with me. I just knew I wanted to recognize Jeanna’s life and find an outlet for my grief. Doing this alone did not deter me. But as the walk-a-thon wore on, I traveled lap after lap on my own. I had nobody to cheer for me or hand me water. I had no team member sharing in the goal of walking in memory of Jeanna, and I had nobody to relieve me when I needed to rest. By the end, I felt weary in more ways than one. That night at the cancer fundraiser, having the support of others with the same purpose would have made such a difference for me. God knows we need each other. He created us for a relationship with Him and for relationships with others. When we trust in Jesus—His work on the cross and His resurrection—we begin a relationship with God. He never intended for us to journey through life alone; He is present with us, and He also gives us each other. He calls us to encourage and seek fellowship with other Christians as we experience all the joys and sorrows of life. And as we grow in loving Christ, we not only learn to build each other up. We also grow to understand how we need support and strength from other Christians, too. • Allison Wilson Lee • Have you experienced a loss recently? Jesus has so much compassion on you and grieves your hurts alongside you. Who are trusted Christians in your life you could share your grief with, too? • One way God is present with us is through each other. As His love for us spills over into our love for each other, we find hope, love, comfort, and strength that we never could have found on our own. Do you find it easier to boost others up or to recognize your own need for support? Consider taking some time in prayer, asking God to help you grow in these areas. Additionally, who are trusted Christians you could talk to, such as parents, pastors, youth leaders, or friends? But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) 

READ: 1 SAMUEL 17:34-36; PSALM 23:1-6; EZEKIEL 34:11-12, 22 One of Jesus’s names is the Good Shepherd. Throughout the Bible, we find glimpses of what this means, and in John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” I’ve heard teachers illustrate what Jesus does for us by explaining how shepherds care for their sheep by feeding them and making sure they don’t get carried away by a raging river. That’s all true, yet there’s another aspect of being a shepherd that we sometimes forget. We don’t often think of a shepherd as a courageous hero. Think about sheep for a second. They do dumb stuff. And predators, like lions and bears, think sheep are a great snack. Whenever they get the chance, they snatch an unsuspecting sheep and trot off to enjoy their food. What does the shepherd do? Watch the bleating animal being carried away and think, “How sad. But at least I won’t have to deal with that pest anymore”? No. He grabs whatever weapons are available and takes off to take care of business. He kills that predator and takes the sheep home. He tends to their wounds and places them back with the flock, away from danger. In the same way our Good Shepherd looks after us. He first rescued us from sin by coming to sacrifice His life on the cross and then rise from the dead. In doing so, He defeated Satan and the grave once and for all. And now, He continually protects His people, because even when we’re Christians we still mess up—we sin, we make mistakes, and we get into trouble. When our circumstances and our own failures seem to carry us away and eat us, Jesus breaks in. He shows us the foes are beatable, because He is with us and He is Lord over all. The Good Shepherd is there whenever we call for Him. And when the world, its obligations, and all kinds of trials batter us around, He’s always there to care for us. • Morgan Mitchell • Jesus rescues us from sin and death, but He doesn’t stop there. He continues to rescue and care for us as we go through the struggles of this life. And when He returns to restore creation and right every wrong, we will live with Him forever, free from dangers and difficulties. How might picturing Jesus as the courageous Hero-Shepherd, and ourselves as helpless sheep, make it easier for us to call on Jesus when we’re in trouble? Why is crying out to Jesus better than trying to figure things out on our own? “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.” Ezekiel 34:11 (NIV)  

READ: MICAH 4:1-7; JOHN 10:11-18; REVELATION 21:1-5 In the book of the Bible called Micah, the prophet Micah speaks of God’s coming judgment against the nation of Israel: the impending invasion from the nation of Assyria. The book begins with an image of God coming down and bringing judgement. The vivid imagery describes mountains melting like wax (Micah 1:4). All of this because Israel had continued to rebel against God. The prophet Micah even goes through the names of different towns that have turned away from God, and he describes how he is in distress over this rebellion (1:9-16). So, what sort of rebellion deserved all this wrath and judgement? Micah calls out the leaders of Israel for their greed, saying they have wrongly become wealthy through theft (2:1-2). The leaders have also participated in bribery and bent the rules to favor the rich (3:9-11). Micah also blames the false prophets of Israel who gave sweet words of reassurance for the right price (3:5). But this book isn’t only about judgement. God shows His merciful character by bringing a message of hope. Micah describes how God will act like a shepherd and gather the remnant of His people back to Himself (2:12-13). The book also contains a message of hope about how God will restore all things after His judgement (4:1-7). Micah says that, after the Jerusalem the Israelites know is destroyed, God will bring about a new and restored Jerusalem. And the people of this new Jerusalem will be a blessing to the rest of the world. Micah also prophesies about the new king from the line of David who will rule over this new city (5:1-6). Today, we know that King is Jesus! Through His death and resurrection, Jesus forgives and saves His people from judgement, and one day He will return to make all things new. Jesus will reign over all creation as the long-awaited Shepherd-King. Even as the book of Micah shares the message of God’s judgment against injustice and greed, it’s also full of the hope of future restoration. It gives us a picture of the loving, merciful character of God. • Naomi Zylstra • Where do you see greed and injustice in the world around you? How could it be comforting to know that Jesus weeps over these things and will one day destroy all greed and injustice forever? • We all fall short of God’s justice, and we all fall into greed sometimes. Consider asking Jesus to help you identify greed in your life so you can confess it and rest in His forgiveness and restoration. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 (NIV) 

READ: EPHESIANS 1:7-9; 2:1-10; 3:14-21 When I was young, I didn’t realize the extent of God’s grace. As a child, I prayed over and over asking God to forgive me for my sins. I thought maybe it took a special kind of prayer to be saved from sin and death, and I wanted to make sure I said it. I knew that God loved me, but I just didn’t realize how big His love was. Now I can see God’s love much better, even though it’s still hard to fathom. God knew that I needed to be saved from my sins, so He sent His Son Jesus to live among us and ultimately die on the cross. And then, He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. God knew I couldn’t be perfect and wouldn’t make it on my own, so He made the way through Jesus Christ, His perfect Son. Jesus is the way and the only way. I can’t get there on my own. No prayer I say is good enough to earn a place in God’s eternal kingdom. Nothing I could do could get me there. It’s only through His grace that I am saved. Once I have confessed my sin and, by faith in Jesus, accepted the gift He offered in His death on the cross, I am free from my sins. I am a new creation. The old me is gone, and the new me is washed in His blood and covered with His grace. When I was young, I worried that my prayer would somehow wear off or that God would no longer forgive me if I did this or that. Now I know that His love is so much greater than I imagined then, and His grace is big enough to cover me. • Bethany Acker • Have you ever worried that your prayers are not enough? Have you ever begged God over and over to save you? You may have heard that works can’t save us, but have you ever thought of prayer (or saying “the right prayer”) as a work? Anytime we find ourselves relying on something we do instead of something God does, He invites us to turn back to Him and rely on His grace. We can rest in His steadfast love, knowing that Jesus has already done the work of saving us. • Grace is sometimes defined as “unmerited favor” or “getting what we don’t deserve.” God’s grace is amazing—He freely gives us eternal life even though we could do nothing to earn it. If you want to know more about this grace and what it means to be saved through Jesus, who is a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) • If you want to dig deeper, read John 3:16; 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 7:14. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you…” 2 Corinthians 12:9a (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 62; MATTHEW 7:24-29; JOHN 16:31-33 Perhaps you know how it feels to seek shelter from the storms of life. I know I do. We often look for safety and security in anything we can, like sailors trying to cast an anchor. But it soon becomes clear that “everything is futile,” or empty—like vapor that’s here one moment and gone the next (Ecclesiastes 1:2). No matter how hard we try to find the shelter we so desperately desire, when we put our confidence in the world’s unkept promises, we come up empty-handed. Because of sin, the world is often a dark place. Sometimes it’s hard to find light. But God doesn’t leave us alone in the storms. Look at how David begins the 62nd psalm by penning a testimony of God’s faithfulness. He writes, “I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.” In a world of uncertainty, God offers us shelter and rest. He made this world good, and though our sin brought brokenness, Jesus stepped into this brokenness to save us. He is the Light of the world who rescues us from darkness through His own death and resurrection. He is the solid rock that will not be shaken. And when He returns, He will make all things new and whole. But as we wait for this glorious day, life in the midst of brokenness can sometimes seem like an insurmountable challenge. We are often surrounded by difficulties, and we may even feel as if we’re completely alone. If God promises us that we will not be shaken, shouldn’t He protect us from the trials that roll our way? In John 16:33, Jesus tells His disciples, “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” Jesus does not promise a life free from trials. In fact, He guarantees that we will suffer. But He promises to be our stronghold who brings us hope above all else, a Savior to cling to despite the trials, and a God who loves His precious children. And so, while we can be certain that we will have trials, we can trust God completely when He tells us that those who have faith in Jesus will “never be shaken.” • Katherine Billingsley • What things, ideas, or people are you tempted to find security and identity in? How have these let you down? Jesus sees our pain and grieves our hurts with us. He comforts us in our troubles and invites us to take part in bringing wholeness to broken places. (2 Corinthians 1:3-11) • What are some of God’s attributes and promises we can count on as a firm foundation, no matter what? (Matthew 11:28-30; 28:20; John 8:12; 1 Peter 2:4-6; Revelation 21:1-5) He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:2 (CSB)  

READ: ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12; JOHN 15:9-17 I used to own a rock tumbler, a machine that takes ordinary rocks and transforms them into polished, gemlike stones. The process would last for days, and the tumbler was so loud I had to keep it in the garage! After I put rocks and grit into the barrel with some water, the machine would spin everything around so the rocks scraped against each other, slowly grinding away the edges. After all the grinding and polishing, I was left with smooth, shiny, colorful stones. Tumbling rocks takes grit and perseverance, and it isn’t a process that can be rushed, but it’s worth it—a lot like friendship. Building friendships is hard work for me. I’m an introvert, and talking to new people doesn’t come naturally to me. For all of us, it takes time and effort to get to know someone well, and it can be hard to trust new people. But friendship also offers opportunities to love and support others, find fun and encouragement, and, especially, learn from each other. Like how the rocks in the rock tumbler scrape against each other and become polished in the process, friends can strengthen each other by pointing out each other’s struggles and helping them grow. Proverbs 27:17 says it this way: “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Even if you struggle to make friends, know that you have a friend in Jesus. He is the King and Creator of the universe, but He knows and cares for us on a deeply personal level. He is a faithful friend who is closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). When Jesus came and lived among us, He showed us what it truly means to be a loving friend (1 John 4:11). He loves us so much that even when we were living in sin and rebellion against Him, He gave up His life for us (Romans 5:8). Then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death so we could be forgiven and become friends of God. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His Spirit lives in us, helping us grow in our relationship with God—and in our relationships with each other. Friendship can be difficult, but it is a beautiful treasure. • Abby Ciona • Good friendships involve conflict all the way through, not just at the beginning. We are different people, and we’ll disagree about things until Jesus returns and makes all things new. Do you know anyone who loves others well, even in times of disagreement and conflict? • As we seek to love others well, how could it be helpful to remember the way Jesus loves us, even when we get frustrated with Him and don’t listen to Him? As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)  

READ: MATTHEW 11:25–12:14; 18:1-17; JAMES 3:1-2 I’m a big rule-follower, but I was more so when I was younger. I really didn’t want to make waves or question anyone who was in charge. It’s something I’m still not really comfortable with to this day. But sometimes the rules we’re asked to follow do not align with our beliefs. And this is where life can get complicated. The same thing happened to Jesus. A group of religious leaders called the Pharisees tried to enforce rules about what people could and couldn’t do on the Sabbath. God commanded His people to rest on the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of the week (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:15), but the Pharisees extended God’s command to include more rules. When Jesus broke these additional rules by healing on the Sabbath and by letting His disciples pick grain, and then declared that He is Lord of the Sabbath, the Pharisees were upset and eventually plotted to kill Jesus. But Jesus corrected the Pharisees’ ideas about the Sabbath and explained not only the meaning behind God’s law, but also how He came to give us rest in Himself. The rules the Pharisees were following, and telling everyone else to follow, did not necessarily align with what God’s Word was actually teaching, so Jesus called these people out. Calling out figures of authority isn’t an easy role to play. For many people in the Bible, speaking out against authority led to harm or even death. Remember, the Pharisees were primarily the ones who were plotting to have Jesus crucified. But when people misrepresent the good news of Jesus, preaching injustice or evil, we are not supposed to stay silent in the face of oppression. We can speak out with courage and humility, knowing that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in us (Romans 8:11). Standing up to injustice will look different for everyone. It may not be as dramatic as yelling or flipping tables (Matthew 21:12-17), but it could mean sending an email about a concern you’ve noticed. And as we do this, we can rest in the good news of Jesus—the One who died and rose again to free us from trying to keep the law in our own strength—and we can invite others into this rest, too. • Naomi Zylstra • Sometimes, those in authority teach things that do not align with God’s Word or help their hearers rest in Jesus. If they’re seeking to follow Jesus, they will want to be corrected so they can repent and grow. If you had a concern about someone’s leadership, how would you bring it up? Who is a trusted adult you could talk to if you experienced something unsettling? “Come to me…and I [Jesus] will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

READ: 1 JOHN 2:1-29 Recently, I was buying some pizzas, and when I handed the cashier my money she did something that made me freeze: she held up the dollar bills to the light, examining them closely. She was trying to see if they were authentic. At that moment, I thought to myself, Oh great. Did I get stuck with a counterfeit bill? Fortunately they were not counterfeits, and I got my pizza and went on my way. But counterfeit money is a real problem for businesses, and so cashiers are often trained to recognize fake money. Do you know how they do it? They don’t study fake money. Instead, they learn all about real money. When the Federal Reserve prints dollar bills, they add all kinds of markings that authenticate the true value. That way, no matter how a counterfeit bill is made, a cashier can tell what’s real and what’s not. When you know what to look for, you can spot a fake a mile away. In 1 John 2:18-25, John is warning us about spiritual scammers who pass on counterfeit gospel messages. They use spiritual language and sound very religious, but if you listen closely, what they’re preaching is a false gospel—such as a gospel of getting lots of money, or treating our neighbors in a fearful and hate-filled way, or trying to follow God’s commands legalistically rather than relying on grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the real gospel, which John often calls “the truth,” is purely the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. So how do we avoid getting tricked by counterfeit gospels and falling for their lies? John says the best defense is to “remain in fellowship with Christ” (1 John 2:27). We could never study every single lie—there are too many of them! Instead, Jesus calls us to abide in Him (John 15:1-17). By faith, we can rest in the good news of Jesus’s death and resurrection, even as we seek to understand the truth of God’s Word. Throughout our lives, He will guide us through His Spirit, His Word, and His people, helping us discern what is true and what is false. When we understand the true gospel, we can better defend ourselves against false gospels. As we abide in Jesus, we will be prepared to face whatever messages are thrown at us. • Jacob Bier • How can looking at the true gospel help us recognize fakes? (More on the gospel on our "Know Jesus" page.) But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 63; JOHN 14:1-6; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-9 A lot of people think money is what makes you rich, but let’s take a closer look at the concept of riches. No matter how much money a person has, it never feels like enough. Just ask any wealthy person! Money won’t bring true satisfaction—and it doesn’t last. We can’t take wealth or status with us when we die. The reality is, what makes us rich—is love. The true and unending love of God. Humans were created to be in relationship with God, but humanity rejected Him to go our own way, and so we’re left searching for something to fill the deep longing that only God can fill. Yet, the good news is that God extends His love to us, even though we could never earn it, even though we’re all greedy and self-centered and, well, sinful. He loves us so much that Jesus—God in flesh— died and rose again to beat sin and death so that we could be with Him. Now, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is forgiven and welcomed into rich and satisfying relationship with God. And as Christians we also get to look forward to the day Jesus will return and we will live forever with Him and His people on the new heavens and new earth. Then we will enjoy the lavish abundance of everything we could ever desire, and nothing will be tainted by the suffering and confusion caused by sin. And even as we wait for this day, Jesus fills our hearts with His love through the Holy Spirit. He also places us in His family and blesses us with the love of our brothers and sisters who also know Jesus. And He transforms even our suffering into hope because He is just that good (Romans 5:1-8). Yes, in Christ, we are very rich indeed. So, when we find ourselves craving earthly riches like money or success, let’s run to Jesus instead. He’s eager to remind us that these riches aren’t the things that really count. A relationship with Jesus is more valuable than any treasure this world has to offer. • A. W. Smith • Earthly wealth doesn’t offer true satisfaction, and it can often cloud our vision so that we love money or status more than God or our neighbors. As Christians, how does Jesus help us view the things we have on earth in light of the greater riches we have as members of Jesus’s family? • To learn more about what it means to know Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Matthew 16:26 (NLT) 

READ: ISAIAH 33:5-6; MATTHEW 6:19-34; 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19 Kellen knew that asteroid mining was a risky business. There were hazardous pockets of gas and metals too tough for the drill. For Kellen, though, the money to be made was worth the work. The material in this asteroid alone would fuel his entire home planet for a year. His share would be enough to buy his own mining gear, then he could really start making some cash. Lost in thought, Kellen was startled by the blinking warning light on his monitor, indicating someone had hit a gas pocket. With enough pressure, the entire asteroid could potentially explode—with them on it. Kellen heard his boss shout through the commlink, “We need to evacuate now! This is an emergency. All personnel proceed to your designated areas and secure yourself for an emergency departure!” Kellen pressed a button and his entire drill, with him inside, detached from the asteroid, rocket thrusters launching him back to the main shuttle where he could see dozens of other drill ships also loading up for a speedy getaway. A moment later Kellen felt bits of asteroid rattle his small compartment rather undramatically. As the main carrier raced away, Kellen took a glance on his monitor to see the asteroid, worth trillions, explode in a flash of light and space dust. All of his dreams, gone in an instant. Kellen tried to relax as the boss started roll call. But when they got to Freya’s ID number, the commlink was silent. Kellen felt his stomach drop. Freya was a good pilot, she had to have made it off the asteroid in time. But there was a chance… Kellen held his breath as he heard the boss call out her number a second, then a third time. No response. Then, there was a crackling sound, and a patchy voice said, “Docked…com damaged…I’m alright.” Kellen exhaled with a shudder. As he looked back at the field of debris, he realized Freya’s life was worth more than that—worth more than all the asteroids in the galaxy combined. He remembered something his mother had said, back on his home planet on the Illyrian system. How God treasured and desired and loved him…far more than anyone could desire an asteroid. How God’s love compelled Him to take on human flesh and die—for him. And then, to rise again with a promise to put an end to death and evil, all that’s wrong with the world. Thank you God, he whispered. Help me see as You see. Loving You, and the people you’ve made, is worth more than anything that could be bought. Help me lean on You and remember what’s truly worthwhile. • Peter J. McDonough • In today’s allegorical story, Kellen realizes that true wealth comes from God, not the world’s sin-broken system. In what ways have you seen how pursuing things—like money, success, possessions, or experiences—can get in the way of pursuing the true riches of loving God and the people He has made? (Matthew 22:36-40) • Human life is sacred because we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). God showed how much we are worth to Him—how much He treasures and desires and loves us—when Jesus, God the Son, willingly gave up His life for ours on the cross. Then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death so we could be forgiven and live with Him forever. How can looking at Jesus, and remembering what He has done for us, help us discern what is truly valuable in life? (Hebrews 12:1-3) • Proverbs 10:2 says, “Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.” Jesus is our righteousness, and He is the only One who can deliver us from death (1 Corinthians 1:30). But, even as Christians, sometimes we forget tha

READ: GENESIS 1:27; PSALM 139:13-18 I’m one of those people who likes to make a big deal out of birthdays. Whenever it’s someone else’s birthday, I try to at least send a happy birthday text, or get a gift, or even throw a party. When it comes to my own birthday, I always try to have a fun day planned. I never understood why people would hide or brush off their birthdays. Your birthday is the day that God knew you would take your first breaths! God watched over you as you grew in your mom’s womb. God knew what color eyes you would have, how tall you would be, and what your first word would be. Psalm 139 says that God knit us together. I love thinking about that image. I think of God hunched over, focused on pulling together the threads of your life to form all the different aspects of who you are. God loved you before you were born, and He still loves the person you are today. His love for you is so great that He sent Jesus to sacrifice His life for you and become your Redeemer so you could be adopted into God’s family. And even though Jesus’s sacrifice and miraculous resurrection happened long before you were born, it was still a sacrifice meant for you. And that’s why I like to make a big deal out of birthdays. Because each person is so unique and there’s no one just like them. Each person is loved so deeply by God, and each life is worth being celebrated. • Naomi Zylstra • Do you like your birthday? Why or why not? • What’s one thing you like about yourself? Consider taking a moment to imagine God creating this aspect of you carefully and purposefully, and thank Him for making you this way! • What are some ways we can show honor and value to the people we come in contact with, whether it’s their birthday or not? For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 (WEB) 

READ: MATTHEW 5:14-16; ROMANS 8:35-39 Picture this. The room is dark, and you blink as your eyes adjust to the light created by the glowing candles on top of a birthday cake. “Okay, make a wish and blow the candles out,” your friend says. You nod, close your eyes, and blow out the candles. But when you reach for the cake knife, you notice something strange. Every candle on your cake has started burning again. So, you take a deep breath and try a second time. Once again, all the flames disappear, but one by one the candles spark, and soon they’re burning again. What’s going on? You look at your friend, who’s grinning from ear to ear. You roll your eyes as you realize your friends put trick candles on your cake! These special candles are made to relight themselves, no matter how many times you blow them out. In a way, Christians are kind of like these everlasting candles. When we know Jesus as our Savior, His light glows within us. No matter how hard our broken world tries to blow out our lights, Jesus never lets the powers of darkness succeed. Because Jesus has defeated death and sin and evil by dying on the cross and rising from the grave, everyone who believes in Him has the Holy Spirit living inside us, and God’s presence can never be removed from us (Acts 2:1-24). Even death cannot separate us from God’s love! As we encounter challenges in our broken world, Jesus is right there with us, helping us trust in Him and show others His love. No matter how dark things may get, He empowers us to shine brightly for Him. So today, may we let the light of Jesus shine in our lives. We’re free to show His love in our words and actions, knowing that Jesus won’t let anything separate us from His love. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time you saw Jesus’s light shining through others? What was that like? • What are some ways you could show Jesus’s love to the people around you today? • How can we know that we’re secure in Jesus’s love? (Hint: look at Romans 8.) Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:15b (NLT) 

READ: JOHN 4:1-42 When God amazes us, sharing our story with others can make a real difference. In John 4, we see how Jesus spent time with a Samaritan woman at the well near Samaria. He talked to her about God and also about her life, her husbands, the choices she had made…and about who He was. This woman was surprised at all Jesus knew about her, and when He said He was the Messiah they’d all been waiting for, she went out and told others about Him, saying “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” (verse 29). Because of what she shared, many people met Jesus and believed in Him; they said, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world” (verses 41-42). This woman was someone who probably didn’t have the best standing in her community. Because of the rejection she would’ve faced, she probably hadn’t spoken out or shared stories from her life before. When she told others about Jesus, though, people who heard her story wanted to meet Jesus for themselves. When we share about the ways we’ve seen God work, we can encourage both fellow believers and those who don’t know Jesus yet. Our stories can help lead people to Jesus and invite those who already know Him to go deeper in their relationship with Him. If there’s something God has done in your life that has left you in awe, why not tell others about it? Who knows if your story might encourage those around you to go and meet Jesus for themselves. • Emily Acker • Can you think of any ways God has worked in your life—any ways He has revealed how good He is or how much He cares about you? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to help you notice what He’s been doing in and around you. He delights in answering these prayers. • What could others gain through hearing about the ways you’ve seen God working in your life? And what could you gain by listening to others? • The biggest way God has worked in any of our lives is by saving us through Jesus’s death and resurrection—and this amazing story is always worth telling! If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page. Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. Psalm 66:16 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 139 Have you ever had a moment when you realized that someone really knows you? I had a moment like this with my housemate recently, and it made me feel so loved. I had been feeling overwhelmed and depressed for a few days. My husband took our kids to run some errands so I could get some time to finish up my work for the week and do something restful. I sat on my bed, trying to figure out how best to plan my day. Should I make breakfast and eat it here, or go to a coffee shop to get breakfast while I work? I tried to get my sluggish, exhausted brain to think through the options. I don’t make decisions quickly in the best of times, and I operate even more slowly when I’m not feeling great. My housemate, Jenn, knocked on the bedroom door and told me she was going to pick up some breakfast at a nearby fast-food restaurant and asked if I wanted any. This very kind offer meant that I now had a third option to consider. I mumbled something about not being sure, and she quickly said, “I’ll give you a minute to think about it,” and walked away. I smiled internally and thought, She knows me. Jenn has been my friend for over a decade, and she knew that I needed a moment by myself to think things through. A minute or two later I walked out and accepted her offer. Little moments like these remind me of how God knows us. He knows the very hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:29-30). He knows how we operate. He knows our good days and our bad days. He knows exactly what we need. And He loves us. Being known can be a scary thing. But not with God. Because He won’t ever use that knowledge to hurt us. Instead, He draws us ever closer to Himself. Jesus died and rose again to make the way for us to be with Him. And to be known by a God like that is the best thing I can imagine. • Taylor Eising • Can you think of a time when you’ve felt known? What was it like? • How could it be comforting to know that God knows you and loves you? O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 27:7-14; 33:20-22 I keep calling out, God Even though I am tired Even though I don’t see You working yet Even though this life seems to be killing me I keep calling out, God Because You are my only hope Because You can bring me peace Because You can move into action at any time I keep calling out, God And my body is tired And my throat doesn’t want to call out And I feel ready to just give up I keep calling out, God Please answer me Please give me peace Please reach down and rescue me • Emily Acker • Today’s poem is written in the style of a lament psalm. Have you ever felt like you just kept crying out to God without experiencing any comfort? We all go through times like these, but God does not abandon us. His presence with us gives us hope we can cling to no matter what. Can you remember what (or who) God provided to help you through that difficult time in your life? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. • Does today’s poem express how you’re feeling right now? God is right there with you. He knows your hurts, and He doesn’t condemn you (Romans 8:1). He feels your pain and He weeps with you. Consider taking some time to bring your pain to God, like the author does. If you feel like you can’t even pray right now, who is a trusted Christian in your life who can help you bring your pain to God? By leaning on God’s grace and the people He has placed around you, you can begin to heal. These feelings won’t last forever, but Jesus’s love will. And one day, He will return to make all things new. Because Jesus died and rose from the grave, everyone who trusts in Him can look forward to the day He will put an end to death and sin and brokenness permanently. Jesus is the ultimate source of our hope, a hope that endures even in the most difficult times. • This poem mentions feeling ready to give up. If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, tell a trusted adult right away.* One important way God brings healing is through medical and mental health professionals and biblical counseling. The path to healing can be long and sometimes painful, but Jesus will walk every step with you. If you feel like you can’t reach out to others because you are a burden, know that this is a lie from the pit of hell. The enemy wants to isolate us from community, but God’s truth is so much more powerful than the enemy’s lies. The truth is this: you are made in God’s glorious image, and for that reason you are beloved and incomparably valuable, and there is nothing you can do to change that. You are worth people’s time, attention, and care—even when the people around you don’t act like it. You can know that you are so precious to God because He sent Jesus to give you new life so that you could live in loving relationship with Him. Jesus did this by dying and rising again. You are an important part of His kingdom, and nothing, nothing, NOTHING can ever separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:39). • *You can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also talk with someone via web chat (988lifeline.org/chat). If your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. • *If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an app

READ: ISAIAH 41:10-14; 49:14-16; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-11 I saw a young child get off a school bus today— and go right into the waiting embrace of his mom. As she straightened up, he wrapped his arms around her neck, resting his head against her shoulder. I wondered if something had happened at school today, or if maybe he was just tired from being gone from home for several hours. It made me think of how God invites us to go to Him whenever we feel like that little boy, whenever we need someone’s arms to rest in. This broken world we live in can be a scary place. When the darkness around us makes us long for an escape, we can always go to the arms of God and receive comfort. He is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God sees everything we’re going through, and He longs for us to be with Him. That’s why Jesus came—He died for us and rose from the grave so that He could be with us forever. Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that, no matter what, God will hold you. You don’t have to face anything alone. God is waiting, ready to be there for you. When life in this broken world just makes you tired, when you can’t go on in your own strength any longer, you can go to God. He is your compassionate Father who will carry you. Like the little boy going from the bus to the arms of his mom, you can go from a busy and tiring day to the arms of God—and rest secure in His embrace. • Emily Acker • Jesus is Immanuel, which literally means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have full access to God, and nothing can separate you from His love (John 10:11, 27-30; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 4:14-16). If you want to know more about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. • What kinds of things in our broken world make you feel worn out or long for an escape? How could it be helpful to remember that God is with us in the midst of the brokenness, and that Jesus will one day return to raise us from the dead and make all things new—free from sin and death and evil and pain? (Revelation 21:1-5) “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) 

READ: ISAIAH 61:8; JEREMIAH 22:3; MATTHEW 23:23 It’s discouraging to see so much evil in the world. Evil and sin have been a part of the world for a long time, but as I get older, I notice it more than when I was a kid. I hear news about corruption, poverty, or health crises...and it can really get me down. It can be easy to see all this evil and either choose not to believe there’s a God, or to think that God doesn’t care—just look at how bad the world is. But Scripture tells me that God does care. He hates evil. It breaks His heart to see His creation suffering, and one day He’s going to get rid of all evil permanently. I’ve spent a little time in some of the minor prophet books of the Bible recently, and those books frequently show how vehemently opposed God is to evil. God despises evil and promises to bring down these ancient empires that were built on greed and oppression (Nahum 2). Through the prophets, God foretells the justice He will bring and the restoration that will come after. Part of this restoration has already happened through Jesus Christ. After Jesus defeated sin and death and evil through His own death and resurrection, our relationship with God was righted. Our sin was paid for, and we were able to be accepted into God’s family. And one day, God’s justice will come in full, and He will right all wrongs and rid the world of all evil, and our struggle with sin will finally be over. So, it’s not a question of “Does God care?” anymore. With the knowledge of Scripture, now it’s a question of “When will God’s justice come in full?” And even as we wait for the day Jesus will come again, we can participate in God’s kingdom here and now, acting in love and justice with confident hope for the future. • Naomi Zylstra • Can you think of a time you felt discouraged when you saw evil in the world—either on the news, in your community, or in your own life? Jesus weeps with you. You can bring these feelings to Him in prayer anytime. • What opportunities and skills has God given you to pursue justice right where you are, at this time of your life? Who are trusted Christians you can talk to about this? The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 11:25-30; MARK 12:29-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58; GALATIANS 6:9 I walked with determination down the hallway. Maybe this time will be different, I thought, knocking on the classroom door. At the beginning of the year, I’d volunteered to mentor a second grader through a program helping youth with behavioral concerns. Once a week, I arrived at the school during my lunch break to spend time with “Justin” (not his real name) and show him some undivided, positive attention. I embraced this opportunity as a chance to connect with a child needing love. Justin, however, did not embrace this opportunity. Each time I entered his class, he rolled his eyes and slumped to the little room where we sat to play games. For nine months, I met with Justin weekly, and his walls never came down. I understood he needed unconditional love; I just believed he didn’t want it from me. When we experience Jesus’s unconditional love for us, we naturally want to share it with others. God’s never-ending, always-pursuing, never-giving-up love was put on full display at Jesus’s death and resurrection. When we wanted nothing to do with God, He made the way for us to be in relationship with Him by giving up His own life for ours (Romans 5:10). His love changes us and transforms us so that we can love God and others. Yet, as followers of Jesus seeking to obey His command to love our neighbors as ourselves, sometimes we wonder, “Does this matter? Does all my work count for anything?” Not only does Jesus invite us to step out in faith and trust Him with the results, He also gives us encouragement when our faith feels weak. Jesus invites us to bring our weariness and burdens to Him, our great burden-bearer (Psalm 68:19). He understands we’ll face discouragement in doing good work (whether it’s mentoring a struggling eight-year-old or working our hardest at school), and He assures us that He is with us and He is at work even when we don’t see it. We may not see the outcomes we expected to, but we can trust God with our obedience. After all, He promises us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Allison Wilson Lee • Have you ever felt worn out while trying to love your neighbor? Jesus understands, and He is with you. Remember, the results of your work aren’t up to you. They are not on your shoulders. Jesus is the One who brings about change in people’s hearts. He is at work in you, and He is at work through you. Consider taking a moment now to pray for a neighbor you’re trying to love. • Some days, we’re like the author of this story—giving love and help. Other days, we’re like Justin—the one receiving the love and help. We’re all in need of love, and we’re all in need of help, even when we don’t want it. So, God gave us community in His family, the church. Through the church, we can give and receive God’s love, uplifting each other and being uplifted. What are some ways you’ve seen this play out in your life? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to help you notice ways He is inviting you to give and receive love and help as you live life alongside fellow Christians. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) 

READ: GENESIS 1:27; 1 JOHN 4:7-19 You probably already know that snowflakes are remarkably unique from one another. And the reason each snowflake has a one-of-a-kind crystal structure is because every developing flake experiences slightly different atmospheric conditions as it falls from the sky to the ground. But have you ever thought about what they have in common? Even with all their differences, each snowflake is made of frozen water and has six points. It’s like that with people too. No two people are exactly the same or have the same experiences, but we often forget that we’re also alike in many ways. People from different parts of the world have their own languages and customs, but deep down we all have the same feelings and desires. We all want to feel loved and accepted and valued. Another thing all people have in common? We’re all created in God’s image, and He loves us all so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to live among us, die for us, and rise again from the dead so that everyone who trusts in Him could live with God forever. And one day, Jesus will return to make all things new, free from sin and death. As Christians, we are now God’s children, we are forgiven and clean as fresh snow (Isaiah 1:18), and we “are being transformed into his [Jesus’s] image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). God calls us to share His love with others—even those who seem different—because we all have the same need for Him. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to love others as God loves us, accept others as God accepts us, and value others as God values us (Matthew 10:29-31; John 13:34; Romans 15:7; 1 John 4:19). So, as we look at snowflakes, we can remember that Jesus made each snowflake, and He made each of us. He calls us to enjoy our beautiful differences. And as we rest in His great love for us, we can show that same love to everyone we encounter. • A. W. Smith • Humans are remarkably diverse and yet have so much in common. What are some differences between you and your friends and family? What are some similarities? Consider taking some time to thank God for creating such an amazing world with so many different types of people! • Today, how could you show Jesus’s love to someone who is different from you? How could remembering what we have in common with all people help us walk in love toward one another? Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 4:8; MATTHEW 11:28-30; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 The sound of white noise as we lay down to sleep can give us comfort and cover up distracting sounds that might keep us awake. A fan going while we rest can help us feel comfortable and breathe easier. Some of us have a particular pillow we need to sleep, and some of us can only sleep in our own beds. There are things we gather and routines we go through to get to sleep…and intentional time with God can also be part of those routines. If we know Jesus, God is always present with us through the Holy Spirit, and getting ready for bed can be a great time to focus on His presence. He loves us so much that Jesus died and rose again to be with us. So, before we go to bed we can spend time telling our incredible, loving God about our day, thanking Him for the blessings He gave us, bringing Him any requests we have, and sharing any hurts we experienced with Him and receiving His compassion. We can cry out to God when we’re laying down to sleep and we’re feeling anxious, and we can also talk to Him when we’re feeling peaceful. We can get in the routine of talking to Him each night and sharing our problems with Him before we sleep. And if we wake up in the night terrified because of a nightmare, we can turn to Him for comfort. God goes with us during the day, and He’s also right there with us as we start to prepare for bed and as we lay down and close our eyes. Let Him be involved in your nighttime routine, and rest in His presence as you drift off to sleep. • Emily Acker • What routines do you follow before you go to sleep at night? There are lots of different ways we can incorporate intentional time focusing on God’s presence into our routines. Some people like to put a note with a Bible verse on their bathroom mirror so they see it when they’re brushing their teeth. Some people like to kneel by their bed to pray, and some like to write down things they’re thankful for from that day. You can also look back through your day and ask God to show you His presence with you during it. If you’re not sure what routines you’d like to try incorporating into your bedtime routine, who are trusted Christians you could talk to about it? • Sleep is an important part of our physical, mental, and emotional health. Sometimes, we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that’s okay. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor? I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 145:8-16; MATTHEW 6:25-33; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-20 One year as summer approached, I needed to buy some shorts. With my budget in mind, I browsed at a second-hand shop and found two pairs in the right size. Including a discount, I could pay for the clothes using a gift card I’d received. It would cover the entire cost…except for eleven cents. But I only had one penny in my wallet. So, what did I do? Did I leave the store empty-handed? Nope. Near the cash register, I noticed lots of loose change in a “leave a penny, take a penny” bucket. Right on top of the pile of coins, I found a dime and then finished paying for the clothes I’d picked out. Even before I needed to use that dime, it was there. Some generous stranger had dropped it in the coin container before I arrived at the shop, not realizing how helpful it would be at just the right time. The kind person who tossed the dime into the canister for another shopper didn’t know I would be the one to need those few cents, but God, the all-knowing Lord, always knows what we need. Before we ask, before we even recognize our own needs, He is working to provide for us. And He has already provided for the greatest need any of us have: to be rescued from sin and death. Because Jesus came, we can have a relationship with God through trusting in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Then, not only do we have the sure hope of being raise from the dead to live with Him forever, but we can also approach God anytime to ask for His help and provision—just as a trusting child approaches a caring father. We can lean on God for all we need because He loves us. What an amazing invitation to come to the Father who knows all our needs and cares about each one. • Allison Wilson Lee • One of the primary ways God provides for His people, is through His people! Can you think of a time someone helped meet your tangible needs? What was it like? • God cares about all our needs, but He doesn’t promise we’ll never experience hardship. Jesus said we will have trouble, but He also promised to be with us through it all, and to return one day and make all things new; then lack will be replaced with abundance (John 16:33; Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-5). As we wait for this day, He comforts us with His presence and strengthens us to endure in times of plenty and times of lack. How could these promises give us hope? I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

READ: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-22; 1 PETER 5:6-11 We are faced with countless decisions every day. What do I want for dinner? Should I read or play video games after work? Where do I go to college? Should I even go to college? Some life decisions are bigger than others, and they require more thought too. I can usually decide what I want for dinner by the end of the night, but larger decisions take more time. So how do I make the big decisions in life? One of the things I do (or try to do) early on is pray about the decision. Throughout the Bible, God invites us to bring our concerns to Him because He cares about what we’re going through (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus Himself would often take time alone to pray. Jesus is God the Son, and He lives in close relationship with God the Father. And because Jesus died and rose for us, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus can be in close relationship with God. When I’m making decisions in my life, I can pray and ask God for His guidance on this decision. If I don’t get any sort of clarity (which unfortunately happens often) I can also consult with the trusted Christian friends and family in my life, especially if they’ve lived through the decision I’m going to make. And whenever I make a decision, I can trust that I serve an infinite God who can draw good out of any bad situation (Romans 8:28). One of the most comforting things is that God wants the best for me, and He cares about all my problems and all the decisions I face. Even the ones as small as what to have for dinner. • Naomi Zylstra • When we have a decision to make, how could it be comforting to know that we can bring all our concerns to the One who loves us so much He was willing to give up His own life for us? • Jesus will return one day and make all things new, and in the meantime He promises to be with us no matter what. God’s will for us is part of His great plan to renew heaven and earth at Jesus’s return. Day by day, He guides us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians you can talk to when you’re facing a tough decision? Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) 

READ: ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12 There are times in life when our need for others becomes clear. If you try to take on a big project, you may quickly realize that you need to ask for help. When trying to learn something new, you probably know that you need to ask an expert for advice if you want to do it right. We can think about following Jesus in a similar way. Like accomplishing a big project or learning a new skill, learning more about the gospel, the Bible, who God is, and how to walk in obedience to Him can feel overwhelming. None of us can do everything ourselves, and God knows this! He invites us to ask for help. We don’t have to be ashamed to ask for help or advice. As Christians, we’re meant to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Sometimes the best thing any of us can do is seek advice from someone else. It’s good to get a trusted Christian’s opinion and learn from them. The Bible talks about this frequently in the book of Proverbs. For example, Proverbs 19:20 says “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” And Proverbs 12:15 says it even more strongly: “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” In addition to asking for advice, we can also ask for help doing the task before us. Like it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” God has given all of us different gifts and abilities, and working together with someone who has different gifts from you can make the task easier— and the result better. God graciously provides us with the help we need, often through other people. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, He has made you part of His people, the church. We can rely on one another and seek God together. We can pray and ask our loving God to guide us and help us know what to do and to give us the help we need. So let’s remember, it’s great to get together with other Christians. We can learn a lot from each other as we encourage each other in our walks with Jesus. • Bethany Acker • Who is a Christian in your life you’ve learned a lot from? Consider thanking this person and letting them know what they mean to you. If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. • Have you been able to encourage someone in their walk with Jesus? What was it like? “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I [Jesus] am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 (NLT) 

READ: EZEKIEL 40:1-19; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17 Chapters 40-42 of the book of Ezekiel may not seem very interesting at first glance. All three chapters are a tour of a future temple. An angel led Ezekiel through this temple in a vision. There are many, many specific measurements included—enough that you may get bored. There is a measurement for everything in the temple, each room and each doorway. There are also specific details mentioned, like carvings of palm trees, cherubim, a lion’s face, and a human face. So, if they aren’t very interesting chapters, why am I telling you about them? Well, because of a sentence in 2 Corinthians 6:16: “For we are the temple of the living God.” There are other verses that say the same thing—that we are God’s temple. Isn’t that amazing? In the Old Testament, the temple was where God’s presence dwelt with His people, and then His presence came fully when Jesus, God the Son, came and lived among us. In fact, Jesus even called Himself a temple when He predicted His own death and resurrection (John 2:19-22). Now, if we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us, so our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Not only that, but the Spirit unites us with other believers, building us together into His temple, the church (1 Peter 2:5). And someday Jesus will return to make the whole earth His temple—His dwelling place with His people (Revelation 21:1-5). God loves us so much that Jesus came to die on the cross for us and rise from the dead so He could dwell with us and we could spend eternity with Him. And if He took the time to talk about the specific measurements of each room and doorway of the temple, how much more does He care about the details in our lives? Matthew 10:30 tells us that God knows how many hairs are on our heads! That sounds like a pretty specific detail for God to care about. He wants you to know that no detail about your life is too little for Him to care about. He wants you to know you can go to Him about every little detail of your life, and the big moments too. • Kimberly Brokish • How does it make you feel to know that God cares about all the details of your life? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about any part of your life that comes to mind, big or small, good or bad…even though He already knows it all, He loves listening to everything you have to say. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV

READ: HEBREWS 13:5-8; 1 JOHN 4:15 This world changes, But You, my Lord, never change The Lord who created the world The Lord who told Noah to build an ark You are the same Lord who lives in me today The Lord who led the Israelites out of slavery The Lord who gave us the commandments You are the same Lord who lives in me today The Lord who cares for the poor The Lord who healed thousands You are the same Lord who lives in me today The Lord who died for my sins The Lord who rose again You are the same Lord who lives in me today This world changes, But You, my Lord, never change • Kimberly Brokish • Do you have a favorite story in the Bible? Just think about how the same God who breathed those words, who was present in that story, is the same God who is alive today! • Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus—believing He died and rose again for you—God lives in you. As 1 John 4:15 says, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” If you want to know more about putting your trust in Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 10:11, 27-30; HEBREWS 11:1-6; 1 PETER 1:8-13 Did you know kittens are born blind? They have to rely on their mother to care for them since they can’t do anything on their own, but how do they know she’ll be there for them if they can’t see her? They use their other senses. Specifically, kittens rely on their sense of smell to let them know their mother is near. As Christians, we live in a similar way. Like helpless newborn kittens, we rely on God to take care of us and be with us through everything we face. Even though we can’t see God, we know He’s there. In a way, we know this because of our other senses. Specifically, we can hear God because He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible (Romans 10:17). All throughout His Word, He tells us how much He loves us and He promises to be with us no matter what. Ultimately, the Bible is the story of God’s love for us, and the climax is when He reveals Himself in Jesus. He came and lived among us, fully God and fully human. He died for us and then rose again to beat sin and death. And He is returning one day to make all things new. As we wait for that glorious day when we will finally see Jesus face-to-face, we can rest knowing that we are held by God, even though we can’t see Him. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit reminds us of His promises and helps us rest in His love (John 14:26). Through the Holy Spirit, we can have faith in God, even when we can’t see Him. Just like kittens know their mother is with them, even though they can’t see her yet. • A. W. Smith • Consider taking a moment to read Matthew 28:20 and Romans 8:33-39. How could the promises in these passages remind us of God’s love and presence when we go through difficult things? Do you have any favorite Bible passages that have helped you in tough times? Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) 

READ: JEREMIAH 17:14; 30:16-18; PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11 I’d been eating the cashews for several days before I stopped to ask why they seemed so small. Then I noticed the label on the canister: halves and pieces. I thought I’d bought the same kind of cashews I usually did—roasted and sprinkled with sea salt—but I hadn’t paid attention to the entire label. Cashews are one of my favorite snacks, and I liked them no matter their size. The halves and pieces offered the same flavor as the whole ones. They were just as filling, just as savory, just as satisfying. Though they were broken, they had just as much goodness to offer. Sometimes I’ve felt like those cashews—crushed to pieces. Difficult circumstances have a way of doing that. Trying our best but being turned down anyway, loving a person who doesn’t love us in return, being passed over for an honor we believe we deserved…those situations can leave us feeling rejected, wondering, “What’s wrong with ME?” Perhaps you feel split in half because your parents are divorced, and you live divided between two different homes. Or perhaps you feel like a piece of you is missing because you’re adopted, and even though you’ve become part of a loving family, maybe you wish you knew more about who your birth family is and why they couldn’t care for you. These kinds of circumstances can make us question our value, our love-ability. We might feel less than whole. Jesus knows we all have broken places, and He has declared that we are immeasurably valuable. God’s love for us is so great that Jesus gave up His life for us on the cross and then rose from the grave so we could enter a relationship with Him. He came to heal us of our wounds and restore us to God our Creator. When we put our faith in Jesus, He forgives our sins and begins a good work in us. He saves us from sin and death completely. And when He returns to make all things new, He will heal us completely, too. Until that day, even though we still experience brokenness, we can rest knowing that God loves us just as we are, and He invites us to be part of the good work of restoration He is doing in and around us. • Allison Wilson Lee • What kinds of circumstances in life have made you feel less than whole? • In what ways have you seen glimpses of God’s healing work in and around you? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God for this anytime. He loves to answer these prayers. Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 22:37-40; LUKE 6:43-45 What comes out when you squeeze a ketchup bottle? Ketchup, of course. And what comes out if you squeeze a mustard bottle? Mustard! Whatever is inside comes out. And it’s the same with us. How we react in a situation says a lot about what’s going on in our hearts. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus says, “The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” What we say—and how we say it—shows what’s inside our hearts. When we’re coming from a place of resting in God’s love, what comes out of us will be good and wholesome, like patience and kindness. But when we’re coming from a place of unhealed wounds and self-reliance, what comes out of us will be harsh and bitter. The stresses of life have a way of squeezing reactions out of us. What comes out of your mouth if you’re squeezed by something you don’t like? What you say shows a little bit of what’s in your heart. God calls us to use our words carefully to build each other up, not to tear down (Ephesians 4:29). So when we find ourselves saying things that hurt others, it’s an important indicator that our hearts need some attention. God has compassion on us, and He is eager to fill our hearts with His love (Romans 5:5). But when our hearts start overflowing, not with love but with unhealed hurt or harsh words, it’s time to talk to Jesus about it. He can handle any emotion we’re facing. He empathizes with us, and He always wants to help us. One of the primary ways He does this is by providing people in our lives—like therapists, friends, teachers, parents, pastors, etc.—who can help us when we’re especially stuck, when bitter reactions keep coming out of us when we’re under pressure. The journey of healing and growing with Jesus is long and not always straightforward, but we can know that Jesus has promised to be with us every step of the way, gently healing our wounds and helping us grow to become more like Him. We can trust Him and rest in His love, no matter what. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time you were facing a tough situation but you were able to rest in Jesus’s love through it? What about a time when it wasn’t so easy to rest in His love? • When you’re feeling stuck in your reactions to tough situations, who are trusted people God has put in your life you could talk with—such as therapists, friends, teachers, parents, pastors, etc.? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. “The mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” Matthew 12:34b (CSB) 

READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; EPHESIANS 2:1-22 “How does God see my generation?” It’s a good question, and one we don’t often think to ask. We hear a lot of talk about the different generations: what they’re like, what their strengths and weaknesses are, how they’re different from other generations, and on and on. The concept of generations is interesting. In our time, people generally separate us into different social categories based on which set of fifteen years we were born in, and therefore which significant events we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. Those of us who are currently teenagers or young adults are often considered “Generation Z.” In my experience, being part of Gen Z is hard. I often hear people from older generations talking about us as if we’re a conundrum or a nuisance. But on the other hand, I’m also tempted to find fault with their generations. Sadly, as humans we have a tendency to put down people who are different from us, often as a way to try to make ourselves feel better. But this is not just unproductive, it’s also unkind. Thankfully, there’s a way out of this judging and finger-pointing. The most helpful thing I’ve heard about my generation came from a woman at my church who was praying for me a few Sundays ago. She’s part of Gen X, and she said, “Do you know how God sees Gen Z? As people made in His image.” That declaration startled me. As her words sank into my heart, I began to feel relieved, calm, and hopeful. We are not a conundrum to God. We are not a nuisance. He made us on purpose, and He understands us completely—even when we don’t understand ourselves. And He loves us, just as much as He loves every single generation that came before us, and every single generation that will come after us. His love is so great that He was willing to die for us so that we could be restored to relationship with Him. And He is working in our generation, drawing us close to Himself and empowering us to be part of the good work of His kingdom. While thinking about people in terms of generations can sometimes be helpful as we look for ways to understand ourselves and those around us, I don’t think that what generation we’re part of is the most important thing about us. We need Jesus to save us just as desperately as the other generations do. And when Jesus returns and makes all things new, everyone who has put their trust in Him will be raised from their graves like He was, and we will live forever with Him in restored creation. Then, we will be in perfect community with God and with all our brothers and sisters in Christ, including those who were born thousands of years before us! We will finally understand each other and be able to enjoy one another freely—without shame or fear getting in the way. Even as we look forward to this glorious day, we can catch glimpses of the restoration Jesus is bringing in our hearts and in our relationships here and now. As we rest in His love and kindness to us, we can see ourselves and everyone around us the way God sees us: as people made in His image, people He loves. • Hannah Howe • How have you heard people talking about your generation? What things have been helpful, and what things have been unhelpful? • Why do you think we’re often tempted to be resentful or overly critical of other generations? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this, confessing any sins that come to mind and asking for His help to see others as He sees them—and love them as He loves them. (It might be helpful to read Matthew 9:36.) • Sometimes, we can feel like our very identity is defined by what generation we were born into, but that’s not how God sees us. He is the One w

READ: JEREMIAH 18:1-6; EZEKIEL 36:26; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 Tamora’s orange eyes were wide with excitement. Today, Grandmother would teach her how to weave a sala basket, a rite of passage in her village on a planet in the Cloudina Galaxy. Tamora watched Grandmother’s wrinkled purple hands lift a bucket filled with water and colorful qasab reeds out of the wash basin. “Watch carefully now,” said Grandmother. She demonstrated how to bend the reeds and explained the ancient weaving pattern, more intricate than any Tamora had learned before. Soon Tamora was ready to begin her own basket. “That’s the way,” Grandmother said after Tamora had completed several rows. Tamora beamed and then returned to weaving, stopping only now and then to ask Grandmother for help. After a while, Tamora said, “This reed is not bending well.” She was holding the last one from the pile Grandmother had made when they began. “Let me see.” Grandmother inspected the blue reed. “This reed is too dry. You need to put it back in the water and get a different one. It’s important to keep your reeds wet.” After switching reeds, Tamora began weaving easily again. Grandmother smiled and leaned back. “When I weave with qasab reeds, I’m often reminded of what the Maker does for us.” Tamora raised her eyebrows as Grandmother took a reed from the basin. With a twinkle in her eye, she continued, “We can all be like that dry, unbendable reed, stubbornly insisting on our own way instead of trusting our Maker to guide and shape us. But just like a basket weaver wets unbendable reeds to work with them, the Maker’s Spirit softens our hearts in the waters of His love and sacrifice for us, making us humble and pliable. Then, He can form us into people who love well.” “The Maker sounds like a potter,” said Tamora. “My friend Gamal was telling me that dry, hard clay can be made soft and moldable again by soaking it in water. Then the potter can shape it into something beautiful and purposeful.” “Indeed,” said Grandmother. “Every time you look at your basket, you can remember the Maker’s presence and love in your life. Because you and I belong to Him, let us be like damp reeds or soft clay, trusting Him to shape us.” • A. W. Smith • If you know Jesus, how have you seen Him change and mold you? In what ways do you love God and other people more than when you began your journey with God? (Matthew 22:36-40) …O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 14:23; JOHN 15:5-9 I love God and value my relationship with Him, but I have periods in my life when I struggle to make time to focus on being with Him. I do really well when I have a lot of structure surrounding my own faith. This was great when I was in college and I had built-in daily chapels, church on Sunday, and a weekly Bible study with my dorm floor. After I graduated I lost some of that built-in structure, and now I find it more difficult to make time to focus on God’s presence. It can be helpful to think about my relationship with God like other relationships in my life. I love my friends, family, and husband, but spending quality time with them doesn’t happen automatically. It takes intentional planning and time. It’s similar with my relationship with God. We see this truth in Scripture. Many times in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus sought out quiet time to pray and speak to God the Father because He loves Him. Sometimes this involved getting up early in the morning or walking away from a crowd to climb up a mountain. Jesus also went to the temple to be with God’s people and hear Scripture being read aloud. Even when Jesus was hanging on the cross, He cried out to the Father multiple times, communicating until the very end. And when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, God the Father sent us the Holy Spirit so He can be with us all the time, whether we’re intentionally focusing on His presence or not. He loves us so much that He never leaves our side. The way Jesus prioritized His relationship with the Father is a great reminder to me of the importance of spending time giving God my intentional focus. This time could be used in prayer, serving others, learning, spending time with God’s people, tending to creation, or lots of other ways. But I know myself, and if I’m not purposefully setting aside time to focus on God’s presence with me, that time gets gobbled up by something else in my life. Just like my other relationships, my relationship with God flourishes with intentional time, energy, and planning. Remember, Jesus loves us, and He made the way to be with us always. He enables us to spend time focusing on His loving presence. And that’s always time well spent. • Naomi Zylstra • If we know Jesus, He is always with us through the Holy Spirit. So, in every moment of our lives, we can be sensitive to His presence. Additionally, there are many ways we can set aside time to focus on His presence with us, including prayer, church, communion, music, time in nature, Bible studies, etc. What are some ways you like to focus on Jesus’s presence? [Jesus] went up into the hills by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23b (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 1:14-19; PSALM 33:6; ISAIAH 40:26 BOOM! POW! BANG! The thunderous echoes of a fireworks display ring out. The noise isn’t always great, but fireworks sure are beautiful when they light up the night sky. Gasps of “ohh” and “ahh” can be heard as rockets whistle through the air and burst into umbrellas of brilliant, jewel-like sparks. The sky fills with many brightly colored lights, making the dark almost as light as day. And though fireworks shoot up high into the atmosphere, they don’t hold a candle (pun intended) to the shining stars above. When God sees our fireworks, maybe He smiles and says, “Quite impressive, folks, but have you considered the lights I put in the sky? They can be seen all over the earth. And they don’t die out in a matter of seconds.” When we look up at the heavens, we get a glimpse of just how huge and vast the universe is. What an awesome reminder of how great and powerful God is— and how much He loves us. He created the sun and moon and countless stars for His glory and pleasure, and also for us. He provided great spheres of fire and reflection so we could have lights in our sky, not just on festive days when fireworks illuminate the night, but every day. The sun, moon, and stars—and everything else God created—remind us of the love of our Creator God. It’s hard to fathom that the all-powerful Maker, who made the “starry host by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6), is the same God who became human and lived among us. His great love for us compelled Him to conquer sin and death so we could live with Him forever. And the only way to do this was by laying down His own life. Jesus, the Light of the world, was laid in the darkness of the grave—for us. But after three days, He rose again. And now Jesus sits enthroned over all creation. He directs the sun and moon and stars, and He is intimately involved in the details of our lives. He beckons us to put our trust in Him and experience “the inexpressible and glorious joy” of knowing the One who formed the stars—and formed us (1 Peter 1:8). So today, let’s take a moment to behold Jesus’s beautiful universe and be reminded of His immense love for us and for all of creation. • A. W. Smith • Even though the universe is broken by sin and its effects, we can still see glimpses of God’s goodness in what He has made, and we can also look forward to the day Jesus will return and make all things new. According to Romans 8:18-25, how does God’s love impact creation? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 119:73; 139:1-12; John 1:1-5; 8:12; Colossians 1:15-20.) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 6:25-34; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-21 Lots of things in life can feel important in the moment. You might worry about your grades. You might think you need the most fashionable clothes. Maybe you feel pressure to be the best athlete on your team. Maybe you want to learn to drive and get your license and a car as soon as you can…but what happens when things don’t turn out like you’d hoped? When your grades slip, when you don’t have the money for all the things you want, when you don’t perform well in your sport, when you don’t have the independence you thought you’d have…you might start to worry. You might feel like you’re not good enough. When our circumstances leave us feeling disappointed and frustrated with life, what can we do? We can turn to Jesus. He sees our disappointments, and He grieves our losses with us. And He also reminds us that life is about so much more than all of that. You don’t have to have the nicest clothes to try to fit in. After all, true friends should accept you for who you are, not based on what you wear. And although it’s good to do well in school, you don’t have to get the best grades. Sports can be great, but winning isn’t the most important thing either. Milestones like driving sometimes come with pressure, but you don’t have to do everything in the timeframe anyone else thinks is right—you can go at your own pace. God has given you life, and He invites you to live it with Him. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, you can know the God who made the entire universe, and who made you specifically, and you can be part of the good work of His kingdom. There is so much more to this life than all the little things we find ourselves concerned with moment by moment. Things like grades and clothes are temporary, but God’s kingdom is eternal. You can trust your life to Him and know it will be more meaningful and purposeful than you could have imagined. • Bethany Acker • What kinds of things have made you feel disappointed or frustrated lately? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about it. He feels your hurts and grieves your losses alongside you. • Especially when things don’t seem to be going right, how could it be freeing to rely on God to give purpose and meaning to your life and to provide for all your needs? What might it look like for you to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”? (Matthew 6:33; 22:36-40) “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25b (CSB) 

READ: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11; JAMES 1:19-20 I had just entered my first summer in Romania as a missionary, and one morning I discovered a stranger at my apartment door spouting words I didn’t understand. To give some background information, the city had recently turned off the hot water to our apartment buildings, and this lasted for a month over that season. Lack of hot water created a challenge when it came to taking showers. So, instead of using the shower, my roommate and I decided to run cold water from the faucet into the bathtub, and then pour in hot water we boiled on the stove to create a comfortable temperature for baths. It seemed to work—until my downstairs neighbor appeared banging angrily on our door. I couldn’t understand much of what he said except “water” and “down.” Then I realized the water that was draining from our bathtub had been leaking from the pipes into his apartment below. Before, the shower must not have had the same effect since the slow stream of water dripped down the drain gradually. But a full bathtub being un-stoppered, sending gallons of water out all at once? I grasped how this might cause a problem. So, during the rest of that month, I would drain the tub throughout an entire day, pulling the plug out and then plunging it right back in over and over. It must have worked; the downstairs neighbor never returned. To solve the problem of the leaky bathtub, I needed to take on a posture of humble listening. Jesus Himself listened to questions from His disciples, challenges from Pharisees, and cries from those longing to be healed—and He still listens to us today. When we trust in Jesus and all He’s done to bring us into a relationship with God, He also empowers us to take on His humility. Even though Jesus had all the answers (He is God, after all) He still took time to listen and respond to people’s needs. He humbled Himself even to the point of dying on the cross for us so He could meet our greatest need: to be rescued from sin and death. When we consider others’ needs—as Jesus considers ours—we can show the loving humility of Christ. • Allison Wilson Lee • How is a listening posture also a Christlike posture? How could remembering that Jesus listens to us make it easier for us to listen to others? • If what we’re doing hurts others, God calls us to stop, listen, and carefully consider how to change what we’ve been doing. Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you discern God’s guidance as you navigate situations like these? In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV) 

READ: ROMANS 6:4-11; COLOSSIANS 3:1-4 Do you have a favorite book or movie that you like to read or watch over and over? Do you ever find yourself wishing you were part of the story? It can be fun to get wrapped up in a good story and imagine ourselves in it. And let’s not forget the epic story we’re already part of—the story of how Jesus saved the world from sin and death and how He will one day make everything right. That story is real, and it’s the greatest story of all. To understand where we are in this massive story, it can help to think about it in four main parts: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. In the beginning, God created all things good—including us. But at the fall, when humanity rejected God to go our own way, sin and brokenness came into the world and fractured God’s creation in deep ways. God was heartbroken, yet His love for us and for the rest of His creation was undaunted. He was determined to bring about redemption so His people could be near Him, and all creation could be made whole once again. The way He brought this redemption is the climax of the story: Jesus, who is God the Son, came and lived among us. When Jesus willingly died on the cross, He conquered sin. And when He rose from the dead, He vanquished death, so everyone who trusts in Him could have eternal life. Now, we live as forgiven people in this in-between space after Jesus has come the first time, before He comes again. We’re looking forward to the final restoration Jesus will bring when He returns, raises us from the dead, rights every wrong, and heals every brokenness. And as we wait, we have purposeful work to do. God invites us to join with Him in sharing the good news of His great story, all the while bringing restoration to the areas of brokenness we find around us. It’s amazing that we are part of God’s story, and that it’s all true. It’s not a story about made-up characters—Jesus is real, and His story is our story. When things are looking bleak, we can remember how the story ends: with Jesus getting rid of sin forever and making the whole world new. In a way, every story connects to this great one, echoing themes like betrayal, rescue, self-sacrifice, true love, and beautiful restoration. As we face the ups and downs of life in a broken world, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s story has the best ending of all. • A. W. Smith • Have you ever thought of your life as part of God’s epic story? How could this truth give us comfort and purpose through good times and bad? (For more about God’s story, see our "Know Jesus" page.) Since we have been united with him [Jesus] in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. Romans 6:5 (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 34:15-18; 139:7-12; HEBREWS 13:5 When it all slips away When I am left alone The darkness surrounds me I feel like hiding When it all gets too heavy When life is hard to bear The world is too much for me I remember I’m not alone My Savior is with me He knows my pain My God does not forsake me No matter how hard life gets God loves me and heals me He helps me when I’m weak God is always near me I don’t need to be afraid • Bethany Acker • Even when we feel alone and overwhelmed, God is always there. He will never forsake us in our pain. He is always eager to help us. Can you think of a time you were comforted by God’s presence with you? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. If nothing comes to mind, you can ask Him for this anytime. He loves to answer these prayers. • Jesus invites us to tell Him about all the things that are weighing on us. He sits beside us in our pain and weeps with us. Consider taking a moment to bring Him any burdens that come to mind. • In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to, people who will listen to you and help shoulder your heavy burdens and bring them to Jesus? (Galatians 6:2) If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (CSB) 

READ: MATTHEW 25:35-40; LUKE 2:15-20 Do you ever get that bored, depressed, or letdown feeling after Christmas ends? When all the fun and festivities come to a close and we wait for the new year to begin, it can be a bit, well, boring. But boredom can be a really cool opportunity to show Jesus’s love. Think about your community. Other people may be feeling bored, depressed, or let down too, especially people who can’t get around easily, like those who are sick and can’t leave their home, whether that be an apartment, a house, an assisted living residence, or a hospital. Sometimes, these people in our communities get lots of attention before Christmas—carolers, visitors, programs, and so on. But when Christmas is over, they may be extra lonely. If you have some extra time, one option could be doing some research and finding out the best ways to serve these people at a time when they may be especially forgotten. In a way, getting out in our communities and showing Jesus’s love has some similarities to what the shepherds did when Jesus was born. After seeing the baby Jesus—after the very first Christmas—they went and told others about Him, declaring His love for the world. So during this year’s after-Christmas lull, consider how you might show Jesus’s amazing love to your neighbors! Christmas may be over, but we still have the opportunity to remember how Jesus came to save us, and we can keep sharing His love with others. • A. W. Smith • What people in your community (groups or individuals) might be feeling especially lonely during the after-Christmas lull? Are you feeling especially lonely this year? Consider taking a moment to ask God for ideas of ways to share Jesus’s love with the neighbors around you. • If you’d like to help people in your community, do you know of any organizations that are already helping? How could you find out more about them and learn from the work that’s already being done? After doing some research or talking to people from an organization, if you decide this is a place you’d like to serve, follow the steps for volunteering that they’ve set out. In this very tangible way, you can show the love of Jesus in your community! After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. Luke 2:17 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 2:1-12; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:15; JAMES 1:17 Galumph, galumph. The magi had been traveling for weeks. Nothing but sand under their feet and stars in the sky above. Though the heavens were scattered with twinkling stars, one stood out amongst them all. The star. The one leading them to the King of the Jews. It would be unthinkable to come empty-handed. So, before setting out, they had contemplated what gifts would befit this king. “Gold, of course,” confirmed one. “Frankincense would honor his purity,” suggested another. A third observed, “Great power brings great responsibility—and suffering. It is troublesome to be a ruler. Myrrh would sweeten his reign.” So, it was settled. The magi were on their way, pursuing the mysterious star that had appeared many months before. By now the sky had darkened, and the guiding star directed them. Slowly they advanced, until they reached a humble abode on the outskirts of Bethlehem town. Cautiously, they alighted from their saddles, and taking their costly cargo, made their way to the entrance. The carpenter Joseph invited them inside. The Child, asleep in His mother’s arms, soon awakened and with a wide-eyed expression watched the magi humbly bow before Him. They presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. For a few minutes, the room was filled with an unmistakable radiance. Slowly, the magi rose from their knees and, filled with wonder, stepped quietly out the door and into the night. • Jarm Del Boccio • Today’s story is how one author imagines the events described in Matthew 2:1-12. Consider taking some time to read this passage for yourself and imagine what it might have been like for the magi to search for and find Jesus (probably months or years after his birth). What do you notice? What questions do you have? • While the Bible doesn’t tell us a lot about the magi, some believe they were a priestly tribe of an ancient people called the Medes, in the part of the world where Iran and Iraq are now. The magi were very well educated in astronomy and mathematics and very powerful politically. One of the main jobs of the magi was to crown kings. So, by causing a star to rise, God led these ancient magi to proclaim Jesus as King, and their gifts reflect this. Why is it important for us to know that Jesus is the true King? • How is Jesus different from other kings? (Hint: Read all of Matthew 2 and look at King Herod.) • Have you ever wondered why the magi chose to bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus? While the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically, we can find some interesting connections throughout Scripture (Exodus 30:6-9, 34-38; 30:22-33; 1 Kings 7:48-51). For example, the only other place in the Bible where we find the combination of myrrh and frankincense is in Song of Songs 4:6, 14 in the context of the king and his bride. Jesus is the King of Kings, and the church (all Christians everywhere) is His bride. Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) so that we could be forgiven and united with Him as His bride, and so that His good reign could extend over all creation. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2 (NLT)

READ: GENESIS 4:2-5; EXODUS 3:1-4; 1 SAMUEL 16:11-13; LUKE 2:8-20 Shepherds couldn’t even testify in a court of law. That’s how much people looked down on us. They assumed we were liars. I hated that. Not to mention we were too dirty and “unclean” to enter the temple because we cared for animals, dealing with their manure and blood. But even worse was how people avoided me. They seemed to forget everyone needed lambs for the temple sacrifices. And sheep need to be led and protected. They sometimes do incredibly stupid things. Whenever I complained, my older brother reminded me of our ancestors. “Remember Abel and Moses? They kept sheep. So did Jacob. And David was a shepherd before he was king.” Try telling that to the townspeople who held their noses when I passed by! Then one night, everything changed. We were out in the fields tending our flocks when suddenly a bright light split open the night sky. I froze. Some of the other shepherds fell to the ground in fear. My brother trembled as he drew me close. “An angel,” he whispered. Then the angel spoke: “Don’t be afraid!” How was that even possible? My knees couldn’t stop shaking. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” All people? Even shepherds? Even me? Suddenly, a whole multitude of angels appeared. They were singing, “Glory to God in highest heaven.” Then the angels disappeared as quickly as they’d come. But they’d given us instructions. Where to go. What to look for. “Hurry!” my brother took hold of my arm. “We’ve got to go to Bethlehem.” I protested, “But what about the sheep? Won’t they be in danger?” He shook his head. “If God tells us to go, we need to go. He can protect our sheep until we get back. The Messiah is here!” • Carol Raj • This story is how one author imagines what it might’ve been like for the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. Jesus, the Savior of the world and bringer of peace, came for all people—including those society casts out. What can this Bible passage reveal about who God is and how He sees us? • Like the shepherds might’ve worried about leaving the sheep, we can often fall into believing our responsibilities matter more than resting in the good news of Jesus’s love and forgiveness that He’s given us through His death and resurrection. God gives us opportunities to experience His vast love for us, but we’re often tempted to prioritize other things. What might those things be for you? Consider taking a moment to pray about whatever comes to mind. You can rely on the Holy Spirit to help you surrender all these things to God and receive what He has for you. “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14 (NLT) 

READ: LUKE 15:11-32; ROMANS 5:6-8; 15:7; 1 JOHN 4:9 As a kid, the one thing I wanted for Christmas—every Christmas—was a puppy. Sometimes a collie, sometimes a German shepherd, sometimes a cocker spaniel. But always a puppy. Every year I got what was second on my list. One year it was the doll I wanted. One year it was a wristwatch. But never my puppy. Looking back on those days, it’s obvious to me that it wasn’t a puppy I wanted at all. It was love. Someone to happily greet me—no matter what mischief I had been into that morning. Someone to follow me everywhere—even when my best friend wasn’t speaking to me. Love. It wasn’t until years later that I learned every Christmas is a reminder of love. Real love. Love that will never die. Love that accepts me with all my faults. Love that will never let go. The love of Jesus. God took on human flesh and lived among us. He humbled Himself to be born where the animals were kept. Imagine! Livestock bleating and pooping and chewing their cuds. It was probably noisy and smelly, but He came with one purpose in mind: to die on the cross. An excruciating death. For me! For you! For people who did not deserve to even untie the straps of His sandals (Luke 3:16). He would lay down His life. But that wouldn’t be the end. After three days in a tomb, He would rise from the grave, defeating sin and death so everyone who trusts in Him could live with God forever. That love remains. The love of Jesus for this world He created and bodily inhabited—and will return to one day. His love for you. His love for me. Much greater than the love any puppy or any person could give. A love that will never die. A love we can never lose. • Carol Raj • Can you remember a time you felt truly loved and accepted? What was it like? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. • We all want love. We want to know we are loved. We want to be told we are loved. We need to believe we are loved. The good news is, that’s who Jesus is for us. He assures us of God’s love. God longs to accept us into His family, and He made this possible through Jesus’s death and resurrection. His desire is for everyone to know His unending love through trusting in Jesus (Psalm 136:1; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). If you want to know more, check out our "Know Jesus" page. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) 

READ: MICAH 5:1-4; MATTHEW 2:1-6; LUKE 2:1-15 Are you a detail-oriented person? Some people are, some people aren’t, and some people—like me—can be if it’s something they care about. Did you know God cares about the details? All the way back in the writings of the prophet Micah, He left us specific details about a ruler who would be coming. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This ruler of Israel is Jesus. Even though this verse was written hundreds of years before Jesus came, Micah says the promised ruler would be born in Bethlehem… and that’s exactly where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1). Even more specific than that, Micah outlines that He would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah. There were two different cities called Bethlehem—one in the north, near Nazareth, and one in the south, near Jerusalem. Bethlehem Ephrathah is the one near Jerusalem, and it had special significance as the town of David (Luke 2:4). Joseph, Jesus’s earthly father, was a descendent of David, and that’s why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem when Caesar decreed that everyone must be registered in a census. Isn’t it amazing how God works through all the details to unfold His great story? Micah described a ruler who would come from Bethlehem Ephrathah and “shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord” (Micah 5:4). Approximately 700 years later, Jesus revealed that He is the Good Shepherd, who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Since Jesus died for us and rose from the grave, everyone who puts their trust in Him gets to look forward to the day our great Ruler-Shepherd will return, and we “will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4). And even now, we can rest knowing that God cares about every detail—in the Bible and in our lives. • Kimberly Brokish • How can looking at Old Testament promises help us understand who Jesus is and what His life, death, and resurrection mean for us? (If you want to know more, check out our "Know Jesus" page.) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 (NIV) 

READ: 2 KINGS 6:8-23; PSALM 135:5-6 Wars, earthquakes, crime—all kinds of awful things are going on in the world. Sometimes it seems like there’s only bad news. But when things look bleak in our broken world, we can have hope as we remember that Jesus is coming back one day, and when He does, He’s going to destroy sin and death forever, and the world will no longer be a scary place. Instead, Jesus will make everything new and beautiful. Even now, He is working all things “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” and all along the way, He is transforming us to be more and more like Him (Romans 8:28-29). Yes, the sin and death we see in our world are powerful forces. But they are not nearly as powerful as God. That’s something Elisha’s servant witnessed firsthand in 2 Kings 6. A strong force of soldiers with horses and chariots were about to attack Elisha, and his servant was terrified—until God opened his eyes so he could see the large number of angels God had sent to guard them. In a similar way, when we see all the chaos and evil things happening around us, it can seem like the world is beyond repair, like there’s no hope. But the One who is in us is greater than all the powers of evil (1 John 4:4). When things look dark, the Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus will never abandon us, and He will make everything right one day. Because He is always with us, we don’t need to be afraid. We can trust Him no matter what happens. While we shouldn’t close our eyes to the problems in the world, we can also open our eyes to the power and promises of Jesus. He won’t ever leave us alone in this dark world. He will comfort us and strengthen us to take part in the good work He is doing, even in the places that seem broken beyond repair. Jesus is working all things for His good purposes, and because He died on the cross and rose from the grave, we can know that His victory is certain. • A. W. Smith • What things scare you the most about our world? Who are trusted people you could talk to about those things—such as friends, parents, pastors, therapists, teachers, etc.? • What are some tangible ways you’d like to show the love of Jesus in the midst of the brokenness of our world? …the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4b (NIV) 

READ: LUKE 2:4-7; JOHN 1:1-18 Christmas tends to get a lot of hype as far as holidays go. I love the holiday personally. It’s a time when I get to celebrate with my family, share presents, and eat good food. It’s also a time I get to remember the story about how God became a human. After living through 25 Christmases, I’ve noticed the same themes tend to pop up. I hear stories about Mary and Joseph and how difficult their journey was. I hear about shepherds, magi, or angels. Of course, Jesus is the star of it all—well, not the literal star the magi followed, but still. Baby Jesus is the center of our attention in the manger. As the song “Away in a Manger” goes, “The cattle are lowing / the Baby awakes / but little Lord Jesus / no crying He makes.” But that’s not true. Jesus did cry. He probably cried a lot during the first few years of His life. Because He was fully human. That’s the amazing part of the Christmas story! God becoming a human being and living among other humans. He cried, was hungry, felt sad, got tired…all the same experiences we have. To me, this is what makes Christmas so miraculous. Yes, Jesus’s conception was miraculous too—He was conceived through the Holy Spirit, not by a human father (Matthew 1:20, 25; Luke 1:34-35). But the fact that God came down to earth to be with humankind and live a human life amazes me. God the Father sending God the Son to earth, as a human, shows how much love and compassion our God has. And Jesus wanted to come, not just to live among us, but ultimately to die on the cross in our place—and then rise from the grave—so that everyone who trusts in Him can live with God forever. He loves us that much. Other gods of the day would demand human sacrifices, but we have a God who became the sacrifice Himself, on our behalf. • Naomi Zylstra • Have you ever thought about what it means that Jesus became human? Why is Jesus being fully human and fully God central to the meaning of Christmas? • What is something Jesus did in Scripture that humanizes Him to you? The Bible tells us Jesus experienced crying, hunger, sadness, tiredness…He did not withhold Himself from any part of human life. (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 53:2-3; Matthew 26:36-39; Mark 11:12; 14:32-36; Luke 4:1-2; 19:41; 22:39-44; John 4:6; 11:35; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7.) The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 62:5-12; MATTHEW 2:1-11; LUKE 2:1-7 From the time we’re young, Christmas can leave us feeling disappointed. As a little kid, you might have longed for a certain gift and gone without it. You might have hoped a family member would be around to celebrate the holiday season with you and found that they were too busy with work or they weren’t able to travel because of weather or sickness. Maybe you hoped Christmas would be more magical than it was, and you ended up feeling disappointed and hurt. As we get older, Christmas can still disappoint us. After all the special foods are eaten, the favorite stories are shared, and the presents get unwrapped, we might be left with a hollow feeling, like “That’s it?” It seems like Christmas should continue on and be something more. When we look closely at the Christmas story, we find that the birth of Jesus was a disappointment from many perspectives. People expected the Messiah—God’s promised Rescuer—to be a great and mighty king. No one expected Him to be born into a poor, unremarkable family and laid in a manger. It’s not surprising then that God works through disappointments. So, when we feel let down during the holiday season, we can take comfort in God’s presence with us—His humble and unexpected presence. After all, Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When the people in our lives fail to show up in the ways we hope they will, and when traditions fail to be enough, we can lean in to Jesus. He will always be there for us, surprising us with all that He does for us. When gifts leave us disappointed, we can look to the perfect gift He gave us—Himself. Because Jesus came and lived among us, ultimately dying on the cross for us and rising from the grave, we can know that God will always be there for us, in the busy holiday season and all throughout the year. God loves us, and no matter what disappointments we experience, we can celebrate Him this Christmas. • Emily Acker • What are some disappointments you’ve experienced around Christmas time, either this year or in the past? Consider taking a moment to lament, sharing these disappointments with Jesus. • Maybe this Christmas isn’t like you expected or hoped it would be, but it can still be good. God helps us be present and enjoy what there is to be enjoyed, and He often surprises us with good gifts. What good gifts might God be inviting you to enjoy this holiday season? (James 1:17) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) 

READ: LUKE 1:26-56; 2:1-35; 1 TIMOTHY 4:12 In Luke 1, when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared out of nowhere, Mary was probably no more than sixteen. As if the angel wasn’t terrifying enough, he also brought distressing news: she—still a virgin and engaged to be married—would soon become pregnant with the Son of the Most High God. Talk about rocking your world! Things were different then, and Mary would not have been considered too young to become a mother, as Jewish women often became engaged in their teens. Yet Mary was understandably “confused and disturbed” (Luke 1:29). Just imagine being in her shoes…what would you say? To Joseph? To your parents? To anyone? I mean, angels only spoke to prominent people, right? Yet Mary’s response to Gabriel revealed a remarkable faith and a humble heart: “I am the Lord’s servant,” she replied, “May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38). To understand how astonishing Mary’s faith was, let’s take a moment to contrast her response with the responses of others (adults, no less) who God also called to do frightening tasks. For example, Moses and Gideon reacted with protests and excuses when God called them to lead His people and deliver them from their oppressors (Exodus 3–4; Judges 6–7). On the other hand, when God offered Mary the opportunity to participate in His story of deliverance, she not only responded to God willingly, she also offered Him her heartfelt praise. Listen as Mary breaks out in song while visiting her cousin Elizabeth: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!…For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me” (Luke 1:46-49). The next time we’re faced with frightening circumstances, let’s turn to God in faith as Mary did, relying on God’s power instead of looking at our own limits, and join in her joyful song. • G. Kam Congleton • When God invites us to be part of His good work of deliverance and restoration, it can often be frightening. Yet, through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to do everything He calls us to do. There is great joy in saying “yes” to His invitations! How could Mary’s story, and the way God did seemingly impossible things in her life, give us courage when we face frightening situations? Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38a (NLT) 

READ: GALATIANS 4:4-5; REVELATION 21:1-5 When He came the first time The world was in dire need Arriving as a newborn baby Not atop a gallant steed This might come to some’s surprise The way He came to us But, Jesus comes with power and love Not with pompous fuss When He came the first time He changed the world forever Now those who trust in Him are His And His love for us He will not sever But, do you know something? He’s coming back again! Just imagine how the world will change Then • Molly McTernan • The word advent means “important arrival.” In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many Christians observe the season of Advent as a time to remember how Jesus came to earth the first time as a baby, and how He will come a second time to make all things new and dwell with His people forever. Even if the Christmas story is familiar to you, consider taking some time to think about how Jesus came the first time(Matthew 1:18–2:15; Luke 2:1-7). In what ways was His arrival surprising? Why do you think God the Father decided to send God the Son in such a humble way? • What changed after Jesus came and lived among us, ultimately dying on the cross for us and rising from the grave? And how will the world change even more when Jesus returns? (Find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (CSB) 

READ: ISAIAH 9:1-7; MATTHEW 1:18-23 God with us. Closer than our very breath, YH-WH, “I am,” here (Exodus 3:14). From the seeking of humanity in the Garden of Eden, when we first sinned and God called to us, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). To the seeking in the desert, when the Lord spoke to Hagar and she said: “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:8-13). To the pivotal moment of Love come down in the manger. “Immanuel…‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). All the way to the cross, where Immanuel gave up His life and said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). The whole of history is this beautiful chase. God creating, bending, heart-rending. God reaching, earth crying, hearts breaking, long waiting until the promise was fulfilled: God with us here, now, always. You can trace the line of promises kept from the Garden to the Flood, from the Manger to the Cross, from the Resurrection to the Ascension. And then, a mighty, rushing wind; tongues of holy flame settling on and always in—the Holy Spirit with us (Acts 2:2-4). Our Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Comforter—God in us (John 14:16-17, 26). God with us wherever we go, God in our midst, God dwelling in us, God among us. All we need, always, even as we wait until He comes again. Lord, thank you for coming to us in our need and brokenness. You came from glory and perfection to mire and destruction. You came as the Light in the darkness to set the captives free and to dwell among us—and in us. You are Immanuel. We are not forsaken. We are not alone. There is no need for striving, for working to attain—in Jesus, it’s already done. Risen from the dead, coming back again. The greatest gift is God with us: You came for love. Today, may we rest and believe that You are more than enough. • Savannah Coleman • At Christmas, we remember how Jesus came and lived among us. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). How can looking at God’s pursuit of us throughout the Bible help us more fully understand the significance of Jesus’s coming? How has Jesus revealed God’s never-ending love for us? (Find out more about why Jesus came on our "Know Jesus" page.) • If you want to dig deeper, read Joshua 1:9; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 28:20; John 1:5, 14. “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 (NLT) 

READ: ISAIAH 9:1-7; MATTHEW 1:18-23 God with us. Closer than our very breath, YH-WH, “I am,” here (Exodus 3:14). From the seeking of humanity in the Garden of Eden, when we first sinned and God called to us, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). To the seeking in the desert, when the Lord spoke to Hagar and she said: “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:8-13). To the pivotal moment of Love come down in the manger. “Immanuel…‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). All the way to the cross, where Immanuel gave up His life and said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). The whole of history is this beautiful chase. God creating, bending, heart-rending. God reaching, earth crying, hearts breaking, long waiting until the promise was fulfilled: God with us here, now, always. You can trace the line of promises kept from the Garden to the Flood, from the Manger to the Cross, from the Resurrection to the Ascension. And then, a mighty, rushing wind; tongues of holy flame settling on and always in—the Holy Spirit with us (Acts 2:2-4). Our Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Comforter—God in us (John 14:16-17, 26). God with us wherever we go, God in our midst, God dwelling in us, God among us. All we need, always, even as we wait until He comes again. Lord, thank you for coming to us in our need and brokenness. You came from glory and perfection to mire and destruction. You came as the Light in the darkness to set the captives free and to dwell among us—and in us. You are Immanuel. We are not forsaken. We are not alone. There is no need for striving, for working to attain—in Jesus, it’s already done. Risen from the dead, coming back again. The greatest gift is God with us: You came for love. Today, may we rest and believe that You are more than enough. • Savannah Coleman • At Christmas, we remember how Jesus came and lived among us. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). How can looking at God’s pursuit of us throughout the Bible help us more fully understand the significance of Jesus’s coming? How has Jesus revealed God’s never-ending love for us? (Find out more about why Jesus came on our "Know Jesus" page.) • If you want to dig deeper, read Joshua 1:9; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 28:20; John 1:5, 14. “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 39:4-7; 90:1-17 When I was young, my family would visit my grandmother 750 miles away, and at night, she would sit with me on her lap and read from her Bible and tell stories of her life. She often said, “It wasn’t long ago I was your age.” I would look at her gray hair and wrinkles, in disbelief that she could think that. She was in her fifties. For me, a lifetime passed just waiting for Christmas. Fast forward to my senior year in high school. I was driving home from a school activity, thinking about my future and what I might want to do in college. I had always wanted to take ballet, but my parents never would pay for lessons. Should I take ballet in college? Then it occurred to me: I was 17, too old to start a career in ballet. Already, the chance to seize some of life’s opportunities had passed. In that sobering moment, I realized time gets spent whether or not we know how we want to spend it. As our time passes, opportunities come and go. But I know I get to spend eternity with God, who loves me so much He sent Jesus to die and rise again to make the way for me to dwell with Him forever. If we know Jesus, we have a confident hope that He will return to resurrect us from the dead so we can live with Him forever in restored creation. Because of that hope, we can participate in God’s kingdom here and now with joy instead of fear. After I realized how quickly time passes, I began thinking about how to best use the skills and interests God gave me to further His work and make the most of my time. The work God is doing is wonderful, and it’s a blessing to get to be part of it. We don’t know how long this life will be or when Jesus will return, but we do know that God is at work in every moment of our lives, and He invites and equips us to participate in that good work. • Ronica Stromberg • It can be disappointing to miss out on opportunities. But God is with us in these times, and our disappointments matter to Him. Have you been disappointed by a missed opportunity lately? Consider taking a moment to bring this to God in prayer. • God has given all of us skills, talents, and abilities that we can use as we participate in His kingdom. What skills, talents, and abilities has He given you? If you’re not sure, who is a trusted Christian who could help you find out—such as a pastor, parent, youth leader, or counselor? Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV) 

READ: LUKE 2:25-35 Long ago, God promised Simeon that before he died, he would see the Messiah. And so, Simeon waited. I imagine that, as he grew in years and felt his physical strength lessen, Simeon became weary of anticipating and expecting. The Bible tells us that Simeon looked forward to “Israel’s consolation” (Luke 2:25). No doubt Simeon saw the trials of the nation around him and wondered when God would finally fulfill His promise—when the Messiah would finally come and crush the enemy to the ground (Genesis 3:15). But still, Simeon waited. At some point in our lives, we all wait for something. Sometimes it’s a new job, a relationship, acceptance into college, physical healing, or new friends. Or maybe it’s simply waiting for God to reveal the next step in our lives. But because God is good, gracious, and sovereign, we can trust that He will be with us in the waiting. As we read through the stories in the Bible we see that, time and time again, whether it’s a covenant to an entire nation or a promise to a single person, our God tells the truth and keeps His word. We know that people don’t always keep their promises, and sometimes we have a hard time trusting because others have broken that trust in the past. But because of who God is and all that He has done, we can count on His words completely and fully. God didn’t leave Simeon in a time of expectation forever. In Luke 2:28 we see that one day Simeon finally held the newborn Messiah in his very own arms. As he looked into the face of Jesus Himself, Simeon lifted up praise to God, the Promise Keeper. • Katherine Billingsley • Can you think of a time you had to wait for something that was important to you? Are you in a time of waiting right now? Consider taking a moment to tell God about what you’re longing for. Even in the waiting, we can rest in His abiding love and constant presence with us. • It can be helpful to remember that, even if the things we long for don’t happen, we can rely on Jesus’s promise to return and make all things new. Then all our longings will be fulfilled in His wonderful presence (Revelation 21:1-5). How can we find comfort in the fact that God never breaks a promise? “…and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you.” Joshua 23:14b (CSB)  

READ: EPHESIANS 6:10-20 If you live in a part of the world where the winters get cold and snowy, you’re probably used to putting on layers of warm clothes before venturing outside. Hats, mittens, coats, and boots protect us from the cold and wind, and they can also help us understand today’s Bible passage. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul urges the Christians in Ephesus to “put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (verse 11). Paul goes on to describe each piece of God’s armor, echoing the words of Isaiah 59:17, when the Lord “put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.” This Old Testament passage ends with a promise: the Redeemer—who we now know is Jesus—would come to save everyone who turns from their sins, and God’s Spirit would never leave them. So, why do we need God’s armor if He has already come to redeem us and defeat sin and death for us? Well, until Jesus returns to fully restore our broken world, life can get pretty cold and harsh. But God doesn’t abandon us to shiver and get frost-bitten. He gives us His armor. In fact, Jesus gifts us Himself as our armor, inviting us to depend on who He is and what He’s done for us. Just like we need plenty of clothing for protection against winter weather, Christians have the armor of God to protect us from the lies of the enemy. Just like your hat protects your head and your gloves keep your hands warm, each piece of God’s armor protects us in a different way against the lies we might be tempted to believe. God’s armor reminds us we belong to Jesus and we don’t have to give in to any temptation we might face. Instead, we can rely on God’s power to live in a way that reflects our love for God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40). So today, whether it’s cold where you live or not, consider taking some time to reread Ephesians 6:10-20. As you do, think about each part of the armor. Notice how God compares truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—which are all given to us in the gospel—to various pieces of armor soldiers needed. And remember, you can rest knowing that, in Jesus, you have all the protection you need against the lies you might hear. • A. W. Smith • What questions do you have about the armor of God? What piece sticks out to you most today? • What lies do you tend to believe about yourself? How can God’s armor remind us of who we are in Jesus— how beloved and how empowered we truly are? (Ephesians 1:3-23) Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 25:16-18; 1 PETER 1:3-13 Lonely, sad, life isn’t what I hoped Desperate, scared, I feel alone No one is for me, I stand by myself Many are against me, I can’t face them I need mercy, need someone to help I need strength, need to be held I cannot go forward on my own I turn now to cry to You, my God When troubles are big, my heart sad I know You notice and You care When anxiety is great, fears large I know that You offer me peace Going forward, I need You with me Give me peace, show me mercy I need You here, my great God Do not leave me to handle all alone • Emily Acker • Today’s poem is written in the style of a lament psalm. Lament is the practice of honestly bringing our hurts to God, and it’s a vital part of the Christian life. God knows our hurts, and because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can freely bring them to Him in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). Lamenting reminds us that Jesus cares about our pain, and He’s going to do something about it—either now or when He returns to make all things new. Consider taking some time to write your own lament, telling God about the things that have left you feeling hurt, disappointed, frustrated, afraid, or demoralized lately. For more examples of lament psalms, check out Psalms 13, 38, 42, 43, 88, or 130. • We all go through times when our problems feel overwhelming and God feels far away. But as Christians, we can know that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). We can rest in this sure hope: that because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we belong to God and He is always with us. Do you have any favorite Bible passages that remind you of God’s nearness, love, and power in difficult times? • Have you ever felt depressed? Depression causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. God created the world good, but when humans went their own way against God, the result was death and decay and sickness—including depression. But God has not left us alone in our struggles. He has compassion on us, and He came to live among us and, ultimately, to heal the world of all brokenness. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have the sure hope that Jesus will return to restore His creation—and, as His forgiven followers, we will get to live with Him forever. Then we will finally be free from sin, death, and every kind of brokenness. As we wait for that glorious day, Jesus is with us. He identifies with us in our struggles, feels our sorrows as His own, and weeps alongside us. • God does not want us to face depression—or any other kind of brokenness—alone. Christians can bring each other hope and comfort in hard times, pointing each other to Jesus. When you are struggling, who can you reach out to? If you know someone who is hurting, how could you come alongside them? • If you have been feeling depressed, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a therapist, parent, pastor, or teacher? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his gre

READ: ACTS 2:42-47; 4:32-35; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:25-26 For a few years, my family and I lived near enough to our church’s meeting location that we could bike to church services. The youngest ones, too little to bike any distance, could ride in a bike trailer behind a grown-up’s bicycle. I was too big for the trailer, but I didn’t have a bike of my own. Sometimes I would try to keep up with my family on a scooter. That was hard work, though, and I couldn’t scooter fast enough to stay with the rest of the family for long. However, a couple at our church—Ted and Kim—noticed our dilemma and decided to help. They owned a bike that would suit my size, and they weren’t using it at the time. Ted and Kim didn’t ask my family to pay for the bike; they simply gave it to me. And thanks to that gift, my family enjoyed many hours of outdoor time, including biking to church together. In the book of Acts, we see people during the time of the early church who were radically changed by the forgiveness and new life they were experiencing in Jesus, and they shared what they had with one another—just like how Ted and Kim gave that bike to me. The Christ followers described in Acts gave generously to one another, sharing in one another’s needs by helping to meet those needs. This kind of love for others is a gift from God, the natural overflow of His enormous love for us (1 John 4:19). As we consider how to live out our faith in Jesus, the One who rescued us from the punishment our sins deserve and brought us into a relationship with God, we can look to the early believers as an example—and then look for people in our lives who might need the exact thing we can share—all the while looking to Jesus, the One who is so generous to us. • Allison Wilson Lee • When Jesus came and lived among us, He not only showed that God cares about our needs, but He also identified with our needs. God humbled Himself to experience pain and lack firsthand, ultimately dying on the cross for us, so that we could be with Him forever and share in the abundance of the new heavens and earth with Him. As we wait in hope for Jesus’s return, we can catch glimpses of the restoration He is bringing when we see people who have been changed by His love and the power of His resurrection who are giving generously to one another. Can you think of a time someone stepped in to help when you had a need? What was that like? • Consider taking a moment to pray, thanking God for His generous love and asking Him for ideas of how you could share with someone who could benefit from what you have to offer. All the believers…shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 (NLT) 

READ: ISAIAH 53; LUKE 2:1-21 Listen. Can you hear it? That whisper of hope on the horizon? The echoes of an infant King born in a manger. The culmination of hundreds of years of prophecy born in a tiny babe in Bethlehem— Immanuel, God with us. The rush of the season, the crush of life— expectations from within and without. How will we hear if we don’t choose to be still and listen? Advent is about hoping, waiting, rejoicing. Being present to the One who presented His One and Only Son as the one-time atonement for our sins. Being present to the One who is after only one thing: your heart. Colorful lights wink on an evergreen tree. Let it be a reminder of the Light of the World, who gave up His life for you on a tree fashioned into a cross. But that thrill of hope? It’s not an illusion. The Light of the world is still shining—Jesus is alive! Love was born The veil was torn Death was defeated! Listen to the promise: He’s coming again. It may be hard right now. Your mind and body may be weary. Wait in hope! The One who came as a baby will, in the twinkling of an eye, come back to make all things new, to raise us from the dead, to make His home among His people. Then, we will be with Him forever. • Savannah Coleman • As we wait for Christmas day during the season of Advent (which means “important arrival”), we have an opportunity to turn our hearts to the coming of a baby in a manger, the Savior of the world. Beyond the birth of our King, Advent is also a time of preparation for His second coming, when He will return to earth and make all things new. Even as we wait for that glorious day, He calls us to be attentive to His presence with us, here and now. When Jesus took His final breath on the cross, at that very moment the veil in the temple (that separated the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was, from the rest of the temple) was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). Jesus came because God wanted to be with us, so much so that He was willing to die for us! Then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. Now nothing can separate us from His love. How can you prepare your heart to focus on the presence of God today? • If you want to dig deeper, read Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:22-23; John 8:12; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (NIV)  

READ: JOHN 14:6; TITUS 2:10-14 Have you ever helped decorate a Christmas tree? In many families, this is a yearly tradition, especially in the United States of America. Some families even like to add new ornaments every year! In some cases, each person will make their own ornament, or the family will go to a store together and have each family member pick out one new ornament. Then, they’ll put all the ornaments on the family Christmas tree. What really makes a tradition like this fun is the way the unique personality of each family member comes out in the ornaments each person makes or chooses—in how each person helps decorate the tree. In a way, Christians are kind of like Christmas tree ornaments. In Titus 2:10, Paul says that God’s people “adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.” To adorn basically means to decorate. Just like each Christmas tree ornament is different but decorates the same tree, each Christian has different talents, interests, and life circumstances, but we all represent the same truth—that Jesus loves us, and He died and rose again to save us from sin and death. God’s truth is already beautiful on its own, similar to how an evergreen tree is beautiful even without any ornaments. And yet, God calls us each to decorate His truth to help others see just how beautiful it is. In fact, God says we are part of the beauty of His gospel, or good news. The gospel isn’t just words on a page—the gospel is demonstrated in our lives. When we share what Jesus has done for us and use our gifts, personalities, and the various things we do to express our love for Him and others, we put the beauty of His love and grace on display for all to see. In Titus 2, Paul writes about all kinds of Christians, each with unique circumstances and abilities. If you know Jesus, you can show others His love wherever you are by using the gifts He has given you. So the next time you see a Christmas tree, think about how you can “adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things” (Titus 2:10) and point others to the beauty of Jesus. • A. W. Smith • Throughout the Bible, we see how God both calls and empowers His people to do good works (Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). It’s fun to notice how God made every person unique, and so the ways we do these good works will also be unique! What are some of your talents, gifts, and interests? How could those things in your life be like ornaments that decorate God’s message of hope in Jesus? …they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. Titus 2:10b (WEB) 

READ: MATTHEW 7:1-5; JAMES 4:11-12 It’s such an easy temptation. How quick we as humans are to make judgments by pointing a finger at someone else instead of looking at the problems in our own lives. It can be so easy to criticize the way other people live. When was the last time you found yourself judging others for the things they do that are different from what you think is right? It’s easier to point out other people’s shortcomings instead of our own, isn’t it? But that’s not how Jesus calls us to live. He died on the cross and rose from the grave for all sin—including yours—and He’s the only One who can judge. He calls us to focus on living our own lives and leave the judgment to Him. But what if we see somebody do something wrong? you might ask. We have to make judgments sometimes, don’t we? Yes, there are times when we need to confront others about wrongdoing or tell someone in authority so they can help—especially if a person’s actions will hurt themselves or someone else. But that doesn’t give us a right to put ourselves above someone else, to think of ourselves as better than other people because the sins they struggle with might be different from the sins we struggle with. The fact is, we all desperately need Jesus—He’s the only perfect person who’s ever lived. He’s the only One who never sinned, and His death and resurrection is the only way we can be forgiven and restored to relationship with God. Let’s not lose sight of this good news by pointing fingers at each other. Instead, let’s remember that God desires to bring us close to Himself, to heal our lives from sin, and to make us new. We need to leave the judging up to Him…because He is the only just Judge. • A. W. Smith • Are there sins you find easier to judge? Why do you think that is? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this. • How can knowing that Jesus is a just Judge give us comfort when we see things go so wrong in our broken world? • How can knowing that Jesus will right every wrong when He returns help us love our neighbors like Jesus loves us? (1 John 4:19) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you— who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12 (NIV) 

READ: LUKE 1:26-56 At the time of Jesus’s birth, most Jews would have known the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, including a young virgin from the town of Nazareth named Mary. Then one day, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that God was going to bring the Messiah into the world…through her. He said, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Through the Holy Spirit, a virgin would become pregnant. I wonder what happened after Gabriel left. Perhaps Mary sat down to think about what just happened. Maybe she needed a moment to process all this. Was she really chosen to give birth to the Messiah—the same Rescuer that had been promised generations before? Scripture doesn’t tell us what came flooding into her mind at that moment. Was she overwhelmed with excitement or filled with a calm sense of peace? What we do know is that the next thing Mary did was go to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She found Elizabeth pregnant, just as the angel had said, “Your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month” (verse 36). The two women rejoiced together! But after three months, Mary returned home to some very difficult situations. Here’s the problem: Mary was engaged to Joseph, and in ancient Jewish culture they would have been considered legally married even before living together and having sex. Within a few weeks of her return to Nazareth, people would have begun to realize that Mary was pregnant. In a Jewish culture following the law of Moses, she could have been stoned to death for sexual immorality. At the very least, she would’ve been an outcast. This also put Joseph’s reputation at risk because if he went ahead with the wedding, people would think he had violated God’s law of celibacy by having sex with Mary during the engagement period. Today, we can read the Bible and see how God provided for Mary, but in the moment, there was no way she could have known what would happen to her, and she probably experienced any number of doubts and fears. Still, Mary trusted God to see her through these difficult times. And God was faithful to take care of her and fulfill His promises. • Doug Velting • Imagine yourself in Mary’s place. What would you be thinking coming back to Nazareth? • Can you think of a time you were in a difficult situation and God helped you through it? Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!... For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.” Luke 1:46-49 (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 2:2-3; EXODUS 10:8-10; DEUTERONOMY 5:12-15; HEBREWS 4:9-11 Have you ever felt guilty for resting? I know I have. When my body tells me I need to take a break and slow down, I always try to fight it. This world is fast-paced, and I always feel like I can’t keep up—rest isn’t going to help that, right? Our society values hustle and non-stop work. We’ve all but forgotten rest. But God hasn’t. The Bible talks about rest—and how important it is—many times. One of the first times is in Genesis 2:2-3, when God took the seventh day to rest after creating the world. What if we all took off one day a week to rest? A while ago, I would have said, “How am I supposed to get ahead if I spend an entire day resting? There are only so many hours in a day, and school takes a lot of them.” But then I realized something important: I wasn’t relying on God. I was doubting Him, going against what He said about rest, and doing my own thing. If God told me to rest, wouldn’t He provide for me using the other six days of the week? I still feel guilty when I rest, but I try to remind myself that God rested and He told us to rest. Through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, He has already made the way to save us from sin and death, including the sin of self-reliance and overwork. And He is always with us through the Holy Spirit, reminding us of His gentle, loving care for us. He will provide for us, and as we rest in that truth, we can be good stewards of everything He has given us, including our bodies, our health, and our time. • Kimberly Brokish • In Deuteronomy 5:15, God says to His people, “Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.” In this way, God is reminding them that they are no longer slaves, and He is not like the slave-driving Pharaoh. Instead of piling harsh commands and tasks onto His people, He invites them into His rest. What are some ways you could incorporate this kind of rest into your weekly routines? Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT) 

READ: NUMBERS 24:17, 19; ISAIAH 42:1-4; MICAH 5:2 The world-famous superhero, the Black Panther, was played by Chadwick Boseman. Every day while filming was in progress, I imagine he would get up, eat breakfast, suit up, and step in front of a camera to thrill us as an action hero. Gal Gadot did the same thing as Wonder Woman. And decades before, Christopher Reeve did likewise before he stepped up to save the world as Superman. Why did they do it? I think there are two reasons. We love a hero, and we long to be rescued. As small children we often see ourselves as the hero—perhaps rescuing a pet, a sibling, or even a toy. As we enter our teen years we may look to various influencers for direction and validation. But as we mature, the need grows greater for real answers to life’s troubles, and those answers don’t come from play acting. In times of great stress, we need something real. Threaded throughout the Old Testament we find God’s promise of a great hero. And for generations, God worked through people like Moses, David, and Deborah. Many kings, prophets, military leaders, and almost all types of heroes are woven into the fabric of our salvation tapestry. But in one way or another they all failed to deliver. The relief they brought was only temporary. We were not rescued from the ultimate enemy: sin. So the longing went on. Then, under the darkened skies and among the lonely hills near a small town called Bethlehem, the hero of the ages was born. With astonishment and awe, a chosen few gathered to worship Him. They could not have fathomed the great ministry and miracles to come, how He would rescue them, not by force, but by laying down His own life—and taking it up again (John 10:18). There is much we don’t know about this hero, and yet He changed the whole world. Imaginary heroes fill a void for many. But those who know Jesus find the true hope we all long for. The Black Panther, Wonder Woman, and Superman are all eclipsed by the real hero. Jesus was, is, and always will be the Hero of Eternity. • Susan Sundwall • What heroes have you looked up to, whether in your life, movies, history, current events, the Bible, etc.? How have they fallen short? Jesus, the greatest Hero, was willing to die for us. Let that sink in. It was because He loves us that the all-powerful One laid down His life. And then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death once and for all. (Find out more about this epic rescue on our "Know Jesus" page.) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; 28:16-20 Recently, I was looking up verses about Jesus being with us, and I noticed something really cool. In Matthew’s Gospel—his account of Jesus’s life— Matthew includes two pointed statements about how Jesus is with us, and he places one of these right at the beginning of his account and the other right at the end. It seems like Matthew did this on purpose to sort of bookend the story of Jesus with a key statement about who He is and what this means for us. The book of Matthew starts with a genealogy, showing Jesus’s lineage all the way from Abraham to Joseph. Matthew writes that Joseph was “the husband of Mary…the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah” (Matthew 1:16). Matthew then explains that Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married, but while Mary was still a virgin, “she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit” (verse 18). Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained all this, telling him to go forward with his wedding to Mary and to name the baby Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins” (verse 21). Next, Matthew explains that all this fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy: “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (verse 23). Jesus is the promised Immanuel. Just take a second and try to let that sink in. Not only is Jesus human—He is God, and He is with us. Now let’s jump ahead, all the way to the end of Matthew’s Gospel. After Jesus does many wonderful things, culminating in His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, He speaks to His disciples on a mountain. Matthew records Jesus’s words: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:18-20). And those are the final words of Matthew’s Gospel. Even though Jesus was about to ascend into heaven (as the other Gospel writers tell us), He made sure His followers knew that He was still Immanuel. The deep desire of God’s heart is to be with His people. This is why He came and lived among us, why He died for us, why He rose again, and why He will one day return to fully restore His creation. Jesus is God, and He is with us…always. • Hannah Howe • Jesus came because God wants to be with us, now and forever. Why do you think this truth was so important to Matthew that he began and ended his Gospel account with it? “And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NIV) 

READ: JOHN 14:15-31; GALATIANS 5:22-26; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 Advent takes place during the four weeks before Christmas, and it’s a time when some Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’s first coming and look forward to His return. During Advent, many Christians reflect on different themes each week, and one theme is God’s peace. Peace isn’t something we earn. It’s not something we can work to receive on our own. Peace is a gift Jesus freely gives. We see this truth in John 14, when Jesus comforts His disciples as the time of His death draws closer. He promises them the Holy Spirit, and another thing too—peace. “Peace I leave with you,” Jesus tells His disciples in verse 27. “My peace I give you.” Paul also references the peace Jesus gives us in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Peace is not something God dangles way out in front of us as a reward for our future successes. He offers it to us now. In fact, when we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating the coming of the Prince of Peace to this earth. And He came bearing these gifts we celebrate during Advent: hope, faith, peace, joy, and love. As we go through this Advent season and prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us accept His gift. Let us allow His peace—perfect peace that is beyond our understanding—to saturate every part of our lives. Receiving this gift doesn’t mean we are going to feel at peace all the time—that won’t be possible until Jesus returns. But it does mean we can know that the Prince of Peace is with us all the time, even when life feels incredibly unpeaceful. And maybe when others notice this transcendent peace in our lives, they’ll want to experience it as well. • Becca Wierwille • The Hebrew word translated “peace” in the Bible is shalom. It’s a rich word that means everything is complete and whole and all things are operating in right relationship to each other. While we will never fully experience this type of peace until Jesus returns, He gives us glimpses of it through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). How have you seen glimpses of shalom in your life? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God for this anytime. “Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV) 

READ: ROMANS 8:12-17; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 Do you have any siblings? And if so, are you the oldest, youngest, or somewhere in the middle? In biblical times, birth order mattered a lot. If you were a firstborn son (sorry daughters) you would inherit the birthright from your father. This could be anything from sheep and property to a kingdom if your father was a king. But even though this was the standard in the ancient world, giving a birthright to the oldest sibling was not God’s standard. In fact, God often elevated a younger sibling above the oldest. Even with the first siblings, we hear that Abel’s offering pleased God, while his older brother Cain’s offering did not. We also see this theme when Joseph was elevated to a position of power over his ten older brothers and over all of Egypt. Not to mention Joseph’s father Jacob was the younger twin, yet Jacob was chosen to be a patriarch of the nation of Israel. In Colossians 1:15, Jesus is called “the firstborn over all creation.” As God the Son, Jesus is God the Father’s “one and only Son” (John 3:16), and therefore He is considered the firstborn. So, according to Israelite standards, this would put Him in place to inherit the Father’s power and authority. Jesus certainly does have all power and authority—He said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). But, similar to some of the Old Testament stories, Jesus subverted this narrative as well. Jesus is God, and He is King over all, but He also became a servant. He taught, “the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16), totally opposite of what people would expect. Jesus even humbled Himself to a death and punishment fit for the worst kind of criminal. The King of kings, who deserves to be served and sacrificed to, loves us so much that He became the sacrifice for us. And then, Jesus flipped the narrative again by not staying dead. With His resurrection, Jesus overcame what people expected to be the end, and He became “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18). Now, He invites us to become coheirs with Him, to share in His sufferings as we lay down our lives for each other, and to share in His glory when He returns to raise us from the dead and make all things new (Romans 8:17). • Naomi Zylstra • Why do you think God often works in unexpected, counter-cultural ways? • If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 4:1-5; 25:19-26; 45:4-8; Revelation 17:14; 19:16. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (CSB)  

READ: PSALM 86; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-9 Have you had a very bad day recently? The kind of day when you’re late to school or work, forgot your lunch at home, and realized you didn’t turn in an important assignment? Or worse, the kind of day when you get really bad news, and all the sudden your world is turned upside down? Sadly, very bad days are so very common in our broken world. But God sees all the struggle and pain we go through, and He doesn’t sit idly by. He shares our pain and weeps with us. He invites us to draw near to Him and receive His compassion and comfort. And He provides trusted people who can help shoulder our heavy burdens (Galatians 6:2). The truth is, God made us for community. We can share our problems, and the accompanying feelings we have about them, with trusted people in our lives—people like friends, parents, therapists, pastors, and others. We can also share our problems with Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He knows what it’s like to have a bad day. He experienced the worst day of all when He died on the cross, defeating sin in a very public and painful execution. But He was willing to endure all this pain, ridicule, and betrayal so that everyone who trusts in Him could be with Him and one day be free of bad days once and for all...because He rose again three days later to defeat death too. So, even on our worst days, we can take great comfort in the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done and promises to do. Whatever you’re going through today, Jesus wants to walk with you through it. He loves you, and He truly cares about what you’re going through. He already knows all about what’s bothering you, and He invites you to tell Him about it. You can talk to Him anytime, and He’ll listen. He will be with you and remind you how much He loves you, no matter what. • A. W. Smith • What has your week been like? What are some of the tough things that happened? Consider taking a moment to talk with Jesus about these things and how they’ve made you feel. • In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted people in your life you can talk to about these things—such as friends, therapists, parents, pastors, etc.? I call on you in the day of my distress, for you will answer me. Psalm 86:7 (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 1:1-3; JEREMIAH 17:7-8; JOHN 7:37-39; 15:4-17 Minutes before sunset was my favorite time of day. I sat on an outcropping of rock, dangling my bare feet above a crystalline spring of water. My home, this floating island in the sky, was level with the setting sun precisely at this time. Golden light skimmed the surface of the water as I splashed my feet in, smiling. Overhead, the wind rustled the leaves of the silvery bark tree I sat beneath. The roots of the tree stretched out like fingers, thirsty for the life-giving stream water. It was like this all over the island, roots running to the streams, streams spilling over the rocks, water cascading off the island into the sky. Before my people trusted Yahweh, our home was devoid of all this life. Try as we might, the roots of our trees were withering, and there was no fruit to fill our families’ aching hunger. When Yahweh came, He taught us a better way. No longer did we place our trust in ourselves, but we listened to the One who gave us life. Yahweh showed us how to plant our trees by the streams so the roots could reach deep into the water. Day after day, we experienced growth—and, finally, fruit. I pulled a golden fruit from the tree I lounged under and took a bite. I sighed as I tasted its ripe juices, sweet and nourishing. Yahweh, help me trust You each day, I prayed as the leaves above me rustled in the evening breeze. I want to delight myself in You and meditate on You. Sometimes my heart quakes when hard times come, but I know I don’t need to fear. Your love is constant as a stream that flows and never runs dry. May my roots be deep in Your life-giving water. • Savannah Coleman • In today’s allegorical story, we see that when we are apart from God, we are devoid of life. But when we are with God, we have life to the full (John 10:10). Though we have all been separated from God because of sin, He made the way for us to be near Him through Jesus: Because of His great love for us, God the Son came and lived among us. Yahweh, the great “I AM,” took on human flesh, and gave up His life for us so that our sins could be forgiven. And the God of life could not be held by death—three days later He rose from the grave. Now Jesus gives eternal life to everyone who puts their trust in Him. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page. • Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and He taught His followers, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:5, 9). What do you think it means to remain in Jesus’s love? • Jesus invites all who are thirsty to come to Him, and He promises them living water—this living water is the Holy Spirit (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39). Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit begins to transform us, helping us grow to become more like Jesus and bear fruit. According to Galatians 5:22-23, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Have you ever tried to produce these fruits in your own strength? How did that work out? • Our lives bear fruit when we are living in reliance on God, resting in His love and following His lead. He invites us to trust Him and rely on Him for everything. Even when hard times come, He will never fail us. In what areas of your life do you find

READ: EXODUS 29:38-45; MATTHEW 27:45-53; JOHN 19:30 When I’d hear the bell go off in school, I knew that class was done. Because we heard the bell every day, we were conditioned to react to this particular sound. Something similar happened in ancient Israel. Twice a day, a priest would kill a one-year-old lamb. Some scholars say this sacrifice was marked by the blowing of a ram’s horn, or shofar. The ram’s horn harkened back to the ram that God provided in place of Abraham’s son Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-18). When the Israelites would hear the ram’s horn being blown, they would know that a priest was sacrificing a lamb, and they would have an opportunity to remember the mercy their loving God had given them. God provided for this lamb to take their place, giving its life so they could be made holy and enter into God’s presence in the temple. This shofar blowing and sacrifice was a daily part of the Israelites’ routine and happened at the same time each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. But there was another sacrificial lamb that aligned with the blowing of the shofar. When Jesus was put on the cross in the morning (Mark 15:25), it may have aligned with the first shofar blow and the first sacrifice of the lamb. People across the city would have heard the shofar, looked up, and known the first lamb of the day had been sacrificed. Around noon, darkness fell across the land. Later in the afternoon, people heard the shofar blow a second time and looked up. This time, the darkness was lifted, the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies in the temple was torn in two, and people were raised up from their graves. And those who were near Jesus on the cross would not only hear the shofar being blown for the second lamb, they would also hear Jesus say, “It is finished.” • Naomi Zylstra • Jesus is the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice that covers all our sins, not just for a few hours but for eternity. And because Jesus rose from the grave, everyone who believes in Him will one day be raised from the dead to live with Him forever. Consider taking a moment right now to remember Jesus’s sacrifice and thank Him. • Do you have anything that reminds you daily of God’s mercy? Some people like to pray at particular times of the day, or wear a piece of jewelry to remind them of who Jesus is, or set an alarm on their phone as a reminder to pray and reflect on the gospel… John saw Jesus…and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (CSB) 

READ: PSALMS 32:6-8; 86:1-7; 120:1 Lifeguards are pretty amazing. Even when they’re stationed at a crowded beach or a noisy pool, their eyes and ears are trained to see people in trouble. Before anyone can work as a lifeguard, they have to take a lifesaving course where they learn how to rescue struggling swimmers from the water and perform critical first aid like CPR. When lifeguards are on duty, they continually watch for anyone who might be in trouble and need help. But, while even the most highly trained lifeguards might not hear a call for help, there is someone who never, ever misses one. Someone who always hears His children when they need Him. God is constantly watching over you, attentive to your every prayer. He loves you and wants you to turn to Him whenever you’re facing a tough situation, whenever you feel alone or confused or in danger. Rest assured, Jesus hears our prayers. Jesus is God, and—like a lifeguard—Jesus is our Rescuer. God’s promise to hear and answer and rescue is all grounded in Jesus’s ultimate rescue: He saved us from sin and death through His own death and resurrection. Throughout the Bible, God reminds His people He is listening to us, and He is always present. In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, “Call to me, and I will answer you.” In Psalm 86:7, David declares, “In the day of my trouble I will call on you [God], for you will answer me.” In Matthew 6, Jesus shows His disciples how to pray for God’s kingdom to come as they pray for the minute-by-minute needs they have. In 1 Peter 5:7, Peter reminds us that we can bring our every concern to God, who cares for us. Those are just a few of the verses that tell us God hears when we call to Him, and they only scratch the surface of God’s ability to hear and answer our prayers. Even though God has lots of people to listen to—way more than a lifeguard—He still hears us all, and each one of our voices is important to Him. • A. W. Smith • Consider taking some time to reread today’s Bible passages: Psalm 32:6-8; 86:1-7; 120:1; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 6:9-13; 1 Peter 5:7. Which verse(s) stick out to you? • Do you ever feel like God doesn’t hear you or isn’t mindful of you? We all feel like this from time to time. God has compassion on us, and He wants us to tell Him about all this. He invites us to spend time in His Word and with fellow Christians, being reminded of His deep love and care for us. Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to when you feel unnoticed by God? “Call to me, and I will answer you...” Jeremiah 33:3a (WEB) 

READ: PSALM 116:1-7; MATTHEW 11:28-30 Lord, I need Your help Come I don’t know where else to go Come to me I’m so tired All who are weary This burden is more than I can handle All who are burdened Can You help me? And I will give you rest I want to believe You can I will give you rest I trust You now, take this burden from me I will give you rest I lean on You, my Savior I will give you rest. • Eliana Canfield • Today’s poem is based on Jesus’s words in Matthew 11:28. Jesus has made the way for us to enter God’s rest by dying on the cross and rising from the grave for us. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can rest in God’s love and be free from striving. We also have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, who reminds us of Jesus’s words and helps us rest in Him (John 14:26). How might it be comforting to know that, whenever we need help and rest, God is pleased to give us these things? • In what ways do you need help and rest today? Consider taking a moment to ponder Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11:28-30, and then talk to Him about anything that’s weighing on you. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 19:1-6; JOHN 1:1-14; COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 Have you ever gone to an art gallery? For a graphic design class I took this year, I went on a field trip to a large art gallery, and it got me thinking. Art can be difficult to understand at times, especially abstract art! However, as I learned more about art, I began to recognize the works of different artists. It wasn’t just from their names on the wall or their signatures; their styles, mediums, subjects, and themes became distinct and recognizable to me. We can learn a lot about an artist from what they create: their values, passions, quirks, and personalities. Often, artists’ work reflects aspects of who they are. Do you ever think of God as an artist? Out of nothing, He created everything—from the farthest star to the deepest cave. God’s signature is on all creation, and through His work, we can learn more about Him. The ravens teach us about God’s provision and care for the smallest details in our lives (Luke 12:24). The resilience of wild animals shows God’s concern about every part of creation, even that which no human sees (Job 39). The powerful oceans remind us of God’s awesomeness, that He is in control even in the wildest storms (Psalm 89:8-9). The complexity of the human body points to God’s intentional design: we are not here by accident but are wonderfully created in God’s image with a purpose (Genesis 1; Psalm 139:13-16). Though our sin brought brokenness into the good world God made, His loving care is still written all through creation. And, all creation ultimately points to Jesus. He is fully God and fully human, the Creator who came to live among us. Jesus, the same Artist who crafted everything from nothing, came to save us from sin and death and to make our mess and brokenness into a masterpiece. We can’t do anything to deserve this: it’s God’s beautiful gift of grace, a work of art that we get to share with the world! • Abby Ciona • What is your favorite part of God’s creation? What could this reveal about its Artist? For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made… Romans 1:20a (NIV) 

READ: EXODUS 16:4-16; JOHN 6:1-15, 25-59 Where I live, making homemade bread was more of a trend during the earlier days of the pandemic, but I’m a little late to the trend. I’ve started making my own bread more recently, and even though I’m new to the hobby I’m growing to love it more each time I do it. Now, it’s difficult to find store-bought bread I like better than homemade. Sometimes as I make bread I think about how frequently bread is mentioned in the Bible. God used it as the subject of multiple miracles, from feeding a poor widow in 1 Kings 17:7-16, to feeding over 5,000 people in the Gospels. Not to mention, He fed all the Israelites with manna in Exodus 16. Even such a simple food can be a powerful reminder of God’s presence. In my house, bread is one of our food staples. We’ve always had it around, even before I started baking it at home. If we ran out of bread, we would make a trip to the store. In the Bible, Jesus refers to Himself as bread in multiple ways. After Jesus miraculously multiplied five small barley loaves to feed over 5,000 people, He told them, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48). Jesus explained that God gave His people manna from heaven to keep them alive in the wilderness. Similarly, Jesus is the One who gives eternal life to all who trust in Him. He is our life-giver. This symbol of a basic food that many of us eat regularly shows how Jesus will not abandon us. He is like the household staple we all need. But, unlike bread, He will not run out, and He has the ability to sustain us forever. On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He broke bread and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Here again, God uses bread to show us that Jesus gave up His life for us by dying on the cross. And just as Jesus rose from the grave, He will also raise us and give us eternal life. So, as I slice into my fresh loaf of bread, I’ll be excited to eat, but I’ll also be thinking about how Jesus sustains me and gives me life like a hearty slice of homemade bread. • Naomi Zylstra • Why do you think bread comes up so often in the Bible? What do you think it means that Jesus is the Bread of Life? (If you want to dig deeper, you can read about Jesus miraculously feeding thousands of people in Matthew 14:13-21; 15:29-39; Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-8; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15…and about communion in Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.) As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26 (CSB)

READ: MATTHEW 6:19-34; 22:36-40 What’s your greatest treasure on earth? Maybe it’s a prized collection of vintage postcards, or a beautiful and rare electric guitar, or maybe it’s a sizable bank account. None of these things are wrong or bad—things like these can help us enjoy life and take care of ourselves and our loved ones, which are good pursuits. However, it is wrong to make any earthly treasure so important to us that it comes before loving God or loving our neighbors. Since humans first sinned and brought brokenness into the good world God made, it’s really easy for us to get possessive and even violent about keeping our stuff, so much so that we often begin to block out God and other people, instead of loving them like we’re called to do. The good news? There is real treasure in Jesus. He died and rose again to save us from sin and death, and He is making all things new, including our hearts. His promises are stored in heaven where they will never be damaged, unlike earthly possessions (1 Peter 1:4). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have treasure in heaven. As we look forward to Jesus’s return, we can enjoy and thank God for all the good things He has given us here on earth, but Jesus frees us from getting too attached to any of these things. They’re all temporary. What matters most is having a relationship with Jesus and the neighbors He’s put in our lives. When we rest in His love instead of our possessions, we usually find it’s much easier to love our neighbors more than our stuff—and we will store up treasure in heaven where it will last forever. • A. W. Smith • Have you seen any stories in the news lately about people valuing earthly treasure over God and their neighbors? When have you been tempted to do the same? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about this, confessing any sins that come to mind, thanking Him for securing our forgiveness through Jesus’s death and resurrection, and talking to Him about the earthly treasures in your life. • How might the promises of Jesus help us avoid the temptation to become possessive and to choose stuff over loving God and loving our neighbors? (1 Timothy 6:17-19; 1 Peter 1:3-9) Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 104; COLOSSIANS 1:15-23 I love seeing the fall colors as the trees turn in autumn, the white snow that falls to the ground in winter, the new sprouts and flowers that come in spring, and how beautiful the lakes look in summer. All the seasons make it easy to see God’s amazingness in creation. But what about our other senses? We can admire His creation through more than just what we see! I enjoy laying down in my hammock every once in a while, closing my eyes, and just listening to the sounds of nature. The birds chirping, the leaves rustling in the wind, and the mosquitos buzzing—those mosquitos are also the reason I usually end my time in the hammock. I imagine you use your sense of touch to enjoy God’s creation without realizing it. Do you have a dog or cat you pet? Their fur is God’s creation. We also touch various foods that He is responsible for—like strawberries, carrots, and oranges. Every food has a unique texture and shape that God gave it. We can use our sense of smell to thank God for the flowers and herbs He created. And taste might be my favorite—God gave us so many foods to taste and enjoy. He could have made food tasteless, but instead He gave everything a unique flavor to enjoy and mix with other flavors to make delicious meals. God created and gave us so many things to be thankful for. And He gave us all our senses that we can use to enjoy this world even more. Don’t we have an amazing Creator? • Kimberly Brokish • God delights in what He has made, and He invites us to share in His joy by being mindful of the world around us and thanking Him for what delights us. What can you see…hear…feel…smell…and maybe even taste right now? Consider taking a moment to thank God for making so many good things for us to experience. • Even though our world has been broken by sin, and sometimes the things we see, smell, taste, touch, and hear cause us pain or sorrow, God has promised to restore His creation. Because Jesus died and rose again, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus gets to look forward to the day He will return and make all things new—free from sin, death, and decay. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page. For in him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth... Colossians 1:16a (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 102:25-28; HEBREWS 13:5-8 It can be comforting to have something in your life that always stays the same. You might have dinner with your grandparents every weekend, or you might have a pet who meets you at the door every day when you get home from school. No matter what goes on in your life or what causes you stress, knowing that one part of your life is going to be the same no matter what can be comforting. During 2020, when the world seemed to be falling apart, I remember being comforted by the sound of a train. I live close to train tracks, and while some people would find that annoying, I find it comforting. Every evening, I hear at least one train. I hear the trains now, and I heard them all through the time when the world seemed to shut down and many were staying home from work. Hearing the trains every evening also reminds me that God does not change. His love for us does not change. No matter what goes on in our lives and how scary things might get, He stays the same. Like the trains that kept going all through 2020, 2021, 2022, and now 2023, God keeps being there for us and helping us. Nothing can shake Him or stop Him. We can trust Him to stay the same. • Emily Acker • Especially when our lives feel out of control, how can it be comforting to know that God does not change? God is so generous, and He reveals His unchanging love for us in so many ways. But the ultimate revelation of His never-failing love is in Jesus’s death and resurrection. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can rest knowing that we are close to God, always. And because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), we can depend on Him each and every day. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about anything in your life that feels unsettled. You can find rest in His sure love for you. The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) 

READ: DEUTERONOMY 30:1-10; JEREMIAH 29:4-19; MATTHEW 28:18-20 Imagine being exiled from your home where you’ve lived all your life and forced to move to a faraway land…for seventy years. Would you panic? Complain? Would you keep your bags packed just in case you’re allowed to go home earlier? In the Bible, God warned His people, the Israelites, that if they turned away from Him by putting their hope in false gods, oppressing the poor, and doing violence, they would be punished and lose their land. And it all happened just as God said. When Israel was taken into captivity by Babylon, a powerful enemy nation that worshiped idols, the Israelites thought it was the end—that God had abandoned them for good. Then some false prophets started saying God would rescue them from captivity very soon (Jeremiah 28). The Israelites were probably happy to hear that, wanting to get out of captivity as soon as possible and return to normal life. And if they wouldn’t be exiled forever, why bother to unpack and settle down among their enemies? But then God told the exiled Israelites they would be in exile for seventy years. And, while they were there, He told them to do something surprising: to seek the good of the city—to seek the good of Babylon, their enemies—and not live like they are going to leave the next day. He told them to make homes, build families, and plant gardens. God wanted His people to invest long-term in the places they lived so He could bless their new home through them. Sometimes, the Christian life can feel like an exile too: lonely, isolated, and discouraging. God’s good world has been broken by sin, and while we wait for Jesus to return and restore creation, sometimes this place can feel hopeless. But God makes desert plants thrive in the most desolate, dry places of the world, and He can do the same in your life, even when situations are not ideal. He has you where you are in your school, workplace, neighborhood, or country on purpose, and He is with you. He loves you, and He has equipped you to bring life and make the most of unique opportunities to share the good news of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection through words and actions. God works in beautiful ways, even in the midst of exile. • Abby Ciona • Have you ever felt like you were stuck in exile? Did you see any glimpses of God’s goodness? • What are some ways God has equipped you to share His goodness and love right where you are? If you’re not sure, you can ask God about it anytime, and you can also reach out to trusted Christians in your life to ask for their insight. “And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NIV) 

READ: PSALMS 13:1-6; 23:4 Feeling sad is the worst. It makes me feel helpless, small, and weak. So I try to avoid it. I distract myself, tell myself everything is fine, find something to be angry about instead, or simply ignore it. But one way or another, sadness always comes back—usually stronger than before. So how do we avoid avoiding our sadness? As they say, “The only way out is through.” We can’t skip over feeling sadness; we have to go through it. But we don’t have to do it alone. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus—believing He died and rose from the grave for us—He is with us through the Holy Spirit. He feels our sadness, and not in a distant way. Jesus knows firsthand what it’s like to be sad. Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” This verse brings me great comfort. It reminds me that when I tell Jesus about my sadness, He can sincerely say, “I know what that’s like.” It makes me feel less alone. Similarly, the lament psalms also make me feel less alone. These are specific songs or poems in the book of Psalms where people bring their sadness, anger, and complaints to God. In Psalm 13:1-2, for example, David accuses God of forgetting him, saying, “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?” These raw, honest words remind me that everyone experiences deep sadness, even people following God thousands of years before me. The lament psalms remind me that I can tell God about my feelings with complete honesty, trusting Him to love me. Remember when I mentioned “the only way out is through”? If we keep reading Psalm 13, we see this truth play out. Instead of shrinking away from his sadness, David brings it to God and lays it all out. He walks through the sadness with God. And at the end, we see that he does get through it. Verses 5-6 say, “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” How beautiful is that? This is what God wants—to walk with us through the painful sadness so He can bring healing to our hearts. When I run away from feeling my sadness, I’m also running away from that healing. The only way out is through. But praise God; He goes through it with me. • Taylor Eising • Consider taking a look at a few lament psalms, such as Psalm 13, 25, 86, and 88. Then consider writing your own lament psalm, pouring out your sadness to God. Remember, Jesus came—and died and rose again—to be with us in our sadness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (NLT) 

READ: JOHN 11:1-44; 15:15 As a child, John 11 was one of my favorite Bible passages. I loved listening to the story of Lazarus. Part of it may have been because the town where Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary lived shared my name: Bethany. But the more I heard this story, the more I loved it for other reasons as well. I loved hearing how Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the grave. I loved how Jesus had such a close friendship with these three siblings, and how both sisters believed that if Jesus had been there sooner, their brother would not have died. One verse that always stood out to me was the shortest verse. John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” He was overcome with emotion and cried. He cared so much for His friend that He shed tears for him. But that wasn’t how the story ended. I liked listening when Jesus told Lazarus to come out of the grave. Lazarus had been in the tomb—dead—for four days, and when he walked out he was still wrapped in burial cloths, so Jesus told the people to unwind them. Lazarus came to life again by the hand of Jesus. This story reminds me of how Jesus will raise us to life again too. If we’ve put our trust in Him, we get to look forward to the day He will return and raise us from our graves, no matter how long we’ve been dead, and we will live with Him in renewed creation forever. Jesus has guaranteed our future by dying on the cross for us and rising from His own grave. He is the God who defeated death, the God who calls us His friends. • Bethany Acker • Do you have a favorite Bible story you like to revisit over and over again? What about it captivates you? The amazing thing about the Bible is that God speaks to us through it, and the Holy Spirit helps us notice and understand more and more throughout our lives. So the Bible passages we’re drawn to when we’re young can continue to come alive to us as we grow older. • Consider taking some time to read John 11:1-44 slowly. What sticks out to you today? What makes you wonder? Jesus said to her [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25 (NIV) 

READ: HEBREWS 10:14-18; JAMES 1:2-7; 1 PETER 1:13-16 Sometimes, we feel like we should be perfect, having no faults and never doing anything wrong. We might read James 1:4, which says, “For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing,” and then throw up our hands in frustration and say, “But I’ve tried lots of times before, and I just can’t do it. I give up—I’ll never be perfect!” Perfection is a tricky concept. Try thinking about it this way: When a baby arrives, people often say, “She’s perfect,” as they cuddle and coo over the new addition to their community. But why? Babies can’t do what adults can do, yet people describe them as “perfect.” But if a baby were to stay like a newborn for six months and not grow at all, people would be worried. So, when we talk about babies being perfect, we often mean they’re just right for their age. Let’s look at James 1:4 again. It uses the word “perfect” in a similar way. It’s not saying Christians never do anything wrong. The fact is, only Jesus meets God’s standard for perfection, which is why we need to put our trust in Him to have a relationship with God. Even though we’ll keep struggling with sin until the day Jesus returns and makes all things new, verses like James 1:4 give us hope, saying that as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we mature spiritually. So, to be a “perfect” Christian doesn’t mean we never mess up; it means we grow and learn from our failures, and we patiently trust God to continue shaping us to be more like Jesus. If we’re perfect in that sense, it doesn’t mean we’ll never sin, maybe by losing our temper for example, but it does mean we’ll learn to say we’re sorry when we do. It means we’ll learn to depend on God to help us be self-controlled when we feel upset. As we grow spiritually, we can remember that Jesus is walking with us every step of the way. And we can remember the hope He gives us in Philippians 1:6, “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” • A. W. Smith • Have you ever wondered how you could possibly be perfect or holy as God is (Matthew 5:48)? In one sense, you are already perfect if you know Jesus as your Savior because He has given you His perfection and forgiven your sins! But God also says you are “being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). We become more like Jesus as we grow in our relationship with Him. What might it look like for us to be patient with ourselves and other Christians as we learn and grow together? He forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14b (NLT) 

READ: 1 SAMUEL 16:1-13; LUKE 10:25-37 Just above the sea’s drop off into the cold depths lay the city of Aquis. Turrets of shell and pearl sparkled under the liquid bubble that encased the city, allowing its inhabitants protection and breathable air. Most of the Colo colony had come from above the sea, before the war and fires had burned and destroyed everything they once held dear. The Colo were a proud people, fiercely loyal to their own, and determined to never again be forced from their home. Cor wiped sweat off his face as he completed his morning strengthening routine. His golden skin glistened as waves from a passing pod of dolphins rippled the surface of the bubble. He jumped as Viva popped out suddenly from behind a fofo plant, its puffy pink petals raining down. “Have you heard the latest?” Viva blurted as she pushed her long, plaited braids off her shoulders. “What’s the latest?” Cor asked. “With you, it could be anything.” She lowered her voice. “There’s been a disturbance in the dark side of the sea.” Cor’s coal black eyes turned grave. “Gigas?” Viva nodded. The great creature lived in the depths, rarely surfacing. Yet when it showed its spiny face and thrashed its powerful body, devastation was left in its wake. Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the sand beneath their feet. Cor and Viva watched through the bubble in horror as creatures of the deep clawed, swam, and fought their way out of the drop off. Among them were the Nura people. The Nuras weren’t enemies of the Colos, nor were they friends. They simply stayed in the depths, occasionally speeding up to the surface to do no-one-knew-what. Most of the Colos assumed they were up to no good. As unsightly as the Nuras were, something inside Viva’s heart broke as she watched them struggle to escape from the Gigas’s claws, some holding the hands of small children or clutching babies in their arms. “We have to help them! Open the gates!” Cor sprinted toward the gates where he was blocked by several Colos. “What are you doing?” Viva shrieked in anger. “Can’t you see they’re being slaughtered out there?” The tallest of the Colo shook his head. “Most unfortunate. However, we must protect the Colo. We know nothing about these Nura creatures.” A Colo woman in the group wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Just look at them! Grey, spikes and spines, not a sheen of color—not to mention they are land and water creatures! Who knows what havoc they might wreak in Aquis!” Viva glanced back and forth between the Colo blocking them and the chaos that reigned outside the bubble’s surface. “Cor, we need to do something!” Her voice quivered with emotion. “How can we get through to our people? What would the Author do?” Viva watched indecision war on Cor’s face until a calm determination settled in her friend’s gaze. Cor broke free from the group and climbed a turret while Viva blew the Conch Shell of Gathering. “Colo friends,” Cor’s voice rang out clear and strong. “When we founded the city of Aquis, we did so under the guidance of the Book of Wisdom. The Author commands that we be people of the Sacred Heart. Because He loves us all, we are to love the Author with all our hearts, and then to love our neighbors as ourselves.” Viva joined her voice with Cor’s. “The Author wrote that others look at the surface, but He looks at the heart. Let us be people of the Sacred Heart, who view all hearts as sacred, who value our neighbors as the Author values us all. With His very life, He wrote that we are worth dying for.” Silence descended over Aquis as the spoken words settled like fine sand onto the Colos’ hearts. Hearts that, Viva prayed, would be receptive and embold

READ: PSALM 139:1-6; ROMANS 8:26-28 Have you ever had to interpret for a toddler? As little ones learn their words, it can be hard for them to get the pronunciations right. Water might become “wawa.” Dog might become “dah.” Potato might become “bay-yo.” And yellow balloon might become “wahyo boon.” Often, a little one needs an interpreter from their household to explain what they’re saying to any visitors who aren’t used to this toddler’s own personal dialect. In a way, we’re all a little like toddlers. Just like these little ones need help communicating, all Christians need that kind of help sometimes when we pray. We don’t always know what to say or even what to ask God for, but Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit makes our requests clear and right before God. Romans 8:26-27 says, “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Do you ever feel like you don’t know how to pray? Is it sometimes hard for you to tell God what you need or how you feel? This happens to all of us! When we have trouble finding the right words, the Holy Spirit takes our prayers and makes them just right. So we don’t need to worry when we find it difficult to pray—God hears our prayers and will give us exactly what we need. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time when you didn’t know what or how to pray? How might it be comforting to know that God still understands us and knows what we need? • Sometimes we don’t have words at all. When we pray, we can use the words in the Bible to help us too. Almost the entire book of Psalms is prayer in song form, and in Matthew 6, Jesus lays out what’s known as the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father, a simple prayer that shows us how to pray for God’s kingdom to come as we talk to God about our daily needs—even when our words fail. Are there any prayers from Scripture that have resonated with you? Which ones? But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26b (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 33:12-22; 78:1-8 You may know that the Wright Brothers invented the first functional airplane, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, and Louis Pasteur developed a process that makes milk safe to drink. A lot of people also know Pasteur developed a vaccine for rabies in humans. But few people know that modern physical therapy was introduced by Sister Elizabeth Kenny, a nurse in Australia. It was part of her Kenny Method to treat polio. And regrettably, most people have never heard of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis. Dr. Semmelweis developed an antiseptic method of child delivery. Despite overwhelming proof his antiseptic method greatly reduced the deaths of new mothers, most physicians refused to adopt it until years after his death. Each of these people left a legacy that will continue to benefit humanity for years to come. Some are widely remembered. Some are not. It’s the same in the Bible. We may be aware of Moses and the forty years he devoted to leading the Israelites to the promised land. We might remember Peter and Paul’s incredible missionary work, Queen Esther’s courage, and Mary’s quiet obedience. But, do we remember Shiphrah and Puah? The king of Egypt ordered these two midwives to kill all Hebrew baby boys at birth. Instead, the midwives let the baby boys live (Exodus 1:15-22). Do we remember Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s grandmother and mother who raised him in the faith (2 Timothy 1:5)? Or Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who were secretly disciples of Jesus? They were the ones who prepared Jesus’s dead body for burial and placed Him in a tomb—the same tomb Jesus would rise from three days later (John 19:38-42). As believers in Jesus, we can know that He is with us, empowering us to follow Him and take part in His good work. Much of what we do out of love for God will go unnoticed by others or someday be forgotten. But even when we forget, our loving God sees and remembers the contributions of everyone. • Kathy Irey • Have you ever felt like nobody notices what you do? Even when other people don’t recognize or remember our contributions, what we do matters. The things we do out of love for God and our neighbors, big and small, have eternal significance. And God honors all these things. What are some ways we can celebrate with others and encourage them when they accomplish something? (Romans 12:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:10-13) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 94:17-19; MATTHEW 6:25-34; 11:28-30 There are a lot of anxious and worried people in the world today, but that’s nothing new. People have been worrying for a long time, otherwise the Bible wouldn’t address worry like it does. We’re not the first people to have days when we feel anxious or nights when we lose sleep because we’re worried about what the future might hold. Moses worried that he wouldn’t know how to speak when God sent him to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 3-4). The proverbs talk about how a person can get weighed down with anxiety (Proverbs 12:25). The psalms are filled with verses that were written by people experiencing worry and anxiety. For example, Psalm 13 begins with the words, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” Throughout the Bible, we see over and over again how God responds to all our worries, and how He meets us with compassion in times of anxiety. Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and He took time to talk about worrying—and even more than that, He experienced anxiety firsthand. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus went to a quiet place to pray. He was “deeply distressed and troubled,” and He told His disciples, “‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death’” (Mark 14:33-34). Jesus was “in anguish,” and as He prayed earnestly, “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus was willing to go through all this distress and sorrow and hurt…because He loves us. In Jesus, we see how God bore our weaknesses and took our pain, ultimately dying on the cross, so that we could be free (Isaiah 53). Anxiety, worry, and fear are nothing new. God understands what we’re feeling and how our thoughts can be so unsettling. Jesus is fully God and fully human, so He can truly empathize with our struggles, and He wants to help us (Hebrews 4:14-16). We don’t have to be ashamed when we experience anxiety. We are never alone in our worrying. Life in our broken world is full of challenges, but one day Jesus will return and put an end to worry and anxiety for good. Until that day, Jesus holds us in our distress, and He never lets us go (John 10:27-30). • Emily Acker • Do you sometimes find yourself thinking that life would have been simpler if you had been born in the past, that you wouldn’t worry so much if you didn’t have to live in this modern world? Ultimately, it’s the fear of death and loss that are at the root of most worries, and these fears are timeless. Similarly, there are lots of things in this broken world that can signal to our bodies that we are in danger and we need to be ready to take action or hide…so while it’s good that our hearts can beat faster and our muscles can get tighter when we need them to, it’s not very helpful when our bodies feel like we’re in danger when we’re actually not. As humans, we all have times when we feel anxious or worried, not just in our teen years but throughout our lives. How might it be comforting to know that God is not surprised by our worries and anxieties—and He doesn’t expect us to be able to handle all the stresses of life on our own? • What kinds of things make you feel worried or anxious? Consider taking a moment to bring these things to God in prayer. He loves you, and He longs to listen to your hurts and remind you that you are held safe in His arms. You’re not a burden when you’re anxious—you are valuable beyond measure, and you are worth caring for. (1 Peter 5:7) • When Jesus rose from the dead, He

READ: PSALMS 32:5; 103:8-14; EPHESIANS 6:10-18; 1 PETER 5:6-11 Are you ever reminded of something bad you did, and just the memory of it makes you feel like you just did it again seconds ago? Sometimes all I remember is the bad stuff. It pops into my mind and hangs out there. I’ve asked God’s forgiveness, and I know I’ve been forgiven, yet I can’t get this stuff out of my mind. I’m reminded of how mean, stupid, or unforgiving I’ve been. At times I’ve failed to tell someone about Jesus’s great love. As I remember my failures, I feel like I’ve failed all over again. In moments like these, the words of 1 Peter 5:7-9 can help us: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” When we feel like useless failures who cannot do anything for God, we can bring all these worries and cares to God. He frees us from guilt and shame, replacing regrets with peace and joy. Because Jesus died for us and rose from the grave, we can know that our forgiveness is secure. And we can continue to confess our sins to God regularly, as He calls us to do. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in us, reminding us of God’s great love and helping us lay our heavy burdens at Jesus’s feet—and leave them there. The Holy Spirit reminds us we’ve been forgiven. And God gives us His strength to “stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). My heart desires to go forward with my Lord. Daily, I’m learning to place the past in His hands and trust all these memories and unforgiveness feelings to Him. As we lean into our relationship with Jesus, He will lead, guide, and direct us in the right path. As we lay our burdens at Jesus’s feet and listen for His voice, He will help us continue forward with Him. Even when we hear accusations that we are no good, not capable, or not a child of the King, Jesus will lift us up with joy, peace, and hope. As He fills us with His love, He reminds us we are forgiven, blessed children of the King who will live with Him forever (Romans 5:5; 10:9-11; Ephesians 1:3; 1 John 2:12). • Anna Gregory • We can learn to discern Jesus’s voice as we listen carefully to His Word. Understanding who Jesus is and pondering His story helps us see that the accusations against us are not nearly as strong as God’s love for us. According to today’s Bible passages, how does Jesus see you? Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 119:14; PROVERBS 2:1-5; JAMES 1:5-11 Have you ever cleaned out an attic in search of treasure? Like an old baseball card that could be worth a lot of money, found in a dusty old box. Or maybe a precious painting worth millions of dollars under a cobwebby tarp. Or maybe a sentimental letter from a long-gone relative tucked away in a faded envelope. You never know what treasures you might find right under your nose. But while dusty, valuable treasure is fun to find, all wealth eventually fades. Money and accomplishments are incredibly fleeting and can often puff us up with pride. By contrast, the riches of God’s Word are worth far more than money. They contain the greatest treasure—right under our noses. And what is that treasure? The love of God. The hope of Jesus—and all He’s done and promises to do. The seduction of greed and power pales in comparison to life with Jesus. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, everyone who puts their trust in Him is restored to relationship with God. And we have the promise of forever life on the new heavens and earth, where we will be free to love God and others as He intended us to. Even as we wait for Jesus to return and make all things new, we find true community in Jesus’s family and true purpose in following Him and having meaningful work to do here and now. The good news of Jesus is true riches—riches that will never fade and can never be taken away, even in an uncertain and ever-changing world. And God is pleased to give this treasure to us (Luke 12:32). So what are you waiting for? Go on a treasure hunt for Jesus’s promises today! • A. W. Smith • What would be your dream treasure to find in a dusty old attic? • What are some of your most treasured promises from Jesus? How can remembering these treasures help us avoid the seduction of greed and power? • Paul often wrote about the riches of the mystery of Jesus. If you want to dig deeper, read: Romans 11:33; 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 15:51; Ephesians 1:9; 3:2-9; 6:19; Colossians 1:24-29; 2:2; 4:3; 1 Timothy 3:16. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. Colossians 1:26-27 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 46:1-7; MATTHEW 8:23-27 What’s the scariest storm you’ve ever been through? When you’re in the middle of a storm, you never know what could happen. As the wind picks up, trees start blowing wildly. Branches come crashing down. The wind hurtles at the windows and makes a loud shriek. The house feels like it’s shaking—or worse, if you’re driving it feels like the wind might pull your car off the road or into oncoming traffic. When the rain starts pelting down, the sound can be deafening. You wonder if it will let up soon, or if the storm will just worsen. Rain might turn to hail, and hail is terrifying. Chunks of ice are literally falling from the sky. And then there are tornados and floods and hurricanes. The aftermath of these storms can be devastating. We never know what can happen during a storm, just like we don’t know what’s going to happen during the storms in our lives. When things start to go wrong, we might want to hide away like we would hide from a bad storm. But just like during the storms outside, during any storm that’s happening in your life, God is there. He is with you. He will help you through. God promises that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). He knows what’s happening during all the storms in our lives, and He wants to help us. Just look at Matthew 8. When Jesus was in a boat with His disciples, “suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat” (verse 24). But Jesus got up and spoke to the very wind and waves that were threatening to capsize them. And then, “it was completely calm” (verse 26). Just as Jesus calmed that storm, He can calm the storms in our lives. Jesus reveals that God loves us deeply, and when we suffer, He hurts with us and extends His mighty arm to help us. We can turn to Him during the storm and know that He will provide shelter. The wind and rain might not immediately stop, but we can have peace in our hearts despite the storm when we trust in Him. • Bethany Acker • Our ultimate hope in any storm is that Jesus has promised to return and make all things new. On that day, He will raise us from the dead, and everyone who has put their trust in Him will live with God forever in restored creation. In the meantime, we can rest knowing we are secure in His arms, and nothing can snatch us away from Him (John 10:27-30). What kinds of storms have you been through? Have you ever experienced God’s power and love in the midst of a storm? “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b (NIV) 

READ: EPHESIANS 6:18-20; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4; JAMES 5:13-16 One day, I heard a beautician chatting to her colleague as I was selecting a nail polish. She said, “I’m trying to stay strong, but when I’m alone, my husband’s illness overwhelms me.” My heart lurched. Sadness welled up inside, and immediately I knew I needed to pray for both this woman and her husband. Not long after, I overheard a snippet of conversation on the train, from a commuter whose daughter was terminally ill. Again, the thought stirred inside, "I need to pray." Does this happen to you? I often find myself feeling called to pray for someone’s needs. I know that some Christians excel at assisting people in practical ways, but my role tends to be different. Maybe, like me, you are quiet and wonder how you can reach out to people. Becoming a prayer warrior is an amazing way of doing this. You don’t need to shout about it; no one ever needs to know but you and God (Matthew 6:5-6). It makes a difference even if you never find out the results of your requests. And it may not be in the way you expect. Every day there are people who are facing challenges, who feel helpless, and who, for whatever reason, can’t pray. Either they haven’t received the precious gift of faith, or they are too exhausted or ill. As Christians, when we encounter people who are hurting, we have the opportunity to do something without even saying a word. The world we live in is broken, but Jesus has come to heal and save. Whenever I hear about a tragic situation, I’m reminded how much God loves us all. He loves us so much that even when people are suffering, and have neither the strength nor the faith to pray, He sends believers to hear their pleas and intercede on their behalf. God sees us when we’re hurting, He cares, and He responds. • Cindy Lee • Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” God wants all people to know Him through trusting in Jesus, and He invites us to bring Him all our concerns and requests (1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Peter 5:7). Once we know Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit, who guides us and helps us pray. When we notice an opportunity to intercede—or pray for—a person or situation, it’s okay if we’re not sure what exactly to pray for. We can simply ask God to help, or we can pray a prayer from the Bible, such as Numbers 6:24-26 or Ephesians 3:14-21. Who could you pray for today? Consider taking a moment to pray for them now. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16b (NIV) 

READ: JOHN 8 It can be hard to answer people who question us about our beliefs, especially if they speak aggressively and make us nervous. Studying the Bible can help us have answers in our heads, but getting those answers out can still be an issue. In John 8, Jesus was questioned by some Pharisees, a group of Jewish religious leaders who wanted to trap Him and accuse Him (verse 6). Jesus had an answer for everything they threw His way. He would say one thing, and they would question Him about it, and His answer would lead to more questions from them. He stayed calm and kept responding, knowing just what to say each time. He was able to share so much with them; He was ready with an answer for each question they had. Isn’t it encouraging to know that God is never stumped by our questions? He can handle anything we throw His way. In fact, He invites our questions! And He is eager to reveal Himself to everyone who seeks Him (Jeremiah 29:13; Luke 11:9-13). So, as we try to figure out how to respond to the questions people throw at us, we can look to Jesus. He remained calm even when people openly accused Him of being an imposter. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have His Holy Spirit inside us, giving us peace and empowering us to love people even in stressful situations. Reading through John 8 left me feeling more in awe of Jesus than ever; it left me with more respect for Him. I’m happy we’ve been saved by someone who knows everything and has an answer for each question that comes His way. • Emily Acker • Has someone ever asked you a question about God that you struggled to answer? Do you have questions that other people haven’t been able to answer? Throughout our lives, we’ll continue to have questions, and God invites us to ask every single one. Discovering the answers may be a long process, and there are some things we won’t fully understand until Jesus returns and makes all things new. But even when we have unanswered questions, we can rest in God’s sure love for us. Jesus, who is God in flesh, was willing to go to the cross for the same people who wanted to kill Him on it. And He rose from the grave, so everyone who trusts in Him will live with God forever. God’s answer to every question is deeply connected to His immeasurable love for us. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) 

READ: JOHN 11:32-36; ROMANS 12:15; HEBREWS 4:14-16 There are a lot of lies in our world, and one of them is that real men don’t cry. But what about Jesus? God became human, and it was well-documented that Jesus cried, including when His friend Lazarus died. In John 11:35, Jesus was crying with grief at His friend’s death. We live in a world where terrible things like death are the norm. This is because humanity’s sin resulted in God’s good creation being broken. So where is God in all this brokenness and sorrow? He’s right here. Jesus is God with us—and He weeps with us. As Christians, we don’t need to be ashamed to show we have feelings. It shows we care about the people and world God made. Jesus knows the fullness of human experience and emotions, and He is the picture of what it means to be a human without sin (Hebrews 4:14-16). Have you ever thought you needed to act tough or prove that you’re strong? Have you ever felt like you should hide your feelings when something hurts you or causes you sorrow? Jesus didn’t do that. He wept and shared the grief of Mary and Martha when their brother—His friend—died. When you share in the sorrow others are experiencing, you’re showing them His love. Jesus is both loving and strong. These are not mutually exclusive. He died on the cross and rose from the grave three days later—beating sin and death to save us. That’s real strength and love. If you’re looking for what it means to be a man— or a human in general—look no further than Jesus. He is the Creator who became human, the King who became a servant, the Savior who wept. • A. W. Smith • What emotions seem to be unwelcome in your culture? Based on the truths about Jesus from today’s Bible passages, how might Jesus be inviting you to approach these emotions differently? • In John 11, Jesus wept at Lazarus’s death, and then He raised Lazarus from the grave. In the same way, Jesus shares our sorrows with us now, and when He returns to restore His creation, He will raise His people from the grave to live with Him forever—and there will be no more need for tears. If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 (NIV) 

READ: EPHESIANS 2:11-22 The village of Koselig had begun building ships. For too long the Blodugur clan had pillaged their tiny coastal town (and they, in turn, had done the same to them) and now the village of Koselig had made plans to leave before more bloodshed. But they are too late. A horn bellows, alerting Koselig to gather. Blodugur approaches, and they must prepare for battle. The people exchange worried glances, drawing their swords. The clan leader runs out in front of them. They stand poised for a rousing speech from their Chief. “People of Koselig!” he shouts. “There, battle awaits.” He points to the Southern Forest where Blodugurian warriors slink along the tree line. “Remember now that when we gather, then our God will fight for us! Trust in Him!” The Chief pauses as the Elder of Koselig approaches and whispers into his ear. When he shouts again to the people, his posture has shifted. “This time though, drop your weapons and your shields. Do it quickly.” Confused, the people begin to lower their weapons to the ground. "How do you fight an army with no weapons?" They murmur. Knowing the people’s unease, their leader continues, “We are going to send a diplomat urging them to join us instead of creating more bloodshed for us all. Pray for her, pray that God will speak through her.” The people watch a woman ride toward the enemy alone. Some recognize the rider: her name is Laioma. At the tree line she stops and speaks. After the sun has gone to kiss the North Sea, the rider hurries back, the Blodugurian warriors trailing behind. “Praise be to God today, people of Koselig!” she calls hoarsely. “He has heard our cries and gifted us with a new ally, not an enemy.” Most of Koselig replies with joyous shouts. But some clench their fists; others pull their children closer. Laioma continues, “Yes, much blood has been shed because of the violence between our two clans. And we grieve these losses with deep sorrow, as God does. But let us also remember the One He sent, who shed His own blood for us all. Because His love is greater than death, today the Blodugur clan joins us as members of the same body. We are fellow citizens who will search for new lands together, led by the One who brought peace, the One who is making us into the new humanity.” The Elder brings the ceremonial goblet to Laioma, and she raises it for the newcomers to drink. The celebration proceeds into the night and into the day. While some are suspicious of one another, in the coming weeks meals are shared, trust is built, and among the people spreads the joy of the unity made possible by something beyond themselves. The forgiveness of the One has made the way for them to live in peace with one another. • Peter J. McDonough • Today’s allegorical story shows how God has made unity possible through Jesus. We find the theme of unity throughout the Bible. For example, in Ephesians 2 Paul tells the Christians living in Ephesus that both Jewish Christians and Gentile (or non-Jewish) Christians “have access to the Father by one Spirit” (verse 18). They are all “fellow citizens” of God’s kingdom and also “members of his household” (verse 19). Jesus is the only One who could make this unity possible. Through His death and resurrection, He forgives all who trust in Him, uniting them with God…and uniting them with other believers. We cannot live in unity or love each other well apart from Jesus—the fact is, unity is a gift from God, and He empowers us to love one another through the Holy Spirit (John 15:1-17; 17:20-26). Can you think of any examples of ways you have seen God’s people living in unity with each other and loving each other well? What was that like? • As the Koseli

READ: PSALM 66:16-20; JAMES 1:19-27; 3:13-18 Sometimes our orchestra would split into ensembles. In these smaller groups, we’d sit down with our sheet music, then all start at the same speed, or tempo. But sometimes, it didn’t stay that way for long. Soon the cello had sped up, the violin had slowed down, the bass was too loud, and the viola was ready to quit from sheer exasperation. The song did not sound like music. So, how did we get the song to sound…like a song? We had to learn to listen to each other. Our director taught us to know our sheet music so well that we could look up at each other while playing. She trained us to tune our ears to the music. When we focused on listening to the instruments around us, our fingers and arms would naturally adjust. When we started to feel like we were off, we’d make eye contact, and pretty soon we’d be playing together again. Of course, this didn’t always work. After all, we were still learning! Sometimes we’d get lost, and we’d have to stop, laugh it off, and talk about what went wrong. After listening to one another’s explanations so we could understand how all our parts fit together, we’d try again. This reminds me of living as a Christian…with other Christians. Throughout the Bible, God calls us to listen to each other. Because, even if we know Bible verses like the back of our hand, if we aren’t open to hearing and learning from others’ perspectives, and if we aren’t sensitive to each other’s needs, how can we obey God’s second-greatest command: to love each other (Matthew 22:36-40)? But we can also fall to the opposite extreme. We might be listening to others, but if we aren’t spending time in God’s Word for ourselves, learning what He says and wrestling with the sections that don’t come easily to us, how can we play the songs of God together? It would be like trying to play in an ensemble without ever learning the sheet music. Thankfully, God hasn’t left us to figure things out alone. After Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came to live inside us, His followers. The Holy Spirit helps us understand the Bible and empowers us to care about others and humbly listen to their thoughts, sensibilities, and needs. Instead of trying to follow God in our own strength and wisdom, God invites us to lean on Him and support each other. Together, we can make beautiful music. • Hannah Howe • Can you think of a time when listening to others helped you understand God’s Word and/or follow His good ways? What happened? Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. Psalm 66:16 (NLT) 

READ: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-14 Do you ever feel like you’ve been stuck in the age you are forever? Maybe you have big dreams for the future, but you just don’t have the resources or experience or age to do the things you want to do yet. The teenage season of life has its own challenges and joys. And, just like in every season of life, there will be individual variations on how each person experiences these years between childhood and adulthood. But just like crops won’t grow if they’re planted in the wrong season, it will be difficult for us to grow if we try to live in the wrong season. Think about how the different seasons follow one another: at the end of winter the days will get warmer, then the bare trees will be covered in leaves, then the crops will be ripe and ready for harvest, and then the world will grow cold again as it takes a winter rest before the next spring. Seasons—in life and in weather—won’t last forever, and that is a great comfort. But the greatest comfort of all is that Jesus is with us throughout all the seasons of our lives. This gives us the freedom to feel what we need to feel and grow how we need to grow…right in the season we’re in. Are you finding space to enjoy and experience the time of life you’re in right now? Remember that Jesus walks with us through all the various seasons in our lifetime, and He uses each one to teach us new things and help us grow. Instead of trying to skip ahead, we can look around right now. We can find things to thank God for in all of life’s seasons, talk to God about how we’re feeling, and trust Him to be with us through every season. • A. W. Smith • What is going on in your season of life right now? • What things might God be inviting you to set aside for a future season? • What beautiful things might God be inviting you to notice and enjoy in your current season? • The seasons of our lives are leading to the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’s return, when He will make all things new. How can the promises in the Bible help us weather the stormy parts of every season? (One passage that’s full of these promises is Romans 8.) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) 

READ: EPHESIANS 5:1-2; COLOSSIANS 3:8-10 When you hear an accent different from yours, do you find yourself slipping into the new accent? For example, maybe you say y’all around your grandparents or brilliant around your British friend. Whatever it looks like, switching accents is a pretty common and often funny phenomenon. Thinking about accents can actually help us understand a truth we find in the Bible. After Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave, and ascended into heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to be in Jesus’s followers. Soon after this, Acts 4:13 says that when the Jewish religious leaders interacted with two of Jesus’s disciples, Peter and John, they recognized that they “had been with Jesus.” As we get to know Jesus better, our speech and actions begin to reflect Him. Like Peter and John, all Christians have the opportunity to spend time with Jesus, talking to Him and listening to Him any time, because we have the Holy Spirit in us. Even though we won’t see Jesus face-to-face until He returns, we can still experience the “inexpressible joy” of knowing Him through faith (1 Peter 1:8). As we pray, read His Word (both individually and with fellow Christians), and interact with the Holy Spirit as we go through our daily lives, we get to know Jesus better and better… and His love overflows from us to others. If we trust in Jesus, He will help us grow to become more like Him—more kind, patient, loving, and forgiving—so our words and actions will show others that we know Him. And as we spend time with Jesus, we can grow to understand His love for everyone and pick up His accent in the way we talk to and treat others. • A. W. Smith • Have you ever been encouraged by seeing a Christian friend copying Jesus’s accent? What were they doing or saying? • Why do you think spending time with Jesus often leads to acting more like Him? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 15:1-17 and Galatians 5:22-23.) Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 9:20-22; MARK 5:25-34; LUKE 8:43-48 Drained, the blood flows, Labelled, “unclean” and “lost” Doctors fail, trying everything I don’t care about the cost. “The healer is here, Jesus,” An echo of Your name Sings in my ears. Can He heal my shame? In pain, I scrabble on my hands Battling through loud crowds. Desperately needing You Humbled, by the proud, Crawling in faith, Jesus, I trust in You, Touching Your cloak, trembling, Power surges through, “Daughter,” our eyes connect, No longer unclean, nor outcast, “Your faith has made you well,” You smile, I am free at last. • Cindy Lee • Today’s poem imagines what it was like for the woman who Jesus healed from chronic bleeding. Her condition labeled her as unclean and made her an outcast—but Jesus healed her, forgave her, and enfolded her into His family. Have you ever felt desperate for Jesus? The reality is, without Jesus, we are all unclean outcasts, trapped in the sickness of sin that leads only to death. We all desperately need Jesus to heal us of sin and brokenness. The good news is, Jesus longs to heal us. He so much longs to restore us to wholeness and to relationship with God and His people that He went to the cross for us. He gave up His life for us—unclean outcasts that we are—and then, He rose from the grave. So now, everyone who trusts in Jesus is made clean and enfolded into God’s family. And when Jesus returns, we will be fully healed (Revelation 21:1-5). Until that day, Jesus promises to always be with us, responding to our pain in love. • Are you or anyone you know struggling with illness? Jesus has so much compassion on us, and He wants us to come to Him. Sometimes He gives us physical healing, and sometimes He gives us other good gifts. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about anything that’s been weighing on you. You can present all your needs to Jesus, who loves you dearly. “Daughter,” he [Jesus] said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 1:9-31; PSALM 119:73 I’ve always loved going on road trips for various reasons, one being that I get to see so much of God’s creation along the way. Traveling gives us an idea of how beautiful and large the world is. Just the United States of America alone is so big that when I road-tripped from Wisconsin to California, it took over thirty hours to get there. The scenery we passed through on our way was amazing. The landscape changes time and time again. God made His world so beautiful. The nature that surrounds us is awesome. God created this stunning, big world that we live in, and He created us too. He made us with just as much care as the mountains out west and the deep oceans. He made us with just as much care as tall waterfalls and gorgeous sunsets. In fact, you might say He made us with even more care because He crafted us in His own image. Nature shows us how excellent God’s work is and how much care He puts into His creations, even though they are large and many. And God loves us even more than He loves the other works He has made. How great does it feel to realize that? Even if you aren’t able to travel far, it’s great to look at nature wherever you are and admire God’s work. He put so much care into it, and He put so much care into creating you and giving you life. • Bethany Acker • What are some of your favorite things in nature? Have you ever been surprised by the beauty that surrounds you? How does it feel to know God made all of it and made you too? • Colossians 1:16-17 says, “Everything was created through him [Jesus] and for him…he holds all creation together.” How might knowing that we are created through Jesus and for Jesus affect the way we view ourselves, and the rest of creation? So God created human beings in his own image. Genesis 1:27a (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 116 When I was fifteen, my grandma passed away. I had never dealt with a loss like that before, at least not one I remembered well (I had been much younger when my grandpa passed away). I was devastated. It was a hard time, and I couldn’t imagine her being gone. I wanted more time with her. In the midst of my sadness and grief, I was reading in the book of Psalms and came across Psalm 116. It might not seem like the most significant psalm to everyone who reads it, but at the time, it was just what I needed. I sort of claimed it as my psalm after that. I would read it over and over again. That psalm helped me through some of the hardest days of my teen years. It still has a special place in my heart over a decade later. I love reading Psalm 116 because I remember how much it comforted me then, and because it still reminds me of God’s comfort and goodness. Have you ever come across passages in the Bible that really speak to you? It can be so meaningful to claim books or chapters or verses as your own and memorize them or read them over and over again. The Bible is such a rich gift that God has given us. He has so much to offer us in His Word. He longs to comfort us in times of grief, and He is eager to reveal who He is and how much He cares about us. And the entire Bible points to Jesus. God became human and lived among us, ultimately dying on the cross for us and rising from the grave, so that everyone who trusts in Him can live with God forever. We can find hope in this good news all throughout the Bible, at any time in our lives. • Bethany Acker • Have you ever come across a Bible verse or passage that God used to speak to you in a special way? What was it? • Have you ever tried to memorize Scripture or read the same chapters or books in the Bible over and over? How could these practices help us understand the Bible, and the God who gave it to us, in deeper ways? I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Psalm 116:1 (NIV) 

READ: JOSHUA 1:9; ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12; ISAIAH 43:1-3; MATTHEW 28:20 Einar pushed open the portal door of his new habitat and started down the desert path. He’d only lived on the planet Themisto for a few weeks, and he still wasn’t used to its dry climate—or its moonless nights. Even in the afternoon sun, he shivered at the thought of the nocturnal creatures that came out after sunset. This place was nothing like the frigid moon he had been stationed on most of his life. He was going to visit Leif, his nearest neighbor and newfound friend. They worked together at the research base, and today Leif was going to teach Einar how to grow native vegetables in a shade garden. In the light, Einar loved the desert with its prickly plants, shining rocks, and glittering sand. But at night, arid breezes whistled eerily through the brush. It was easy to imagine bumping into the hard cactus spines, stumbling over a blue neidr snake, or feeling the fuzzy legs of a pry copyn (which was similar to a tarantula, but bigger). The coyote-like creatures, called blaidds, prowled at night here too. Needless to say, Einar always made sure to be home before dark. As he walked down the dusty path, he remembered the Scripture that had helped him on the long journey to this new world: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” He whispered a prayer to the Almighty, double-checked that his anti-venom kit was attached to his utility belt, and gripped his stun-spear tighter. Still, he didn’t feel very courageous. When Einar reached Leif’s habitat, Leif and his roommate Colborn were already outside gathering cacti. Soon Einar was working and laughing alongside them. He was so fascinated with the shade garden that he forgot about the time. But when he saw where Themisto’s sun was in the sky, his jaw dropped. “I need to get home,” he said. “It’s getting dark already.” Leif stood up and brushed the dirt off his hands. “No worries. We’ll walk home with you. It will make the journey safer.” Einar was about to say no, he was used to traveling alone. But then Colborn spoke up, “After all, two people are better off than one…and three are even better!” Einar recognized the Scripture, and a smile spread across his face. He nodded, grateful, and soon they were on their way. When Einar arrived home, he breathed a sigh of relief. The walk over had been filled with laughter, not fear. They’d even shared some of their favorite Scriptures as they walked. As Leif and Colborn headed back, Einar waved. “Don’t trip over a neidr snake!” They laughed, and before his friends were out of earshot, Einar called, “Thanks… for coming back with me.” Einar couldn’t see them anymore, but he heard Leif’s voice through the dark. “The Almighty is with you, and we will be too.” • A. W. Smith • Consider taking a moment to read the Bible passages quoted in today’s story, Joshua 1:9 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Have you ever had a Bible verse help you in a difficult time? What was it? • Can you think of a time you were faced with a new or scary situation? Did you feel like you were supposed to handle it alone? As Christians, we don’t have to face anything alone. Jesus is always with us, and that’s why we can be courageous. Not only is He present with us through His Spirit and His Word, but also through His people. He is the One providing people for us, people to be His hands and feet in the lonely moments. • Presence is a big deal to God. Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and He came so that He would always be with us. Jesus so much wants to be with us that He died and rose for us…and then placed us in His community. Everyone who trusts in Jesus will live with God—and the rest of His people—forever. Jesus promises His followers, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). And He calls us to be present with each other as He is pres

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:42-49; 1 JOHN 3:2 Have you ever been involved in renovating a house? It’s usually pretty chaotic. Maybe there’s a constant dripping in the bathroom sink, the walls are covered with holes, the carpet is old and worn out—plus a long list of other things that need fixing! In the midst of the chaos, we hold onto the hope of how nice it’ll be once our home has had all the renovations it needs. Soon everything will be like new, all in working order as it should be. That’s a good way for Christians to think too. In our world broken by sin, we see many tragic things that seem to have no end. This can be especially disheartening when it’s our own health that’s suffering—whether it’s our physical, mental, or emotional health. Do you have a health problem that has you feeling discouraged? Perhaps you have a condition there’s no cure for here on earth. Jesus sees us in all our pain, and He weeps with us. In His great compassion, He comforts us, and He promises to make us new. Because Jesus stepped into our broken world and experienced pain and suffering in His own body, we can know that He empathizes with us. And because He died on the cross and rose from the dead for us, we can rest in Him, knowing that health problems are just a temporary situation. If our trust is in Jesus, we know that we will have perfect bodies someday when He returns and makes everything new. Whenever you feel discouraged, you can come to Jesus. He cares about you so deeply, and He promises to return and make everything in this world free from sin and death—including our bodies! Then we’ll never have to deal with sickness or death ever again. We’ll be healed and whole in His wonderful presence. • A. W. Smith • What things in our broken world have been weighing on you lately? How might those things change when Jesus returns? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about them. Remember that He doesn’t pass over our pain; He grieves our hurts with us. • When you need encouragement and support, who are trusted people you can reach out to, such as counselors, therapists, teachers, pastors, parents, etc.? But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2b (NIV) 

READ: ROMANS 8:38-39; 1 JOHN 4:7-11 One thing I wish I could go back and tell my younger self over and over is “God loves you.” It’s something I wish every young person could grasp and believe. Life can be tough, especially when you’re a teenager. You’re trying to learn about yourself. You discover your style, your likes and dislikes, and how you differ from your friends and family. It can be a hard journey, and at times you might not feel good enough. You might feel unsure of yourself or wish you had more confidence. But if I could remind younger me and any younger person of anything, it would be that God loves them. You don’t have to try to impress anyone. You don’t have to worry about all the little things. God cares so much for you, and nothing can shake His love for you. Five or ten years from now, you might dress differently or listen to different music. Life could look very different, but God will still love you. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you will still be able to rest in the truth that He is with you and cares about you. God loves you so much, and you are good enough for Him. He showed how much you’re worth to Him when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for you. You don’t have to earn His love. You don’t have to impress anyone. Instead, you can lean into His love and know that, because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, you are good enough in His eyes. • Bethany Acker • What kinds of things make you wonder if God really loves you? Things people say, expectations you put on yourself, lies you’ve heard, ways you’ve been mistreated, etc.? The enemy always wants us to doubt God’s love for us, but because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can be confident that “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). • When you begin to doubt God’s love for you, who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of His love, such as friends, parents, pastors, youth leaders, or counselors? If you can’t think of anyone right now, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. • Consider taking some time to pray, and just thank God for His incredible love for you. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son [Jesus] as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 12:33-37; ROMANS 12:2; EPHESIANS 4:22-24, 29-32 Take a moment to remember a compliment that has stuck with you. For example, I remember a friend telling me I was very intentional, and I really appreciated that. Now, think of something someone said that was harsh. Maybe it was a biting remark, a lie, or a put-down. Unfortunately, those can come to mind much easier, and the negative things said to us can stick around longer than we want them to. The Bible has so much to say about our words and their power. Our words can calm people down or rile them up; they can encourage or discourage the people around us—whether in person or online (Proverbs 12:18, 25; 15:1; 16:24). Our words can even show others our true intent. We see this when Jesus was confronting the Pharisees in Matthew 12. He explained how their words reflected the evil in their hearts. What was inside their hearts became the words they put into the world. Their words were more than just talk; they were a reflection of their hearts. And that’s true for all of us. Our speech reflects who we are. Sadly, without Jesus, all of our hearts are corrupt. We need Jesus to heal our hearts of sin before our speech can be truly wholesome. The good news is, as Christians, our hearts were cleansed the very moment we believed in Jesus (Acts 15:8-9). Now, as we rely on Jesus’s love for us, His death and resurrection, and His Holy Spirit’s power in us, God is continually transforming us more and more into the image of Jesus…and our speech reflects that transformation. We are forgiven, beloved people—so we can forgive and love those around us. We’ve been given the amazing gift of communication, and this gift can help us live into the kingdom of God. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save and restore us, our words can bring life instead of death, healing instead of hurt, and encouragement instead of destruction. Of course, we won’t do this perfectly until Jesus returns, but as we are being transformed by our loving God, our words will follow (Philippians 2:13). • Naomi Zylstra • Can you think of someone whose words often reflect who Jesus is? Consider taking a moment to thank God for that person, and maybe even find a way to encourage them today. If nobody comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal someone in the future. • One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit transforms us is through Scripture. How could meditating on God’s words in the Bible help our words reflect Jesus? Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 32:1-5; ROMANS 3:23-24; 1 JOHN 1:8-9 Have you ever buttoned your shirt wrong? One button off can cause a shirt to hang longer at the bottom on one side than the other…or cause a sagging of extra fabric in the middle. Usually, the only way to fix this problem is to unbutton the entire shirt, start with the top button, and work your way down. No one likes to do a task all over again, but this is often the only way to correct things. It gives you a fresh start. That’s true with shirts and with life. The Bible says we all do wrong (we all sin) and it makes a mess of things. We need a fresh start. On our own, this isn’t possible, but if we trust Jesus and confess the wrong things we do, Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us. We can put our sins behind us and start all over again. All of us have done things that are wrong. Are you thinking of something right now that you’re sorry you did? Do you wish you could undo it and start over again? You can’t undo what’s been done, but you can have a fresh start. You can confess your sin to the Lord—and to others who have been affected by it. This may seem daunting, but remember that Jesus loves you, so much so that He died and rose again for you so you could be forgiven. And He’s ready to help you begin again, fresh and clean. • A. W. Smith • Sometimes, even as Christians, we get so tangled up in doing things in a way that doesn’t love God or our neighbors that we need to start over. Repenting of our sin and the systems we may have built in the process isn’t easy, but Jesus is with us and is ready to help us turn away from these harmful things so we can turn to Him and start over again. We will need fresh starts moment by moment, but all along the way Jesus will remind us that we can rest in Him. He will never run out of love and forgiveness for us (Matthew 18:21-22). He calls us to confess our sins often, so consider taking a moment now to pray and confess any sins that come to mind. If you’re a Christian, you can know that Jesus has already secured your forgiveness through His death and resurrection, and He is already empowering you to live in His good ways through the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t put your trust in Jesus and you want to know more, check out our "Know Jesus" page. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt…And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5 (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 39:7; 119:49; LAMENTATIONS 3:13-26 In the Bible, we see over and over again how the Israelites (God’s people) turned away from God, abandoning His good ways and embracing sin. But God still had a great love for His people, even though they sinned and no longer followed His commands. He often sent prophets, people He spoke through supernaturally to remind the Israelites of His love and His good ways. One of those prophets was Jeremiah, who spoke God’s instructions to the people. Yet Jeremiah grew disheartened and full of despair because of the people’s disobedience. He lost hope. His strength grew weak. Overcome by all the sin and wrong, sorrow filled his heart. But in this moment, he remembered God’s unshakeable faithfulness. We see this in Jeremiah’s writings in Lamentations 3. Jeremiah remembered God’s forgiveness and great love. He says in verses 22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” When Jeremiah was surrounded by faithless people, he found hope in God’s faithfulness. It gave him strength to continue following God, and to call the rest of God’s people to do the same. When we are overwhelmed by the sin and brokenness in the world around us and in our hearts, we can remember that God is still there. He has not given up on us. Like Jeremiah, we can tell others about God’s love, forgiveness, and His good ways. We can rest in Jesus, the just King Jeremiah foretold in his writings. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can know that He will someday return to bring about wholeness. And we can share this hope with others. God will be with us no matter how difficult things get. No matter what others do, we can lean on our loving God and follow His good ways. And, like Jeremiah, we can pray fervently that everyone will see God’s goodness and put their trust in Him. • Anna Gregory • Have you ever felt like Jeremiah? We all need lots of reminders of God’s faithfulness. Those reminders could come in the form of Bible verses or Bible stories, or from people around you, or memories of times you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in your own life or in the lives of others. Or it could be something else, like a song or something in nature. Consider making a list of things that remind you of God’s faithfulness, then take some time to thank Him for these things. • When you see someone you love walking away from God’s good ways, how could you show them God’s love? The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; 1 PETER 4:10-11 Do you know what I hate? Limits. I hate that I’m a finite being and I can’t do everything. I hate that I can’t have all the skills, all the energy, and all the knowledge. I can’t do all the things, and I can’t be all the things. And I hate that. But I’m learning not to hate it anymore. I used to think it was valiant to hate limits. I’ve always been told that I can do anything, be anything. And limits keep me from doing everything I want to do and being everything I want to be. So I have to hate them and overcome them, right? Well, sometimes. Some limits do need to be overcome. But not all of them. Because, do you know who gave me these limits? God. And do you know the only one who doesn’t have limits? God. So when I try to push past every limit and when I start expecting myself to be able to do everything, I’m trying to do God’s job. I’m trying to be God. And I am definitely not God. God has given me gifts and abilities and energy, and I’m so grateful for them. They are valuable and wonderful and useful. But there are some gifts and abilities that I don’t have, and my energy is not endless. And that’s okay. I’m learning to accept that. Because my worth is not found in my abilities. My worth is found in Jesus, who took on our limits by becoming human. He died and rose again to make the way for me to be with Him forever. He put me in community with other believers who have other gifts and abilities, so we can lean on each other instead of trying to do everything ourselves. When I rest in that truth, my limits become less scary. So when I bump into my limits, I don’t have to be ashamed or afraid. I can say, “Well, I can’t do that right now. And that’s okay.” I am securely loved by our limitless God. I can trust Him to care for me and do the things I can’t do. And that fills me with limitless peace. • Taylor Eising • What kinds of limits have you experienced? Are there things you wish you could do that you just can’t do? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about these things. He invites us to be totally honest with Him about all our frustrations, fears, hopes, dreams, and hurts. • God comforts us in our struggles, and He promises to make all things new when Jesus returns. Then we will have limitless energy, and we will get to enjoy doing wonderful things we can’t even imagine yet! Consider taking a moment to read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. Why do you think God allows us to experience limits? How does He help us in the midst of our struggles? “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I [Jesus] will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (CSB) 

READ: GENESIS 16:13; PSALM 34:17-22; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). He knows about every one of your heartbreaks, both big and small. God knows when you’ve been having a tough day or year. It’s not always easy to see God during those times, but He sees you. He sees you during a breakup, and He wants to help you through it. He sees you when you lose a loved one, and He is ready to comfort you. God is close when things go wrong. When humanity’s sin brought brokenness to creation, God was heartbroken. Yet He was determined to restore what had been lost and unite us to Himself again. That’s why Jesus came. He is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and He was born into this messy world where so many things are wrong, because He loves us. He died and rose again to defeat sin and death. When He returns He will finally heal every brokenness, and right now He sits beside us in our sorrows, weeping with us, comforting us, and strengthening us. If you know Jesus, His presence is always with you. He reminds you that you will be alright because He is holding you. It might still take time. Your heart might be slow to heal from the loss of a loved one or something horrible you experienced, but you will have His comfort through it all. Remember Psalm 34:18 says God is close to you when you’re brokenhearted; He saves you when your spirit is crushed. If you’re going through any kind of heartache now, remember that God is near. He is ready to give you comfort and peace. You can rest knowing that He is with you, and He will help you through this time. • Bethany Acker • What kinds of heartbreaking things have you experienced lately? How might God be inviting you to receive His comfort? • One of the primary ways God helps His people is through His people. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by loss, or experiencing sadness that won’t go away, who are trusted adults in your life you can talk to, such as parents, pastors, counselors, or teachers? If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV) 

READ: LUKE 5:17-26; 23:32-43; EPHESIANS 2:1-10 Icy iron chains bind my hands behind me, weighing me down more and more with every step as I’m led toward the throne room. My heart pounds in my chest and sweat slides down my temple. Why did I have to be so foolish?! Why did I think it would be a good idea to steal from the King’s table? What was I thinking! The groan of the great, gold doors of the throne room opening snaps me from my thoughts, and I gulp. Up ahead is the King, full of majesty and glory. With slow, halting steps I make my way toward the foot of the throne. I barely notice the murmurs of the court as I curl into myself. I should have listened to my mother. She told me my thievery would get me killed someday. I fall to my knees before the throne, my whole body shaking with fright at what I’m sure will be a death sentence. After everything I’ve done, I’d deserve it. Stealing isn’t even the worst crime I’ve committed. I keep my eyes on the floor. For a moment silence reigns in the room; then a gentle voice speaks. “Why are you frightened young man?” the voice asks. “Because I’ve done wrong against the King and the people of this kingdom,” I say, my voice shaking. Then a hand gently lifts my chin to reveal the King smiling kindly at me. He moved from his throne—he came down to be near me, a criminal. Awe washes over me and I stare, not understanding why the King of all people would be smiling at me. “Be at peace young man,” he says kindly, “you are forgiven, and your name is cleared. Be free.” At those last two words my chains fall, broken, to the ground, and I stare in awe as tears fill my eyes. “Why?” I rasp, and the King smiles. “Because I choose to.” • Caelin Allred • What stuck out to you in today’s allegorical story? Jesus is King of the universe. He humbled Himself by coming to earth, fully God and fully human, and living among us. He was on a rescue mission to forgive us, knowing full well all the wrong things we do that separate us from Him. For everyone who puts their trust in Jesus, He has secured our forgiveness through dying on the cross and rising from the grave. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" Page. Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1 (NIV) 

READ: JOHN 10:27-30; HEBREWS 4:14-16; 12:1-3 Click-click-click-click. Drumsticks rose and fell in unison. As drumline leader in our marching band, it was my job to ensure the drummers played tightly together, with sticks all rising up to the same height and hitting the drums with the same intensity. To do this, I had to watch the drum major, who marched ahead of us and kept time. While playing with the whole marching band under the drum major’s lead, I had to make sure that our hits exactly shadowed the drum major’s direction so we didn’t sound as random as a popcorn machine. Otherwise, the entire band might fall apart. The competition field provided plenty of distractions: black-jacketed judges critiqued us as we marched on fields that were often slippery with ice or mud. Depending on the season, the summer heat made us sweat or the winter chill made our fingers numb. And rowdy spectators (most of them our slightly embarrassing parents) cheered and tooted plastic horns from the stands. These distractions caused me to lose focus at times, which then made the drumline sound like popcorn. And with popcorn, the song began to crumble. But the drum majors were there to hold it all together, to provide a steady pulse and direction for the entire band. No matter where I was on the marching field, my eyes must be fixed on the drum major. And if I lost focus for a moment, I immediately refocused on them. Much like my focus can wander because of the distractions of the marching field, my focus can also wander from God. Then I feel more chaotic, with less peace and less patience. When I fix my eyes on Jesus, it doesn’t take away the difficulties or distractions of life, but He provides peace and hope through every difficult circumstance. With each pulse of life, we can remember that Jesus lived through difficulties just like us. He provides hope as the One who beat sin and death on the cross so we could live forever with the God who loves us unconditionally. God knows the pulse of life, and as we fix our eyes on Him, we find peace and hope that always hold steady. • Amanda Gott • We all lose focus on Jesus sometimes. When that happens, we can rest secure in the knowledge that He never loses focus on us. We are always in His care, and He is always with us. How could this sure hope help us refocus on Jesus in the midst of chaos and distraction? And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus… Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 148 I love getting out in nature and exploring all that God has made. And I’ve always enjoyed traveling and getting to see places and things that are new to me. Over the years, I’ve been able to go to several national parks and see a wide variety of God’s stunning creations. From views of the Atlantic Ocean framed by colorful trees at Acadia National Park in Maine, to gorgeous sunrises over the desert of Death Valley National Park in California, I was amazed by God’s work. God made this world so varied, each different landscape beautiful in its own way. Just think about the variety of trees alone—from palm trees that grow in desert oases to maple trees that change their colors in the fall. As we behold trees, mountains, and oceans, it’s amazing that we can know the God who made all of it. God created a stunning world, and we get to live in it. I am so grateful to Him for that. There are many reasons to praise God every day, and one of those reasons is that He made everything—from the deserts to the oceans—and He invites us to delight in His creation with Him! When we get outside and experience all kinds of beautiful things, we can praise the God who crafted them. It’s amazing to see the care He put into making the world, and it’s amazing that we get to enjoy it with Him. • Bethany Acker • Have you ever had an experience in nature where you were more aware of God? What was it like? • The Creator of everything wants to be in relationship with us (Acts 17:22-31). That’s why Jesus came—He died and rose again so that we could know the One who made the deserts, the oceans, the trees…and us. When we know God personally through Jesus, our experience of nature is even more meaningful. If you have questions about what it means to know Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created. Psalm 148:5 (NIV) 

READ: MARK 2:1-12; LUKE 5:17-26; JOHN 15:12-15 I was reading through Mark 2 last night, and I was struck by all that a group of friends chose to do in order to bring one man to see Jesus. Mark 2:3-4 says four men carried a paralyzed man to Jesus. “Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” The Bible doesn’t tell us very much about these five men, but they seem like a group of friends, and it’s clear that one of them was unable to walk on his own. We don’t know how this man came to be paralyzed. Maybe the friends had been doing something together that they shouldn’t have been doing, and the one friend got hurt. We don’t know. What we do know is that the four who were able to walk chose to carry their friend and bring him to the place where Jesus was. But the house was so crowded, they couldn’t get in. The friend group could have turned around and left. The four could have taken their paralyzed friend back home. Instead, they somehow got him up on the roof. That had to be a lot of work. Then, they made a way to fit him down through the roof and lower him to the floor of the house so that he could be seen by Jesus. The friend group in Mark 2 was caring. They didn’t abandon their friend because he was unable to move like them and do everything they could do. And these friends had faith. Because of their faith, the one who couldn’t walk got to meet Jesus. Jesus not only forgave him, but He healed him too. The man who had been paralyzed was able to stand up and walk—and the book of Luke tells us that he “went home praising God” (Luke 5:25). Jesus cares deeply about us; He will never abandon us (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 5:7). Once we know Jesus, He calls us His friends, and He also transforms our friendships to reflect His love. Like the friend group in Mark 2, we can help others come to Jesus. When life gets tough, we can remind each other that Jesus brought us close to Himself through His death and resurrection. And as we see and respond to each other’s needs, we remind each other that we are seen by God. • Emily Acker • Do you have any friends who care about your needs and who want you to be close to Jesus? If so, how could you be intentional about spending time with them? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify people in your life you could become good friends with. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 22:1-18; EXODUS 12:12-13, 21-23; 1 JOHN 2:1-2 The story of Abraham taking his son Isaac up to the mountain Moriah to be sacrificed has always been a difficult one for me to read. Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? And then why does God instead provide a different sacrifice to take Isaac’s place? Even Isaac himself is confused by the ordeal. He sees the firewood but asks his dad, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). Abraham tells his son that God will provide the lamb. And yet, look at Genesis 22:13. Did you catch the type of animal God provides for the sacrifice? It’s a ram, not a lamb. The Israelites who read this story were probably left with the same question we are: Where is the lamb? In Exodus 11-13, the Israelites got their first answer. While they were enslaved in Egypt, God instructed them to sacrifice a lamb and spread the blood on their door posts. This sacrificial lamb would save their firstborn sons from the final plague that passed over Egypt. This sacrificial lamb mirrors the events with Abraham and Isaac—God provided an alternative sacrifice to save a firstborn son. Later, God the Father would again send a sacrifice to save, but this time it was His only Son, Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He is the lamb God the Father provided as a sacrifice, except His sacrifice took the place of more than just a firstborn son. Jesus’s loving sacrifice on the cross took the place of all of us. And when Jesus rose again from the grave, He defeated sin and death so that all who trust in Him will one day rise with Him. Not only were our sins paid for by His sacrifice, but we also get to participate in God’s kingdom as coheirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17). This is something only the perfect lamb could achieve. And, after years and years, we can look back at Genesis 22:13 and get the answer to our question: Where is the lamb? The Lamb is Jesus. • Naomi Zylstra • Often, we can understand Bible passages more fully when we look at the Bible as a whole. This is because the entire Bible points to Jesus (John 1:45; 20:31; Acts 10:43), and we can only know God through Jesus (more about this on our "Know Jesus" page). As Christians, when we read the Bible we are reading words written by and about someone we have a personal relationship with. And He helps us grow in our understanding of His Word through the help of the Holy Spirit and fellow Christians. Which Bible passages are difficult for you to read? Who could you ask about this? John saw Jesus…and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (CSB) 

READ: JOHN 10:27-30; ROMANS 8:31-39 My favorite baseball team made it to the playoffs one fall, and I was excited to watch the first playoff game with my brother and sister. We were preparing food ahead of time so we wouldn’t have to worry about it during the game, but as I was working in the kitchen my finger slipped—and before I knew it I had a bad cut. I went from excitedly preparing food to crying on the floor, a towel wrapped around my finger. I thought I would have to go to the emergency room. I didn’t know if I would even make it back in time for the game. Just like that, the thing that had been my main focus—the baseball game—wasn’t a big deal to me. I was only concerned about my finger. Have you ever had something happen that changed your focus in an instant? Maybe someone died suddenly. Maybe you lost your home. Maybe you got injured or heard bad news out of the blue. When things like this happen, we are no longer able to focus on whatever else was on our minds. But even when our heads are spinning and our hearts are racing, God holds us. No matter what comes our way, He will be with us. When things here on earth feel so uncertain, it’s good to remember what Jesus said about those who know Him: “I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). As Jesus’s followers, we can rest knowing that He holds us. And we get to look forward to Jesus’s return, when He will renew His creation and raise us from the dead to live with Him forever. In the meantime, we can cling to Him, knowing that He will be with us no matter what happens in our lives. I think of how life can change in a moment, and I realize just how important it is to know that God holds me, now and forever. • Emily Acker • Have you had an experience where suddenly your life was changed and your priorities were different? God is strong enough to hold us through the worst that life throws at us. Consider taking a moment to remember a time you felt overwhelmed, and imagine God holding you through it. What does that feel like? “I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (WEB) 

READ: MATTHEW 28:1-10; LUKE 24:1-12; JOHN 20:1-18 Elena didn’t have time to walk all the way around the quarry. She had dinner plans with friends. Ever since Rosa had said the mines would re-open, the town had been chaos. Finally, after weeks of debating whether Rosa had actually found the gold nugget, then a few more weeks of arguing if she had actually heard a voice, the mayor finally decided to re-open the mines after thirty years to do some exploratory mining. So the main trail was closed, and Elena had to walk all the way around. Elena had never known life with the mines open. Her grandfather had worked in the mountain’s mines, and her father had too, right before they closed. Elena was lost in thought when suddenly the rocks to her left shifted. She had to jump to dodge a few smaller rocks that rolled onto the path. Her heart racing, she looked over and saw a crack had appeared in the mountainside. “Come and see.” Elena heard a voice in her mind. “This is the restoration I promised.” Still a little wary of the rocks above, Elena walked over and peered through the crack. Veins of gold shone on every wall. Elena gasped at the beauty of it. “Now go and tell the good news,” the voice spoke to her. Elena remembered Rosa mentioning a voice and wondered if it was the same one. She ran to the town and almost ran into her friends at the well. “Gold! I found the gold—this side of the quarry! It’s just like Rosa said would happen!” Elena panted as she told her friends Arturo and Nicolás. “No way! I gotta see this!” Arturo ran off. Nicolás shrugged and followed, leaving Elena alone to catch her breath and tell the others. A while later they returned. Arturo said, “You were right. So much gold!” “Why would I lie?” Elena laughed, but she was hurt her friends didn’t believe her word. “It really is a miracle,” said Nicolás. Elena gave a small smile; she had to find Rosa and tell her the news. “This is going to change everything.” • Naomi Zylstra • Consider taking some time to read the Bible passages that today’s allegorical story is inspired by. On more than one occasion, God first gave big news to women, including the news that Jesus had risen from the dead! Why do you think God chose to do it this way even though, in that society, a woman’s testimony was not considered as trustworthy as a man’s? • Why is knowing Jesus the most valuable treasure? (Matthew 13:44-46; Philippians 3:8) The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. Matthew 28:8 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 1:26-38 As Rosa walked toward town to meet up with her fiancé Antonio, she was passing by the old mines when something shiny caught her eye amidst the rocks and tumbleweeds. She was leaning down to look when suddenly a voice from above rumbled, “Go and take this gold. It is a gift for you and a promise of more to come. I will restore this town and bring it out of poverty.” Shaking with surprise, Rosa said, “Who’s there? Who are you?” “I am the One who watches over you. And I will restore this town, starting with you. Go and tell the people of my promise.” So Rosa picked up the shining object, excitement coursing through her veins. It was a perfect gold nugget. Rosa ran into town, looking for anyone to share the good news with. The first person she ran into was the banker. “Look what I found! The old mines are going to open again—this whole town can be restored!” She shoved the nugget into the banker’s hands, and he gave it, and her, an appraising look. “Well, it looks like a perfect gold nugget—too perfect to be real. Besides, there’s no way this could have come from the mines. They’ve been closed for decades. Now, who did you flirt with to get this?” “Flirt with?” The sheriff overheard their conversation and stepped in. “How do you know she didn’t steal it? Let me see that!” The sheriff grabbed the nugget in one hand and Rosa’s arm in the other. “I think we should have a little talk at the station.” Rosa struggled. “I’m no thief! I found the gold, and a voice told me that more would come!” “No, she’s right.” Antonio pushed his way through a gathering crowd of onlookers. “I had a strange dream last night that the mines re-opened and there was more gold than we could imagine.” “Thank you,” Rosa mouthed as the sheriff grumbled some excuse and let go of her arm. Antonio smiled at her. “I didn’t know what the dream meant until you found the gold—this is great news!” Rosa smiled back and whispered, “It’s going to be a miracle.” • Naomi Zylstra • Consider taking some time to read the Bible passages today’s allegorical story is based on. God chose a humble teenager, Mary, to give birth to the Savior. Why do you think God chose to save the world this way? Imagine yourself in the banker’s or sheriff’s shoes, hearing Rosa’s story. What must it have been like for Mary to be doubted and scandalized? “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!” Luke 1:30 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 5:13-16; PHILIPPIANS 2:13; COLOSSIANS 4:2-6 You’re groggy this morning, and you walk barefoot to the kitchen in that foggy, sleepy state. Once you arrive in the kitchen, you mindlessly and wordlessly prepare your oatmeal. Soon you sit down at the table and have the first taste of your handiwork. Ugh. So bland. You add more sugar and try again. Still frown-worthy. You add still more sugar. Blech. You’re about to add even more sugar, when your mind clears and you realize, This needs salt, not sugar! You try a pinch of salt…and the oatmeal finally tastes good. As Christians, it’s good to be reminded of how salt enhances the flavor of things. After all, we’re salt too! In Matthew 5:13, Jesus told His disciples they were “the salt of the earth.” What does that mean? Jesus went on to say they were also “the light of the world,” and then He said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (verses 14-16). This applies to all Christians. We have a calling to season people’s lives with the flavor of God’s love. His love compels Him to help us, even to the point of dying on the cross for us. The way we treat others can help them get a glimpse of Jesus’s enormous love for them (Matthew 25:34-40). How? By the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can be attentive to the needs of people around us. Do you know someone who’s sick? Is there someone who feels left out at your school or church? Is one of your classmates or siblings struggling with schoolwork? As we encourage others and offer to help with what we can, we get to share the joy Jesus has brought into our lives, and invite them to experience His joy too. Without Jesus, life can be pretty bland and discouraging. So let’s shake some salt into someone’s life today! • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time someone seasoned your day with the salt of Jesus’s love? What did they do? • Why is it important to remember that we love others because Jesus loved us first? That He loved us before we could do any good deeds? (Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 2:20-21; 1 John 4:19) “You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13a (NIV) 

READ: PROVERBS 18:24; ISAIAH 43:1-2; JOHN 15:15 Do you have a younger sibling? Do they sometimes follow you everywhere and mimic your every move? This can get pretty annoying, but did you know Jesus is kind of like that? He doesn’t annoy you or mimic you, but He is with you wherever you go. Proverbs 18:24 says, “there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.” When Jesus came and lived among us, existing as fully God and fully human, He called us His friends. When things get tough, Jesus wants you to lean on Him. He will see you through each and every storm, trial, and struggle you face. He won’t leave you alone, because He loves you. Joshua 1:9 says, “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Wherever doesn’t just mean when you’re having a great day, but also when you mess up…and mess up some more…over and over again. Once you’ve put your trust in Jesus, every sin you’ve committed in the past—and will commit in the future—is forgiven because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for you, paying the price for your sin. Even now, Jesus is interceding for you, keeping you close to Himself (Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2). And whenever you fall down, He’ll help you get up and continue walking with Him. No matter what you do, Jesus is always with you. He wants to be your friend. You can trust Him with your life. You can lean on Him through the good and the bad. Jesus loves you like a brother, and He will never leave you. • Josefine Engle • Have you ever thought of Jesus being “a friend who stays closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24)? Everyone goes through hard things in life, but as Christians we can know that Jesus is right there with us, and He is not going anywhere (Psalm 139:7-10). What trials or storms have you been facing? How might Jesus be inviting you to lean on Him through these storms? • If you want to know more about trusting Jesus and becoming His friend, check out our "Know Jesus" page. I will never leave you or abandon you. Hebrews 13:5b (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 139; ISAIAH 41:10, 13 My life has taken me Down twisting and turning paths Like a pretzel I have never had it easy My path has never been a straight line Through every question and every fear Through every change in my course I have felt You with me I have leaned on Your guidance I have known I am not alone My life has made me wonder And question where I’m going The rocky paths They’ve made me think I need to turn around But I have kept going You have held me through it all You have helped me find my way • Emily Acker • Have you had times in your life when everything feels confusing and every decision feels wrong? When we don’t know what to do, how could it be freeing to know that God doesn’t expect us to have all the answers, and He invites us to rely on Him? • God sees us, in all our questions and uncertainties, and He has compassion on us. He doesn’t always give us answers to every question, yet He does promise to be with us and help us. Though the journey of our lives may seem twisting and turning, He is working out His good purposes through every bend in the road and every setback, and He is transforming us more and more into the image of our loving Savior, Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). How might knowing that God understands every detail about our lives, even when we don’t, give us hope in times of uncertainty? Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (CSB) 

READ: LUKE 11:1-13; HEBREWS 4:14-16; JAMES 5:13-16 Have you ever wanted to help someone who was struggling, but you didn’t know what to do? There is always something you can do, even when you feel like you have nothing to give. When you have nothing else, you can still do the most important thing, and that is to pray. When a friend or family member is going through a difficult situation and you aren’t sure how you can offer to help, you can pray for them. When you see someone struggling financially and you don’t have much money to offer, or when they need some other kind of help that you can’t give them, you can pray for them. Throughout the Bible, God calls us to lift each other up in prayer. He hears our prayers and is ready to help. Sometimes, we feel like we’re doing nothing when all we can do is pray, but James 5:16 says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power.” Who is a righteous person? Well, none of us can be righteous (or sinless) on our own, but God loves us so much that He gives us His righteousness and forgives all our sins when we put our trust in Jesus (Romans 3:10, 22). So, even though we will continue to struggle with sin until Jesus returns and makes all things new, we can “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:14-16). Whenever you encounter a difficult situation, whether in your own life or someone else’s, you can take it to God. Prayer is powerful because God is the all-powerful One. He loves you deeply, and He wants to help you with whatever you’re facing. • Bethany Acker • Christians throughout history have prayed to God when they needed help, and God has answered their prayers. Sometimes God responds in the way we expect, or He might respond in a different way. When we pray, God not only changes situations, but He also changes us. As we come to Him with our struggles and concerns, we grow in our faith. We get to know God better, we come to trust Him more, and we start seeing things the way He does. Can you think of anyone who’s struggling right now? Are you struggling? Consider taking a moment to pray about anything that comes to mind. If you’re not sure what to pray, you can follow a prayer from the Bible, like Numbers 6:24-26, Luke 11:1-4, Ephesians 3:14-21, or Philippians 1:9-11. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 1 John 5:14 (NLT) 

READ: JOSHUA 1:9; PSALM 96:11-12; ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 What’s your favorite season? I don’t know if I have one; I always have trouble answering that question. There are things to love—and not love—about every season. In winter I love the snow, the beauty of the world just being covered with a blanket of white. The cold certainly isn’t my favorite thing though. In spring watching the plants sprout and the earth come back alive is rejuvenating. In summer the heat makes it fun to swim and kayak. In autumn watching the trees change color before the leaves begin to fall is beautiful. With every season, I’m reminded of God’s wisdom in creation. He is the One who crafted the seasons with beauty; He is there in every season. This is true not only for the seasons of the earth, but also for the seasons of our lives. He is there, and He adds beauty—things to be thankful for—in every season. I’ve been going through a season of health issues and unemployment, and this is a season that definitely has struggles. But through all of it I’ve felt God’s presence, and He has shown me beauty many times over. I’ve found out how many people care about me in my church and are praying for me. I’ve also had more time to pursue my writing. Whatever season you’re going through right now, no matter if it’s a great one or a not so great one, God is with you. He loves you, and He is making this season beautiful. • Kimberly Brokish • Isn’t it amazing that the God who created the earth, with all its beautiful seasons, wants to be in relationship with us, His creation? Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and because He died and rose again, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus gets to be with God forever. When Jesus returns, He will put an end to all pain, sorrow, sickness, and evil (Revelation 21:1-5). And in the meantime, Jesus promises to be with us, moment by moment. He brings beauty to our lives, often when we least expect it. What beauty can you find in your current season? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. • What season of your life have you felt God’s presence most in? If you’ve never felt close to God, that’s okay. You can ask God for this anytime—He loves answering these prayers. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a (NIV) 

READ: DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9; PSALM 1:1-2; MATTHEW 22:36-40 I recently accepted a job working in the office of my local fire department. This was something I never expected to do. I had very little knowledge about how fire departments even worked. But the fire chief knew this when he proposed the plan for me to take over some of his responsibilities. He knew it would be a long journey, but he offered to take the time to teach me. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with my position. I spend hours working with the chief to learn what he does. I have a picture of the firefighters to memorize names and faces. I put military time on my phone to understand how their 24-hour shifts are recorded. I made a study guide that I add to daily as I learn new information. I’ve read up on topics like mental health in firefighters, consolidating fire and police forces into public safety officers, cancer in firefighters, and how to support them. I ask a million questions: "How do you name fire engines? What do fire investigators do? How do you become a captain or lieutenant?" All that I’m learning consumes my thoughts, day and night. I see fire trucks and stations everywhere I go. And this made me wonder, maybe I can pursue knowing God, His Word, and my role as a Christian like I am learning to be an assistant in the fire department. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, God calls His people to learn Scripture and think about His Word every day, all throughout the day. As we read the Bible, we get to know more about Jesus and how to live in relationship with Him. The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more we’ll be reminded of Scripture and God’s promises everywhere we go. Dedicating ourselves to learning Scripture could include using the tools we have available to us, like putting verses as our screen backgrounds or researching Bible study resources like scholarly books, articles, videos, and podcasts. The fire chief wanted me to work there even though he knew I would be learning from scratch and there would be lots of failures ahead. When I’m struggling to get something, he is patient and forgiving. In the same way, God knows we won’t be perfect, and He has covered all our imperfections through Jesus’s death and resurrection (Romans 3:23-24). We could never uphold God’s law perfectly, but Jesus did. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are His forever, and God helps us grow in loving Him and loving others as He loves us. • Natty Maelle • What are some practical ways you could take time to ponder God’s Word this week? “I [Jesus] did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” Matthew 5:17b (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 2:1-3; EXODUS 20:8-11; MATTHEW 11:28–12:13; MARK 6:27-32 The other day, I heard someone say, “Rest is productive,” and I flinched a little. That can’t be, can it? Resting is the opposite of being productive, right? Sometimes I struggle with feeling guilty when I rest or take a break. Or I’ll remember how productive I was in the past and think I’ll never compare to that now with all the rest I’m taking. But God teaches us that not only do we need rest, but it’s also an important and productive part of becoming more like Christ. God created the Sabbath with the purpose of resting in mind. In the book of Exodus, He commanded His people not to do any work on the Sabbath, the last day of every week, inviting them to trust Him to provide for their needs. And in Genesis, God even gave us an example of rest right at the beginning: God finished His work of creation, and then He rested. When we rest, we can quiet our minds and listen to what God may be trying to tell us. Or we can simply enjoy and be present in the gifts of creation God has given us. Jesus often went off alone to pray, and in Mark 6:31, Jesus called His disciples to come away with Him to rest and take a break after they had just come back from their missionary journeys and heard the news of John the Baptist’s death. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He shows us that rest is an important and integral part of our daily lives. Not only that, but Jesus also said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). God wants us to rest, and He provides that rest in Jesus. • Naomi Zylstra • As Christians, we don’t practice the Sabbath the same way God prescribed in the Old Testament. These laws were just a foretaste of the ultimate rest God was preparing to give His people in Jesus. But God still calls us to take times of intentional rest, and to do this often. (And one way we can rest is by gathering with other Christians and listening to His Word together.) When was the last time you took an intentional break? How did you feel during your break? • Jesus is the One who provides rest. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died on the cross and rose from the dead for us, we get to enter God’s rest. We can be free from striving because Jesus has already done the work of saving us, making us whole, and restoring us to relationship with Himself. So, when we take time to pause from our work and from what seems productive to us, we get to express our trust in God and enjoy His good gifts. What makes you feel well-rested? How could you incorporate at least one of these things into your life this week? “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (WEB)

READ: PSALM 139:6-12; EPHESIANS 3:14-21 We try to comprehend a lot of things in life. And the fact is, God created us with the ability to learn. Knowledge and discovery are gifts from Him. He invites us to explore this vast universe He has made, and He calls us to dig deep into Scripture so that we can understand more and more about who Jesus is and what it means to live in relationship with Him. But can we ever really understand just how much God loves us? Can we ever really know just how much He cares about us? Can we ever wrap our minds around the fact that He never stops loving us, no matter what we do? Ephesians 3:19 says that God’s love “surpasses knowledge.” And yet, throughout the Bible God gives us glimpses of how amazing His love is. God created us and was happy with His work. From the beginning, He loved us. He loved the first humans. He loved humankind. Even though humans rejected God, His love for us did not change. In the Old Testament, we see how God led generations of individuals, caring for each group and helping them through struggles. He loved them even when they continued to reject Him and go against His good ways. In the New Testament, we see how God came and lived among us. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He revealed the depths of God’s love by giving His own life to save us. Jesus went to the cross and let Himself be killed…but then He rose from the dead, because nothing—not even death—can stop God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Jesus defeated sin and death once and for all, so now everyone who puts their trust in Him is forgiven and restored to relationship with God, and they will live with Him forever. God’s love is eternal. We deal with humans every day who love and then stop loving. God is not like that. We will always be loved by Him. There is nothing we can do that will take us so far away from Him that His love won’t reach us. We will always have a place with Him if we just turn back. He will welcome us home with open arms (Luke 15:11-32). • Emily Acker • Consider taking some time to reread Ephesians 3:14-21. What do you think it means to “know this love that surpasses knowledge” (verse 19)? • If you want to come home to God’s love, you can, right now. You can find out more on our "Know Jesus" page. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8 (NIV) 

READ: ROMANS 12:1-11; EPHESIANS 2:8-10; 1 JOHN 4:19 Have you ever found yourself playing the comparison game? When we look around us and see what everyone else can do, it’s easy to try to figure out if we’re better or worse at certain things than others. Maybe your friend Blake is better at soccer than you are, so you might try to make yourself feel better by comparing yourself to Skye, who is a weaker player than both of you. But comparison is a never-ending game, and it leaves us feeling stressed, not satisfied. We all struggle with comparison from time to time, but thankfully we don’t have to keep playing the comparison game. Instead, Jesus frees us to embrace the gifts God has given us. He created each of us with different talents and abilities—He didn’t leave anyone out. And once we put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts too. God calls all of us to share His love with others, but every person does this in their own unique way. So, when we try to measure ourselves against other people, it doesn’t really work. But when we focus on using our own gifts to serve the Lord, we find joy in discovering how He made us. All our abilities come from God, and He’ll help us use them for His glory and to point others to Jesus. Playing the comparison game is a waste of time. But in Jesus, you’re free to be who God created you to be—yourself! You have an important purpose in His kingdom. When you feel like others are more valuable than you because they can do different things, remember: you belong to Jesus. He made you and delights in you just as you are. You are eternally valuable because God made you. And you are infinitely loved by Him, no matter what you do. • A. W. Smith • We live in a broken world where comparison is all around us. From social media to athletics to academics and more…we’re constantly given ways to measure ourselves against other people. But, as we find our identity in Jesus, we find freedom from the comparison game. As Christians, we are forgiven children of God who have meaningful work to do in His kingdom. Instead of trying to figure out if we are better or worse than others, we can thank God for how He created each of us wonderfully unique. Consider taking a moment to thank God for a few of the people you might be tempted to compare yourself to, and also thank Him for the abilities He’s given you. • Do you know what some of your talents or spiritual gifts are? Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you discern what your abilities are and how to use them well? God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) 

READ: JOHN 3:14-18; 14:5-10; ROMANS 3:21-27 I jumped when the solid oak door slammed behind me, its banging echoing through the empty chamber. The dust from the floor blew up into my nose, and I coughed, the nervous pit in my stomach growing even tighter. Just one shot…one shot… I repeated to myself as I looked up to see the fabled target, glaring down at me from its perch on the wall. One day every year, the king allowed new prisoners the chance to walk free if we could do one thing: shoot an arrow into the very center of this target with only one shot. Each prisoner got to try once. It was either make this shot and rejoin the kingdom with a clean slate, or miss and spend the rest of my life in the dungeons. Our kingdom was famous for its archers. Our nobles were some of the most accurate and skilled—I’m even excellent according to some. But better archers than me had missed this shot. And now it was my turn. Trembling, I reached back into my quiver and pulled out the one arrow I was allowed, anchoring it on my bowstring. Breathe… breathe… I lifted my bow, aiming the tip of my arrow for the target’s bright red center. My fingers clenched, threatening never to loose the arrow. And then I saw him. The prince. Like a ghost, he had appeared in the doorway out of the dungeons. Of all the king’s archers, he was the best. He never missed. I looked at the target, then back at him. Suddenly, I knew. He was the only one who could make this shot. His kind eyes met my terror-filled gaze, and without another thought, I barely whispered, “I’m sorry… Help me… please.” He approached me and said, “Don’t be afraid. My Father sent me.” He took the bow from my hands, and I felt the weight of the task lift from my shoulders. He anchored, aimed, and… The arrow hit—dead center. I’m free. • Raven Merz For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24 (NLT) • Today’s story is an allegory. Did you know the Greek word "hamartia" is often translated as “sin” in the Bible, but it’s also an ancient archery term that could be translated as “missing the mark”? How could it be helpful to think about sin this way? • We’ve all missed the mark of loving God and each other (Matthew 22:37-40), and that means we’ve all sinned. The consequence of sin is death. There’s no way we could undo our sin or escape death…but God wants to save us. Because God loves us and wants to be with us, Jesus came and lived among us as a human. Jesus is God the Son, and He is the only human who never sinned, never missed the mark, and so He was able to save us by living a righteous life of obedience to God the Father, dying on the cross for our sins, and rising from the grave to defeat death. He hit the mark on our behalf. So now, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus can stand before God as though they never sinned. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you can rest in God’s unbreakable forgiveness and never-ending love for you. And you can look forward to the day when Jesus will return and raise you from the dead to live with Him forever in a world free from sin and death! (If you want to know more, go to our "Know Jesus" page.) • According to Hebrews 4:14-16, we can boldly approach God’s throne because of Jesus. Even though we will all continue to struggle with sin until Jesus returns,

READ: ISAIAH 61:1-3; 64:6-8; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-10 Have you ever heard of the Japanese artform called Kintsugi? The word means “golden joinery” or “golden repair.” The art is created when a treasured ceramic, like a clay bowl, is broken. Instead of throwing away the old pieces and making a new ceramic altogether, the artist takes the broken pieces and mends them together by mixing lacquer with powdered metal such as gold. The effect is the same shape as the original beloved ceramic, but with all the cracks now filled in with gold, the cracks become the focus of the clay pot. Repairing the damage in this way creates a stronger and more beautiful object than what existed before. The artform of Kintsugi can remind us to embrace the beauty found in our flaws and develop resilience through the hard parts of our lives. Greater still, the art of Kintsugi can help us see God’s great love for His own Creation. The prophet Isaiah describes human beings as clay in God’s hands (Isaiah 64:8). In His love, God not only gave us life, but sculpted something He thought was beautiful and “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Sadly, sin brought brokenness throughout creation, and in our brokenness we tend to forget how great our beauty is in the eyes of our Lord. I often focus on my imperfections, giving me a low view of myself. It’s hard not to look at our bodies and notice where we’re broken or what we think our flaws are. But this is not how God views His children or how He wants us to view ourselves. He wants to restore brokenness. He invites us to acknowledge our pain and receive His compassion and forgiveness. But we don’t stop there. By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, God is redeeming us, making us stronger and even more glorious than before. Second Corinthians 12:9-10 even says we can delight in our weaknesses because Jesus’s power “is made perfect in weakness.” Remember, when Jesus rose from the dead, He still displayed His wounds from His crucifixion. Jesus’s body was and is broken for us. His wounds reveal how deeply He loves us and our bodies. Because of His love, we can love every part of our bodies, looking forward to the day Jesus will raise us from the dead and all our broken places will be fully healed and glorified. As the artwork of our Creator, let us use our bodies to bring glory to our great Artist. • Peter J. McDonough • Can you think of a time you viewed an imperfection in your body in a way that made you feel bad about yourself? God takes the same exact moment and says you are beautiful, His Creation He is redeeming. How might God be inviting you to view this imperfection in light of His grace? We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8b (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 119:34; PROVERBS 1:1-7; ACTS 17:10-12; EPHESIANS 1:15-23 As we grow in our faith, it’s good to ask questions. Questions help us dive deeper into the Bible and learn more about God and how He reveals Himself in Jesus. God loves it when we bring our questions to Him. And it’s rewarding to pursue answers that help us live out our faith with wisdom and share the gospel (or good news) with others. The Bible is full of wisdom, mysteries, truth, and life. It tells the story of Jesus: God in flesh coming to live with His people, die on the cross, and be raised from the dead to make the way for us to be with God forever. There are so many things you might be curious about when it comes to the Bible and your faith. Maybe you wonder about the people who came before you, who walked with God thousands of years ago. You can study the Bible to learn more about them. And what you find may leave you with even more questions! It’s so good to take the time to ask all the questions you have. Jesus gives us community with other believers through the Holy Spirit, so you can talk to those who share your faith and bring your questions to them. You can learn from those who’ve been following Jesus and studying their Bibles a lot longer than you have. You can seek out trusted mentors and friends who will get into deep conversations, listen to your questions with patience and understanding, and pursue answers with you. You can also look for good books and other scholarly resources that will teach you some of the things you want to learn. When you have questions to ask, ask them. Find answers. And when you don’t find answers, ask more questions. Dive deep into the Word and learn more about the God who loves you more than you could ever imagine. • Bethany Acker • What kinds of questions do you have about God, the Bible, and your faith? Do you have someone in your life who can help you pursue answers, such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, or counselors? If not, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. • God wants us to live according to His wisdom because He loves us and He knows that His ways lead to true life. He generously reveals His wisdom in Scripture and gives us understanding through the Holy Spirit. What are some ways we can study the Bible, either alone or with others? I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Ephesians 1:18 (NLT) 

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:18-22; GALATIANS 6:2-5; HEBREWS 10:19-25 On the way home from a road trip, I peered out the window of our minivan and noticed a slogan that said, “Helping the World Keep Promises.” This bold statement emblazoned on the side of a truck advertised the company’s reliability.* I assumed they wanted customers to know they would deliver their cargo on time, every time. We DO need help keeping our promises, I mused. Maybe we need reminders, to-do lists, or a date circled and highlighted on the calendar. Maybe we need to have accountability, a friend or mentor who will check in with us to be sure we’re following through on our commitments and goals. Keeping promises can present challenges for us, even when we long to keep our word and fulfill what we’ve committed to do. But something else came to mind. We may need assistance in keeping our promises, but God never does. Righteous and holy, God will never fail to keep His word. He will always remain faithful to His character. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that His promises are for us, too. We can pour out our hearts to the Lord. He listens to our cries, He hears the stories of our brokenness, and He gives us rest in Himself. We can have confidence that He delivers on His promises on time, every time. • Allison Wilson Lee • When do you need help keeping your promises? God knows that we all need support to follow through on our commitments, and He invites us to lean on Him and trusted people in our lives to help us. But sometimes, we bite off more than we can chew, and we need to apologize and tell others we won’t be able to do what we said. God wants to help us in these times too. Who are trusted people in your life who can help you set good boundaries around your commitments? • When is it hard for you to trust that God will keep His promises? We all experience this from time to time, and it can be helpful to remember examples of His faithfulness…Jesus promised to rise from the dead, and He did! Jesus also promised the Holy Spirit would come after He ascended, and that’s exactly what happened. Now, we’re waiting for Jesus to fulfill another huge promise: to return and make all things new, free from sin and death, so that everyone who trusts in Him can live with Him forever. Then, there will be no more broken promises, and all will be well. *Old Dominion Freight Line Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) 

READ: DEUTERONOMY 8:2-18; PSALM 13; MATTHEW 11:28-30 What are deserts? Many people think of places like the Sahara—rolling dunes of hot sand with no signs of life. Some consider parts of the Arctic to be a desert. It makes sense—rolling dunes of snow with no signs of life. In either case, deserts are big, empty, and hostile. Do you ever feel like you’re living in a desert? I do. Sometimes the season of life we’re living in feels extreme, difficult to bear, and void. We may think: "How could God possibly be working in my life right now? I’m doing nothing but surviving—barely. My life isn’t like the heroes of the Bible. My life is empty." However, nearly all the people in the Bible had what I call “desert years.” One of the most obvious examples is the Israelites’ forty years of desert wanderings (Numbers 32:13). But there are also Moses’s years as a shepherd in the desert before God called him back to Egypt (Exodus 2:15–3:10), David’s years of hiding in desert caves before God fulfilled His promise to make him king (1 Samuel 23:25), and Abraham and Sarah’s years of nomadic desert life before God gave them a child (Genesis 12–20). And Jesus didn’t skip the desert experience when He came as a human to die for our sins and bring us new life through His resurrection. He spent forty days in a desert before He began His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). For some of these people, not much is written about their desert years. But that doesn’t mean God was absent or that these years were meaningless. Think of the Israelites wandering aimlessly in the desert. In that time, God showed His loving, fatherly faithfulness. Their shoes never wore out and God provided them with food and water (Exodus 16–17; Deuteronomy 29:5). God showed that in the absence of all other things in life, He was present. How is God working in your desert years? I don’t know. But I know His life-giving presence is there. • Abigail Scibiur • Have you gone through a season of your life that felt like a desert? Do you feel like you’re going through desert years right now? Are there any Bible passages, memories of past experiences with God, or trusted Christians you can draw near to for comfort during this time? • When we’re in our desert years, it doesn’t always feel like God is present. But if we know Jesus, He lives in us through the Holy Spirit. We can bring these feelings of loneliness and distance to God in prayer and ask Him to remind us of His nearness anytime. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14 (NIV) 

READ: JOHN 17 How amazing is it to think that Jesus took time to pray for His followers, including us? In John 17, we read Jesus’s prayer—a conversation between Jesus, who is God the Son, and His Father in heaven. Jesus knew that He was going to the cross in a matter of hours, that He would die, rise again, and then ascend into heaven while His followers stayed on earth. He knew they would have struggles. He had seen the darkness this broken world holds, the darkness He came to save us from. And though Jesus promised to be with us always through the Holy Spirit, and to one day come again and make all things new, He knew there would be hardships before He returned. So, Jesus asked His Father to look out for His followers and protect them after He ascended. Jesus went on to pray not only for the followers who were with Him at the time, but also for us…for those who would someday hear and believe the message His first followers would share. This chapter hit me differently when I read it recently. I don’t remember knowing that Jesus took the time to pour out His heart regarding us and that He asked for help for us. John 17 shows how much Jesus cares about us. It can encourage us and remind us of how much He loves us. Jesus knew how difficult life could be (Hebrews 4:14-16). He knew that trouble and persecution would come for those who follow Him. He reached out to the Father to ask for help for those people. For us. • Emily Acker • Have you ever had someone tell you they were praying for you, such as a friend or family member? How did it make you feel? How similar or different does it feel to know that Jesus prayed for you? (In fact, Jesus continues to pray for you. See Hebrews 7:25 and 1 John 2:1.) • Consider taking some time to read John 17:11-26 slowly and imagine Jesus’s voice praying these words for you. What sticks out to you? “I [Jesus] am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” John 17:20 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 34:1-8; JOHN 1:35-51 John 1 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. Twice in this single passage, we hear the words, "Come and see." First, the words are spoken by Jesus Himself. John the Baptist is with two of his disciples, and when Jesus passes by, John can't keep the excitement to himself. "Look!" he tells them. "There is the Lamb of God!" (John 1:36). The two disciples immediately follow Jesus. He asks them what they want, and when they ask him where He's staying, Jesus replies, "Come and see" (verse 39). And so, they do. They stay with Him the rest of the day. One of these disciples is Andrew, and he goes to get his brother Simon (also known as Peter). Andrew says, "We have found the Messiah" (verse 41). They can't keep this news to themselves. The next day, Jesus calls another disciple, Philip, saying "Come, follow me" (verse 43). Then, Philip goes to Nathanael and shares the news with him: "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth" (verse 45). Nathanael is skeptical and says, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (verse 46). Philip responds with the same words Jesus said earlier: "Come and see." This short statement contains two verbs: come and see. A movement toward Jesus, and then a reminder to open our eyes. It's simple and yet so profound. An invitation to join Jesus's family and see how much He loves us. Like Andrew and Philip, we have the power to share the love of Jesus and the good news of His kingdom. We can invite those around us to come and see. We might get questions along the way, but Jesus will help provide the answers. Why should we want to follow Jesus? Come and see. Is He really as good as the Bible makes Him sound? Come and see. Come and see, friends. Experience the joy and goodness of His presence, then welcome others to experience it as well. " • Becca Wierwille. • What might it look like in your life to come and see Jesus today? • What is one way you could invite a friend to come and see the love of Jesus? Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 5:38-42; MARK 15:33-37; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 I was reading about different ways Christians have prayed throughout history, and I came across something that struck me. Christians in the early church used several different poses to pray, and each pose was connected to a different type of prayer: lying face-down on the ground was often connected with repentance, standing was associated with praise, etc. But one pose caught my attention. Sometimes, early Christians would pray standing with their arms stretched out to the sides and their heads turned up toward the sky. And while poses like these have been used in different traditions and religions throughout history, early Christians connected this last pose to Jesus's body on the cross. And Jesus wasn't the only one who was crucified. During the time period when Christians in the Roman Empire were praying like this, they themselves were in danger of being crucified. Reflecting on this, an early church leader named Tertullian said, "Let crosses hang us, fires light us, swords cut our throats, beasts attack; the actual stance of the praying Christian is ready for any kind of punishment." These Christians knew what it was like to live a life of self-sacrifice. They knew they were in danger. They knew they were vulnerable. But they could face that vulnerability because they followed a vulnerable Savior. Jesus laid down His own life for us because He loves us. He let Himself be killed, willingly assuming the same pose His followers would later use for prayer—a pose some of them would be killed in. Then, He rose from the dead, making the way for all His followers, including those who were killed by Rome, to be raised when He returns. I'm blown away by the humility and vulnerability demonstrated in this form of prayer. It's a pose of peace and nonviolence—one that accepts pain instead of returning it. It communicates total praise and total self-sacrifice. It's the pose of Jesus. And I pray that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, He will help me embody this praise and self-sacrifice. • Taylor Eising • Have you ever prayed in different poses—standing, kneeling, laying down, hands folded, palms open, arms out, head up, head down, etc.? How could using different poses help us focus on different types of prayer? • How has Jesus's self-sacrifice on the cross made it possible for us to live self-sacrificially? And being found in appearance as a man, he [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 13:44-45; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-21 The luxury car went first. Then the jeep. Then the convertible was sold too. Neighbors scratched their heads, and whispers started running through the neighborhood. Lawsuits? Debts? Drugs? No one knew. All the designer clothes went next. And the shoes. Instead of high-end heels, she was seen walking around town in dirty old sneakers, and her shirts and jeans looked worn and outdated. The whispers intensified. Maybe her company was sued and her day in court didn't go well. Maybe drugs were messing with her head. When the house went up for sale, the neighbors were shocked. It had been in her family for generations. She must be desperate, they whispered to one another. The day the new owners were scheduled to move in, she gathered her few remaining items and put them in a plastic bag. She left the house key under the doormat and threw the bag in the trash can on the curb. Eager to begin her journey, she didn't even turn to give the house one last look before crossing the street. She started walking. She didn't have enough money left to catch a bus. Mile after mile she walked, her muscles aching more with each passing hour. When rain began pouring from the sky, she pulled the frayed hood of her sweatshirt over her head and kept walking. When she got to the edge of her new property, her steps grew lighter. Burrs stuck to her sneakers and thorns poked at the thin threads of her clothing as she started running through the brambles. It didn't matter. She would have new clothes soon enough. Clothes that would never wear out. Soon she came to a large boulder in the middle of the field. She gently touched the side of the stone, and it began to roll, revealing a hole just big enough for a person to fit through. When she looked down into it, she felt a pure, golden warmth swathe her face. Without a backward glance, she dropped down into the kingdom of eternal light. • Courtney Lasater "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44 (NIV) • Today's story, like the Bible verse it's based on, is a parable—a symbolic story meant to teach a deeper biblical truth In Matthew 13:44, Jesus isn't telling us it's bad to have money or that we have to give up all we own in order to be part of God's kingdom. Instead, He shows us that being part of His kingdom is so much more valuable than anything this world has to offer. • Take a closer look at Philippians 3:7-11, 17-21. Why is knowing Jesus and being part of His kingdom so valuable? • Is the way you view your money and possessions in line with Matthew 13:44? If not, why do you think that is? • Whenever we realize we're guilty of sin, such as greed, God invites us to come to Him. Through Jesus's death and resurrection, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is fully forgiven. And, through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to follow Jesus in every aspect of our lives, including how we view—and use—our money and possessions. Yet, Christians will still struggle with sin until Jesus returns, and so He calls us to confess our sins often, resting in His forgiveness and relying on His power to turn away from sin. Consider taking a moment now to pray, confessing any sins that come to mind, thanking God for His forgiveness, and asking for wisdom in how to move forward in the joy and rest of His kingdom. (Matthew 6:24-30; 11:28-30; 1 Timothy 1:12-17)

READ: JOB 2:11-13; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-7; 1 PETER 1:3-9 Have you ever tried to cheer someone up, only to accidentally make them more upset? I’ve had times when I wanted to help someone who wasn’t doing well mentally or physically, but when I tried to say something, I felt like I only made the situation worse. Proverbs 27:14 says, “If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.” It’s a funny proverb, but it reminds us that our good intentions can be taken the wrong way when we speak up in the wrong situation. It can be hard to know how to help someone who is hurting. Job’s story in the Bible is a great example of how NOT to help a friend. Job went through tons of hard times: he lost his family, health, and wealth. For a while, his friends sat with him in silence. But when they spoke up, their bad advice and false accusations hurt Job even more. So how can we love and support others when we have no idea what to say? (1) Be present. As the saying goes, “Actions can speak louder than words.” In the hardest times, just sitting with someone and listening to them reminds them they’re not alone. Jesus sits with us in our sorrow, and our presence with others can remind them of Jesus’s presence with them. (2) Mourn with them. Don’t try to compare the situation or make it seem better than it is. In John 11, Jesus wept at the death of a friend, Lazarus, moments before He raised that friend back to life. Jesus didn’t skip over the sadness or mourning. Sadness and hardship are part of living in a world broken by sin (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), and we don’t have to be afraid or ashamed of feeling that sadness and hardship. (3) Pray for them, and offer to pray with them. This can be a powerful reminder of God’s loving care toward us, especially when we are hurting, as well as an opportunity to process our feelings with God. We live in a broken world, but through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God gives us hope and strength through hard times (John 16:33). He is with us in our suffering, and He will return to end all suffering and heal all brokenness forever. We can rest in this sure hope…and share it with others. • Abby Ciona • Has anyone ever come alongside you during a hard time? What was it like? • Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God who you could come alongside today. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 (NIV)

READ: ACTS 9:1-31; COLOSSIANS 1:9-14 That person will never change. I just know they won’t. Have you ever had this thought? Sometimes, there are certain people in our lives who seem unchangeable, like they’ve just always been the way they are. They might be angry, mean, or just apathetic. We may long for them to be different, but it can be hard to believe that there’s actually any chance they’ll change. But we can have hope. God has the power to change anyone. Through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, God has made the way for anyone to come to Him— all because He loves us. And, when we put our trust in Jesus, He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us live lives that reflect Him. The Holy Spirit never gives up helping us become more like Jesus (Philippians 1:6), so we never have to give up hoping—and praying—that someone will change. Let’s look at Paul for example. In Acts 9, we see that Paul (also called Saul) was doing truly evil things, and nobody expected him to change. He was hurting and killing followers of Jesus, but when Jesus reached out and touched his life, Paul became someone entirely different. He not only stopped persecuting Christians, but he started spreading the good news of Jesus, even risking his life to tell others about Him. If God had the power to change Paul—someone who was living a terrible life of violence—He can also change the people we know who are acting in harmful ways. His love can transform our angry family member, lying classmate, and cruel neighbor. Through the Holy Spirit, we can pray for these people, believing God has the power to change them. And we can remember how God has changed us—removing stubborn patterns of sin in our lives to help us love Him, love our neighbors, and even love our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14). • Emily Acker • Is there anyone in your life who seems like they will never change? How can stories like Paul’s give us hope to keep praying for these people? • What are some ways you’ve seen God work in your life to help you live more like Jesus? If you can’t think of any, you can ask God to show you how He is, and has been, working in your life. • If you want to dig deeper, read 1 Timothy 1:12-17 and 2:1-7 (written by Paul). So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 9:7-10; 33:4-5; MICAH 6:8 He almost made it. My friend Cliff had almost sat all the way down in his desk when the tardy bell rang. But still, our ninth-grade civics teacher counted my friend late, and this carried a punishment: a 1000-word essay due the next day. Like most of us in the class, Cliff had arrived well before the late bell rang. He’d sat in his desk and pulled out his books—just like the rest of us. I had wanted to borrow a pen from my friend Melissa, who sat in front of Cliff. He’d offered to pass the pen from Melissa to me. This required him to get up from his desk, and as he returned to his seat he’d gotten caught by the bell. I approached the teacher to explain how Cliff had only been helping me; it was actually my fault Cliff was counted late. But the teacher wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t persuade him to reconsider or assign the punishment to me. I knew it wasn’t fair that Cliff would suffer for something that wasn’t his fault. Yet I couldn’t do anything about it. This moment of unfairness in my civics class troubled me, but it soon passed. Cliff penned the essay and harbored no anger toward me; we moved on. But our world teems with injustice much deeper than this. And God takes note of it all. Our loving Lord cares about justice. In fact, He is enthroned as the Righteous Judge of all creation. And through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can be counted as righteous before Him, and we can find hope knowing that Jesus will return to get rid of all injustice, permanently. In the meantime, God charges us to care about justice as He does. God has called us, His people, to be His agents for justice and righteousness on the earth—for one classmate in civics class or for people around the globe. As we do this, we can rest in His sure love and in the hope of Jesus’s return. • Allison Wilson Lee • Are there problems in the world that frustrate or grieve you? What are some of them? Consider bringing these things to Jesus in prayer. He cares too—even more than we do. • The big issues in the world can feel overwhelming, but what are some ways—big or small—that you could speak up for justice right where you are? • If you want to learn more about how God defines justice, check out Isaiah 1:17, Zechariah 7:9, Proverbs 29:7, and Leviticus 19:15. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89:14 (NIV) 

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-9; 2 PETER 3:9; 1 JOHN 4:19 Have you ever worked behind the scenes in a theater production? Much of the work that goes into making a show great—designing the set, moving set pieces during the performance, timing special effects, running the sound systems, doing cast members’ makeup and hair, etc.—is not seen or noticed by the audience. All the audience sees is the successful show, not what goes on behind the closed curtains. God often does a lot of behind-the-scenes work too. Have you ever been praying for someone and felt discouraged when you didn’t see any change in that person? Have you done your best to tell someone about Jesus, but it hasn’t seemed to make any difference? Be encouraged! You don’t know what God has been doing in that person’s heart. It could take a very long time for them to come to Jesus, but keep sharing God’s love with them and keep praying. As Christians, we can trust God with the results, knowing He “is patient…not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is working, so keep praying (John 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-6). We can trust Him to bring about His good purposes. He has promised that all things will be made new, free from sin and death, and that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus will dwell forever with Him and His people in the new heavens and the new earth (Romans 8:20-29; Revelation 21:1-5). Even now, He is continuing to work behind the scenes, drawing people to Himself. • A. W. Smith • If you know Jesus, who were the different people God worked through to show you more about Him? Consider taking a moment to thank God for them—and maybe thank the people too! • What are some ways we can show God’s love to those who don’t know Jesus yet? As we pray for these people, we can ask God to give us ideas and opportunities to share His love. I [Paul] planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) 

READ: GENESIS 8:22; PSALM 46:1-7; 104:19; HEBREWS 13:5-8 Today is an equinox! On two different days every year, day and night are the same length. All around the world, the day lasts twelve hours and so does the night. We call those days equinoxes. There are two different types of equinoxes: vernal and autumnal—one for spring and one for fall. But which one is which depends on what part of the world you’re in because the seasons are flipped in the northern and southern hemispheres of the world. So, because I’m writing from the northern hemisphere of the earth, today is the autumnal equinox for me, marking the beginning of the fall season. Equinoxes are two days that we use to help us determine when the seasons change. But they’re only the tip of the iceberg. I haven’t even gotten into solstices, which are the two longest and shortest days of the year that usher in winter and summer. But, once again, which season each solstice brings in also depends on what part of the world you live in. Complicated as they are, equinoxes and solstices remind me of Jesus’s faithfulness. God made the whole universe and knew about the seasons long before humans figured out how they worked. He made the seasons follow predictable patterns, so even though there’s change, there’s still order. And here’s the most amazing part: Jesus Himself doesn’t change, even though our seasons do. That’s really good news. No matter what we face as Christians, no matter what changes we experience—good or bad—we can know that Jesus is with us and His presence and promises will never change. Simply put, Jesus has promised to be with His people through everything we face, and He also promises to work everything for His good purpose—to make all things new, free from sin and death (Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:28-29; Revelation 21:1-5). No matter the season or circumstance, these promises will never be shaken. Regardless of the changes we see, we can know that Jesus’s love for us will never change. This hope will endure through every solstice and every equinox. • Kandi Zeller • What part of the world do you live in? Which season is being ushered in where you live? • Take a moment to reread today’s Bible passages. How can the truths in these verses bring us comfort and encourage us to come to Jesus with all our concerns when we face changes in the world and in our own lives? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) 

READ: JOHN 1:12; GALATIANS 4:4-7; COLOSSIANS 1:9-14 Imagine you were royalty…and didn’t know it. Here’s the scene: you were kidnapped as a baby. Then, after years and years, your family finds you! But even after they do, you’re not sure how to live like royalty. You’re offered a place to live in the palace, but you’re afraid of the change, so you opt to keep on living in an old shack. Your parents, the king and queen, even bring you beautiful new clothes, but you decide not to wear them and choose to keep wearing your dirty, raggedy clothing. Wouldn’t this be strange? Yet, as Christians, we sometimes live out a story like this. When we enter a relationship with Jesus, we become royalty. We are adopted into God’s family as His beloved children. Our Father is a King—and not just any king, but the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15-16). But sometimes, we forget that we’ve joined Jesus’s glorious kingdom of light and justice. We’re tempted to go back to our old, sinful ways of living—to move away from the love God has for us and believe old lies, even if we now know those lies aren’t true. Sometimes, we fall into believing we are worthless, insignificant, unlovable, or just plain bad. We’re tempted to run away from the rest God freely gives us and the royalty Jesus bestows on us, instead choosing things that reflect the world’s sin-broken system: things like greed, power-grabbing, hatred…the list goes on. Simply put, sometimes we forget to embrace the new life Jesus has given us. We act as if we don’t know we’re children of the King. But, when we run to those old lies and dress ourselves in them like dirty rags, let us remember our true identity: we are children of God, His beloved heirs. We can know that we are infinitely valuable to God because Jesus died and rose again to save us and bring us near to Him. Whenever we stray from the goodness He has for us, Jesus pursues us and guides us home (Luke 15:1-7). What He says about us is true, and His Holy Spirit empowers us to receive these truths and live more and more like Jesus—reflecting our beloved and royal identity as children of God. • A. W. Smith • In what areas of your life do you struggle to embrace your new life in Jesus? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this. (Romans 13:12-14; Colossians 3:1-17) • Read Luke 15:20-24. We all struggle with sin and stray from God’s good ways. When we confess and turn away from our wrongdoing and come to God, how does God receive us? Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And…his heir. Galatians 4:7 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 3:1-17; 4:12-17; JOHN 4:13-14; ACTS 3:19-21 I thought this would quench my thirst I’ve felt so empty And this promised to fulfill But something is wrong I’m so caught up I barely hear the whisper “Repent,” You say I stop in my tracks Realize what I’m doing hurts others Hurts You I feel a pull inside myself An urge to right what is wrong My heart turns toward You My body moves with it My mind knows the truth And now I face the other way And step toward my Savior • Naomi Zylstra • Did you know the word repent means to turn? When we repent, we confess and turn away from our sin, and turn to God. Repentance is a gift from God. Sin is harmful, and God the Holy Spirit moves in us, helping us recognize our sin, and empowering us to turn away from it and receive His forgiveness. What might it look like for you to turn away from sin in your life with your heart, mind, and body? (Psalm 119:36-37; Matthew 22:37-40; Acts 14:15) • In Matthew 3, many people were coming to John the Baptist and repenting, but the religious leaders were clinging to their power and influence. What are some of the barriers to repentance in your life? Jesus invites us to bring all these things to Him and behold His goodness. He died on the cross and rose from the dead for us. Knowing Him is far better than anything else we crave. In Him we find forgiveness, newness of life, and love that fills all our deepest longings. Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17b (NIV) 

READ: GENESIS 1:27, 31; EPHESIANS 1:2-10; 3:14-19 You might not believe you are good enough, but to the God who created the universe and every human on earth, you are enough. You might find it difficult to believe you are capable or attractive or talented or special, but the God who made every colorful flower, every sweeping cloud, every gorgeous beach, and every towering mountain is the One who created you too. When you start to doubt your worth, think about who it is who created you. God made everything and everyone in this world. He made it all good, and He made you (Genesis 1:31). And, as a human you are even more important than the flowers, the clouds, the beaches, and the mountains…because you are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). God knows who you are. He made you on purpose. He loves you just for being you. You don’t have to try to be anything special to earn His love. The reality is, you could never do enough to earn it—He gives His love as a gift. Before God created the world, He already knew you and loved you. He even knew that you would sin and reject Him, and He still loved you. That’s why Jesus came…because even though all humans sin and fall short again and again, God doesn’t give up on us. He died on the cross for us and rose from the grave so that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus can be forgiven and live with Him forever. As we grow deeper in our relationship with God, we grow more confident in who we are. Because our identity is in Jesus, He has declared that we are enough. We are fully loved by the Creator of the universe. We are completely forgiven through Jesus. We are called to be part of His kingdom work, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to follow wherever God leads us. So, when you start to doubt your worth, think about who it is who created you. Think about how He was willing to suffer and die for you. Think about the way He invites you to a life of purpose. That’s how much you’re worth to God. No matter what you do, God sees you as worthy of the love that He so generously gives. • Bethany Acker • In what ways have you felt like you’re not enough? • How can remembering the good news about Jesus help us understand our worth and rest in God’s love for us, instead of striving to be enough? …how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18 (NIV) 

READ: GENESIS 1:27; LUKE 8:1-3; MATTHEW 27:45-56 Sometimes, when I look at our broken world and I see more and more ways that women have been treated as less than men, I just get overwhelmed. Sometimes I wonder, does God see women as less than men? Are we less? One day, I was sitting alone in my car and praying, and this question was once again pressing on my heart. And I was reminded of how Jesus interacted with women. Their stories began to soothe the ache in my core. Jesus is God in human flesh. He reveals the way God sees women. (1) The arrival of the Son of God was announced first to a woman. Her name was Mary, and she lived in Nazareth. The angel Gabriel called Mary “highly favored” and told her that Jesus—who is Immanuel, God with us—would grow in her womb. The Son of God would take His first breath when she gave birth to Him. (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:26-38) (2) Jesus revealed His identity as the Messiah to a woman. She lived in Samaria, and she was coming to a well to draw water when no one else was there—except Jesus. He asked her for a drink and had a conversation with her, even though, in that society, men weren’t supposed to talk to women, and Jews certainly weren’t supposed to drink from a Samaritan’s water jar. But Jesus treated her with dignity and listened to her questions with respect. When He told her that He is the Messiah, the Savior who God had promised, she ran to tell everyone! And many believed in Jesus because of what she said. (John 4:1-42) (3) Jesus commended a woman for sitting under His teaching. Her name was Mary, and she lived in Bethany. In a society where girls didn’t receive schooling from rabbis, this woman took the posture of a disciple, and Jesus honored her for it. (Luke 10:38-42) (4) After Jesus rose from the dead, the first person He appeared to was a woman. Her name was Mary, and she was from Magdala. Then, Jesus sent her to tell others that He was alive! In a society where a woman’s testimony in court wasn’t considered as valuable as a man’s, Jesus entrusted the most important news, first, to a woman. She became the first person to proclaim His resurrection. (John 20:1-18) These examples and many more from the Bible kindle hope in my heart, because even though our world has been broken by sin and we see injustice in so many ways, when I look at Jesus, I see that God honors women. He made women on purpose, not as an afterthought. He made both women and men in His image. And He loves all of us. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave so that everyone who puts their trust in Him can be part of His eternal kingdom. I follow Jesus, like many women who came before me. • Hannah Howe Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he [Jesus] had said these things to her. John 20:18 (NIV) • In what ways have you seen people being treated as less than others? How can knowing that we are all created in God’s image help us see ourselves and each other as God sees us? (Genesis 1:27) • Have you ever felt less than? You can bring these thoughts and feelings to Jesus anytime. As Christians, we can rest in our true value in Christ. In God’s eyes, we are His masterpiece—all of us. And He equips each of us to be part of the good work of His kingdom. (Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:10) • Can you think of any examples of women being treated as less than men, either throughout history or in your own life? God invites us to process these things with Him. He grieves alongside us, and He gives us hope. One day, Jesus will return and right every wrong (Revelation 21:1-5). In the meantime, He has promised to be with us through everything we face (Matthew 28:20). How can these truths comfort us when we encounter unfair situations? • How can looking at the ways Jesus interacted with women affect the way we view women? <p

READ: PSALM 77:11-12; ROMANS 15:4; 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 Do you find parts of the Bible boring to read? You’re not alone. The Bible was written by lots of people who were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and these different people lived over a long period of time. The Bible is made up of all kinds of different genres, and it includes complicated historical details and complex spiritual ideas. Sometimes, when we’re reading a part of the Bible that goes into a lot of these details—like ancestry or building instructions or accounts of different battles and political changes—it can be a challenge to find these details interesting. We might struggle to see how things that happened thousands of years ago could apply to our lives at all. The good news is that the Bible, complete with all its details, is one unified story. It tells us about how humanity fell into sin, how we were separated from God and each other…and the story continues with God stepping in to reconcile us to Himself. Through Jesus, God is calling people to know Him personally, and He is rescuing all of creation from sin and its effects. So, when you’re reading a part of the Bible that seems pretty dry and uninteresting, remember that the story of the people in those pages is our story too. When we read about people in the Bible, we hear how God helped them and kept His promises to them—even when they sinned—which reminds us that Jesus will do the same for us. Hearing these stories helps us know how great God is and reminds us that we can trust Jesus in every situation. After all, we sin just like the people in the Bible did, but Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave so we could all be brought near to our Creator who loves us dearly. As we read the Bible, let’s take time to think about each story and rely on the Holy Spirit to help us understand His Word in a deeper way, asking questions like, “How does this passage invite us to think and live as a child of God?” “How does it show us who Jesus is and what He is doing throughout all of history?” As we ponder and question, we can rest in the love of our God, the One who is weaving our lives into His great story. • A. W. Smith • What are your favorite parts of the Bible? Why? What are your least favorite parts of the Bible? Do you find things that annoy you or make you confused or angry? These feelings are normal, and they can be a sign that you are really trying to work through and understand what the Bible says. You can bring these thoughts and feelings to God in prayer anytime. Additionally, who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to? Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4b (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: ACTS 2:42-47; EPHESIANS 2:13-22; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 When God created Adam, He said that people shouldn’t be alone. And so, God created Eve. From the beginning, God created people for community. God designed Adam and Eve to thrive in fellowship—in companionship and intimacy with one another (Genesis 1-2). But then, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Adam blamed Eve, and she blamed the serpent. No one wanted to take responsibility. Trust was broken. God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and He warned them that life would be different. And it was. Humanity was trapped in sin (Genesis 3). Years later, Adam and Eve’s son, Cain, killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4). After the Fall (when people first sinned), how can we trust each other? Do we even want to live in companionship and intimacy in this broken world? Isn’t it easier to fend for ourselves without depending on others? Maybe it is easier. Bad things continue to happen in relationships. We’ve all experienced this. Friends betray each other. People abandon their families. We feel hurt by those we love. But easier is not always better. We are created to thrive in fellowship, just like Adam and Eve. When Jesus came to earth, He emphasized the importance of community. “For where two or three gather in my name,” He said, “there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). After Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, His followers acted out this model of fellowship: “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:46-47). Because of this, more people came to know Jesus. Jesus brings us redemption, so we can live in fellowship. While this world is still broken, and there may be places where we need to put up loving boundaries, that doesn’t mean we need to live our lives in isolation. Jesus makes us part of His family, and He makes it possible for us to live in fellowship with each other. He saves us through His death and resurrection, places us in community, unites us by His Holy Spirit, and holds us together in His love. So let’s live in companionship and intimacy with our fellow believers in Jesus. And, in our fellowship, let’s draw others into the love of our Savior. • Becca Wierwille • Why do you think God cares so deeply about fellowship? Do you carry hurts from trusting others in the past? Who are safe people in your life that you can talk to about these hurts, such as pastors, counselors, parents, or youth leaders? Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11a (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: PSALM 13:1-6; MATTHEW 11:28-30; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-11; HEBREWS 4:14-16 I am tired, so ready to give in I am weak, I cannot stand on my own I need rest, some way to take a break I need peace, a chance to put away my thoughts I am anxious, so much to get done I am frozen, no way to move forward I need help, some way to push on I need strength, direction to go forward I need to sleep I need to rest I need to know that You are holding me I need Your love I need Your peace I need to know that You will care for me I am tired, so ready to give in Reach down, remind me of your love Let me see the peace and strength You’ve given me • Emily Acker • Have you ever felt like the narrator of this poem? We all go through times when we feel exhausted, anxious, and weak. In these times, God does not scold us—He has such compassion for us. He reaches out, and in tenderness He comforts us. God wants us to come to Him for help in every struggle we face. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that Jesus empathizes with you and you can talk to Him about it. In addition to talking to Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? • One of the primary ways God helps His people is through His people. If you’re experiencing things like anxiety or insomnia and you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: ROMANS 12:15; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-14, 25-27; GALATIANS 6:2 Have you ever had a really bad ear infection? For such a small part of the body, the ear really makes a big difference! If your ear is infected, your entire body feels bad. In addition to your ear hurting, you might have trouble sleeping—not to mention hearing—and you could also experience headaches, difficulty balancing, or a loss of appetite. Thinking about ear infections can actually help us understand a truth we see in the Bible. As Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ. We need each other, and, like different body parts have different functions, we are each equipped with different spiritual gifts so that we can build one another up and share the good news about Jesus. As people bound together by Jesus’s love for us, we make up a single body. When one member has something to rejoice about, we get to rejoice with them! And when one part of the body of Christ is hurting, we have the opportunity and privilege to grieve with them. Now think back to ear infections. When you have one, your whole body suffers, and you do whatever you can to make your ear feel better, right? It’s similar in the church. When someone who is part of the body of Christ is hurting, we do what we can to help that person feel better too. This is one of the ways we share each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). As we care for one another’s physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational needs, we remember that our Savior is present with us through His Holy Spirit. And even when the hurts are slow to heal, we get to be present with one another and rest together in the love of Jesus. • A. W. Smith •How could you ease someone’s burden today? • When you are burdened, who are trusted Christians you can reach out to? • How does caring for one another help us share the good news about Jesus—that God became human, dwelled among us, died for our sins, rose from the grave to beat death, and is returning one day to make all things new, free from sin and its effects? (You can read more about the good news on our "Know Jesus" page.) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: PSALM 139:13-16; PROVERBS 14:30; JOHN 10:7-11 “If only I could be like Carter,” I wished for the millionth time. “Just naturally confident.” Trudging through the crowds on my way home, I thought about all the popular college students. Unlike me. Everyone in front of me seemed to stride with purpose, while a heaviness dragged me down. Without warning, thunder rumbled. Lightening flashed as if ripping the darkening sky in two. Long needles of rain bounced on the ground, but I wasn’t soaked. I was dry. I turned to call out, wondering how I could still be dry in a downpour, but I was alone. Something’s terribly wrong. I shuddered. Where’ve they all gone? “Hello,” I cried out, my throat burning. Silence. The storm stopped. The scenery had changed. Vivid colors from trees and blossoming flowers. A mixture of their perfumes surrounded me. I wanted to stay here in this peaceful beauty forever, but my body was propelled toward a sign: "Comparison Road." Looking back, everything was dazzling. But as I moved onward, out of control, the road started to crack. Flowers were bleached of vibrancy. Trees were bare. Further on, other trees had withered, and some drooping shoots looked as if they had given up and refused even to grow. The grass changed to earth and dust. Sadness swirled inside of me at the decaying environment. At the end of Comparison Road was a large gate, ajar. “Go through,” a Fatherly voice instructed. As I stepped through the gate, I felt immediate relief. Then the same voice said, “Comparison Road is a dangerous place. Many people try to travel it, but everything of beauty and growth withers there. When you are tempted to take its path, remember that I created you. You are my beloved child. I love you. I made the greatest sacrifice for you. So, when you are tempted toward comparison, come to me. Chasing after someone else’s dream or lifestyle is a waste of precious time. But when you choose my way, listening to what I say about you and following where I lead, you will find a life of true fulfilment.” His powerful love welled up inside of me. Falling down to my knees, I praised God and repented of my comparison, surrendering myself anew to the One who made me and called me. Words tumbled out until I was back home. This time, peace filled my heart. • Cindy Lee I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14a (WEB) • In what ways are you tempted to compare yourself to other people? • Why do you think comparison causes decay? How have you seen the damaging effects of comparison, either in the world around you or in your own life? • We live in a broken world where comparison is all around us. Whether it be social media popularity, academic accomplishments, athletic abilities, material possessions, or what we do in our free time…we’re constantly given ways to measure ourselves against other people. Where can we go when we’re surrounded by all this comparison? We can come to Jesus. As we find our identity in Him, we find freedom from comparison. If we belong to Jesus, we are children of God, we are fully forgiven, and we are called to a life of freedom and purpose in following the One who died on the cross and rose from the grave for us. Consider taking a moment to come to Jesus now. You can tell Him about what you’re thinking and feeling, bring your hurts to Him, confess any sins that come to mind, ask for His help, and rest in His unwavering love for you. • Our loving God created us as diverse individuals, each of us beautifully designed to make a difference in the world. So, when we find things to admire about other people, we don’t have to try to figure out if we are better or worse than they are. This leads to death and decay, not life and peace (James 3:13-18). Instead, we can thank God for creating these people, and we can also thank Him for creating us

READ: MATTHEW 5:13-16; COLOSSIANS 4:2-6 In Matthew 5:13-16 and Colossians 4:2-6, we read that Christians are like salt. But what does that mean? What does salt do in practical terms? And how does this apply to our everyday lives? First, salt adds flavor. As Christians, we can add flavor to the lives of the people around us by sharing the love of Jesus. When we add salt to other people’s lives, they get a taste of what Jesus is like (Psalm 34:8). Second, salt makes you thirsty, letting your body know you need water. And like salt, Christians can help people around us become aware of their need for Jesus. When people see what knowing Jesus truly means to us and hear about what He’s done for us, they might become interested in knowing more about Him for themselves (John 7:37). Third, in the days before modern medicine, salt was often used to disinfect a wound. In a similar way, Christians have the good news of Jesus. He has provided the antidote for sin and all the brokenness it causes through dying on the cross and rising from the grave for us. Because we know Jesus, we get to look forward to the day He will return and fully restore His creation, and in the meantime, we get to see glimpses of His healing in our own lives—whether it be physically, spiritually, emotionally, or relationally. Sharing the story of Jesus in a loving way reminds us of the healing work Jesus has done in us and introduces others to the healing He can do in their lives. So today, as Christians, let us consider how we might share the salt of God’s healing love with our community, and let us rest in that same salty story where we found—and continue to find—our healing. • A. W. Smith • Which of the three characteristics of salt listed above stuck out to you the most? Why? • What questions do you have about how to share the gospel in a loving way? Consider taking some time to pray, asking God about this in the space below. • Who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk with about loving ways to share the good news of Jesus? Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: ISAIAH 26:19; EZEKIEL 37:1-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-20, 51-52 Earth will give birth to you. Your body, as it decomposes, will scatter particles back into the biosphere of our planet. This has happened to all members of the human race, the highborn and the lowly. But this isn’t permanent. A day is coming when Jesus will raise the bodies of the dead, putting all the little pieces back together. Earth will give birth to our bodies again, after absorbing them, like it first gave birth to humanity at the Creator’s touch (Genesis 2:7; 3:19). Our planet is a giant recycling system. Things that die go back into the mix, and more life is created. It seems impossible that, once we die, we could be taken back out of the earth and reassembled. That is, however, the sure hope that God promised through His prophets and will accomplish in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself was dead, and for three days in the tomb, His broken body began to return to the biosphere. But He could not be held by death and decay. God the Father raised God the Son from the dead, putting His body back together and reversing the natural process. When Jesus returns, we will also be raised from the dead, and all who have put their trust in Jesus will live with Him forever in restored creation. Then, our bodies will be in better shape than they ever were before, but make no mistake, the bodies we have now are the same bodies we will have after the resurrection. Humans were never meant to be recycled. God made us to live on the earth with Him, glorifying Him always. We fell into sin and death, but He will retrieve us. That is our sure hope. • Kevin Zeller • Our bodies matter to God. How might the resurrection affect the way we view our bodies now? • When Jesus returns, He will make everything new. Then “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). What pains and sorrows have you experienced in your body lately? Jesus cares about all these things; He empathizes with us, and He grieves with us. But there will come a day when our bodies will no longer get hurt or sick or sore. Consider taking a moment to tell Jesus about the hurts you, or people you know, are experiencing, and ask for His healing. Even if we don’t experience healing today, as Christians we have the sure hope of complete healing when Jesus returns. But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy… the earth will give birth to her dead. Isaiah 26:19 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: MATTHEW 5:43-47; LUKE 21:9-11; JOHN 14:1; 1 JOHN 4:19 War. Terrorism. Violence of all kinds. In a world that’s broken by sin where these terrible events are the reality—and in an age of unending information in which we constantly hear about them—what are we as Christians to do? First, let’s remember why these terrible things happen. Since humanity fell into sin, grasping for power and rejecting God (Genesis 3), people and nations want to be powerful, and many will do anything to gain that power. That’s the reason we see rampant violence in our world today. So where is the hope? What do we do now? As Christians, we know Jesus. He is the loving God who saw our sin—our power-grabbing, our violence, and our disregard for God and neighbor—and He stepped into our world, becoming human to dwell among us. Then, He died and rose again to beat sin and death. Jesus is the One who weeps with us at the sin that wreaks havoc on the world He made. He is the One who will return one day to make all things new, free from the brokenness sin brings. And, as the just judge, He is the One who will make all wrongs right. In light of these truths, we can know that we are loved by God and that He is at work in the world—taking even the bad things that happen and working them for His good purpose: to bring us back to Himself and to restore all the good in creation that we, in our sin, have destroyed (Romans 8:18-39). So today, we can rest in God’s love for us. As we receive His comfort and peace, we can love and care for our neighbors (and even our enemies) in a world that’s full of violence and hatred. Because Jesus first loved us, we can walk into our broken world, transformed by His love and radiating that love toward everyone we encounter. We can trust Jesus with every situation, knowing that He cares deeply for His creation. Things won’t be like this forever because Jesus will one day put an end to sin and death in this world once and for all. • A. W. Smith • How can resting in Jesus’s love and the hope of His return, when He will rule with perfect justice, help us work for love and justice when our communities experience violence and hatred? • What tragedies of violence are on your mind right now? Consider taking some time to cry out to God and lament these things in the space below. And remember that Jesus weeps with you. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me [Jesus].” John 14:1 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: PSALMS 34:1-22; 61:1-2; 121:1-8; 139:1-5 When I whisper Answer me, God When I scream Be the One who hears When I can’t speak Hear my thoughts When I break Put all of my pieces together When I’m lost Bring me home, God When I’m scared Calm my fears When I fail Show me the way When I praise you Accept my praise • Emily Acker • Today’s poem is written in the style of a psalm. Did one of the phrases in this poem stick out to you in particular? Which one? • We can pour out our hearts to God at all times (Psalm 62:8). He is always eager to listen to us and help us. What does your heart long to say to God today? • Throughout the book of Psalms, we can find echoes of the gospel. For example, in Psalm 34:20 we find a prophecy that none of Jesus’s bones would be broken (John 19:30-37). Whenever we cry out to God, we can rest knowing that our rescue is in Jesus. He came so that we could be close to God. He is the healer of our brokenness, the One who seeks us when we’re lost and brings us home, the One who delivers us from fear and gives us His peace. He died for us while we were still sinners and rose from the grave so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven and made righteous. He is the Way, and He is worthy of all our praise. How can remembering who Jesus is give us hope to cry out to Him in every struggle we face? (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 53:5; Luke 4:17-21; 15:1-7; John 14:6, 27) I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: PSALMS 34:1-22; 61:1-2; 121:1-8; 139:1-5 When I whisper Answer me, God When I scream Be the One who hears When I can’t speak Hear my thoughts When I break Put all of my pieces together When I’m lost Bring me home, God When I’m scared Calm my fears When I fail Show me the way When I praise you Accept my praise • Emily Acker • Today’s poem is written in the style of a psalm. Did one of the phrases in this poem stick out to you in particular? Which one? • We can pour out our hearts to God at all times (Psalm 62:8). He is always eager to listen to us and help us. What does your heart long to say to God today? • Throughout the book of Psalms, we can find echoes of the gospel. For example, in Psalm 34:20 we find a prophecy that none of Jesus’s bones would be broken (John 19:30-37). Whenever we cry out to God, we can rest knowing that our rescue is in Jesus. He came so that we could be close to God. He is the healer of our brokenness, the One who seeks us when we’re lost and brings us home, the One who delivers us from fear and gives us His peace. He died for us while we were still sinners and rose from the grave so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven and made righteous. He is the Way, and He is worthy of all our praise. How can remembering who Jesus is give us hope to cry out to Him in every struggle we face? (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 53:5; Luke 4:17-21; 15:1-7; John 14:6, 27) I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: LUKE 15:1-24 I adored the cowboy boots Papa bought me at the feed store. But running in them for gym class had gotten difficult. I just had to find my missing purple sneakers; they were my only other shoes appropriate for school. Now, if I could only remember where I’d left them. For almost two weeks, I searched our house. I looked in our truck, around my grandparents’ home, everywhere I imagined the shoes might be. Then, one day at the end of dance class, I gathered my belongings to go home. Suddenly, I spotted a flash of lavender under my classmate’s coat. Could it be? There, in the corner of the drafty old building where I met weekly for dance class, I located my missing sneakers. My long-absent and much-loved shoes had been found! Happy and relieved, I tossed them into my dance bag, eager to tell my mother the good news. I had a story to tell about shoes that had been lost and then found. In the Bible, Jesus uses “lost and found” stories to teach us truths about His commitment to rescuing us. In three parables—about a lost sheep, a missing coin, and a son who abandoned his family—Jesus makes it clear that He cares, not just about the many, but the one. As a good shepherd, Jesus values each of His sheep, and He will search for us intently (John 10:11). God rejoices when we are found, when we—like a runaway kid who finally returns to the family— come home to our loving Father. Through all these “lost and found” parables, we see how Jesus pursues us, searches for us. And when we turn to Him as our Savior and Lord, we receive forgiveness and eternal life, and our heavenly Father celebrates that we have returned to Him and His love. • Allison Wilson Lee • Have you ever searched for something that was lost, and then when you found it, you were so happy you wanted to tell people? • Have you ever stopped to think about how God celebrates when just one person returns to Him and begins a relationship with Him through Jesus? What can this truth reveal about God’s love for us? (Psalm 18:19) “‘…let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:23-24 (CSB)&nbsp;

READ: EXODUS 34:5-7; MATTHEW 18:23-35; ROMANS 2:4 Patience is a virtue we all need. It took me many years to realize my need for this virtue. This realization came to me when I had a misunderstanding with someone I was helping. She was not willing to take a step I thought was right for her, and so I became impatient with her. My friends tried to advise me on how to handle the issue patiently, but I just felt I could not do so. I even started thinking of withdrawing the little help I was giving her. But then one day as I was reading the Word of God, the truth dawned on me that God is patient with us all. I thought of the many times I have not done what God wanted me to do, and yet He has been patient with me and forgiven me, like it says in Romans 2:4, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” As I had seen God’s kindness and patience lead me to repentance, I also decided to treat this person the way God has treated me, believing that God is patient with her too and that His kindness and patience would lead her to repentance. And so our relationship was restored. God calls us to be patient with one another, and through His Holy Spirit, who lives inside Christians, God empowers us to extend the same loving patience to others that He extends to us. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Can you think of a time you struggled to be patient with someone? How could resting in God’s patience toward us make it a bit easier to be patient with others? • Do you ever struggle to be patient with yourself? God is incredibly patient with you, and He loves you more than you can imagine. Scripture is full of stories of God’s people refusing to obey Him, getting themselves in trouble, and then being rescued by God anyway. He never stops pursuing us with love and mercy—which is why Jesus, God in flesh, came to die and rise from the grave to make the way for us to be with God. And if we know Jesus by faith, His Holy Spirit lives in us, helping us extend His loving patience to others. So let us sit in awe of God’s amazing patience with us, even as we ask Him to help us be patient with others. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: JOHN 5:17; ROMANS 8:18-28, 38-39; REVELATION 21:1-5 Have you ever stopped to really look at a piece of wood? Straight lines, intermingled with lots of circles and twists—that’s the diverse beauty you’ll see in wood grain. And those circles and twists, called burls or knots, tell a story. Burls are found where a branch went out from the tree trunk. They can also be caused by a problem in the life of the tree—like when insects invaded a certain section, or when the tree had a disease. Isn’t it interesting that, even though trees experience problems, their Creator brings beauty out of those difficult times? Jesus, who is our Creator God, does the same for us as humans. He sees the brokenness our sin causes in our world, and He weeps with us. Because He is such a good God and is free from sin, He does not sit idly by, doing nothing about suffering. He is at work. He stepped into our world, sinless and full of compassion and mercy. Jesus met us in our suffering with love, and He suffered for us. He died on the cross for our sins; then He rose again to defeat death, ascended to the throne of heaven, and is with us now—through His Spirit, His Word, and His people. Jesus will one day return to make all things new, completely free from the effects of sin. In the meantime, we get to see glimpses of the healing and wholeness He is bringing to our hearts and to all of creation. Simply put, He is taking even the worst things and making them work out for His good purposes. It hurts when we experience difficult things, but we can trust that Jesus will be with us through every hurt and sorrow, and He will work all things for good. One day, all the hurt will only exist as a beautiful burl in the grain of the story of humanity. One day, everyone who trusts in Jesus will dwell together with Him in the new heavens and earth, forever free from sin and the suffering it brings. So, no matter what burls and knots we encounter in our lives, we can rest in Jesus’s love for us—a love so strong it can bring beauty even out of suffering. • A. W. Smith • What have been some of the burls and knots in your life? How might Jesus be bringing beauty out of this suffering? How did Jesus bring beauty out of His own suffering? (John 20:24-28) In moments when it’s hard to see Jesus’s presence in the midst of pain, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk with, such as friends, parents, therapists, pastors, etc.? The creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. Romans 8:21 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: COLOSSIANS 4:2-6; TITUS 3:1-9 I love Jesus, and I love talking to people about Jesus. I always have. But I’ve definitely made some mistakes in how I tell non-Christians about Him. So, I’m going to confess some of these mistakes—and what God has taught me through them. Often, I would spend a lot of time and energy trying to get people to believe in particular theological stances rather than the gospel. I would try to argue people into believing in a literal six-day creation (a position not all Christians agree on) instead of telling them about Jesus’s incredible love for them, and the miracle of His death and resurrection. I would try to convince them of the benefits and importance of waiting to have sex until marriage instead of talking about Jesus’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy. I would try to correct a person’s behavior instead of introducing them to the One who could heal their hearts. And perhaps worst of all, I would push for political stances instead of welcoming people into the good news of the kingdom of God. Friends, this didn’t work. At all. I pray that the Holy Spirit used these conversations, in spite of my mistakes, to draw people to Himself. But let’s not waste our energy expecting non-Christians to think and act like Christians. Conversations about creation, sex, and politics have an important place in our lives—especially when we listen well and seek to understand different perspectives—but let’s not confuse these conversations with the gospel. For me, learning this truth meant letting go of control and accepting that I cannot fix people, and I cannot change hearts. Only Jesus can do that. And when I try to change people myself, I’m trying to take over for the Holy Spirit and do God’s job myself. Only God can bring people to faith. I had to repent of my desire for control and accept my limits as a human being. As I’m learning to accept this truth, I’m growing in my ability to talk about Jesus in a way that flows from the joy and peace I’ve found in Him, rather than from a fear-filled, self-righteous desire to control people. Jesus is amazing. The gospel is incredible. When we let the truth of God’s love for us and the hope of Jesus’s resurrection permeate our lives and our hearts, we can show people what the gospel looks like. And that is more powerful than any argument. • Taylor Eising • How has the hope of the gospel affected your life? What are some ways you could share this? Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: LUKE 10:25-37; 2 TIMOTHY 2:23-24 Jesus puts a high emphasis on loving God and loving our neighbors. But sometimes, a person we’re trying to show the love of Christ to has an opinion that we completely disagree with. Maybe they’re even part of an entirely different religion. Are they still our neighbor? In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus made it clear that everyone is our neighbor, not just people we share a lot of opinions with. It can be easy for us to get along with people who think like we do and agree with us on life’s big topics. But when Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan, He showed that God calls us to love everyone—even people we deeply disagree with. The Samaritans and the Jews hated each other, and they disagreed about where and how to worship God. So when Jesus told the parable of a Samaritan taking care of an injured Jew, it would have been shocking to His audience. That kind of love was radical. Jesus Himself demonstrated this radical love by asking tax collectors—who were considered traitors—to follow Him. He often visited and healed people who would have been on the outskirts of society, such as lepers, women, prostitutes, and people with disabilities. And, in His greatest act of radical love, Jesus died for us and rose again, defeating death and sin so we can live with Him forever when He returns. As we wait for that glorious day, sometimes extending radical love means not engaging in an argument that would only make both people upset. Sometimes showing love to our neighbors means not jumping up to correct them, or not endlessly debating an issue that you don’t see eye-to-eye on. It’s not our job to convince people to share all of our views. God is the One who works change in people’s hearts. And because His Holy Spirit lives in us, empowering and equipping us, we can show everyone Christ’s transforming love. • Naomi Zylstra • Have you gotten into an argument or debate recently? Did anyone change their minds? What happened after the argument? • Who is someone in your life who has a different view on something that’s important to you? What are some ways you might be able to show love to this person? • What might it look like to talk with someone lovingly about a topic you disagree on? Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: JOHN 21:1-14 Cooking is an important part of the kingdom of God. Don’t believe me? Jesus Himself used cooking in His ministry. After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He appeared several times to His followers. But one particular appearance involved a fishy breakfast. The night before it happened, some of Jesus’s disciples went fishing but caught nothing all night. Then, as morning broke, Jesus called from the shore and told them to throw out their nets on the other side of the boat. When they did, the net became so full of fish they couldn’t pull it into the boat—Jesus had done a miracle! And when the tired, hungry Jesus-followers reached shore, Jesus cooked a delicious breakfast of fish for them over an open fire. But why do you think Jesus bothered to cook? Why didn’t He just do another miracle and make cooked food suddenly appear? It might have been because He wanted them to see that He had risen from the dead. Eating is an essential part of living, and He cooked and ate a meal with His disciples to show them who He is and that He cared for them. So, when we think about all the times Jesus commands us to love others as He loves us (John 13:12-15, 34; 15:10-13), we can remember how He cooked breakfast for His disciples. As Christians, we can share God’s love with others by taking care of them—even in small ways. Cooking is just one of the tangible ways we can show the love of Jesus, remembering that “we love each other because he loved us first” (1 John 4:19). • A. W. Smith • Can you think of any small ways other Christians have shown Jesus’s love to you? • Can you think of any small ways you could help someone and care for their tangible needs today? Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you notice opportunities to share His love as you go about your day. “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said…Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. John 21:12-13 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: ROMANS 15:7; COLOSSIANS 2:12-13; 3:9-14; 1 PETER 5:6 If we were real with God, that deep well of frustration, discontentment, or fear could be emptied one putrid bucket at a time and filled with His unfailing love, faithfulness, and grace. Without recognition and an honest emptying of the ugly, how can we make room for the beauty so we can be filled with healing? If we were real with ourselves, allowing the truth of the gospel to seep into the depths of our soul, it would illuminate that which needs change Uncomfortable, exposed, but necessary. Once we let go of the facade, the real work begins Truth, acceptance, change. If we were real with others, perceptions could be past Strongholds would be smashed. Looking into each other’s eyes, we would see the reality and breathe deep, knowing we are not alone. The struggle is real. The reality? Everyone struggles. Yet, because of Jesus, we can embrace the real, because really, who wants to live a lie? Make way for the awkward, hard, embarrassing, in-your-face truth Make way for real. • Savannah Coleman • In what ways do you feel like you can’t be authentic? How does Jesus’s forgiveness free us? Don’t lie to each other…Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you…Colossians 3:9, 13 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: EPHESIANS 4:1-32; COLOSSIANS 3:1-17 There are certain people in our lives who test our patience. When we’re around them, we might find ourselves acting in ways we don’t normally act. For example, we might struggle to spend time with little children, or we might find it difficult to relate to older people. Or there could be certain personality types we have a hard time interacting with, regardless of the person’s age. But when we come across people in our lives who frustrate us and make us feel impatient, we don’t have to respond negatively. Because God is patient and loving toward us, we can be patient and loving toward others. Because Jesus is gentle and humble, and Christians have His Holy Spirit living in us, we can be gentle and humble too (Matthew 11:29). When we’re struggling to get along with someone, we can reach out to God. He empowers us to respond to people in the way He calls us to. If we can’t keep our anger and frustration in check on our own, we can take a step back and rest in the calm of God’s presence. As we recenter our attention on Him, we may find ourselves seeing things from His perspective. God calls us to be an example of His love, and He knows that we need Him in order to do this. As Christians, we can rely on the Holy Spirit, who is forming us in love and understanding. As we grow in our relationship with God, our lives bear the fruits of the Spirit—including patience (Galatians 5:22-23). And even when we get impatient with others, even when we mess up and lash out, God is still patient and gentle and loving as He interacts with us. Through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, God has sealed our forgiveness and made us part of His family. So, whether we feel frustrated or not, whether we are with someone we usually get along with or not, we can rely on the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with God’s love, to treat that person kindly (Romans 5:5). Emily Acker • Have you noticed that it’s more difficult for you to interact with certain people or groups of people than others? God invites us to talk to Him about all this, and He helps us examine the reasons behind our hesitancy to interact with, or even our disgust toward, other people. In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians you can talk to about these things? • When we feel impatient with others, how could it be helpful to remember God is patient with us? • Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: ROMANS 8:1-2, 15-18, 26-39; 10:9-13 I shouldn’t have done that, you think to yourself after you’ve sinned. I’m a Christian now—or at least I thought I was. Maybe I’m not really saved after all. This is a common worry among Christians, but take heart. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus to rescue you from sin and death, you belong to God’s family. He has adopted you. You’re His child forever. That’s worth repeating: you are His child forever. It’s like being born or adopted into your earthly family. Your parents don’t disown you every time you do something wrong, do they? Hopefully not! Well, our heavenly Father is better than any earthly parent could ever be (Psalm 27:10; Matthew 7:9-11), and He isn’t going to disown us every time we sin either. If He did that, none of us would be His children. We all sin, repeatedly, even Christians. Whenever we do something wrong, we can confess it to Jesus right away. He already knows what we’ve done, and He has already secured our forgiveness. As we come to Him, He reminds us of His faithful love, and through the Holy Spirit, He helps us grow to become more and more like Him. Christians aren’t perfect, but Jesus didn’t die for us and rise again only to disown us when we do something wrong. He went to the cross and conquered sin and death so we could be part of His family and have eternal life with Him. When you trust in Jesus, you’re part of His family—forever. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time you felt unsure of your salvation? Was there something that helped comfort you? • Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passages. What promises from Jesus can we rest in when we feel worried about whether or not we’re saved? Consider taking a moment to thank Jesus for His promises and talk to Him about any worries that come to mind. • Who are trusted Christians in your life who can encourage you and pray with you when you experience doubt and fear? How could you be this kind of friend to others? Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39b (NLT).

READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; MICAH 6:8; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 I love food. It’s a wonderful way God sustains us, as well as a source of joy, and it often provides opportunities for community. But sometimes I get bogged down wondering about my food. I’ll pull a bell pepper out of its plastic bag, put the bag in the recycling, and wonder if that bag will end up floating around in the ocean for decades. I’ll start cutting up the pepper, and I’ll wonder if it was grown in a way that nourished God’s precious earth, or in a way that robbed the earth of its resources. As I munch on a slice, I’ll wonder if the people who worked to plant, grow, harvest, package, ship, and stock this bell pepper—people made in God’s image—were treated well and paid fairly for their labor, or if they toiled under unjust employers like the Israelites toiled under an unjust Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Would these people be able to afford to buy the food they’re growing and transporting? I’ll hand a piece of pepper to my three-year-old daughter, and I’ll wonder what the world will be like when she grows up. Some might say I shouldn’t worry about these things. After all, it’s just a bell pepper. But I don’t think God sees it that way. God cares deeply about the way we treat each other and how well we steward the earth He made. He loves justice, mercy, and compassion…and all of us—including me—fall short of His justice. But I can find rest, even in the midst of this messy world, because God forgives me through Jesus, and He cares about injustice even more deeply than I do. And He is way more powerful. When I’m overwhelmed by the injustice in this world and in my own heart, I can look to Jesus, who took all that sin and brokenness on Himself as He hung on the cross, then rose from the dead to defeat it. And I can trust that, one day, He will return to resurrect us from the dead and rule over the earth with perfect love and justice. In the meantime, I can weep with Him, knowing that He feels the hurt even more deeply than I do. And I can listen to the direction of His Holy Spirit to see how I can participate in His kingdom of love and justice, bringing healing to broken places because He is bringing healing to my heart. • Taylor Eising • How might knowing that God redeems us—even when we feel unredeemable—help us find rest in His goodness and mercy? In the midst of our broken world, how does He give us hope? Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. Psalm 89:14 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: GENESIS 1:26-28; ROMANS 8:22-25; COLOSSIANS 1:15-23; 1 PETER 1:3-5 Humans have made a mess of this world. It’s time for them not to be in charge.” I backed away after the android said this, clicking its long metal fingers together. A product of the recent technological singularity, this artificial intelligence was trying to take over the planet. “I hope you will all listen to me,” it said, “and do what I say. We are going to make another world, a better one. But for those who stand in the way…” Its fingers formed into a fist. I had to stall the vile machine, since my friends were furiously cooking up something that might be able to stop it. I cleared my throat nervously. “You can’t make the world better, even if we are the ones who messed it up. Besides, I don’t think you are in charge.” Red eyes fixed themselves upon me. “Really.” “In fact,” I said, still backing away, “humans will always be in charge. A human being is ruling the entire universe right now. His name is Jesus. And even though we’ve made a mess of things because of our sin, Jesus is sinless. And He loves us. He is the One who’s going to make a better world when He returns. So even if you take over the whole world, you aren’t really in charge.” The thing came after me, metal feet clanking on the floor. The stalling was done, it seemed. I dove under a table as it lunged. The lights went out, and for a second I thought I had been knocked unconscious. Then the lab flickered with candlelight, and I gasped as I saw the motionless android hovering above me, arm raised with clawed fingers ready to strike. My friends pulled me away. “We used its own weapon!” they said, holding up a pocket-sized EMP device that delivered an electromagnetic pulse and disrupted electrical systems. “Took out the electricity for half a mile. If we hurry, we can reach the main backup computer before the intelligence finds a way to reboot.” I nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. • Kevin Zeller • Do you ever feel like humans are messing up the whole world? How does God respond? (John 3:16-17) How might knowing that Jesus rules everything affect our view of all creation? • The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to follow all God’s commands, such as Genesis 1:26-28 and Matthew 22:37-40. What are some ways we can show Christ’s renewal in the world today? Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: MATTHEW 1:22-23; JOHN 8:1-11; ROMANS 8:1 The music blasted, and we sang so loud that dogs started barking. My car full of friends bounced as we moved to the thumping bass. Then—CRUNCH! That wasn’t part of the song. Did I hit a mound of icy snow? I wondered. I opened my door and looked back. I had backed out into the driver’s side door of a pickup truck parked on the other side of the road. The fun video scavenger hunt we were on was officially over, and it was my fault. I sat frozen for a couple minutes, unsure what to do. I had never been in an accident before. My friend suggested we go to the closest house and see whose truck it was. I was scared, and I think I would’ve sat there numb if it weren’t for my friend sitting with me and suggesting some next steps. We knocked on the door and explained the situation. My friend stayed with me and helped me with communicating when I couldn’t get the words out. Although it was a difficult situation, it helped having someone there with me. I love how there are so many moments in God’s Word when Jesus simply sat with people, ate with people, sailed with people, stood with people—even when they had messed up in some big ways. One example of this is in John 8:1-11, when a group of religious leaders were about to put a woman to death by throwing stones at her because she was caught in adultery. They humiliated her, but Jesus stayed near her until all the threatening religious leaders left, one by one. Jesus didn’t condemn her—He wanted to forgive and restore her. In Matthew 1:23, we see that Jesus has another name: “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” And He is. He is with us when we feel lonely, when we mess up, when we are frozen and don’t know what to do next. God is with us. • Amanda Gott • Can you think of a time when someone stayed with you during a difficult situation? • Jesus came to live among us—fully God and fully human. Because of God’s great love for us, He made the way for everyone who puts their trust in Him to be with God, no longer condemned but fully forgiven. He did this by dying on the cross for us and rising from the grave. If you want to know more about this, who are trusted Christians you can talk to? (Also check out our "Know Jesus" page.) • If you’ve already put your trust in Jesus, can you think of a time(maybe a difficult situation) when you were reminded that God is right there with you? How did it feel? “...and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

READ: MARK 4:35-41 We rocked violently against the waves and wind. The men I had grown to know and love over the last several months huddled together near the mast, what was left of the sail covering over them like a massive cloak. They held it tightly, but still the vicious weather fought to tear it from their backs. “Is all hope lost?” Thomas shouted over the storm. Despite the despair that was plain upon his face, he stayed at my side to help steady the rudder. I wondered if he did so as a kindness to me, or rather if, like myself, he simply could not forfeit the illusion of maintaining control as the wet gale slammed against us and the black sky flashed angrily above. I pushed the wet hair from my face and looked at him. We trembled together and through the fear in my gut, I was selfishly glad that I would not have to die alone. “Should we not wake the Rabbi?” Levi shouted, having made his way aft by holding tightly to the gunnel. “How does he sleep through this?” Thomas shouted back in hopeless frustration. “If only we all could sleep,” I yelled back. “It would be a mercy to die peacefully.” “We wake him,” Thomas decided and made his way to the stern where the teacher rested, Levi in unsteady pursuit. I could not hear what was said, and I could barely see the exchange, but I watched as Jesus sat up, listening to our alarm. He nodded, then stood and faced the storm with arms outstretched. I heard his words clearly over the wind’s terrible howl. “Quiet! Be still!” As the waters calmed and the clouds immediately fled, the stars emerged and not even a breeze remained of the storm. How can this be? In terror, I watched the master as if seeing him for the first time. He not only commands spirits and illnesses. He commands nature itself! “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” he said quietly. There was neither accusation nor disappointment in his words, only gracious instruction. • James Long • Today’s story is how one author imagines Mark 4:35-41. By calming the storm and rescuing His disciples, how did Jesus reveal His trustworthiness, His identity, and His love for us? (If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 1:1-10; Exodus 14:15-16, 21-22; Psalm 46:10; Colossians 1:15-22.) “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:41 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-11; 8:1-3; PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11 I was just reading an article about sheep, and I learned about something called sheep bloat. Sometimes a farmer goes out one morning, and there’s this dead sheep laying on its back, feet up in the air. Its belly is swollen tight. And sheep bloat has slain another one. What causes sheep bloat? It happens when a sheep eats too much lush, delectable, protein-rich pasture. The sheep can’t handle the richness, and the gases fill its belly until—pop. It’s dead. What does that have to do with us? God calls us His sheep, and He is our Good Shepherd. And, much like sheep, we have the potential to bloat. Paul tells us that “knowledge puffs up while love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Too much rich knowledge without love can actually hinder our spiritual life. If we haven’t been built up and strengthened by love, we can’t sustain all that richness, so we too could bloat up with pride and noxious fumes until we’re knocked flat—like the sheep that fall victim to sheep bloat. But dwelling in Jesus’s love builds us up. When we rest in the gospel—the truth of Jesus’s love for us embodied in His death and resurrection—His love equips us to take in all kinds of good knowledge without bloating. How can we tell if we’re being puffed up or built up? Here’s a good test: Does new information make us excited to show other people how smart we are, or does it give us a burning desire to help others enjoy it too? Do we follow knowledge-rich podcasts to make ourselves more useful to others, or to make others think we’re bigger than they are? We won’t be helpful to others if we’re paralyzed by our own bloatedness (Ephesians 4:29). Nobody likes knowledge gas. But because of Jesus, we can be built up by God’s love, extend that love to those around us, and then acquire some vital knowledge that will bless all of us—not just impress people with our hot air. • Rebekah Dorris • Jesus calls us to love Him and to love others (Matthew 22:37-40). How can pursuing knowledge help us love God and each other better? • What can happen when we pursue knowledge without love? But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1b (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: ACTS 10:34-36; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27; GALATIANS 3:28; JAMES 2:1-10 Equal, not just a term that’s used in math Let me see others as equal, God, the way You see them Help me see the celebrity and know they are just another human Help me see the poor and know they have a story Equal, let me look to those struggling in class Let me see them as equal, God, and just as valued as the prodigies Help me see the leaders at my school and know they are like the rest of us Help me see the bullied and the bullies and know they have value, too Equal, something that is hard to grasp Let me see everyone as equal, God, not all perched on different levels Help me see everyone as loved Help me not judge those around me, even when I feel judged Equal, it’s how You see the world Let me see as You see, God Help me understand that You value all people the same Help me treat others equally, since we are all made in Your image • Emily Acker • All people are incredibly and equally valuable to God. We can know this is true because God made humans in His image (Genesis 1:27) and because Jesus, God in flesh, came to die for us on the cross and rise from the grave so that ANYONE who puts their trust in Him will be saved and become part of His kingdom (John 3:16; Romans 10:11-13). When do you struggle to see people—others or yourself—as all equal in value and worth? In what ways are you tempted to put people on different levels? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about these things. You can be totally honest with Him—He wants to help and forgive you, not condemn you. • Every person we meet is someone God has made, someone Jesus was willing to die for. How might remembering the gospel help us see all people as equally loved and valuable? For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11 (NLT) 

READ: PSALM 1; JOHN 1:1-14; ROMANS 15:4 Trying to understand the Bible can be…overwhelming. The more I learn about it, the more I realize I don’t know. And I find myself wondering if I’ll ever truly know the Bible—and the God it reveals. If you’ve ever felt this way too, take heart. The Lord is with you. And He doesn’t expect you to get it all—especially your first time reading it. The Bible is meant to be read and listened to over and over. God designed it for us to discuss at length with others, learning from each other and encouraging one another in our walk with Jesus. Learning Scripture takes a lifetime, and even then, we won’t have everything right. And in this lifelong endeavor to know Scripture, we are not alone. Generations of Christians have studied Scripture, and we can learn from their insights. Books, commentaries, study Bibles, websites, and videos contain immense riches of knowledge to help us know the Bible better. If you’re not sure where to start, try asking a pastor, youth leader, teacher, or parent. They will probably be thrilled to help you. You can also search out Bible study groups and classes to dig into Scripture with other people. Plug into your church and seek out wise people who are following Jesus. Ask lots of questions. Don’t try to go on this journey alone. Along the way, we’ll bump into Scripture’s many mysteries. There are things we’ll never fully understand until we see Jesus face to face. But as we sit with these mysteries and dig deep into the message of Scripture, the Spirit is at work. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer, and even when we aren’t sure what a passage means, He is helping us know God better. The whole of Scripture tells the incredible story of our loving God rescuing His people through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And while interpreting Scripture may take some work, that is a story worth knowing. It’s worth studying and mulling over and wrestling with until the story seeps deep into our bones. Because this story reveals the heart of God, and as we draw nearer, we see that His heart beats for us. • Taylor Eising • What questions do you have about the Bible? Who can you talk to about these questions? Can you think of any resources that could help you understand the world of the Bible more, such as study Bibles, commentaries, websites, podcasts, etc.? So the Word became human and made his home among us. He [Jesus] was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory. John 1:14a (NLT) 

READ: ISAIAH 7:13-14; MATTHEW 1:18-23 Another tool that can help us understand Scripture is genre. The Bible has lots of different genres, like historical narratives, parables, poetry, letters, wisdom literature, apocalyptic literature, and more. Today, we’re just going to take a look at one genre: ancient biographies. Specifically, we’ll look at the book of Matthew. Like the rest of the four Gospels, Matthew is an ancient biography about Jesus. And while modern biographies attempt to cover all the facts of a person’s life in chronological order, ancient biographies only cover certain events about a person’s life, and they aren’t necessarily in chronological order. Instead, the author chooses different events and facts about the person and arranges them in a certain order to make a point. For example, Matthew (who was one of Jesus’s disciples) makes the point that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures. To do this, Matthew tells the story of Jesus in a way that embodies the story of Israel. Jesus is called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23) like God called Israel out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:17-22). Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17) parallels Israel’s journey through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15-31). Immediately after this, Jesus wanders in the desert for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11), similar to how the Israelites wandered the desert for forty years (Numbers 32:13). Finally, He climbs up a mountain to teach His followers (Matthew 5:1-2), like Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the law from God (Exodus 19-20). Matthew also arranges Jesus’s sermons into five long segments (chapters 5-7; 10; 13; 18-20; 23-25) to parallel the five books of the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This makes the point that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Torah, and He is the perfect, sinless Israel that the Israelites could never be. Understanding the genre the book of Matthew was written in helps us grasp its message: Jesus is the One the Israelites had been waiting for. And, because we know that ancient biographies are arranged to make a point, we can understand why the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) look slightly different: they’re making slightly different points about who Jesus is! When we look at all of them together, we get a fuller picture of Jesus—who loves us so much that He died and resurrected from the dead to save us from sin and death. • Taylor Eising • Why does genre matter in the Bible? How does Jesus’s fulfillment of promises show God’s love? All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said…Matthew 1:22a (NIV) 

READ: JEREMIAH 29:4-14 Another important piece to consider when interpreting a verse is the literary context. In other words, what’s going on in the Bible before and after this verse? To do this, we have to zoom all the way out to consider where the verse fits into the larger story of the Bible, then zoom in to see where it fits into its book of the Bible, and then where it fits into the surrounding verses. For example, let’s look at Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” First, let’s zoom all the way out. God created everything good, but people sinned and brought brokenness to all of creation. So God promised a future Rescuer who would come through Abraham and His descendants, the Israelites. But the Israelites kept on rebelling against God, so He sent people called prophets to warn them to turn back to Him. But they refused and were captured by their enemy, Babylon. It’s around this time that we find our verse, but let’s keep going. Later, Israel was delivered out of Babylon and, even later, God sent Jesus to rescue us through His death and resurrection. And someday Jesus will return to make all things new. Now, let’s zoom in to the book of Jeremiah. In the first half, Jeremiah (a prophet) accused Israel of sinning against God—oppressing the poor, doing violence, and worshiping idols. He warned them about God’s judgement. Around Jeremiah 29:11, Israel was conquered by Babylon and many were taken into exile. God’s judgment came through Babylon, but He reminded His people of a coming Rescuer. The book then shows God’s judgement against other nations, including Babylon, and it ends with a glimpse of hope: that the Rescuer would come. Now, let’s look closer at the passages around Jeremiah 29:11. Israel had been captured by Babylon, and false prophets were saying that God would save them soon. We see God’s response in Jeremiah 29:4-14. God, through Jeremiah, told His people to settle down in Babylon, because they would be there for seventy years. But Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God will rescue them. One day Israel will return to their home, and one day, much later, the Rescuer will come. Looking at the broader context of Jeremiah 29:11, we see God was telling Israel that, while the people He was talking to would die in captivity, His ultimate plan to redeem the world would not be thwarted. And in that plan we find hope. • Taylor Eising • How can looking at a verse in its literary context help us understand the Bible, and God, better? “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) 

READ: GENESIS 1-2 One of the most important parts of interpreting the Bible is understanding the historical-cultural context of the text. In other words, asking questions like, “How would the original audience have understood this text? What was the world like for the original audience?” Finding answers to these questions often involves looking at historical texts other than the Bible. The Bible itself rarely includes historical-cultural details because the original audience already knew what it was like to live in their time and place, so they didn’t write it all down. So now we have to figure it out. And when we do, it gives so much more depth and meaning to the text. Let’s look at Genesis 1 and 2 for example. There were many other stories about creation that the original audience would have known. Many of these stories were very violent. In some cases, one god would defeat a lesser god and create the universe out of the defeated god’s corpse. Some said that humanity was made out of the blood of the defeated god mixed with mud or clay. And humans were created as slaves to the gods—to meet the needs of the gods, tend to them, appease them, and do the menial labor the gods themselves didn’t want to do. Imagine growing up being told that your very existence is the result of violence and death, and that you were created to serve a violent, needy god. How different is the God of Genesis 1 and 2? Here, we see a God who has no needs. A God who made creation out of nothing, and made it teem with life. Who crafted humanity from the earth and His own breath, making them in His own image as His representatives. Humanity is given a dignified job: tending to creation and creating more life (Genesis 1:27-28). He gives them a beautiful garden, community, and His own presence. This God is vastly different from any other god the original audience would have heard of. And, through Jesus, He would sacrifice Himself for His creation. Historical-cultural context can be tricky, but it’s well worth the effort. By learning more about the historical-cultural context of Scripture, we can know our loving God more deeply. And we can sit in awe of the beauty of the gospel—God’s love for His people and His resolve to rescue us through Jesus—which shines through every page. • Taylor Eising • Have you ever wondered what life was like for the people living during the different time periods of the Bible? What questions do you have about this? Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over…all the wild animals on the earth…” Genesis 1:26 (NLT)&nbsp;

READ: PSALM 119:89-96; LUKE 24:13-27; JOHN 20:30-31; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 Did you know that you are a biblical interpreter? Whether we know it or not, all of us interpret the Bible when we read or listen to it. We bring our own experiences, assumptions, opinions, and perspectives to the text, and all of that forms how we understand Scripture. So if someone asks why it’s necessary for us to interpret the Bible, I tell them it’s because we’re already doing it. We just may not realize it. The Bible is God’s holy Word, given to us to reveal who Jesus is. It was written over thousands of years by many different authors who were directed by the Holy Spirit. And all these authors are telling the same overarching story—the story of God’s good creation being broken by sin, and God’s work to reconcile His people to Himself, culminating in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. It explains how, because He did this for us, we can dwell with Him forever in renewed creation when He returns. The Bible is “God-breathed” and authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It’s His Word for His people. So, why can’t we assume everything in the Bible should be read at face value—that it always means exactly what it says? Well, the Bible is written for us, but it’s not written to us. It’s written to an ancient culture in an ancient language to people in a drastically different context. To understand Scripture more deeply, we have to understand that context. For example, how should we understand what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:12: “Greet one another with a holy kiss”? Is this a command for everyone to follow, or was it only for the time and place that Paul was writing to? Is it even a command, or just a warm greeting? I haven’t met anyone in my cultural context who follows the literal command to kiss each other at church. But one of the beautiful things about Scripture is that, even though it was written to people living in a radically different context, it reveals truth that applies to us. We find that, thousands of years later, we face the same struggles with sin, and we find the same grace in Jesus. We see God’s goodness again and again, in every time and place and culture. The message that people needed thousands of years ago is the same message we need today: the message that our loving God will never stop pursuing us. • Taylor Eising • What questions do you have about the Bible? Who could you talk to about these questions? But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: JOHN 6:37-40; EPHESIANS 1:3-14; COLOSSIANS 1:9-14 Four months after Marmalade came out of the darkness of his stair home, he found his forever home with me. Last night, as he lay on top of me, loud purr rumbling, I thought about how we are all very much like Marmalade. When we live apart from Jesus, we don’t know there is a better way to live. At first, we are content to live in the darkness, alone in the dirt of our sin. The first step toward life is realizing that we are in need of rescue (Romans 3:23-24). When Marmalade came out from his hiding place and allowed me and my friend to rescue him, he didn’t make us wait while he attempted to clean himself up. He came just as he was: fleas, ticks, matted fur and all. This is the same way God wants us to come to Him. It can be tempting to think, “If I just take care of this issue first…” But in John 6:37, Jesus said He will never turn away anyone who comes to Him. God sees us in all our ugly, messy sin, and He loves us. Out of love, Jesus took our sins upon Himself when He went to the cross. When we come to Jesus as we are, though our sins are like scarlet, He will wash us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). Like Marmalade is adopted into my family, God adopts us into His family the moment we put our trust in His Son, Jesus, the One who shed His blood to save us and rose from the grave to give us life. Once we belong to Him, we are His sons and daughters. Our spirits will testify that we are His forever (Romans 8:14-17; 10:9-13). • Savannah Coleman • Have you ever felt like, if you could just take care of an issue or sin in your life first, then you could come to God? Lots of us have felt this way, but the good news is we could never make ourselves right in God’s sight, yet He loves us. And He has made the way for us to come to Him through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. If you have questions about what it means to be rescued by Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? (Also visit our "Know Jesus" page.) • When you are a child of the Most High God, nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). You are chosen, your identity is found in Him, your eternity is set. You are for the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:11-14). Through Jesus, you have been totally forgiven and brought near to live with God forever. And His Holy Spirit lives in you, transforming you into Jesus’s image and empowering you to live in His good ways. How might it be freeing to know that God rescues us because He delights in us? (Psalm 18:19) He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 91; 1 PETER 2:9-10, 24-25 Sunlight cascaded through green leaves as I descended the stairs at one of my favorite parks off the shores of Lake Michigan. Suddenly, a furry flash of orange and white darted underneath the steps in front of me. Getting on my hands and knees, I peered into the darkness of the stairs to find a pair of large, green eyes staring back at me. From the looks of it, this cat had been living under these stairs for a long time. Fur was everywhere, and there seemed to be a permanent indentation in the dirt where he slept. My heart broke for this cat who looked like a miniature lion, his eyes full of fear. Over the month to come, I made phone calls to people who might be able to help, attempted to cultivate a relationship with the cat, and brought him food and water. Because of the park’s rules, I couldn’t bring in a live trap, and no one I talked to was compelled to help. One day, after pouring my heart and frustrations out to a close friend, she offered to help me try to rescue him. As we hiked out to him, loaded up with tuna, a blanket, and a cage, we prayed that God would help us and that this sweet cat would come out of the darkness of his lonely home and into the light. Reaching our destination, we were delighted to find him sitting on the stairs waiting for us! This was the first time I had seen him out of his hiding place since the day I found him. Instead of hiding or claws, the cat I originally thought was feral allowed us to put him in the cage with very little struggle. When I brought him to the local no-kill shelter the following day, the staff at the shelter kindly kept the name I had been calling him. In the following weeks, Marmalade was vaccinated, fixed, and estimated to be around seven years old. No one had claimed him even though we had posted his picture on various sites, but I continued to pray for a loving home for him where he would thrive. • Savannah Coleman • Have you ever been part of a rescue, either for a person or an animal? Perhaps you were the one who was rescued out of a traumatic situation. Psalm 91 is about God being our shelter and fortress (verse 1-2). It paints a beautiful picture of God covering us with His feathers—we find the refuge we seek beneath His wings (verse 3-4). When we call on Jesus, He will answer us. Deliverance may not always come in the way we expect, but He is always with us and for us (verse 14-16). Just as Marmalade came out of the darkness into the light, God calls us out of darkness into His wonderful light. We are chosen, called, and fully loved by our merciful God (1 Peter 2:9-10). [God] called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9b (NLT) 

READ: PSALMS 19:1-4; 139:14; ISAIAH 40:26 There have been so many moments in my life as a Christian when I’ve doubted the existence of God. Praying just seems silly—like talking to the air. But I have moments when God reveals to me just how plausible His existence is. One especially vivid time happened about a year ago. I was just starting high school and taking an evening walk outside to look at the stars. I lived in the country, so the night sky looked incredible on clear nights like this one. God’s handiwork was on full display for me. Walking in the crisp breeze, all I could do was look up and thank God for the wonder He had put before me. And suddenly, nothing felt ridiculous about this. I was just a creation talking to my Creator. I was instantly so small in the vast universe, and that was okay because I was cared for and loved by the most important person in all of creation. Also in that moment, it seemed so out there to think all this fascination and artistry could be made by anything other than the skillful hands of an artist. It just didn’t make sense how some people couldn’t see everything this clearly. I felt so loved, and I began to feel so upset because others didn’t feel this loved, they didn’t feel this safe, because they didn’t know God. So I stood there and cried for those people and prayed for them. I didn’t know them by name, or what they looked like, but I prayed that God would reveal Himself to them as He has revealed Himself to me. And even though I may continue to have doubts, God will always turn my gaze back to Himself and tell me, “I love you, and I AM here.” I tell this story because it’s okay to have doubts, everyone does—whether they’ve been a Christ follower for years, or came to know Him later on. Throughout your life, you are going to have doubts, but keep your eyes open! God won’t let Himself and His truth go unnoticed in your life. • Sophia Augustine • When we have doubts about God, He is patient with us, and He promises that those who seek Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13; Jude 1:22). Even when Jesus rose from the dead, many of His followers doubted. Yet He mercifully helps us—through His Spirit, His Word, and His people—to trust Him. When you have doubts, who are trusted Christians in your life who you can be open and honest with, and who will encourage and pray with you? Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: JOHN 20:26-29; 1 PETER 3:8-17 As we navigate life, we often hear persuasive voices, each one bringing its own opinions and biases. And sometimes those voices deny the gospel. In 1 Peter 3:15, believers in Jesus are called to be prepared to hear and respond to these voices, but how do we prepare to have conversations with people who don’t believe the gospel? First, and most importantly, we remember to enter these conversations with a heart of love and not a heart of defensiveness. God is capable of defending Himself; He doesn’t need us to do it for Him. Instead, out of love for God and neighbor, let’s seek to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). This preparation doesn’t just automatically materialize though. We learn to trust God when we seek Him out. And one way we can seek Him is by bringing our questions and doubts to Him. He is not put off by questions. He invites our questions and delights in answering them. And we can also ask fellow Christians— people who are probably asking the same things. We can also prepare by looking for evidence of Jesus’s death and resurrection. And some of the strongest pieces of evidence we have for Jesus’s resurrection are the life events of the people closest to Him. Several of the brutal deaths the apostles faced for their belief in Jesus are actually confirmed by contemporary writers of that time. In fact, Jesus’s own half-brother, James, was stoned to death for his belief in Christ, and that event is confirmed by historical records from a non-Christian source! Jesus’s apostles and other early disciples were real people who willingly faced death because they believed so fervently in Jesus’s divinity. There is much evidence of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, and we can seek it out, knowing that the foundation of our faith—Jesus Christ Himself—is a firm place to stand (Isaiah 26:4; 1 Corinthians 3:11). And as we rest in Jesus’s love and the hope of the gospel, we can learn how to better share that love and hope with everyone around us. • James Long • How does the gospel give you hope? • What questions and doubts do you have about God, Jesus, the gospel...? Questions and doubts are normal, and we can talk to God about them anytime. Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to about these as well—such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, or counselors? Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15b (NIV)&nbsp;

READ: PSALM 133:1; EPHESIANS 4:1-6; 1 JOHN 4:19 I got the part; now I needed the costume. At age eleven, I tried out for the role of mascot for my school. The judges picked me, and I prepared to entertain the crowd at football games alongside the cheerleaders. The school didn’t provide a uniform, so my mom sewed me an outfit for my role as The Panther. At games, I would twirl my black cat tail and encourage the audience to roar for the football players. I would jump around, turn cartwheels, and cheer. I also got made fun of—a lot. Football players snickered, made meowing noises, and some guys called me “rat.” Only these weren’t members of the opposing team or students from the rival school. The ones laughing at me were kids from my own school. I expected teasing or trash talk from the competition, but to hear this from my own team surprised me. Honestly, it brought me to tears. I had thought we were all in this together. Sadly, Christians often treat each other this way too. When we enter a relationship with God by trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and new life, we join His family—one family of God, one body of Christ with one Father and one Lord. As believers in Jesus, we are to be unified in Him. When we live with love for one another, people can see that we belong to God (John 13:35). But when we hurl insults at each other, attacking each other hatefully instead of disagreeing with love and respect, it’s like we’re shooting down our own teammates. Apart from God, we aren’t capable of loving each other. But once we belong to God, His Holy Spirit transforms us to become more and more like Jesus, our loving Savior. In His power, we can make every effort to keep loving each other as brothers and sisters. • Allison Wilson Lee • Have you been mistreated by peers or others? Who is a trusted adult you can tell right away? • How can Christians disagree with each other and still show unity, even when it comes to divisive topics, such as politics? Have you seen any Christians model this well? • We are all guilty of acting in unloving ways toward our fellow human beings. God sees our sin, and He calls us to repent—to confess our sin, turn away from it, and turn toward Him. Consider taking a moment to repent of any sins that come to mind, thanking God for His sure forgiveness through Jesus. You can also ask Him to help you move forward in love, maybe by apologizing to the people you’ve wronged. Because He loves you, you can love others (1 John 4:19). Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1 (NIV) 

READ: DEUTERONOMY 11:10-25; 31:8 What kinds of changes have happened in your life so far? Maybe they’ve been small changes, like transitioning to a different school building when you reached a certain grade. Maybe you’ve gone through large changes, like your family moving or someone close to you getting a divorce. In the Bible, the people of Israel went through a lot of changes. They moved to Egypt because of a famine, and later a ruthless Pharoah made them slaves. After generations of slavery in Egypt, God delivered His people and led them to the Promised Land. This was a wonderful thing, but it was also a big change for the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 11, Moses told them that this land was going to be nothing like they knew. The terrain would be very different from Egypt’s, and their farming methods would have to change. Similarly, there are often lots of unknowns in our own lives. Even though some of the changes we experience are smaller, and we still have familiar things around us, many of the things we once knew have to change, kind of like the Israelites’ farming methods. This can be hard sometimes, but look at what Moses says next: “It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end” (Deuteronomy 11:12). That’s awesome! God had already been taking care of this land for His people, and He would continue to be there with them. When changes happen in our lives, God already knows what they are, and He has been preparing for us. And no matter what kind of change it is—no matter how small or how big—God will continue to be with us. In every change you face, you can rest knowing that God loves you and He will never leave you. • Kimberly Brokish • What kinds of changes have happened in your life? Can you think of a time God cared for your needs (physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual) in the midst of a change? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. • In times of change, do you have any favorite Bible verses that remind you of God’s love? For example, take a look at Deuteronomy 31:8. If you want to dig deeper, check out how Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) and has promised never to leave us (Matthew 28:20). “It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Deuteronomy 11:12 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 23:1-12; LUKE 22:25-26; JOHN 13:1-17, 34-35 Wyran, kitchen servant in the palace of Ardh, studied the king’s table, ensuring that not a single grape was out of place. King Terrian had insisted that everything be perfect for his guest. For months, the territory had echoed with praises for the ruler of the distant kingdom of Beulah and his seemingly supernatural abilities. King Elam. “A formidable foe in war and a valuable ally in peace,” King Terrian had called him. Still, Wyran was sure the stories were mostly fictitious—after all, a king who could control the weather and raise the dead? Just part of some intimidation plot, no doubt. Wyran expected to be run ragged during the foreign king’s entire visit, fetching and retrieving anything this royal desired. In Wyran’s experience, the more powerful a leader was, the more pitiful he made those beneath him feel. When King Terrian and his guest swept into the hall moments later, servants flew into action, pulling out chairs, adjusting robes, and producing glimmering basins to wash the feet of both kings. But to Wyran’s shock, the visiting king waved the servants away with a gentle sweep of his hand and, instead, carried one of the basins to Wyran. He gestured to his own seat at the king’s table, indicating that Wyran should take his place. Wyran stood paralyzed. Surely the famous King Elam was not going to clean a servant’s feet! To even sit in a royal’s chair could mean execution. Unless this visitor was using Wyran to show off his supernatural abilities—if he truly could restore life, who knew what limits his terrible power had. But in the following moments, there were no supernatural tricks or transformations—only the gentle swishing of water as the king cleansed Wyran’s feet and wiped them dry with his own robe. King Terrian, who had been watching in shocked silence, finally spluttered, “Stop! I cannot have it known that the great King Elam washed my servant’s feet!” King Elam, still kneeling, smiled gently and replied, “Better had it been known you had done so yourself.” • Valerie Principe “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11 (CSB) • Today’s allegorical story is based on John 13:1-17 when Jesus, the King of the universe, washed His disciples’ feet. Most earthly leaders see ruling as a right to be served, but Jesus ruled by serving others. When people saw Jesus commanding nature and raising people from the dead, they were amazed by His power and authority. And when they saw how Jesus interacted with those who were considered the least of society, some were amazed by His love and humility—and some were offended. Consider taking a moment to reread John 13:1-17, and then imagine Jesus washing your feet. What do you notice? How do you feel? • Washing His disciples’ feet wasn’t the only way Jesus served His people. When Jesus died on the cross, carrying the shame of our sins, He was performing the greatest act of service the world would ever know. Though all people are wicked and sinful, deserving of death, the King of the entire universe loves us so much, He willingly suffered the punishment of a criminal so that we could become members of His royal family forever. He conquered death and sin when He rose from the grave, and now He invites us to put our trust in Him. King Jesus waits with outstretched arms for anyone who will receive His gift and believe in Him. If you have questions about what it means to put your trust in Jesus and become part of His royal family, who are trusted Christians you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) • When are you tempted to try to impress those around you? In these times, we can look to Jesus.

READ: PSALM 139:7-12; ISAIAH 41:9-13 When we’re little, all kinds of things scare us. Maybe we’re afraid of the dark and we need the comfort of a nightlight. Maybe we don’t want to get on the rides at the fair without a parent or older sibling beside us. When we’re young and afraid, we gladly accept help to get through the scary times. But when we get to be a bit older, we start thinking we have to go through things alone. We start believing that if the darkness scares us, we just need to put up with it. But that’s not true. We always have someone beside us, no matter what age we are. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Because of His life, death, and resurrection, we don’t ever have to be alone. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that we are in fellowship with God. So whenever we’re afraid, we can turn to God for help, comfort, and courage. Maybe the same things don’t scare us now that did when we were young, but whatever we’re afraid of now, we can ask God to help us with it. God is always there for us, even when we feel alone. Throughout our lives, we’ll face many scary and uncertain moments, but He will be there through them all. We can trust Him and feel secure with Him by our side, like a child feels when their parent or another loved one sits with them and helps them through life’s scary moments. • Bethany Acker • What scared you when you were little? Now that you’re older, are you afraid of similar things, different things, or maybe some of both? • Throughout the book of Psalms, we read poems and songs by David, a shepherd who became the king of Israel and a great warrior. David often felt afraid, and he freely acknowledged this to God and to the people listening to his psalms (Psalm 56:3). Yet, as David turned to God, he was delivered from his fears again and again (Psalm 34:4). David was comforted and strengthened, not by theological knowledge alone, but by God’s presence with him (Psalm 23:4). Consider taking a moment to tell God about your fears and ask Him to help you know His presence with you more and more. He has compassion on you, and He delights in answering these prayers. “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 148; LUKE 19:36-40 The towering oaks, And every blade of grass, Have all spoken. The clouds in the sky, And the birds in the trees, All reply— “Great is He!” Great is the One who made us, Great is the God of gods, Great is the One who loves, And has determined the path we’ve trod. The fox’s tail swishes, Sunset’s colors change, Water teems with splashing fishes. The breeze in the trees, The flowers on the ground— How great is He! Make a joyful sound! • Josefine Engle • What is your favorite part of God’s creation? Have you ever thought about this part of creation praising God? • When we praise Jesus, we join with creation! How do you like to praise Him? Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Psalm 148:3 (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 119:9-16, 97-105; MATTHEW 11:28-12:8 Have you ever been in such a rush that you gulped down a meal too quickly to really enjoy it? We live in a fast-paced world that doesn’t prioritize taking time to care for ourselves and others. As Christians, sometimes this problem shows up when we spend time reading the Bible. All sixty-six books of the Bible make up a rich, multi-genre love letter from God to His people. It tells us the story of Jesus and unfolds what the good news of His death and resurrection means for us. But, in our busyness, we often feel like we need to rush through reading Scripture. The good news is—even when we feel pressured to get the maximum productivity out of every moment—Jesus gives us rest from all that hurry. What’s one of the ways we can remember the rest He gives us? By taking time to really chew on the passages we read in the Bible. Moving more slowly through our Bible reading helps us in several ways. First, it allows us to remember that God is not in a hurry. We are secure in Him and His love. Second, it lets us meditate (a word that means “to chew”) on what God has said as we go about our days. This allows us to understand all the more fully how central Jesus is to our lives. Third, it gives us time to figure out what questions we have about the passages we’re reading, which in turn allows us to reach out to trusted Christian people and resources to help us better understand the context of what we read. Next time you read the Bible, remember that you have time to chew on it. You don’t need to rush. God’s love for you holds steady, and in the Bible, we find the true story of how Jesus embodies this love through His death and resurrection. That’s a story worth meditating on. • A. W. Smith • Reading Scripture is one of the ways God invites us to interact with Him. Everyone’s life circumstances, gifts, and learning styles are different. When are good times of the day or week for you to take time to chew on the Bible? Do you prefer to read it silently, read it aloud, or have it read to you? • Who are trusted Christians you could reach out to when you have questions about the Bible—such as pastors, counselors, parents, teachers, etc.? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you find some people who can walk with you through your questions, including helping you find reputable and scholarly Christian resources for studying the Bible well. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalm 119:15 (NIV) 

READ: HEBREWS 4:14-16 Anger. Sadness. Fear. These and other emotions can be tough to regulate, and it can make us wonder: are emotions even good? God made us with emotions, and they are good. They help us process hard things we face in our world that’s been broken by sin. And emotions can even help motivate us to find ways to take care of ourselves and others. But, like with all good things in our broken world, there are unsafe and safe ways to express emotions—ways that can hurt us or others, and ways that can help us feel and grow and learn. Through it all, Jesus is always a safe person to talk to about our emotions— remember, He knows firsthand what it’s like to have big feelings. Especially in the Gospels, we see Jesus experiencing lots of emotions. He empathizes with us, and He can also direct us to other safe people—such as parents, therapists, teachers, friends, etc.—and He can guide us in safe ways to work through those feelings. What helps people process emotions differs from person to person. The good news is, our loving God provides a wide variety of healthy ways for us to process our emotions. Some people like to go for a brisk walk or go to an open space and throw a ball as hard as they can. Others like to journal or make art. Others like to work with dough. Still others like to sing or play a musical instrument. Because of these differences, it’s valuable to take time to pray, think, and talk with our safe people about various ways to process the good emotions Jesus made us with. So, when we experience big or intense feelings, we don’t have to be afraid. God can handle them, and so can the other safe people in our lives. Jesus Himself has experienced the full range of human emotion, so we can come to Him with anything we’re feeling—no matter what. • Kandi Zeller • What might be examples of unsafe and safe ways to process emotions? • Who are safe people in your life you can process emotions with—such as therapists, parents, friends, pastors, etc.? [Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT)

Have you ever been really homesick? When we’re traveling someplace far away from loved ones—even if we’re traveling for good reasons—it’s totally understandable that we miss our friends and family. God created us with a need for community with Him and other people. That’s why Jesus said the two most important things He wants us to do are to love Him and other people (Matthew 22:36-40). But in our broken world, sometimes loving others means we feel the pain of being apart from them. In a way, all Christians are homesick…because our home is with Jesus. Even though He is always with us—and He is present in our lives here and now through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church)—we can’t see Him face-to-face. But one day we will, either when we die or when He returns and restores all of creation. On that day, everyone who knows Jesus will get to live with Him together, and we will never be homesick again. As we continue to live in our world that’s broken by sin, we long to be with God— and His people—the way He intended, without all the effects of our sin wreaking havoc. Separation is one of the effects of sin. Even if we don’t have to physically travel away from the people we love, we will eventually be separated from them, either when we die or when they do. Death is the ultimate effect of sin, but Jesus defeated death when He let Himself be put to death on the cross…and then rose from the grave. Without Jesus, we are all separated from God. But if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we’ve been brought near to God and become part of His family. Whenever we experience hard things like homesickness and death, Jesus comforts us. He knows firsthand what it’s like to be separated from the people you love. And He reminds us that we get to look forward to the day we will finally be home with Him and God’s whole family forever. That’s real hope we can cling to even in our most homesick moments. • A. W. Smith • Have you ever felt homesick for Jesus? As Christians, it’s hard to understand the mystery of how we can be with Jesus here and now, and yet still long for the day we’ll see Him face-to-face. Can you think of a time you felt Jesus’s nearness and love? If you’ve never experienced this, you can ask God to reveal His nearness and love to you anytime—He delights in answering these prayers. • What are you most looking forward to about Jesus coming back? What questions do you have? I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people!” Revelation 21:3a (NLT) READ: JOHN 14:18; REVELATION 21:1-5

Two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. That’s how hot glass has to be heated in order for it to be molded. When professional glassblowers have a glob of this molten material on the end of a tool called a blowpipe, they blow into it to create the shape they want. These artists can form glass into masterpieces. But they only have a limited time to do this. After the glass cools down, it can’t be molded or shaped anymore unless it’s reheated. As Christians, we are kind of like works of blown glass. Before we knew Jesus, our hearts were cold and hard (Ezekiel 36:26). We were dead in sin and immovable in our selfish ways. But when we trusted in Jesus, He made our hearts warm so the Holy Spirit could mold us to become more and more like Him—more kind, more loving, more patient, more courageous… the list goes on (Galatians 5:22-23). Like a glassblower fills their work of art with the breath of their lungs and shapes it for its intended purpose, our Lord fills our hearts with love and shapes our lives so we can glorify Him and show others who He is. We are His masterpieces, beautiful vessels pointing others to Jesus’s love. Today, let’s thank Him for breathing life into us and trust Him to mold us into the people He wants us to be—people who are, together, being shaped by His love. • A. W. Smith • As Christians, we are Jesus’s masterpiece-in-progress. If you know Jesus, how has the Holy Spirit already shaped you to become more like Jesus? (Galatians 5:22-23) • Growing in Christ can be a challenging process, just like the art of glassblowing. Why is it important to remember that we are fully loved by Jesus no matter how well this process seems to be going, and that He will never give up on us? (Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 1:6) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) READ: EPHESIANS 2:8-10; 4:17-24; 5:2

A vivid sunset reached over the aqua waters of my home on Zakynthos Island. I slid my hand down my pteranodon’s sleek, yet powerful neck as he lifted his wings, carrying me higher into the color-splashed sky. Apostolos had been my constant companion since the night he landed next to me on the beach when I was a child. I was curled up next to the giant rock that resembled a resting brachiosaurus. Sweet Apostolos had seen me weeping, laid his crested head on my lap, and stayed with me until my tears subsided. Reminiscing ceased as Apostolos landed lightly on the shores of the white-sand beach. The limestone caves glinted gold in the light of the setting sun. I settled on the sand with a sigh as Apostolos stretched his magnificent wings beside me. Even in this beautiful place, my mind wandered to memories of my failures. “I keep messing up, Olo. I know what I should do because I have the Book of Life, but I don’t always follow it. Again, I find myself wishing I could turn back time and make the right choice.” Apostolos blinked sympathetically. I tried to understand why I kept doing wrong. Once, I was headed for death and destruction, but I had encountered the Eternal One who changed my soul and brought me from darkness into the light. I loved Him and sought to put His Book of Life into practice daily, but I still fell short. “Why do I have so much guilt?” I said aloud. Apostolos glanced up at the sky. “Don’t roll your eyes at me.” I chuckled. “You’re right, I am forgetting the truth. The Eternal One says I belong to Him forever and I’m no longer condemned. He has already taken all my guilt on Himself, freeing me from shame through His own dying and rising. It’s good to remember. Because I’ve put my trust in Him, I’ll never be put to shame.” I whispered a prayer: “Here I am again, broken and in need. I don’t always do what I should do, what I want to do. You know the wrong that I have done and how I wish I could undo it. I need Your help to resist next time I am tempted, and to heal the hurts I’ve already caused. I know You forgive me, and I must release this to You. Remind me, Eternal One, that Your mercies are new every morning.” Opening my hands, palms raised to the sky, I released the guilt and shame, accepting the Eternal One’s immeasurable forgiveness and unfailing love. • Savannah Coleman The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) • Have you ever felt like the character in today’s sci-fi/fantasy story? Frustrated with yourself for doing wrong even though you know what’s right? In Romans 7, the apostle Paul wrestled with his propensity to sin, even though he belonged to Christ. If we’re honest, we’ve all echoed Paul’s words: “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (verse 19). Thankfully, there is hope and rescue through Jesus Christ (verses 24-25). If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you’ve already been brought from death to life (John 5:24). Because Jesus died on the cross for you and rose from the grave, you are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). The Bible says anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame (Romans 10:9-11). Now that’s good news! If you have questions about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. • As followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit in us to remind us of Jesus’s words (John 14:26). When God’s Spirit in us reveals a sin or prompts us to change, this is a beautiful sign that we belong to Jesus and He is working in us to make us more like Him (Philippians 1:6). God knows we will continue to struggle with sin until Jesus returns and makes all things new. When God corrects us, He is specific and gives us hope. Consider taking a moment to pray,

"I don’t think I can go any higher.” I glanced down at my friends, saw how far away the floor was, and gripped the handholds more tightly. I was regretting my decision to go rock climbing. “Okay,” my friend Natalie called, “then just push off.” Push off? I doublechecked the clip on my harness and glanced at the ceiling. Could I really count on the automatic belay to hold me when I launched off the rock wall? Natalie had promised that I could trust it. But I wasn’t so sure. Slowly, carefully, I began climbing back down. It was tedious, but surely it was better than letting go of the wall. That was my mind’s one security. As I inched my way down the course, my face flushed with embarrassment. I knew it was foolish to try to climb down. My friends were waiting on me. The best thing to do would be to trust the rope and push off the wall. I hesitated, clinging to the handholds. I knew I could trust the rope, but I didn’t feel secure away from the wall. Finally, with a little shriek, I grabbed the rope and launched off, heart leaping to my throat. And, just like Natalie had said, the automatic belay gently lowered me to the ground. There had been nothing to fear. Sometimes in life, I find myself in situations where I need to let go of my fears and trust God’s promises. Although I know that God is trustworthy, there are times when I lean on my own understanding to handle life’s uncertainties. In these times, God gently reminds me that He is with me, and He gives me the faith to fall. I may not always feel secure, but I can always trust the One who is holding me. • Siera Weber • How is it different to take someone’s word for it that something is trustworthy, and to actually experience for ourselves that we can trust it? • Have you ever had an experience that helped you know/feel that God is trustworthy? • Sometimes, we might feel ashamed when it’s difficult to trust God. But God doesn’t condemn us, He has compassion on us and helps us. What are some of God’s promises that we can lean on through life’s difficulties? (Hint: Matthew 28:20; Romans 10:9-11;Ephesians 2:4-10; Hebrews 13:5; Revelation 21:1-5) How can we gently remind each other of God’s trustworthiness? Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: PSALM 37:5; PROVERBS 3:5; ISAIAH 26:3-4; 1 PETER 5:6-7

Even though I couldn’t understand the words erupting around me, I sensed we were going to be thrown off the tram. I had arrived in Romania to serve for a year in ministry. Earlier that evening, my teammates and I had purchased tickets and boarded a tram to travel from our neighborhood to the city center. I knew just a few words in this language and had much to learn about my new community (and its transportation system). That soon became abundantly clear. As we stepped aboard and the tram began rumbling along its tracks, I slid my thin paper ticket into the ticket puncher on a pole in the middle of the tram. My three teammates did the same. Glancing at my ticket, I realized I hadn’t aligned it exactly correctly in the puncher. I decided to punch it a second time to be sure I canceled out the right spaces on the ticket. We passed a few stops; then a ticket monitor boarded the tram. He asked to check the passengers’ tickets. One at a time, we handed ours over. Then he noticed mine had been punched twice, making it appear as if I had attempted to reuse a ticket without paying for my ride. Fierce arguing followed. My Romanian teammate tried to explain my innocent mistake. No matter. The ticket monitor ordered us off at the next stop. My efforts to fix a problem of my own making resulted in a bigger, messier conflict. While this incident was just a misunderstanding, it reminded me of something we try to do spiritually. We all miss the mark of following God’s good ways—we all sin. When we try to fix it, it doesn’t work. We can’t undo our sin. No amount of good things we do could ever cancel out the bad. Thankfully, our loving God is not like a harsh ticket monitor. Jesus, God in flesh, came so we could be redeemed. When we trust in Jesus—the One who never sinned but took the punishment for our sin by dying on the cross and rising from the grave—we receive forgiveness. He exchanges our sinfulness for His righteousness. In God’s sight, it’s as if we never missed the mark. And, through the Holy Spirit, God empowers Christians to be able to live according to His good ways. But even when we mess up, we can rest knowing that our forgiveness is complete. Though none of us can undo the wrong things we’ve done, when we put our trust in Jesus, we begin a new life in Him, and He lives in us. No ticket necessary. • Allison Wilson Lee • In light of the good news of Jesus, how could it be freeing to know we can never undo our sin? “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:21 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: ISAIAH 64:6; ROMANS 3:23-24; GALATIANS 2:15-21

"Where is God when there are wars and sicknesses? Where is God when my friends are hurting?" If you’ve asked these questions, you’re not alone. People have been wondering for thousands of years. One person who responded to these questions was Ezekiel, a messenger to God’s people, the Israelites. Ezekiel preached truths about God and the world, messages of warning and of hope that are written in the book of Ezekiel in the Bible. This book opens with a dramatic vision of God’s holiness. He is the Perfect Creator and Ruler of the universe, far greater than our understanding. And since God is perfect, He cannot ignore sin and evil. Sin goes against God’s good ways and separates us from His goodness. Ezekiel reminds the people that God warned them of the danger of sin. Still, they refused to listen. So, as a consequence, God punished them and let the people go into exile far from home. But there was hope. When everything was going wrong—in the midst of hurt, wars, and exile—God promised to be with His people, and one day, to bring them back home. And He promised a new Spirit that would help them live in His ways (Ezekiel 11:19). Those are a lot of big promises, but they were fulfilled over five hundred years later in Jesus, who is God in flesh. He is called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When everything goes wrong and we wonder where God is, He is right there with us. Jesus lived a perfect life and died to forgive our sins. Then He rose again from death to rescue us so we can be with our loving God forever. Finally, after Jesus ascended, God sent His Holy Spirit to be in us. The Holy Spirit gives us comfort and hope, guiding us and helping us live in God’s good ways as we wait for Jesus to return and make all things new (John 14:26). The end of Ezekiel has a beautiful picture of God’s people returning to the land He promised to give them, where He will dwell with them forever. And we have hope of the renewed creation, when we will live with Jesus forever in God’s perfect kingdom! • Abby Ciona • Do you ever feel like God is far away? We all have these feelings, and we can tell God about them anytime. To remind us of God’s constant presence, we can read verses like John 14:25-31 and Matthew 28:20. Who is a trusted Christian in your life who you could talk with about these things? If nobody comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live.” Ezekiel 37:14a (NIV) READ: EZEKIEL 11:15-21; 39:21-29

Have you ever seen a patchwork quilt project? When leftover fabric is too small to make something on its own, it can be combined with other leftover fabrics in a patchwork design to create something unique, beautiful…and eco-friendly! Patchwork projects are incredibly versatile—you can make quilts, bags, clothes, and so much more. And each project is so incredibly unique because it’s made of a stunning hodgepodge of colorful and diverse fabrics. And you know what? God is working on a patchwork project too. He is fabricating His family: the church. It’s made up of Christians—people who have put their trust in Jesus to save them from sin and death—who are all different from each other. In God’s patchwork church, some are young and some are old, some are rich and some are poor, some can sing…and some can’t! We all have different abilities and come from different walks of life, but God sews us together as “the body of Christ”—His church (1 Corinthians 12:27). It’s so important for us to remember that we need each other. As we live in community with our siblings in Christ, learning about Jesus together and working alongside each other, He is making us into a beautiful work of art. As Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So, as Christians, when our broken world makes us feel like small, insignificant scraps, we can remember that we are each an important part of God’s beautiful patchwork family. • A. W. Smith • What are some of the unique ways you have seen God sew you and other Christians together? • What are your favorite things about some of your siblings in Christ? What things make you similar and different from each other? Consider taking a moment to thank Jesus for these people and for the ways He is working at weaving all our beautiful differences together. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:20-27; EPHESIANS 2:10

Have you ever gotten discouraged about living the Christian life? If so, you’re not alone. In our broken world, we face many discouraging things, like temptation, loss, broken relationships, disaster, and tragedies of all kinds. Sometimes we as Christians can get a little weary on the journey of faith. There are times when we need encouragement and help to move us along in our walk with God. When we need help and encouragement, we can always turn to Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30). He has promised to be with us—always. He may use a Bible passage or work through another Christian to encourage us. Whenever we’re feeling down, we can trust Him to be with us and give us the help we need in that moment. Put another way, walking with Jesus is not a solo activity. God is present with us, and He also brings other Christians alongside us to help us when we struggle against the currents of temptation and difficult circumstances. Together, we can run to Jesus Himself, the ultimate source of help. He saved us, and we are learning to depend on Him in every circumstance. Whatever we are facing, He’s always there to encourage and strengthen us. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time you felt discouraged in your walk with Jesus? Was there anything that helped encourage you during this time? • Are there any Bible passages that have encouraged you in difficult times? Which one(s)? Do you know anyone who might be encouraged by this too? • Who are trusted people in your life—such as friends, pastors, parents, counselors, etc.—who you could talk with when you’re feeling discouraged? So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: PSALM 121; ISAIAH 41:10

Jesus Christ had a lot to say about hypocrisy. In Matthew 23, He confronted a group of religious leaders, repeating the phrase, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” not once, but six times. Jesus called out their self-righteousness. When we think of hypocrites we imagine people trying to appear better than they are. They make a show of being spiritual. Jesus said these religious leaders were like white-washed tombs filled with bones of the dead (verse 27). They look good outwardly, but inside they are full of death and yuck! We fall into the same trap. We cover our sin and guilt with showy goodness. Our good deeds and Bible studies make it on social media, while the sin in our lives goes unshared. The word "hypocrite" comes from the Greek word for actor, one who is playing a part. It’s someone pretending to be what they’re not. But I think it’s also possible to be a “reverse hypocrite.” Let me give an example. I was with my friends once, and they were bragging about the times they got in trouble. One guy took his parents’ car for a drive. One guy got drunk. Then there’s me. I got nothing. I took some cookies from the cookie jar once when my mom said not to. So, I made up some stuff. I tried to sound edgy. I’m not edgy. I like to go home and read books. Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever exaggerated something about yourself to sound cool? Have you attempted to make yourself seem like more of a rebel than you actually are? Ever been a reverse hypocrite? Lots of us have done this. Why? Usually because we want to be accepted by other people—and this is a good desire, but when we try to find acceptance by being dishonest, that’s not good. Yet Jesus offers us, hypocrites that we are, full acceptance in His family, no matter if our sins are obvious to others or hidden in the shadows. He loves us, and He invites us to come to Him and be made new, be forgiven, and be our authentic selves. Who you are before the Lord is the most important thing, and He sees right through all forms of hypocrisy. You can’t fool Him, and you don’t need to (2 Corinthians 5:10, 21). When you find yourself fearing people, you can come to Jesus. Through His Holy Spirit, He will remind you of His unconditional love and help you live in truth before the Lord. • Jeff Weddle • What kinds of hypocrisy are you tempted toward? We’re all guilty of hypocrisy. Yet Jesus sees us as we truly are and loves us. How can resting in Jesus’s acceptance help us accept ourselves and others? Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you… Romans 15:7 (NIV) READ: MATTHEW 23:11-36; ROMANS 15:7; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-21

I will write a letter to You, Lord A letter to say I thank You, for the people You provided me, for the opportunities You allowed me, I thank You, Lord. I will write You a letter, Lord A letter to say I praise You, when life is calm, when life is crazy, I praise You, Lord. I will write a letter to You, Lord A letter to say I need You, for the days my body is hurting, for the days my mind is stressed, I need You, Lord. I will write a letter to You, Lord A letter to say I thank You, for your death on the cross, for taking my sins with you, I thank you, Lord. • Kimberly Brokish • Some people like to pray by writing down their words to God. Have you ever tried writing your prayers in the form of a letter? Are there other ways you like to pray? • If you wrote a letter to the Lord, what would it say? Consider taking a moment now to talk, or write, to God about whatever is on your mind. Give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. 1 Chronicles 16:8 (CSB)&nbsp; READ: 1 CHRONICLES 16:8-27

As someone who is married, I think the image of Jesus as a Bridegroom to the church is a beautiful comparison. The love, companionship, and union of marriage is designed to mirror the relationship of Jesus and His church. That’s why one name for Jesus in the Bible is the Bridegroom, and we—the church—are His bride. Jesus deeply loves us, He laid down His life for us, and He continues to take care of us. We see this in His Word, the Bible. Jesus, God the Son, took on human flesh to live among us on earth, and He died and rose again to save us. Then He ascended to heaven, promising to return. Yet He is still with us through His Holy Spirit living in us, and even now, He is taking care of us—providing for our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical needs. His self-sacrificial love and service to the church is mind-blowing. In a marriage, there is also supposed to be self-sacrificing love and service to each other. On most days, this kind of love shows up on a smaller scale. For example, a spouse might give up some of their time to spend on something their spouse is excited about, or help their spouse manage tasks when they are overwhelmed. But sometimes it can mean bigger acts of love, like choosing to raise children, or caring for a spouse who is terminally ill. The deep love and connection that comes in marriage serves as a reminder of the love Jesus has for us. I think about how much I love my husband and how much he loves me, and then I marvel at the fact that Jesus loves me even more. • Naomi Zylstra • If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are part of the church, the bride of Christ. Have you ever thought of yourself in this way? What do you like or dislike about this comparison? • Whenever you see a husband and wife live out self-sacrificial love in marriage, you can be reminded of the self-sacrificial love Jesus has for you. Have you seen this kind of love in any married couples you know? As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5b (NIV)&nbsp; READ: ISAIAH 62:5; HOSEA 2:19; JOHN 3:28-31; EPHESIANS 5:25-29

God loves being in close relationship with us. That’s why He invites us to be in communication with Him and enjoy the closeness and unity we have with Him. The Trinity is the perfect example of unity. God is one, and God is also three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Trinity is characterized by love, and from that love God created the whole universe—especially making humans in God’s own image to be in relationship with Him. While Jesus was living among us on earth, He often spoke with the Father. He would take time to be alone and pray, continuing to lean into His relationship with the Father. Praying isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone, but the Holy Spirit helps us and Jesus gives us instructions on how to pray, showing us that prayer is relational. When Jesus begins His prayers with the word “Father,” this is a reminder of the close connection they have. As Christians, we also get to address God as Father when we pray because we have been adopted into God’s family by putting our trust in Jesus. We are set to inherit God’s kingdom as His children. God even wants us to call Him “Abba Father” which is a less formal address that shows the closeness of our relationship with Him (Romans 8:15). This close relationship makes sense when we think about the love God has poured out for us. When Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross, that was an outpouring of love. And that kind of love is a sign of a deep relational connection. God wants a relationship with us and has already made the way for this relationship to be possible through Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. God invites us to know Him, interact with Him, and continue to grow in our relationship with Him throughout our lives. • Naomi Zylstra • Have you ever thought about prayer being relational? We don’t have to be “good” at it, whatever that means. Prayer is simply drawing near to God, sometimes without even using words. When do you feel close to God? If you’ve never felt close to God, that’s okay. God invites us to ask Him for this, and He delights in answering these prayers. …you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: LUKE 11:1-13; ROMANS 8:15-17, 26-30

As a young child, I dreamed of many variations of my future: a ballerina (which I was told I could never accomplish), or a nurse who flies in helicopters to help with medical emergencies, or an environmentalist who protects God’s creation. I also fantasized about opening a shop that sold used books, bouquets of flowers, and had a café. I had a vivid imagination. None of these aspirations have come true. As time went by, I changed my mind about what I would pursue for my future. I studied environmental biology, but I never established a career in that field. I also dreamed of being a missionary—something God did give me opportunities to do. I served for twenty-two years in a mission organization, sharing the gospel as I lived on three different continents. Something I didn’t imagine doing with my life though? Becoming a writer. Now, my writing has been published in a number of different magazines. When we follow Jesus, our lives often—or, honestly, almost always—turn out differently than we expect. When we give our hearts to Jesus, trusting in His death and resurrection to pay for our sins and provide eternal life, we begin a relationship with God our Father. We also start a journey on His path, running the race God has marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1-3). As we live in Christ, His Spirit lives in us, teaching us and leading us in God’s ways. So, as we continue to dream and set goals, we can trust those hopes and desires to our wise Lord who has mighty plans for us, whose good purposes will prevail. • Allison Wilson Lee • What are some of your hopes, dreams, or plans for the future? Do you feel like you can trust God with these important things? Why or why not? • Have you ever had your dreams put down by other people? This is a painful thing, and Jesus feels these hurts with us. He is kind and trustworthy, and He invites us to open our hearts to receive His healing. Consider taking a moment to bring Him any hurts that come to mind. • Have you ever felt like you needed to know exactly what you wanted your adult life to be like? That’s a pressure a lot of us have felt, but God doesn’t expect us to be able to plan out our future. Instead, He promises to be with us through everything, and He invites us to rely on Him as we face one decision at a time. How might this be a freer way to live life? Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: PSALM 37:1-7; PROVERBS 16:1-9; 19:20-22

Do you ever feel like you’re failing in your relationships? I do. I often find myself asking God to help me be a better friend, daughter, wife, mother, church member, coworker, and so on. And while these prayers have good intentions, I would often spend more time berating myself for my failures and thinking about human solutions than asking God to change my heart. Because the root of the problem isn’t my behavior—it’s my heart. My actions and words flow from my heart, so simply modifying those actions and words doesn’t fix the problem (Luke 6:45). My heart is still inclined toward selfishness, grumpiness, and impatience. To fix the problem, I need Jesus to change my heart. So, I’ve recently started changing the way I pray in these situations. First, I process my feelings with God. I bring Him my feelings of anger, frustration, grumpiness, and irritation. He cares about these feelings, and He wants to bring healing. Relationships are complicated, and sometimes I need to acknowledge the ways someone has failed to love me, as well as the ways I’ve failed to love that person. Then, instead of praying, “Lord, help me be a better friend,” I say, “Lord, incline my heart toward _____.” Because if my heart is inclined toward that person, my words and actions will flow from that posture of love. And sometimes, this prayer applies to my relationship with God too—I’ve often prayed that God will incline my heart toward Him and His good ways. And this is only possible because God’s heart is inclined toward me—toward us (1 John 4:19). Jesus proved this through His death and resurrection. He longs to be with us, to make us whole. And His love is unshakeable. His heart will never be inclined toward selfishness, grumpiness, or impatience. He is always seeking our good and the good of His Kingdom. And when I rest in this truth, I find myself much more inclined to love my neighbor as myself. • Taylor Eising • What do you do when you feel like you’re failing in a relationship? How could remembering Jesus’s unshakeable love for us bring us encouragement during these times? • If you’re ready, you can take some time right now to pray, asking God to incline your heart toward Himself and/or specific people in your life. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: EXODUS 34:5-6; MATTHEW 22:35-40; EPHESIANS 4:31-5:2

Elle’s dragon, Thon, had run away many times. But never before had he been missing for more than one rotation of the two moons. Elle had hand fed him from his hatching, taught him to fly, nursed him through dragon pox. Loved him. Elle sat up on her bed. The annual dragon market was today at the junkyard for old time machines. Perhaps Thon would be there. She must hurry. At the auction, she saw him almost at once. Shoulders slumped. A tear in one eye. Her telepathic device was only fourth generation, but it sensed Thon’s despair. “Thon!” she called. He turned his mighty head. If only she could explain her circumstances to the auctioneer before he started the bidding! But she was too late. She was only halfway up the aisle when the first bid rang out. More than she could possibly earn in a lifetime. She shouted out a higher number anyway. Outbid again. Still, she went higher. “450,000 drachs!” An astronomical sum. The other bidder stayed silent. “Sold!” The auctioneer pointed toward Elle. She made her way to the platform, then whispered, “I don’t have the money, but I had to stop the bidding. That’s my dragon. I raised him from his hatching. Ask him.” The auctioneer sneered. “This is an auction, not a reunion site. Soldiers, take her away.” Thon bellowed. An agonizing sound. Elle shouted, “Auction me then. I am worth 450,000 drachs.” The auctioneer bent down. “Why would you do that? Nobody has ever given themselves for the purchase of another. Not in the history of the world.” “Maybe not in the history of this age,” Elle said softly. “But I have read about another time when a being—the God man—gave His life so others might live. He is called Messiah.” “Do you love this dragon so much then?” the auctioneer asked. Elle nodded, and something in his countenance changed. “It is not the custom to withdraw dragons once they are entered in the auction. But I believe he must be yours.” He banged his gavel. “Go in peace.” • Carol Raj • Today’s allegorical story gives us a glimpse of God’s sacrificial love for us. We all run away from God, but He paid the highest price to restore us to Himself. The Messiah, Jesus, willingly went to the cross to die because it was the only way to save us. And then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. How can these truths give us hope? “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: LUKE 15; JOHN 15:13; ROMANS 5:5-11

What do you think of when you hear the word "worship"? For me, I tend to think of worship music, my personal devotional time, or maybe a worship service at church. However, worship as the Bible describes it is much bigger than a song or something we participate in a few moments each week. As Paul writes to the church in Rome, as we consider the mercies of God, offering our bodies and our lives as a living sacrifice, that is our true worship (Romans 12:1). Then Paul says that God calls us not to conform to the world around us, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What does it look like to have our minds renewed? We get some clues in the following verses, where Paul describes the kind of life God calls us to live, urging us to love others—even our enemies. In another letter Paul wrote, this time to the Colossians, he highlights some more specific characteristics and qualities that would describe someone who is living a sacrificial lifestyle of true worship: “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,” and above all loving one another (Colossians 3:12-14). All of those things are characteristics of Jesus, and of someone who is living a lifestyle of worship, holy and pleasing to God. Paul ends this portion of his letter to the Colossians with an incredible challenge: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (verse 17). Throughout our lives, God calls us to grow in these characteristics, relying on His presence within us through the Holy Spirit to give us the help we need. God is a faithful God—faithful to forgive, faithful to redeem, and faithful to restore. The best part is He WANTS to help us grow in Him! Through Jesus, God has already provided forgiveness, and through the Holy Spirit, He is already transforming Christians (2 Corinthians 3:18). He loves it when we worship Him, and His help is always available to us. • Hunter Taylor • Consider spending some time today asking God to reveal some ways you can grow in your lifestyle of worship and ask for His help in making those changes. In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? • What are some ways we can remember God’s mercy? How might this help us live a lifestyle of worship? Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Romans 12:1 (CSB)&nbsp; READ: ROMANS 12:1-2; PHILIPPIANS 2:13; COLOSSIANS 3:12-17

On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). Have you ever had the opportunity to share your faith because people noticed Jesus’s love shining through you? Sometimes, before we say anything about how we belong to God’s family, people can see there’s something different about us. Why? Think about it this way: when you’re part of an earthly family, you take on family traits. If you were born into your family, you may have the same build or hair color as your relatives. And whether you were adopted or born into a family, you may also have other family traits—like facial expressions, mannerisms, sense of humor, work ethic, a knack for helping others, etc. When we’re part of an earthly family, it’s often easy to see we belong to our family because we share these traits. Being part of God’s family is like that too. The Holy Spirit develops traits in us that reflect Jesus— like love, patience, and kindness. That’s often how people can tell we’re Christians. But sometimes we don’t act like Christians. Treating others badly can make it more difficult for people to see we belong to God’s family. When our actions keep us from looking like Jesus, He calls us to confess our sin to Him and trust Him to help us grow in His love for others. Even when we struggle, we can have hope because the Holy Spirit is continuing to work in our lives to give us traits like kindness, patience, and self-control as we are transformed to become more like Jesus. And we also have hope that God is continuing to work in people’s hearts to draw them to Himself, even when we mess up. Through it all, we can rest assured that we are secure in the love of God, who is always kind and patient with us. • A. W. Smith • Earthly families are made up of imperfect people, so family traits aren’t always positive. Even when our earthly family struggles, we can rest knowing that we belong to Jesus and the Holy Spirit is working in our hearts to bring out the traits of God’s family. What are some of the negative and positive traits in your family? What godly traits do you see the Holy Spirit bringing out in you? (Galatians 5:22-23) • As the Holy Spirit works in you and helps you notice the negative and positive traits you see in yourself and your family, who are trusted people you can talk with—such as counselors, therapists, pastors, parents, etc.? “By this everyone will know that you are my [Jesus’s] disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: JOHN 13:34-35; GALATIANS 5:22-23; EPHESIANS 4:24-32

Imagine for a moment you were caring for a newborn baby, and then, the day after their birth, you just expected them to be able to walk. That would be ridiculous, right? Babies can’t do everything right away when they’re born. They grow up gradually, learning a little at a time. It’s the same way with Christians. The Holy Spirit helps us grow in our faith throughout our whole lives. As we go to church, read the Bible, pray, and spend time with other Christians, we learn more about Jesus and how to live the way He calls us to. And one of the ways Jesus calls us to follow Him is by being patient with others, not giving up on people but encouraging them. Sometimes, we as the body of Christ are less than kind to baby Christians— siblings in Christ who have only recently put their trust in Jesus and been “born again” into God’s family (John 3:1-17). If we’ve grown up in the church and trusted Jesus since we were little, we sometimes expect new Christians to immediately act as though they’ve been walking with the Lord for many years. And, when we see them struggling with sin, sometimes we slightly-older siblings fall for a certain temptation: criticizing our younger siblings rather than encouraging them and praying with and for them. So today, if we feel we should point out to someone that they’re not acting in a way that fits with who they are in Jesus, let’s do it in a loving way. After all, none of us are perfect! We all struggle with sin, and we all need the grace of Jesus. As we remember the love Jesus has shown both to us and to our siblings, we can build each other up as He helps all of us grow. • A. W. Smith • Who are some people that have helped you grow in your walk with Jesus? What were some of the things they said or did—or didn’t say or do—that were especially valuable to you? • As Christians, we and our fellow siblings in Christ all struggle with sin, and we are all beloved by God, no matter how long we’ve been Christians. How can resting in this truth help us treat each other with kindness? Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14b (NLT)&nbsp; READ: EPHESIANS 4:1-16; PHILIPPIANS 1:3-6, 9-11

Your love is so great I can’t stop talking about it I want to sing it loud I want to share the news I want others to see what You have done Your love has touched the world I want those living everywhere to hear about it I want everyone to know they can receive it I want to share it with all You made the heavens and Your love goes higher than them It is bigger than the world It is greater than the sea It is more amazing than anything You made You sit over all May you be praised May you be lifted high May we see Your love and worship You • Emily Acker • God revealed His enormous love for us when He came to live among us. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He gave His life for ours, dying on the cross. Then He rose from the dead so we could be saved from sin and death. God loves us so much that He made the way for us to live with Him forever. And He loved us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:6-10). When we think about the gospel—the good news of Jesus—why is God’s love central to this good news? If you want to know more about the gospel and how you can know God, check out our "Know Jesus" page. • When we experience God’s love for ourselves, we naturally want to share it (1 John 4:19). Can you remember a time you felt loved by God? If not, you can ask God to reveal His love to you anytime. He delights in answering these prayers. For your loving kindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4 (WEB)&nbsp; READ: PSALM 108:1-5; JOHN 3:16-17

When I worked in Japan as a young international schoolteacher, I often spent weekends exploring Tokyo’s neighborhoods or other parts of Japan. Sometimes, I’d get lost and have to ask strangers the way in my simple Japanese: “Migi? Hidari? Massugu?” (Right? Left? Straight?) Their rapid, fluent answers often left me confused. Do you ever get lost or confused when trying to follow Jesus? He called Himself “the way” (John 14:6), and early Christians were called people “who belonged to the Way” (Acts 9:2). Yet, for thousands of years, people have wondered: How can I discover God’s will for my life? After three years of teaching in Japan, I prayerfully tried to discern if I should move back to the United States. I was feeling confused and unsure, but this verse comforted me: in Acts 9:11, the risen Jesus literally gives Ananias a street address: “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street”! Then the Lord continued, “and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.” Ananias had plenty of reasons to be scared of going there to meet Saul, a man who had been persecuting and imprisoning followers of Jesus, but at least he had clear directions! I didn’t expect Jesus to be that specific for me, but as I read this verse I asked God to help me trust Him with my future. I had already learned that Jesus loved me and was with me. Now I learned to trust that He could lead me. And if I didn’t hear clear directions like Ananias? No matter where I chose to live, I could continue to follow His directions from Matthew 22:37-39: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… [and] love your neighbor as yourself.” • Sonja Anderson • Have you ever asked God for guidance? What happened? • What does it mean when it seems like God is silent? Sometimes, we start to worry that He can’t hear us or doesn’t care, but that’s not true. God guides us in all sorts of ways, not only through visions and dreams but also through circumstances and advice from mature Christians. And God’s guidance always: agrees with His Word (the Bible), glorifies God the Father and God the Son (John 16:12-15), brings the fruit of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10), and does not come with condemnation or fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1; 1 John 4:18). Who are trusted Christian mentors in your life you could talk to about these things? The Lord told him [Ananias], “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.” Acts 9:11 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: MATTHEW 22:34-40; ACTS 9:1-20

There are times when I get on my knees to pray, and I don’t feel like praying. There are times when I talk to God, and it doesn’t feel like He’s listening. There are times when I’m in a tough spot, and I feel like screaming, “God! Don’t You even care?” One thing I love about God is that He can handle my feelings, no matter how unruly they may be. Especially when we feel overwhelmed and alone, it’s easy to withdraw into ourselves and avoid talking to God, but that’s not what God wants. He invites us to be totally honest with Him about what we’re experiencing. Lots of psalms show us how to do this—for example, Psalm 13 begins with the words, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (verse 1). Don’t hesitate to express your frustration to God… but don’t stop there! As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, so we can choose to turn our hearts, our minds, and our actions toward the Lord no matter what we’re going through. He invites us to come to Him, to experience the freedom of worshipping Him and entrusting all our worries to His care. Here are some practices that can be helpful as we press into relationship with God: Choose to trust. Psalm 13 begins with frustration, but later the author says, “I trust in your unfailing love” (verse 5). When life gets tough, we can rely on God’s love and remember His promises to us: He promised to send a Messiah to save us, and He did! Jesus Christ died and rose again so that everyone who puts their trust in Him can be with God forever. And Jesus promises to return one day and make all things new, free from sorrow and pain (Revelation 21:1-5). These promises are still true, regardless of our circumstances. We may go through times when we feel forgotten by God, but we can cling to the truth that Jesus is with us—always (Matthew 1:23; 28:20). Choose to praise. Psalm 13 says, “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me” (verse 6). Praise is a choice that’s hard to make in frustrating times. But this action expresses, “My God is worthy of praise, no matter what.” And as we continue to acknowledge God’s goodness, we often find relief from our frustration. Choose to give thanks. Even when we can’t think of anything to be thankful for, we can echo the words of Psalm 13: “my heart rejoices in your salvation” (verse 5). Christ’s sacrifice for us hasn’t been nullified when we don’t feel God’s presence. We can always thank Him for saving us. And we can also be thankful that He is still working in the midst of our frustrations, even when we can’t see it (John 5:17; Romans 8:28). Choose to pray, even when you don’t see the point. In the middle of Psalm 13 is a desperate prayer, “Look on me and answer, Lord my God… ” (verse 3). The action of asking God for help communicates, “Even though I don’t understand, I know You listen to me and care about me.” And prayer is more than that. When we pray, we are communicating with the living God. We can come into God’s presence, because God has come into our presence… Jesus came to bring heaven to earth! As we come to God in prayer, He opens our eyes to the reality of how much He loves us. When we bring our sorrows to God, we can reap a harvest of joy (Psalm 126:5-6)! When we choose to follow God in the midst of our frustrations, our perspective shifts from “God, where are You?” to “God, I trust You.” By choosing to interact with God, we experience an even stronger faith in Him, knowing that His love can’t be shaken, even in the hardest struggles. • Lily Walsh But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6 (NIV) • Have you ever tried to express your frustrations to God? What was it like? • How could it be freeing to know that God can handle our feelings, and He wants us to be totally honest with Him? • Consider taking a moment

Do you know anyone who has been on a jury in the United States of America? In the USA, a person accused of a crime has the right to a trial by jury. That means other American citizens are randomly selected to hear the evidence and decide whether or not the person accused of a crime is guilty. Their final decision is to be based solely on the evidence given in court. For that reason, jury members are not allowed to talk about the case with anyone outside of the jury. Since people who are not jurors haven’t heard all the evidence, they might offer information they think is true, but this information may not be correct or relevant to the case. Then someone else’s opinion might sway a jury member’s thinking, and their decision could be based on wrong information. While everyone on the jury may want to be fair and make the right decision, it can often take quite a while before all the jurors are able to agree on the issues in a case. And sometimes, even with the best intentions, juries make the wrong call. As a result, people can be wrongly convicted of crimes they didn’t commit—or deemed innocent when they are actually guilty. This sober reality can make us appreciate God in a deeper way. No matter how fair we try to be, we’re still human, and we’re all broken by sin. Only God is all-wise and completely fair, and He is the Judge of all the earth. Each of us will have to stand before Him someday, and we’re all guilty of sin and deserve to face its consequence: death without hope of resurrection. But God, our just Judge, is merciful, and He has intervened on our behalf. Because He loves us, He became human and took all our sin upon Himself when He went to the cross. Jesus faced an unjust trial, and though He was not guilty of any wrongdoing, He let Himself be put to death. He laid down His life for us, and then He rose from the grave to defeat sin and death. Now, whoever puts their trust in Jesus receives God’s mercy and is declared not guilty! As God’s forgiven people, we can learn to walk with God in His ways of justice and mercy (Micah 6:8). The Holy Spirit empowers us to love God and neighbor as we wait for Jesus to return and finally right every wrong. • A. W. Smith • Think about court cases you’ve read about or seen in the news. What aspects of the world’s justice systems seem to align with God’s justice? What aspects don’t seem to align? • As Christians, when we encounter situations that don’t align with God’s justice, how should we respond? “Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?” Genesis 18:25 (CSB)&nbsp; READ: GENESIS 18:25; JOHN 3:16-18; ROMANS 8:1-11; 14:11-12

How do you deal with conflict? I may have an unpopular approach, but I tend to address conflict head on, right away. I don’t like using the silent treatment or leaving passive aggressive notes. But I think my approach can be a little intense sometimes, so I’m learning to give others time to process disagreement and conflict. When I’m practicing better conflict management, I try to remember how Jesus dealt with conflict. He stepped into conflict, but His purpose was to bring shalom. "Shalom" is a Hebrew word that can sometimes be translated as "peace," but a more comprehensive translation would be closer to reconciliation, making all things as they should be, or making broken things whole. Jesus is a maker of this kind of peace—not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of wholeness without fear or anxiety. And when Jesus returns, He will bring all things into shalom, making everything whole so all things work together the way they were designed to. To make things whole again, sometimes we do need to step into conflict. Jesus often did this with the Pharisees (a group of Jewish religious leaders), rebuking them for their hypocrisy and for caring more about rules than about people. For example, one time Jesus’s disciples were hungry on the Sabbath (a Jewish day of rest) so they picked a few heads of grain from a field. This went against a Pharisaic law that stated a person shouldn’t pick heads of grain on the Sabbath. When the Pharisees confronted Jesus about this, He rebuked them. He told them He is Lord over the Sabbath, and it wasn’t right for them to condemn people for breaking human-made rules. Those rules brought division and self-righteousness, not shalom. They blinded the Pharisees to the bigger picture—that Jesus was God in human flesh, and He had come in love to bring about shalom. Soon after this, when the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into breaking the Sabbath, Jesus healed a man’s hand—He restored what was broken and made his hand whole. In this way, Jesus stepped into conflict to reconcile what was wrong and bring about shalom. So when we see division and brokenness, we can look to Jesus, the One who brought wholeness to our broken relationship with God, and seek to follow in His footsteps. We can step into conflict with Jesus right beside us, aiming to bring wholeness to broken places. • Naomi Zylstra • How do you tend to deal with conflict? Learning when and how to step into conflict is difficult. Consider spending some time talking to God about this, asking for His guidance and direction. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 (WEB)&nbsp; READ: MATTHEW 12:1-14

Not all Christians are potatoes. Let me explain. Let’s say you have a vegetable garden filled with carrots, potatoes, beans… and then you combine all those colorful and delicious veggies into a great vegetable soup. But what if the scenario changed? What if all you had in your garden were potatoes? In this new scenario, you couldn’t make that flavorful, colorful, nutritious meal. We can think of the church (all Christians everywhere) like this: as a vibrant, diverse vegetable soup. But as Christians, sometimes we forget we’re not all meant to be potatoes. Just as God gives each vegetable a different taste, He gives each of His children different spiritual gifts to build up the church. Another way to think about this is to remember that God calls us the body of Christ and says we are each a different part, but we all belong to the same body. In the family of God, we are all different, but we are united through faith in Jesus. So, instead of comparing ourselves to others and wondering if we should be more like them—or if they should be more like us—we have the opportunity to use the gifts God has given us to share His love with others and build up His church. Today, we can ask God to show us the spiritual gifts He has given us, and we can ask Him to guide us in how we can use these gifts in our church and our community. We can enjoy our beautiful differences, and together we can more fully reflect the goodness of God and put His glory on display. Because no matter what gifts we have, we are each an important part of God’s family, and we get to bring flavor and nourishment to the world—together. • A. W. Smith • What are some of your talents? Are you good at art, music, math, mechanics, athletics, teaching, caring for people who are sick or in crisis…? • If you know Jesus, you’ve been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. Do you have an idea what some of your spiritual gifts might be? (Today’s Bible passages include a couple of the Bible’s lists on this topic.) Consider taking some time to pray about this, asking God for wisdom about how you might use your gifts to share His love with the people you come in contact with. • Who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk with about your talents and spiritual gifts and how you might use them? We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. Romans 12:6a (NIV)&nbsp; READ: ROMANS 12:4-10; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-27; 1 PETER 4:8-11

I have always prayed before bed; it’s something my parents started doing with me when I was little, and it stuck. But there’s one problem with this: I’ve lost count of the number of times when, by the time I go to bed, my brain is so scrambled that all the words I have left seem like utter nonsense. I feel guilty for this sometimes because I want to be able to talk to God, to coherently thank Him for my day and ask for His advice and His help. But I have to remind myself there’s no need to feel guilty, because even when I speak utter nonsense, God knows exactly what I mean. He wants to hear from me—and from all His people—no matter what we have to say or how coherently we are able to say it. In Jeremiah 33:2-3, God reminds His people that He is the One who made the earth. Right after that He says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (verse 3). The Creator of the earth—of the entire universe—asks His people to call on Him. God doesn’t just tolerate our prayers; He desires them. And He promises to respond—though He may not respond how we expect Him to. Hebrews 4:14-16 reminds us that, because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can approach our loving God with confidence, knowing He hears our prayers. How amazing is that? No matter if the prayer—or call—we make to Him is utter nonsense; He wants to hear from us. And what may seem like utter nonsense to me and you makes perfect sense to Him. • Kimberly Brokish • Have you ever felt like you were praying utter nonsense? Bible passages like Psalm 139:1-4 and Romans 8:26-27 remind us that God knows what’s in our hearts and what we want to tell Him, and the Holy Spirit helps makes sense of our utter nonsense. • How does it make you feel to know that the Creator of the universe wants to hear from you? What would you like to tell Him right now? “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: JEREMIAH 29:11-13, 33:2-3; ROMANS 8:26-27

Over two thousand years ago, Jesus was born. God became human and lived on earth with other humans. Stop for a moment and think about that. Isn’t that amazing? The One who was present at the beginning of time—the One who created all things, including humans—came down to His creation and experienced it as a human… because He loves us. Jesus grew up with the people around Him. He went through puberty, had younger siblings, and even experienced betrayal. How amazing is that? Out of His great love for us, our God experienced a human life like us. But let’s not forget Jesus is also fully God, and He had a special purpose in His life, ministry, death, and resurrection here on earth. Jesus came to rescue the world from sin and death, because when the first humans rejected God and sinned against Him, we became separated from our loving Creator. But God wants us to be with Him again. Though sin is like a chasm between us and God, Jesus became the bridge between humankind and God so that there would be no separation between the two. And Jesus is the only One who could close that gap because He is both fully God and fully human. Jesus never sinned, and He didn’t deserve any of the punishment for sin, but He took it all upon Himself… because He loves us. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He made the atoning sacrifice for our sin so that He could restore us to relationship with Himself. Now, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is brought near to God. As Christians, we can know that God is with us here and now, and we also get to look forward to the day Jesus will return bodily to earth. Then sin and death will be no more, and we will live with God in restored creation! One of Jesus’s names is Immanuel, which means “God with us,” and that’s exactly who Jesus is. He is God, and He is also human like us. And because Jesus came to be with us, now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus gets to be with God— forever. • Naomi Zylstra • When you think about Jesus being both fully human and fully God, which one is harder for you to wrap your mind around? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this. While there are some things we may never fully understand, God invites us to question and wrestle with Him. • When you have questions about who Jesus is or about being brought near to God, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? (You can also find out more on our "Know Jesus'' page.) “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Matthew 1:23 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: MATTHEW 1:23; JOHN 1:1-18; ROMANS 5:6-11

A scorching sun beats down from a red sky, hot sand making my throat and nose raw. I cough wheezily, my chest tight and vision blurry. Hours have passed since I got separated from the caravan, and I am all but spent. My vision spins and I fall to my knees, panting. Slowly, I regain my balance only to stare in surprise at what’s in front of me. A man in a white robe and sandals stands there, smiling gently as he holds out a hand for me to take. With shaking fingers I grasp his hand, standing. “Who are you?” I ask in surprise. The man merely smiles. “I AM,” he replies, and I blink. “What? That—” I stutter, completely confused. “Come,” says the man, and I follow with wobbly legs. After a few minutes there’s a gust of wind, blowing up a wave of sand, and he disappears from my sight. “Wait!” I cry, my voice cracking. “Don’t leave!” Just as panic begins to overtake me, the sand settles, and the man reappears. “I’m right here,” he says kindly. “I’m not leaving.” I watch him nervously, not entirely sure he’s being truthful. He beckons me forward, hand reaching out. “Come.” We begin walking again and make it a ways before I fall to my knees, exhausted. The man stops, watching me with compassion etched on his face. My vision blurs so I shake my head to clear it, only to nearly fall over sideways because my body is so weak. “Help,” I rasp to the man, “I can’t go any farther.” No sooner do I say it than a pair of arms wrap around me, picking me up. “Rest,” he says with a kindly smile, “I will carry you.” My eyes droop tiredly and I yawn. “Who are you?” I murmur. “I AM.” Oh…I get it. Peace washes over me as my eyes close, and I smile. I AM. Jesus. • Caelin Allred • What stuck out to you in this allegorical story? In Exodus 3:14, God says His name is “I AM,” which is translated Yahweh or Lord. Jesus revealed that He is I AM, God in human flesh, the promised Messiah-Rescuer (John 4:26). He saves us from sin and death, and He helps us in our weakness. • Can you think of a time you felt lost? Do you feel lost now? How could it give us hope to know there is always someone out there searching for us? (Luke 15:1-7; John 10:11-18) “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them…I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” Ezekiel 34:11-12 (NIV) READ: DEUTERONOMY 1:31; PSALM 28:9; ISAIAH 40:11; EZEKIEL 34:11-12

The ball was out, right? It all happened so fast that I couldn’t tell. Did it touch the line? I tried to replay it in my head, but the decision wasn’t becoming any clearer. This was the biggest tennis game of the season. If we won, we would advance, but if we lost, the season would be over. Worse yet, I was playing doubles—which meant I had a teammate. My partner was staring at me. I looked back down at the line, wanting so badly to call it “out,” which would mean the other team wouldn’t get the winning point. I could feel the pressure from my partner, the anticipation from our opponents, and the sweat streaming down my temples. During one of our early season practices our coach had told us, “If it’s too close to call, then it’s in.” She said this was “proper tennis etiquette.” At that moment I despised her words. Why couldn’t it have been clear! I didn’t even care if the ball was in or out at this point! I just wanted it to be clear, but it wasn’t. Only a couple seconds had passed while I processed all this. I clenched my racket with my right hand, and with my left, I pointed toward the ground, calling it “in.” The other team erupted with joy, and my partner extended a low five. Our season was over. Sometimes in our spiritual walk, we find ourselves in situations where there is no clear answer. Following Jesus is full of right and wrong decisions, sure, but what do we do when we are unsure about the best course of action in a particular situation? Scripture can help us in these uncertain moments. James 1:5 instructs us to ask God for wisdom and He will give it. Likewise, the book of Proverbs is full of short phrases that provide some guidelines for us to live by. And if we spend time reflecting on the Bible’s proverbs, we might find their wisdom is more relatable and applicable than we expect! But sometimes, following Proverbs doesn’t always work out the way we want it to—just look at the book of Job. Job lived a righteous life, and he still lost everything. Yet even then, we can trust Jesus, who is God’s perfect wisdom made flesh, to walk with us through the ambiguity, sustaining us with His love and covering our faults with His mercy. • Dathan Tenter • Have you ever been in a high-pressure situation where you weren’t sure what the right answer was? • Who are wise people in your life? How could they help you learn to walk in God’s wisdom? If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: PROVERBS 1:1-7; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:30; JAMES 1:5-8; 3:13-18

SMASH! TWANG! I picked up my tennis racket off the sidewalk and moped toward the bus. Surprisingly, throwing my racket to the ground hadn’t broken it. I had lost another match. My mind raced. “How could I miss that backhand? It should’ve been so easy!” I reviewed every mistake over and over, thinking about how much better I should be by this point in the season. Coach came and sat beside me and said, “You played well today!” I screamed in my head, paused, then muttered, “How could you say that? I made so many mistakes.” “But look at how far you’ve come,” said Coach. “You only started playing a month ago!” “But I just keep making mistakes!” I fired back. Looking at me intently, Coach said, “You can’t expect to be perfect right away—or ever. Getting better at tennis requires hard work over time.” My frustration began to subside as Coach’s words sunk in. The next thing I had to do was apologize to the team. This experience reminds me of sanctification. Sanctification is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus—being set apart from sin for God’s purposes. Once we put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, we are sinless in God’s eyes and adopted into His family, but we still have to learn how to follow Him. In the same way, when I was starting out in tennis, I was immediately part of the team. I was equipped with a racket, and I started receiving lots of help from the coach and my team. But I still had to practice what I was learning. When we put our trust in Jesus, we are immediately adopted into God’s family (Romans 8:16) and we are given “everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3). This includes receiving the Holy Spirit and other believers to help us (Acts 2:38, Galatians 6:2). However, we still need to practice obedience to what we learn through God’s Word. We will make mistakes along the way, but we don’t need to be discouraged. We can bring our sins and failures to Jesus, trusting in our loving Savior to forgive us and continue walking with us. • Dathan Tenter • Take a look at Galatians 5:22-23. Can you think of some ways Jesus displayed these characteristics or fruits? Which one of these would you like to see more of in your own life? • Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to guide you and help you learn to listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading as you seek to obey Him. (Philippians 2:13) Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: GALATIANS 5:16-26

The tennis team needed help. A lot of help. They desperately needed more players, and that’s why they asked me to join. I had never even held a tennis racquet before my first practice! Some of the rules of the game came pretty easy. Possessing what I would call an average amount of hand-eye coordination, I was able to pick up the general game play. I understood “hit the ball over the net” and “keep the ball within the lines.” But some things about tennis just didn’t make sense to me. The first day of practice my friend yelled from across the net, “Love, love!” Before I could say, “Love you too, bro,” he smacked the ball and it screamed past me! What just happened? He explained that “love” means zero, so “love, love” (zero, zero) was the score. That’s weird, I thought to myself as I nodded. He yelled, “Fifteen, love,” and fired another shot! Pretty confused, I asked how he had fifteen points already. Walking up to the net he said, “One point equals fifteen, two points equals thirty, three points equals forty, and four points equals game!” He continued, “Six games win a set, and two or three sets wins a match. Got it?” Still confused, I stuttered, “I think so?” As he rambled on with some other terms and concepts about the game I didn’t understand, my attention shifted to staring at my uneven shoelaces. This was going to be a little harder than I realized. Learning to play tennis reminds me of starting our journey with Jesus. Believing in the gospel and putting our trust in Jesus is filled with excitement and newfound hope! But sometimes discouragement can creep in when we encounter terms we don’t understand or new biblical truths that seem difficult to live out. But Jesus said in John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” Even better than a friend explaining the game of tennis, we have the Holy Spirit, who lives in us, guiding us and helping us understand God’s love and how to live in relationship with God and others (Ephesians 3:18-19). And God has also given us His people, the church, to walk alongside us. We are not alone on this journey. • Dathan Tenter • As we seek to understand the gospel and how it affects every part of our lives, God welcomes our questions. What questions do you have about the Bible, church, or following Jesus? • No matter how long we’ve been walking with Jesus, we will always have questions. And that’s a good thing! We can bring these questions to God in prayer anytime. In addition to talking to God, who is someone in your life who can help you with these questions? We ask God…to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: JOHN 16:5-15; COLOSSIANS 1:3-14

God hears when I talk to Him His ears are always open No matter what I have to say He hears God hears me when it is late at night When I can’t sleep No matter what is on my mind He listens God hears me in the early hours When no one is awake No matter if I talk out loud or silent He hears God hears what is going on He always cares for me No matter what I need He listens and helps me • Bethany Acker • Do you ever wonder if God hears you when you pray? This is totally normal. Thankfully, God knows we need reminders that He is listening, and He provides many throughout His Word. Consider taking a moment to re-read today’s Bible verses, and maybe even choose a favorite. • The Bible often says God listens to “the righteous” (Psalm 34:15). The good news is, while none of us can be righteous on our own, God makes us righteous in His sight as soon as we put our trust in Jesus. God wants us to be in relationship with Him, and He invites us to talk to Him about anything and everything. What’s on your mind right now? Do you feel like you can talk to God about it? According to Hebrews 4:14-16, why are we free to talk to God? In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:6 (NIV) READ: PSALMS 34:15-19; 139:1-12; 1 PETER 5:6-7

We all want to be strong and able to get through the tough things in life without falling apart. You might be someone who prides yourself in your strength, or you might be someone who often feels weak. You might enjoy the challenge of doing hard things, or you might be afraid to face hard things because of how much it tires you out. No matter how strong or weak we are on our own, we serve a God who is able to make us strong. God is all-powerful (or omnipotent), and throughout the Bible, God “gives strength to his people” (Psalm 29:11). When we are not strong enough on our own, we only have to reach out to God, and He will come beside us and help us do whatever He is calling us to do. I can’t do everything on my own, and neither can you. We all need God’s strength. It’s usually easiest to see this when we go through difficult times. And in those times when we become aware of our own weaknesses and limitations, we don’t need to be ashamed. God knows we need Him, and He wants us to rely on Him. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, empowering us to follow Jesus in everything. When you’re in the midst of a struggle, you can reach out to God. Remember that God helps us by His “incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:18-21). As Christians, we belong to Jesus, the all-powerful Ruler of everything, and He invites us to rely on His help and His strength, knowing that He will give us what we need (Hebrews 4:14-16). Today, let’s thank Him for making us stronger than we could ever be on our own. • Emily Acker&nbsp; • In times when we feel strong and in times when we feel weak, God calls us to rely on His strength, not our own. In what ways do you need strength today? • According to Ephesians 3:14-21; 6:10-12 and 1 Peter 4:8-11, what does God strengthen us for? (If you want to dig even deeper, read 2 Corinthians 10:1-5; Philippians 4:12-13; Colossians 1:9-14; and 2 Timothy 2:1-10.) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being… Ephesians 3:16 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: ISAIAH 40:28-31; 41:9-14

One of my family’s favorite summer activities is going boating. The water sport we do most often is wake surfing, which is like surfing on the ocean, only behind a boat. The smoother the water, the easier it is. On a trip we took to the lake one day, the water was extremely choppy, making it incredibly difficult to stay on my board behind the boat. It took all my concentration to hold my position and stay in that pocket (the part of the wave that pushes the surfer forward). I began to notice that when my focus was on the boat in front of me, the unfailing source that kept me moving, I was able to maintain my balance. But the moment I looked at the waves around me, I was distracted and lost my balance. I would start falling out of position, and I could only find the pocket again when I returned my focus to the steady boat ahead of me. Looking at the huge waves would alarm me, but if I just focused on the boat, which remained the same, I would relax and stay upright. In the same way, throughout our lives we are going to experience waves—trials that toss us up and down. Sometimes we panic because of the waves and easily lose our balance. We are unable to hold ourselves up. But when we turn our eyes to Jesus, the One who always remains the same, we can relax and stay above the waves, steadied by our hope in Him. In the Bible, when Jesus was miraculously walking on the water, He invited Peter to join Him, and Peter walked on water too! But then, Peter literally began to sink when he focused on the wind and the waves around him rather than on Jesus. But Jesus didn’t let Peter drown. “Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him” (Matthew 14:31). In our own lives, whenever we get overwhelmed by the chaos around us, Jesus reminds us to turn to Him. And even when we forget, He is still our unfailing Savior who reaches out to rescue us. • Ella Hoy • What hope do we have in Jesus? How can looking to Jesus and remembering His promises help steady us in a world that’s constantly shifting? (Matthew 28:20; Romans 10:9-11; Revelation 21:1-5) • As Christians, it’s normal for us to have doubts. Our loving God invites us to talk to Him about all these things, being totally honest about what we’re thinking and feeling. In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to when you’re experiencing doubts? Let the oceans roar and foam… The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:3, 7 (NLT) READ: PSALM 46; MATTHEW 14:22-33; HEBREWS 13:8

Jesus has a habit of taking something ordinary and making it incredible. Take bread and wine, for example. During Jesus’s life on earth, bread and wine were normal, everyday foods. They would be present at virtually every meal, and people of virtually any income level could afford them. And when Jesus was about to die, He took these ordinary things and did something amazing with them. He gave them to His disciples to communicate the sacrifice He was about to make. And we still practice this today. We take bread and wine (or juice), share it with the people of God, and together we remember Christ’s loving sacrifice. We call this communion or the Lord’s Supper. Isn’t it just like Jesus to use something so simple, so accessible, to communicate His love and presence? He doesn’t require us to seek out something rare or expensive. He meets us where we are, with whatever we have, and uses it to make something wonderful. Through something as ordinary as bread and wine or juice, He reminds us that the all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite God of the entire universe loves us and wants to be with us. He wants to be with us so badly that God the Son, Jesus, took on flesh to live among us, die, and rise from the dead for us. At my church, when we pass the bread from one person to the next, we say, “The body of Christ, given for you.” And when we pass the juice, we say, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.” For the early church, eating and drinking together and remembering Christ’s sacrifice was a daily practice. And while I know they probably didn’t say the same words that we say at my church, I have to wonder if bread and wine—these ordinary things—became constant, ever-present reminders of Jesus. Every time they were hungry and ate a bite of bread, did it remind them of Jesus’s body, given for them? Every time they were thirsty and took a sip of wine, did it remind them of Jesus’s blood, shed for them? Maybe that’s why Jesus used such ordinary things, to remind us He is present with us in every moment of our lives, including the incredibly ordinary ones. • Taylor Eising • How does your church practice communion? How can the Lord’s supper remind us of Jesus and what He has done for us? • Why do you think Jesus chose to use things that everyone could afford? They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity… Acts 2:46 (NLT)&nbsp; READ: LUKE 22:19-20; ACTS 2:42-47; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26

"We’ve got churches of Christians. I’d like to see a church of all sinners!” my coworker joked. I stopped and looked at him. He and another coworker laughed. “But… but that’s what a church is,” I tried to say. “That’s… that’s the point.” Neither man is a church go-er. But they both grew up in church and stopped attending as they reached adulthood. Had they both missed this essential part of Christianity? That we are ALL sinners, including those in the church? Romans 3:23-24 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Every church is packed with sinners. None of us are perfect (Romans 3:10). The Bible isn’t full of perfect people. Rahab was a prostitute. David used his power as king to have sex with Bathsheba, then have her husband killed. Paul hunted down and killed Christians. And God welcomed them into the church. We are the church. Only Jesus’s death and resurrection can make us forgiven and new. Jesus came to save the lost and restore the sinners, and He does this for us every day, constantly healing us of our sin (Luke 19:10; Mark 2:17). It broke my heart to see people who’ve attended church and still don’t know the truth about Jesus. What are we doing wrong? Are we not sharing the gospel? Are we not telling the rough parts of our testimonies? Are we afraid of sin, afraid of sharing our lives honestly? Jesus isn’t afraid of our sin. He knows it all, and He loves us and rescues us. Because of Jesus, we are free to be real. Does this mean we embrace or glorify sin? No. Our desire is to become more like Christ by relying on the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2). But let’s also be honest about the messy sin in our lives, the sin Jesus rescues us from. • Natty Maelle • Have you ever felt like you don’t belong in church? Why? It’s okay to be honest. Jesus doesn’t reject you; He cares deeply for you. You can talk to Him about these feelings and hurts anytime. •Who can you be honest with about your sin struggles—people who will listen, not condemning you but encouraging you in your walk with Christ? (You can ask God for relationships like this.) •If you go to church, do you think new Christians or hesitant attendees feel like outsiders there? Or do you think they feel welcomed, loved, and seen? (Romans 8:1; 15:7) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: MARK 2:13-17; LUKE 19:1-10; ROMANS 3:9-26

The story of Samson’s life is really fascinating, and it contains many parallels to the story of Jesus’s life. Let’s take a closer look. In Judges 13, we see God visiting Manoah’s wife through His angel to proclaim to her that she would have a child! The angel also told her what her child’s purpose would be. In this way, Samson’s birth was similar to that of Jesus; before His birth the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her she would have a child, and he told her what the child’s purpose would be. Manoah’s wife was barren, and Mary was a virgin, so the conception of both these babies was miraculous. Samson grew and was blessed by the Lord (Judges 13:24), similar to how Jesus grew in the Lord’s favor (Luke 2:52). Both Samson and Jesus were sent to deliver Israel from their enemy; Samson, through his sacrificial death, delivered Israel from the Philistines, and Jesus came to deliver Israel and the whole world from sin and death, also through sacrificing His own life. However, unlike Jesus, Samson allowed himself to be overshadowed by the power he thought he had, and that made him crumble. He gave in to temptation and misused the strength the Lord gave him. He also mistreated women, and all of this led to his downfall, when he died with his enemies. Jesus was also tempted by the devil, but He resisted every temptation (Luke 4:1-13). Instead of grasping at power, Jesus laid down His life. But when He died, He defeated death and resurrected back to life. Humans—even strong, talented humans—will fail us. We’ve all been broken by sin, and we all give in to temptation. But Jesus is worthy of our trust. Fully God and fully human, He is the One who has the power to save us from our own brokenness, and His love for us will never fail. Instead of relying on faulty human strength, we can rest in Him. • Shadrach Goni • When we are tempted to put our trust in powerful humans or in our own strength, how can remembering Jesus’s love for us help us turn back to Him? Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:3-5 (NIV)&nbsp; READ: JUDGES 13:2-5, 16:26-30; LUKE 1:26-33; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

My twelfth-grade English teacher taught me to love Haiku, a form of poetry that originated in Japan. These short, three-line poems are traditionally drawn from nature, and they’re only seventeen syllables long. He described Haiku as transforming a visual image into a “word snapshot.” For example, after reading Psalm 42, I wrote this Haiku poem: Beneath the fearsome waves I wait, breathless and still… then, Your light breaks through. In Scripture, I think there are snapshot glimpses into God’s nature. For example, the writers of Psalm 42 feel forgotten and earnestly voice their complaint to God, yet they console themselves with images of God’s faithful love: “I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your…surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs…” (verse 7-8). Other passages show us vibrant images of God’s love, like Zephaniah 3:17, where God declares He will “take delight in you with gladness…[and] rejoice over you with joyful songs.” And Isaiah describes God delighting in His people “as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride” (Isaiah 62:5)—anticipating the heavenly celebration of the wedding feast of the Lamb, when all God’s people will rejoice with Him at Jesus’s return (Revelation 19:6-9). Now those are images to treasure! God rejoicing—and all heaven celebrating— with such joy that Revelation says the sound will be like “the shout of a vast crowd… or the crash of loud thunder” (19:6) all because of our wonderful Lord Jesus, who cherishes us—His bride. Just as Haiku captures the sensation of a moment, these Scriptures capture the beauty of God delighting in those He loves! Are we worth all that? Jesus says “Yes!” He gave His life because of such delight, such love for us. As Hebrews 12:2 puts it, “Because of the joy awaiting him…[Jesus] endured the cross.” How amazing to know we are part of the joy Jesus anticipated, even as He gave His life, longing to greet us at the great wedding feast to come. • G. Kam Congleton • Which of today’s Scripture passages is your favorite? Consider taking a moment to read this passage again and ponder the fact that God is passionate about us—He truly delights in us! • Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can look forward with joy to the day we will be raised from the dead, as Jesus was, and see Him face to face! If you want to know more, see see our "Know Jesus" page. “He will take delight in you with gladness.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) READ: PSALM 42; ZEPHANIAH 3:17; HEBREWS 12:2; REVELATION 19:6-9

So…where is He? It’s been 2,000 years since Jesus ascended into heaven, promising to return the same way He ascended and to set the world to rights. The church has grown since then, spreading all across the globe, but there has been no sign of Christ. Some say He isn’t coming back, that we misunderstood. “The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom,” they say, “living inside our hearts. When we die, our souls will be with God, but He isn’t coming back into this world.” The early Christians struggled to believe that Christ would return and bring heaven to earth. The resurrection of the body was hard to accept, and the “spiritual kingdom” solution seemed like an easy way out. Today many feel the same way. But the truth can be found in the words of Peter. In his second epistle (or letter) to the church, he denounces those who scoff at the bodily return of Jesus. He points out that the God who created the world will certainly come again to make it new. Peter even tells us why Jesus is taking so long. He wants more people to turn to Him! After all, if He had returned sooner, how could we be part of His kingdom? So, as Christians we can wait with hope and anticipation, knowing that Christ will truly return bodily to earth. Then He will raise our dead bodies from the grave, and we will live with Him in the new heavens and new earth. And He will reign forever. • Kevin Zeller • Do you ever wonder why Christ has waited so long to come back? How does 2 Peter address this concern? • Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave just as He said He would, we can have confidence that He is going to return bodily to earth and restore His creation, and in the meantime He is present with us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). What questions do you have about Jesus’s return? Who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to about these questions? The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) READ: ACTS 1:7-11; 2 PETER 3:1-13

Hebrews 12:1-2 holds some of my favorite words in the Bible: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” I’ve always loved this idea of fixing our eyes on Jesus. But in our everyday lives, we probably don’t think too much about where we direct our focus. Maybe we should start paying more attention. Because where we fix our eyes changes our entire perspective. When we go through our lives without thinking about where we’re setting our sights, we’ll spend most of our time looking at what’s right in front of us. We might orient ourselves around our work, our commitments, our adventures, our friends, our families…and those aren’t bad things—in fact, they’re good gifts from God. But they can’t ultimately give our lives purpose or fulfillment. All created things will eventually let us down. What changes when we fix our eyes intentionally on Jesus? Hebrews 12:2-3 goes on to say, “For the joy set before him he [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we remember how He was willing to die on the cross for us. And when we remember the sacrifice He made and all He endured, we’ll be less likely to lose heart in our day-to-day lives. Because Jesus knew that His suffering, even His death, was not the end. He knew the joy that was coming. After three days in a tomb, Jesus rose from the grave, and now everyone who puts their trust in Him gets to live with Him forever! As we wait for Jesus to return and make all things new, we can persevere because of the life God has given us in Jesus—and because of the joy set before us as His children. So, let’s be intentional about where we look. Let’s watch how God is working. And when it gets hard to keep going, let us look to Jesus and say: “Our eyes are on you.” • Becca Wierwille • In your everyday life, what are your eyes naturally drawn to? • What do you think it means to fix our eyes on Jesus? How could this help us persevere? • Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus now, thanking Him for enduring the cross for you and telling Him about the things in your life that matter to you, knowing they matter to Him too. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV) READ: PSALM 119:25-40; EPHESIANS 1:18-23; HEBREWS 12:1-3

Why do we worry when we know that God loves us? Why do we let our hearts become troubled when we know that Jesus warns us against that very thing? I wish I could say I never have a troubled heart. I wish I could say I easily and naturally surrender my worries to God. But I do worry—many of us do. Why do we deal with worry, fear, and other struggles? Shouldn’t we be able to leave these behind when we follow Jesus? The reality is, we still live in a broken world. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The good news is that Jesus is with us, even in the midst of struggles, and He wants to help us. I wonder what would happen if we got into the habit of seeking the Lord at the very first sign of a troubled heart. In Psalm 34:1, David writes, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Always. We can choose to praise God always, in the good times and the bad, in our moments of joy and in our moments of worry. We are designed to live and breathe in worship to our Creator. Worship is a safe place to go when we feel worried. A few verses later, David goes on to say, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). It’s interesting that David doesn’t say he never had fears. But when he was experiencing worry, he sought the Lord, and he was delivered. Not delivered from the danger, necessarily—but delivered from the fear. Like David, we can rush to God as soon as we start to feel worried or afraid. We can go to our knees in prayer whenever our hearts feel troubled. We can praise God at all times. As we remember who He is and how much He loves us, we often find that our worries can’t cling as tightly. And we can rest in the sure hope that Jesus Christ died and rose again so that we might live fearlessly. He is going to return one day and fix our broken world, taking away things like worry and fear forever. And even now, Jesus is in the business of healing troubled hearts. • Becca Wierwille • When do you tend to feel worried or afraid? Why do you think God invites us to worship Him at all times, especially when our hearts are troubled? • If you find yourself struggling with worries or fears that won’t go away, you’re not alone. The Lord has compassion on you, and He wants to help you. Who are trusted people in your life you could talk to about what you’re experiencing, such as pastors, parents, or counselors? “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me [Jesus].” John 14:1 (NIV) READ: PSALM 34:1-8; MATTHEW 6:25-34; JOHN 14:1-7; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

Maybe you know someone who claimed to love God but hurt you or someone you care about. Maybe you watched in the news as a pastor got arrested for hurting someone or pulling off some big scheme. Maybe you know people who make Christians look really bad. Humans are fallen and sinful, and we don’t always represent God well. And when we see people who claim to know God acting in sinful ways, this can cause us to get some false ideas about what God is like. But one of the best ways to avoid getting a warped image of God from those who misrepresent Him is to really know who God is and what He is all about. When we learn from the Bible about how much God loves, we can see that those who are unloving are not following God’s way (1 John 4:7-8). When we learn how God is honest and good and righteous, we can spot those who are misrepresenting Him when we see their lies and greed and selfishness (Exodus 34:6). Scripture tells us how wonderful God is. While we can never fully understand everything about God, we see who God is in Jesus, God in flesh. God is most fully revealed in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. To know the God we worship, we look to the cross. His self-sacrificial love is central to His character, and if someone isn’t displaying that love, they aren’t representing God well. We all fall short of representing who God is. But we don’t have to let that failure control how we think of God. No matter how deeply someone who claims to be a Christian has failed, God is different. God is holy and good and right. God loves you, and He is with you. And He will never change. • Emily Acker • What are some of the ways you’ve seen God misrepresented? Where can we find truth about who God really is? • While all of us fall short of representing God in one way or another, who are some people in your life who represent Him and His love very well? If you can’t think of anyone, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 (NIV) READ: 1 JOHN 4:7-12

I just keep sinning even though I know Jesus—I’ll never get it! Have you ever been frustrated with yourself for sinning? Have you felt like you should be able to get it right, but you just can’t? Lots of us feel this way. Here’s the good news: as Christians, we don’t have to “get” anything. Jesus already did. He got everything right—He never sinned. He is the only One, and He died for our sins so that we could be totally cleansed from sin. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we will continue to struggle with sin—but our sins cannot define us anymore. Because we are in Christ Jesus, we are forever forgiven. God sees us as His blameless children, and He has compassion on us when we stumble. It may be helpful at this point to think of a toddler who is just learning to walk. At first, they fall all the time. Actually, at first they can’t even stand! But when they lose their balance and fall flat on the ground, everyone who loves them will run to help and cheer them on toward their first step…and the many more steps that will follow. It’s a one-step-at-a-time process that we have to go through in order to learn how to walk. Knowing Jesus is a walk too—one where we fall down a lot. But He’ll always forgive us and help us get back up. None of us will be able to walk perfectly, at least, not until we see Him face-to-face someday. But, little by little, He’s helping us learn to say no to sin and walk more closely with Him. So we walk forward in hope, knowing that Jesus is walking right beside us, helping us grow to become more and more like Him. We can trust Him, one step at a time, looking forward to the day when He’ll finish the work He’s started in all of us, and our struggle with sin will finally be over. • A. W. Smith • Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He’ll always be at our side, ready to forgive us and help us up when we fall. Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about any sins that come to mind, confessing them and thanking Him for His forgiveness. • When you’re struggling with sin, who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with? How could you support each other through prayer, encouragement, and reminding each other of God’s great love, unending forgiveness, and steady power inside us through His Spirit? Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) READ: PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14

Do you ever wonder what you were like when you were a baby? In addition to photos stored on computers, phones, and in albums, some families keep a remembrance book where they keep special details about their children, along with mementos from their growing-up years. A footprint from when they were a month old. A piece of their first baby blanket. A note of when they first walked and talked. The list goes on. In a way, God has a book of remembrance too. When we put our trust in Jesus, we become a member of God’s family. And God, our good Father, remembers all His children by name. Because when we put our trust in Jesus, He writes each of our names in His book and deletes the record of our wrongdoing—all our sins are forgiven. As Christians, we are totally blameless in God’s sight (Ephesians 1:4). Of course, sin does have consequences, and when we do something wrong, Jesus calls us to admit we’ve sinned and repent by turning away from sin and turning toward Him. But that sin will never show up in God’s remembrance book because Jesus took all our sins on Himself when He went to the cross. So instead of dwelling on our failures, He wants us to turn away from sin and rest in the work He has done for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead to forgive us. We can joyfully walk with Jesus, knowing that we are God’s forgiven children. • A. W. Smith • As Christians, we can know that God doesn’t keep a record of our sins because Jesus has already paid the price for all our wrongdoing. When we’re tempted to dwell on our failures, we can run to Jesus. Whenever we do something wrong, we can confess it to Him. He promises to always forgive us—and give us strength to move forward in our walk with Him. Consider taking a moment to ask God to bring to mind any sins you could confess to Him. As you repent from these sins, picture how Jesus erased them from God’s book of remembrance forever. • When you sin, who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of God’s love and forgiveness? How could you also remind others of these truths? A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. Malachi 3:16b (NIV) READ: PSALM 103:11-12; ISAIAH 43:25; MALACHI 3:16-17

If I were there Would I just stare As they bound my Savior? If I lived during that time Would I deny That I ever knew Him? If I witnessed all they did to Him Would I have offered to take it on me The carrying of the cross? If I watched Him die Would I have cried And been too heartbroken to carry on? If I had heard Him say He’d rise again in three days Would I believe He’d do just that? If I saw the empty grave And saw Him alive again How would I have felt? • Bethany Acker • Have you ever imagined what it would have felt like to live during Jesus’s time on earth? As we hear the stories of people who interacted with Jesus face-to-face, how could it be helpful to imagine ourselves in these people’s places? • When Jesus told His followers that He would be put to death but then rise from the grave three days later, they didn’t understand. When Jesus was arrested, all His followers abandoned Him and ran away. Yet Jesus still died on the cross for them…and for us. He came to save us from sin and death, to make the way for us to become part of His family, because He loves us. How could it be comforting to know that none of us could earn what Jesus did for us? (Romans 5:6-11) • If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:54-62, and John 20:1-18. “And after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day.” Luke 18:33 (CSB) READ: LUKE 18:31-34; 23:26-49; MARK 16:1-8

I was out of ideas for where to look. Finally, I pulled out my journal, grabbed a pen, and wrote, “Lord, please help me find my grammar textbook.” About a week before, I’d misplaced a schoolbook. I had already been reprimanded about not having the textbook for English class and had borrowed a friend’s book once. I couldn’t keep that up indefinitely. What was I to do? I searched everywhere I could envision the book might be hiding—under my bed, in my locker, in our family’s minivan. I just couldn’t locate it. However, within a day or so of asking God to help me find it, the book appeared—right there on a shelf in the school’s band hall. Relieved, I thanked God for leading me to the missing book. But what if I hadn’t been able to locate it? What if I’d had to pay the school for the lost textbook? Would I still have thanked the Lord? Would I still have considered God to be good? Often, I notice statements from people on social media, sharing about some happy news in their lives and then declaring that God is good. But the Bible tells us God is always good, no matter our circumstances. When we trust in Jesus as the One who saves us from sin and promises to free us from death, we begin a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through Jesus, God gives us the gift of becoming His child, and, as a perfect father, He is always good to His children. And when our situations cause us to question God’s goodness? Then we have a choice to make about how we view God’s heart and His actions. Since God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place, then raised Jesus from the grave, making the way for us to be with Him forever, we can trust Him to be good always, even when life is difficult. • Allison Wilson Lee • Have you noticed people saying “God is good” when things in their life seem to be going well? While it’s great to celebrate and thank God for what He has done, why is it also important for us to remember God’s goodness in the hard times? • How does the gospel (the good news about Jesus) reveal God’s unchanging goodness? • Whenever we’re struggling, God wants us to be honest with Him and ask for His help. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about any difficult circumstances you’re facing today, remembering that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (CSB) READ: PSALM 107:1; ROMANS 8:31-39; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the beauty of the sky? Whether it’s the rolling clouds on a summer day, a golden sunset, or the twinkling stars at night, the skies above our heads are beautiful. Artists and painters try to imitate the beauty of the sky, but even their artwork isn’t as awesome as the real thing. God is a master Artist. He has made the world a beautiful place, and it all reflects His greatness. Today’s verses tell us that the heavens and the skies “declare” God’s glory. Not everyone will read the Bible, but everyone can see the sky. Even though we don’t often realize it, the sky is telling us about God. Without words, the sky tells us how great our God is. The heavens are a beautiful reflection of God’s creativity, power, and wisdom. How often do we actually look at the sky? It’s easy to get busy down here on earth, going to school, working, and just moving about our lives. But in these verses, God is calling us to look up—up to the skies, where we see His glory on display. Did you know… Every second, the sun releases an amount of energy equal to 10 billion hydrogen bombs—that’s a lot of power! But our God is even more powerful than that (Colossians1:15-20). Although clouds look like light, puffy pieces of cotton candy, they can contain millions of pounds of water. And just wait until it rains! Lightning and rainstorms—not to mention snow, hail, and everything in between—are awesome displays of God’s power (Psalm 135:7). Every star that you can see in the sky is actually much bigger and brighter than our sun. They only look smaller because they are farther away from us than the sun is. Scientists think there are at least 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy alone. And yet God knows each one of them by name (Psalm 147:4). Today, consider taking a moment to look up at the sky. Ponder its beauty and majesty. Remember that the God who made the sky is the same God who made you and loves you. Our God is awesome! • Jacob Bier • What is your favorite kind of sky? Sunrise, sunset, starry, stormy, clear, cloudy with cumuli, strati, cirri…? • Why do you think God calls us to take time and space in our lives to behold His creation? The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) READ: GENESIS 1:6-10, 14-19; PSALM 19:1-2

Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This verse is beautiful and important, but what does it mean? How was Jesus made to “be sin for us”—especially since we know that Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15)? It might help to consider an illustration. Imagine for a minute that you encountered a person who had a deadly disease. And what if, in this scenario, in order to really help this person, you had to get sick? What if you had the power to allow all their sickness to flow into your body, and let all your strength and health flow into theirs? Would you do that? Here’s the thing: that’s what Jesus did for us. When we were sick with sin, God became human to dwell among us (John 1:14). Jesus never sinned, but He was willing to take all our sin upon Himself and die on the cross to take our punishment. And that wasn’t all. After He died, Jesus defeated sin and death by rising again three days later. Now, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus has their sins forgiven because Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness. As Christians, we also have the promise and hope of living with Jesus forever: Jesus will return to make all things new, and then we will be totally free from sin and death (Revelation 21:1-5). What good news! Even though we’re all born with the sickness of sin, that’s not the end of the story. Jesus has come to make us well. • A. W. Smith • Have you ever thought about sin being like sickness? How could this illustration help us understand the gospel (the good news about Jesus) in a deeper way? To learn more about what it means to be healed from the sickness of sin, check out our "Know Jesus" page. God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) READ: ISAIAH 53:4-11; ROMANS 5:6-11; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

The ocean makes me nervous. I really don’t like movies where people are lost at sea—especially if they’re stuck on some sort of tiny raft and no one knows how&nbsp;to find them. How awful would that be? The sky, huge above you, could release a&nbsp;storm at any moment. The waves stretch out in every direction, with no end in sight. And you know the water goes down, down, down for&nbsp;miles, and there are thousands of creatures you can’t see or even imagine—some of which might like to eat you. Did I mention the ocean makes me nervous? But there’s a Bible passage, that I really like, that actually reminds me of the ocean. In Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he says, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to&nbsp;know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of&nbsp;all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19). When I think about trying to grasp how high and long and wide and deep God’s love is, I think about the ocean. God’s love reaches higher than the skies. It stretches farther than the farthest shore. It descends deeper than any ocean crevice. And it’s okay that we can’t fathom it. How could we? It’s so amazing. It’s so wonderful.&nbsp;God’s love is incredible—and His love is for&nbsp;us. He loves&nbsp;us&nbsp;with that unending, unimaginable, unfathomable love. How do we know for sure that God loves us this much? Because of Jesus. God&nbsp;came in human flesh and lived among us. He was willing to die a death He didn’t deserve because it was the only way for our broken relationship with Him to be restored. Because even though our sin separated us from God, even though we rebelled against Him on purpose, even though humanity wanted nothing to do with God, His love for us didn’t shrink back. He wanted to rescue us from our own&nbsp;selfishness. He came, He died...and He rose again, defeating sin and death once and&nbsp;for all. That’s the love that’s bigger than oceans. The love that reaches out to us, no matter how far we go. The love that comes for us, no matter how low we sink. The love that promises to raise us up in glory with our Lord, the Creator of the sky and the sea.&nbsp;• Hannah Howe • If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know we are surrounded by His incredible love (Psalm 32:10). Can you think of a time you felt sure that God loved you? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal His love to you anytime—He delights in answering these prayers! "...how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Ephesians 3:18 (NIV) Read Psalm 148:7, Ephesians 3:14-21, and Psalm 36:5

As Ronan neared the end of his journey, he entered the Valley of the Shadow. It was so dark he could barely make out the path. The moon hid behind the clouds, casting weird shadows on the waving grass. Empty moans emanated from the trees that covered the cliffs and encroached on the valley’s winding path. Ronan’s heart thumped, and his knees felt weak. &#8220;Shadows can’t hurt anyone,&#8221; he told himself. &#8220;Shadows can’t hurt anyone.&#8221; “Ronan?” a voice called from the darkness. For a second, Ronan’s heart almost stopped, but then he recognized the familiar voice. “Teacher!” Ronan said, his voice shaking. “It’s so good to see You—or at least, it’s good to hear You. It’s so dark, I can hardly see anything.” “I know. I’ve been walking with you the whole time,” the Teacher said, His words surrounding Ronan like an embrace. “I will be with you as you walk through this darkest of valleys.” With the Teacher beside him, Ronan’s fears began to quiet. At times, he even felt like the shadows were friendly, and the sounds no longer made him quake. Even though Ronan couldn’t see Him, he could feel the Teacher’s presence. He knew that no matter what happened on his journey across the Valley of the Shadow, the Teacher would be with him. • A. W. Smith • This story is an allegory. In Psalm 23, David writes about “the valley of the shadow of death” (verse 4). Do you know someone who is dying? Do you ever feel afraid of dying yourself? • Read Matthew 28:20 and then Psalm 23. For a Christian, death is like a shadow. As Psalm 23 says, we don’t have to fear death because Jesus is with us. He is the Teacher and the Good Shepherd (Matthew 23:8; John 10:11). He has already faced death for us—and He defeated death by rising from the grave. If you know Jesus, you will be raised from the dead too. In fact, the last verse of Psalm 23 tells us what will happen to those who trust in Jesus: we will dwell with God forever. We will spend eternity with Jesus and with our siblings in Christ! How could these truths comfort us when we feel that death is near? • If you have questions about what it means to know Jesus, who is a trusted Christian you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) &#8220;Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.&#8221; Psalm 23:4a (WEB)

Life can be so hard sometimes. Maybe you&#8217;re facing a challenging situation at school, or your parents are getting a divorce, or you got a scary medical diagnosis..In our world that&#8217;s broken by sin, we can quickly get discouraged because of all/the messed-up stuff we face. But the good news is, as Christians, we have hope: Whatever we&#8217;re facing, Jesus is always with us. Nothing can separate us from His love. Nothing can get in the way of Him accomplishing His good purposes. Nothing can shake His promise to be present with us and to make all things new one day (Matthew 28:20; Romans 8; Revelation 21:1-5)..In short, we can take comfort in the fact that God loves us, and He cares for us like a mother bird cares for her chicks. Now, comparing God to a mother bird may seem odd when we think about how awesome and infinitely powerful God is, but in/the Bible He really does compare Himself to a mother bird—more than once..Throughout the Psalms, God invites us to take refuge in the shadow of His wings.* And when Jesus was approaching His death, He said that He longs to gather us like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34-33)..The reason we can draw near to God and dwell with Him is because of what Jesus has done. Our sin separated us from God, but God loves us so much that He came to live among us. Because He died and rose from the grave for us, paying the price for our sins, we can be in restored relationship with Him..Therefore, as Christians we can take refuge in the shadow of God&#8217;s wings,/bringing Him our worries about whatever we&#8217;re experiencing and resting in His promise to use everything for His good purposes—even the things that don&#8217;t go the way we hoped they would. We can trust Him to take care of us, including guiding us in reaching out to trusted people around us for support. Like a mother bird cares for her chicks, God will provide everything we need./• A. W. Smith.• Why do you think God compares Himself to a mother bird in the Bible? What do you like or dislike about this mental picture? (*Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4) .• What kinds of hard things have you been facing lately? Consider taking a moment to talk with Jesus about these things. .How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.36.7|Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Matt.23.37

Recently, as I was sitting on the porch enjoying the sunshine, I watched my dad start walking down the driveway. I instantly thought of running to catch up with him and join him as he walked. When I walk with my dad, I get to spend time talking with him and just enjoying his presence..In that moment, a thought hit me—this is what a believer&#8217;s relationship with God is like! Once we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we get to walk with our heavenly Father on/the journey of life. I find it so beautiful that having a close relationship with God is/described as walking with God (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5-6). But when Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God as He came walking in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). Sin destroyed the beautiful walk with God we were created to have./But, because of Jesus&#8217;s sacrifice on the cross, God has made the way for us to be/adopted as His children (Romans 8:15-16). Our opportunity to walk with God has been restored!.This simple picture is powerful—we don&#8217;t walk alone. Our God walks with us! We can talk to Him about anything at any time. Like little kids, we can grab God&#8217;s hand for comfort when things get tough. I am so grateful for the fellowship and special moments I get to spend with my earthly father when I walk with him. And I am more grateful still that he has taught me what it means to walk with my heavenly Father—I know I&#8217;ll never have to walk alone./• Lily Walsh.• Have you ever imagined God walking with us like a father walks with his child? What do you like or dislike about the idea of God walking with us? .• When Jesus returns, all His people will get to be with God face-to-face and walk with Him in renewed creation (Revelation 21:1-5). How can looking forward to Jesus&#8217;s return help us understand the kind of relationship God wants to have with us now? .• Are there any dads or father figures in your life who&#8217;ve shown God&#8217;s love to you? Consider taking a moment to/thank God for them, and maybe thank the person/people too! .He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the/Lord/require of you?/To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mic.6.8|Gen.3.1-Gen.3.9|Rom.8.14-Rom.8.17|2Cor.6.16-2Cor.6.18

One thing I&#8217;ve learned is that the people who are in our lives at one point in time may not be around later on. As we go through life, we lose some of the people who mean the most to us. We also meet new people and let them into our lives. Sometimes, we bond with friends or family members or mentors who eventually leave our lives or even abandon us. Other times our loved ones pass away, and our hearts are left aching as we long to be with them again..The relationships we have are constantly changing, and we&#8217;re going to lose some of the people who mean a lot to us. But, as Christians, the relationship we have with God will remain. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus is God&#8217;s child and His friend, forever. We will never be abandoned by God. He is never going to pass away. We will have God&#8217;s presence with us no matter what we go through (Matthew 1:23)..I know what it&#8217;s like to be close to someone and then have that relationship destroyed, and I know what it&#8217;s like to lose family members. Through everything I&#8217;ve faced, God has only drawn closer to me, not fallen further away. He has been my constant. He will be the constant in your life too, even through all the/changes you experience in your human relationships./• Emily Acker.• Has there ever been a relationship in your life that you thought would last forever but eventually fell apart? Have you ever had someone close to you pass away? Consider taking a moment to bring these hurts to Jesus..• God sees all our hurts, and He cares. In His great compassion, He comforts us in every loss and grieves alongside us through every heartache. And when Jesus returns, all God&#8217;s people will live in perfect harmony with Him and with each other, and our hearts will never be broken again (Revelation 21:1-5). How could these truths give us hope when we experience the loss of a human relationship?.“And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.27.10|Ps.139.1-Ps.139.10|Heb.13.5|Heb.13.8|Matt.28.20

When Jesus comes back, He&#8217;s going to make all sin go away. But you might/ask, “How is He going to do that exactly? If doing wrong things is the problem and Jesus fixes it, what if someone sins again after that? I mean, I still sin/even though I&#8217;m a Christian.”.If you&#8217;ve ever thought about these questions, you&#8217;re not alone. All Christians do things that are wrong. We&#8217;ll struggle with sin as long as we&#8217;re still living in a sinful world, but even so, we can live knowing that Jesus has saved us and He has promised us something better..But how can we be sure that God will complete the work He started in us? Funny as it might sound, wedding dresses can actually help us understand this. The Bible/uses the image of wedding outfits to show how God saves us from sin by clothing/those who trust Jesus as their Savior with His righteousness, or sinlessness. That means even though we still do wrong things, God sees us as righteous because Jesus already lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins..This idea of wedding clothing also points to God&#8217;s promise that one day, when Jesus returns and makes everything new, He&#8217;ll give us new bodies so we&#8217;ll never sin again! Kind of like how, on the day of the wedding, a bride puts on her wedding dress in the morning, even before the vows have been said. The wedding dress signals that something is about to happen that will change her life forever..In a similar way, as we wait for Jesus to return, we are dressed in our spiritual wedding clothes of righteousness. We can go to Him whenever we do something wrong and confess it, knowing He&#8217;ll forgive us because we&#8217;re already wearing His/righteousness. He has already paid the price for our sins by sacrificing His own life/for us on the cross. He loves us that much. So together, as people who are dressed in perfect righteousness, let&#8217;s look forward to Jesus&#8217;s return. On that day, all of creation will celebrate!/• Kandi Zeller.• When you sin, do you sometimes worry that you&#8217;re not saved or that Jesus will stop loving you? If you know Jesus, you don&#8217;t have to worry because He has clothed you in His righteousness. He promises to forgive you when you do something wrong, and one day, when He returns, He&#8217;ll make you completely new so you&#8217;ll never sin again! Who are trusted Christians who could remind you of these truths when you sin? How could you remind others of Jesus&#8217;s love when they sin? .For he [God] has&#8230; draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.61.10|1Cor.13.8-1Cor.13.12|Phil.1.6

Have you ever been to a wedding, and when the ceremony was over and it was time for the reception, you had to wait a long time to eat? At the weddings I&#8217;ve been to, it&#8217;s often the custom to wait to serve the reception meal until the bride and groom arrive, and this can mean a long wait for guests because the bride and groom usually have to take pictures between the ceremony and the reception..Sometimes, all you can do is keep your hunger at bay with mints, reminding yourself that better food is coming even as your stomach growls loudly! This wedding waiting—complete with a groaning stomach—always reminds me of Romans 8:22, which mentions that creation is “groaning” until Jesus comes back. This verse is referring to how the whole world is waiting for Jesus to return..But how is creation groaning? It&#8217;s not like we hear trees crying when we go for a hike. While it&#8217;s true that we don&#8217;t typically hear creation groaning, we do see lots of things in the world that cause us to groan or cry—things like pain, death, and/brokenness. Those things exist because of sin. Sin destroys everything it touches because it goes against the loving and good Creator..So, similarly to when we wait for the bride and groom to come back so we can eat and satisfy our hunger at a wedding reception, we&#8217;re waiting for Jesus to come back/too. Until He does, we still have to deal with the effects of sin, so things are broken/and hard—kind of like the often-questionable mints served at wedding receptions..But when Jesus returns, He&#8217;ll get rid of all the sin in the world and make everything new. One day all of creation will be made as wonderful as the delicious wedding food our stomachs groan for. The Bible says that when Jesus returns to earth, all Christians will join Him at a great feast called the wedding feast of the Lamb, because one of Jesus&#8217;s names is “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). We can rejoice as we look forward to the day we will celebrate together at the wedding feast of our Lord (Revelation 19:7)./• Kandi Zeller.• When Jesus returns, He&#8217;ll right every wrong and get rid of sin and all its effects. He&#8217;ll make everything new,/and those who trust in Him will receive new bodies and live with Him forever in a world free from sin and death! What makes you groan as you wait for this day? What are you looking forward to most about Jesus&#8217;s return?.• We know that all creation has been groaning&#8230; for we long for our bodies to be/released from sin and suffering. Romans 8:22-23 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.19-Rom.8.25

I was born into a family of Chinese-Singaporeans who immigrated to the United/States. Throughout my life, I was exposed to different cultures and customs./My parents wanted me to know my heritage, while at school I was taught values that were more American. For example, in Chinese culture, it&#8217;s considered rude/to open a gift in front of the giver, while in American culture, this is done quite often. Sometimes, I wasn&#8217;t sure how to act or how to perceive things. I didn&#8217;t know what my ultimate identity was. Should I follow the Eastern or Western way of doing things?.When I came to know Jesus, I learned that He accepts anybody as His child no matter what background they are from. There are Christians around the world speaking different languages, yet in the end, they are all children of God. So, while I can step into both familiar and unfamiliar cultures, I identify first and foremost/as a Christian. I don&#8217;t have to decide between human-made cultures and borders because I know that, in the end, I am a child of God..Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”/Therefore, I realized that the ethics that matter most are the ones our Lord and/Savior Jesus Christ taught. Jesus&#8217;s teachings are how I live my life today. If you are struggling with your identity right now, know that Jesus sees you, and He wants to help you. You can trust in the Lord Jesus and know that your identity will forever be with Him./• Isaac Ong.• As Christians, our identity is secure in Jesus. What can today&#8217;s Bible passages tell us about who we are in Him? Why could it be helpful to take time to remember what God says about us? .• Think about the customs you were taught by your school, guardians, and others. While it can be difficult to navigate different customs, as Christians, we get to follow Jesus first and foremost. God created diversity, so we can appreciate and enjoy our beautiful differences. Through His Word, His Spirit, and His people, He helps us discern how to interact with those around us. In differing cultural situations, such as the way we/exchange gifts, neither option is sinful. And Jesus&#8217;s ministry models how we should serve the people around us, being considerate of others&#8217; needs, traditions, and cultural contexts (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern how to follow Jesus in your own particular context?.So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Galatians 3:26 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.2.19-Eph.2.22|1Thess.5.5-1Thess.5.11|Gen.1.27|Gal.3.23-Gal.3.29

Here I am, LordFalling into the darknessWaiting for someone to hear my cryHere I am, wandering and broken Dealing with the pains of my past.I want to see a comebackI want to feel Your songMy soul needs to hear a note of hope.Here I am, calling to the Light Feeling Your life reachingTo my broken and healing soul Fighting for a fresh, new start.Just because I&#8217;m brokenDoesn&#8217;t mean I can&#8217;t be fixedMy past is goneThere&#8217;s a brand new futureI know there&#8217;s hopeDarkness can&#8217;t stayYou&#8217;ve given me this brand new day• Corinna Kahrs.• Have you ever felt like you were stuck in darkness, longing for a new day to start? Even in those dark places, Jesus—the Light of the world—is walking with you. He loves you, and someday He will return and His light/will fill the whole earth, destroying darkness forever. How could these truths bring us hope and comfort in difficult times?/.• Jesus doesn&#8217;t want us to walk through difficulty alone. When you are going through a hard time, who can you/talk to, such as parents, youth leaders, pastors, counselors, or friends? .For you rescued me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.56|Lam.3.22-Lam.3.23|John.8.12

Several years ago, I came down with the flu. Throughout the day I could feel all/the classic symptoms coming on—fever, body aches, headache, cough—but I sure didn&#8217;t want to believe it. I commanded my body, “Thou shalt not be sick!” And after work I decided to climb a mountain (a small one) to sweat that sickness right out of my system. I forced my body up the trail with a heavy backpack and evenankle weights strapped on. Sweat poured off me, my head pounded, and I finally/collapsed against a boulder with my vision swimming. I could not make it to the top of that mountain, and I could not pretend that I wasn&#8217;t sick. Somehow, by God&#8217;s grace, I made it back down to the trailhead and drove home, where I staggered into/bed and promptly fell asleep. I wasn&#8217;t fit to go out again for a week!.This experience reminds me of the apostle Paul in the Bible. The harder Paul tried/to prove he was a good and worthy person by keeping the strict religious laws, the more obvious his failures became. His insecurity and jealousy grew, turning into judgment and even murder of others. But when he encountered Jesus on the road/to Damascus, Paul realized that all his pretending would never make him perfect in/the eyes of God. He was “sick” with sin, just like everyone else, and he couldn&#8217;t cure himself. To be well, he needed to receive the grace of Jesus..When we see our own shortcomings, we might be tempted to try to power through and make ourselves better. But our failures are symptoms of the underlying problem, which is disconnection from God. Jesus came to reconnect us by dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Instead of trying to make ourselves worthy of God&#8217;s love, we can rest in the truth that He already loves us, and through Jesus He made the way for us to be healed from our sin sickness. When Jesus returns and makes all things new, we won&#8217;t struggle with sin anymore./In the meantime, He has given Christians His Holy Spirit, who helps us recognize/sin, turn away from it, and rely on His grace to live according to God&#8217;s good ways. And even when we fail, we can know that Jesus has already forgiven us and made us blameless in God&#8217;s sight (Colossians 1:22)./• Andrew and Lydia Huntress.• Have you ever tried to pretend you were okay when you really weren&#8217;t? How might it be freeing to rest in what Jesus has done for us, instead of striving to make ourselves perfect?.“Healthy people don&#8217;t need a doctor—sick people do&#8230; I [Jesus] have come to call/not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.9.10-Matt.9.13|Rom.7.21-Rom.8.14

How often do you think about words? Words are tools for describing reality, and sometimes, the reality is so deep and important, whole books of words hardly scratch the surface of the idea&#8217;s fullness. In that case, we sometimes try to come up with a single word to wrap all the parts of an idea in a tidy package..One of these big words is/&#8221;atonement.&#8221; This one word holds the fullness of God&#8217;s plan for your own life—and everything else in all creation. Every time we come across the word atonement, we get to remember the good news about Jesus. Something should fire in our minds about the deeper meaning of this word, our/eyes open to a world where Jesus is/the/atonement..The English word/&#8221;atone&#8221;/comes from the two words:/&#8221;at one.&#8221; So, in my opinion, it shouldn&#8217;t be pronounced “ah-tone-ment.” Instead, we should say “at-one-ment” because atonement is reconciliation with God and being “at one” with Him. It reminds us of how Jesus&#8217;s death and resurrection turn back the clock on the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), inviting us to re-enter Eden in perfect fellowship with God. Jesus&#8217;s work of atonement completely reverses our rebellion against God&#8217;s love, majesty, and authority. His Holy Spirit moves us to agree with Him so we, too, desire that His will be done on earth and in our own lives. Through this one-ness with Him, He compels us to turn away from sin and toward loving relationship with Him..And this one-ness doesn&#8217;t just apply to our individual relationships with God—it applies to all of creation. Through Jesus&#8217;s death and resurrection, God has made the way for heaven and earth to be one, as they were in the Garden of Eden. At Jesus&#8217;s return, all will be made new. We can celebrate that in Him is found all glory and honor and power forever (Revelation 7:12)..There are many pages and books devoted to the full significance of Jesus&#8217;s atoning sacrifice on the cross, but if you can remember this one little pronunciation tip, you/can remember instantly that through Jesus, we can be AT ONE with God—and that is the heart of atonement./• Andrew and Lydia Huntress.• God is the source of all goodness and life, which is why being “at one” with Him is the best place to be. And through Jesus&#8217;s death and resurrection, we can live in this one-ness without having to earn or achieve it—/Jesus already did the work. How could resting in this truth affect the way we interact with God and others?.He [Jesus Christ] himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins/but the sins of all the world. 1 John 1:2 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1John.2.1-1John.2.2|Rom.5.8-Rom.5.19

I/watched as a droplet of shimmery liquid slipped/to the floor. Regrettably, I realized too late that/I shouldn&#8217;t have painted my nails while sitting on the carpet. What would my landlord say about this mistake? The carpet had looked new when I moved into the apartment. Would he charge me/extra for marring the property?.I tried to blot the nail polish with a tissue but then made a happy discovery. The pattern of grays, tans, and browns in the carpet seemed to welcome the cinnamon-brown polish. That one little drop fit right in, and, once it dried, it was impossible to notice the stain—for anybody except me, of course. The carpet had hidden my blunder..It&#8217;s natural to want to hide the evidence of our failings, especially if we fear punishment. But if we&#8217;ve trusted in Jesus Christ, He doesn&#8217;t just cover our sin&#8230; He completely removes the punishment of our sin and its power over us (Psalm/103:12). So now, we can live differently. We don&#8217;t have to be afraid of God&#8217;s punishment, so we don&#8217;t have to hide our failings. Once we put our faith in Jesus, who died to pay the penalty for our sins, we begin a relationship with God. So, how should we interact with our loving Father when we do wrong in His eyes?.God calls us to admit our sins to Him, to acknowledge them and not conceal them. While we might be able to hide our failures from other people, at least for a while, it&#8217;s impossible to hide things from God. He does know everything, after/all. When we approach God honestly, we can experience freedom: the freedom of knowing how loved and accepted we are in Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16). Our secure identity as God&#8217;s children means we can be real with Him about our faults and flaws, and we never need to hide./• Allison Wilson Lee.• Because of Jesus, we don&#8217;t have to hide any of our failures, whether they be mistakes (like spilling nail polish on carpet) or sins (anything we do, think, or say that goes against God&#8217;s good ways, see Matthew 22:36-40). Are there any sins you feel tempted to cover up? Consider taking a moment now to confess these sins to God, thanking Him for His forgiveness through Jesus. .People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.32.1-Ps.32.5|1John.1.7-1John.1.9|1John.4.18|Prov.28.13

Have you ever visited a bulk food store for groceries? More and more of these environmentally-conscious shops are popping up as a way to help reduce waste and save money. There are lots of items you can buy in bulk from big bins and dispensers, instead of buying these same items in small, disposable packages. In many cases, when people go to a bulk food store they bring their own glass jars or other reusable containers so they can get exactly how much they need and no more..The other advantage of these kinds of shops? They also make grocery shopping really beautiful. Rows of big bins full of rice, beans, and pasta. Colorful crates overflowing with fruits and veggies. Walls lined with dispensers filled with golden/honey, crunchy cereals, and dried fruit. Shelves with dispensers of things you can&#8217;t/eat but still need—like liquid shampoo and dish soap. And finally, a cart full of glass/jars as colorful as the store..Whenever I go bulk shopping, I&#8217;m reminded of 2 Corinthians 4. In this Bible passage, Christians are compared to jars. Like a jar, none of us are complete unlesswe&#8217;re filled. On our own, we&#8217;re empty. We don&#8217;t love God and others, and we&#8217;re not/able to save ourselves from sin and its consequences (Matthew 22:36-40; Romans/3:23-24; 6:23). For us to be complete, we need Jesus to fill us. Jesus is the only One/who can save us from sin and death, and there&#8217;s nothing we can do on our own to/fill ourselves with His love and salvation. It&#8217;s a free gift..So, whenever I look at the jars I buy at a bulk store, I can see all the good things/they&#8217;ve been filled with, and I remember all the ways Jesus has filled us with His goodness and love by the power of the Holy Spirit./• Kandi Zeller.• Read 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 and John 8:12. Even though we are “like fragile clay jars” (2 Corinthians 4:7), as Christians, how can it be comforting to know that Jesus is at work in us? .• When we put our trust in Jesus, He fills us with His goodness. We couldn&#8217;t do anything to earn the free gift of/His love and salvation—that&#8217;s why He died and rose again so that we could be rescued from sin and death. His Holy Spirit lives in Christians, guaranteeing we will live forever with Jesus (Ephesians 1:14). According to/1 Timothy 1:14, what are some of the ways God fills us with His goodness? (If you want to dig deeper, read/Romans 5:5-11 and Galatians 5:22-23.).We ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Cor.4.6-2Cor.4.7

Have you ever had an ache or pain that wouldn&#8217;t go away? It can be utterly/exhausting—physically, mentally, and emotionally..I experienced this when I was pregnant with my son. Especially in the last few months of pregnancy, my belly was HUGE. It was so big that people wouldn&#8217;t believe me when I told them I still had a couple months until my due date, and they would often ask if I was having twins. When my son was born weighing just shy of ten pounds, nobody was surprised..Those last few months of pregnancy were miserable. Pain constantly shot through my back and legs from supporting the weight of my gigantic belly. No matter how I stood or sat or laid down, I was always uncomfortable. And I was tired of it..One day, in the midst of this pain and exhaustion, my husband and I went on a/mini-getaway and decided to go swimming in the pool. The water was cold, but I gave it a try anyway..And as I slowly stepped down into the pool, I felt relief seep through my body for/the first time in months. The water lifted the weight of my belly, and the pressure/on my back eased. I took a step, and no pain ran through my leg. Standing in the cold water, I nearly cried with relief..For about an hour, I paced back and forth in that small pool, the weight of my/belly finally lifted. And I felt Jesus walking alongside me, carrying my burden of pain and exhaustion. I felt His arms around me, holding the weight I had been carrying/for so long. He reminded me that I can trust Him with any burden. He knew my pain (in fact, I had told Him about it several times over the past few months, often quite loudly). And He wanted me to give Him my burdens..I&#8217;ve known for a long time that I can give my burdens to Jesus. But when I walked/in the pool, I felt that truth in my very body. He was with me in my pain, offering/hope and comfort and strength. I needed to be reminded of that, and Jesus graciously met my need..No matter what burden you are carrying, He is with you. He died and rose again to be with you. And He is strong enough to carry the heaviest of burdens./• Taylor Eising.• What burdens are you carrying right now? Consider taking a moment to give these to Jesus in prayer. You can ask Him to remind you of the strength, hope, and comfort you have in Him..All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Pet.5.7|2Cor.1.3|Ps.55.22|Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30

Have you ever wondered how to go about sharing your faith with friends and family? It can be scary and a bit confusing, but God isready to help us..Sharing Jesus with others involves more than talking. It involves the ways our whole lives—both our words and our actions—show the good news of Jesus. In very practical terms, it&#8217;s important that while we share our faith we don&#8217;t try to change people. Instead, we let our actions show them how Jesus is changing/us. As we do this, we can rest in God&#8217;s love. Our lives can impact those around us, not because we make anything happen inside them, but because God is the One doing the work in each of us (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)..Sharing our faith isn&#8217;t about being perfect either. In fact, because we still have our sinful natures until Jesus returns, we will absolutely mess up—in both what we say and what we do. But the good news is, when we fail to love God and others well, all we need to do is talk to Jesus, apologize to those we&#8217;ve hurt, and rely on Jesus to/help us turn away from sinful behavior. We can move forward in faith because we know that our sins are forgiven through Jesus&#8217;s death and resurrection..So today, sharing our faith starts with resting in God&#8217;s love for us. As we lean into relationship with Jesus, we grow to become more and more like Him&#8230; more kind, more compassionate, more trustworthy. And this is a lifelong process. So, when we/share God&#8217;s love with others, it&#8217;s because God loved us first (1 John 4:19). We get to/invite people to know the One who loves them unconditionally and wants to have a close relationship with them forever./• A. W. Smith.• Who would you like to share your faith with? Consider taking a moment to pray for them and ask God:/&#8221;What might a conversation about faith look like with this particular person? How could my actions communicate Your love to them?&#8221;/Then, write down anything that comes to mind. .• Who are trusted, mature Christians in your life you could talk with about good ways to share Jesus&#8217;s love through your words and actions?.Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Col.3.12-Col.3.17|1Pet.3.15|Col.4.5

Have you ever wondered why there is always a war going on somewhere? War causes so much death, so much destruction. It ravages the land, destroying plants, animals, and towns&#8230; but the greatest tragedy of war is the loss of human life. From powerful leaders to low-ranking soldiers to defenseless civilians—including the elderly, small children, and even infants—so many people are killed in the chaos of the fighting. And even the survivors are left with scars, both visible and invisible. God sees all this suffering, and He weeps..War might be described as a sickness caused by sin. Sin infected our world when/humans first rejected God. Now, hatred and violence and greed are wreaking havoc/everywhere. And yet, God has not abandoned His creation. He still loves us, and He wants to make us well and forgive all our wrongdoing. That&#8217;s why God became human and lived among us. Jesus came into our sin-sick world, and when His followers realized He was the Messiah, the Rescuer who God had promised, they/thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman empire and free Israel from the nation that had conquered them. But Jesus didn&#8217;t do that. Instead, He let Himself be put to death on a Roman cross. And in doing so, He did something far greater than overthrowing an empire..When Jesus gave up His life on that cross, He gave us the cure for sin. When Jesus died, He beat sin, and when He rose from the grave, He beat sin&#8217;s consequence, which is death. Now, He invites all of us to come to Him and be free of our sin sickness. We can trust and follow Him as our Savior by putting our faith in His death and resurrection (Romans 10:9)..Without Jesus, we are all sick with the sin that&#8217;s in our hearts, and the whole world is sick too. But Jesus promises to cure the whole world of sin. When He returns, He will make everything new. Then war—and everything else caused by sin—will be gone for good (Revelation 21:1-5)..In the meantime, when we put our trust in Jesus, He rescues us from sin and death, makes us new, and begins the healing work of putting His love and peace in our hearts, moving us toward wholeness. Whenever we encounter the pain and destruction of terrible things like war, we can come to Jesus. He weeps with us, grieving all the suffering caused by sin and holding us close (Matthew 11:28-30;/Luke 15:20; John 11:35)..As Jesus&#8217;s people, we can share His love and peace with others, taking part in God&#8217;s good work of bringing wholeness and reconciliation to all of creation. We can care for our neighbors and love them well, even when the world is in turmoil. And even though we will do things imperfectly, we can take great comfort in the/fact that God is so good that He is working all things to draw people to Himself and transform us to become more and more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). One day, war will be no more, for the universe is ruled by Jesus, the Healer of our sin sickness and the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 2:1-5; 9:6)./• A. W. Smith.• To learn more about the cure for the sickness of sin, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page..• Where have you seen the devastating effects of war? Consider taking a moment to come to Jesus in prayer, bringing Him all the pain, frustration, and confusion&#8230; and imagine Him weeping with you over all the things/that are wrong. .• When we wonder how God could allow such terrible things to happen, how could the gospel (the good news about Jesus) reveal God&#8217;s great love and tender compassion for His creation? .• As you encounter the effects of sin in our broken world, remember that God doesn&#8217;t dismiss our questions/and doubts; rather, He invites us to wrestle with Him. Who are trusted Christians you feel comfortable talking to about these things? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future..• Since Christians follow Jesus, the Prince of Peace, how can we treat our neighbors and communities in ways/that show His love

Standing on the peak of the mountain outcropping, Shalish scanned the/battlefield. The noonday sun glinted off armor as the battle raged on in the valley/below. Lord Nissi, the great voice who had led them through both sea and desert, had trained Shalish and several of her friends for years. But the throes of their first combat were more taxing than they had imagined..Yet Shalish was positioned above the battlefield for a reason. Lord Nissi had/given her a gold cord to wear around her wrist, saying, “My presence goes with you. Remember me.” Now, when Shalish kept her cord raised above her head, their victory seemed sure. But her right hand had long since fallen asleep, and her muscles spasmed as she struggled to keep her wrist high above her head. She/trembled at the thought that keeping her gold cord raised would be the difference between victory and defeat..When she had momentarily lowered her hand an hour ago, it had almost cost/Ezrah his life. Shalish could only watch in horror as the enemy&#8217;s sword slashed just below the gap in his armor, Ezrah&#8217;s crimson blood flowing..Ezrah and Merea were two of her closest friends. Shalish scanned the battlefield for Merea&#8217;s fiery red curls, concerned that she had not seen her friend in a while. But then another spasm shot through her arm, and in despair she cried out, “Lord Nissi, my strength has run dry—please, help your people!”.A gentle footfall caused Shalish to whirl around, her right hand still raised, her sword/at the ready in her left. “Shay, you need help.” Merea&#8217;s brown eyes reflected concern..“But Merea, you&#8217;re needed on the battlefield!”.“I&#8217;m needed right here.” Merea reached up and intertwined her bronze cord with/Shalish&#8217;s gold one, supporting the weight of her friend&#8217;s arm. Shalish felt immediate relief, and she let out a sigh as she leaned on her friend..Sunset was quickly approaching, and the task of keeping the cords held high over/the battle was once more becoming too difficult. But then, Ezrah wordlessly joined/them on the mountain, tying his silver cord to theirs. Shalish couldn&#8217;t even lift her head, and Merea laughed in delirious relief. Supported by her friends, Shalish felt Lord Nissi&#8217;s presence around them..As the setting sun splashed vivid pinks, golds, and dark hues of purple across the/sky, a cry of victory rang out. Ezrah smiled at his friends, joy etched on his glistening/face. Then he reminded them of Lord Nissi&#8217;s words: “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.&#8221; • Savannah Coleman.• Today&#8217;s allegorical story is based on Exodus 17, when the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. God had just delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. When they came to the Red Sea, God told Moses to raise his/staff, and God parted the waters so the people could pass through. Yet, not long after this, the people/asked, “Is the/Lord/among us or not?” (verse 7). So, when the Amalekites attacked, Moses stood over the/battle on the top of the hill with the staff of God raised in his hands (verse 9). Whenever Moses&#8217;s hands lowered, the Israelites started losing the fight (verse 11), and he inevitably grew tired. Thankfully, Moses had two friends, Aaron and Hur, to help hold his hands up as he held the staff until the battle was won (verses/12-13). Then Moses built an altar and called it “Yahweh Nissi” which means “The/Lord/is my banner” (verse 15). (The Hebrew word for/&#8221;banner&#8221;/is very similar to the word for/&#8221;staff.&#8221;) God had saved His people once again/and confirmed that He was indeed with them. Can you think of a time you were reminded of God&#8217;s presence/with you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. .• In Exodus 17, we catch a glimpse of the gospel, God&#8217;s plan to deliver His people from sin and death. Jesus is Immanuel, which literally means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When He went to the cross for us

Shepherds were not held in high regard in ancient Israel. They spent most of their time outdoors, the sheep didn&#8217;t smell great, and the job could be pretty dull&#8230; until it wasn&#8217;t. One part of a shepherd&#8217;s job was to defend the flock against wild animals looking for a meal. Shepherds/had to protect the sheep and guide them to safe pastures..In the Old Testament, David was a shepherd before he was Israel&#8217;s king. When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint one of Jesse&#8217;s sons,/David had to be called in from the field because he was watching the/sheep. As the youngest son, he wasn&#8217;t even around when Samuel first arrived to see Jesse&#8217;s family and anoint the future king. After all,/someone had to watch and defend the sheep, and that job fell to the youngest son, David..In the New Testament, Jesus is frequently called a shepherd. Hefulfilled Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah who would shepherd God&#8217;s people, including a poem/song written by David: Psalm 23. Like David guided sheep, Jesus guides us. In fact, Jesus is called the Good Shepherd. While every human leader fails, Jesus is the perfect and trustworthy leader. He shows us what it looks like to walk in “paths of righteousness” in our lives, and He walks with us (Psalm 23:3-4)..Like David protected his sheep—even fending off a lion and a bear—Jesus protects His people. Jesus performed the ultimate act of sacrifice a shepherd could/do. When we were trapped in the jaws of sin, Jesus laid down His life for us. But even death couldn&#8217;t stop the Good Shepherd. He rose from the dead, and then He shared the victory over death with His flock in the resurrection so that we can be/with our Shepherd in the new creation forever./• Naomi Zylstra.• In what ways is Jesus like a shepherd? .• Jesus often associates with outcasts. In Luke 2:8-20, why do you think God chose to announce Jesus&#8217;s birth to a group of shepherds? .• If you want to dig deeper, read 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 17:34-36; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15, 22; Mark 6:34..“I [Jesus] am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”/John 10:11 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.23|John.10.10-John.10.16

&#8220;Does God really love me?” If we&#8217;re honest, this is a question we ask often. And the answer is a resounding yes! God loves us very much! But what do we do when it doesn&#8217;t feel like God loves us? One thing we can do is remember the evidence of God&#8217;s love for us. After all, He knows we need reminders, and He doesn&#8217;t scold us for needing to hear it again and again. In fact, God loves to remind us of His love..1. God made us./And that&#8217;s just one of the reasons why we can know that He loves us and we matter to Him. He created each of us on purpose, and He was delighted to do it..2. God&#8217;s love for us is unstoppable./God didn&#8217;t stop loving us when humanity rejected Him. Just the opposite. His great love for the world compelled Him to give Jesus, His very own Son, to die on the cross to save us from sin. Nothing, not even death, could stop His love. We know this because after three days, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever!.3. God has made us His own./As Christians, we belong to Him. When we put our trust in Jesus, He makes us new people and gives us important work to do in His kingdom. In fact, the book of Ephesians in the Bible calls us God&#8217;s handiwork—His masterpiece or artwork..4. God cares about what happens to us./When we suffer, He weeps. And He/promises to work all things for the good of His people. Jesus will return one day to make everything new, free from sin and healed from all the brokenness sin causes..5. God is with us now./As we wait for Jesus to return bodily to earth, He is still present with us through His Spirit, His Word, and His people..It&#8217;s easy to forget God&#8217;s love for us, especially when we hear the cruel words of/others or when we experience heartbreaking situations. But, as Christians, we can rest in God&#8217;s love for us by remembering how God made us because it pleased Him to do so, and how God became human to dwell among us. He (Jesus) was willing to die on the cross for us. Then He rose again three days later to beat death, and He promises to return to be with us forever. Even now, His loving presence is always with us. No matter what, we can know that we are each an important part of God&#8217;s kingdom and family—we have a purpose and place because we belong to Jesus. And, as we rest in God&#8217;s unshakable love for us, we get to be part of sharing His love with others./• A. W. Smith.• Which of the five evidences of God&#8217;s love listed above resonates with you most today? Why?/.For we are God&#8217;s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Zeph.3.17|John.3.16|Eph.2.8-Eph.2.10

I am a full-fledged adult, and I still don&#8217;t feel like I/know what to do when I let people down. Of course, I understand that we live in a world that&#8217;s been broken by sin so we all hurt others, whether intentionally or unintentionally. That&#8217;s just part of life until Jesus returns. But letting others down still gets to me. As a Christian, I know that I&#8217;m supposed to be reflecting Jesus, but when I let the people around/me down, I feel like I&#8217;m failing both them and Jesus..Sometimes, we just mess things up entirely. Sin gets in the way, and we let down the people we love. What then? We can apologize and/seek forgiveness, but what if we still feel gross? Then we can look again to Jesus and be reminded of the value He sees in us. In fact, looking toward Jesus should/be the first thing we do when we fail.Jesus died on the cross for us, knowing that we all mess up again and again. That/didn&#8217;t stop Jesus from sacrificing His life and inviting us to join in His resurrection. God knows that we sin, and He readily offers forgiveness..Whenever we fall, Jesus wants to pick us back up and help us turn away from our sin. We don&#8217;t have to live under the crushing weight of guilt and shame, because Jesus has set us free (Psalms 32:1-5; 34:5)..It helps me to remember that God sees the value in me, even when I don&#8217;t see it in myself. He made me on purpose, and despite any mistakes I make or anything I do wrong, I still bear God&#8217;s image (Genesis 1:27)./• Naomi Zylstra.• Once we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that we are totally forgiven from all our sins—past, present, and future. Even so, when we mess up and let others down—either by sinning or just by making a mistake— we often feel gross. How could it be helpful to turn to Jesus in these times and remember how He sees us? (Ephesians 1:4-14; 2:4-10) .• Sometimes, we let others down even when we don&#8217;t do anything wrong. They might have expectations or/desires that we cannot meet, and this can be difficult to navigate. Even Jesus experienced people being/disappointed in Him, so He can empathize with us. He grieves our hurts with us, holding us close and reassuring us of His unconditional love. If you&#8217;re struggling with letting people down, who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to about this? .Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.4.32|Eph.1.4-Eph.1.14|Eph.2.4-Eph.2.10|Eph.4.21-Eph.4.25

The human body is amazing! Did you know that the human heart, which is only about as big as a clenched fist, pumps over 4,000 gallons of blood a day? Or that human eyes are protected by seven interlocking bones? Or that the palms of your hands are sort of skid-proof so you can get a grip on things? God created the human body in His image with the ability to do amazing things..His great handiwork is nothing to laugh about. But sometimes, we as humans say things that aren&#8217;t respectful about the human body, even mocking others whose bodies look different from ours..That&#8217;s not how God wants us to treat the people He created. He loves us so much, He sent Jesus to live among us as a human, physical body and all. Out of love, Jesus died for us. When we put our trust in Jesus, He gives us new hearts—not physical hearts that pump blood, but hearts that are cleansed from sin, no longer hard and stubborn but tender and responsive, eager to follow God&#8217;s good ways/(Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 22:36-40)..And one day, God is also going to give us new physical bodies. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, all God&#8217;s people will be raised to life when Jesus returns, and our new bodies will be free from sin, sickness, and death..Because God created us with care and provided us with such amazing bodies, we/need to treat our bodies—and everyone else&#8217;s—with respect. Our human bodies remind us how much God loves us and all He&#8217;s done for us&#8230; and what He promises to do for us in the future./• A. W. Smith.• What amazes you the most about the human body? Consider taking a moment to thank God for creating us this way. .• Read Hebrews 4:14-16. God became human, so Jesus knows what it&#8217;s like to be human in a world that&#8217;s/broken by sin and its effects. And He promises that those who know Him as their Savior will be raised bodily when He makes all things new. How might these truths affect the way we view ourselves and others, including our bodies? .• Have you ever been tempted to make fun of other people&#8217;s bodies or your own body? You can ask Jesus to forgive you for the times you didn&#8217;t treat people He loves, and their bodies, with respect, and you can rest in the assurance that His death and resurrection have already paid the price for your sin. .God created human beings in his own image. Genesis 1:27a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.27|Ps.139.13-Ps.139.16|Eph.5.1-Eph.5.4

Have you ever dealt with an ant infestation? If you start noticing a couple ants creeping in the cracks, it might not seem like a big deal. But if you ignore the problem, it will only get worse. Soon you&#8217;ll have ants all over—in your bathroom, in your bedroom, in your kitchen, even in your food! An ant infestation is a big problem; it can even make people sick. So, what can you do to handle an infestation? One way is to set a certain kind of trap that has poison inside. The ants think the poison is food, so they bring it home for all the other ants to eat, and it kills them..Bitterness is a lot like an ant infestation. Bitterness can creep in when we face a/difficult or hurtful situation and we&#8217;re not able to process it. If we try not to feel the/pain of a hard situation, it doesn&#8217;t work. That&#8217;s like trying to kill ants one by one—they keep coming back!.Instead, when we experience the beginnings of bitterness, we can go directly to/whatever its source may be. How? By coming to Jesus. He invites us to share ourhurts and all our difficult feelings with Him. Because Jesus is both fully human and fully God, He knows firsthand what it feels like to suffer in a world broken by sin, and/so we can bring everything we&#8217;re feeling to Him (Hebrews 4:14-16). He will weep with us and remind us that He never leaves us..As we share our hurts with Jesus, we can also ask Him to remind us of His goodness. When we look to Jesus and remember how He saved us through dying on the cross and rising from the dead, the gospel can give us hope, opening the door for bitterness to turn to thankfulness..As we work through our bitterness with Jesus, we may still feel sad—or have any/number of strong emotions about the difficult or heartbreaking situations we&#8217;ve experienced. But even in these times, we can rest in Jesus&#8217;s love for us, remembering/His promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20) and to one day make all things/new—free from the suffering and death that are in our world because of sin/(Revelation 21:1-5). It&#8217;s also important for us to reach out to trusted people in our/lives (such as therapists, parents, pastors, etc.) to help us process difficult emotions/and address any situations that need to change..So, when bitterness starts to creep into our lives, we don&#8217;t have to be afraid to go to whatever its source may be. We can face hard things with Jesus, the One who heals our hurts and sets us free./• A. W. Smith.• Who are trusted people you can reach out to when you&#8217;re facing difficult situations and having trouble/processing them?.[Jesus] understands our weaknesses&#8230; So let us come boldly to&#8230; God. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16|Heb.12.15

Did you know that work is part of God&#8217;s loving plan for us? Work is a good thing./The first thing God did after He created Adam and Eve was give them work to do. It was only after humans sinned that work became difficult—and sometimes frustrating—but that doesn&#8217;t mean we can&#8217;t find joy and satisfaction in our work./God Himself works, and since He created us in His image, work is one of the things we&#8217;re wired for (John 5:17). Our work isn&#8217;t futile, because God uses the work of those who love Him for His good purposes. Even everyday tasks that don&#8217;t seem very important are valuable in His kingdom..Work done well and with justice also points to the new reality of God&#8217;s kingdom, His loving reign over His people and His restored relationship with them. Jesus (who is God) announced that the kingdom of heaven has come near. Because He wants us to be part of His kingdom, Jesus died and rose again, defeating sin anddeath, and He will return someday to make all things new, free from the effects/of sin. Then work won&#8217;t be toilsome any longer, and everyone who knows Jesus will live together with Him on the new heavens and new earth, doing work that is/fulfilling and God-honoring..But while we&#8217;re still living in a world that&#8217;s broken by sin, things don&#8217;t always go justly in the places where we work. Sometimes, employers treat their employees unfairly, and sometimes, people experience illness or injury or other hard circumstances that make it so they cannot work in the ways they were expected to,/or even work at all..But even if we find ourselves unable to work, as Christians, we can still find joy in another person&#8217;s work—and that&#8217;s the work of Jesus. By dying on the cross and rising from the grave, Jesus beat sin and death. No matter what we go through, we/can find rest and joy in Him, knowing that He finished the work of our salvation,/and even now He is working in our hearts to make us more like Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we wait for Jesus&#8217;s return, He calls us to do our work to help others and bring Him glory, remembering that our ultimate joy and hope doesn&#8217;t come from what we do, but from who we are—God&#8217;s children./• A. W. Smith.• Can you think of a time you enjoyed work? What do you remember about it?.• Imagine how it would feel to not be able to do any work. If you or someone you know is experiencing a hard situation like this, how could today&#8217;s Bible passages be a source of comfort? .The/Lord/God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. Genesis 2:15 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.26-Gen.1.27|Gen.2.15|John.6.25-John.6.29|Col.3.23

The tomb was not Jesus&#8217;s final resting place. When He/was killed on the cross, that was not the end..Three days later, Jesus rose to life again. The stone that had been placed in front of the tomb was rolled away, and His body wasn&#8217;t there anymore. Jesus lived..The disciples were amazed when they found out about this—even though Jesus had told them He would rise again on the third day. It was hard to believe that it could be true..When you hear the story of Jesus&#8217;s death on the cross and how He came back to life three days later, does it fill you with hope?.God invites us to remember this good news, to tell it to each other over and over/again, to behold how amazing and powerful Jesus is. The story of Jesus&#8217;s sacrifice on the cross is one that should fill us with awe. He loves us so much that He died/for us, to take away our sins..Jesus died once for all so that we don&#8217;t have to perish. God wants us to live forever with Him in the new heavens and the new earth, and He has made this possible through Jesus. When Jesus returns, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain (Revelation 21:1-5). On that day, all of God&#8217;s people will be raised to life, just as Jesus was..The tomb was not Jesus&#8217;s final resting place. Because of His grace for us, the/grave won&#8217;t be yours, either. If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Him, your sins are forgivenand you will live again. How amazing is that?/• Bethany Acker.• As Christians, how can the hope of the resurrection fill us with peace, even as we experience death—both/the deaths of our loved ones and, someday, our own death? .• Jesus died to take away your sins so that you could live with Him forever. If you have questions about/putting your trust in Jesus, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? (You can also find out/more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.).“[Jesus] isn&#8217;t here [in the tomb]! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” Matthew 28:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.3.16|1Cor.15.12-1Cor.15.22|Matt.28.6

Merrick lifted the candle as he clutched his tunic. He felt the sand underfoot as shadows danced on the cave walls. “Beautiful, yes?” Father&#8217;s voice comforted him and pushed him to ignore the darkness. Yes, it was breathtaking—like a hidden world. “All this time,” Merrick said, fixing his eyes on the glittering ceiling, “the cave/went farther than we imagined.”.“How about going farther now?” Father asked. Merrick took a deep breath and continued forward. Now was not the time to fear. The candle was near, as was Father. Besides, exploring was fun. He kept the candle outstretched and stepped after Father&#8217;s form. Suddenly, the flame flickered and with a whoosh, the candle went out. “Father!”.“I&#8217;m here, son. Stay calm.” He heard Father&#8217;s voice but could feel the panic seeping inside and eating his breath. Merrick reached Father and threw himself against him..“Are we to die in here?” With the ink of night polluting his vision?.Father wrapped his arm around Merrick. “Tell me, what blew your candle out?” .“What?” Merrick&#8217;s breathing slowed..“Listen, wind is whistling around us.” Yes, Merrick could hear the whisper. Then he could feel it. “And if you train your ears, you may hear a crashing.” Merrick lifted his head from Father&#8217;s tunic. Could it be the ocean? “I suppose if we move toward that/sound we shall find light and escape this darkness. Place your hand on the wall and/trace the rock as we walk.” Eager to see light, Merrick obeyed, his heart still shaking. Together they let the wind guide them. Soon, a faint light erupted into their line of sight..“The darkness never lasts. Remember who our Light is.” Father&#8217;s words lit Merrick&#8217;s/heart with courage. Now, he could see blue etched around the white haze..Darkness would not last..Merrick ran into the first wave that lapped into the cave and let it soak his shoes./He lifted his face to the sky, which shone a vibrant hue that melded with a gathering gray. He turned to see Father splashing behind him and laughed with relief. “The darkness is gone.”/• Payton Tilley.• Today&#8217;s story is an allegory. Even when life feels dark and confusing, Jesus is the Light of the world. One day, Jesus will return to get rid of all fear and darkness, and in the meantime, He lovingly guides us through everything we face. What are some ways we can we encourage each other with the hope we have in Jesus?.“I [Jesus] am the light of the world.” John 9:5b (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.9.5|Ps.32.7-Ps.32.8|Isa.42.16|Luke.1.78-Luke.1.79|John.1.1-John.1.12

There is no greater way to show love than to be willing to give up everything for someone else. That&#8217;s what Jesus did for us. He loved us so much that He gave up everything, including His life, for us..Romans 5:7 says it&#8217;s rare for someone to give up their life for a deserving person, but it&#8217;s even more rare for someone to give up their life for a person who doesn&#8217;t deserve it in any way. Jesus gave His life for us even though we were undeserving..The next verse goes on to say that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. He didn&#8217;t wait for us to do anything before He sacrificed it all. He knew that we are helpless to save ourselves, and He loves us so much that He was willing to go through death for us, even when we were living in sin..Jesus showed the utmost love for us when He willingly died on the cross. His death and resurrection was the most important event in the cosmos because He saved us—and His entire creation—from sin and decay and death. Now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose from the grave, is totally forgiven from all their sins. As Christians, we get to look forward to the day Jesus will return and we will live in restored creation with the One who loves us more than any other!.When we consider how Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins, we can know that He did it all because He loves us. We can remember that we have a Savior who gave up everything for us. • Bethany Acker.• Why is it important that none of us could ever earn what Jesus did for us? .• According to Romans 5:6-8, how has Jesus revealed God&#8217;s love for the world? .When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Romans 5:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.5.6-Rom.5.8

&#8220;Just be a little more patient with me&#8230; all I&#8217;m asking is that you let me figure things out, let me grow, let me/work on myself a little and become better at this&#8230;&#8221;.Have you ever been in a place where it felt like everyone was pushing you and no one had any patience when it came to your growth? Have you ever felt like you needed to do something great, and quick, or else everyone was going to cut you out?.When it feels like people are pushing you and refusing to be patient with you, know that God has a patience that goes beyond anything we could imagine. The Bible tells us that God desires for everyone to be saved. He wants all of us to put our trust in Jesus. He wants to transform us through the power of the Holy Spirit and guide us in doing the good works of His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10). He wants to work in our lives and help us become all we are meant to be. Yet, He is patient as He waits for us to grow..God is not going to push you to move quicker than you can. He is not going to give up on you when your growth is slow. Instead, He has compassion on you. He invites you to rest in His peace and trust His gentle leadership as you grow at the pace that&#8217;s right for you. Sometimes, it might seem like you&#8217;re growing too slowly, while other times you might feel like God is leading you to grow faster than you/expected, but just know that God created you, and He knows what you need./Through every milestone and every setback, He walks alongside you, and His love for you remains constant. He is patient—always./• Emily Acker.• Have you ever felt pressured to move at a pace that didn&#8217;t work for you? What was it like?.• Read Matthew 11:28-30. What kind of leader is Jesus? How might remembering that He is patient with us help us be patient with ourselves, and with those around us?.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead/he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30|1Tim.1.12-1Tim.1.16|2Pet.3.8-2Pet.3.18

Weighed downBy a wrong I should not have done Trying to hide itHoping no one will ever knowGuilt eating meGuilt over secrets on top of the wrong.Can&#8217;t go on like thisSpending my life lying is no way to live I let You inGod, I&#8217;ll share my secret with YouThis is what I&#8217;ve doneI&#8217;m sorry and I want to move on.Released from the shameI feel free to go forward with life nowFreedom from guiltI have my sins forgiven and I am alive/• Emily Acker.• Keeping our sins a secret and hiding the wrong things we&#8217;ve done can be hard on us. In Psalm 32, how did David feel when he tried to hide his sin? How did he feel after confessing it? .• Through Jesus, God has made the way for us to be forgiven. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus is totally forgiven from all their sins—past, present, and future! Yet, as Christians, we will continue to struggle with sin until Jesus returns and makes all things new. Whenever we sin, God wants us to come to Him and confess what we&#8217;ve done. He will reassure us of His love, help us turn away from sin, and help us move forward in loving Him and those around us— this might include confessing our sins to others and making amends. Consider taking a moment to pray, confessing any sins that come to mind, thanking Jesus for His forgiveness, and asking for His guidance in how to move forward. .If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.32|1John.1.8-1John.2.2

Today we&#8217;re looking at a book in the Old Testament called Song of Songs. Many/readers are confused when they find this love poem in the Bible. It talks about the passionate love between this husband and wife, written in a way that no one speaks today. But the poem honestly shows love and sexual desire without/embarrassment or shame..Some scholars made a connection between the love between this husband and wife and the love we experience with Jesus, who is God. In Scripture, we see/God pursuing His people with an unceasing love, culminating in Jesus&#8217;s death and resurrection. He did this to unite us to Himself, and this unity will be completed when Christ returns to bring heaven to earth and live forever with His people. So we can think of Jesus&#8217;s love for us when the bride in Song of Songs says, “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death,/its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame” (8:6). Jesus&#8217;s love for us is like a blazing glory and unquenchable fire. Nothing can/break that love..When people fall deeply in love, they are changed by the joy they experience./Likewise, when we are captivated by the all-consuming, never-ending love of God, it shines in us. We can be free of shame in the love we feel for the One who created us, forgives us from our sins, and restores us to wholeness..So whenever we dive into the Song of Songs or other types of love poetry, as we see the love between two people, we can also see the love Christ has for the church. And through all of our relationships—both romantic and non-romantic—we can spread His love without embarrassment. God created human love, and with that love, we point back to Him./• Corinna Kahrs.• In what ways have you personally experienced the love of God? If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal His love to you anytime—He delights to answer these prayers. .• What are some ways we can glorify God and show His love in our relationships? .• God created romantic love and sexual desire as good gifts to be enjoyed by a husband and wife, so we don&#8217;t need to be embarrassed about these things. When you have questions about romance, sex, and marriage, who are trusted Christians you feel comfortable talking to? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future..Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love./Song of Songs 2:4 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Song.2|Song.8.6-Song.8.7|Eph.5.25-Eph.5.32

Have you ever canned food? Throughout much of history, people have canned and preserved food—often in glass jars. This has been an important way for people to get nutrition, even in less-than-ideal times like winter or natural disasters..In a way, memorizing Scripture is like “canning” truth from God&#8217;s Word to store in our hearts so that we always have it with us. Memorizing words from the/Bible is a spiritual practice that Christians have done for centuries. It provides us with the opportunity to feast on God&#8217;s Word, even when we don&#8217;t have easy or convenient access to a Bible, or when we just want to meditate on Scripture without using a screen..The reason the Bible is so important to us as Christians is because every single verse is “God-breathed,” and it&#8217;s a gift from God to us (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible tells us all about Jesus: He is our Savior, God, and King—and He is also our Shepherd, Advocate, and Friend. When we learn Bible passages, these can provide help, encouragement, wisdom, and comfort when we need it most. On top of that,/the very process of trying to memorize a passage can help us chew on it, giving us a/chance to grow in our understanding of the good news about Jesus..Today, consider what Bible verse or passage you might like to try to memorize. Don&#8217;t feel like you have to set a goal of memorizing a long passage. That can get overwhelming! Instead, start with a single verse or a short passage that reminds you of Jesus&#8217;s love for you..Want to know a simple way to commit a verse or passage to memory? Read or/listen to it every day for a month. Even if you don&#8217;t have it perfectly memorized bythe end of the month, you will have spent around thirty days dwelling on those words from the Bible and considering how they declare the good news of Jesus. And that “canning” time is always time well-spent./• A. W. Smith.Want other ideas for how to memorize Scripture? Consider trying one of these:.• On a whiteboard, write out the Bible verse or passage you want to learn. Then read it aloud. Then erase one word and read the passage again. Repeat this process until no words are left..• Think of a song you like to sing. See if you can put the verse or passage to that music, and then practice your verse or passage by singing it at a set time each day..• Break the verse or passage into phrases, then create motions to go along with each phrase to help you remember the words..All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.1.2|Ps.119.103-Ps.119.105|2Tim.3.14-2Tim.3.17

Do you know what your name means? Across cultures, names have meanings, and when we give names to babies, those meanings can be a beautiful way to communicate love and care for the newest members of our families..Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches.” But here&#8217;s the thing: we don&#8217;t choose our own names. We receive them when we&#8217;re born into our families..Similarly, there is another name we can receive, separate from the one given to us at birth. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, we become part of His family and receive His name: we are called/&#8221;Christian,&#8221; which means “little Christ.” This name means that He has made us new people and we belong to Him. God has poured out His great love on us through Jesus&#8217;s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Now, He invites us to imitate Him as dearly loved children imitate their parents, by loving others as He loves us (Ephesians 5:1-2)..Sometimes, when God called people to follow Him in the Bible, He literally renamed them. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob became Israel, and Simon became Peter (Genesis 17:5, 15-16; 32:28; John 1:42). Their new names were a sign to others that God had made them new people and they were now part of His family..Today, God does the same with us as Christians. When we put our trust in Jesus, He makes us new and adopts us into His family (John 1:12; Colossians 1:13-14). As we rest in His great love, He is shaping all of us to become more and more like Him so we can point others toward His good name./• A. W. Smith.• Do you know what your name means or why your family chose it for you? Do you like your name? .• The name/Christian/means that you belong to Jesus&#8217;s family. As Christians, how can this truth comfort us when we feel unloved or rejected? .• To learn more about what it means to have a new name in Jesus—to become God&#8217;s child—check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page..See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of/God! 1 John 3:1a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1John.3.1|Isa.56.5|Acts.11.26|1Pet.4.16

Unfailing love&#8230;.We sin and sin again. We mess up and try to put the blame on someone or something other than ourselves. We fail to help the hurting. We fail to take our eyes off our own needs and see the needs around us. We don&#8217;t do what God calls us to/do, but&#8230;.Unfailing love&#8230;.Our sin separated us from God, but He wanted to draw us near. Our God gave/His Son for us. Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself by dying on the cross and risingfrom the grave so that everyone who puts their trust in Him can be forgiven and adopted into God&#8217;s family. Our God wants us to feel loved; He wants us to know that His love is always there. Our God knows that we&#8217;ve sinned and that we will sin again, but He loves us anyway. There is no way for us to earn His love; He gives it to us freely..Unfailing love&#8230;.Human love is a gift from God, but only God&#8217;s love is unfailing. People will let us down, and those closest to us might even stop loving us. Though we can try ourbest to love others well, we still fail in one way or another. Human love cannot fill/our deepest longings, but God&#8217;s love can. He holds us close in His arms and never lets us go (Psalm 27:10; John 10:27-30)..I thank God for His unfailing love./• Emily Acker.• How is God&#8217;s love different from human love?.• Can you think of a time you felt loved by God? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! If nothing comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal His love to you anytime..• When we feel like God doesn&#8217;t love us, or like we don&#8217;t deserve God&#8217;s love, how could it be helpful to remember the good news about Jesus? (See our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page for more about this good news.) What are some ways we could remind each other of God&#8217;s unfailing love for us?.Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love. Psalm 44:26 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.94.18|Ps.143.8-Ps.143.12|Isa.54.10|Ps.44.26|Ps.36.7

How can we resist temptation?.As Christians, when we encounter something we know Jesus wouldn&#8217;t want us to do, we have a choice. Will we give in to the temptation? Or will we trust Jesus to empower us to do the right thing?.Sometimes, trusting Jesus is easier said than done. But it can help to remember why Jesus can be trusted. Jesus is fully God, and when He became human, He didn&#8217;t withhold Himself from any kind of human hardship. He personally faced temptations to sin when He was on earth, and yet, He resisted every time. Jesus never sinned. He/can empathize with us because He knows firsthand what temptation is like..Whenever we&#8217;re tempted, we can cry out to Jesus with confidence because we/know that He understands what we&#8217;re facing. But even more than that, He has power over sin. If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit is inside us, so we can depend on Him to help us not give in to temptation. And even when we do give in, He&#8217;ll always forgive us. We can know that God&#8217;s forgiveness is sure because Jesus took all our sin upon Himself when He died on the cross—and then He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death once and for all..When Jesus returns, we won&#8217;t struggle with sin anymore. But until then, no/matter what temptations we experience, Jesus is always with us. We can trust Him/to give us the wisdom and courage we need to follow Him in every part of our lives: His call is to love God and those around us. To love as we have been loved by God (1 John 4:19)..Next time you face temptation, run to Jesus. You can always go to Him, even in the/times you give in to sin. Regardless of how successful we are at resisting temptation, we can know that Jesus holds us in love, and His forgiveness is unshaken./• A. W. Smith.• What kinds of temptations are hardest for you to resist? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about this. You can be totally honest. He won&#8217;t be surprised, and He won&#8217;t reject you..• God wants to help us resist and/or run away from temptation. One of the ways God helps us is through community with other Christians. When you&#8217;re struggling, who are trusted Christians in your life you&#8217;d be comfortable talking to and asking to pray for you? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. .[Jesus] has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.4.1-Matt.4.11|1Cor.10.13|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16

It might seem odd, but I often think of kittens when I consider a very hard question: “Where is God with all the hurt going on?”.It&#8217;s a question I ask a lot, especially since my husband is a news reporter, so I often get a front-row seat to the heartbreaking and scary things happening in the world..But that&#8217;s where kittens come in. When they&#8217;re brand new, they can&#8217;t even open their eyes. They&#8217;re helpless. All they know is that their mom is with them. They can&#8217;t see her, but they know she&#8217;s present and she cares for them..I don&#8217;t have an answer for why bad things happen. All I know is that our world is/broken because of sin, but Jesus is with us, and He&#8217;s working to fix all this. I&#8217;m like a kitten who just has to trust that I&#8217;m loved, that I&#8217;m not alone, and that my suffering/won&#8217;t last forever. I recall how Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see things/imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything/with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”.While we can&#8217;t see everything clearly right now because we live in a world that is broken by sin, we can know that Jesus is with us, even now, and He knows how/much it hurts. One day, we&#8217;ll finally see Him face-to-face and He&#8217;ll make everything/new. All His people will be healed and whole. Until that day, we are like little kittens. Though we can&#8217;t see very much yet, we can rest knowing that we are loved. • Kandi Zeller.• Have you seen anything in the news lately that makes you feel unsettled? How can talking with Jesus and people we trust help us process things like this? .• No matter what happens in this broken world, you are not alone. Jesus loves you so very much, and He will never leave your side. He is stronger than anything we might face, and He promises to make all things new when He returns. In the meantime, He will be with His people every step of the way. How could these truths give us hope when we experience hard things? .Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.28|1Cor.13.12|Rev.21.1-Rev.21.5

I think being a professional kitten rescuer might be one of the cutest jobs in/existence. But the practical realities of the job are anything but cute./.When a rescuer receives foster kittens into their home, these tiny rescue kittens need lots of attention, and the care they need is often pretty gross,/including special flea baths. Even after the fleas are gone, the kittens still need/round-the-clock care, like special feedings and medicine from the vet. Not to mention cleaning up their messes if they feel sick and need to throw up or have diarrhea. But it&#8217;s all worth it. If everything goes well, the kittens begin to grow, becoming healthier, stronger, and cuter by the day..When you see kittens who have passed this threshold—happily exploring, climbing, and cuddling—it&#8217;s amazing to consider how well they are doing compared to the bad shape they were in when they arrived. It&#8217;s sobering to realize that these/now-healthy kittens would have died if people hadn&#8217;t rescued them..And the thing is, these kittens remind me of us. Without Jesus, we were helpless too. We were sick with sin and doomed to die because of it. But Jesus stepped in and rescued us by dying for our sins on the cross and rising from the grave..He loves us so much. Even when our sin sickness was grosser than fleas, Jesus/wasn&#8217;t afraid to come to this earth and live with us so that we could be rescued. • Kandi Zeller.• God loves us so much that He was willing to do the difficult work of saving us. If you have questions about what it means to be rescued by Jesus, who is a trusted Christian you could talk to? (You can also find out more/on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) .• When we realize how gross our sin is, it might leave us feeling pretty bad about ourselves. But God already knows how gross our sin is, and His love for us does not change. Whenever we sin, we can repent, turn away from our sin and turn to Jesus. Consider taking a moment to come to Him in prayer, confessing any sins that come to mind and resting in His great love and care for you. .For he [God] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son [Jesus]. Colossians 1:13 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Col.1.12-Col.1.14|John.1.14|John.3.16-John.3.17

We don&#8217;t always fully agree with everyone who shares our faith in Jesus Christ. Some people might judge us, and we might fall into judging them too. The decisions that we make don&#8217;t always line up with what others think is right, and we are going to see other Christians doing things that we would never do. However, no matter what our differences are, our belief in the/death and resurrection of Jesus unites us. And He loves all of us..We come from different places in life, raised either in a comfortable, happy home environment or in a struggling, tense one—or maybe somewhere in between. We have gone through things that others can&#8217;t imagine, and others have gone through things that we can never fully understand. But Jesus has saved all of us—rich and poor, people dealing with issues from the past and people who are fully happy with the way they were raised. Jesus unites us..When Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, He did that for all kinds of people. Anyone who calls on Him will be saved (Romans 10:9-13). His blood unites us with everyone who has seen what He has done and put their trust in Him./• Emily Acker.• When we disagree with other Christians, how could it be helpful to remember that we are all united by Christ? .• One way we can love our brothers and sisters in Christ is by trying to empathize with them and understand them when we disagree. What are some ways you could try to understand the people you disagree with? If you aren&#8217;t sure, who are some people who could help you, such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, or friends? .• As Christians, we can demonstrate our unity in Christ through communion, or the Lord&#8217;s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). In communion, we remember the blood and body of Jesus given for us. We remember that we are united to Him and to each other. How can communion help us feel connected even when we disagree? .“For this is my [Jesus&#8217;s] blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.1.3-Eph.1.14|Matt.26.28

I sat down at a table lavishly spread with traditional Romanian foods. And that was the day I began eating meat again..Years ago, at age sixteen, my best friend and I ordered steak sandwiches while on a school trip. Our meals arrived undercooked. Even though the staff remedied/the problem, we decided afterwards to try being vegetarians for a week. We lasted a year on this plan together. Then my buddy chose to return to eating meat while I continued down the vegetarian path..Over six years later, I was preparing for a year of ministry with college students in Romania. During our two-week briefing in Hungary, I sensed the Lord nudge me to/abandon my vegetarian ways. As a visitor, I wanted to enjoy meals with Romanians, to eat what they ate and what they served us. By the time I entered Romania, I&#8217;d decided to give up being a vegetarian..About a week later, a Romanian family invited me and my three ministry/teammates to an extravagant lunch at their apartment. One of the dishes they/served included pork. I dug in, ate some of everything, and thanked them for hosting..To connect with people from Romania, I made a decision about my diet, wanting/to exalt Jesus instead of my own preference. Our Savior renounced more than a simple lifestyle choice so He could minister to people on earth. Even though He is fully God, Jesus humbled Himself, laid down His rights, and took on the weakness of being human. When we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ by trusting in Him, believing that He died and rose again to provide forgiveness and eternal life, we&#8217;re called to live as He did. And He walks alongside us every step of the way. Through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to take on the Christlike nature of a servant so we can point others to Him./• Allison Wilson Lee.• Have you ever laid down your own preferences to connect with another person or group of people? What was it like? How could an experience like that point you and others to Jesus?.• Sometimes, people choose to eat vegetarian because of certain values, which can be a beautiful thing. And some people have health needs that require a special diet, such as avoiding gluten or dairy. As Christians, how can we be respectful of each other&#8217;s eating choices and needs?.• If you feel like God may be leading you to change the way you eat, who are trusted Christian adults in your life who can help you discern His guidance, such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, or counselors?.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus&#8230; Philippians 2:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.9.19-1Cor.9.23|Phil.2.5-Phil.2.8

When I search for You/You&#8217;re not hard to find/When I need a friend/You are always kind.When I ask for helpYou are always there Whenever I&#8217;m in a mess You still show me You care.When others do me harm You hold and comfort me In the times I feel alone By my side, You&#8217;ll be.When I need my SaviorI simply call to YouYou always come to me And help me with all I do • Bethany Acker.• Have you ever felt God&#8217;s nearness, like a close friend? What was it like? If you haven&#8217;t experienced this, you can ask God to show you His love and nearness anytime. .• God invites us to come to Him with all our needs, but sometimes, it can be hard to ask God for help when we need it. If you struggle to be vulnerable with God like this, who are some trusted Christians you can talk to about it, such as parents, counselors, pastors, or friends?.• This poem mentions that sometimes others harm us. If you&#8217;ve experienced harm and want someone to talk to, you can speak to a counselor anytime by setting up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m./(Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate..Those who know your name trust in you, for you,/Lord, have never forsaken those/who seek you. Psalm 9:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.63.1-Ps.63.8|Acts.17.27|Ps.9.10

One semester, while my friend was taking a seminary class on Tuesday mornings,/I&#8217;d watch her two-year-old daughter. These mornings were typically filled with/coloring, reading books, eating snacks, and other fun things my friend&#8217;s daughter and I enjoyed doing together..One morning though, this dear little toddler was really missing her mom. As we played all her usual favorite games, she would occasionally get very quiet and say, “Mama home soon.” When this happened, I would say, “That&#8217;s right. Mama will be home soon. She loves you so much and can&#8217;t wait to come back to see you.” Sure enough, her mom did arrive soon, and both mother and daughter were so happy to see each other..This interaction with my friend&#8217;s daughter kind of reminded me of what it&#8217;s like waiting for Jesus to come back, and how excited I&#8217;ll be when I finally see Him face-to-face! But right now, we live in a world that&#8217;s broken by sin and its effects. We see all that brokenness and sadness and hurt—which is only amplified by the information overload we&#8217;re experiencing at this time in history. Yet, we can rest in/Jesus&#8217;s love. He longs to be with us, and He has promised that He will return to make everything new, free from the brokenness we see right now. In the meantime, He is present with us through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people (the church)..When my friend&#8217;s daughter would say, “Mama home soon,” it made me think about how the Bible records that the early church was eagerly waiting for Jesus to come back, and they would often say/&#8221;Maranatha&#8221;/in Aramaic, which in English means, “Come soon, Jesus!”.That&#8217;s my prayer too. I long for the day Jesus will return—it will be a day of celebration! Our loving King will make all things new, and we will be together forever—with Him and with all our siblings in Christ, all who put their trust in Jesus. Like my friend and her daughter were so happy to see each other after being apart,/when we meet Jesus face-to-face, we will be filled with such incredible joy—a joy that/will never end (John 16:22)./• Kandi Zeller.• What are you most looking forward to about Jesus&#8217;s return? What questions do you have? .• What can Matthew 28:20, Luke 13:34, and John 14:18 reveal about Jesus&#8217;s love for us?.• Are there any moms or mother figures in your life who&#8217;ve shown God&#8217;s love to you? Consider taking a moment to/thank God for them, and maybe thank the person/people too!.He [Jesus] who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20-21 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.14.18|Rev.21.1-Rev.21.5|Rev.22.20-Rev.22.21

Veena had to hold herself back from running to the fruit stand. She&#8217;d finished her first week on the job—pulling weeds from the pine-melon fields—and now after a long week, she&#8217;d saved enough money to buy one of her own. The deep green melons shone in the morning sun, each one perfectly ripe. It would make the perfect breakfast..Veena carefully looked over the melons and picked out the best one. She handed her large silver coins to the vendor and awaited her change. Something was wrong. The vendor scowled at the coins and then turned that scowl to Veena..“Where&#8217;ja get these?” He held up her wages..“I just got paid this morning. I-I work on the pine-melon farm,” Veena stuttered, panic creeping into her voice..“These&#8230;” The vendor clinked the coins on the counter for emphasis. “Are fakes. How&#8217;d you even get your hands on these? And what kind of establishment do ya think I&#8217;m running here that I wouldn&#8217;t recognize fake coin?” Now he was shouting at/Veena. Tears started to well up in her eyes..“I didn&#8217;t know! I promise I didn&#8217;t know! This is my first job. I just thought—”.Someone interrupted Veena, stepping between her and the vendor. “Excuse me, kind sir. I&#8217;ll pay for the pine-melons. One for me and one for the young lady.” This stranger gave Veena a glance, noting her shrunken frame and shaky hands. “Actually, make that five for the lady and one for me.” The man dropped two golden coins on the table and picked out his melons, handing the five to Veena. The vendor grumbled but collected the money on the counter..“Th-thank you!” Veena blurted out. She didn&#8217;t even know this man, yet he&#8217;d/bought her not one but five melons..“You said you worked at one of the pine-melon farms? Well, if they&#8217;re giving you fake coin as wages, why don&#8217;t you come and work for me instead? I have plenty of/room for new workers in my field, and I promise the wages will be more than fair.”.Veena looked up at him in astonishment. Then a smile spread across her face. With her arms full of pine-melons, she nodded and followed the generous stranger./• Naomi Zylstra.• Today&#8217;s story is an allegory based on a parable Jesus told in Matthew 20:1-16. Jesus said, “So the last will be/first, and the first last” (verse 16). How does this parable reveal God&#8217;s generosity?/.• Jesus invites us to follow Him, to entrust ourselves to His leadership. Read John 10:10-11. How has Jesus shown Himself to be worthy of our trust? (If you want to know more about trusting Jesus, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.).• Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. As Christians, we follow our generous Lord, who calls us to be generous to others. What are some practical ways you could show generosity today?.And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all/sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.20.1-Matt.20.16|2Cor.9.6-2Cor.9.15

Do you have a favorite place to think or pray? I do. Most mornings I grab my/coffee and head to the back porch. There, I meet with God in prayer, asking/to be led by His Spirit and asking for grace to face the day. This is one way He brings me comfort. Along with prayer, Scripture reveals other ways we can know Christ&#8217;s comfort..First, we have God&#8217;s people./Scripture teaches believers that we “belong to each other” (Romans 12:5) and make up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Thus, we can say that God is present, comforting believers through one another (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)..Second, we find comfort in God&#8217;s Word./John 1 teaches that Christ is the/Word made flesh who has “revealed God to us” (verse 18). What an unfathomable comfort. And Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word is “sharper than the sharpest/two-edged sword&#8230; It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Because of this, we can take comfort in being fully known and completely loved by Christ—He is the Word of God who has come to us..Third, we have God&#8217;s promises./His final word on suffering declares two/things. One, evil and pain will be hijacked (transformed and remade) into good (Romans 8:17-39). And two, every wrong will be made right: “‘I will pay them back,&#8217; says the/Lord” (Romans 12:19). So, we can give all our desire for vengeance to God, who will ensure justice prevails at Jesus&#8217;s return. When this happens, all will be made new. “There will be no more death or sorrow&#8230; or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:3-4). When Jesus returns, we will celebrate with joy as we are made whole by the presence of God. And we will enjoy the unceasing comfort of Christ forever./• G. Kam Congleton.• Although Scripture doesn&#8217;t explain why evil and suffering exist, we know suffering entered our world when/sin entered it (Genesis 3). And we know that in the end, God&#8217;s goodness and justice will triumph. In the meantime, when we experience pain, we can ultimately trust in God&#8217;s love, demonstrated visibly in the person of Jesus, as Romans 8:39 says, “indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from/the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you want to dig deeper into the topic of suffering,/consider reading through one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John), and ask God to help you see His love made visible in the life and sacrifice of Jesus&#8230;..God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.1.18|Rom.12.19|Rev.21.3-Rev.21.4|2Cor.1.5

I once saw a bowling team that called themselves,/&#8221;It&#8217;s All Good.&#8221;/Wouldn&#8217;t it be awesome if the saying/&#8221;it&#8217;s all good&#8221;/were true? Sadly, troubles abound on earth. But even as we acknowledge these troubles, let&#8217;s also explore a promise that offers real hope for truly good endings..In Romans 8:28, Paul plainly states that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God.” And, because Paul&#8217;s readers were suffering/persecution, he also poses the hard question: “Does it mean he [God] no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity&#8230;?” (verse 35). Earnestly, Paul replies, “No, despite all these things [i.e., pain and persecution], overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (verse 37)..I wonder if what God calls “good” in Romans 8:28 doesn&#8217;t always match our idea of good? My idea of good might mean all my problems are gone immediately. But what does God mean by good? Romans 8:29 provides a clue. It hinges on the phrase “become like his Son.”.The whole of Scripture teaches that becoming like Jesus will involve suffering. (Now, more suffering doesn&#8217;t always equal more Christlikeness—Christlikeness comes from the Holy Spirit&#8217;s work in us through the Word, not our circumstances.)/But following Christ also means experiencing the good that God promises. Far more than fixing a temporary pain or problem, this good includes a glorious/hijacking/of evil. Today&#8217;s key verse expresses this perfectly: in Genesis 50:20, Joseph says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it&#8230; for good.”.Peter expresses this idea too, expounding on the most profound reversal of evil ever: “[God&#8217;s] prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed&#8230; you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip” (Acts 2:23-24). In Christ&#8217;s resurrection, the most tragic ending is transformed into the best of new beginnings. Because Jesus rose from the dead, all God&#8217;s people will be resurrected when He returns. Jesus will make everything new, and all our problems and pain will be gone forever. Now, even in the midst of all the bad, we can say with certainty: it&#8217;s all good./• G. Kam Congleton.• Can you think of a time when something bad happened in your life, and looking back, you saw God&#8217;s goodness in the midst of it? Let&#8217;s pray that God will help us recognize the lasting goodness He is working in our lives. .“You intended to harm me, but God intended it&#8230; for good.” Genesis 50:20a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.16.33|Rom.8.17-Rom.8.39|1Pet.1.6-1Pet.1.7|Gen.50.20

Let&#8217;s continue our study on suffering. Suffering exists because God&#8217;s good world has been broken by sin. Today, we&#8217;ll talk about how, for believers, suffering has significance—or meaning—for our lives, both in the present and for eternity. Scripture reveals this in a couple of ways. First, the apostles (people who walked with Jesus while He was on earth) taught that believers are called to share both in Christ&#8217;s comfort and in His sufferings (1 Peter 2:21). Because we follow a suffering Savior, we can expect to suffer as well. These authors also pointed out that when believers suffer, it&#8217;s intimately connected to Christ&#8217;s own suffering, using phrases like “share his suffering” (Romans 8:17). So, we can remind ourselves that our suffering as the body of Christ has unique significance because it&#8217;s connected to the suffering of Jesus. In our suffering, we can look to Jesus—who suffered the cross on our behalf, then resurrected from the dead—and find comfort in His presence. We/are never alone in our pain..Second, God can use affliction to draw us near to Himself—which is the best place to be (Psalm 73:28). One psalmist says: “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (Psalm 119:71). Through the Holy Spirit, God is always at work to lovingly form us more and more into the likeness of Jesus because He knows it&#8217;s the only way for us to be truly whole. The author of Hebrews echoes this, stating God disciplines His children—and that His discipline is “always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). While/not all suffering is necessarily discipline, these and other passages still give us a lot/to think about (Luke 13:1-5; John 9:1-3; Colossians 1:24)..As a teen, most of the Bible studies I used tiptoed around the topic of suffering. Yet, if we don&#8217;t dig into scriptural truth about suffering, how can we withstand difficulties—including persecution—without losing hope in God&#8217;s love and/goodness? But if we know we will face great trials, we can be a bit more ready for their inevitable arrival. However, as Peter joyfully reminds us in 1 Peter 1:6, our troubles are but “for a little while,” and our hope and comfort in Jesus will last forever. Amen!/• G. Kam Congleton.• God can draw us nearer to Himself at any time (including good times) and through any circumstance. How/might God use suffering to help us grow closer to Him?/.He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.73.28|Ps.119.67-Ps.119.71|2Cor.1.4-2Cor.1.7|Heb.12.5-Heb.12.12

When I was thirteen, I attended my first church camp. I experienced/life-changing things, like when I encountered 1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” I&#8217;d never noticed this verse before, but that week 1 Peter 5:7 sank into my soul. Because, like most teens, I had/worries and cares! Problem was—exactly HOW do you give them to God?.Well, over time I learned that giving our cares to God isn&#8217;t an event—it&#8217;s a process..First, I remember who I am coming to:/Jesus—God in flesh—who also suffered. In fact, Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Jesus “learned obedience from the things he suffered.” Hmmm&#8230; that&#8217;s mind-boggling. Even though Jesus&#8217;s suffering and obedience are different from ours, it&#8217;s incredible to ponder Jesus learning obedience from His suffering..Then, I think about why Jesus suffered/on the cross and rose again—out of His great love for me, He chose to personally redeem/me, both from sin and (when He returns) from suffering (Revelation 21:3-4)..Lastly, I remember even Jesus agonized over His suffering./In Luke 22, we see Jesus face the cross, fervently praying for deliverance from His “cup of suffering” (verses 42-44). Since Jesus truly empathizes with us in our weaknesses,/we know we can boldly come to Him..And so&#8230; how/do we boldly come to Jesus? Simple—we follow the instructions in Philippians 4:6-8. In this passage, we see/what/to pray about: everything! And we see/how/to pray: “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (verse 6). And that&#8217;s it! We are giving our cares to Jesus. And, as we continue to bring our requests to God (notice the word/&#8221;continue&#8221;), we can experience God&#8217;s peace (verse 7). In this way, we can come to Christ whenever we are weary—and find true rest in/Him (Matthew 11:28-30)./• G. Kam Congleton.• In the book of Psalms, we see God&#8217;s people giving their cares to Him—often with strong words, even/accusing God of being distant, hurtful, and uncaring (Psalms 6, 10, 88). In times of pain and suffering, God/invites us to come to Him honestly, telling Him just how hurt, angry, or sad we feel. He isn&#8217;t afraid or ashamed of our emotions, even if we are. And it&#8217;s only in being honest with God that we can truly experience His comfort. We can tell God what we actually want from Him, not just what we think He wants to hear. How/could this truth affect the way you give your cares to God? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about/these things now. .Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and/I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16|1Pet.5.7|Matt.11.28|Phil.4.6-Phil.4.8

At age seventeen, Joni Eareckson Tada awoke after a diving accident—paralyzed/from the shoulders down. Thus began her new life—from a wheelchair. Over time, Joni became known for her contagious joy and her compassionate ministry to others..As a teen, Joni&#8217;s story made me think hard about suffering. Should tragedy strike, how would I react? Where is Jesus in all of this? And so began a lifelong look at suffering in Scripture. We know that sin and suffering invaded God&#8217;s good/world after humans chose to rebel against God, but what else does Scripture say? Eventually, I noticed some intriguing themes. Today we&#8217;ll introduce three themes,/and over the next few days we&#8217;ll explore each one more deeply. Then we&#8217;ll wrap up/with a glimpse at the comfort Christ promises. So, let&#8217;s dive in!.Theme one: God does not explain suffering, but He never ignores it./Indeed,/through Jesus, He invites us to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Through the cross, Jesus joins us in our pain and offers Himself/as our “ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) and our ultimate Deliverer..Theme two: Suffering has significance./First, as the body of Christ, we are called/to share both in Christ&#8217;s sufferings and in His loving comfort. This is not only for our benefit, but also for each other&#8217;s benefit (2 Corinthians 1:4-7). Second, God can use our affliction to get our attention and correct any areas where we are straying from/His good ways, ultimately drawing us nearer to Himself (Hebrews 12:5-12)..Theme three: Through the Holy Spirit, God is with us/in our suffering,/granting us grace and often hijacking hardship for our good (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).This truth helps explain why the apostles encourage believers to rejoice when/facing trials (Romans 5:3-5)..Ultimately, when we encounter suffering, we can remember that Jesus defeated/sin and death through His own death and resurrection, and He will heal all suffering at His return. As we rest in this sure hope, we can face whatever suffering lies ahead of us, held by our Savior who suffers with us./• G. Kam Congleton.• What questions do you have about suffering—your own suffering or the suffering of others?/.• To dig deeper into the topic of suffering, you can read Psalm 119:65-72 and James 1:2-4..For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.53.2-Isa.53.6|Rom.8.17-Rom.8.39|Rev.21.3-Rev.21.4|2Cor.1.5

Why do we do kind things for other people? If we really examine our motives,/is it so we&#8217;ll win points with them and make them like us? Or do we think doing good deeds will win us points with God?.In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth, and he says: no matter how much good we do, if we don&#8217;t have love in our hearts, our good deeds just sound like an annoying, ever-clanging cymbal (verse 1). In other words, doing good things doesn&#8217;t mean much if these actions aren&#8217;t done out of genuine love—the kind of love God has for us..But here&#8217;s the great news. Love is not something we muster up inside ourselves./1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” If God didn&#8217;t love us first, none/of us could love Him or each other. But Romans 5:5 says, “God&#8217;s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Love is a gift straight from God..God&#8217;s love for us and others is so great, and we can trust Him to fill our hearts with His love and let it overflow to others! We can depend on Him to help us do things for others out of genuine love, the kind of love that compels us to lay down our life for others (John 15:13-14)..And when we&#8217;re not sure how to love, we can rest in the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for us. Though He is fully God, He came to live among us. He died on the cross and rose again three days later so we could be restored to relationship with Him. His incredible love is always with us through the Holy Spirit, and the riches of His love are also revealed in His promise to one day make all things new—free from sin and death (Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-5). So by all/means, do good things! But first, rest in the good news of Jesus. Then, love others/because you know that you are loved by God./• A. W. Smith.• In 1 Corinthians 13, how does Paul describe genuine love? What sticks out to you the most in these verses? .• Can you think of a time God showed His love for you through the people around you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this, and maybe thank those people too! .• Every day, we can both rest in God&#8217;s love and show it to others. We can look around us and find little ways to/show God&#8217;s great love, knowing in our deepest being that we are loved by Jesus. Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you notice ways you could show love today..“My [Jesus&#8217;s] command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.5.5|1Cor.13|1John.4.19|John.15.12

When you start worrying about things happening in your life or in the world around you, look at the stars..If it isn&#8217;t dark out and you can&#8217;t see the stars,/then look at the wildflowers..If it&#8217;s too cold for wildflowers, then look at the snowflakes that fall from the sky..There are endless stars in the sky, too many to count. The wildflowers are so vibrant and vast; you could never pick them all. So many snowflakes fall that they make large piles of snow and cover entire mountains. But God made each one of them..God created each star in the massive universe, and He also created you. In Matthew 6, Jesus says we don&#8217;t need to worry about anything, reminding us that/God made each wildflower beautiful even though it so quickly dies. He cares about every little problem and difficult situation you face. God decides when the snow falls, and He made each snowflake unique and stunning to look at. Similarly, He/made you on purpose, and you are precious to Him..Ultimately, God revealed His enormous care for His creation when Jesus came to earth—fully God and fully human. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, we can look forward to the day He will return and restore every brokenness, in our own lives and in all of creation..If God cares about the stars and the wildflowers and the snowflakes, we can/know that He cares about us too. We don&#8217;t have to worry about anything. Instead, we can trust Him to take care of us and all the problems in the world around us. •/Bethany Acker.• How can looking at creation remind us of God&#8217;s trustworthy love?.• If you find yourself worrying a lot, you&#8217;re not alone. Jesus empathizes with you, and He wants to help. One of/the primary ways God helps His people is through His people. Who are trusted adults in your life you can talk to about worry, such as pastors, counselors, parents, or teachers? If you&#8217;re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling/1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate..God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. Genesis 1:16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Gen.1.16

When you were little, did you ever dress up as royalty—making paper crowns, walking around in old fancy clothes from a dress-upbin, or sitting on imaginary thrones and bossing around the people of your pretend kingdom?.While the imaginary kingdoms of our youth weren&#8217;t real, as Christians, we can know that we belong to God&#8217;s very real kingdom. When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we can know that God is our Father, and He is the King of the universe. And so, because we are the children of the King, we are royalty..As God&#8217;s royal children, we have the privilege of inviting others into the kingdom of God by sharing the good news: that Jesus, our God and King, became human, lived among us, died on the cross and rose from the grave to beat sin and death&#8230; and is returning one day to make all things new. In His kingdom, love and righteousness rule instead of sin. We have the honor of sharing this true story— through our words and our actions—with everyone around us..In God&#8217;s kingdom, everything is better than we could imagine. Instead of paper crowns that wear out and get ripped, we have God&#8217;s promise of eternal life with Him (1 Peter 5:4)..Instead of fancy old clothes from a dress-up bin, we are clothed in Jesus&#8217;s goodness instead of our sinfulness (Isaiah 61:10; Galatians 3:27)..Instead of imaginary thrones and bossy leadership, we are called to love others the way Jesus, our just King, loves us (John 13:34; 1 John 4:19)..That is a kingdom worth being excited about! Now, as royal children of the King,/let us share the good news of our Father&#8217;s kingdom./• A. W. Smith.• If you trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are God&#8217;s child and you&#8217;re part of His kingdom. How could remembering that our heavenly Father is the Ruler of the universe give us hope when we experience bossy or unjust leadership here on earth?.• As a child of the King, how could you show others who Jesus is by the way you treat them?.• To learn more about what it means to be God&#8217;s child, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page..“He [Jesus] is Lord of lords and King of kings.” Revelation 17:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.24|Eph.5.1-Eph.5.2|Col.1.12-Col.1.14|1John.3.1-1John.3.3|Rev.17.14

Wind colder than the day before swarmed into the shallow mountain cavern/and bit at the exposed skin on the back of Mior&#8217;s neck that she hadn&#8217;t been/able to cover with her cloak. She shivered, readjusted the cloak, then clasped her/hands together to finish her prayer..Footsteps scratched the rock at the entrance. The stench of a Karith swelled into/the cavern. Mior froze, cold sweat dripping down her back..A girl her age stepped into view, sword gripped tightly in her hand. The scent of the Karith invaders clung to her clothes, and blood stained her shoulder and sword arm, though it was too dark for Mior to tell if it was red or purple..Mior relaxed and gave a nod to the girl as she entered. “Zeela. Find anything?”.“Corpses. Empty orchards. Karith—got ambushed by one inside town.” Zeela/sheathed the blade and grabbed a withered apple from their pitiful mound of food. She narrowed her eyes at Mior. “What were you doing? Praying to your precious Lord again?”.Mior realized her hands were still clasped. “We need His help.”.Zeela scoffed. “You think He&#8217;ll come? You&#8217;ve been asking for months now. He/cares nothing for us.”.“He/died/for us. Of course He cares!”.“Then where is He?”,Mior dropped her gaze..“Whatever. I&#8217;m going back out.” Zeela took a bite of the apple, spun on her heel, and slipped out of the cave..Mior drew the cloak tighter around her shoulders. “You&#8217;re still there, aren&#8217;t You?” she whispered into the empty darkness. Howling wind and the distant, awful scream of a Karith was the only response. Then someone else screamed—a villager—only to be abruptly cut off. A moment later, the Karith screamed again,/this time in the voice of its recent kill..Mior sank her head onto her knees and shivered. “I don&#8217;t know if You&#8217;re listening. But I&#8217;ll keep asking anyway. Please come.”/• Linnae Conkel.• Today&#8217;s story is an allegory. Sometimes, it seems like God has gone silent and is ignoring our prayers. Can you think of a time you felt this way? Are you in a time of waiting right now? .• Reread Psalm 13. How did David, the author of this psalm, respond when it seemed like God was silent? .• Although it may not make sense to us, God still loves us despite times when He seems to be silent. How can remembering the overwhelming love He has for us—a love so great that He came to live among us, die for/us, and rise from the grave&#8230; all so that we could live with Him forever—help us cling to hope during the wait?/(Hebrews 10:23) .• Even as we wait for Jesus to return bodily to earth and make all things new, we can rest in His promise,/“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We can be confident that He will/keep His promise because He sealed it through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. Even if He seems silent, we can know that Jesus sits beside us and weeps with us over our hurts and over the brokenness of His creation. How can remembering Jesus&#8217;s compassion give us comfort in times of fear and pain? How can we help remind each other of Jesus&#8217;s compassion and presence?/.But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.13|Ps.34.15|Rom.5.5

Do you know the story of Paul? He was not a good guy when he was young, and he went by the name Saul. He had Christians arrested. In Acts 7:54–8:2, we see how Saul stood by in support while Stephen was being stoned to death. Saul had plans to do all kinds of bad things to the Christian people of his day. But God had other plans for him..When Saul was on the road to Damascus, a bright light shone all around and blinded him. Jesus talked directly to him and changed the course of his life..When you start to think that it&#8217;s too late for you to change after you&#8217;ve done something wrong, or that God could never forgive you, remember Saul/Paul. When you see someone else doing bad things and you start to judge them and think that God could never forgive them, remember Saul/Paul. While we certainly don&#8217;t have to approve of the wrong things people are doing, God calls us to see everyone as someone He loves, someone Jesus was willing to die for..It&#8217;s not too late for any of us, no matter what we&#8217;ve done. God can take some/pretty messed-up people and do amazing things through them. He can work/through anyone to help further His kingdom..Saul was not a good guy, but Jesus loved him. And His love transformed Saul into a new person. Paul became a good guy. He started serving God and even went to prison because of his faith. He wrote quite a bit of the New Testament and proclaimed the gospel to countless people, telling them about how Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave so that/everyone/who puts their trust in Him can be saved. Paul was honest about his past sins and his present shortcomings, and/he saw God do many great things in his life. More than anything, Paul was filled/with gratitude to Jesus for forgiving him and giving him a second chance. • Bethany Acker.• Acts 13:9 tells us that Saul was “also known as Paul.” Some scholars think this is because/Paul/is the Greek version of the Hebrew name/Saul, and Paul ministered primarily to Greek people. Why do you think God chose Paul to share the good news of Jesus with so many people, both in person and through his writings? (Hint: read 1 Timothy 1:12-17) .• When we feel like God can&#8217;t work through us, how could the story of Saul/Paul encourage us? .Jesus&#8230;told them, “Healthy people don&#8217;t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come/to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mark.2.17|Acts.9.1-Acts.9.19|1Tim.1.12-1Tim.1.17

One of my favorite parts of our family vacations at the beach was boogieboarding. My sister and I picked out boogieboards with colorful designs at the store, packing them into the car loaded with our luggage. Every summer, we looked forward to bringing those boards with us on our ocean getaways, the promise of another exciting adventure on the horizon..Upon arriving at the beach, however, the tall waves cresting in the distance could be intimidating. Waiting on my board, I watched as the waves curled ever closer. It seemed like every wave was more enormous than the last. What if one rolled right over me, leaving me spluttering, salt burning my eyes? Just how far from the shore should I go—should I inch even further into the ocean, or stay closer to the sand where the waves petered out?.Ultimately, I decided to hang on, keeping my balance, remaining at the ready, then coasting with each of the waves, letting them carry me back to the shore. I discovered that timing was everything. Instead of turning around and giving up, it was exhilarating to catch the perfect wave, cruising straight through. At the end of the day, I was relieved that I hadn’t gone back to shore right away, that I’d chosen to wait and ride the waves..Sometimes, life can feel a lot like boogieboarding. But we’re not alone—if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God is always with us, no matter how big the waves might get. As we follow Jesus, trusting in God’s perfect timing, He will carry us through, helping us move past fear. As we take each wave at a time, we come to see that even the tall waves that may intimidate us are just small ripples to God. Looking back at what once scared us, we realize there was no need to have feared. God doesn’t let go of us, leaving us stranded in the middle of the sea. He walks across to us, meeting us where we are, bringing us to where we are meant to be. • Kathryn Sadakierski.• Can you think of a time God helped you in the midst of a scary situation? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this..• Often, our lives can feel confusing, and we don’t know what to do. Yet God is with us through everything we face, and He won’t abandon us to figure things out on our own. He invites us to come to Him with all the questions, frustrations, and fears that weigh on us (Matthew 11:28-30). In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to?.Mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty. Psalm 93:4 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.107.28-Ps.107.31|Matt.14.22-Matt.14.33|Ps.93.4|Ps.46.1-Ps.46.5

I struggle with making decisions. I have some perfectionistic tendencies, so I spend too much time thinking about choices that don’t matter much in the long run. And in the past, I’ve let myself sit in these decisions for far too long, going back and forth and seeking out every expert, trying to pick the absolute right thing. .But one thing God has been teaching me lately is that when we make the best choice of all, the other parts of our lives tend to fall into place. And even if they don’t, it’s okay. Because after we make the best choice, we can know that we are never alone..When someone becomes a Christian, they begin a relationship with God through Jesus. God is showing me that when I choose to trust Him, He gives me peace. When I surrender my control to Him, He gives me freedom. And friends, those gifts of peace and freedom change everything. As we lean into relationship with Jesus, He releases us from the burden of perfectionism. He helps us see that we don’t even have the ability to make perfect decisions on our own. When we come to Jesus, He lifts a weight we weren’t ever meant to carry (Matthew 11:28-30)..I love the words of Psalm 118:8-9: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” I can’t rely on my own ability to choose. And while advice from others can be valuable, it’s still not the most important thing. What’s most important is to take refuge in the Lord..Let’s seek Him as our refuge today, and may all the other choices just fall into place. • Becca Wierwille.• Because life is complex, there is often more than one good choice in any situation. In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, what does God tell the Israelites to do? In Matthew 22:36-40, what does Jesus say about God’s commands? While none of us can keep God’s commands perfectly—after all, that’s why we need Jesus—how could these verses help us make good decisions? .• As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, guiding us and empowering us to follow the Lord in everything we do. God has also given us His Word (the Bible) and community with fellow Christians who can help us discern His guidance. What kinds of decisions are you facing today? What might it look like for you to take refuge in the Lord in these situations? .It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. Psalm 118:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.118.1-Ps.118.9|Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6|John.15.1-John.15.17

Let my life, here, nowBe about You, let me follow.Let my future, each step, decision Be about You, not my own opinion.Let the air I breathe, filling me Be air from You, fresh and free.Let my heart, my plansBe about You, in Your hands.Let my goals, my dreams, my reason Be what You want for this season.Let my hurt, my misery, my pain Be healed by You as You sustain.Let my contacts, my family, my friendsBe in good standing, let me make amends.Let my trust, my beliefs, my coreBe always deeper, pressing into You more • Emily Acker.• Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose from the dead, we can know that God is always with us through His Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people. He shapes every moment of our lives. How could this truth affect the way we live day-to-day?• Consider taking a moment to read this poem again, and then pray your own prayer to God. .Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.19.14|John.12.23-John.12.26|Rom.12.1

We’ve all been hurt by others. Sometimes, it’s a family member or a friend. Sometimes, it’s a stranger. When we are hurt, it can be hard to know how to react. As we deal with our pain, there are some things that can be helpful to do and some that can cause more harm. . Avoid lashing out in response. Try not to do something in anger that you will regret later. It’s normal to want to repay someone by treating them the same way they treated you, but that will only cause more hurt. . Instead, ask God for help and healing. Express your anger to Him, letting Him know how mad and hurt you are. When you are in deep pain because of what was done to you, you can turn to our loving God and ask Him to hold you. He loves you, and He will never leave you. . Avoid isolation. You may be tempted to believe the lie that you are all alone. It’s normal to want to pull away from others when you’ve been hurt, but isolation will only make the pain worse. You might think that no one has been where you are, but that’s not true. . Instead, reach out to someone you trust and talk with them. Share what’s going on and seek their advice. And talk to Jesus; He is right there with you, grieving your hurt alongside you. . Avoid using the hurt you’ve experienced to justify hurting others. When you’re struggling because someone mistreated you, you might be impatient with people in your life or feel justified brushing them off or hurting them. These feelings are normal, but remember that the people around you don’t deserve mistreatment any more than you do. . Instead, remember how Jesus Himself was mistreated. Remember that because of His great love, poured out for us on the cross, His forgiveness and justice cover you and those who hurt you. We can pursue wholeness as we rest in His love. • Emily Acker . • When we’ve been hurt, our first response is often to hurt others. In our pain and anger and confusion, we tend to lash out or withdraw entirely. But that is not the place where healing is found. Healing is found in the compassionate arms of Jesus and His people, the church. What are some ways we can remind each other of these truths when we experience hurt? . • In some cases of deep hurt, the best thing we can do is set up loving boundaries. Who are some trusted Christians you could talk to about this, such as parents, pastors, or counselors? . Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.4.30-Eph.4.32|Rom.12.17-Rom.12.21

I am writing this from La Presa, a small town in Atenas, Costa Rica. There are mangos, star fruits, and bananas scattered across the lawn. Toucans are perched in the trees, and iguanas are sunbathing on the roof. It rains every day—a beautiful, cooling rain. We’re surrounded by mountains and tropical rainforests. There’s no air-conditioning and no hot water, but somehow everything feels incredibly fresh. . While I’m here, I spend my weekdays studying ecology and ecosystem conservation at the School for Field Studies, and in doing so, I’ve been exposed to an incredible amount of literature on environmentalism. To be honest, environmentalism had never really interested me before. But as I read and learn about all sorts of methods of sustainability and conservation, I can’t help but wonder about the relationship between environmentalism and Christianity. . God’s charge regarding our relationship with nature actually begins in Genesis, the very first book of the Bible. God tells us that Adam’s duty in the Garden of Eden was to “work it and take care of it” (2:15). And God blessed Adam and Eve to fill the earth and care for every creature in it (1:26-28). Think about that. The universe is nothing less than God’s masterpiece, a testament of His love, glory, and beauty. And He has entrusted it to us—His people, His children! . We are stewards of God’s creation. The entire universe—including our planet—is the wonderful creation of a perfect God, and the only appropriate response for Christians is to embrace our calling as stewards of the natural environment. In everything we do, we need to remember that the world is so much more than our playground. It’s a beautiful gift to us, and it’s where Jesus Christ will one day return. Then heaven will meet earth, and He will renew and restore all things. Now, Jesus calls us to be part of His life-giving work, even as we are filled by the sure hope of His return. So let’s do everything we can to preserve the earth God has given us. • Christian Davis . • What is one of your favorite parts of creation? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this. . • What are some ways we can be faithful stewards of creation in our everyday lives? . • How can we enjoy the natural environment and its benefits in ways that are honoring to God? . The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.26-Gen.1.31|Gen.2.15|Ps.8

What school subject do you like the least? Even though I love to write, I always loathed English class—especially grammar. Diagraming sentences, parts of speech, verb tenses&#8230; it wasn’t my thing. So imagine my surprise when I realized that what I had learned about grammar could help me study the Bible. . Take Ephesians 5:18 for example: “&#8230;be filled with the Holy Spirit.” This verse is telling us to submit our lives to God and let Him fill us with His Holy Spirit. . The grammar lesson here is in the words “be filled.” First, the object of this command is plural. This means that these words apply not only to a single reader or listener of this verse, but to everyone who believes! After all, Paul (the author of Ephesians) was writing this letter to the whole church in Ephesus, not just one person. So, not only does God fill each of us with the Holy Spirit individually, but He also fills the church as a whole with the Holy Spirit. . Second, these words are written in the present tense. Paul didn’t say “was filled” or “could be filled.” He said, “be filled.” It is a present action—every day we can choose to submit to God and be filled with His love and joy, “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts” (verse 19). . Third, this phrase uses a passive verb. It doesn’t say, “fill yourself.” It says “be filled.” All we have to do is ask God, and He will fill us. We don’t fill ourselves. God is doing the work; all we have to do is submit to Him. . He gave everything—including His Son—for us. Jesus died on the cross and resurrected from the dead so we could be filled with His presence through the Holy Spirit. When we put our trust in Him, He fills us up and helps us follow His good ways, overflowing His love and joy in everything we do. • Kimberly Brokish . • What does it look like to live a life filled by the Spirit? (Hint: check out today’s Bible passages.) . • How can the things we learn about the world (such as languages, history, culture, science, etc.) help us better understand Scripture? . &#8230;be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.5.15-Eph.5.20|Col.1.9-Col.1.14

I lived in a city of mirrors. As I attempted to amble surreptitiously down the street to my destination, I nervously adjusted my mirrored glasses. Everyone wore them in the city. In fact, removing your glasses bordered on appalling. . Figuring a mocha might jump-start my day, I squeezed in line at a local cafe. The girl in front of me turned, and our mirrored eyes met. The person I saw reflected back at me was anxious, fidgeting, trying to untangle a knot of hair. Too much frizz. Was that leftover breakfast in my teeth? I sighed. Who would want to hang out with me anyways? I turned my head in defeat and the girl turned away. . &#8220;Everyone must see exactly what I see—a disaster!&#8221; I thought. Blinking back tears, I hurried down the street. &#8220;If only I didn’t have to look in one more mirror&#8230;&#8221; Suddenly, I saw a pair of sandaled feet blocking my path. I stopped short and slowly raised my head&#8230; I gasped. His eyes, kindness radiating from them, and smile lines that crinkled pleasantly around the edges. This man looked at me with mirrorless, glasses-free eyes! . There was no other way to explain it, but I felt as though he had known me my whole life. Then, he spoke my name, soft as a whisper. “Jayden, you see yourself through your own eyes, but you are so much more to me. People look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.” I shook my head. “But how do you look at someone’s heart? How can I see differently?” . He threw back his head and laughed—a pure, musical sound. “Up until now you’ve only seen reflections, but soon you will see face-to-face. I’ve come to tell you that you are fully known and completely loved&#8230; by me and by my Father.” Hearing his words, I felt joy filling my soul and splashing over, like a dry fountain come back to life. I blurted out, “Show me. I want to see!” He reached out his hands, and lifted the glasses from my eyes. • Savannah Coleman . • Today’s story is an allegory. We live in a world that places a huge emphasis on outward appearances. This is nothing new—just look at 1 Samuel 16! But God sees everything about us, including our hearts. He loves us, and He invites us into the freedom of knowing Him through Jesus. God showed how much we are worth to Him when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us. We find our true identity in Jesus. How can knowing Him affect the way we see ourselves&#8230; and others? . For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Sam.16.1-1Sam.16.13|1Cor.13

Sometimes, it’s easy to become intimidated or even jealous of other Christians. &#8220;Alondra is so good at teaching—would I be a better Christian if I could teach like she can? Blake always knows how to show mercy to people—why is that so hard for me? Is it bad that I can’t lead people in worship like Jade?&#8221; . God has equipped His people in so many different ways, and that’s a good thing. We don’t need to compare ourselves to other Christians because we belong to the same God. It’s not a competition—we’re all on the same team. As 1 Corinthians 12 puts it, we are all part of the body of Christ. Even though different body parts have different functions, they all work together as a whole. . Similarly, Christians are equipped with different spiritual gifts, but these gifts “are the work of one and the same Spirit” (verse 11). God doesn’t leave anyone out. All of us are important in the body of Christ, each of us tremendously and equally loved by God. He demonstrated His great love for us in Jesus—He came to serve, giving His very life for us so that we could be with Him (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). The reason we serve now, in whatever capacity that may be, is because we love Jesus and want to share His love with others. . As members of the same team and family, we have the freedom to explore the gifts God has given us. Some Christians will have gifts that are similar to ours, others will have very different gifts. But we can trust Jesus to guide us in how to serve Him as we listen to His Spirit, His Word, and His people. Then, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can serve Him faithfully as one of the many unique members of His church, knowing that we are loved no matter how we serve. • A. W. Smith . • Consider taking some time to reread 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:11-16. The Holy Spirit gives different spiritual gifts to all Christians. What questions do you have about spiritual gifts? . • Who are trusted Christians in your life—such as pastors, counselors, parents, or teachers—who could help you discern your spiritual gifts and talk through questions you might have about the gifts you have, and the gifts others have? . Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Pet.4.10|1Cor.12|Eph.4.11-Eph.4.16

Until recently, I didn’t realize how often Paul had help writing his letters to the churches in the New Testament. I knew that God inspired and directed Paul to write these letters, but it never occurred to me that he had human help too. And Scripture spells it out clearly for us! . Skim through the first verses in 1 &#038; 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 &#038; 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. In each of these letters, Paul names people who helped him write: Sosthenes, Timothy, and Silas. More than half of Paul’s letters were collaborative efforts. . That blew my mind! But the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. God has designed us to lean on each other and work together. . I see this every day in my job. I work here at Keys for Kids Ministries, editing and writing devotional content for &#8220;Unlocked.&#8221; And while my name is listed at the end of this devotion, I didn’t write it alone. Even as I write this first draft, the ideas and thoughts I write about have been shaped by pastors, teachers, parents, authors, and friends. By the time it’s published, this devotion will have been touched by a team of editors, theological reviewers, proofreaders, and graphic designers. Every devotion you read in this publication is a collaborative effort. And that’s without even mentioning the donors, data processors, administrators, audio producers, radio staff, and more. . Jesus doesn’t want us to do life alone. As God the Son, He Himself lives in perfect community with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus died and rose again so He could live in union with us, His people. Jesus is wild about community. . It’s easy for us to believe that we have to do everything ourselves. After all, that’s what everyone else does, right? But the thing is, that’s not true. Nobody does anything by themselves. We’ve all had people guide us, shape us, and come alongside us. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s good! It’s the way God designed it! . Leaning on others is a strength, not a weakness. And as we embrace this truth, we learn how to better embrace Jesus. • Taylor Eising . • Who are trusted Christians in your life you can lean on? And who can lean on you? If nobody comes to mind, you can ask Jesus to help you identify people in the future. . All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.12.12-1Cor.12.27

Have you ever had to help a toddler learn a basic task, like putting on shoes or using a fork? While the process can be cute, it can also be long and frustrating. But no matter how challenging the journey might get, when we love little ones, we know that the time spent helping them learn and grow is worth it—even if the process takes lots of twists and turns. . In the Bible, Christians are often called children of God. Even as adults, we are God’s kids, and our spiritual growth and learning can be just as twisting and turning as the average toddler’s quest to grow up. . As Christians, we can rest in the truth that Jesus knows we have a lot to learn. He loves us, and He won’t give up on us. We can trust Him to be patient with us and give us strength as we learn to love others the way He has loved us (1 John 4:19). . Simply put, God is always patient and loving with His children. We can know this is true because He demonstrated His love for us by dying to save us (John 3:16-17). What a promise to rest in: that we are secure in the work of our Savior, Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the grave. He’s never going to give up on us. He WILL complete the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). So even as we learn and grow, we can look forward to the day when Jesus will return and we will reach full maturity. And in the meantime, our patient God will keep helping us through all the twists and turns. • A. W. Smith . • Do you sometimes get impatient with your own spiritual growth, getting frustrated when you find it difficult to show love to people or resist doing things that you know are wrong? Consider taking a moment to talk with Jesus about these struggles (Hebrews 4:14-16). . • Until Jesus returns, we all continue to struggle with sin. How could the truths from today’s Bible passages encourage us when we’re struggling? What are some practical ways we could remind each other of God’s love, forgiveness, and patience? . And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.5.1-Eph.5.2|2Thess.3.3-2Thess.3.5|Phil.1.6|1John.3.1|1John.4.19

&#8220;Ninety-eight, ninety-nine&#8230; and that makes one hundred,” I counted aloud while another volunteer added the total to the app on my phone. My family and I had volunteered to pick up trash surrounding a lake in our community. One of our tasks involved tracking the number of various kinds of items we collected in our clean-up efforts. Even before the end of our shift, my team and I had retrieved over 100 used, stubbed-out cigarettes from the ground near the lake. We knew this place needed some attention, but until we joined the clean-up crew, we hadn’t realized how carelessly it had been treated. . Many of us may have noticed signs instructing us not to litter. But for those who seek to follow Jesus, our motive for caring for God’s creation goes deeper than simply following human rules. . When we put our trust in Jesus, we begin a relationship with God as our loving Heavenly Father. Our lives take on a new direction; the Holy Spirit works in us so our actions and choices can honor God as we love and obey Him in decisions big and small. . So, how should a child of God interact with the natural world? By first remembering that God created the world; that the earth—and everything in it—belongs to Him. And by reflecting on the reality that God called His creation “good” (Genesis 1). As God’s love fills our hearts, it overflows in acts of love for the people and the environment around us. Our Lord invites us to care for His creation, compelled by the sure hope of Jesus’s return, when heaven will meet earth and He will renew and restore all of creation. As we keep in mind that God takes pleasure in the world He has made, we can uncover a deeper meaning behind choosing not to litter—and a deeper purpose in cleaning up the litter we find around us. • Allison Wilson Lee . • Jesus loves His creation (John 1:2-3; Colossians 1:15-23). How could this truth affect the way we view the earth? . • What are some practical ways we can care for the physical world that God has made? . The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.1-Gen.1.10|Ps.24.1-Ps.24.2

What are worms good for? Well, they help the earth breathe. As worms burrow through the ground, they let fresh air through the soil. The more they eat and digest the soil, the better it is for growing things. In little details like these, we can see glimpses of how amazing God is. The Creator has intricately woven His creation to work together, all of it bringing honor to Him. . Take the sun as another example that shows us God’s goodness. It’s just the right distance away from planet Earth so we can live. If we were just a little closer, animals and plants couldn’t survive the heat. But if we were a little farther away, we couldn’t survive the cold. And that’s not all—as the Earth moves around the sun in an elliptical orbit, the seasons follow one another in splendorous order. Only God could have fashioned everything so well. . The beauty and complexity of nature points to our loving God, the One who made everything and makes it all work together. And, even though sin fractured creation in deep ways, we can still catch glimpses of the goodness of God in everything He has made. . As we stand in awe of creation, we can also marvel at how God became human and came to earth to live among us. He died on the cross to defeat sin, He rose from the grave to defeat death, and one day He will return and make all creation new—so it’s no longer affected by sin, no longer held captive by death. Until that day, Jesus is holding all things together. Because of Him, all of creation—down to the smallest earthworm—has a purpose in God’s universe. A. W. Smith . • What is one of your favorite parts of creation? How could this remind you of God’s goodness? . • How could you find a way to spend time in nature today and marvel at some of the things God has made? As you notice what catches your attention, consider spending some time thanking God for what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. . For in him [Jesus] all things were created&#8230; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.1|Rom.8.20-Rom.8.22|Col.1.15-Col.1.19|Rev.21.1-Rev.21.5

In those Dark Ages before smartphones, streaming, and DVDs, there was VHS, which is what I grew up with. Whenever I wanted to watch my favorite movies, I would pop the VHS (video home system) tape into the VCR (video cassette recorder). . While I may be nostalgic about VHS now, I would always dread when the tape would start to skip and the movie would blur into staticky incoherence. When that happened, it was my signal to clean the VCR. This whole process reminds me of spending time with Jesus in prayer. . Prayer helps to clear our minds. When there’s a sense of spiritual blurriness or fuzziness surfacing inside, and we’re unsure of how to go forward, it’s time to pray. Much like how I would clean my VCR to see my movies more clearly, prayer can clear our minds so we can focus on what God is telling us. If the static of life is deafening, we can hone in on the quiet sanctuary of prayer within, listening to what God wants us to know about His love in this present moment. . Then, once our minds have cleared and the static has been wiped away, we can start seeing the bigger picture instead of just focusing on what is stressing us in the current moment. Prayer helps us clear out the static so we can see the story of Christ—and our place in that story—kind of like a movie. We can watch the progression from His birth to His death, and then the high point of His resurrection. And we can realize that there is no ending to Jesus’s story—the story continues as Jesus lives in each of us through the Holy Spirit. By remembering this big story and our place in it, we can see how Jesus is at work even in the midst of our stresses and worries. . There is more to this part of life we find ourselves in than what we see at first. Prayer helps us see that more clearly, allowing us to shine Christ’s love into this fuzzy, staticky world. • Kathryn Sadakierski . • How could seeing our place in the big picture of God’s story help us understand the details of our lives more clearly? . • In many psalms (which are prayers or songs to God), the psalmists remind themselves and each other of the great things God has done and the bigger story they are a part of (Psalms 71, 81, 105). How might it be helpful to follow the model of these psalms in our own prayers? . Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Phil.4.4-Phil.4.9|Col.4.2|Ps.32.6-Ps.32.11|Ps.46

Have you ever prayed and prayed for something to happen, something that you know is good and right, something that—by all logic—seems like it should happen&#8230; and it doesn’t? What then? Well, John the Baptist was in a similar situation. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact, John was the one who baptized Jesus and saw the Spirit descend on Him like a dove (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:29-36). But John still sent messengers to Jesus, asking if Jesus was truly the Messiah. Why would he do that? Did John, of all people, have doubts? . John was in prison at the time he sent the messengers, and he had been imprisoned by Herod the tetrarch for quite some time at this point (Luke 3:19-20). And Jesus knew that John was in prison. I can see how some doubt about Jesus’s identity would creep in. I can just imagine John murmuring to himself in jail, “I know Jesus is Lord, but how could He just leave me here?” . So, what’s Jesus’s answer? He quotes parts of the Old Testament, saying He is there to make the blind see and preach good news to the poor, but He leaves out one specific part. Freeing the captives. In essence, it’s like Jesus is saying, “Yes, I am the Messiah, I am who you think I am, but this isn’t something I am meant to do for you.” . We don’t get much explanation beyond that except another passage where Jesus states that He is not going to fulfill all the expectations that people had for Him (Matthew 11:16-19). Jesus is the perfect Messiah, but He is going to do things in His own way and His own time. . John the Baptist was beheaded in the same prison that he sent those messengers from (Mark 6:17-29). But even though John remained a prisoner, Jesus was no less of a Savior. And someday, Jesus will free all prisoners and justice will come. When Jesus returns, He will raise all His people from the dead—including John the Baptist—and together we will see the glory of the Messiah on full display. • Naomi Zylstra . • Can you think of a time your prayers were not answered in the way you were expecting? Have you ever felt like God wasn’t “doing His job”? . • Jesus does rescue John, but not from the prison cell. John’s rescue is from death itself. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns! How can remembering Jesus’s promises give us hope in the midst of hardship and confusion? (Matthew 28:20; John 16:33; Romans 8:31-39) . Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see&#8230;” Matthew 11:4 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.35.4-Isa.35.6|Isa.61.1|Luke.7.18-Luke.7.23|Matt.11.4

When we see injustice in the world, what should motivate us to act? As Christians, we believe God loves every person. God revealed His love for us on the cross—the place where Jesus gave up His life. Jesus suffered more injustice than anyone, and His self-sacrificing love is what motivates us to show that same love to others. We love because we have been loved first by Jesus. . This is what motivated Corrie ten Boom. As a Christian woman living during World War II, she was a part of the Dutch resistance, and she helped many Jewish people escape during the Holocaust. While earning her living as a watchmaker in the Netherlands, Corrie worked in secret with other members of the Dutch resistance to create a hiding place for Jewish refugees inside her family’s home and watch shop. Their efforts saved many people from death, but one day Corrie—and members of her family—were caught and arrested by the Nazis. Corrie was eventually released, but several of her family members died while they were imprisoned. . Throughout the rest of her days, Corrie wrote about God’s work in her life, and she continued to seek out ways to help Holocaust survivors. It was her relationship with Jesus that helped her process all that had happened to her and around her, and it was Jesus’s love that motivated her to continue helping others until the end of her life. . As Christians, we serve the God of justice. The same Jesus who died and rose again for us will one day return to set everything right (Romans 8; Revelation 21:1-5). We are part of His family and His eternal kingdom, so we have the joy and privilege of pointing people to our Savior through words and actions—including acts of courage and love toward our neighbors, even in the face of injustice. • Kandi Zeller . • What sticks out to you the most about Corrie ten Boom’s story? • We live in a world that’s broken by sin and its effects. As Christians, how can resting in God’s love equip us to love our neighbors in this broken world? . • Corrie ten Boom was able to help save lives because she was part of a community that was united around God’s love for the people He has made. How can working for justice—as a community—help us better serve our neighbors? . We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1John.4.19|John.3.16-John.3.17|John.13.34-John.13.35

What does treasure mean to you? Is it money you save up? Is it valuables you hide in the rooms and closets of your home&#8230; or put on display for others to admire? Is it good grades, or likes on a screen? There are lots of things we can treasure. But in Matthew 6:20, Jesus invites us to a different way. He says, “Store your treasures in heaven.” But what does that mean? . Jesus explains, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth” (verse 19) where everything falls apart or gets stolen. Instead of being devoted to earthly treasure, our loving God wants our hearts to be devoted to Him (verse 24). He is our true treasure. Knowing Him is the only thing that will fill our deepest longings—He treasures us, and we don’t need to do anything to earn His love. . If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are God’s people, and now everything we do out of love and service to Him builds on the treasure we already have in knowing Him and being part of His eternal kingdom (Ephesians 1:3-8; 3:8; Colossians 2:3). Basically, as Christians, it’s not what we do that stores treasure in heaven, but who we do it for. As we follow Jesus with our lives, He helps us store up heavenly riches that will last forever. Through His Holy Spirit living in us, Jesus is making us more like Him and empowering us to show others His amazing love. . Things like money, success, and popularity come and go, and they can only last as long as our lives on earth—or even shorter. But the treasure found in Jesus lasts for all eternity. In other words, anything we build can be torn down, but the kingdom of God cannot be torn down. As Christians, our hope isn’t in our possessions or our status in society or our accomplishments. Instead, our hope rests in the work of Jesus: how He died on the cross and rose from the grave&#8230; and how He promises to return and make all things new and dwell with us forever. . Maybe right now you don’t have much earthly treasure, or maybe you have a lot. Just know that all of that earthly treasure is temporary, and it won’t satisfy you anyway. Jesus is the true treasure. He is inviting you to come to Him and live a life that is truly meaningful by loving God and loving the people around you (Matthew 11:28-30; 22:34-40). • A. W. Smith . • What things in your life do you consider to be treasure? Why are these things important to you? . • How could the good desires associated with these things (desires for safety, strength, relational closeness, knowledge, wisdom, beauty, etc.) point us to Jesus, the One who ultimately satisfies these desires through His kingdom and His family? . “Store your treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:20 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.19-Matt.6.34|Matt.13.44-Matt.13.46|Matt.19.21

Prayer has never been easy for me. It’s not that I don’t know how to pray, but it takes a lot of discipline for me to stick to praying even when I don’t feel like it. I’ve heard stories of people in the Bible and missionaries who had ground-shaking prayer lives&#8230; but that’s never happened for me. However, as I pushed through my insecurity about prayer and just started doing it, I found out that I don’t need to have all the answers. My life became so much more peace-filled when I interacted with God regularly in prayer. . For me, one of the best things about praying is that I can do it anytime, anywhere. More than that, I can choose to have a constant conversation with God. This has been such a beautiful part of my walk with Him. When I’d have to make a split-second decision, I’d whisper “God, help me,” and then, often, I would have clarity. When I saw something beautiful, like a waving flower or a singing bird, I’d smile and pray, “Thank You, God.” These simple prayers became more and more natural. I wondered if this was what Paul meant when he said to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). I started calling these short, one-sentence prayers “breathing prayers” because I started doing them without thinking, kind of like breathing. . As I interacted with God more and more through these simple, child-like prayers, my relationship with Him deepened. He opened my eyes to things I hadn’t seen. It was like I was holding His hand throughout the day. The truth is, you don’t have to be a missionary to have a rich prayer life. Every child of God—every person who has put their trust in Jesus—can enjoy constant communication with Him. God is listening, He loves you, and He loves hearing from you! Through prayer, He invites us to lean into His strength as He equips us for everything we face. As we communicate with God, we get to experience the closeness we have with the One who loves us so dearly. • Lily Walsh . • God invites us to be in relationship with Him. Even though our sin separated us from God, He made the way for us to be close to Him through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Now, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus is brought near to God! Yet, we can still choose how much we interact with Him. Why do you think God calls us to communicate with Him continually? . • We all feel hesitant to pray sometimes. How could this author’s personal experience with prayer give us hope to reach out to God even when we feel resistance? . Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Jer.33.3|Luke.18.1|1Thess.5.16-1Thess.5.18|Jas.5.13-Jas.5.18

&#8220;She must really want this job,” I told my roommate. All throughout our dorm, posters promoted a candidate for dorm treasurer who I’ll call “Millie.” Each time we entered or exited the building we spotted these well-made campaign signs. . Other people were competing for positions on the leadership board of our dormitory, but nobody had plastered as many notices as Millie. I assumed she would serve well in the position because she seemed serious about taking on this role. When it came time to vote for dorm leaders, a majority of residents voted for Millie as treasurer. . We paid our dues to help support fun dormitory activities, and it was the treasurer’s responsibility to maintain these funds. We hoped this money would cover an extravagant end-of-year party in May. The first semester ended in December without any special celebrations. . When we returned after Christmas, we discovered that Millie had not come back to campus. She also didn’t return to class. She had simply disappeared—and the dorm treasury had disappeared with her. Did something bad happen to Millie? Or did she purposefully take the money we had trusted her to manage? . Unlike our loving Heavenly Father—who is always faithful and true—people let us down. Sometimes, they make promises they fail to fulfill; sometimes, they betray our trust. Kings, presidents, parents—and dorm treasurers—are flawed and fallible human beings. Only God is worthy of our complete confidence. He keeps all His promises. He promised to rescue His people from sin and death, and that promise was fulfilled in Jesus’s death and resurrection. He also promises to someday return to destroy sin, brokenness, and death forever. Our God is trustworthy. We can trust the Lord to redeem us from our sin, and we can trust Him—and Him alone—with our whole hearts. • Allison Wilson Lee . • Have you ever been let down by someone you trusted? What was it like? . • How is putting confidence in God different from putting confidence in people? . • Trusting God is hard sometimes. When it feels difficult to trust Jesus, we can tell Him that. He wants us to be honest with Him, and He has compassion on us. When is it hardest for you to trust God? Who are Christians in your life you would feel comfortable talking to about this? . It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:9 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.118.8-Ps.118.9|Ps.146.1-Ps.146.6|Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6

How could He just storm the gates like that?” “Do we have a plan?” “Is the war over?” Hundreds of questions attacked from all sides as we stared at the broken gate. “This was a fortress—no one should have been able to break through.” “Today we were supposed to revel in our victory!” “Didn’t we all hear the Savior cry out for the last time? Didn’t we see Him take His last breath? He was dead.” “So, how could He have broken through the gate and stolen the key?” “Not only that, but He stared us in the face and declared victory—over death itself!” . “ENOUGH! Not another word,” the Great Darkness ordered. Then the voice dropped dangerously quiet. The Great Darkness was not in the mood for questions. “Today, the Chosen One from above thinks He has won, but we will wreak havoc on all His land until the end. If we cannot defeat Him personally, we will attack that which is most precious to Him&#8230; His people.” . As we prepare for war, we can’t help but shudder. The gates were breached, and the so-called Savior took the keys. The Great Darkness declared there are more battles to fight. Yet today, there is another who is more worthy of our fear. This Chosen One who defeated death and darkness certainly isn’t afraid of us. . Yes, there may be more battles to fight, but the war is over. The Savior has stolen the victory. Nothing we do now could ever change that. And the Great Darkness knows it. • Kayla Miller . • Today’s story is an allegory, showing Jesus’s victory over sin, death, and all the forces of evil and darkness. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we get to celebrate that our Savior holds “the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). Now, even though we will experience suffering as the forces of darkness wage war on God’s people, we can know that nothing will ever “be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). How could pondering these truths help us rest in Jesus’s undefeatable love for us? . • As Christians, we don’t need to be afraid of death or evil. Instead, God calls us to come to Him with all our worries, and He empowers us to resist the enemy and stand firm in His true grace, which He has given us in Jesus (1 Peter 5:6-12). When you’re facing hard things, who are trusted Christians in your life who can pray with you and help you follow our Lord? How can you be this kind of friend to others? . “I [Jesus] am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Deut.3.22|Rev.1.4-Rev.1.18

&#8220;So, let me get this straight.” Petronius glared at the two Roman soldiers sitting across from him. “There was a bright light, and you were knocked to the ground, and when you got up, the seal was broken, the two-ton stone was rolled away, and the body was gone?” . “There was also a roaring sound,” Justin added. He glanced over at Lucius, who was staring at the table in silence, still in shock. . “A roaring sound,” their commanding officer repeated. “Like a lion?” . “No, like scraping—” Justin stopped to think. “But yes, also like a lion.” . Petronius threw his reed pen down in frustration. “A scraping sound that roared like a lion. Do you know how crazy that sounds? Honestly, if it weren’t for the other soldiers on guard last night with similar nonsensical stories, you two would be on your way to the execution block for sleeping on the job, because this all sounds like a crazy dream!” . Justin saw Lucius cringe. “I know how it sounds,” said Justin. “That’s also how it felt. Crazy. Impossible.” . Petronius dismissed them so he could converse with the other officers. “Don’t go far,” he warned them. “You’re being watched until we get this sorted out.” . Justin led Lucius to the courtyard. “I’ll get us something to eat,” he said as he sat his friend beneath an olive tree. Lucius nodded and slumped against the tree trunk. . Justin walked to a nearby booth selling pomegranates. As he handed his coins over, he wondered if this would be his last meal. What had the dead man—whose tomb they had been guarding—eaten for his last meal? Justin shuddered as he thought about the crucifixion he had witnessed just a few days before. He’d seen many executions, but this one was different. He’d gotten the distinct sense that this man in no way deserved the abuses heaped upon him as his death sentence wascarried out. Now, Justin wondered if he, too, might be executed. . As he walked back toward the courtyard, a shadow fell across his path. “Move, please,” Justin said, his voice lacking the hard Roman edge it normally had. “Let me pass.” . The man took a step closer. Justin looked up, and the pomegranates he was holding fell to the ground. “It’s you,” he whispered. The eyes were the same as when they beat him and nailed him to that cross, but he didn’t look weak and helpless anymore. He looked healthy and whole. . The man gave him a kind smile. “Go get your friend,” he said, nodding toward the courtyard. “Then follow me.” • Courtney Lasater . • After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to many people before He ascended into heaven. Today’s fictional story imagines Jesus appearing to some of the Roman soldiers who were present at His tomb and His crucifixion. While we don’t know if something like this happened or not, we do know that Jesus called many gentile (or non-Jewish) people, including Romans, to follow Him, both before His death and after His ascension. What does this reveal about God’s compassion and mercy? (If you want to dig deeper, check out Matthew 8:5-13; 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 7:1-10; Acts 10:1-48; 16:23-34; 27:1-44.) . • Jesus is God in human flesh, and He came to die a terrible death on the cross for people who were His enemies. The reality is, without Jesus, we are all God’s enemies. But because Jesus died and rose again for us, we can be forgiven and reconciled to God by putting our trust in Jesus (Romans 5:10). Have you ever felt like you were somehow disqualified from following Jesus? How might today’s Bible passages speak into this? . • Jesus seeks out the lost, He meets us with immeasurable

&#8220;Glad that business is over,” Lucius said as he tapped the base of his spear against the huge stone in front of the tomb. . Justin nodded in agreement. “I just hope it doesn’t cause a revolt or something,” he said quietly so the other guards stationed nearby wouldn’t overhear. . “Nah,” Lucius replied. “Did you see how many Jews were at the crucifixion? Yet only a handful of them wept. Most were screaming, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ I don’t think the Jews are going to cause any trouble over this. Their leaders were the ones who brought him to Pontius Pilate to be crucified, after all.” . “Then why are we here?” asked Justin. “Why have this many soldiers guarding the sealed tomb of a man crucified as a criminal by his own people? It makes no sense.” . Lucius shrugged. “Some of the Jewish leaders are afraid his followers will try to steal the body—something about a prophecy he made about rising from the dead. But trust me, no one’s getting through this.” Lucius patted the heavy stone, then nodded toward the other soldiers. “Or us. Anyway, they say his followers scattered when he was arrested. Why would they risk it all now for someone who’s already dead?” . Justin let out a breath. Maybe it wasn’t so bad. Even though standing guard outside a tomb still required his full attention—every Roman soldier knew that failing to fulfill his duty meant pain of death—he could still think of it as a break. No breaking up fights in the street or kicking beggars out of sight so prominent Romans didn’t have to look at them as they passed by. He could breathe the fresh air and listen to the breeze whispering through the trees— . Justin’s thoughts were interrupted as heat and light seared through every part of him. A scraping roar filled his ears, and he was knocked to his knees as the earth shook. He could hear the faint screams of the soldiers around him but couldn’t open his eyes in the blinding light. All he could do was throw his arms over his head until it was over. . Finally, Justin felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Lucius. “What happened?” Justin asked. . “I don’t know,” said Lucius. He pointed toward the tomb. “But we’ve got a situation.” . Justin turned and gasped. The huge stone had been rolled away from the tomb’s entrance. They walked inside and stopped dead. Justin saw Lucius’s face pale to the color of ash. “He’s gone.” Justin’s voice trembled as they both stared at the empty tomb. • Courtney Lasater . • Today’s fictional story is based on the true events of Easter morning. Read Matthew 27:57-66 and 28:1-6. What do you think it would have been like to be one of the Roman soldiers standing guard outside of the tomb when the angel rolled the stone away? . • What sticks out to you most, either in today’s story or in the Bible passages it’s based on? . • Why is it important that Jesus literally rose from the dead? How might knowing the precautions taken by the Roman government, so that no one could steal Jesus’s body, give us confidence that Jesus’s resurrection really did happen? . “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.17.22-Matt.17.23|Matt.27.57-Matt.27.66|Matt.28.1-Matt.28.6

Christianity is based on faith in Jesus and the factual, historical events of His life, death, and resurrection. Because of eyewitness reports, we can know these things really happened in time and space. Without the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity would be nothing but fairy tales. It would be nothing more than humanity’s attempt to explain reality. . When Jesus died on the cross, the Pharisees and the High Priest knew of Jesus’s claim that He would rise from the dead. They were afraid His disciples would steal the body and tell people that Jesus had resurrected. If that happened, everyone would follow Jesus instead of their teachings. So the Pharisees asked Pilate to secure Jesus’s tomb. Pilate gave them a Roman guard unit—soldiers from the best trained military force in the world at that time. If any of these guards fell asleep at their post, they would be executed. The Roman officials also put a seal on Jesus’s tomb. If this seal was broken, the penalty was death. Nobody would dare break a Roman seal. . So, when Jesus did rise from the dead, this was a problem for the Pharisees. They worried that His followers would tell everyone about it. So they came up with a plan: they would say the disciples stole Jesus’s body. . Yes, they would tell people that the disciples came and overpowered the best trained military force in the world, broke the Roman seal—risking the penalty of death—and stole Jesus’s body. People from that area knew how foolish this story was. Besides, when Jesus died, His disciples thought their Messiah had failed and got Himself killed. They didn’t understand that He would rise from the dead, even though Jesus had told them about it beforehand. All hope in Jesus died when they saw Him on the cross. Why would they steal a dead body? . The truth of the resurrection was apparent to the thousands of people who became Christians soon after this event (Acts 2:41; 4:4). Now we, too, can trust in the factual, historical account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And because of His resurrection, we can trust that He will raise us from the dead at His return, and all His people will live forever in His loving presence in renewed creation. • Doug Velting . • What questions do you have about Jesus’s resurrection? Who are trusted Christians in your life you could bring these questions to? . But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.15|Matt.27.62-Matt.27.66|Matt.28.2-Matt.28.4|Matt.28.11-Matt.28.14

On Good Friday, many Christians remember how Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Then on Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection—how He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever! On Monday, lots of people resume everyday life—going back to school, friends, homework, part-time jobs, sports—but Easter is not the end of the story. . When Jesus died on the cross, His followers were not only saddened, but very confused. Then He rose from the dead and showed Himself to His followers, opening their minds to understand that the Messiah had to suffer on the cross and rise from the dead so that our sins could be forgiven and we could live with God forever (Luke 24:44-47). Then they finally understood and were overjoyed! . But that’s not the end of the story either. The ascension of Jesus Christ—when He was taken up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father—finishes up the most important series of events in the universe: the Son of God died for our sins, rose on the third day, and ascended to heaven. This end of the story is often overlooked, but it’s very important because it answers the question, “What ever happened to Jesus after He rose from the dead? Is He still wandering around earth somewhere? Did He die again?” It’s also important because after Jesus ascended, those who believed in Him were given the Holy Spirit to dwell in them. The Holy Spirit helps us understand Scripture, gives us guidance and courage in proclaiming the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, and distributes spiritual gifts. This wondrous power of the Holy Spirit was given only after Jesus’s ascension. . Jesus ascended to heaven, but one day He will return to earth and finally restore all of creation to perfect relationship with God (Revelation 21:1-5). Sometimes, we forget the importance of Jesus’s ascension, focusing only on the cross and the empty tomb. But the ascension finishes the story of how the holy and loving God came to rescue us from our sins so that we could be with Him forever. • Doug Velting . • Read John 14:15-31 and John 16:5-22. Why is it a good thing that Jesus ascended? . • As we wait for Jesus’s return, we can rest in His love and His promise to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). He is present with us through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). What questions do you have about this? Who are trusted Christians you could ask? . Since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Acts.1.3-Acts.1.11|Acts.2.32-Acts.2.33|Heb.4.14|Luke.24.44-Luke.24.53

Mary Magdalene pressed a hand against her aching heart. &#8220;How do I still have tears left in me?&#8221; She had been mourning for three days, along with others who were Jesus’s friends, followers, and family, but the realization was still sinking in: he was actually gone. It was dawn on the third day, and Mary couldn’t wrap her mind around it—her heart was empty, and so was the tomb. She couldn’t even anoint his body for burial; someone had taken it away. . &#8220;I don’t understand,&#8221; Mary wept, &#8220;You were strong enough to cast the seven demons out of me—you set me free. Why did you have to die? Why didn’t you put a stop to that crucifixion? Where are you now?&#8221; Mary clutched at the cold stone of the tomb to steady her shaking knees. She bent to peer into its emptiness once more. . Mary gasped. The tomb wasn’t empty! Two angels dressed in brilliant white were sitting where Jesus’s body had been, one of them perched by the cloth that had been wrapped around her Lord’s head. This angel was swinging his feet and smiling, the other was gazing at Mary with compassion. His voice carried over to her, soft and musical. “Why are you crying?” . “They have taken my Lord!” A sob stuck in Mary’s throat. “I don’t know where he is&#8230;” The unspoken words echoed in her heart, &#8220;Everything is empty without Him.&#8221; . Exhausted with grief, she turned back to the tomb’s opening to take a deep breath, and there was a man standing before her. His eyes radiated warmth and kindness, which only made Mary cry harder. Then he asked, “Who are you looking for?” . &#8220;This must be the gardener,&#8221; Mary thought. &#8220;Maybe he knows where my Jesus is!&#8221; “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where, and I will get him!” . “Mary.” That one word—her name—spoken soft as a spring rain falling on hard ground&#8230; Mary knew only one voice could speak her name in such a way. She looked up at him. “Teacher!” . Sorrow fled from her soul like the breaking of dawn—her Lord, her Jesus, was alive! He had driven the seven demons out of her tortured body, and now He had conquered death itself. All that once ached empty inside her was now full—full to overflowing. • Savannah Coleman . • This story is how one author imagined what it was like for Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. Read John 20:1-18. What sticks out to you about Mary’s encounter with Jesus? . • Today, Christians around the world are celebrating Jesus’s resurrection from the dead! Why can remembering the empty tomb fill us with joy? . Jesus willingly died for us so that we could be God’s people and have life “to the full” (John 10:10)—a life of freedom and forgiveness. Jesus shed His own blood on the cross for us, covering our sins and making the way for us to have a restored relationship with the living God (Romans 10:9-10). This is what makes our story different from every other religion: we serve a God who gave up His own life for ours, and He is alive! If you’ve already put your trust in Jesus, who is someone you could share this good news with? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person now, asking God to help them know the truth of His love for them. If you’re not sure about trusting in Jesus, that’s okay—God doesn’t rush us, and He invites us to ask questions and wrestle with Him. What questions do you have about Jesus? Who is a trusted Christian you’d feel comfortable bringing these questions to? (You can also read more about Jesus on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . “I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am th

Oh, day of awful darkness when I cried unending tears, the very thing I dreaded most now haunted all my fears. . Where could my lovely child be, my Savior and my Son? Who sought to wrench His life away; what foul thing had He done? . With Peter, James, and brother John, I hid myself away; as all around a cosmic roar defined the wretched day. . I did not know where He had gone; my world was torn apart. Perhaps I’ll only have Him now in the cradle of my heart. • Susan Sundwall . • Today’s poem is how one author imagines what it may have been like for Mary, the mother of Jesus, when He was put to death on the cross. We don’t know if Mary knew that Jesus would rise from the dead, but we do know that Mary had been with Jesus from the beginning of His life on earth. The angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be pregnant through the Holy Spirit (even though she was a virgin at the time). When she gave birth to Jesus, she cradled Him close to her, yet she knew that He was the Messiah: the Savior who God had promised. What do you think was going through Mary’s mind during the days after Jesus died, before He rose from the grave? . • In times when we don’t understand what God is doing, how could it be comforting to know that Jesus’s followers also felt this way? . Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief. Matthew 17:22-23 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.2.8-Luke.2.19|Mark.15.12-Mark.15.14|John.19.25-John.19.30|Matt.17.22-Matt.17.23

Jesus suffered for us. His death on the cross wasn’t a quick death. He wasn’t alive and healthy and happy one moment and then dead the next. Jesus went through pain. Before He was arrested, He knew what was coming, and He had the power to stop it. But He chose to move forward anyway. In order to save us, He had to struggle. He did it all for us. . Some of us might have had someone in our life sacrifice something to help us. Maybe a parent gave up a good job so we could stay in the school we were used to, or maybe they went without some of the things they wanted so they could buy us new clothing. Yet, none of the sacrifices humans make for us can even begin to compare to the sacrifice Jesus made for us. . Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night, and He didn’t die until about 3:00 PM. All of His followers abandoned Him. The religious leaders spit in His face and beat Him with their fists. The guards blindfolded Him and struck Him. He was flogged severely, and the whip was probably studded with broken glass and nails and shards of bone, ripping His skin to shreds. Then the soldiers stripped off His clothes and pressed a crown of thorns into His head. They took a staff and struck Him on the head over and over again. When Jesus was finally brought to Golgotha, they drove two enormous nails through His wrists and one through both of His feet. He had to push Himself up by those nails just to breathe, all while people hurled insults at Him. Finally, He cried out in a loud voice, and breathed His last. . Jesus gave His all, and He did it out of love. We mean so much to Him that He wanted to deal with sin once and for all, to save us from death and bring us near to live with Him forever. His blood was given so that we could live. When we think about what He has done, may we fall to our knees in gratitude. The suffering He faced was a gift to us. His blood was a gift. We can be saved because of Him. • Emily Acker . • Have you ever stopped to think about just how much Jesus suffered in order to save us? How does His suffering and all He gave for us reveal God’s love? . • Jesus’s death was not the end. He rose from the grave, so now everyone who puts their trust in Him can be saved! If you want to know more about this good news, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 26–27; Mark 14–16; Luke 22–24; John 18–20.) . For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.52.14|Isa.53.4-Isa.53.11|Matt.26.47-Matt.26.56|John.19.1-John.19.30|1Pet.3.18

When was the last time you were afraid? Maybe you’re afraid of bugs, heights, or needles. Maybe you have emotional fears, such as being afraid of loss, pain, or rejection. Everybody is afraid of something. Personally, I have a big fear of needles—I can’t even look at one without getting chills down my spine. Not only am I afraid of needles, but I also have other fears, like losing my family or friends. . God understands all our fears. When Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, the Bible says Jesus felt “deeply distressed and troubled&#8230; overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:33-34). Jesus was in anguish. Even after an angel strengthened Him, “his sweat was like drops of blood” (Luke 22:44). Can you imagine being so anxious that you sweat blood? . Jesus is fully God, and He is also fully human and experienced human emotion. This is one reason we know that He can relate to us. Jesus sweat blood in the garden because He knew the excruciating pain He would soon experience on the cross, and it caused Him anxiety and anguish. However, Jesus ended His prayer by accepting God the Father’s will over His own. Jesus, God the Son, surrendered everything over to God the Father and trusted the Father to provide and take care of Him. . Even though Jesus trusted the Father to raise Him from the dead after three days in the grave, going to the cross was still incredibly hard and painful. Whenever we are afraid, we can remember that Jesus knows just how we feel, and we can trust Him with everything. Because Jesus faced the terrors of death for us when He died on the cross and rose from the grave, we can now be in relationship with God. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can come to God with everything we experience—including fear. He understands, and He longs to draw us near in His arms and empower us to follow Him, even in the face of fear. • Lydia Lancie . • According to Hebrews 12:2, why was Jesus willing to endure the cross? . • What kinds of things make you afraid? How could it be comforting to know that Jesus doesn’t just know how we feel, He also empathizes with us? (Hebrews 4:14-16) . • Consider taking a moment to thank Jesus for what He’s done for us, and talk to Him about any fears that come to mind. . And being in anguish, he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:44 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.22.39-Luke.22.53|Heb.12.2|Ps.34.4-Ps.34.5

Rising prices can be frightening. They make life feel uncertain, like we’re not sure what’s going to happen next. . Maybe your family can’t go on vacation like you always did. Maybe you’re not getting the car you always thought you would have or you’re not sure if you can afford to attend college. Maybe you don’t know if your family will be able to buy groceries or medication this month. . With all the rising prices, it can be difficult to afford everything we want and need. It can be scary to think about the future because we don’t know how it will go. . But one thing to remember even when things are going crazy is that God is with us. He is still watching over us just as much today as He was yesterday and last week and last year. God knows about the issues we’re facing. He knows when we’re struggling, and He can help us. God can give us peace during difficult times. He can guide us and get us through the toughest circumstances. Nothing is too big for Him to deal with, and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. . So when we get stressed out about rising costs or anything else going wrong in the world, we can turn to God and trust Him to take care of us. His care can come in many different forms, and one way is through His people, the church. In times of economic hardship, we can work together to take care of each other and share His love (Romans 12:13). When we demonstrate His love by giving and receiving help, we get to show that God’s love is living and active—that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead also lives in us (Romans 8:11; 1 John 3:17-24). The truth of His love remains rock solid even in the most unsteady times. • Bethany Acker . • When we’re anxious about the future, Jesus feels our pain. He loves us and walks with us. How could this truth bring us comfort and help us feel secure when life feels unsteady? . • Has anyone ever helped you when you were struggling financially? Have you ever helped someone else? What was it like? . Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Heb.13.8

Daffodils lifted their creamy yellow faces toward the sun, the birds sang in the branches of the flowering magnolia tree, a breeze sent ripples cascading across the otherwise still pond. My friend and I were experiencing year three at our annual retreat, and this place reminded us to direct our focus back on God and be still before Him (Psalm 23:2). . On our second day at the retreat, my friend announced she was going to walk the labyrinth by herself. (This labyrinth was different from a maze, because there were no choices or dead ends, just one path—edged with daffodils—that meandered back and forth until it reached the center of the circular labyrinth.) There was something God had been prompting her to let go of, and she needed some concentrated time of releasing it to Him. “I’ll be praying for you,” I encouraged her as she headed out the door. I imagined her winding her way through the mown paths of the daffodil-filled labyrinth, tears glistening in her eyes as she gave the burden to Jesus. . When we met back up over an hour later, my friend’s load seemed visibly lighter. She shared with me the lessons God taught her while walking through the labyrinth: “At first I was so fixated on the path, all the twists and turns, that I almost forgot to take inventory of all the beauty around me.” She then chose to slow, examining the daffodils, touching the petals, enjoying the journey. “It’s like life,” she mused. “Sometimes, we are just rushing around the corners, and we forget to slow and enjoy the beauty God has placed all around us.” . In the center of the labyrinth was a large rock. When she reached the end, my friend rested on the rock, giving God the thing that had been weighing her down. “I wonder if they put the rock there at the end on purpose—so it’s like you’re resting on Jesus, our Rock.” I shared how that morning I had been meditating on Psalm 62, in which David mentioned three times that God was his Rock. . Whether or not we have a chance to get away on a retreat, we can choose to listen and be still before God wherever we are. We can say with David, “My soul finds rest in God&#8230; he is my mighty rock” (Psalm 62:1, 7). Jesus is worthy of all our trust; He is the One who saves us and gives us salvation and rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30). • Savannah Coleman . • Psalm 62 points to the only One who can save us: Jesus, the Rock (verses 1, 2, 6). Because of Jesus’s death on the cross for us and the power of His resurrection, we don’t have to wander through life in an endless maze, unsure of our ending. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can rest assured that God’s love will always follow us, and one day, when Jesus returns bodily to earth, we will be with Him forever (Psalm 23:6). Even as we walk through darkness and difficulties in life, we don’t have to be afraid, because God is with us (Psalm 23:4). He wants us to bring all our heavy burdens—our questions, frustrations, and fears—to Him. Is there something weighing on you today? Consider taking some time to bring this to God in prayer. . • One of God’s gifts to us is community. How can sharing life with fellow Christians help us follow Jesus? Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk with about your relationship with God? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.) . • Throughout the Bible, God calls His people to rest in Him, and He provides this rest through Jesus (Matthew 11:28–12:8). What are some practical ways you could take time to slow down and enjoy the beauty God has placed all around you today? . Truly my soul finds rest

I was saved at the age of sixteen by Jesus’s death and resurrection, but I remained un-discipled for a few years until I attended a Bible college. My faith grew immensely due to the solid Bible teaching and professors who loved Jesus. However, I felt out of place on campus. Other students would gushingly share stories of how they were saved at the young age of five or seven. I couldn’t relate to their experiences at summer Bible camps or youth group excursions. Because of this, I thought that somehow, I didn’t belong. . Even when I found a local church, I continued to feel out of place because I hadn’t grown up in church. From the hymns, to the structure of services, to the overall “church culture,” it all seemed foreign to me. But even worse than feeling like I didn’t belong was the idea that God couldn’t impact others through my life because I was unfamiliar with the established culture of the church. . I wish I’d known sooner that God does not show favoritism. Throughout the Bible, the Lord worked through people of various backgrounds and ages to spread the good news of His kingdom. From young Timothy, who was raised by his Christian mom and grandma but may have felt unqualified for church leadership because of his youth&#8230; to elderly Moses, who was raised by people who worshipped idols but was called by the Lord to lead Israel out of Egypt at the age of eighty, God does not have favorites. . Throughout the Bible, God called shepherds, tentmakers, a doctor, people who had been demon-possessed, prostitutes, and even someone who had formerly persecuted Christians to tell the world of His grace through Jesus.* Today, He calls believers of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, experiences, and ages to be part of His good work. A person’s ability to bring glory to the Lord is not based on when they were saved, but on the One who saved them. • Sophia Bricker . • Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong in a group of Christians? Sadly, this happens to a lot of us. In times like these, how could it be helpful to remember how God sees us? . • What are some ways we can be hospitable to people who have a variety of life experiences? . • Have you ever felt unqualified to serve God because of your age or experiences? How could the stories of people in the Bible give you hope? (*If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 2:8-20; 8:1-3; John 20:11-18; Acts 18:2-3; Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15; Hebrews 11.) . For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.7.1-Exod.7.7|Acts.10.27-Acts.10.36|1Tim.4.12-1Tim.4.16|Rom.2.11

Jesus came to this messed-up earth to save us. He wasn’t born to rich people or given a great beginning here on earth. When He was born, He was laid in a manger—where the animals eat—for a bed (Luke 2:7-16). . When Jesus was grown-up and started preaching and telling others all kinds of things about the kingdom of God and about who He was, some people respected Him and listened to Him in awe, while others became angry and jealous. . Many of the religious leaders were not happy with Jesus, especially because He openly criticized their hypocrisy and sin. They didn’t want Him to have so many followers, and they began to plot, trying to find a way to kill Him. . When they finally arrested Jesus, they treated Him horribly even though they didn’t have any proof that He had done anything wrong. They beat Him and mocked Him and called for Him to be killed on a cross. . Jesus’s life on earth wasn’t easy. On the night before He went to the cross, He even prayed to God the Father, saying that if the death He was about to die could be avoided somehow, He would rather have it happen that way. But Jesus did it all for you and me. He did it because He loves us and wants to take away our sins, to fully unify heaven and earth, and to restore our broken relationship with God. . Jesus was willing to die for us, but that wasn’t the end of His story. Jesus knew that three days after His death on the cross, He would be raised to life again. Now, He is enthroned as King over all, the Savior of the world (John 4:42). • Bethany Acker . • Jesus—God the Son—was willing to come to earth and suffer for us. He wants all people to be saved through knowing Him, even the people who hate Him (1 Timothy 2:4). How does Jesus reveal the depths of God’s compassion? . Because of the joy awaiting him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.19.28-Luke.19.48|Luke.22.39-Luke.22.53|Heb.12.2

On many a Sunday morning, I find myself getting ready for church. I gaze at my closet, filled with casual clothes for school, but nothing seems right forchurch. I quickly grab a simple blouse and hurry downstairs. At church, everyone seems well-dressed, happy, and eager to greet us at the door. Somehow, I don’t feel comforted by their greetings. Instead, I feel like they’re trying to deceive us with their perfect looks. All around me, everyone’s life seems so perfect with their cookie-cutter nuclear families. . I find myself falling victim to the same plot I’ve fallen for many times. Everyone is hidden behind an imaginary mask. We’re all tempted to focus more on the outside of the people we’re around. We see they have more money, married parents, and a smile on their lips. But we so often neglect to see the whole picture—because the truth is, everybody is struggling. It’s more important to prepare our hearts for the message of God than it is to dress our bodies for a weekly meeting. But man, it’s easier to slap on a pretty shirt than to open your broken heart. . God sees our scars deep within. He calls our hearts to be open to His message. And He also calls us to see the broken beauty of others too. Jesus said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent” (Luke 5:31-32). Jesus came to heal the sick, forgive the sinners, and fix the brokenness of this world that is all a result of sin. He came to save us by dying on the cross and rising from the grave for us. So, when we come to Jesus, we don’t have to be afraid to show Him who we really are, without a mask. The Lord looks at our hearts, and He sees that we all need Him to heal us from the inside. So He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). . When you find yourself wishing for someone else’s perfect life, remember this: they have struggles too. And God is inviting all of us to come to Him with open hearts, to just come as we are. • Corinna Kahrs . • In what ways are you tempted to compare yourself to others? How does comparison distract us from the gospel (or good news) about Jesus and loving each other as He loves us? (John 15:12) . • Who is a trusted Christian in your life that you feel safe being yourself around, without a mask? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal someone in the future.) . “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Sam.16.1-1Sam.16.13|Luke.5.27-Luke.5.32|Rom.15.7

I should’ve stayed with my unit. Bright flashes of color told me the oxygen in my suit was running low, not that it would’ve mattered. My cracked ribs kept me from inhaling too deeply, even though I knew I should. Short, staccato breaths were all I could manage as I glanced for the thousandth time at the flashing light on my communicator. I didn’t answer it. . This was my own fault. The Commander ordered us not to engage the enemy while we scouted, but I thought that one had been alone. I remembered how one grey insectoid had hunched over its kill and ripped into it with serrated mandibles. I’d thought I had a clear shot from behind my tree, not knowing that on this alien world, the invasive parasites liked to climb. . Luckily for me, one of the insectoids above me was just as impulsive as I was and attacked alone. Somehow, I managed to escape that brief scuffle before the swarm could coordinate. . Now, I lay curled up in the forest, camouflaged by a net of vines that nearly blocked out the scarlet sky. My wrist comm blinked the same red color underneath the vines, demanding attention. I jammed a button with my gloved finger and gasped out, “Yes, Sir?” . “Where are you, Lieutenant?” The Commander’s voice was a mixture of concern and relief. . “Deep in enemy territory, Sir. They’re everywhere. I just wanted to say&#8230; This is it for me. I’m sorry. I should’ve listened.” . “Send me your coordinates.” . Did he think he could rescue me? A voice cut through the fog of my brain to remind me that he had the rest of the unit to think of and I wasn’t worth it. Finally I said, “I don’t think you heard me&#8230; ” . “No, you didn’t hear me. You need to trust me.” . He was right. I sent the coordinates just before my eyes fluttered shut. They didn’t open again until I lay in our ship’s medical bay with the Commander’s hand on my shoulder. He looked at me with love in his eyes and said, “You are worth it.” • Andrea Hargrove . • In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus likens us to lost sheep. Can you think of a time when you disobeyed God so badly or so often that you felt He shouldn’t forgive you? What does this Bible passage reveal about God’s forgiveness? (If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 15.) . • Has anyone else ever done something so bad that you felt they shouldn’t be forgiven? What does the Bible have to say about this? (Read Romans 8:33-34.) . • God’s love for you is so deep, there is nothing you could do to make Him stop loving you. He was willing to die on the cross so that you could be forgiven and live with Him forever. How does this make Him a trustworthy commander? . Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me. Psalm 40:11-13 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.18.12-Matt.18.14|Ps.40.11-Ps.40.13|Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6

Have you ever been told that you were too young to do something? That your heart was in the right place, but you were too young to do what you felt God had called you to do? The truth is, God invites all of us to follow Him, no matter what age we are. . Mary was likely a young teenager, maybe only fourteen years old, when she gave birth to the Son of God, which resulted in many people glorifying and praising God (Luke 1:26-38; 2:5-7, 16-21). . David was just a teenager when he killed Goliath—a giant the whole Israelite army was scared to fight. When everyone saw this, they knew that the Lord saves His people (1 Samuel 17:41-50). . A young Israelite girl was taken captive, and she showed concern for her foreign master, Naaman, who suffered from leprosy. Naaman listened to her when she told him about the prophet Elisha, so he went to Israel to see him and was miraculously cured! Then Naaman knew that the Lord was the only true God (2 Kings 5:1-15). . A boy gave all the food he had to Jesus, and Jesus miraculously turned those two fish and five loaves of bread into a meal large enough to feed five thousand men, plus women and children. Then the people said that Jesus must be the One they had been waiting for (John 6:1-14). . You might not think you can do what God has called you to do. Sometimes I find myself thinking that when I am just a few years older, then I can do what God has called me to do. Well, that’s not true. God can and does use people of all ages to do amazing things. He worked through people of all ages in the Bible, and they did those things because of God, not in their own ability. He can work through you too, just where you are, right now in your life. • Bailey Norman . • Which of these four people’s stories stuck out to you the most? How did God work through this person’s life? Consider taking some time to read the Bible passage that tells their story. . Have you ever felt like you were too young to follow God? According to Jesus, what does it look like to follow God? (Read Matthew 22:36-40 and John 6:29.) . Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Tim.4.12|2Tim.1.6-2Tim.1.14

First Thessalonians 4:13-18 is my favorite passage in the Bible because it gives me hope beyond the grave. It reminds me that my loved ones who have died and were believers in Jesus Christ are not lost. We will be reunited one day—I will meet them after death or at Jesus’s return when He will make all things new, free from sin and death. . In Acts 17, after preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul had to flee due to persecution. Separated from these new Thessalonian believers, Paul wrote a letter to address certain questions that arose among them during his absence. (We know this letter as 1 Thessalonians.) . Some members in the church were worried about believers who had died. Paul wrote to assure them that the dead believers were not lost but were with Jesus and would not be left out of His glorious return. Paul also urged the Thessalonians to continue working so as to have their needs met as they awaited Jesus’s return, and to live godly lives pointing to the good news of Jesus as the one true king of the universe who has defeated sin and death through His death and resurrection. . To the Thessalonians, this passage meant their suffering and persecution were not in vain because, at the end of it all, they would have the joy of meeting and living forever with the One for whose sake they endured. They even had the promise of reunion with loved ones who had died in Christ! . This passage teaches me the same thing: that the living believers in Jesus Christ and those believers who are dead are separated only for a period of time. We will be reunited—we will all meet Jesus at His return and live with Him forever. • Charity Kiregyera . • How can the hope of Jesus’s resurrection comfort us as we grieve? Read Mathew 28:20, John 11:35, and Hebrews 4:14-16. How can Jesus’s presence and empathy help us? . • If you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, who are trusted people you can talk with—such as counselors, pastors, parents, teachers, or friends? . For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Thess.4.13-1Thess.4.18

Thomas Cole (1801-1848) was a Christian painter and the founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting. His work is a testament to God’s sacred touch in nature. . When I paint the sky, I make it blue with a yellow sun. . When Thomas Cole painted the sky, he made it endless with breezy clouds melting in the distance and dancing, sparkling, playful sun rays streaking and warming the balmy air. . When I paint the ground, I make it green with flowers here and there. . When Thomas Cole painted the ground, he tickled it with brambling grass that had giggles of earthy colors on land that dipped and soared. . When I paint a mountain, I make it brown in a triangular shape. . When Thomas Cole painted mountains, he made them mighty with shadows and cracks, tangled weeds and rich shades of stone and rock. . When I paint water, I make it blue with wavy edges. . When Thomas Cole painted water, he made it shine, glowing and shimmering, lit from within. . When I paint a tree, I make a brown trunk with a puffy green top. . When Thomas Cole painted trees, he made them graceful with sweeping branches, strong and solid mixed with dainty and twiggy. They streeeeetch toward the sky or cradle meadows and pastures. . After seeing how Thomas Cole painted nature in his art, I still paint the same as I always do. . But, now I see art in nature. I see God’s sacred touch. . I see leaves falling and sprouts rising, sacrifice and new life. . I see possibilities, growth, light, and infinite love. And I feel grateful for this wonderful world. • Kelly Bakshi . • Close your eyes and listen. Can you hear the air moving or birds singing? Can you feel the sunshine&#8230; or a breeze on your skin? Deeply breathe in, then exhale. What else do you notice about the creation around you? How do those created things point to the One who made them? . • Thomas Cole used his gift to rejoice in and honor God’s power. How could you use your gifts to honor Jesus, the King and Creator of the universe? (Colossians 1:15-23) . In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Psalm 95:4-5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.96.11-Ps.96.12|Job.37.14-Job.37.16|Ps.95.4-Ps.95.5

God’s grace is amazing. He gives us favor even though none of us deserve it. God’s love is beautiful. None of us are worthy of His great love, but He loves you so much that He became human to live and die for you. . God is the Creator of the universe and all the things in it (Psalm 24:1). He made the stars and moon in the sky. He created each planet and everything on this Earth. He made animals and plants, sky and water, and He made you. . Whenever you begin to doubt yourself and your worth, remember that God created you. He wanted you. . When you feel lonely or unloved, remember that God loves you so much that He was willing to die on the cross for you. He wanted to save you so you could live with Him forever. . God has amazing grace and an equally amazing love for you. He created the world and decided to create you too. You can feel confident in who you are and all you are meant to be when you realize that God made you, He wants you, and He loves you. • Bethany Acker . • What is one of your favorite things God has made? Have you ever thought about how the same God who made this also made you? . • When you feel unloved, how could looking at creation help you remember that God loves you? . I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:14 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Neh.9.6|Ps.139.13-Ps.139.17

Have you had times in your life when things were so difficult that it felt like you were going into a battle each day? Are you going through something that feels like that right now? If so, did you know that God is ready to go to battle for you? You don’t have to face anything in your life on your own. Even if you feel unprepared for what is to come, you don’t have to be afraid. God wants to be there for you. . Throughout the Bible, we find images of God going into battle for His people. He is strong and powerful. He can face the difficult stuff in our lives head on. When we feel weak, He is ready to be strong for us (2 Corinthians 12:9-11). When we are scared, He invites us to come to Him and rest in His love. When we see so much brokenness in the world, we can know that God is fighting to heal the world from sin and its effects. Because Jesus died and rose from the dead for us, we can look forward to the day He will return bodily to earth and put an end to all evil and pain and sorrow once and for all. And in the meantime, we get to be part of His healing work, relying on Him for courage and wisdom all along the way. . Whatever you are dealing with—whether it be a tough home situation, a bully at school, struggles at work, or something else—God is there for you. You are never alone. You never have to face anything by yourself. You always have someone who is ready to fight for you. Jesus will stay by your side through it all. • Emily Acker . • What kinds of hard things have you been experiencing lately? How could it be comforting to know that God is with you and wants to go to battle for you in these situations? . • One of the biggest ways God helps His people is through His people. If you have felt unsafe (at home, at school, at work, etc.) who is a trusted adult you can tell right away? . Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.14.14|2Chr.20.15-2Chr.20.17|Zeph.3.17|Ps.24.8

hat will give us peace and satisfaction? We might think relationships will, a good job will, a good home, family, marriage, children, work, skill, talent, gifts, etc. All these things and many more might make us feel contented and satisfied, but only temporarily. . There is no one who can satisfy, nothing that can give us peace, other than Jesus Christ. Dear beloved children of God, Jesus is giving an invitation for each one of us to identify with Him as our Lord and Savior. The invitation is not biased. It’s not for a certain sect or region or nation but for all who put their trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose from the dead for us. . In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus was—and still is—calling on us to come to Him. He calls those who are in the depths of sin, those who are weak, abandoned, rejected, dejected, maltreated, victimized, sidelined, marginalized, disrespected, destructively criticized, those who have felt hopeless in life, those who are weary, those about to give up&#8230; to come unto Him. . There’s rest in Jesus, so much peace in Christ. He forgives our sin, and He comforts us in our troubles. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). . Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have His Holy Spirit living in us, who helps us understand God’s Word and empowers us to follow His good ways. This not only gives us clarity, guidance, direction, etc. but also comfort, because we can rest in the work Jesus has done to translate us into the kingdom of His Father. Beloved, there’s no sin beyond God’s mercy and forgiveness. We can find eternal peace and satisfaction when we come unto Jesus. • Shadrach Goni . • Why do you think Jesus wants us to come to Him? If you have never come to Jesus, you can, right now. If you have questions about this, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . • Even after we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we don’t have to feel bad for calling out to Him many times, He won’t get tired. Maybe you did something wrong today; you will probably fail tomorrow too. Don’t worry, just come to Him. He is inviting you to be with Him. His mercies endure forever. How could these truths give us hope and confidence to come to Jesus? . Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30|Col.1.13-Col.1.14

Heavy footsteps sounded from behind Skyla, and she turned to see Captain Solenar approaching. He gave her a nod, his jaw set in a grim line. . “All of our work&#8230; ” Skyla’s voice cracked as she looked out over the landscape in front of her. It had taken the group of extraterrestrial experts years to develop the beautiful Crimson Iris, but even before that, the captain had spent decades researching. It was his life’s work, and it had taken the team much planning and sacrifice to safely transplant the delicate flower onto the Kyrgythinian planet. Finally, they had planted a great crop of irises. But now, no flowers could be seen under the Bushvine Thistle Plant that was sweeping across the planet. Skyla knew that Dr. Nocscale had to be the one who had wreaked havoc. As the universe’s most notorious botanical terrorist, he made it his quest to destroy every beautiful creation Captain Solenar had made. . Skyla reached down to tear a thistle plant out of the lush ground and winced as thorns tore her skin. “It will take years to weed all this out&#8230; ” She grimaced. “And even if we try, we have no guarantee that we will eradicate all the invasive thistle seeds from the planet.” Captain Solenar gently motioned toward the thistle that was still in her hand. She held it up, and was surprised to see a young Crimson Iris that had been uprooted with the thistle. “We can’t weed out these noxious plants,” he said, “or it will destroy all of our work forever.” . “Then there is no hope.” Skyla felt tears of frustration well in her lavender-colored eyes. . “Look,” the captain’s deep voice directed. He pointed to the roots of the iris, and Skyla noticed the flower’s roots were long and strong, while the weed’s roots remained shallow. “If the flowers reach toward the water beneath the ground, they will survive. Then, when harvest season comes, we will gather all the plants together. We will harvest the seeds of the Iris, and burn the thistle.” . “That’s a lot of work,” Skyla reminded him. . “If we can save just one iris&#8230;” Captain Solenar cradled the uprooted flower in his hand. “Then it will be worth the effort.” • Lily Walsh . • Today’s story is based on a parable Jesus told in Matthew 13. Why do you think it’s significant that the good crop and the weeds had to grow together? . “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.” Matthew 13:24b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.13.24-Matt.13.30|Matt.13.36-Matt.13.43

Practically every year, when spring weather rolls around I feel a burst of energy. Living in an area that gets long, cold winters for more than half the year, I always feel a sense of happiness when spring comes. And almost every spring, I love to enjoy the beautiful fresh air and new life by going jogging outside. After a couple times of running, however, I tend to have the same problem every year&#8230; sore ankles. I vividly remember having to apply ice packs to my legs for several days to help the swelling after last year’s jogging spree. Once I experience my annual sore ankles, I usually don’t want to go jogging again—that is, until spring rolls around once more—forming a cycle that has yet to be broken. . The writer of Hebrews was familiar with this problem, not just physically, but spiritually. Every Christian is running a race in this life to fulfill our God-given purpose to love God and others. But after a while, we tend to develop aches and pains—weaknesses in our spiritual lives that have surfaced. These aches are different for every person; while I may struggle with discernment, maybe you struggle with patience, kindness, or something else. When we fall short in our areas of weakness, it’s so tempting to give up and stop running all together, just like I did with jogging. But don’t give up! All Christians have the encouragement of knowing godly discipline can only make us stronger through the power of the Holy Spirit. . My mom has shown me some leg-strengthening exercises I can do to discipline my body and make it stronger. Spiritual discipline is very similar. First, acknowledge your weaknesses “so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead” (Hebrews 12:13). Don’t try to tough it out by continuing to go on—stop and get some help. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to help us, as well as our family of other believers in Jesus. In God’s community, our “weak muscles” are strengthened through prayer, God’s Word, and the help of godly mentors. And when you feel like giving up, look to Jesus. He will give you the strength you need to keep running. • Lily Walsh . • What weakness are you struggling with right now? Who are trusted Christians in your life—such as counselors, pastors, parents, or teachers—who can help you in your struggle? . Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us&#8230; Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.9.24-1Cor.9.27|2Cor.12.1-2Cor.12.10|Heb.12.1-Heb.12.13

When I became a mental health counselor, I had no idea what to expect. What unfolded was difficult to accept&#8230; but forever changed the way I viewed others. I learned firsthand that some people who might appear “happy” in their everyday life are actually experiencing mistreatment from those they trust most. . From the outside, we might never dream that others in our lives are undergoing such strife. I say this only to acknowledge that enduring a harmful situation anywhere—at home, on a sports team, or even at church—is sometimes a reality. If this reality has crept into your world, or a friend’s, please seek help! Reach out to a favorite teacher, school counselor, or another trusted adult. There IS a way out, and you don’t need to go it alone. Yes, it’s hard to bring dark things into the light—and more than one try is sometimes required—but remember: God knows the truth. “Even the darkness will not be dark to you [God]&#8230; for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12). . Life can be unfair, unjust, and painful. However, hope and healing and restoration are also real. So, for whoever may be suffering, do not bear this heaviness alone. Jesus always calls us to carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). . Moreover, Jesus knows unjust suffering too—thrust on Him by others’ wrongdoing (Isaiah 53). He truly understands our pain. And though our situation may remain unexplained, God, the Eternal One, “knows the way that [we] take,” and He extends His “everlasting arms” to us (Job 23:10; Deuteronomy 33:27), creating hope where once there was none, promising us His presence, and promising that the world will one day be made right through His death and resurrection (Revelation 21:1-5). • G. Kam Congleton . • Read Psalm 72:14, Proverbs 11:9, and 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. God is not okay with injustice and mistreatment. If you are experiencing mistreatment—whether it be verbal, physical, sexual, or neglectful in nature—please reach out for help. In addition to telling a trusted adult, and if you don’t already have a therapist, one option is to use the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, call 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. . Even the darkness will not be dark to you&#8230; for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.18.28|Ps.34.18|Mic.7.7-Mic.7.8|Ps.139.12

Sometimes, It feels like I’m swimming In a river Of my own thoughts. . Sometimes, It seems like I’m overwhelmed In a sea That crushes me. . Sometimes, It feels like I’m not swimming I’m sinking To the bottom. . Sometimes, I remember That I have hope That saves; Hope in Jesus. . And every time, Hope dives Into the ocean And draws me Out of my distress. • Rereloluwa Bajomo . • What kinds of things make you feel overwhelmed? Have you ever felt like the author of this poem? . • Read Psalm 116:1-7. How does God respond to our distress? . • Jesus not only saves us from sin and death, He is also near to us whenever we are in trouble or afraid. Even when we feel overwhelmed, we can rest in the sure hope that He loves us and will never leave us. How could these truths comfort us when we feel distressed? . I was overcome by distress and sorrow&#8230;. when I was brought low, he saved me. Psalm 116:3,6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.37.24|Ps.91.14-Ps.91.16|Ps.94.19|Isa.43.2|Ps.116.3

When the snow begins to melt away and the cold disappears from the air, we know that a new season is here. Springtime comes with bright green buds on the trees, blossoming flowers, and so many more signs of life. . The birds seem to chirp the loudest in the springtime, and the air smells crisp and fresh. Everything that seemed dead in the winter comes to life again in beautiful and vibrant colors. Everything is new! Springtime can bring us joy for so many reasons, and it can also be a reminder of how much God can change us. . Before we know Jesus, we are stuck in our old sinful way of life. We’re like the winter grass and trees, dry and dead. Without God’s grace, it’s like we’re out in the bitter winter wind that bites and stings. But when we come to Him, we are brought into the warmth of spring and made new. . When we put our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, God transforms our lives. Through Jesus’s death on the cross and miraculous resurrection from the grave, God makes us fresh and new. We have life like the springtime blossoms because of God’s great love for us. . When we look around at the amazing transformation of springtime, we can thank God for how He has also changed us. • Bethany Acker . • Read Ephesians 2:1-10. How does this passage describe us before we know Jesus? How does it describe us once we do know Jesus? (If you have questions about knowing Jesus, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . • Even as Christians, we all do things we regret, but God is full of grace and mercy, and He wants to make our lives as beautiful as spring. Jesus’s death and resurrection have secured our righteousness before Him and our forgiveness, so Christians are blameless in God’s sight! And through the Holy Spirit, God is transforming us to become more and more like Jesus, empowering us to continue to turn away from sin, come to Him, and live in His holy and righteous ways. Can you think of any ways God has brought renewal in your life? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! . But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 2:4-5a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.2.1-Eph.2.10

How terrible does it feel when you try to reach out but no one is available or willing to listen to you? When you call up one friend and then another but none of them answer? How lonely do you feel when you try to speak up when you’re with your family or friends, but no one listens to you? . How good does it feel when you make a connection? When you call someone and they pick up right away, or when you bump into someone and they ask about your day? How special do you feel when conversations pause because others want to hear what’s on your mind? . It feels good to reach out and be heard. Any time you reach out to God, He is going to pay attention to you. You don’t have to worry about God being too busy for you. God is never caught up in all He has to do—He is infinite! He can always give you His undivided attention. . God loves you so much, and He created you to be in relationship with Him. Even though our sin separated us from God, He made the way for us to be restored in our relationship with Him. Through Jesus’s sanctifying work on the cross, God has provided forgiveness for our sins. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have full access to God. When you reach out to God, you can know that you will receive, not just a listening ear, but also empathy, because Jesus knows firsthand what it’s like to be human (Hebrews 4:14-16). He has felt the pain of being misunderstood, disregarded, and alone. He was willing to go through all that and more—because He loves you. . There might be times when you feel like no one is there for you or ready to listen, but God sees you in those times, and He always wants you to reach out to Him. • Emily Acker . • Can you think of a time when you felt truly heard by another person? What was that like? (Community was God’s idea! If you’re feeling alone, you can ask God to help you identify trusted Christians in your life who will listen to you, and who you can listen to in turn.) . • How might knowing that God hears us—that He really understands us and cares about us, even before we say anything—make it easier for us to reach out to Him? (Psalm 139:4; Romans 8:26-27) . In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.34.15-Ps.34.18|Ps.139.4|1Pet.5.7|Ps.18.6

Sometimes I forget to pray. And sometimes I forget to pray for a while. Life gets busy, or I don’t find myself with quiet alone time&#8230; and talking to God gets pushed aside. But praying is so important, especially during the busy times. It’s good to talk to God about what’s on my mind and be reminded of the relationship I have with Him. . It can be hard to remember to pray, but Jesus gave us an example of how to make special time for prayer. He often went off by Himself, found a quiet spot, and spoke with the Father. Jesus did this many times during His ministry. Even when it didn’t seem like He had time to pray, that’s especially when He withdrew to be alone with the Father (Luke 5:15-16). . One night, Jesus knew that He was going to be betrayed by one of His disciples very soon, and He took time to pray to the Father for the people He was about to die for. He asked the Father that they would be protected, sanctified, and unified in love (John 17:11-23). This is a beautiful demonstration of the sacrificial love that Jesus has for us—He prayed for us before His death. Jesus’s prayer reminds us of who He chose to die for and why He chose to go through with the brutal, humiliating, lonely death on the cross. It’s for us. Jesus knew that His death would provide the only way for us to be with Him forever (verse 24). And after Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended to the right hand of God, where He continues to pray for us (Romans 8:34). . As we wait for Jesus’s return, we still get to talk with Him through prayer. And, like Jesus prayed before He went to the cross, we can pray before we go through hard things. As we take time for conversation with our Savior, He helps recenter us. He reminds us that He loves us, that He is with us through every challenge we face, and that He will help us face those challenges in love. • Naomi Zylstra . • We can talk to God anywhere and anytime—He loves to hear our prayers, including the short, quick ones. Even so, why do you think God invites us to take time alone with Him to pray? . • When in your day do you like to pray? How could you make a habit of praying at this time every day (or at least most days)? . They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.5.15-Luke.5.16|John.17|Mark.14.32

I read an interesting Bible verse the other day: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8, NIV). Another Bible translation phrases it this way: “Finishing is better than starting” (NLT). I’m no ancient-language scholar, so I can’t go into the meaning of the original words and sentence structures, but this phrase captured my imagination&#8230; . As I was sitting eating a snack and thinking about this Bible verse, I wondered, &#8220;Why is the end better than the beginning? Or, why is finishing better than starting?&#8221; . When I’m working on a task, usually the goal is to complete it. The examples that came to my mind were a school assignment or a woodworking project. It makes sense that finishing these tasks would be better, and more satisfying, than starting them. . But something else with both an ending and a beginning could be a journey, even a hike. The end is better, not just because you’ve arrived at your destination, but also because of all the experiences you’ve had along the way. Similarly, the end of a good book is better than the beginning, because the story is now more dear to you, the reader, than it was on the first page when all the characters were still just strangers who were starting to introduce themselves. . As I mused about all these endings and beginnings, I started thinking about the Bible in this way. And I found it so hopeful, because if the end is better than the beginning, then the new heavens and the new earth described in Revelation will be even better than the Garden of Eden described in Genesis! . When Jesus returns bodily to earth and restores His creation, everything will be better than it ever was before, because God is bringing His plan of redemption to completion. Even though we were once far away from God, strangers because of our sin, He brought us near through the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 2:13, 19). God has been glorified through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and since we belong to Jesus, God is also glorified through all of us! What a mystery and honor—to have the privilege of glorifying God with the rest of His creation, with the mountains and the animals and the stars! In the end, together we will cry, “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8, NIV). • Hannah Howe . • As Christians, we get to look forward to the “end” of the world, at least as we know it. What do you imagine living forever with Jesus in restored creation will be like? . The end of a matter is better than its beginning. Ecclesiastes 7:8a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rev.21.1-Rev.21.5|Gen.1|Gen.2.4-Gen.2.17|Eccl.7.8-Eccl.7.14

Crawling into bed, I snuggled under the blankets as clouds filled my mind. &#8220;Another day I’ve messed up,&#8221; I thought, tears filling my eyes. &#8220;When will I ever get it right?&#8221; Despair filled my mind, making sleep impossible. I wanted to pray, but I was too scared to do it. Why would God want to listen to me after I had failed Him for the umpteenth time? I could just picture Him shaking His head with a groan as I stumbled forward to ask for forgiveness&#8230; again. . I pulled my knees into my chest, and pulled the covers around tighter. Then, a voice spoke right to my heart&#8230; “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” It was a ray of sunshine from heaven. I had heard the verse (Romans 8:1) before, but never needed to hear those words as much as I did then. . God doesn’t expect perfection from His children—and He does not condemn us. He knows that all humans sin, failing to love Him and one another (Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 3:23-24). Our sin grieves Him because He loves us and sin hurts us, but He also understands the struggle we go through. More than that, He gives us victory in our struggle—because His own Son, Jesus, lived through the same struggles we now experience, and He defeated every temptation. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have His Spirit in us, giving us that same power to resist sin. . And even when we fail, not only does God understand, but He has already forgiven us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. “Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, emphasis added). As we come to Him, repenting from our sins and seeking His help, He gladly gives it to us out of love. We don’t have to be afraid of punishment because Jesus took our punishment upon Himself when He went to the cross&#8230; and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). So, through each struggle, temptation, sin, and failure, He is still there, ready to help you through and ready to give you victory. • Lily Walsh . • Do you ever feel like you’ve failed too many times to receive God’s grace? How does today’s Bible passage speak into this? . • How can knowing that God gives us victory through Christ give us hope, especially when we fail? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:14-16; and 1 John 4:18.) . Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.1-Rom.8.14

Markus stumbled through the dense overgrowth, his breathing growing heavy. The weight of the illness inside him grew heavier with each step, but he knew he had to keep trekking&#8230; his life depended on it. . Every person alive had been born with the same illness Markus had. Some didn’t mind the dense feeling it left inside their bodies, but Markus had been looking for a cure for as long as he could remember, something to ease the pain. There had been the journey to the Creek of Wealth, and the hike to the Lagoon of Lust, but none had worked. Their waters had numbed the pain momentarily, but quickly made it worse than it had been before. Markus knew that each cure he’d tried came from the Torrent of Sin. The varying distributaries sported different names and appearances, but each had the same outcome—slow and sure death. . When Markus first heard of the River of Life, he could hardly believe it. He packed all his belongings and set out to find it. His friends laughed, likening his quest to the age-old search for the fountain of youth. But Markus knew it was something more. . Pulling the map from his rucksack, Markus smiled. He was almost there. Pushing himself to keep walking up the path, he gasped as he took in the view at the top. A beautiful river spurted from a hill where a man stood. As Markus approached, the man opened His arms and said, “Come to me, and drink.” Markus sank down, drinking as much of the water as he could, then rolled onto his back. The weight of illness inside him evaporated, and he knew that this man had healed him. He would never be thirsty again. • Lily Walsh . • In this allegorical story, who was standing by the River of Life? (Hint: read today’s Bible passages again.) . How can we drink the water He gives? (Find out more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.4.13-John.4.14|John.7.37-John.7.39|Rev.22.1-Rev.22.5

For a long time, people thought that Earth was the center of our solar system—until the late 1500s and early 1600s, when scientific advancements like the telescope proved that the sun is actually the center of our solar system. . It must have been strange to be living in that time, to grapple with the new knowledge proving that our Earth isn’t the center of everything. Could you imagine being alive then? You used to think the Earth was the most important part of the universe’s happenings, but now you realize we’re just one tiny planet orbiting the sun. You might feel like an insignificant speck, like you’re powerless and don’t matter in the vastness of the universe. . But realizing that the universe doesn’t revolve around us is actually a good thing. Just like how the sun is the center of our solar system (not Earth), we are not the center of our own lives: Jesus the Son is. The universe isn’t all about us; it’s all about God’s love and goodness, where we as humans find our center and purpose: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). . Looking at the sky and the grandness of the universe is humbling: it reminds us of how small and weak we are as humans, and it points to God’s awesome power as Creator and King of the universe. Things may seem chaotic to us, but we can have peace in remembering God is in control. God knows every star, and He knows us. He made each of us in His image, and He cares about us so much that He came to rescue us from death (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:8). Now, He welcomes us into life and purpose in following Him. We may be small and weak on our own, but when we offer our lives to God in following Him, He turns our weakness into strength and multiplies our impact toward His good plan (2 Corinthians 12:10). • Abby Ciona . • Read John 8:12 and 14:27. What is one way Jesus brings us peace and comfort in a confusing world? . • Where in your life are you tempted to put your own desires first instead of following Jesus? (Matthew 22:37-40) . • What are some ways you could center your day around Jesus? . When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.8

God is infinitely wise. Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” The riches of God’s wisdom are so deep. He sees the end from the beginning, and His purposes will never be shaken (Isaiah 46:10). . I got a glimpse of God’s wisdom recently when I reflected on how He has guided my career path. In high school, my dream was to become a lawyer. So for my university studies, I applied for law as my first choice and then education as my second choice. To my disappointment, I was accepted for education and not law. My dreams were shattered. . But years later, when I was living in a foreign land, I realized my profession fit with my life even in a different part of the world. Since I was a foreigner, it was not possible for me to work as a lawyer, but I could work as a teacher—and I did. Proverbs 20:24 says, “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.” I came to see God’s wisdom in directing my steps toward a career as a teacher. . Now, I ask God to lead me in making all kinds of decisions. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus said everyone who hears His words “and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” As we build our lives, Jesus is the only solid foundation. His love for us is sure, and we can trust Him to guide us. Even when we make plans and those plans fail, He sits beside us in our disappointment and shares in our sadness. Through everything we face, He invites us to follow Him and rely on His faithfulness as He continues to direct our path. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni . • Have you ever seen God use disappointing circumstances for good in your life? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. . • How does knowing Jesus make it possible for us to have hope even when it seems like our dreams have been shattered? . To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16:27 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Prov.20.24|Matt.7.24-Matt.7.29|Rom.16.27|Rom.8.26-Rom.8.39

A few years ago, I visited Windsor Castle in England. It’s an old castle that looks like a palace inside, with grand staircases, enormous chandeliers, and antique furniture. The weekend I was there, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were at the castle, and I got close to where he was. . The elevator for public tours exits onto a hallway that leads directly to the family quarters of the castle. As I got off the elevator, a woman from the castle staff walked by with a shopping bag. She told the guy who was helping me that Prince Philip had just asked her if she was getting groceries when he saw her bag. Apparently, he was in the room that I could just see at the end of the hallway. . This experience gave me a fresh perspective on the Bible verses about our access to God. When I was at Windsor Castle, I was very close to where Prince Philip was, but I didn’t get to see him. I wouldn’t have been allowed to if I’d tried. Other people are allowed beyond that doorway—family, staff, and friends are given special access. But I wasn’t any of those things to him, so I wasn’t allowed. . When it comes to the King of the universe, though, He gives me special access. Why? Because when He saved me, Jesus Christ gave me a new identity. Now I’m God’s child (John 1:12), His servant (Ephesians 3:7), and His friend (James 2:23). That means I can talk to Him at any time and for any reason. . Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have special access to the King of kings. We can speak with Him anytime, knowing that He’s paying attention to us and wants to help us (Hebrews 4:16). How amazing is that! • Christina Joy Hommes . • Is there a famous person you’d like to meet? Can you imagine what that would be like? . • If you could meet Jesus in person today, what would you want to tell Him? The wonderful truth is that we can interact with Him—right now! Consider taking a moment to tell Him whatever is on your mind; He’s listening. . But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.2.13|Eph.2.18|John.1.12

God is everywhere. When you’re sitting by a creek bubbling in between rocks along the way. When you wake up on an ordinary day. When the sun is shining through your window at work or play. When you are up on the mountain or in the valley below. . Words of wisdom to remember God knows and goes where you go. God is in the sunshine and even in the rain. God is with you all the way. . When nothing is working out as you planned. When you feel all alone. Remember that isn’t so. In the hard times when you feel low, Remember God stays with you and will never go. . In all the sights and sounds, God shines through. He makes a rainbow after the rain. He is with you. • Ruth Stephan . • Read Psalm 139:7-12 and Jeremiah 23:23-24. What do you think it means that God is everywhere? (Some theologians use the word &#8220;omnipresent&#8221; to describe this attribute of God.) . • If you know Jesus, God is with you personally (see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page for more about this). How can looking at the beautiful things God has created in nature remind us of His presence with us? . “Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139.7-Ps.139.12|Jer.23.23-Jer.23.24

Not worrying is easier said than done. . I know that I can leave it all to God and that He is ultimately in control of everything going on in my life, but I still want to control it. I still want to feel that I have some power over any situation that I am in. But then, I just get stressed. I worry. I fear over all that is going on and all that could happen. This is a daily struggle. A moment-by-moment struggle. I need to constantly remind myself to give everything to God. . In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are weary, and He will give us rest. Similarly, Philippians 4:6-7 says, even when we are anxious, we can pray to Him about everything and rest in His peace, no matter how we are feeling. Because Jesus is Lord of all, and His Holy Spirit lives inside Christians, we can be still, even when the things around us are troubling. . Worrying does us no good. I know this, yet I find myself getting anxious all the time. And every time I find myself getting anxious, I try to remind myself that I can go to God to find rest. . No matter how long we are anxious, the good news is that God never gives up on us. Jesus knows firsthand what it’s like to be a human living in this stressful, broken world. He empathizes with our struggles, and He doesn’t scold us for worrying. Instead, He invites us to bring all our worries to Him, being totally honest about our thoughts and feelings. In His unshakable love, He has promised to be our rest and to be with us no matter what, and through His Word, His Holy Spirit, and His people (the church) He reminds us that He is with us—and that He gives us rest through His death and resurrection. Moment by moment, He is walking with us through everything we face, and one day He will put an end to all worry for good. • Bethany Acker . • Sometimes, we experience worry that is too much for us to handle on our own, even by praying and reading the Bible. But God wants to help us with worry in lots of ways, including through other people such as medical and mental health professionals who can help us figure out if what we are experiencing is worry, clinical anxiety, or something else. It’s important to remember that we all need help from others, and it’s okay to be honest about our struggles. If you find yourself feeling afraid, stressed, or worried a lot of the time, or if your thoughts keep going to “what if” scenarios and you can’t seem to stop, who is a trusted adult you could talk to, such as a parent, pastor, teacher, or counselor? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. . • When you feel worried or anxious, do you feel like you can talk to Jesus about what you’re experiencing? Why or why not? . • Read Mark 14:32-34 and Hebrews 4:14-16. How might knowing that Jesus empathizes with all our struggles make it easier for us to be honest with Him? . Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30|Isa.41.10

Saying goodbye is my least favorite thing. And my honorary “niece” agrees with me. . Last year, my husband and I bought a house with our dear friends from college—the parents of our aforementioned niece. We wanted to live in community and save money, and it has been such a joy for our two families to live together. . While we were in the process of buying the house, we were still living in separate apartments, and I was babysitting my niece while her mom worked. On one particular day, when it was time to go home my niece burst into more tears than usual. We had been having so much fun together, and she didn’t want it to end. . She was too little to understand, but I was desperate to find a way to comfort her. “Little one, I have good news for you!” I said. “Pretty soon, we’ll be living in the same house.” . It really reminded me of Jesus’s promises to us. As Christians, we rest in two great promises: (1) that Jesus Christ is always with us, constantly present in our lives, and (2) that He will return someday to make all things new. Jesus is present with us even on the worst of days through His Spirit, His Word, and His people. And when Jesus returns bodily to restore the world, we will dwell forever with Him and our siblings in Christ on the new heavens and new earth. Then, we will be free from the sadness and brokenness sin introduced into our world. Free from the heartbreak of goodbyes. . In Christ, no matter what we face, we can trust that our future is secure. Even death can’t separate us from God’s love because our Savior beat sin and death when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. Now that’s good news! • Kandi Zeller . • What kinds of changes or disappointments have you experienced lately? How can the promises from today’s reading give you hope for both the future and the present? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 14:16-23 and Romans 8:38-39.) . • If you want to learn more about what it means to know Jesus, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” Revelation 21:3 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.28.20|Rev.21.1-Rev.21.5

If I were to tell you a secret, I think you would see that you shared in my secret. What if I were to tell you that I secretly struggle with having faith in God’s plans when things go awry? It’s true. As I go through this fun adventure we call life, I have my good moments when I raise my hand and proclaim, “God is so good!” But I also have my moments when the worry of life becomes too much, and I wonder if God can see me in this low valley that I’m in&#8230; and if He has time for me. . It’s easy to hold on to God’s promises when life is going the way that makes sense to us, when things seem safe and predictable. But what about when things seem to go off track? If you’re anything like me, you might be sitting there imagining yourself having the perfect response and the deepest faith and trust in God, even when the world is falling apart. But let’s be honest for a minute. If the thing we feared most were to happen right now, what would our response really be? We would probably shake silently as we begged for it not to be true. We would probably pray and ask God to let this be a bad dream and let us wake up soon. . When things are crashing down around us, the worry hits us without our consent and sends a round of crazy thoughts through our head. What happened to God, though? It didn’t take Him by surprise. It didn’t catch Him off guard. Instead, He’s sitting there with His hand outstretched saying, “Come to me, my child. Come home. I see your pain, and I am grieving your hurts with you. Let me give you the strength and faith you need to hold on and to keep your eyes on me. And even when you feel yourself slipping, I won’t let you go.” . As you close your eyes and hear His gentle voice reminding you that you aren’t alone in this mess, you can rest in His promise: “For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13). • Mary Garner . • Consider taking a moment to imagine if the thing you feared most were to happen, but imagine God being there with you. How might God help you in that situation? . • Read Matthew 14:22-33. When Peter didn’t keep his eyes on Jesus, what did Jesus do? How could this story give us hope when we feel overwhelmed by what’s going on around us? . For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.94.18-Ps.94.19|Isa.41.10-Isa.41.13|Matt.14.22-Matt.14.33

Have you ever messed up and then felt like you needed to somehow hide from God? Adam and Eve felt that way in the Garden of Eden. They did something wrong, and they thought they could make things better by hiding from God. . Not only does God see you even when you are trying to hide, but He loves you— even after you’ve committed a sin and done something you know you shouldn’t have done. He already knows it all. There is no need for you to hide from Him. . We all mess up. When we do wrong, we might feel that we are unworthy and that God shouldn’t love us after what we’ve done. God always loves us though, no matter what we do or how badly we fail. God’s love for us isn’t based on what we have done, but on what He has done. . In Jesus, God came to earth as a human and lived among us. He never sinned, but He took the weight of all our sin upon Himself when He went to the cross. He paid the price for our sin with His life, and then He rose from the dead, triumphant over sin and death! Through Jesus, God has given us the gift of salvation: He forgives all our sins, saves us from death, and restores us to relationship with Him. . You don’t have to hide away when you’ve done something wrong. Instead, you can confess and repent of your sin: turn away from your sin and turn to God for forgiveness. Because of what Jesus has done, you can be totally cleansed from sin. And, because the Holy Spirit lives inside Christians, you can move on and follow God’s good ways, free from shame and guilt. . You are loved with an unconditional love. You are cared for by the One who created you and really knows you. God’s love will always be a part of your life. • Emily Acker . • Why do you think, as humans, we try to hide when we do something that we know is wrong? . • Sometimes it’s hard to believe that God loves us even when we mess up. In moments like these, who are trusted Christians who can pray with you and remind you of God’s forgiveness through Jesus? How can you be this kind of friend to others? (If you want to know more about Jesus’s forgiveness, take a look at our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.69.5|Rom.5.6-Rom.5.8|Rom.3.23-Rom.3.24|Gen.3.1-Gen.3.10

Have you ever reached boiling point? You’ve been trying so hard to do the right thing, and in a weak moment, you sin. Your temper bubbles over, scalding hot. Your good intentions vanish, and you lose it, only later to be overwhelmed with guilt and failure. All is not lost. . I’ve had those days when I’ve blurted out angry words. I’ve allowed harmful thoughts to fester rather than asking God to deal with them. Unforgiveness has strangled my heart when I’ve allowed others’ hurtful behavior or comments to control me. Other times, my head has been so preoccupied with worry that I’ve briefly abandoned God in my self-absorption. If, like me, you have a tendency to overthink things, these are some of the strategies I use to help me: . 1. Remember no one is perfect. In Romans 3:23-24, Paul reminds us that we all fall short of God’s glory, but He doesn’t give up on us. This is a hopeful message. I have to remember I am an imperfect and flawed human in a dysfunctional and broken world, just like everyone else. As a result, I will inevitably mess up and even repeat the same failures several times. . 2. Don’t dwell on past failures. While it’s wise to learn from what I’ve done wrong, dwelling on all my past failings isn’t what God wants for me. Instead, He gives me complete forgiveness through Jesus, and He promises to walk with me on my journey. Because Jesus died and rose again for me, I can believe in Him and receive His forgiveness. . 3. Most of all, I need to focus on Jesus. And not only after I’ve sinned, but also when I am tempted (Hebrews 12:1-3). The good news is that Jesus—who lived among us as a human but is also fully God—knows firsthand what it’s like to be tempted, and He understands my weaknesses (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus never sinned, but He took my sin and promised me that belief in Him is lifechanging. His Holy Spirit lives inside Christians, transforming us to be more and more like Jesus. Even though I will sin at times, He is always there for me when I stumble. . 4. Remember God’s love never changes. Although the stresses of life may weaken our resolve at times, God’s love never changes. He understands us deeply and will never stop loving or forgiving us. Isn’t that amazing news? • Cindy Lee . • Do you ever get frustrated with your own imperfections or the ways you have messed up? Jesus invites us to come to Him and rest in His sure forgiveness. How could you practice this today? . • If you’ve wronged someone, what could you do to make it right, such as apologizing? . Oh, what joy for&#8230;[the] forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Psalm 32:1 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.3.23-Rom.3.24|1John.1.8-1John.1.10|Ps.32.1-Ps.32.5

It can be hard to sit back and be still. Some people will call us lazy if we do this. Some will say we need to get going and take action. There are times when we need to be still, though. There are times when we need to wait for God’s leading and direction. There are times when we need to hold back while God takes care of our battles for us. . In this broken world, we are pushed to rush through life. Many of us feel like there is always something we need to be doing, and like we have to stay busy. But we can miss out on hearing God’s voice when we don’t slow down and take time to be still. God wants to communicate with us, and it’s easiest for us to listen to Him when we are quiet and still. . Even though we might have a lot going on in our lives, it’s important that we take some time to slow down, no matter what’s happening. Jesus invites us to come to Him, to rest in His love and be refreshed in His presence (Psalm 23:1-3; Matthew 11:28-30). Even though we want to make sure we’re doing what we’re expected to do, and we don’t want to become irresponsible or lazy, it could be that the things we think we need to do aren’t actually God’s priorities for us. Remember that Jesus came so we could have relationship with God. We need to take some time to just breathe, and listen for God to speak. He communicates with us through His Spirit (who lives inside Christians), His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church), allowing us to hear the wonderful true story of Jesus’s rescue of humanity through His death and resurrection. • Emily Acker . • When do you feel rushed? God has compassion on you, and He is never in a hurry. There’s enough time to take a deep breath, and rest in His love. What are some practical ways you could take time to be still with God, especially when life feels busy? (Luke 5:15-16) . • God invites us to interact with Him through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people. While spending time with other Christians is important, why is it also important for us to spend time with God individually? . • Read Luke 10:38-42. What was Mary doing? What might it look like for us to follow her example? . Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.14.13-Exod.14.14|Ps.62.5-Ps.62.8|Ps.37.7

In Luke 15, Jesus told a story of a prodigal son who asked for his own portion of the inheritance from his father instead of waiting for him to die, and the father granted it to him. Years later the son came back with nothing. Surprisingly, his father welcomed him back into the household with open arms! . This parable shows us the extent of God’s unfailing love toward us, that at any point in time He is ready to receive us no matter what we have done. His love has no limits; His mercies endure forever (Psalm 136:1). Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead for us, we can always come home to God and be forgiven. No matter what we have done, God wants us to run to Him for help. . A close look at the parable shows us that the young man felt so ashamed, and he thought he was unworthy to even be called the son of his father anymore. He acknowledged that he had sinned. He realized that by rejecting his father, he had missed it. But the idea dawned on him to return back home and ask to be treated as a servant. When the father saw his son coming, he ran to him and welcomed him back wholeheartedly despite all he had done. . Beloved child of God, what have you done that you think is beyond God’s forgiveness? Instead of trying to analyze the situation, just go back to God. No matter the gravity or intensity of sin you have committed, God is ready to receive you back into the fold of His family. He has been waiting for you for so long. Just go ahead and come to Jesus, and you will receive forgiveness. Remember how the prodigal son was restored back to the family as if nothing had happened. That’s how God works. If you return to Him, He will restore you better than before. The prodigal son was treated as a legitimate part of the family, and even given a welcome-home party, all because his father was overjoyed to have him back! . If you are hesitating to go back to God, remember, He already knows that you have done wrong, and He doesn’t want you to stay in guilt and silence when there’s help available to you. Run to Jesus. He will enfold you in His arms, and your sins will be forgiven. • Shadrach Goni . • Why do you think we often hesitate to come back to God when we sin? . • How has Jesus made it possible for us to return home to God? (Find out more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . “So he returned home to his father&#8230; his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.15.11-Luke.15.32

Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit, and it’s vital for every Christian, in every walk of life (Galatians 5:22). When we are faithful, we are rooted in motivations and desires that are in line with the Bible, and our feet are steady upon the solidness of God. But faithfulness is something I struggle with&#8230; a lot. I find it hard to do what I need to do, because the desires of my sinful nature are at war with the desires of serving God (Romans 7:15-25). Feelings of discouragement and tiredness make it even harder for me to keep walking the straight and narrow path. My struggles and weaknesses pull me into a spiral of hopelessness and leave me feeling like I’ll never actually progress in my faith. Having fallen many times in my life, I sometimes question if God has given up on me. . While pondering these thoughts, I was reading Psalm 91 when something stood out to me. The psalmist writes, “His faithfulness is your shield and rampart” (verse 4). HIS faithfulness. Not mine. While I’m slipping and sliding on life’s path, God is steady. He’s firm. He’s faithful. Throughout our lives, we will always have sinful struggles and temptations, but God doesn’t leave us. He shields us, holds our hand, and promises to walk with us. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, everyone who puts their trust in Him is forgiven for all their sins. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit lives inside Christians, transforming their desires and empowering them to follow Jesus. . Through our weakness, God doesn’t expect perfection or performance out of fear (1 John 4:18). But He does expect us to find strength in His faithfulness, letting Him take the reins and fight our battles with us. He gives us the strength to endure, and He shows us a way out of every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). As we lean on His strength in our weakness, we learn how much we need Him. We grow closer to Him in love, finding absolute joy in walking with Him. . When we feel tired and worn out from the fight, feeling like our faith is weak, we can lean on His strength. Remember—He’s the voice that whispers “I’m not giving up on you” when we are in our darkest struggles. His faithfulness will shield us, protect us, and strengthen us. Therefore, in our struggles we can confidently call the Lord “my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2). • Lily Walsh . • What weaknesses do you have that make you feel inadequate for the path ahead? Consider taking a moment to bring these troubles to Jesus, trusting in His faithfulness and love. . “If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.91.1-Ps.91.4|Lam.3.22-Lam.3.23|2Tim.2.11-2Tim.2.13

Ever struggled to focus on reading the Bible? You’re not alone! Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite ways to read and focus on God’s Word. It’s called &#8220;lectio divina,&#8221; which is Latin for “divine reading.” . This practice was used by Christians long before it was common for individuals to be able to read or have a Bible of their own. Lectio divina is a four-step process that allows us to chew on God’s Word, reflecting on the story of the good news of Jesus no matter what Bible passage we read, because the whole Bible centers around Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and return. The four steps are read, pray, meditate, and contemplate. . 1. Read: Begin by reading or listening to a Bible passage out loud. After that, take a moment or two just to sit with what you’ve heard. . 2. Meditate: Read or listen to the same Bible passage out loud again, keeping an eye out for words or phrases that stick out to you. . 3. Pray: Read or listen to the Bible passage again. After that, take a moment to pray about the word(s) that stuck out to you. You can talk to God about what you liked or didn’t like, things you have questions about, etc. . 4. Contemplate: Read or listen to the Bible passage one last time. Finally, take a moment to focus on the word(s) that stuck out to you, resting in God’s love and in the unshakeable hope of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and return. • Kandi Zeller . • Every word of the Bible points to Jesus. He is fully human and fully God, and He offers rescue from sin and death to all who put their trust in His death and resurrection. How can meditating on these truths help us as we read Scripture? . “All the prophets testify about him [Jesus] that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:43 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.2.10-1Cor.2.16|2Tim.3.16-2Tim.3.17|Acts.10.43|Ps.119.15-Ps.119.16|John.20.31

The book of Philippians is a letter written by Paul and Timothy to the Christians in Philippi. There are many uplifting verses and passages in this letter, and many Christians choose one of the verses in Philippians as a favorite. The reason Philippians 1:6 is my favorite verse (not only in this book but in the whole Bible) is because it assures me that God is able to sanctify me&#8230; and He is faithful to continue sanctifying me. . Being sanctified means becoming more and more like Jesus. Sanctification isn’t something that we can do on our own if we just try hard enough or long enough. Like we can’t save ourselves, we also can’t sanctify ourselves. I love how Paul expressed confidence in God—not in himself or anyone else—to sanctify the Philippian believers. Yes, Paul knew that his preaching and teaching were important for their growth, but he recognized that he couldn’t force them to grow. God is the only One who can accomplish the work in our lives we call growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)! His Holy Spirit lives inside everyone who has put their trust in Jesus, transforming us to become more and more like our loving Savior (2 Corinthians 3:18). . It’s sometimes frustrating when we don’t see growth in our lives. We might feel like God isn’t working hard enough or fast enough to make us more like Jesus. But the reality is that the work God is doing in our hearts won’t be finished until Jesus returns to raise us from the dead and restore His creation, finally freeing us from sin and its effects. Until that day, sanctification is a moment-by-moment process that lasts an entire lifetime. Yet, just as we have trusted God to save us from our sins, we can also trust Him to sanctify us. • Grace McCready . • Are you ever frustrated with yourself for failing to live like you know a Christian should? How can remembering God’s promises of forgiveness through Jesus, and sanctification through the Holy Spirit, give you hope? . • Read 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 1:9-11, Galatians 5:22-25, and Ephesians 3:20-21. How can we follow Jesus while relying on the Holy Spirit’s power at work within us? . And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Phil.1.1-Phil.1.11|1Thess.5.23-1Thess.5.24

The following is a fictional story inspired by 2 Samuel 12:1-15 (when David was confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sin and what he did to Bathsheba and Uriah) and it also takes ideas from Psalm 139, which was written by David. . I reach the abandoned well and climb down as fast as I can, checking over my shoulder to make sure no one followed me. All around me is an empty field. I’m finally alone. Deeper and deeper I climb. Fifteen feet. Thirty. I scrape my knee on the stone wall, and my pants tear. The blood starts to trickle down my leg, but I keep climbing till I’ve reached the bottom, the depths. No one will find me here. . I can’t face what I’ve done right now. How I lied to everyone, how I hurt her. I feel my stomach twist at the memory. If anyone else would have done what I did, I would make them pay for their crime. Yet, here I am, guilty and alone. . Suddenly, I look up to the small opening at the top of the well. I’m so far down, it’s just a small circle of light now, but something enters the well. I watch as a leaf floats all the way down to the bottom. I catch it before it hits the silty floor. . Written on the leaf are the words, “I see you. Even though your sin is great, I love you.” I feel the same gentle breeze that carried the leaf now on my cheek. Leaning my head back, I close my eyes as the tears start to fall. Deep down, I knew there was one person I could never hide myself from. • Naomi Zylstra . • When our sin is exposed, we naturally want to hide. But God sees us, and He wants to restore us. Because Jesus died and rose again for us, those who put their trust in Him are totally forgiven for all their sins. What’s the difference between hiding in the dark and being sheltered by God’s love and forgiveness? . • Even though David committed two horrendous sins in 2 Samuel 11, God still loved David. Through the prophet Nathan, God exposed David’s sin and called David to turn away from sin and turn back to Him. When David repented, God forgave him! There were still very real consequences for David’s sin, but God continued to show His love to David and to Bathsheba. How can David’s story give us hope when we sin? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 51.) . If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you&#8230; Psalm 139:11-12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Sam.12.1-2Sam.12.15|Ps.139.11-Ps.139.12

Editor’s note: Today’s reading discusses abuse. . Daniel. Esther. Peter. Paul. As a teenager, I knew them all. If there was a Bible trivia show, I could have been a champion. I went to church and knew Bible stories like the back of my hand. . I knew about God, but I did not know Him. . How about you? Do you know about God? Or do you know God? What’s the difference? . While I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, I didn’t understand what it meant to have a relationship with Him. I didn’t know His Word, I didn’t know my worth in Him, and I didn’t know His promises and how to hear His voice over lies. . In the midst of all of this, I had the good desires to be loved and to be a mom one day. So, when love came knocking, I opened my heart wide. This could have worked out well if my boyfriend had been a healthy individual, but he was not. Instead, he was abusive, emotionally manipulative, and a destroyer of my self-worth. . At the time, I didn’t know God well enough to know His love for me, my worth in Him, and the promises in His Word. I didn’t know He would fulfill the desires of my heart as I delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). I didn’t know I could trust Him for all the details of my life, including relationships. . When we know God and not just know about Him, it changes everything. His truths permeate our minds. His promises override our fears. His presence leads us through life’s big decisions. His Word becomes the lamp for our feet and the light for our paths (Psalm 119:105). . God loves us so deeply, reaching out to us before we could love Him, dying on the cross for us (1 John 4:19). Our trustworthy Savior invites us into relationship with Him, so that we may be ever deepening in our understanding of Him and the good news that He has come to save and restore us. No matter what we experience, Jesus is present with us, including giving us wisdom to find safe people—who reflect His love—to reach out to when we experience abuse. • Erin Nestico . • If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, and if your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. . If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. . • Have you ever been hurt by a dating partner’s words or actions?* Have you hurt someone? There is hope through Jesus. He offers healing and forgiveness, no matter how terrible the situation may be. Who is a trusted Christian adult you can talk to as you seek to follow God’s good intentions for how people should treat one another, including setting up loving boundaries? . • How is knowing God different from knowing about Him? . • Jesus invites us into relationship with God, to know Him deeper and deeper throughout our lives. Would you like to pursue this kind of relationship with Jesus? If you have questions about it, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? (If you want to learn more about what it means to know God, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . *If you are unsure about whether or not a dating partner is acting in an unhealthy ma

I decided to search the island for a spring to quench my thirst. As I passed under vibrant green vines, there before me was a tiny pool of crystal clear-water surrounded by periwinkle blossoms. Cupping my hands in the water and lifting it to my lips, I drank and was refreshed. . Suddenly, the surface of the water rippled, though no wind blew this far inland. I gazed intently as a picture formed in the water. I blinked twice—it was me! First as a baby, next as a toddler, then the day my parents proudly held the Growing Ceremony and our whole town came to celebrate. This went on and on, snapshots of my life, the good and the bad. . Tears filled my eyes and coursed down my cheeks. &#8220;Could it be true? This feeling I’ve had all my life that Someone knows me&#8230; Someone cares about every intimate detail of my existence?&#8221; “Yes, My Child!” The answer was immediate, warm and soft. I knew in the depths of my soul that it was the Presence. “I created you, and I love you—you are wonderfully made.” My heart felt as though it would explode in joy. . “I am the Author of Life.” A bright light swelled around me, and a large book gilded with gold appeared in the pool. “You see, all the days ordained for you were written in My book before one of them came to be. You were created to be in relationship with Me. I will never leave you or forsake you, my precious one.” . The book flipped to the next page, but I found I could not decipher what was written on it. &#8220;Is this my future? Can I not know it?&#8221; I felt the Author’s smile surround me like an embrace. “I know the plans I have for you—they are to give you hope and a future. Your purpose is to seek me, and I promise that you will find me.” • Savannah Coleman . • God made you and knows you completely. No matter how far you roam, nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:39; Hebrews 13:5). How can these truths give you hope as you look back on your past and forward to your future? . • The purpose of our life is to know God—and He has made this possible through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Jesus is “the author of life” (Acts 3:15), and He will fulfill His purpose for us (Psalm 57:2). If you have questions about what it means to know God, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “&#8230;plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139|Jer.29.11-Jer.29.13

I rose from my bed, thoughts swirling like tornado winds. &#8220;Does anyone really know me? What is the purpose of my life?&#8221; Resolution filled my veins like urgent flames. Today I would search and seek until I found the answers I needed. . As I packed a sack of food for my journey, I had the sensation that Someone was watching me. This was nothing new, for I had felt this watchfulness my whole life, pushing it from my consciousness as one would shoo a pesky fly. But today, I allowed the sense to linger. &#8220;What if? What if there was Someone who saw my every movement, knew when I left my home, had an intimate knowledge of every activity—every thought.&#8221; . The sun was just breaking over the horizon, golden light cascading through the fields. I chose to journey toward the sea; the vastness of its waters called to me. This Presence, this Someone, surely had no hold on me where the endless miles of ocean roared. . Traveling over the great sea in my small vessel, I was amazed to feel the Presence with me still. &#8220;Surely the darkness will hide me,&#8221; I reasoned as the velvet night fell, ocean spray misting my hair. No, hours into my voyage, Someone was still with me. . Amid the pre-dawn light, a small island winked in the distance. I felt weary from my journey and decided to rest on the shore. As my bare feet dragged over the grains of sand, a sudden thought sprang up in my mind: &#8220;What if the Presence thought of me every day, hour, minute&#8230; What if these thoughts amounted to more than all these grains of sand?&#8221; A gurgle of a laugh welled up in my throat. It was almost too wonderful to contemplate—perhaps I was dehydrated. • Savannah Coleman . • Like the character in today’s story, do you ever wonder if there is more to life? Wonder what is the purpose of your existence? . • In Psalm 139, David wrote about how God has an intimate knowledge of us. The God who made the universe knows when we wake, where we go throughout the day, and every thought that enters our minds. How does the knowledge that God knows everything about you make you feel? . “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?&#8230; Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139.1-Ps.139.18|Jer.23.23-Jer.23.24

Jesus is often called the Messiah, but what does that name mean? And why is this name an important title for Jesus? . &#8220;Messiah&#8221; means “Anointed One” in Hebrew. It was later translated as &#8220;Christ&#8221; in Greek. So, when people call themselves Christians, they are calling themselves followers of Christ, the Anointed One. . Anointing was a sign of kingship and honor in the Old Testament. For example, the prophet Samuel anointed David because God had chosen him to be king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13). The pouring of oil on someone’s head was a sign that set that person apart for service. . Being the Anointed One means that Jesus is the Savior God promised throughout the Old Testament. He is the king who rules over all of creation and who frees all people who put their trust in Him. But what does He free us from? . In Jesus’s day, the Israelites thought that, as king, Jesus would free them immediately from the oppression of the Roman empire. Although Jesus did not free them in the way they expected, He did free the Israelites, and the whole world, from the oppression of evil as manifested in our own sin nature and our propensity to sin. How? By dying on the cross and rising again three days later. This is good news: Jesus is the promised, set-apart, sinless king who conquers sin and death! He is the Messiah, the Anointed One. • Naomi Zylstra . • What does it mean that Jesus was anointed and set apart? . • Since Jesus is king, how does that affect how we as Christians see Him? . To learn more about Jesus as king and what that means for all of us, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . “But what about you?” he [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8:29 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.53.4-Isa.53.6|Mark.8.29

One day, I was paging through my Bible and stopped on the book of Habakkuk. I had never read this book in the minor prophets before, and I found it fascinating. Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah who loved God. He would pray often, and one day he was crying out to God about the evilness of the people of Israel. Habakkuk knew that God was a holy God, hating evil, but the people had turned their backs on Him, worshiped idols, and refused to follow any of the commands God had set in place. Habakkuk couldn’t understand why God was just sitting around, seemingly not doing anything. . Then God responded, explaining that He would use the Babylonians to execute judgment. Habakkuk was very confused by the way God intended to deal with His people. You see, the Babylonians were a ruthless people, conquering nations surrounding them and acting far more violently and wickedly than Israel did. . Why would God use those people to punish Israel? Habakkuk wanted to know! In response, God assured him that, in His timing, the Babylonians would themselves be punished. . So here was the situation Habakkuk found himself in: very soon God would raise up the army of Babylon to sweep over the nation of Israel—conquering them, killing many, and enslaving the rest. Habakkuk was innocent of the wrong that his fellow Israelites were being punished for, but he would have to endure the same hardship as those who did wrong. . Yet this prophet knew that God was God and understood His holiness and judgment. No matter what happened in the future, Habakkuk knew he could trust in the greatness and goodness of his almighty God and in His promise that one day every wrong would be made right—a promise we now know finds its “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus (Habakkuk 3:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20). • Doug Velting . • Have you ever been disappointed with the plans of God? Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Why are we free to bring all our feelings (including disappointment and frustration) to God? . • Read Revelation 21:1-5. As Christians, what hope do we have for the future because of Jesus? . But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Hab.3.16-Hab.3.19|Ps.13.5|Hab.1.1-Hab.1.6

I started noticing the word &#8220;unrighteousness&#8221; in the Bible. I thought, why not use a stronger word like wickedness or depravity? Why just put an “un” in front of righteousness? But I’m not an ancient language scholar, and I assume Bible translation teams know what they’re doing. So, I let the question remain in my mind, holding it loosely to see if God might answer. . And soon after, I noticed something. A young deer, lifeless, discarded on the side of the road. It was probably hit by a car on its way to the woods. Maybe it was following its mother but got scared and froze. Maybe the driver stopped. Maybe they didn’t. But now, the body that was once warm and breathing was now cold, its insides turned outward. Pink. Those innards, those intestines and kidneys, should have been tucked safely inside the deer’s belly. Kept warm by skin and fur. Instead, someone had draped an old coat over the dead body to hide its ugliness. But the wind snatched the coat away. . Un-righteous. A perversion of what is right and good. Wholeness become un-wholeness. Life become death. Innocence become collateral damage. That’s what sin does. Sin takes what is good and lovely and turns its insides out. That’s what happened to the world when the first humans went their own way against God. All that God made, everything that existed, was good. But our sin made things un-good. Twisted. Broken. Violent. Un-righteous. Now, instead of doing good, we kill. We steal. We destroy. We let our greed trample the innocent. We revert to self-preservation and accusation. We do what is un-righteous. . But God still loves His creation. He still loves us. And He came to save us. When Jesus lived among us, He embodied righteousness. All He did was good, through and through. No mixed motives, no “ends-justify-the-means” rationale. And yet, we killed Him. We turned His insides out, ripped at His flesh and exposed His blood to the sky. And He let us. Because He wanted to forgive us. . . and set His creation free from unrighteousness. Though Jesus’s body hung lifeless on a cross, though Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus’s cold corpse with spices and strips of linen before the tomb was sealed, death was not the end. Unrighteousness would not prevail. Because on the third day, Jesus the Righteous One rose from the dead. • Hannah Howe . • Where have you seen unrighteousness in the world or in your own life? . If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit in us, who empowers us to live righteously. And when Jesus returns, He will put an end to all unrighteousness and we will live with Him forever in restored creation. How can these truths give us hope? . For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.10.10|John.19.38-John.19.42|Rom.8.18-Rom.8.22|1John.1.9|1Pet.3.18

My heart throbs with each bound I take, my breath growing heavy. &#8220;Run, run, run,&#8221; a voice whispers, and I struggle to obey. When I’d found that I had once again veered from the path called straight and narrow, I knew I couldn’t go back. Trying to leap over a rotting log, I feel my foot catch in the crevice. Pain shoots up to my ankle as I tumble to the ground. I whimper and bite my lip. The pain inside is worse than the pain in my leg, but I will not cry. . “Why are you running?” Someone asks behind me. My throat closes up as I recognize the voice. . &#8220;No&#8230;&#8221; I think as I sit up feebly. The feet before me are marred with nail marks. &#8220;No, no, no! Not here&#8230;&#8221; . “Why, child?” He asks softly. . “I have to get away,” I choke out. . “From what?” . “From You,” I sputter. “It’s too hard&#8230; I can’t keep falling and facing You again.” I bury my face in my dirty hands and sob. . “It is hard,” He agrees, and I marvel at his lack of anger. . “How could you know?” I feel my face heat up. . “Because I walked the same path. I passed over every mountain, struggled through each valley. Child,” His voice cracks, “I know.” . Tears fill my eyes, and I look at the ground. “I’m not strong enough.” . He holds out His hand, and I can see an ugly nail mark on His wrist. “I am. Lean on me in your weakness, and I will sustain you. I will keep you from stumbling, and help you when you fall. I am your strength, and I have faced the trials you now walk in.” . “I’ll fall again.” I shake my head. . “My grace will sustain you.” He lifts me up. “I will fight for You. All you need to do is rest in my arms.” My tears start to slow. The heaviness in my chest is replaced by something warm and light. My grace will sustain you, the words replay in my mind. I know they are true. • Lily Walsh . • How can knowing that God helps us in our weakness and trials change the way we view them? . • Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Jesus is fully God and fully human, so He knows and understands every weakness and hurt we face. And through His death and resurrection, He has sealed our forgiveness. How can these truths make us more confident to come to Him in our weakness? . “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.14.14|Ps.37.24|Matt.11.28-Matt.11.29|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16|2Cor.12.9

Things change here on earth so quickly. Your parents get divorced and suddenly you’re living in two homes. Your grandparent moves into an assisted living community and no longer has the yard that they used to have. Your sibling graduates from high school and joins the military. You gain and lose people in your life as you grow up. You have new opportunities and spend time in new places. You never quite know what a day is going to bring or what changes you are going to have to face. . Change can be hard. It can be scary. But it’s good to remember that even as this world changes and we feel tossed around by all that’s happening around us, God never changes. . In all times and circumstances, God is good. He loves us with an unending love. He is always there for us, even when we feel alone. While the world seems to move all around us, God remains constant. In Isaiah 54:10, the prophet records God’s words: “‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” . The leader of a country might change, but God doesn’t. The place where you lay down to sleep at night might change, but God doesn’t. Your parent might get into a new relationship, change their job, or change their appearance, but God stays the same. You can count on God to always be who He has revealed Himself to be, no matter how this world changes. • Emily Acker . • Throughout our lives, we go through lots of changes, whether they be related to school, home life, relationships, or the overall state of the world. How can relying on God’s unchanging love make it easier for us to go through all kinds of changes? . • Is someone in your life going through a difficult change right now? How could you share God’s love with them? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person and see if any ideas come to mind. . Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Num.23.18-Num.23.20|Jas.1.16-Jas.1.18|Heb.13.8

I am lost The world shatters I am alone Nothing matters I am done Reality has broken into a million pieces And I am lost in the chaos I am finished; the nightmare’s begun Beaten and bruised; scarred and in pain I stumble through the dark I scream Death is at my door A knock at the window Another Visitor Life The Light hovers outside I invite Him into my heart Death is gone The nightmare has ended Life slowly pieces my world back together I am no longer alone I have been found • Maria Achilleos . • We live in a world full of evil, darkness, and death. At times we feel lost and hopeless. But even as our world falls apart, God searches us out. Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus saves us from death. When Jesus returns to raise all His people from the dead, we will live with Him forever, free from pain and sorrow. As we wait for that day, Jesus holds us close, and He takes all the broken and painful parts of our lives, working everything for good. . • Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt as if God abandoned you? How could it be comforting to know that even Jesus felt this way when He was on the cross? (Mark 15:34) . “For the Son of Man [Jesus] has come to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.15.3-Luke.15.6|John.8.12|John.14.1-John.14.6|Rom.8.26-Rom.8.28|Luke.19.10

Throughout history, people have asked the question, “Who is Jesus?” Some consider Him to be a good man, a prophet, a teacher. Others believe that He is in fact God, but consider Him to be distant, unknowable, unapproachable. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself the question, “Who is Jesus Christ to me?” . I believe Jesus is the Son of God, my Savior and King, but He’s also my closest friend. The only One I can have complete and total faith in. The One who will always be there to listen to me when I need Him most. The One who understands me when no one else can. He is approachable, relatable, and I can talk to Him wherever and whenever. . There are times when I feel a variety of emotions all at once: joy, anger, frustration, sadness, anxiety&#8230; but whatever my feelings are, I know I can go to Jesus with them, and He will understand me perfectly. When I want to talk to someone and no one is there to listen, Jesus is. When I feel alone and afraid and like no one understands, Jesus does. When my own confused feelings threaten to drag me down under and I need someone to lift me up, Jesus pulls me out of the mire and comforts me with His gentle touch. When I feel worthless, empty, uncared for and helpless, Jesus knows and calls me precious. He tells me that, to Him, I’m beautiful and loved, I’m the daughter He died to save. . Who is Jesus? He is my Protector, Lover, Comforter, Savior, Friend. . That’s who Jesus is to me. • Eliana Canfield . • Since before the beginning of time, God had a plan to make the way for us to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5). He is the God of the universe, and yet He wants you to know Him personally! If you have questions about what it means to know Jesus, who is a trusted Christian you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . • In Matthew 16:13-17, what questions did Jesus ask? How did Peter respond? . • Why is it important for us to consider the question, “Who is Jesus Christ to me?” . Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Psalm 73:25-26 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.16.13-Matt.16.17|Ps.73.23-Ps.73.26

One of Jesus’s names is the Lion of Judah. But what does this name mean? We have to go way back to the beginning of the Bible for this question, to the book of Genesis. The ancestors of the Israelites’ tribes were the sons of Jacob—who was later called Israel (Genesis 32:24-30). Among these brothers, Judah was elevated to be the brother who would be an ancestor of Jesus, even though Judah wasn’t the firstborn in his family. . Before this happened, all the sons of Jacob ended up in Egypt when there was a famine. But here’s the shocking part: Joseph, one of the youngest sons, was already there. Years earlier, his brothers had sold him as a slave to Egypt, but, through a series of events with all kinds of twists and turns, Joseph ended up becoming second in command in Egypt. God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams, and through this gift, Joseph learned that a famine was coming. Thus, Egypt was prepared and had extra food to share. Joseph’s brothers, unaware of what had happened to their brother since they sold him, arrived in Egypt asking for food, but they didn’t recognize Joseph. But Joseph recognized them and put them through an elaborate test: he demanded that Benjamin, the youngest brother, stay in Egypt as a slave. That’s when Judah showed that he had changed: he offered to take Benjamin’s place (Genesis 44). This offer of self-sacrifice also points to the sacrifice that Judah’s descendent—Jesus—would later make. Jesus, who is God, took our place on the cross, and His self-sacrifice fulfilled prophecies of a Savior that are found all throughout the Old Testament. . Jesus, a descendent of Judah, had victory over His enemies through dying on the cross and rising from the grave. He is a voice for the voiceless and a shelter for those in need. He is our ruler and is the only One with the strength and power to conquer death. Jesus is called the Lion of Judah. The image of a strong and powerful lion is fitting for Jesus as a ruler. A lion is fearsome and is not easily defeated; it rules over the land and its creatures, just like Jesus rules in God’s kingdom. • Naomi Zylstra . • Judah was just a human, and he sinned like all of us, yet God chose him to be the ancestor of Jesus. Why do you think Judah was chosen out of all the sons of Jacob? . • How does Jesus’s kingship look different from any other king’s? What does it mean to be ruled by Jesus? (See our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page to go deeper.) , “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed&#8230;” Revelation 5:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.49.8-Gen.49.12|Rev.5.5

When we are falsely accused, it’s natural to try to defend ourselves to prove our innocence. I used to try to defend myself by tarnishing the image of my accusers. But now at age sixty, I have learned to explain myself in a proper way, and to let God be my defender. . I came to see this truth when someone I had helped made false accusations against me, causing a misunderstanding between me and a friend. I was so hurt because I knew I was not guilty, and I was tempted to speak evil about my accuser. But I decided not to, believing God would defend me. Indeed, He did! My friend learned the truth, and our relationship was restored. . Deuteronomy 32:4 says God is just and faithful in all His ways. When people accuse us falsely, God knows the whole truth, and His justice will prevail in the end. . In Mark 14:55-59, some of the Jewish religious leaders were trying to kill Jesus, so they had many people bear false witness against Jesus, accusing Him of things He hadn’t done, but then their witnesses did not agree. In this way, their accusations were shown to be false. Jesus did not defend Himself or try to show how bad these accusers were; instead, He entrusted Himself to God the Father and let Him handle the matter. Even when Jesus was sentenced to death, the one presiding over His trial, Pilate, said that Jesus had done nothing wrong (Luke 23:4, 14-15, 22). Jesus was willing to die a death He didn’t deserve so we could be made right with God. And death didn’t have the last word. After three days, Jesus rose from the grave! . When we are falsely accused, we can certainly try to explain ourselves. We can also tell the truth about what other people have done. But we don’t need to try to show how bad our accusers are or paint a bad picture of them so people will believe us rather than them. Let us learn to trust the faithful and just God to be our defender even when people may fail to understand us. While our reputations may not be restored before Jesus returns, we can know that one day He will bring everything into the light and right every wrong. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni . • When people falsely accuse us, how does God call us to respond? (If you want to dig deeper, you can read about how Paul responded to false accusations in Acts 24-26.) . • If anyone has done something wrong, it’s important to be open and honest about this, especially if a person is being hurt. If someone has hurt you or others, who is a trusted adult you can tell right away? (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 23 and Galatians 2:11-21.) . He [Jesus] was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mark.14.55-Mark.14.62|1Pet.2.22-1Pet.2.23|Isa.53.7|Deut.32.4

The Revana people, including Layla, had been flying at near-lightspeed for close to three years to settle on the new planet they were missioned with terraforming. It was going to be their new home. . Alerts started popping up all over Layla’s screen. As chief navigator it was her job to make sure everyone stayed on course to the planet. Layla scanned her screens and her face started to burn red. Mortified, she sank to the floor; she had failed her crew. . Layla read her screen again. &#8220;Fifteen degrees? We’ll miss the planet entirely!&#8221; . “It’s all my fault.” Tears started to leak out of Layla’s eyes. She got back up into her chair and put her head in her hands. &#8220;There’s nothing I can do to fix this,&#8221; Layla thought to herself. &#8220;Even if I over-correct our course, we don’t have the fuel to make up for the lost distance.&#8221; . Suddenly, a message alert popped up on Layla’s screen. The preview message only read, “We can help.” Attached were the sender’s credentials, identifying it as an official freighter ship. . Without hesitating, Layla accepted the message. Right now, she needed all the help she could get. . “It appears your ship is off course and will collide with a nearby moon if not corrected,” a voice crackled over the system. “Do you need assistance?” . “Yes!” Layla blurted. “How can you help us?” . “Our ship is a t24 freighter, so we have a large hauling capacity. If you power down, we can tow you back onto course and help you avoid collision.” . “That would be amazing, but why would you help us? You don’t even know us.” . “I can see you’re a terraforming ship so you have civilians onboard, and the rule of our ship is to come to the aid of any vessel in need.” . “Yes, we do have civilians. I&#8230; I made a mistake, and I couldn’t fix it in time with our fuel supply. We needed your rescue.” . “We’ll be at your location within the hour.” The communication ended, and Layla began to power down the ship. • Naomi Zylstra . •Have you ever felt like Layla? Throughout our lives, we get into trouble that we can’t get ourselves out of—either because of our own failures, or simply because we live in a world that has been broken by sin. But the good news is, God wants to help us, no matter how we got into trouble. . • One of the primary ways God helps His people, is through His people! Has someone ever helped you when you really needed it? What did they do? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this, and maybe thank the person too! . • The gospel is the good news about how God rescues us through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Though none of us deserve to be rescued from sin and death, Jesus freely rescues everyone who puts their trust in Him. If you have questions about this, who are trusted Christians you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him. Psalm 37:40 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.69.13-Ps.69.14|Heb.13.6|Heb.13.14|Ps.37.40

I like to take walks with my dog almost every day. One evening, I passed a house that had so many flowers of all different colors, and it just made me so happy! A woman was outside watering them, so I told her I loved all her beautiful flowers. She responded with a big smile, “Flowers are the best thing ever!” . As I continued walking, I thought about that. While flowers are definitely one of my favorite things, I don’t think they are the best thing ever. I think the best thing ever&#8230; is love. And generations of human history and storytelling seem to agree. People throughout the ages have been willing to do almost anything for love. . Pondering this, I remembered a Bible verse: 1 John 4:16 says, “God is love.” Isn’t that a wonderful thought? The very thing we humans crave most of all&#8230; is God Himself. . Every loving interaction we have with other people is only an echo of the beautiful love God has for us. Later on in the same passage, John writes, “We love because he [God] first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Out of love, God created us. And even though humanity has rejected our Creator, He never stopped loving us. . And God’s love is not some ethereal, untouchable idea. God embodied His love for us by becoming human, living among us. Jesus came bodily to earth, and people could physically touch Him. And they could hurt Him—but only because He allowed it. Jesus was willing to be tortured and humiliated on the cross, because that’s what it took for our broken relationship with God to be healed. God’s fullest expression of love for us was the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus, God the Son, gave His own life for us so that we could live with Him forever. . And love is more powerful than death. After three days in a tomb, Jesus rose from the grave—defeating sin and death forever! Now, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is reunited with God, the One our hearts crave above all others. He made us for relationship with Him, and our hearts are finally satisfied when we are His once again. • Hannah Howe . • Do you agree that love is the best thing ever? Why or why not? . • How can loving human relationships give us glimpses of God’s love for us? . And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:16a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.63.3|John.3.16-John.3.17|1John.4.7-1John.4.19

&#8220;She does WHAT?&#8221; As we walked out of class, a friend told me something surprising. A boy at our school, who I’ll call “Henry,” had persuaded his girlfriend, “Vanessa,” to do his homework for him. When another student asked Henry about this, he admitted that every school night Vanessa completed not only her own homework but Henry’s too. . I felt indignant on Vanessa’s behalf. Why should she carry this extra load? Why had she ever agreed to this? But then I wondered&#8230; How would I respond if a person I cared about—or a person I was in a long-term relationship with—pressured me to do something I wasn’t comfortable with? . When we place our faith in Jesus and enter a loving relationship with God our Father, we receive His Spirit. In John 14, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth,” promising He will be in us and guide us in God’s truth, no matter what situations, pressures, or temptations we face. . In difficult situations like these, setting verbal boundaries can often help, giving us a way to sidestep pressure from others to do something we don’t believe God would want for us. We can say things like the following: “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “No, that’s just not for me.” “No, I’m not comfortable with that.” Or you could make your parents the bad guys and say, “No way! My parents would go crazy if they found out!” Most parents and grandparents wouldn’t mind if it helped protect you from sinful and/or dangerous choices and situations. . In our broken world, we face struggles of all kinds—temptation, pressures, and other challenging situations; even Jesus Himself faced these things (Hebrews 4:14-16). For this reason, we can know we’re not alone, no matter what we face. • Allison Wilson Lee . • Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. As Christians, what hope do we have when we face temptation? . • If you are being pressured to do something that is wrong or that you are not comfortable with, who are trusted adults you can reach out to—such as parents, counselors, pastors, or teachers? . [Jesus] has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Heb.4.15-Heb.4.16|John.14.15-John.14.18|1Cor.10.12-1Cor.10.13

Have you ever felt deeply satisfied after enjoying a meal that you love? Have you found yourself eating slowly while savoring your favorite food, thinking about each bite and fully tasting it? . In Psalm 63, David talks about how God satisfies us even more than good food does. David writes, “I have&#8230; beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you&#8230; I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you” (verses 2-5). When we experience the power, glory, and love of God, we praise Him because of who He is and all that He has done for us. . What do you enjoy eating the most? A large dish of pasta? Ice cream piled into a cone? The food we eat can be enjoyable while we’re eating it and leave us feeling happy when we’re done with it. It can leave us feeling full and content. What God offers us is even better. His love for us—and the way He is there for us and looking out for us—can leave us feeling safe, secure, and satisfied. . God demonstrated His power, His glory, and His better-than-life love when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so that we could be with Him forever. As Christians, we can know that God is with us, and we can look forward to the day Jesus will return bodily to earth and we will be fully satisfied in His glorious presence. In the meantime, God makes sure we have what we need to get through each day. He helps us find peace when everything in our lives is falling apart. He gives us someone to talk to when we are nervous or scared. He is there for us during the day and all through the night. He invites us to know Him personally through Jesus, and when we follow Him, we find a fulfilling life (John 10:10). He satisfies us like the richest and tastiest food. • Emily Acker . • What are some of your favorite foods? In Psalm 63, why do you think David compares the satisfaction of eating good food to the way that God satisfies us? . • When our lives are falling apart (like David’s was when he wrote Psalm 63) why is it important for us to take time to remember God’s power, glory, and love? . I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.63

When my friend invited me to her twelfth birthday party, I couldn’t contain my excitement! I anticipated the fun we’d have—playing games, eating cake, and swimming in her backyard pool. There was just one problem. My Campfire group planned to see a movie that same day, and I wanted to go. I couldn’t do both, so I had to choose. But how? . Decisions can be hard. It feels like the older we get, the more tough choices we have! My 12-year-old choices may seem easier than what we face in high schooland beyond. But no matter how old we are, we can trust God to lead us through every choice we face. . In Psalm 32, King David writes about how God guides us. He begins by describing his experience with forgiveness. David confessed his sin to God, and God forgave him—so David wants to share the wisdom he learned and encourage others to trust in the Lord to forgive and lead them. He says, “Therefore let all the faithful pray to you” (verse 6). And God will respond, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (verse 8). . Chances are you’re facing a decision in your life right now. It may be about what to do this weekend, or whether or not to join a team, or what steps to take after high school. Maybe you’re deciding what to do about a problem you’re facing or a conflict with someone you care about. Whatever the decision, the wisdom of this psalm is still true today. God has His “loving eye on you,” and He will be with you every step of the way. . When we turn to Jesus and confess our sin, we can rest assured that we are forgiven because of Jesus’s sinless sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. By putting our trust in Jesus, we get to live as children of God, which means we have His Holy Spirit in us, guiding us in our daily lives and helping us rely on God’s love through all the tough choices we have to make. • Kristine Brown . • Read Matthew 22:36-40. Which two commandments do all the other commandments in the Bible depend on? How could these commandments help guide the decisions we make? • Read Psalm 37. Verse 3 says, “Trust in the Lord and do good.” What examples does this psalm give of good choices? What about bad choices? I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.32|Ps.37

When we lived in Guinea, West Africa, we witnessed the beauty of hospitality. There’s even a proverb that states: &#8220;An unexpected visitor is like an unexpected rain.&#8221; . We lived through two seasons each year: six months of rainy season, and six months of dry season. We always loved the “mango rains”—the rare, unexpected downpours that came out of nowhere during dry season. Children could be seen running through the rain, fully dressed, laughing with delight. . Hospitality comes more naturally to some of us than it does to others. When you hear a knock on your door, but you’re not expecting anyone, how do you respond? Does it make you excited, or do you find yourself thinking something like: “Who could that be at this hour?” “Did anyone call to say they were coming?” “Everyone hide and be quiet—maybe they will go away!” . In the Bible, God repeatedly calls His people to practice hospitality. Thankfully, He also gives us the ability to do so through the Holy Spirit. So, how can we practice hospitality? The Greek word translated “hospitality” in the Bible is &#8220;philoxenia,&#8221; which basically means “loving strangers” because Philo=Love and Xenia=Stranger. Not at all like &#8220;xenophobia,&#8221; which means fear of strangers or outsiders! . In Matthew 25, Jesus says that when He returns bodily to earth, He will commend His people for inviting Him in when He was a stranger. But when they ask, “Lord&#8230; When did we see you a stranger and invite you in&#8230;?” (verse 37-38), He will answer, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (verse 40). So, when we welcome strangers (or outsiders), we show our love for Jesus! . As Christians, we can show hospitality to others because God has shown the greatest hospitality to us. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God has welcomed us into His family! Though we used to be outsiders and strangers, we are now “fellow citizens with God’s people” (Ephesians 2:19). From the abundance of love that God has given us, we can share with others. . When you think of practicing hospitality, think of this picture: children standing in the rain, arms out, heads back, eyes closed, mouths open—sheer joy! • Daniel Dore . • Can you think of a time someone showed you hospitality or philoxenia? What did they do? . • According to today’s Bible passages, what might it look like to “practice hospitality”? . Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Lev.19.34|Rom.12.9-Rom.12.13|1Pet.4.8-1Pet.4.10

A storm is swirling around you, the winds howling. The rain falls hard from the sky, stinging you as it hits. Terrified, you cry out for help. Suddenly, something drapes over you. You are pulled close. You are covered in the shadow of the wings of God. Under the wings of your Savior, you find rest. . Whether you’re going through actual physical storms in your life—taking shelter because of a tornado, hurricane, or blizzard—or you’re going through turmoil, stress, and grief, you can hide in the shadow of the wings of someone who cares about you. . Whatever is keeping you from feeling relaxed, know that there is someone who is watching out for you. Know that there is someone who loves you. You are never alone. God is a safe refuge where you can always find shelter (Psalm 71:3). . Life brings many struggles. We face many difficult situations and fears. But we have a safe place where we can go. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He longs to gather us like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37). When we go under the shadow of His wings, we can receive the peace and rest that we need. • Emily Acker . • What do you think it means to take shelter in the shadow of God’s wings? . • Especially when life gets scary or hard, God invites us to come to Him. While our circumstances may not change right away, God has promised to always be with us, and He has sealed this promise through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Consider taking a moment to imagine yourself being sheltered under God’s wings. What do you notice? How do you feel? . Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.91.1-Ps.91.6|Ps.57.1

I’m great at trusting God&#8230; until I have to. Trusting God is easy when things are going my way, but when I face a challenge or when life isn’t lining up the way it’s “supposed to,” I start trying to take matters into my own hands. I find myself trying to take control—making plans a, b, and c—effectively putting myself in God’s place and saying, “I can do it better than You can.” . Control can become an idol: something we put in the place of God. I often want control because I’m looking for safety and security, and these are good desires, but God tells us in His Word that He is the One who ultimately provides everything we need. If we try to rely on our own strength, wisdom, etc., we will always let ourselves down. . God cares deeply about us, and He calls us to trust Him in all things and at all times. He has proven that He is worthy of our trust by the greatest act of love: Jesus (who is God the Son) gave up His life for us on the cross, and then He rose from the dead so that we could be saved from sin and death. Now, God asks us to put our trust in Jesus. He offers us eternal safety and security, and He wants us to rely on Him, not just for salvation, but for everything. . But putting that amount of trust in Jesus can seem difficult when we can feel so removed from Jesus’s life here on earth two thousand years ago. Yet even now, Jesus is present with us through His Spirit, His Word, and His people (the church). The Bible reminds us that we are blessed and filled with joy for believing in Jesus, even though we haven’t met Him face-to-face yet (John 20:29; 1 Peter 1:8). As we put our trust in Jesus to save us, to give us eternal life, and to lead us, we can also trust that God will provide what we need for our lives right now, because He cares for us. • Naomi Zylstra . • Are you ever tempted to idolize control or try to take matters into your own hands? While it’s good to make plans and think through our problems, ultimately, only God can take care of us. How could it be freeing to rely on and follow Him instead of trying to do things ourselves? . • When life gets chaotic, how could remembering God’s love for us—expressed in the good news about Jesus—make it easier for us to trust Him with the things going on in our lives? . Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.28.7|Matt.6.19-Matt.6.33|1Pet.5.7|Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6

On October 5, 1703, in East Windsor, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards was born—the son of Timothy Edwards, a pastor, and Esther Edwards, his wife. Young Jonathan soon found himself surrounded by ten sisters, who—because of their average height of six feet—came to be identified by the townsfolk as Timothy’s sixty feet of daughters. . Jonathan was a gifted child and progressed easily through his father’s rigorous home schooling and, at a young age, came to trust Jesus Christ as his Savior. From very early on, Jonathan was concerned about his relationship with God. At times, he worried about the possibility that he was not converted. His diary provided him a tool for examining what God had done in his life. As he approached his nineteenth birthday, he even wrote his “Resolutions,” a series of instructions for life and guidelines for personal examination. For Jonathan, these resolutions became a spiritual discipline that encouraged him in his walk with Christ and were one of two great interests in his young life. . The second area of young Jonathan’s interest was the creation around him. He was fascinated with the star-studded sky and God’s bountiful display laid out in nature. As he walked daily in the densely wooded New England countryside, he would spend hours contemplating the intricacies of a spider web or the wonders of creation all around him. . But Jonathan’s curiosity and delight in God, His works, and His world lingered long beyond his teenage years. Edwards entered Yale College at age thirteen, later graduated with a master’s degree, and was eventually called to pastor a church in Northampton, Massachusetts. . Like Jonathan Edwards, we as Christians can take great comfort in God’s love for us in Jesus, reveling in the beauty of the universe He made and knowing that He walks alongside us no matter what challenges we face in our walk with Him. • Mark Congrove . • Jonathan Edwards grew in his faith by reflecting on his Creator while spending time in nature. Consider setting aside time each day to think about the wonders of creation. What are some ways you could take notice of some of the small details God included in His world? . • Read Philippians 4:8 and Ephesians 5:15-17. How can setting goals further our walk with Jesus? . Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Tim.4.7-1Tim.4.8|Eph.5.15-Eph.5.16

Once there was a King whose wisdom and favor toward his subjects was renowned. From the highest mountain peak to the smallest village in the valley, the King’s care for His people and His justice in every area was praised. Day after day, the King’s people would approach His throne. The King had proven to be there in times of need, so they continued to ask for His help: . “Oh Generous Ruler, my family and I have no food—could you spare some bread?” “My son, everything I have is yours. I will direct my stewards, and they will supply as much bread as your family needs. Just as you would not give your children a stone when they request a crust of bread, so will I fill you with good things when you ask.” (Matthew 7:7-11) . “Just King, there is someone who has been hounding me day and night. My eyes can find no rest for fear that he will hurt me once again.” “Daughter, I will see that you get justice. Stay close to me, away from harm’s reach. I will provide trustworthy friends who will share your burdens, and I will heal your deep hurts.” (Luke 18:1-8) . “Compassionate Ruler, my heart has been aching since the death of my loved one. My eyes leak tears day after day, and I feel like I just can’t go on.” “Come to me, I will be your comfort. I will weep with you and share in your suffering.” (2 Corinthians 1:1-11) . “Merciful King, I have long struggled with my tendencies toward weakness in the area we discussed weeks ago. You offered to help, and I now accept. Walk with me as I try, in your strength, to do better?” “Dear child, I will always be here to help you in your time of need. And you can always rely on my sure forgiveness.” (Hebrews 4:14-5:10) . “Powerful King, there is a thorn in my flesh. Three times I have pleaded with you to take away this torment. Will you finally do it?” “Beloved one, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. My power will rest on you, so that even when you are weak, you will be strong. And when my kingdom covers the whole earth, your thorn will be no more.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Revelation 21:4) • Savannah Coleman . • As Christians, we have been given citizenship in Jesus’s kingdom because He has rescued and forgiven us through His death and resurrection (Colossians 1:9-14). We can come to Him any time, pouring out our hearts and our requests. How can knowing that Jesus is generous, just, compassionate, etc. make it easier for us to talk to Him? . Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence&#8230; Hebrews 4:16a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Phil.4.4-Phil.4.13|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16|2Cor.9.8

My grandmother had invited me to join her for a special event: the trip to the airport to pick up her brother, my uncle Barton. I felt grown up accompanying Nanny to the airport, so I decided to wear my favorite outfit with my new navy-blue loafers for the occasion. But Uncle Barton’s flight was delayed several times that day. As we waited, Nanny and I walked all around the small lobby area over and over during those hours. . We also walked to the restroom, to get a snack, to look out windows&#8230; and still Uncle Barton didn’t arrive. I needed to give my feet a break after my new shoes had rubbed blisters on them. So, I sat on a hard, plastic seat at the airport gate and took off my shoes. I felt so relieved to have the shoes off that I didn’t mind the people staring at me. I was too uncomfortable to care. . But as painful as the waiting seemed, it was worth it. Uncle Barton eventually arrived for his visit, and we headed home. I’d been willing to suffer through the miserable waiting because I knew we waited for something worthwhile. . In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah noticed the troubles around him and yet still watched in hope for God, His Savior. He was looking forward to the coming of the One who would be the light of the world, who would shepherd His people with compassion, and who would make the way for us to be forgiven for all our wrongdoing (Micah 7:8, 14, 18-19). Today we know that Micah’s words are fulfilled in Jesus: He is the Light of the World, our Shepherd who lavishes us with compassion. When we put our trust in Jesus, we have new life in Him—life marked by hope. We trust in the One who lived among us on earth, died on the cross, and then rose again so that we could be forgiven and brought near to God. We also trust in His promise to return and set things right. As God’s children who live in a broken, messy world, we can watch for the Lord like Micah did. Even now, we can wait with confidence that Jesus our Savior will return and restore His creation—just as He promised. • Allison Wilson Lee . • Read Micah 7:1-7. What kinds of brokenness was Micah experiencing? What kinds of problems in your life or in the world around you cause you to long for Jesus to return? Jesus invites us to be honest with Him about all our pains and sorrows, knowing that He grieves with us and comforts us. Consider taking a moment to talk to Him now. (If you want to know more about what it means to know Jesus, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . But as for me, I watch in hope&#8230; for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mic.7

Have you ever been in the kind of situation where you were just screaming out to God, painfully aware that you needed Him with you? Have you ever been hurt or scared, and you needed to feel His presence to keep going? . Not too long ago, I was working in the kitchen when my finger slipped, and I was in a mess. I was panicking, worrying about how bad the damage was and whether or not I would have to go to the hospital to have my finger fixed. . I was on the floor, with a towel around my finger, and I was whispering a prayer. “Please God. Please help. Please help, God.” I kept repeating those words, my heart beating fast. . Eventually, I calmed down. I got things cleaned up and bandaged my finger. Healing took weeks, but it did eventually get better. My finger has a scar on it that reminds me that God was there for me in a difficult time. . God is there for you, no matter what situation you’re in. He is ready to be there with you when you feel panicked. He wants you to cry out to Him. He is so near, and He has compassion on you. You don’t need to say a fancy prayer—simply reach out to Him. And even if you forget to cry out to God, you can trust that He’s there, always. • Emily Acker . • One of Jesus’s names is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Because God loves us so much, He came to earth in human flesh to live among us, to die for us, and to rise from the grave so that we could be with Him forever. Even though Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised His followers, “surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). We can reach out to Jesus anytime, and we can be totally honest about how we’re doing. He knows firsthand what it’s like to be human, to be in pain, and to experience hard emotions; He empathizes with us, and He wants to help us (Hebrews 4:14-16). How might knowing these truths make it easier for us to cry out to Him? . • Can you think of a time you knew God was there for you when you were scared? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. . For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling&#8230; Psalm 116:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.116

She is leaving, and I feel so lost I didn’t want it to be this way, but it is Where are you, God? I am hurting, but you’re not healing I am falling, but you aren’t saving me With the psalmist, I cry out “How long, LORD?” At night, I toss and turn in my bed I open your Book, but I find no comfort Then I see the words, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” And I hear the words, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” Finally, I find peace I close my eyes and sleep. • Lucy Viss . • Have you ever felt lost because someone in your life was leaving? In times like these, God invites us to come to Him with all our pain and messy emotions. Even though people come and go throughout our lives, as Christians we can know that God will never leave us. Jesus is Immanuel, which literally means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). He has compassion on us, and He promises that He will always be with us (Matthew 28:20) and that He will one day put an end to pain and sorrow (Revelation 21:3-4). . • Consider taking a moment to read the verses quoted in this poem: Psalm 13:1, Psalm 46:1, and Hebrews 13:5. How could these verses give us comfort in times of loss? Do you have any favorite Bible verses that remind you of God’s sure love when things are hard? . But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously. Psalm 13:5-6 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.13|Ps.46.1|Heb.13.5

It was my turn to do laundry. At my house, wet laundry often gets hung out on a backyard clothesline to dry in the sunshine and breeze. Sometimes, though, we use our clothes dryer. But its timer broke years ago, so we have to set a separate timer when we use the dryer. . One afternoon, I was using the dryer and a load of laundry seemed slow to finish drying. I restarted it and reset my timer. When the timer buzzed, I checked the laundry again. One towel remained damp. I returned it to the dryer to continue drying. Only I forgot to set a timer this time. For the rest of the day—and night—the dryer ran without me (or anybody else in my family) realizing it. The next morning, I discovered the clothes dryer still in action. After stopping the machine, I snatched the towel out and stomped off to confront my family. . When they all denied leaving the dryer on, I recalled I’d been the one to leave it running for almost eighteen hours. I sheepishly apologized for my unfair accusations, acknowledging my own mistake and my need for their forgiveness after the way I’d treated them. . Being honest about our sins is part of living as a follower of Jesus. When we put our trust in Jesus, He brings us into a relationship with God and makes us part of His family. On top of that, we receive all the forgiveness we’ll ever need because He provided the payment for our sins when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. That means we can be honest about our failures because we know that God already sees all our sin, and He loves us unconditionally. Since we belong to Jesus, we can humbly acknowledge our mistakes and sins, take responsibility for them, and move forward in the grace He gives. • Allison Wilson Lee . • While forgetting about a laundry machine is a mistake, lashing out against others in anger is a sin (Galatians 5:13-15). Thankfully, God wants to forgive our sins, and He also wants to help us when we make mistakes. How could these truths give us hope when we mess up? . • As followers of Jesus, we are called to be humble, to treat each other well, and to forgive one another when we mess up. How does knowing Jesus make it possible for us to be honest with each other about our failures? . Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.4.25-Eph.5.2|1Pet.5.6

&#8220;Search me, God, and know my heart.” When my heart doesn’t know itself. When my thoughts and my feelings are so jumbled and confused that I can’t see the truth through the fog. Every day, O Father, search me and know my heart. . “Test me and know my anxious thoughts.” When previously calm waters are ruffled by wind. When storms blow in and threaten to draw my focus from my Lord. When I’m restless and agitated and need Your peace. When I fail to trust. Every day, O Father, try me and know my anxieties. . “See if there is any offensive way in me.” When I can’t tell right from wrong. When I feel guilty for wrong although I think I did right. When I can’t seek out my own motivation for my actions. When my desire is to do right, but I know that I sin. Every day, O Father, see if there is any wicked way in me. . “And lead me in the way everlasting.” When my greatest desire is to glorify God. When I long to trust my Father with all I am, even though I know I can’t do it on my own. When my desire is for You, but I fall. Every day, O Father, lead me in the way everlasting. • Macy Lee . •Today’s devotion is written in the style of a personal prayer, guided by a psalm. Have you ever tried to pray by using a Bible verse or passage as a model? Consider taking a moment to read Psalm 139:23-24 slowly, praying your own words to God in between the Bible’s phrases. . • Do you ever find it difficult to be honest with God about your own failures and shortcomings? How could it be comforting to know that other people feel this way too? . • Remember that God has already secured our forgiveness through Jesus’s death and resurrection. As we lay all of our thoughts, feelings, and struggles down at Jesus Christ’s throne in surrender to Him, we can rest in His deep love for us. . Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139

Kyle hesitated as he came to the doors of the library before opening them and slipping inside. Book dust wafted in the air, illuminated by golden shafts of light that poured in from the tall windows. The rotunda of bookshelves surrounded a wooden desk, where an old woman sat in a wooden chair. . Kyle bit his lip self-consciously as the woman smiled at him. “Come here, child,” she said in a grandmotherly voice. “Step into the light.” . Kyle approached cautiously. . “You’ve come for a book?” . Kyle could only nod. &#8220;Reading is the only way I can escape my present circumstances, the endless consequences of past mistakes,&#8221; he thought. . The old woman scurried across the room and plucked a blue book off the shelf. The gold letters of the title lit up softly in the radiant surroundings: Kyle Meyers. &#8220;What?&#8221; Confusion filled his mind. . “Go ahead.” The woman smiled. “Open it.” . Kyle grasped the book and flicked through the pages. Memories of joy and sorrow—of each moment of his life—danced across the pages. The day he lost his first tooth&#8230; the birthday spent at the beach&#8230; the first band recital&#8230; then— . “No!” he sobbed as he saw pictures of the moment he had regretted for years. He reached to tear it out, but the woman laid a gentle hand on his arm. . “Keep going,” she whispered. Painfully, Kyle continued through the memories till he came to a page that reflected his own face. . “The past mistakes and sins that plague us can be fuel used for regret and shame,” the woman said, “or they can be used to show how much God can change us! He will use those chapters of your life. And Jesus will walk with you every step of the way.” . Kyle’s eyes filled with tears. . “Let the Great Author take those pages and use them for something better than you could imagine!” . Kyle looked back at the page and watched the tear stains on his face glow, then dissipate. As he closed his eyes, a smile of relief crossed his face. &#8220;Take these pages,&#8221; he prayed as he held up the book. &#8220;They’re all yours, Lord.&#8221; • Lily Walsh . • Even though our sin might have lasting consequences, God is so good that He works good out of even our worst moments (Romans 8:28). How can this change the way we view our past? . • Have you seen God use a mistake from your past to help you or the people around you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. . • Why is it hopeful to know that God writes the stories of our lives, and He doesn’t give up on us? (Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 3:20-21; Philippians 1:6) . &#8230;looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:2a (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.7.21-Rom.7.25|Eph.3.20-Eph.3.21|Heb.12.1-Heb.12.2

Hannah took a swig from the can. It wasn’t like anyone cared what she did anymore. Her parents were caught up in dealing with her little sister’s illness; they wouldn’t notice if she came home drunk. . “What are you doing?” . Hannah startled at the sound of a voice. She spun in a circle but didn’t see anyone near her. “Who are you? Where are you?” . “Hannah, what are you doing with your life? Stop.” . As she heard the words spoken directly to her heart, Hannah felt comfort settle over her like a blanket. Still, she said, “Whoever you are, you know nothing about what is going on.” . “There are people who care about you. Your parents care—even though they’re busy helping your sister. You can find someone to talk to about all of this. You are loved, and you are not alone.” . Hannah lifted the can toward her lips but paused without taking a sip. She wasn’t sure if the voice was in her head or where it was coming from, but the words were getting to her. Her eyes filled with tears. “I just want my parents to pay attention. I want them to notice that I’m hurting too. I want them to remember that they have an older daughter.” . “I love you. Bring your hurt to Me. I am here. Even though your earthly parents are not paying attention, I am. You are My daughter.” . Hannah brushed at her eyes when she heard the voice again. Maybe she wasn’t as alone as she felt. Maybe she really was cared for and loved. • Emily Acker . • Have you ever dealt with parents who were distracted? Maybe you had a sibling who was sick, or your parents were facing marriage issues or the loss of a job&#8230; . • Read Matthew 28:20, John 11:33-36, Hebrews 4:14-16, and Revelation 21:1-5. Jesus knows what suffering feels like, and He came to the world to live among us, die, and rise again to make all things new and free from brokenness. He is with us through everything we face. As Christians, when we experience abandonment and loneliness, how can these truths comfort us? . • When you feel alone, who are trusted people in your life (such as counselors, teachers, pastors, parents, etc.) that you can reach out to? . [God] himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Hebrews 13:5b (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.10.29-Matt.10.31|Heb.13.5

&#8220;If God is loving, why does He deal with sin so harshly?&#8221; It’s a great question. Before we go on, let’s remember that God is always the same, always keeps His promises, and is always good, even when we don’t understand (Romans 11:33-35). . Judgement for sin may not seem nice, but it actually shows God’s love. Sin is going against God’s good design for life, and going against God’s plan ultimately leads to death. . Since God is completely good and perfect, He must address evil and sin. Our sin breaks our relationship with Him and those around us, but God loves us so much that He made a plan to rescue us from sin. Jesus is fully God, and He became human and lived among us, eventually dying on the cross for our sins, taking our guilt upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus beat sin and death, providing all who trust in Him with forgiveness and the promise of being with Him for eternity (John 3:16). He defeated the power of sin and evil: this is the best news ever (Luke 2:10)! . God’s justice is also good news when we look at a world full of evil and suffering. Because we know that Jesus is King, we can have peace and comfort in remembering that evil will not go unaddressed. When Jesus returns to judge the world and make all things new (free from the effects of sin and death), there will be no more suffering (2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 21:1-5). . Love without justice is superficial, and justice without love is cruel. God’s justice shows that He cares about us and doesn’t want us to suffer or inflict evil on each other, and His love shows His grace and compassion. When we look to the cross, we see how bad sin is. Yet, when we look to the cross, we also see how amazing God’s love is. • Abby Ciona . • Read Isaiah 42:1-7. This passage talks about God’s promised Rescuer: Jesus! How does it show that love and justice go together? . • Read Proverbs 21:15. How is justice good news for Christians? (Hint: read Romans 3:22 and Ephesians 2:1-5.) . I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. Psalm 101:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.61.8|Rom.3.22-Rom.3.26|1John.4.7-1John.4.18|Ps.101.1

Three items: one dress, one skirt, one jumpsuit. These were the pieces I wanted to sell at a consignment shop. If they sold, the store owner would earn a profit, and I would also walk away with some cash. . I located a consignment store and arranged to sell my items there. Then I called the store once a week to check if they had sold. Each time, I learned they hadn’t. After a few weeks, nobody answered my calls. I finally spoke to the manager, who I’ll call “Iris,” and she informed me that she had decided to cut back on store hours because profits were low. I didn’t understand but agreed to contact Iris later about whether the clothes had been purchased. . After a couple more weeks, I passed by the shopping center, only to discover that the store was shut down and completely bare. I don’t know what happened to the clothes I tried to sell, but I never saw them again. I was frustrated and didn’t know how to fix the problem. Though I might have wanted to make Iris pay for what she’d done, I also wanted to consider how God would have me approach the situation. . Having a relationship with God is possible through Jesus. He died and rose again so that we could be forgiven from all our sins. I had put my faith in Jesus, and that meant He had something to say about my mindset in these circumstances. Jesus taught His followers to be merciful and to pray for those who mistreat us, as God is merciful to us even though we all do wrong against Him. As His children, we have been set free to forgive others and let offenses go because God has forgiven us, and we can trust Him to carry out perfect justice. In the end, I chose to let those pieces of clothing go, acknowledging that God was still good even in this loss. . As God’s children, we can trust Him to show us His kindness even when people mistreat us. As we follow our merciful Savior, He helps us be merciful to others. • Allison Wilson Lee . •How could remembering that God has shown us mercy make it easier for us to show mercy to others? Consider taking a moment to pray for someone who has wronged you. . • In certain situations, it’s important to pursue justice (the righting of wrongs), especially when someone has been hurt. If you’ve experienced an injustice, who is a trusted adult you could talk to? . “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.6.27-Luke.6.36

One element in storytelling that I enjoy is called a “redemption arc.” It’s where we get to see a character who was evil, hurtful, or just made a lot of mistakes… turned to good and brought into community. This theme in stories has strong ties to Christianity and to God’s own story of redemption. . In the Bible, Jesus is often called the Redeemer. But how does Jesus redeem us? Ever since humans first went their own way against God, we all became sinful, doing wrong against God and against one another. Our sin separated us from God, but He wanted us to be near Him again. That’s why He took our sins upon Himself on the cross. When Jesus died and rose again, He was the One who paid for our sins and brought us back into the folds of God’s grace. In books and movies, characters often redeem themselves, but for Christians, our redemption is a gift from Jesus, bought at the price of His own blood and suffering (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8). . One way the Bible explains it is that we were slaves to sin, owned by our sin. But we were bought at the price of Jesus’s death on the cross, and now we are free! We get to be with our resurrected Lord and become part of God’s family, the church. Jesus has brought us back into His light, so we don’t have to hide in the shadows anymore (Colossians 1:13-14). Now, we can live free from the guilt and shame of our own sins, because we have been redeemed. • Naomi Zylstra . • Can you think of a book or movie character who had a redemption arc? How did they change over the course of the story? . • Have you ever done something you regret, and then wanted to somehow make up for it? While God does call us to turn away from wrongdoing and work to make things right, we can never earn God’s forgiveness or our place in His family. We are only redeemed by Jesus’s death and resurrection, not by any of our own efforts. In light of these truths, what might it look like for us to follow God out of love and gratitude, not obligation or fear? . “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” Job 19:25 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.3.23-Rom.3.24|Rom.6.17-Rom.6.18|1Cor.6.19-1Cor.6.20|Job.19.25

God’s plan is good. We don’t have to worry when it seems like things aren’t going well. We can be patient because we can know that God is still good, and He is still on the throne. . Remember people like Paul and Peter, who were put in prison for their faith in Jesus. Even when they were locked up and put in chains, they didn’t lose hope. They kept praising God. More than once, He got them out of dangerous situations so they were free again. Eventually, both Paul and Peter were imprisoned one last time&#8230; and put to death. But death will not have the last word, because Jesus has promised to return bodily to earth and raise us from the dead, and everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live with Him forever in restored creation! . God’s ultimate plan to redeem the world cannot be thwarted. Though our lives aren’t always easy, we have the sure hope of eternity with Jesus. Before then, we might not get relief from our suffering, at least not in the way we hoped, but He is still good. . When Christians like Paul and Peter were released from prison, they could have gone on to live easy lives. They could have thought that they’d done enough for God and could just relax and try not to get caught again. But instead, they went on spreading the good news about Jesus: that He is the Messiah, and He died for us and rose from the grave so that all who believe in Him could be saved. Paul and Peter both continued to serve God despite the challenges they knew they would face because of it. . Following Jesus is not always easy. While we might not go through the same things Paul and Peter did, this life on earth still isn’t perfect and people can be cruel. We will face many challenges that come, not just from other people, but also from sicknesses or any kind of setback. But with Jesus, we can get through it all. His love for us never fails. He has compassion on us, and “He comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-11). God knows what’s best for us. He knows what’s best for His plan. And He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). We can trust that no matter what’s in store for us, He will be with us. • Bethany Acker . • Why do you think Christians like Paul and Peter continued to spread the good news about Jesus, even though they kept getting thrown in prison because of it? (Hint: read Acts 4:13-30.) . • If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 21:12-13; Acts 5:17-32 and 26:29. . “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I [Jesus] have overcome the world.” John 16:33b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Acts.12.1-Acts.12.11|Acts.16.22-Acts.16.40|John.16.33

Who helped you understand the love of Jesus? For me, it was a woman I’ll call “Amelia,” a youth group leader I had at church. She provided conversation, encouragement, water, food, and sometimes a place to sleep if someone’s own home wasn’t a safe place. To be honest, I remember her practical care more clearly than any Bible lesson she ever taught, and her faithful care and listening ear helped me grow in my Christian faith. She gave me a tangible picture of Christ’s love for me and for the church as a whole. . It is interesting that God seems concerned that His people are known for their practical and even mundane care for each other: providing water, clothes, and visits in times of suffering. That’s probably why, just a few chapters before today’s passage, Jesus said that loving God and loving our neighbor are not only the two most important commandments, but also the motive behind every part of the Old Testament (Matthew 22:37-40). . And Jesus fulfills the entire Old Testament. He embodies God’s love as the Good Shepherd who cares for us, who are His sheep (John 10:11). In Psalm 23, we see how the Good Shepherd provides His flock with water, food, and safe places to rest. As Christians, we are called to follow His example by caring for one another. . So, even in the busyness of our days, let us remember that the gospel (the good news of Jesus) is made clear not just by our words but also through our love for each other. And this love comes from the wellspring of God’s deep love for us as shown when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to rescue us from sin and death. It is only when we rest in the love and work of our Good Shepherd that we may truly love others well. • Kandi Zeller . • Who is a Christian in your life who has shown Jesus’s love to you? Consider taking a moment to thank God for what they’ve done, and maybe thank the person too! . • What are some tangible ways you can show Jesus’s love to your siblings in Christ? . • What are some tangible ways you can show Jesus’s love to those who don’t know Him yet? . “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.25.31-Matt.25.46|John.13.35|Ps.23

With a sickening crunch, a piece of my tooth snapped at the back of my mouth. Shocked, I momentarily paused, anxious about how broken it would be. Carefully taking out the broken piece of the tooth, I realized it was a tiny fragment. . &#8220;I can live with it until my next dentist appointment,&#8221; I foolishly thought. &#8220;I’m booked in for a check-up in a couple of months anyway.&#8221; . How wrong was I? Within hours, I found that the jagged edge of my tooth was scraping my tongue. It was stabbing me so much that I struggled to speak properly and kept piercing the offending wound. I knew I would have to do something about it. I could not live with the pain. . Thankfully, the dental clinic could fit me in. The dentist smoothed away the sharp edge and patched it up to stop the pain until my tooth could be fixed properly at my next appointment. . Sometimes my own life has a jagged edge. In this imperfect world I live in, I constantly make mistakes and choose the wrong decisions. When I do, whether it’s a tiny or colossal error, it still has the power to hurt me or others. And when I sin, it also harms my relationship with God. The Holy Spirit prompts me and reminds me that, like my tooth, my relationship with God needs repairing. . How wonderful that we have Jesus, who heals our broken relationship with God. Because Jesus took all our sins upon Himself when He went to the cross, and then defeated sin and death when He rose from the grave, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is forgiven and brought near to God. Whenever we mess up, we can come to our loving Father, who is always ready to forgive us and restore what’s been broken. • Cindy Lee . • Are you living with regrets for something you did wrong in the past? Whenever we experience guilt, Jesus invites us to repent: to turn away from our sin and come to Him for forgiveness and healing. Consider taking a moment to write down or simply reflect on particular sins you’ve committed, and then offer them up to God and thank Him for His forgiveness. Remember that no matter what you’ve done, you are deeply loved, and our loving Father will always forgive you and welcome you with open arms. . • If you would like to know more about Jesus’s forgiveness, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.32.1-Ps.32.5|Rom.8.1|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16|1John.1.9|John.3.17

Sometimes I feel like I am not enough. I feel like I am not trying hard enough or doing big enough things with my life. I feel bad for not being as successful as others. You may have days like that too. You might have days when you mess up and you feel like you’re not good enough. You might have days when you fail to get into the college you wanted to attend, or you don’t land the job you were excited about, or when you feel like the dreams you have for yourself don’t compare with the dreams your friends have. . But our value in God’s eyes has nothing to do with what we have accomplished, or what we are hoping to accomplish. Our value in God’s eyes has nothing to do with the way we act or how perfect we are. Our value in God’s eyes is based solely on the fact that we are human and He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). He loves us no matter what we do and no matter what we accomplish. As Christians, we know God’s love is unshakable because He became human and died and rose again for us, beating sin and death so that we could be with Him forever (Romans 8:38-39). . God chose to love us before we even turned to Him, and that is a great sign of how He feels about us. We are enough because He loves us. We do not have to accomplish anything to be seen and cared for by Him. • Emily Acker . • Jesus came to die for you while you were still a sinner and an enemy of God. In fact, God loved you so much that He chose to save you before He created the world—before you had ever done anything good or bad (Ephesians 1:4-5; 1 John 4:19). How might it be freeing to know that God’s love is not affected by what you do or don’t do, and that forgiveness for all your sins is accomplished through Jesus’s death on the cross, the ultimate expression of love? . • We all need Jesus’s love and forgiveness. To find out more about what this means, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.5.6-Rom.5.11

When did you become God’s? When did God first notice you and pay attention to you? The psalms talk about that happening before we were even born. Before we made our appearance in the world, we were already seen by God. We were already claimed by God. We already had God looking out for us. . When we were babies, relying on adults for everything, God saw us. When we were young and we didn’t fully understand what it meant to know God, He knew us. . God has such a great love for us, and He paid attention to us before we were even born. When you think about the life of a baby while they’re still in their mother’s womb, there’s not a lot of exciting stuff going on. But God still paid attention to us when we were small like that. . When we start to wonder if anyone cares about us, the Bible can help us see just how much God cares for us. In Psalm 139, David writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb&#8230; My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place&#8230; Your eyes saw my unformed body” (verses 13-16). . When we start to wonder if anyone really loves us, we can look to the Bible to see how God has always been loving us—even before we were born! • Emily Acker . • Have you ever thought about how God loved you and paid attention to you before you were born? How might it give you comfort to know that He was watching over you—and your mother—even then? . For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb&#8230;Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13, 16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.22.9-Ps.22.10|Ps.139.13-Ps.139.16|Eph.1.4-Eph.1.5

The Aramean army surrounded Samaria. No one could get out or go in. People were starving since no one could get past the Aramean army. Those outside the gates—lepers who were unclean since leprosy was a fatal skin disease—were also starving. . Four lepers sat outside the gate. Trying to figure out a way to survive, they weighed their options. No reason to go back inside. No food in there. But if they sat where they were, they would die. No food outside the gates either. So, they considered going to the Aramean army to surrender. The army had food, but they might kill them. No good choices, but if the army accepted their surrender, they might live. . When the four lepers entered the Aramean camp, no one was there. God had sent noises of chariots and horses to terrify the Aramean soldiers. When the soldiers heard what sounded like a great army, they had swiftly run away. . The lepers discovered food, tents, horses, donkeys, and great amounts of gold coins. After eating, they gathered gold in their hands. But then they felt guilty. They had found great treasure from the enemy, yet they hadn’t gone back and shared their discovery with the others. Quickly, they made their way back to the city to tell of the great provision. . Upon hearing the lepers’ news, the king believed it was a trap, so he sent some of his soldiers to investigate. They found the Aramean soldiers had gone, so they joyfully came down and raided the camp. In our hardest times, God is there, just like He was there for the people of Samaria in today’s reading. He knows firsthand what we are suffering (Hebrews 4:14-16). And He made a plan to rescue us: Jesus died and rose again so that death and suffering would one day be no more (Revelation 21:1-5). Like the lepers who were rescued, let us share the good news of what Jesus has done for us! • Anna Gregory . • Can you think of a time God showed His love for you in the midst of difficult circumstances? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this, and maybe even tell others about it! . • When you are going through a challenging time, who are trusted people—such as pastors, parents, counselors, or teachers—who you can reach out to for help? . My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Psalm 73:26 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Kgs.7.3-2Kgs.7.9|Ps.27.1|Ps.73.26

It’s God’s desire that every one of us is saved. God is loving and does not desire to see anyone perish (2 Peter 3:8-10). Jesus came for all people, irrespective of race, tribe, or culture. Salvation is meant for anyone who will come to Jesus. Anyone who confesses their sins and puts their trust in Jesus to save them from sin and death shall receive forgiveness (Romans 10:9). . In Matthew 18:10-14, Jesus was sharing a parable about lost sheep. He said if one sheep is lost among ninety-nine, the shepherd (who represents God) cares about that one sheep—that one person who is lost in sin. God won’t say, “Oh, I already have ninety-nine people who are righteous. I don’t need to seek after the one.” No, as Jesus’s parable says, God will go search for the lost one till He finds it. In Luke 15, Jesus went even further to say that “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (verse 7). This tells us the extent of God’s love for each one of us. . If God hasn’t given up on any one of us, then we also shouldn’t give up on anyone. As Christians, we shouldn’t look at those who don’t know Jesus as beyond restoration. We shouldn’t give up on them, no matter their level of sin, because God can still bring them back to Himself. Instead, we have the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus’s love shown through His death and resurrection. . No sin is beyond Jesus’s forgiveness, and in fact, our sin is the reason why He came to live among us, die, and rise again. When religious leaders accused Jesus of mingling with the sinners of His day, Jesus emphatically told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32). Indeed, Jesus is the Great Physician, who brings the only healing from sin and its effects. . Therefore, it’s necessary we extend our hands in love to all unbelievers we come into contact with, showing them the same love God showed us—for no sinner is beyond God’s love and saving grace. • Shadrach Goni . • If you know Jesus, who were the people who introduced you to Him? What do you remember about the love they showed you? . • If you want to learn more about what it means to know Jesus, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.18.10-Matt.18.14|Luke.15.1-Luke.15.7|Acts.2.21

I believe in You And then I don’t I trust in You Then I get scared I waver and doubt I mess up and hide I don’t cling to You like I should I rest in peace And then I wake scared I cry to You Then I turn away I stumble and fall I don’t live like I know I should Take imperfect me Keep me close to You • Emily Acker . • Even when we give up on God, He never gives up on us (Luke 19:10; 2 Timothy 2:13). When we are doubting, He remains with us, always patient and merciful (Hebrews 13:5; Jude 1:22). How can these truths give us hope when we feel far away from God? . • Read Colossians 2:6-15. When we start to doubt God, how could it be helpful to look at Jesus and remember the good news of what He has done for us? (If you want to know more about this good news, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page). . • Throughout our lives, we all have questions, frustrations, and concerns about Christianity. Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to about these things? . Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.119.176|Col.2.6-Col.2.15|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16

Ayesha, you are under arrest for violating the curfew,” the words echo inside. “Tomorrow you are sentenced to the Ocean of Mistakes.” &#8220;God, please save me,&#8221; I pray. I’ve been pleading all night in my prison cell. &#8220;I know I’ve failed. Please forgive me.&#8221; . Sunrise peeps through the window. CLANG. The door opens. My jailers clamp chains around my hands. The rule book is clipped to my clothes. Silence. . They drag me, throwing me into an open top truck as an example for all to see, a warning for others to avoid making the same mistake. Screaming and crying rings in my ears, and with horror I realize they are my own tortured screams. “I can’t take any more,” I sob as the truck bounces along the uneven track to the sandy beach. “I tried to follow your rules and regulations. I can’t be perfect.” Silence. . The truck stops with a screech. I’m carried onto the speed boat. Mouth dry, bile burns inside of me until we reach the ebony part of the ocean. Hands grip mine. I taste salt and fear. Struggling, fighting to stay on the boat until weakness takes over. My body is thrown overboard. Icy water prickles my skin. Gasping, flailing, tears pour down my face, the chains and the rule book drag me down. The boat speeds off in the distance, a tiny speck. Here, then gone. . “Ayesha, don’t try to swim,” calls a voice. &#8220;Am I hallucinating?&#8221; I wonder, choking on the water. Suddenly the waves stop; a shining figure on the water glides toward me. “Stay calm.” . “Jesus?” I whisper. “Jesus?” . “Ayesha, I love you more than your mistakes,” He says, love in His eyes, His words breaking my chains. “I heard your prayers. I forgive you. This is a fresh start. Leave your old life behind. Follow me.” His words of love shred the pages of the rule book until it disappears. Reaching out to me, He grasps my hand. He leads me, and I follow Him to a fresh start and a new life. • Cindy Lee . • Have you ever felt like you were drowning in guilt—pulled down by the weight of your sin? It’s never too late. God loves us deeply and sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for sin and brokenness—and rise from the dead to renew His creation and His people. Through Jesus, God heals our brokenness. Consider taking a moment to bring any sin to Him and receive His forgiveness. . &#8230;he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:24 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.32.1-Ps.32.7|Rom.3.23-Rom.3.28

I love mosaics—pictures made of tiny pieces of random materials, arranged together on some type of canvas. It could be a literal canvas made of cloth stretched over a wood frame, or a cement paving stone, or even a wall or ceiling. I think what I love most about mosaics is that you can make them out of anything. You just need a canvas and lots of tiny items in the colors you want. When all those random pieces come together, I’m always amazed at the picture that forms. . And what holds all those random pieces together? The canvas. That unity in diversity reminds me of the church, God’s family. Christians all have different talents, spiritual gifts, backgrounds, and cultures. Even with all those differences, God unites us through Jesus and makes us into His beautiful mosaic. Therefore, when we worship Jesus together, we know that it is His death and resurrection that truly unites us as Christians. . What’s amazing to me is that this diversity is how God planned it. He wants His people to have all kinds of beautiful differences—just like all the seemingly random pieces that make up a mosaic—to make up a beautiful church. A church that glorifies Him. A church made up of people who look different, have different spiritual gifts, and come from different places and cultures and backgrounds. A church united around one thing: Jesus. . God uses our different backgrounds and gifts, making us His beautiful mosaic that shows the wonderful story of Christ’s death and resurrection. As Christians, we are united by Jesus’s work on the cross and at the resurrection, and we get to celebrate the amazing diversity of God’s family. • Kandi Zeller . • What are some of the different talents, backgrounds, and cultures in your local church? What about in the church around the world? . • How have you seen God glorified through those differences? . God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 1 Corinthians 12:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rev.7.9-Rev.7.10|1Cor.12.4-1Cor.12.31

Genesis 1:26-27 says God created humans in His own image, in His likeness. This tells us God places the same value on all people, because each of us is created in His image. . Sometimes, we tend to think that we are of less value than others. We might compare ourselves with those who seem better than us because of their appearance or beauty, or because they come from rich families who can give them nice things that we ourselves cannot afford. . When I was still in school, I used to feel inferior in the company of students who came from rich families as I watched their rich parents drop them at school in personal vehicles while I had to walk to school. To me, it looked like God placed more value on those people. . But now, I’ve come to understand that God does not value us because of how we look or what we have, but because we are created in His own image. He places the same value on all people, be they poor or rich. And He creates all people beautiful. . I came to this understanding as I listened to the testimonies of people who are less valued by society. They told of the things God had done for them, and I saw that God doesn’t just work on behalf of those who society places more value on. Through listening to others and reading God’s Word, God has been teaching me to see myself and others as He sees us. . James 2:1-4 shows us God wants us to place the same value on all people. He tells us not to show special attention to the rich while ignoring the poor, and not to treat people with honor or dishonor based on the way they’re dressed. John 3:16 teaches us God values all people the same—because He loves us, Jesus died for us on the cross, and He offers eternal life to all who put their trust in Him. So let us learn to look at ourselves and others as God sees us: as His valuable creation. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni . • How have you seen wealth, status, appearance, etc. influencing how people treat each other in your community? . • When do you find it difficult to see all people (including yourself) as inherently valuable, no matter what we look like or what we have? God invites us to talk to Him about this, relying on His love to help us see people as He sees us, remembering that each person is someone Jesus died for. . “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:31 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Jas.2.1-Jas.2.4|Gen.1.26-Gen.1.27|John.3.16

Throughout the Bible, God calls His people to tell one another about all He has done. As we wait for Jesus to return bodily to earth and fully restore His creation, we go through a lot of hard things. But God is at work restoring this broken world, and when we experience Him bringing wholeness and goodness into our lives, we can look at how this fits into His bigger story. Because of His great love for us, God came and lived among us, and He took all our sins upon Himself when He went to the cross. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God is drawing people to Himself and rescuing the world from sin and death. Let’s see what today’s devotion writer shares about remembering God’s faithfulness: . When we talk to others about the great things God has done for us, both in the Bible and in our own lives, a number of things happen. . When we share about the good things God has done, we help ease our own anxiety, and maybe help others feel less anxious too. When we talk about the ways God has looked out for us in the past, we remember He will look out for us again in the future. . When we talk about the good things God has done for us, we are acting as His witnesses (Acts 1:8). When we share about the ways God has worked in our lives, we help others see God as He truly is: good and kind. Our stories could inspire them to want to know Him. . When we talk about the things God has done for us, we worship God and show our gratitude for all He has done. Talking about some of the ways God has been faithful to us in the past also makes us want to serve Him and please Him in the future. . What has God done for you? How could you tell others? As you share, take time to thank God for His kindness to you, and remember His goodness. • Emily Acker . • Today’s devotion points out three reasons it’s important for us to tell one another about what God has done for us. Which of these reasons resonates with you the most? Why? Can you think of any other reasons? . • Can you think of a time God helped you (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, relationally&#8230;)? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this, and then think about how you might share it with others. . The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Deut.6.20-Deut.6.25|Ps.107.1-Ps.107.2|Ps.107.43|Ps.126.3

When I was eleven years old, the public school teachers in my district went on strike to call for much-needed improved wages. The students missed a few weeks of school as a result. To make up some of the missed days, the school board instituted something I’d never heard of before: Saturday school. For one month, a modified version of school would take place for a half-day on Saturdays. I attended the first session, only to discover that merely a handful of students had shown up. We spent the day watching videos and playing a few games as a substitute teacher kept an eye on us. . Not only had that day bored me (and my classmates too), but we hadn’t accomplished anything either. So, the following Saturday, I asked my parents to let me stay home. I earned good grades and (mostly) enjoyed school, but I judged spending a Saturday indoors doing busy work as a waste of time. Just going to the school building for a few hours simply so it could be called a “school day” seemed pointless. My parents agreed. On that Saturday, I played outside and helped with chores around our house instead. . I didn’t really consider whether I was being a good steward of my life when I begged to skip Saturday school. But as we grow up, we realize our time is limited and it matters how we spend it. Once we begin a relationship with God by trusting Jesus to save us from our sins, we can then honor the Lord by stewarding the lives He has entrusted to us. As He leads us, we can learn to make the most of the days He gives us. In addition to being productive, we can also invest our time in relationships, in relaxation, and in fun. As followers of Jesus, we are free from the idea of simply being busy for busyness’s sake. Instead, we can rest in His love for us and in the work He has already done through His death and resurrection, and we can choose how we spend our days in light of those truths. • Allison Wilson Lee . • How do you decide what to prioritize in your life? . • What distracts you from investing your time in what’s most important? . • How can knowing that we belong to and are loved by Jesus help us become better stewards of our time? . Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Deut.5.13-Deut.5.15|Mark.2.23-Mark.2.28|Eph.5.15-Eph.5.17|Ps.90.12

I struggled to lift my head up to peer into the distance. I was sure it was close, but I wasn’t sure if I could make it. My battle with the dragon had left me deeply wounded; I had barely survived the attack. My only hope was to get to the King’s strong tower for healing and protection. . But I still couldn’t see it. The dark gloom of the day and the smoke from the battle were clouding my view, making it impossible to see much past my position. I continued to struggle forward, hoping I was heading in the right direction, hoping that I would make it before I collapsed and succumbed to my wounds. . And yet—those wounds? Once I finally began to look at myself, I couldn’t see any major gashes or bleeding. Some bruising to be sure—I remembered when thedragon knocked me off my feet, disabled both my sword and shield, and came in close for the kill. But he didn’t kill! He bent his head toward my ear, and told me I was pathetic. I was no warrior! No child of the king! I would die miserable and alone, with no hope of help or rescue—he whispered into my ear. All of a sudden, I realized the dragon’s words were all lies. . So that was it! I had not been mortally wounded but poisoned by the lies of the enemy. The mere recognition of the truth began to clear my head and my thinking. The sun’s light started to burn the dark fog away, and I could see the hills before me—and the strong tower of the King! Boldly I moved forward with every ounce of my remaining strength, and found I had more life in me than I realized. The tower guards saw me approach and ran to help me make it to the gates. I was able to cry out triumphantly the name of my God and my King: “For El Shaddai! In the name of the King—my strong tower!” • Laura N. Sweet . • Jesus said the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). In Revelation 12:7-17, the devil is described as a dragon who accuses those who belong to Jesus. But because Jesus died and rose again, we can be freed from all the devil’s lies and accusations (Romans 8:1, 31-39). And we can look forward to the day Jesus will put an end to the devil’s tyranny, and we will live with God forever, free from all pain and deception (Revelation 20:10; 21:1-5). In the meantime, how can spending time in God’s Word help us recognize lies and draw near to Jesus? . • One of God’s names in the Bible is El Shaddai, which is often translated “God Almighty” (Exodus 6:2-3). What does God say is true about us, His people? (Read Ephesians 1:3-14.) . For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. Psalm 61:3 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.61.1-Ps.61.5|Prov.18.10|Rev.12.7-Rev.12.17

I’ll never forget something God reminded me of in a hospital room. We were visiting a dear friend who had just had a baby. A few minutes into our visit, her newborn son woke up from his slumber and began to cry. I’ll never forget the words of comfort she spoke to her wailing son as she scooped him into her arms: “Tell Mama about it.” . As she rocked him, held him close, and found out his needs, her opening words set the tone, telling him something really important: his tears and cries were not too much for her. She wanted him to share what was going on in his world, no matter how piercing his communication might be. . And that really reminded me of Jesus. He wants us to share with Him what we’re experiencing, telling Him how we’re feeling and what we need. He promises to be with us—even in our most tearful moments. He is the One who will meet our needs, and His presence is what we need most. In other words, God says the same thing to us that my friend said to her baby: “Tell Me about it.” . What amazes me is that no emotion we experience is too big for God. In fact, in the book of Psalms in the Bible, we find all kinds of people who loved God and talked with Him about their deepest hurts, questions, and feelings—even when those feelings were piercing and loud. . I’m really glad that God showed us in His Word that He wants to comfort us, even in our hardest and loudest moments. And there’s more good news: because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He promises He will one day make all things new, free from sin and free from tears (Revelation 21:1-5)! Even now, as we look on Jesus’s work on the cross and at the resurrection, as Christians, we can know that Jesus is with us now and forever, weeping with us and working on our behalf, no matter what we need or what we face. • Kandi Zeller . • Read Psalm 42. What emotions do you notice in this psalm? How might the intense emotions shown in this and other psalms give you comfort when you talk with God? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 43, 56, and 69.) . • Read Matthew 6:9-13. This is an example prayer Jesus used to show His followers how to pray. What is surprising about this prayer? &#8230;casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.56|Matt.6.9-Matt.6.13|1Pet.5.7

I struggle with anxiety. There are times when my anxiety gets to me and keeps me from being at peace. I can pray in those times and feel like it’s not helping at all. . As Christians, sometimes we are made to feel bad for having anxiety. Aren’t we supposed to trust that God will take care of everything and just feel at peace? Well, for some of us, that is not always possible. Mental health issues are real issues, and they can significantly impact how we are feeling. . When I’m feeling anxious—and praying and reading the Bible and trying to feel God’s presence isn’t working for me—I remind myself that just trying to trust God and turn to Him for help is “good enough.” God sees that I want to trust Him, and He doesn’t reject me (Romans 8:26-27). He is not judging me for feeling anxious. We can rest in true faith even as we experience anxiety. . God knows that we can’t always control the way we are feeling. God is patient with us when our anxiety keeps us from fully trusting Him to work all things for His good purpose, even when things don’t turn out the way we want them to (Romans 8:28). Nothing—not even anxiety—can separate us from God’s love for us (Romans 8:38-39). • Emily Acker . • When do you feel anxious? Are there especially hard times in your life when you find it difficult to trust God with all that’s going on? . • Read Mark 14:32-34, John 11:35, and Hebrews 4:14-16. Jesus—who is fully human and fully God—feels emotions. How can this truth comfort us during times of anxiety or other strong and difficult feelings? . • If you are experiencing anxiety, who are some trusted people in your life you can talk to—such as counselors, parents, pastors, or teachers? . • If you are experiencing anxiety and you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. . Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. Psalm 71:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.118.5-Ps.118.9|Rom.8.26-Rom.8.28|Rom.8.38-Rom.8.39|Ps.71.12

Do you ever hear the phrase “God knows the number of hairs on your head” and think to yourself, &#8220;Really? Why would God need to know that about me? Or why would He even care?&#8221; . Psalm 139 talks about the intimate way God knows us. We are His creation, and He knits us together before we’re born. God cares about the small details in your life, and throughout His Word He has shown His love in the small things. . For example, in the Old Testament, God had the Israelites wander in the wilderness for forty years before they could enter the land He had promised them. And during that time, God made it so their shoes and clothes didnot wear out. I’ve never had a pair of shoes last more than five or ten years, let alone forty. Even when the Israelites were wandering through the desert, God still paid attention to their needs, down to the very soles of their shoes. . In the New Testament, Jesus (who is fully God) also demonstrated this special attention to the details of the lives of those around Him. Through one of His miracles, He made sure everybody in a hungry crowd had lunch. When Jesus performed the miracle of feeding over five thousand people, He showed the abundance of provision that will be in the new creation. Everyone who ate had enough, and there were even leftovers. Keep in mind, Jesus didn’t need to provide food for this crowd who’d been following Him. He could have sailed away from them in a boat, but instead, He had compassion on them. He chose to provide a meal for this crowd and display God’s love through service. • Naomi Zylstra . • Can you think of a time when you noticed God caring about a small detail? . • What do these two examples from the Bible (Deuteronomy 29:5 and Matthew 14:13-21) reveal about God’s love for us? . &#8230;the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” Deuteronomy 29:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Deut.29.5|Ps.139.1-Ps.139.18|Matt.14.13-Matt.14.21|Luke.12.7

You win a contest. The rain holds out long enough for you to go outside with your friends. You have a loving family. You get a good grade on a school assignment&#8230; All those things could signal to others that you are “blessed.” Our world often associates blessing with being rich, comfortable, talented, successful, and happy. But is this really what it means to be blessed? . In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus teaches something called “The Beatitudes,” which means “Blessedness.” Jesus lists qualities of what it looks like to live a life of blessing, of following Him in “life&#8230; to the full” (John 10:10). Many of these blessed qualities are surprising: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? “Blessed are those who mourn”? “Blessed are those who are persecuted”? What is Jesus saying? . Especially at that time in history, no one would have thought people who were weak, sorrowful, or poor could be blessed. Blessing was about strength and wealth and status. But Jesus reveals that in God’s kingdom, things look different. His definition of blessing isn’t about how much we have or how happy our family is or how healthy we are. These are all good things, but blessing is about what matters most of all: knowing God through Jesus. This is the good news, that through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we are rescued from sin and death, we get to live a purposeful life in restored relationship with God, and we have hope for eternal life with Him. . Being blessed doesn’t mean our circumstances instantly transform to be better, but God transforms us through the Holy Spirit and helps us realize God’s blessings are all around us, even in the hard times. Because even on the hardest days, in all the highs and lows of the craziness of life, we can be deeply joyful and peaceful as we rest in God’s truth: He loves us deeply, and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). We can learn to trust Him through all the challenges of life because our hope is beyond our present. God is always good, and He works even the hardest things toward His good plan. And all along the way, He helps us grow closer to Him.• Abby Ciona . • In Matthew 5:1-12, who does Jesus say are blessed? Which of these lines do you think is the most surprising? Why? . Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.5.1-Matt.5.12|Jas.1.12

When Jesus was born, He didn’t even have a crib. He was born where the animals were kept and laid in a manger. . When Jesus was growing up, He was a carpenter’s son. He wasn’t rich. He didn’t live in a castle or have nice, expensive things. He had a humble life. . When Jesus became an adult and started preaching, sometimes He spoke in the synagogues or in the temple courts, but He also taught people in a lot of other places too. Crowds followed Him to the countryside. One time when Jesus was teaching by a lake, the crowds were so large that Jesus got into a boat so He could be heard by those on the shore (Mark 4:1-2). He didn’t have a fancy church building or some nice place to preach in, but He met His audience where they were and didn’t mind where that was. . Jesus wasn’t ashamed to sit down with sinners. He knew that we all needed saving. He was humble in every way from the time of His birth to His death. . When Jesus was beaten and told to carry the cross, He could have refused. When He was nailed to that cross and left to die, no one could have forced Him to give up His life for ours, but He chose to (Matthew 26:39, 53). . Jesus came humbly to the earth because of His love for us. God took on human flesh. He was born to the virgin Mary and raised as her and the carpenter Joseph’s son. Jesus was humble His whole time on earth, and He lived and died to take away our sins. When He rose from the dead, He defeated sin and death forever. Now everyone who comes to Him, the humble Savior, will be saved. • Bethany Acker . • When you look at Jesus’s life on earth, what strikes you about how humble He was? How might knowing He endured so much, because of His great love for you, give you hope? . • Jesus entered people’s everyday lives and invited them to follow Him. What might it look like for us to follow Jesus in humility, knowing that He Himself is humble? (Hint: read Philippians 2:1-18. If you want to dig even deeper, read Matthew 11:28-30; 21:5; John 13:1-17; and Hebrews 12:2.) . And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.2.1-Luke.2.7|Phil.2.5-Phil.2.8

The universe is so large, the stars so far away in the night sky, and yet the same God who made the stars also made us. . When we start to doubt our worth or worry that there isn’t a reason for our lives, we can consider the stars in the night sky&#8230;and the flowers in the field. In Matthew 6:26-33, Jesus says the flowers do nothing to become beautiful, and yet they are. God made them that way. They remind us that we don’t have to worry about anything, whether in this life or what is to come, because the same God who cares for the flowers will also take care of us. . God took the time to create everything in the universe, from the faraway galaxies to the flowers underfoot. He made all things good. He created a beautiful world, and that includes us. . Whenever we start to wonder why we are here or what our purpose is, we can turn to Him. He made us, and He does not make mistakes. Each of us is so immeasurably valuable to God. He showed how much we are worth to Him when He came to earth in human flesh to live and die for us. But death couldn’t hold the loving Creator—Jesus rose from the grave! Each of us has life because of Him—He is the author of life. And if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the sure hope of eternal life with Him. . When we look to God, the Creator of the universe, we find out just how valuable we truly are. As we seek to follow Jesus with our lives, we can have peace in doing whatever He calls us to do. Any small task for Him is a worthy cause. He made the stars in the vast night sky, He made the flowers in the nearby fields, and He made us. • Bethany Acker . • How can looking at the things God has made remind us of our own worth and value? . • How might remembering that we are each created by God affect the way we treat one another? . “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers&#8230;he will certainly care for you.” Matthew 6:30a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.33.6|Matt.6.26-Matt.6.33

I have a confession. I used to hate the people who disagreed with me politically. It’s understandable to feel strongly about how we practice politics. Voting and activism have the potential to bring about much good in our communities. Politics can also be incredibly scary because we’re often dealing with life-and-death issues that affect us and our neighbors. . Here’s the good news: Jesus understands what it’s like to be in the middle of scary political situations. His homeland was occupied by the Roman Empire, and injustice was rampant. . But Jesus didn’t respond in violence toward those who threatened Him. In the same way, Jesus calls His followers to love our enemies—to pray for them and to respond to hatred with love and care for the needs of others, even our enemies (Matthew 5:38-47). . When we join Jesus’s kingdom, we no longer put our trust in chariots or swords, weapons or symbols of power (Psalm 20:7; Matthew 26:52). Instead, our trust is in the living God, our Risen Savior Jesus Christ. He’s the One who beat sin and death through His own death and resurrection, and He’s the One who will return to make all things new—with every wrongdoing and injustice finally taken care of (Revelation 20:11–21:5). . Today, when I’m tempted to hate people I disagree with, I remember Jesus on the night He let people take Him away to kill Him. When His enemies surrounded Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He did not allow His disciples to lead a violent counterattack. Instead, Jesus stopped, healed one of His enemies, and moved forward in peace and truth, making the way for restoration through His very death&#8230; and eventual resurrection (Luke 22:49-52). . As Christians, we don’t have to be afraid of changing political systems. Instead, we can remember we belong to an eternal and unafraid kingdom through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His kingdom is built upon love of God and neighbor, so no matter who is in power, we can continue to share the good news of God’s love through our words and actions (Matthew 22:37-40). In Christ, we are free to love our neighbors—and even our enemies—as we follow our unchanging and healing Savior. • Kandi Zeller . • Have you ever been tempted to hate your political enemies? Consider taking some time to bring those thoughts and feelings to God. Your cares are never too big for Him, and He can help you process even your angriest thoughts in a way that is safe for yourself and others (1 Peter 5:7). . • The psalms are filled with peoples’ prayers against their enemies, allowing them to process their hurts and trust that God is at work to bring about justice. Try praying Psalm 69 about your political enemies. What do you notice about the psalmist’s hope? . • Amazingly, God is just as patient with us as He is with our enemies. According to 2 Peter 3:8-10 and John 3:16-17, why is God patient with us? What are some practical ways you can love your political enemies? (Matthew 5:38-47) . Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.26.36-Matt.26.55|Luke.22.49-Luke.22.52|Ps.20.7|Matt.5.38-Matt.5.47

Fireheart’s eyes sharpened as she beheld an opalescent creature on the highest peak of the cliffs, glinting like a thousand diamonds in the sun’s waning light. As she flew nearer, she noted with surprise that it was a dragon. Fireheart hovered above, waiting for a warning signal of flames or the flash of claws, but neither came. . Softly, she landed next to the dragon. In his eyes, she saw her whole lifetime reflected. The fathomless depths of these emerald irises seemed to echo all her longing, reveal all her weaknesses, and yet, even as she felt completely known, somehow she felt completely loved by this shimmering dragon. It was impossible to tell how old or young he was, for he seemed to be from another realm entirely. . Surely a dragon this majestic would know of the treasure! Fireheart opened her mouth and asked, her heart’s desires spilling out, “Do you know where to find the great treasure? I’ve heard the legends and searched far&#8230;but I cannot find it.” The dragon smiled knowingly, and his expression shook Fireheart to her core. “Who are you?” she whispered. “It is as though you have known me all my life, and my very soul feels complete as I stand here with you.” . The dragon answered in an impossibly beautiful voice, “I am the one you have been seeking your whole life. Child, I am the treasure. Store up treasures no longer, for you have found me. Give your jewels and your gold away, and devote your heart to me. I will fill up all the places in your soul that are longing. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. Fireheart, will you choose me as your treasure?” . Joy welled up in Fireheart’s soul and spilled out of her eyes in the shape of tears. &#8220;Mother said I would know I found the treasure when I felt it in my heart,&#8221; she thought, &#8220;and now it burns brighter than a thousand flickers of flame in my soul!&#8221; . “Come, follow me and take hold of the life that is truly life.” • Savannah Coleman . • In Mark 10, a wealthy man came to Jesus and asked Him how to inherit eternal life. How did Jesus respond? According to verse 21, how did Jesus see this man? . • Have you ever felt like Fireheart, or like the man in Mark 10, who were desperately searching? What is Jesus’s invitation to us in today’s passages? (Mark 10:21; 1 Timothy 6:11-12, 17-19) . “&#8230;the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.21|Mark.10.17-Mark.10.27|1Tim.6.6-1Tim.6.19|Matt.13.45-Matt.13.46

Legends passed down from generation to generation told of a treasure so pure and valuable that it rivaled all others. Fireheart made it her mission to obtain this treasure. When she was still the tiniest of dragons, tucked under her mother’s massive wing, she was told stories of the dragons who made it their life’s quest to seek the treasure. Where they had failed, Fireheart was determined to succeed. . Stretching her sleek saffron wings, Fireheart stepped out of her cave into the morning sun. Rays of light glinted off her amber and ruby colored scales. Last night, she had unearthed the long-coveted strand of sea pearls that dragonkind had been searching for for centuries. As elated as the discovery had made her, Fireheart now felt that familiar emptiness squeeze her soul. . “Mother, it must not be the pearls after all,” Fireheart contemplated aloud. Her Mother had long since passed, but every now and then Fireheart found it comforting to speak to her as if she was still by her side. “It would help immensely if I knew what I was searching for.” She snorted, and smoke billowed out of her nostrils. In the deep recesses of her memory, she could hear Mother’s musical laugh, quite dainty for her size. &#8220;Fireheart, you will know you have found the true treasure when you feel it in your heart.&#8221; . Salt spray from the sea showered Fireheart’s body as she dipped low, dragging her claws across the ocean’s surface. She then rose higher until her wings crested the misty lavender clouds of evening. The day had been filled with unfruitful searching, and she was growing weary. &#8220;I’ll rest, then continue searching tomorrow.&#8221; • Savannah Coleman . • Have you ever gotten something you really wanted, but then felt empty inside? Every created thing will ultimately leave us feeling empty. Only the Creator can fill the deep longing in our hearts. In Philippians 3, Paul says that knowing Jesus far surpasses everything else. Once Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, everything that Paul used to chase after paled in comparison to knowing Jesus, the One who loves us and gave His life for us on the cross and rose from the dead so that we could be with Him. What does Psalm 63:3 say about God’s love? . • In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven rather than accumulate earthly possessions and accomplishments. Following Jesus is the only way to a truly fulfilling and restful life (Matthew 22:36-40; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). What kind of treasure are you seeking? . “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.19-Matt.6.24|Phil.3.4-Phil.3.21

I once watched a video that asked an unusual question: “What year of life tends to be the best?” Pretty deep, right? Not surprisingly, the video didn’t come to a definite conclusion. Depending on what you think the answer is, you might either feel hopeless that the best of life is done, or disappointed when the future doesn’t end up how you hoped. . When I began wondering about whether the past, present, or future would be the best part of my life, a certain Bible passage came to mind. It’s John 2:1-12, where Jesus is attending a wedding banquet that unfortunately runs out of wine. Just when the party is about to be ruined and end early, Jesus tells the servants at thebanquet to fill jars with water. He does a miracle, and when a sample is brought to the master of the banquet for tasting, the water has been transformed into wine! . The banquet master was shocked. He didn’t know where the wine came from, but he praised the groom for saving the best wine for last. People didn’t do that: they used the good stuff first so that once people were satisfied, they wouldn’t notice the latter wine’s poorer quality. . When everyone thought the wedding party was ruined and over, Jesus transformed ordinary water into extraordinary wine. He saved the best for last, showing that the end wasn’t really the end. In our lives too, when we follow Jesus the best is always yet to come. Because He died and rose again for us, we can look forward to the day He will return bodily to earth, raise us from the dead, and restore His creation! Even if our present is hard, when we fix our eyes on Jesus and remember God’s promises for an eternity with Him, we have purpose in our present to live for Him, and hope for the future through our struggles (Hebrews 12:1-3). Our loving God works everything toward His good plan, and He can bring miracles when we least expect it. We may think our lives are ruined, but even through challenges He is working out His great plan. • Abby Ciona . • Do you more often long for the past or for the future? . • How can Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection give us (1) peace about our past, (2) hope for the future, (3) and purpose in the present? (If you want to dig deeper, read Romans 8:18-39 and 2 Corinthians 4.) . &#8230;being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.2.1-John.2.12|Phil.1.6

Something I realized about the world recently is how seriously broken it is. I knew this before, but I didn’t have any profound personal experiences to help me understand what that truly meant. I can recall times of sadness and hopelessness during difficult circumstances in my life, but those feelings passed fairly quickly. Now, I see that brokenness amplified; it seems to be everywhere I look. Starting with the onset of COVID-19, the world as I knew it, bright and full of possibility, slowly grew dark as COVID-19 dimmed my optimistic perspective. Ironically, it was there in the dark that I could see the world’s brokenness so clearly. . I learned to live in that darkness, the tension of seeing the world’s brokenness and being suddenly confronted with my own. In a way, COVID-19 has felt like a reality check. Beforehand, I was just minding my own business, living my sweet little life. I felt alright, not like I was seriously broken or weak. But when things changed and everyone was under “lockdown,” it was so weird. The fact that we—as a nation, as the world, as the human race—weren’t able to defeat this illness was terrifying. I didn’t realize until then just how incapable, weak, and broken we really are at the core. . But that’s when I had to remember God. I had to remember that even though the sickness going around is bad, He’s still good. He has compassion on His creation, and He’s still working out His good purposes (Psalm 100:5). I had to remember Jesus said that though we will have trouble, He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Because God loves us, Jesus died and rose from the grave for us, and we can look forward to the day He will return bodily to earth and restore His creation. I had to remember that even though I am weak, He is my strength (Psalm 28:7). And as I recall His Word, He’s using it in my life daily, renewing my joy. • Emily Rondello . • How have you seen brokenness on display, either in your own life or in the world around you? . • Especially when we’re confronted with pain and suffering, God invites us to draw near to Him and receive His comfort. Why is it important for us to take time with God, remembering the hope He gives us in the gospel? (If you want to know more about the gospel, check out our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) . • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 77 and follow its model by telling God about the hard things you’re experiencing, and remembering who He is and some of the things He has done. . “I [Jesus] have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.77|2Cor.1.3-2Cor.1.11|John.16.33

Some people might describe me as a goal-oriented list maker. And they would be right. So, it’s no surprise that I start a new year (sometimes the new calendar year in January, sometimes the new school year in the fall) with journal and pen in hand, writing out goals I want to accomplish. One New Year’s Eve, I sat thinking about hopes and dreams for the upcoming new year. But I had one thought I just couldn’t shake. . Gazing at a fresh page in the calendar, I fretted about the ways I would inevitably mess up the new year. It hadn’t even arrived yet, and already I’d begun to regret and even fear the sins I would certainly commit. I became bogged down, knowing I would spoil the new year in no time. . But for those of us who have entered a relationship with God through Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection and trusting Him to forgive our sins and provide new life, we can choose something better—better than living in regret over the past or in fear about ruining the future. We can live in freedom, resting in His sure love for us. . Will we sin in the new year? Of course, and the Lord already knows this. He is not caught off guard by our failures, and He has already secured our forgiveness inJesus—forgiveness for our sins in the past, present, and future. The Lord extends compassion to us, separating us from our sins so that we are never joined with them again. So, we can hope, dream, and plan for each new year, knowing that our compassionate Heavenly Father does not treat us as our sins deserve—even the ones still in our future. • Allison Wilson Lee . • If we know Jesus, we can be free from the fear of failure because His love and forgiveness don’t change, even when we fail. How can resting in these truths give us hope as we look forward to the future? . • Whenever we sin (by doing or thinking anything that goes against God) He calls us to confess and repent, turning away from our sin and back toward Him. Are there any sins on your mind that you can confess and repent from? Consider taking a moment to come to God in prayer, resting in His sure love and forgiveness. . He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.103.8-Ps.103.14

In high school, I had a plan for my life, and I didn’t want anything to get in the way. I loved Jesus, but I didn’t want to surrender my goals to Him. . My junior year, I had the chance to go on a trip with my church to Honduras. We had a week of medical clinics, building homes, and soccer games. But my favorite part was the relationships we built with our Honduran coworkers and neighbors. The last night of the trip, we sprawled on the driveway of the guest house with our new friends and stared up at the stars. I’ve never seen anything so magnificent as that sky. . As we laughed and shared stories together, God revealed Himself to me in a whole new way through the night sky. I realized God was greater than I had ever imagined. Even the stars sang His praises, “for at his command they were created” (Psalm 148:5). And these stars were the same ones I’d be able to see again when I stood on my porch in Pennsylvania. It was too much to comprehend. We talk about being starstruck by celebrities, but I was starstruck by God. Stunned by the glory of His creation. . Why had I held so tightly to my own plans? Wouldn’t my Creator know what’s best for me? What would it look like to surrender my goals to Him? . Since that trip, my life hasn’t looked the way I expected. Every time I think I have a grasp on what’s coming, God shows me something different. Surrendering the future to God involves a lot of sacrifice, waiting, and trust. But it’s worth it. When we loosen our grip on our own goals and trust our Creator with all we have, we will find many gifts along the way. • Becca Wierwille . • What aspects of God’s creation make you feel closer to Him? . • While it’s good to have goals and plans, God calls us to follow Jesus first and foremost, and to entrust our dreams to His tender care. What are some goals you have a tight grasp on as you look toward your future? What might it look like to surrender those goals to your Creator? . • Paul oriented his life around the gospel—which is the good news about Jesus restoring His people to relationship with their Creator and, ultimately, restoring His creation. In following Jesus, we find a full and satisfying life. If you’d like to dig deeper, read John 10:10 and Colossians 1:15-23. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. . Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.148|Isa.40.25-Isa.40.31

Changing situations and changing circumstances often come with changing moods, like unease, irritability, or even irrational behavior. These changes may be due to the loss of employment, a loved one, or something else we once held so dear. We might lose something that used to occupy our time, or something that’s just always been there. When a part of our lives that has felt normal since childhood suddenly isn’t there anymore, life can feel empty. . The apostle Paul experienced a lot of changes. He was one of the most educated people of his day. He sat at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the best teachers of the Jewish Scriptures (Acts 5:34; 22:3). No doubt Paul was envied by some who didn’t enjoy the same privileges he did. . But when Paul came to faith in Christ Jesus (whose followers he had persecuted severely up till then) things took a different turn. That privileged position was no more. Now, as a follower of Jesus Christ, Paul was the one being severely persecuted for his faith. He went through very uncomfortable situations—sometimes because of persecution from non-Christians, and sometimes because of natural disasters beyond his control. Paul was shipwrecked more than once. There were times when he had very little to live on and he went hungry and thirsty. He experienced sleepless nights and shivered in the cold without enough clothing. He worked hard and for long hours. He was beaten with rods and imprisoned frequently (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Sometimes Paul had more than enough, but other times he had less than enough. . Through all this, rather than complaining and becoming bitter or even abandoning his faith in Christ, Paul says he “learned the secret of being content” with whatever he had and whatever circumstances he was going through (Philippians 4:12). And that secret was knowing Christ. Paul learned to bring all his anxieties to the Lord and to trust and depend on Him (4:6). But this is something he had to learn—it didn’t happen automatically. Because Paul had met the risen Jesus, he had hope that Jesus would return to raise the dead and unite heaven and earth. This is the message Paul constantly told the churches, and this is what drove him. In good times and bad, Jesus was the One who provided Paul’s contentment. As we go through life’s challenges, twists, and turns in this ever-changing world, we can learn to be content as we draw near to Jesus. Only He can bring true peace of mind and rest to our souls. • Charity Kiregyera . • What might it look like to draw near to Jesus during times of change? (Read Philippians 4:4-7.) . I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11b (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Phil.4.4-Phil.4.7|Phil.4.10-Phil.4.13

There are times when we feel like no one really loves us or cares about us. We might have a family member hurt us or cut us out of their life. We might go through a breakup or deal with teasing from people who we thought were our friends. There are times when we get lonely and feel sad, but God is there for us in those times. . In John 15, Jesus talks about us being His friends. He talks about the love He has for us. He gives us hope we can hold onto when we are feeling lonely. Who better to have as a friend than Jesus? . Even when others don’t accept us, God accepts us fully. He wants to be our friend, and He is the One who has made our friendship possible. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we get to be His friends. We never have to be alone again. In those times when people hurt us and when we feel rejected, God is there. Jesus is by our side, and He knows firsthand what it feels like to be hurt and rejected by people. He was willing to go to the cross for us and endure all that suffering, both physically and emotionally, so we could be in relationship with God. Even death could not stop His love. Jesus rose from the dead and promised to be with His followers—forever. . When we feel all alone, Jesus is our companion in suffering. When we feel like the people around us are done with us and they don’t want to be in our lives any longer, we can reach out to God. He is always there, ready to wrap us in His arms of love. We are never truly alone or abandoned. • Emily Acker . • When do you feel alone? . • If someone has hurt you deeply, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about setting up healthy boundaries? . • If you have questions about what it means to be in relationship with God through Jesus, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Psalm 27:10 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Zeph.3.17|Mark.14.43-Mark.14.52|John.15.9-John.15.16|Ps.27.10

Gazing up at the ever-darkening sky, people in the kingdom of Worne waited. How long had they looked for salvation? Where was the promise of rescue and freedom? All at once, there was a crack in the heavens, a blaze of light that burned stark against the night. Some shielded their faces in fear while others raised open palms toward the skies, waiting for a miracle. Then it came, falling soft as a spring rain: tiny golden seeds. . A man, who everyone saw as strong and confident, knelt on a path where the seeds lay scattered. He heard the song of salvation and there the seeds lay, within his grasp. The man reached his hand out, then pulled it back. “No. I am capable; I do not need this seed.” His face impassive, the man watched as the seed was trampled on the path by others passing by. . Filled with joy, a woman gathered seeds that had fallen among the rocks. As she hurried home, her foot caught a root and she tumbled to the ground. Searing pain shot through her arm. Bleeding, she bent to collect the scattered seed. A menacing growl from the dreaded creatures of the night sounded nearby. With one fleeting glance back at those seeds, she escaped into the night. . A boy filled his pockets with the seeds, thinking that life would surely be different now. He passed by a cavern filled with sparkling gems. “Perhaps if I take a detour through this cavern, I will reach my destination faster.” The jewels were so close, there for the taking. He pocketed a gem. Around the next bend, the boy worried that one might not be enough. “I’ll just take a few more&#8230;” Hours later, the pockets he had filled with seeds were replaced with gems. . “Salvation is here,” the girl breathed deep of sweet-scented flowers that had sprung up from the seeds she planted. Now, she gently picked the flowers and peace washed over her soul. “I won’t keep it to myself,” the girl determined. “I will share the seeds of salvation.” The girl set off into the afternoon sun, a bucket of seeds swinging from one hand and a bouquet of shining flowers in her arms. • Savannah Coleman . • This story is based on a parable Jesus told about a farmer sowing seed. Why do you think the good news— about how Jesus, the promised Savior, died and rose again to forgive our sins and give us life with God—is meant to be received, enjoyed, and shared? What might it look like for you to embrace this good news today? (John 3:16; Colossians 1:13-14; 1 John 5:11-12) . I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2b (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.13.1-Matt.13.23|Luke.8.4-Luke.8.15|2Cor.6.2

I grew up thinking I needed to hold it together. My teenage problems seemed minuscule next to extreme poverty and world hunger. But I did have problems. And they felt big to me. . In John 16:33, Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble.” He doesn’t say if; He says will. You will have trouble. Jesus’s statement has stood the test of time. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have experienced pain and sorrow, including Martha and Mary. . Their brother, Lazarus, became very sick. The sisters sent word of his illness to Jesus. Jesus came but not right away. He arrived after Lazarus had died. Martha ran to Jesus at once, but not Mary. She stayed back, hidden and hurting, with the other Jews who had come to comfort the family. . Martha approached Jesus with incredible trust and strength, declaring her confidence in His holy power. After Jesus spoke with Martha, He called for Mary, and she also came. She came, and she cried. She didn’t understand why Jesus hadn’t come and saved her brother, why He let the last breath escape from Lazarus’s lungs. . Jesus knew the story wasn’t over, that Lazarus would breathe and walk and talk again, but He didn’t pass over Mary’s grief. Instead, He wept with her. . It’s okay to feel sad and share our pain with others. It’s what Jesus did. Both Martha and Mary had incredible trust in Jesus and His ways, but that didn’t stop them from feeling grief. At first, Mary stayed back, not bringing her full self to Jesus. But He called, and she came. . Jesus also calls to us. He is ready to come alongside us and weep amid any situation we find ourselves in. Jesus knows what happens on the other side of our grief—because He died and rose again, He will put an end to death, suffering, and everything else that causes pain and sorrow. But that doesn’t mean He expects us to pass over our current feelings. • Jenna Brooke Carlson . • What feelings are you experiencing today? Do you feel like you can bring these to Jesus? . • Why do you think we are sometimes hesitant to show others how we feel? . • Who is one person in your life you can share your true feelings with? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. . When Jesus saw her weeping&#8230; he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. John 11:33-35 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.11.1-John.11.44|John.16.33

He will never leave you But will be by your side Staying with you forever He promises to stay the whole ride . He will never forsake you No matter how big a mess you make You can confess your sins to Him His patience will not break . He will never forget you You are His child God is there for you forever Even when things get wild He will always love you . He sent His Son To live and die for you On this earth, your life has just begun • Bethany Acker . • In the Old Testament, God promised He would never leave His people, even though He knew they would continue to sin against Him. Then, in the New Testament, we see how God the Son came to live among us. Jesus is Immanuel—which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Because God loves us, He died and rose again to forgive our sins and provide the way for us to be with Him forever. Even though Jesus ascended to heaven, He is still with His followers through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). When life gets messy—and when we mess up—how can it be comforting to know that God never stops loving us? . • If you want to dig deeper, read Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 4:15-16; 13:5. . But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Psalm 9:18 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.9|2Pet.3.9|1John.1.8-1John.2.2

The air was full of excitement. It was Christmas day, and everyone was preparing to go to church. I also prepared myself to go and worship among others at the small village church that had become the center of attraction on this day. . Every Christmas, the church would be filled with worshippers. Everyone would be waiting to hear the story told again. In one way or another, everyone participated in telling the story of the Messiah’s birth, either in greetings or in singing those beautiful Christmas carols. Christmas day was indeed a special day to me. As a teenager, I would always wait in great anticipation to join with all the congregants in singing the Christmas carols as we celebrated the Messiah’s birth. Oh, the joy that we felt! Singing and praising Jesus Christ our Savior who was born on such a day for us! . According to Luke 2:15-17, after the angel proclaimed the birth of Jesus to a group of shepherds, they decided to go to Bethlehem to see what had happened. There, they found Mary and Joseph and the newborn baby lying in a manger, just as the angel had told them. Then they told others what the angel had said about the child—that He was the Messiah, the Lord, the Savior they had all been waiting for (verse 11). . Today being Christmas day, many people around the world are preparing to gather together to hear the story of the birth of Jesus proclaimed and to worship Him. Let us join with other Christians as we praise our Lord who came to save us, and let us also proclaim the good news of the Messiah’s birth to those around us! • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni . • Celebrating the birth of Jesus as the promised Messiah can happen anywhere and anytime! How can you celebrate this good news today? Even if you can’t gather with other Christians, you can know that your brothers and sisters are rejoicing with you all around the world! . I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.122.1|Matt.2.1-Matt.2.11|Luke.2.8-Luke.2.17

The night started just like any other night. A clear, star-lit sky. Sheep sleeping in the field. The shepherds finishing their evening meal around the campfire. Quiet talk about families and the price of wool. But this was no ordinary night. . An angel of God coming to proclaim the coming of the Messiah, and the heavenly host glorifying and praising God! The shepherds going to Bethlehem to find the newborn Savior after the angels had left. The shepherds seeing the Messiah for the first time. This was no ordinary night. . Have you ever thought about what these shepherds talked about when they left Bethlehem to return to their sheep? While it’s true the Bible never tells us about their conversation, it would be fun to speculate. . They may have talked about the prophet Isaiah of long ago. How they remembered his writings: “The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (Isaiah 7:14). And the prophet also said this child who is born this night will be called “Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6). . The shepherds may have shared their amazement with each other—how they, the outcasts of society, were to witness the fulfillment of prophecy. Prophecy that was first written 400 years ago, seen this very night. They may have talked about the angels singing praises to God, about the young mother, but mostly about the child—the Messiah coming to Bethlehem. God sending His Son as a baby, fully human, fully God. What a wonder, how amazing. . Perhaps these shepherds didn’t realize they had a part in history. God intervening in human affairs quietly. Not in a big city, but in a small town. Not using government officials or religious leaders, but shepherds. Not in broad daylight, but in the dead of night. Perhaps these shepherds didn’t realize they had a part in God’s history, or perhaps they did. • Doug Velting . • Read Luke 2:8-20 again, and then take a moment to imagine being one of the shepherds who experienced the events of that night&#8230; What sticks out to you the most? What fills you with awe and wonder? What questions do you have? . When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.2.8-Luke.2.20

Bookends are those supports that keep books from falling over on a shelf or desk. By way of analogy, there are two events that “bookend” the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel accounts of Luke and Matthew: two angelic appearances, two unlikely recipients of the angel’s message, and two responses that teach us how to live in this Advent season. . Angels appeared to two unlikely sectors of society: shepherds at Jesus’s birth (Luke 2:8-20) and women at Jesus’s resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10). In Jesus’s time, shepherds were looked down upon in society. Similarly, women were not regarded as reliable witnesses in those days. However, God saw fit to announce both the birth and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, to these marginalized people. Note the angel’s words to the shepherds: “don’t be afraid,” “look,” “good news,” “great joy,” and “glory to God.” And to the women: “don’t be afraid,” “come and see,” “go&#8230; and tell.” . When the shepherds obeyed the directive to go and see the baby in the manger, they found it to be exactly as the angel had said. They left worshiping God and telling others what they had seen and heard. And when the women left the tomb with “great joy” (Matthew 28:8) they met the risen Lord Jesus and worshiped Him. Their testimony was followed by the eleven disciples receiving the great commission for every Christian to go and make disciples of all nations (verses 16-20). These bookends give us some clear examples to follow when it comes to our relationship to the Lord this Christmas season. . Don’t be afraid. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. Believe in Him, praise Him, and go with great joy to tell all that the Lord has made known to you. • Cameron DeCou . • Why do you think God chose unlikely messengers for these two essential moments in Jesus’s life? . • What are some things God has done for you? How could you share these things with others? . “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I [Jesus] have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.28.1-Matt.28.10|Matt.28.16-Matt.28.20

This time of year, many people set out nativity scenes that depict baby Jesus in the manger to remind us of our Savior’s humble birth. My family’s nativity set was made of sturdy wooden pieces so the kids could touch the figures and play with them. Even children can understand something of the beauty and wonder of Jesus Christ’s birth (Matthew 11:25-26). But even though He was born in Bethlehem, today’s reading reminds us that Jesus, who is God the Son, has always existed. In fact, we owe all life to Him! . In the beginning of John’s Gospel (his account of the good news), John uses the term “the Word” to refer to Jesus. Jesus has always been with God (John 1:2). And Jesus has always been God; all things that are in existence were created through Him (verses 1, 3). He became flesh—a human being—and lived among us (verse 14). But even as Jesus came to His creation, the world and the people tainted by sin no longer recognized Him (verses 10-11). . In this short introduction to his Gospel account, John reminds us of why Jesus was willing to come to earth as a human being, and even be rejected by the people He created and loved. Verse 12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This is the main point of the Christmas story—the main point of the gospel! Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He would die for their sins on the cross, and He would be raised again to give eternal life to all those who believe in Him. Jesus wasn’t just a baby in a manger; He is the Creator of the universe and the Ruler of all things, and He is the Savior we all need! • Laura N. Sweet . • Read Hebrews 1:1-3. Why do you think John called Jesus the Word? . • Jesus is both fully God and fully human. Why is it important for us to remember that Jesus is the eternal, glorious Son of God, especially at Christmas time? . • If someone asked you about the main point of the Christmas story, what could you tell them? . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.2.4-Luke.2.7|John.1.1-John.1.14

When discussing Christmas with family or friends, I get a variety of responses when I say these words: “No cross, no cradle.” Some reply with a puzzled look, others have laughed saying the opposite is true. Every once in a while, someone will nod. They know exactly what I’m talking about. . God became a real human and walked among us, but He didn’t choose to descend from atop a lofty mountain or emerge all muscled and powerful out of the sea. No, Jesus chose to take the route we’ve all taken&#8230; in order to inhabit the earth. He came as a baby. He had a mom, an earthly dad (or stepdad, depending how you look at it), and a heavenly Father. If it had all stopped there, we might never have known a single thing about Him. . How wonderful it must have been to hear Jesus speak, watch Him heal, and listen to His prayers. He challenged the ruling and religious authorities, but He was also able to speak aid and comfort to the downtrodden and forsaken. The people must have thought He could be the promised warrior Messiah. . But then came the cross. . In Mark 8:31, Jesus began telling a different tale, one that included His suffering, rejection, and death. What was this? Not at all what the disciples or the people wanted to hear. But as each of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tells Jesus’s story, we get to an undeniable truth. This wonderful, healing, gracious man was going to die. . Believers know the reason Jesus had to die: to become the real Savior. A temporary ruler, a great president or general, would have come and gone like so many others before them. But Jesus? He died so that we could have eternal life. He saved us by rising from the dead. . If Jesus had not done that, His manger-cradle that we celebrate at Christmas would have no significance. No cross, no cradle. • Susan Sundwall . • What part of Jesus’s life and continued work gives you the most hope? How could you celebrate the gospel this Christmas&#8230; and beyond? . • If you want to learn more about the good news (gospel) of Jesus, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. . “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.9.6|Mic.5.2|Mark.8.31|Luke.2.7

Christmas season is always something I look forward to. Excitement can be seen and felt everywhere I turn: music is coming from shops, and people are singing carols. The Christmas season brings to town upcountry folks, and the streets of the cities are full of people as the shopkeepers have brought in new merchandise just for the Christmas season. The atmosphere in people’s homes changes as well. This is a time when friends are invited to share meals and relatives who live far away are also invited for meals and fellowship. It’s a family reunion! . The coming of Jesus from heaven to earth, which we celebrate during the Christmas season, truly changed the world forever. It changed human history! It gave the hope of a family reunion—the reunion of God and His creation. Though the world had become alienated from God because of humanity’s sin, God was reconciling the world to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 8:18-25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). . The celebration of Jesus’s birth brought excitement and singing in heaven before it did on earth. The angel who broke the good news of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds was joined by the heavenly host, and they praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:13-14). . And the giving and receiving of gifts during Christmas season is a reminder of what God the Father did for us over two thousand years ago. He gave us the greatest and best of gifts that ever can be given—His own Son, Jesus Christ! “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Jesus came from the Father to die for our sins, and because of His death and resurrection, He gives us the gift of everlasting life (John 3:16). Receiving this gift brings great joy to whoever puts their trust in Jesus. It also causes great joy in heaven, for Jesus says, “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents” (Luke 15:10). • Charity Kiregyera . • Do you have any favorite Christmas traditions? How might these traditions point to the good news of Jesus? (If you want to know more about this good news, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page) . • Read 2 Corinthians 9:13-15. How does receiving God’s gift (of knowing Him through Jesus) enlarge us to give generously to others? . “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son [ Jesus Christ], so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.15.10|John.3.16|2Cor.9.13-2Cor.9.15

In the book of Malachi, we see God’s chosen people imploring Him to be gracious to them even while they keep disrespecting Him and showing contempt for His commands. . By God’s law, they are to make unblemished animal sacrifices to God for their sins. Instead, they sacrifice blind, diseased, and injured animals. Even the priests offer God what they themselves do not want. God tells them He wants the whole tithe and offering from them, not leftover bits. He also calls out people who have broken faith by marrying unbelievers or divorcing their spouses without reason. . The actions of the people suggest that what they want is a savior, not a lord. They seek a cosmic genie to do their bidding rather than the ruler of the universe to rule their hearts. They don’t want to love God and their neighbor, and so they break God’s commands, ignoring Him and disregarding the vulnerable in their midst. . But God knows what’s going on in their hearts. In this last book of the Old Testament, He points to the Savior and Lord the people need: Jesus. Jesus will be the sinless, unblemished sacrifice people need to receive forgiveness for their sins and attain eternal life with God. God will make this sacrifice because He loves us. Jesus will die for us willingly, and once Jesus is sacrificed for the sins of all, the old laws with animal sacrifices will be fulfilled. People who put their trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose again, will be transformed by the Holy Spirit and be able to lead God-pleasing lives under grace and mercy, not sacrifice. • Ronica Stromberg . • How does the book of Malachi make it clear that everyone has fallen short of loving God and loving their neighbor? (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 22:36-40 and Romans 3:23.) . • How does Malachi point to Jesus, the Son of God, who has made the only way for us to have a right relationship with God? . “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mal.3.6-Mal.3.7|Hos.6.6|Mal.1.7-Mal.1.9|Mal.1.11-Mal.1.12|Mal.2.13-Mal.2.16

I cannot fight this darkness deep I cannot find my way Help me, O my God . The faithful, godly people Have vanished from the world Help me, O my God . The poor and needy gasp for help That’s nowhere to be found Help them, O my God . The wicked encompass the earth They shout out, exalting all evil Help us, O my God . Your light has fought its way to me Parting through the mighty sea Help me, O my God . The strength of God enables us Helps us finish what we must Help us, O my God . Drive away the dark of night Draw me ever to your light Help me, O my God • Leah Najimy . • What problems feel overwhelming to you today—either in your own life or in the world? . • God invites us to be honest with Him about the suffering we see and experience, and to cry out to Him. God hears the prayers of His people, and He does help. He parted the Red Sea to save the Israelites (Exodus 14:29), and His Son came to earth to save everyone who would believe in Him. Jesus is the Light of the World, and the darkness can never overcome Him (John 1:4-5; 8:12). How might remembering the ways God has revealed His power and love in the past give us hope to bring our concerns to Him in the present? . Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me. Psalm 70:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.12|Ps.94.16-Ps.94.22|Ps.70.1

As a teenager, one of the reasons I didn’t believe in God was because I didn’t think God cared about my individual struggles. There were people in far worse situations who needed God’s help, so I didn’t think He cared about me. It certainly didn’t feel like He listened to me when I tried praying. There were times I would beg God for help, but I wouldn’t hear a sound. . However, I found myself reading the psalms one day, and I came to Psalm 13. As I read the first few verses, I had never related to something in the Bible more in my life! The author, David, begins by saying, “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me&#8230;?” (verses 1-2). . It appeared as if David understood me. For the first time ever, I could relate to someone in the Bible—that is, until I got to verses 5 and 6, when David says, “But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.” How could David go from agonizing over his struggles and feeling like God wasn’t listening&#8230; to trusting, rejoicing, and singing to God? . As I read David’s words, I realized that, even though he had struggles like me, David had a completely different relationship with God. He had a completely different understanding of God than I did. After reading Psalm 13, I decided I needed to figure out if God really cared, if He could be trusted, and see if I could gain the same understanding of God that David did. . Years later, I would come to understand that God does hear our prayers and He answers them all. However, it just isn’t always how or when we want Him to answer them. But God always reveals Himself to those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10; Jeremiah 29:13). And He loves each one of us. He demonstrated this love when Jesus—God in flesh—came to live among us, die on the cross for us, and rise from the dead so that we could live with Him forever. Because God has shown us this unshakable love, we can trust Him with every prayer. Even when it feels like God is silent, His actions speak volumes. • Hunter Taylor . • David experienced a close relationship with God. Through putting our trust in Jesus, we can start to have this kind of relationship with God too (read more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page). How might David’s story encourage us to seek God for ourselves? . How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? Psalm 13:1a (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.13

One of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 19. David, the psalmist, illustrates how God is a master communicator. This psalm has three parts: . 1) God speaks through creation; . 2) God speaks through His Word; and . 3) David’s response to both. . First, we see that God speaks through His work of creation. God’s creation preaches at all times, in all places, and in every language (verses 1-6)! . Second, God’s Word speaks to us even more clearly than creation. God’s Word restores life, gives wisdom, gives joy to the heart, enlightens the eyes, endures forever, brings pleasures and warnings, and gives great rewards (verses 7-11)! . Finally, the psalm closes with David’s humble response: concern about the power of sin in his life and a desire to please God in all he does (verses 12-14). . Like David, people throughout history have been able to look up at the stars and stand in awe of God—including Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. Reportedly, Lincoln said the following while on a stargazing walk: “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” • Daniel Dore . • When we spend time in God’s creation, how does God speak to us about His power and divine creativity? . • While God communicates wonderful things through His creation, why is it still important for us to spend time in His Word, the Bible? . • How is David’s response to creation in Psalm 19 a model for us today? . The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.19

Isaiah 9:6-7 is part of an Old Testament promise of a Messiah: a Rescuer and King for the whole world! This passage lists tons of names that are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. One of those names is “Wonderful Counselor.” We may not always think a lot about this name, but it has special importance for me because I meet with a counselor for my mental health. My counselor helps me process my thoughts and emotions and learn how to manage feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, and whatever challenges I am facing. . Counselors are experts at understanding: they study how the brain works and are trained to listen and understand and help people move forward through struggles. Good counselors are compassionate, wise, and full of advice and guidance. . Jesus uses my counselor to help me, and He is available too! Jesus is the perfect counselor. His eternal wisdom is beyond our understanding, and He invites us to come to Him with all our struggles. He is fully God, so He knows and understands us better than anyone else because He created us! Jesus is also fully human, so He knows what it’s like to live in a world broken by sin. However, although Jesus was tempted and suffered, He was obedient and faithful to God through it all. Hebrews 4:14-16 says that Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses, and He invites us to come to Him for help any time. . Sometimes I feel alone in my struggles, but meeting with a counselor reminds me that I’m not alone and that people care for me. Most of all, Jesus reminds me that I am never alone. No matter the challenges we face, He loves us and will never leave us (Matthew 28:20). He died and rose again on our behalf, and even when nothing seems to make sense, we can rest in the truth that He has become wisdom for us (1 Corinthians 1:30), fully redeeming us and uniting us to Himself. . Mental health is a long journey with ups and downs. But I know that God uses our struggles to open up unique opportunities to help and encourage others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). He can use even the hardest times in our lives for His good purposes (Romans 8:28). • Abby Ciona . • How is Jesus like a mental health counselor? How is He different? . • We all go through seasons of life when we feel overwhelmed, and it’s okay to need help. When you are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or other challenges, who is a trusted Christian in your life who you feel comfortable talking to? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. . • In addition to getting help from friends and mental health professionals, God wants us to come to Him for help. When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, do you feel like you can talk to Jesus? Why or why not? . • God created the world good, but when humans went their own way against God, the result was death and decay and sickness—including mental illness. But God has not left us alone in our struggles. He has compassion on us, and He came to live among us and, ultimately, to heal the world of all brokenness. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have the sure hope that Jesus will return to restore His creation—and, as His forgiven followers, we will get to live with Him forever, free from sin,

Maybe you’ve heard the saying: God will never give us more than we can handle. I’d never thought much about that idea until I found myself in Guatemala, begging God not to let both of my grandparents pass away while I was gone. . My grammy had been sick when I left for my semester abroad, and I’d said a different kind of goodbye to her. But now my pop-pop had cancer too? How could this be happening? . “This is too much!” I cried out to God. “It’s more than I can handle.” In that moment, God’s peace surrounded me like a hug. And I knew that even if it was too much for me to handle, I wouldn’t go through it alone. He was with me. My focus had been on trying to cope with the pain on my own, but instead, I had to surrender my suffering to God. . The truth is, God never promises not to give us more than we can handle. In fact, before Jesus went to the cross, He told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). And after Jesus rose from the dead, He told them, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). It is the strength of Jesus that allows us to continue forward through a broken world, not our own strength. . I also think of Paul, who endured an immense amount of suffering to share the gospel (the good news about Jesus). Paul was imprisoned, flogged, beaten, shipwrecked, endangered, and the list goes on. Paul didn’t handle all this by his own strength. Paul depended on God. . So even when the worst happens—when the mountains fall and the earth gives way, when we’re afraid of losing someone we love, when life just isn’t going the way we expected—we don’t have to worry about our own ability to handle it. God is our strength, and God is with us, always. • Becca Wierwille . • Can you think of a time you felt like God was giving you more than you could handle? How did that impact your relationship with Him? . • Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. How is this verse different from the phrase, God won’t give us more than we can handle? What would be a more helpful saying to tell people who are going through difficult things? . “I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.46.1-Ps.46.3|John.16.16-John.16.33|2Cor.11.16-2Cor.11.33

I need help right now The waves are about to wash me away God, I need you right now This pain is too much for me to bear The sooner you help The sooner I can start to heal The sooner you help The easier things will be I can’t wait any longer This hurts too much God, I need you right now This overwhelms me Work quickly in saving me Come right away to rescue me Please, God, stop all this The sooner you help, the better • Emily Acker . • This poem is written in the style of a psalm. Whenever we are in distress, God wants us to cry out to Him. He invites us to be totally honest about how overwhelmed we feel—maybe even how abandoned we feel (Psalm 22:1). He hears our cries, and He cares for us. Can you think of a time you were in trouble and God helped you? What happened? . • As Christians, we can know that God is with us—right now. Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He came to save us, and He didn’t withhold Himself from any of our suffering. In fact, Psalm 69:21 could point to one of the ways Jesus would suffer on the cross for us (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36; John 19:29). And Jesus guaranteed our salvation by rising from the grave! Then, He promised His followers, “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus will return bodily to earth one day to right every wrong and heal all our hurts. Until then, how can remembering that Jesus is with us, and that He identifies with us in our suffering, make it easier for us to cry out to Him for help? . • How do you need God’s help today? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him. . Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Psalm 69:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.69.1-Ps.69.3|Ps.69.29-Ps.69.33|Ps.70|Ps.69.17

Elisha is an Old Testament prophet, and God performed many mighty miracles through him. He healed Naaman of leprosy (2 Kings 5), raised a dead boy back to life (2 Kings 4), and stopped the Aramean army from doing violence (2 Kings 6). But in the midst of these stories, we also read about some of the small, quiet miracles God performed through Elisha—answers to prayer for the specific needs of his friends. . In 2 Kings 4, a prophet’s widow is in a desperate situation: she can’t pay her debts, and her two sons may be forced into slavery. The only thing the woman has is a little olive oil, and so Elisha tells her to borrow as many empty jars as she can from her neighbors. With her door closed, and only her sons as witnesses, the woman begins to pour oil from her small container&#8230;and miraculously fills every single jar she borrowed! Her financial worries are over as she then sells the oil. . In 2 Kings 6, a group of prophets is cutting down trees near the Jordan River, and a borrowed ax head (made of iron) falls into the water. How can they repay the man who loaned them the tool? But then Elisha throws a stick into the water, and the iron ax head miraculously floats so they can retrieve it, and disaster is once again avoided. . Sometimes, God answers prayer with spectacular, awesome displays of miraculous power, but most of the time the answers come in quiet ways. Even if these answers to prayer may not technically be miracles, they are still evidence of God’s power and His care for creation. It’s important to remember that we can bring all our prayers to God—not just the “big” stuff, but all the concerns we have for ourselves and others. In big ways and small ways, God delights to hear and answer prayer! • Laura N. Sweet . • Why do you think God included stories of “quiet miracles” in the Bible? . • Have you ever experienced God answering a prayer? What happened? . • What kinds of problems are weighing on you today? Whether they seem big or small to you, consider taking a moment to ask God for help with these things. . Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Kgs.4.1-2Kgs.4.7|2Kgs.6.1-2Kgs.6.7|Phil.4.6

It doesn’t matter when you pray. It can be early in the morning or the middle of the night. It can be on a good day or a hard day. It doesn’t matter when, God hears you no matter what. . It doesn’t matter where you pray. You can be at work or school when you talk to God, or you can be at home alone. You can pray while you’re in the car or having lunch with a group of friends. It doesn’t matter where you pray, God hears you no matter what. . It doesn’t matter how you pray. You can say a few simple words when you desperately need Him. You can get down on your knees and say a long prayer when you’re feeling grateful. You can pray alone or with others who share your faith in Jesus. It doesn’t matter how you pray, God hears you no matter what. . The book of Psalms is full of prayers, and many of the psalms were written by David. In Psalm 55, David says that when he cries out in the evening, morning, and noon, God hears him. And in Psalm 61, David says that even when he cries out to God from the ends of the earth, God hears him. . You never have to be afraid that your prayers will go unnoticed. God hears you no matter when, where, or how you pray. • Bethany Acker . • Have you ever felt like you needed to pray a certain way, or at a certain time, or in a certain place? Have you ever wanted to pray, but you didn’t feel like you could? How can today’s Bible verses encourage us to pray whenever, wherever, and however? Consider taking a moment to talk to God right now. . • As Christians, we have the joy of knowing God personally through Jesus. So, when we pray to God, we’re not just crying out to the all-powerful Creator of the universe, we’re also talking to our friend who loves us and came in human flesh to live among us. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, everyone who puts their trust in Him can have a personal relationship with God. So, when we pray, we can know that God understands what we’re going through, and He cares about us deeply. How is praying to God (who revealed Himself through Jesus) different from praying to another god? . Evening, morning and noon I cry out&#8230;and he hears my voice. Psalm 55:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.55.16-Ps.55.18|Ps.61.1-Ps.61.5

A fragment. A shard. A useless bit of glass. A piece among many. Split from the mass. Silenced. Alone. No comfort in sight. An endless abyss. As dark as the night. A yearning. A desire. A never-ending prayer. For comfort. For calm. For someone to care. A piece among many. Split from the mass. Silenced. Alone. A useless shard of glass. An answer to my petition. Peace. Hope. A light in the tunnel. A way to cope. Comforted. Forgiven. Enveloped in love. Joy. New life. On the wings of a dove. A fragment. A shard. Now pure in His sight. A piece among many. Refracting the light. • Gracee Terrell • When do you feel alone? • What is God’s recurring promise in Genesis 28:15, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20, and John 14:16-18? • God has compassion on us, and He doesn’t leave us to suffer alone. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, everyone who puts their trust in Him is forgiven, brought near to God, and becomes part of His family, the church. Together, we get to reflect His love to one another—and to the world! Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with when you are struggling? How can you show love to each other in these times? But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Col.1.19-Col.1.22|Eph.2.13

Do you ever feel down when you see others doing big things? Do you feel like you would never be able to serve like they do or make as big of an impact? Just because someone is better at something, or has found more success than you have, doesn’t mean what you’re doing isn’t good. We can’t base the value of our accomplishments on what others have done. God has given you your talents and gifts for a reason. He knows the plans He has for your life. It’s not good to get caught up in what others have going on or try to compare yourself to them. God doesn’t make mistakes. He didn’t mess up when He made you. And He loves you—no matter what you’ve accomplished. We might not always feel as smart or as talented as the next person, but we weren’t meant to compare ourselves to others. Our gifts are between us and God—and so is how we use them. We don’t have to prove ourselves to others. When we see other people succeeding while we’re still trying to figure things out, we don’t have to be down on ourselves. Instead, the Holy Spirit empowers us to celebrate other people’s successes with them! And we can come to Jesus with all our disappointments and frustrations, knowing that He is not disappointed or frustrated with us. As we rely on Him, He will guide us in how to use our talents and gifts to honor God and serve His people. • Bethany Acker • In what ways do you struggle with comparing yourself to others? • Romans 12 says that, as Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ, and just like a body has many parts with many different functions, so we are all different from each other. But we are still part of the same whole, and we all belong to each other. So, if one of us is honored, the rest of us can rejoice too (1 Corinthians 12:26). How could you encourage others when you see them using their natural talents or spiritual gifts to honor God and serve His people? We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. Romans 12:6a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.12.11|1Cor.12.25-1Cor.12.27|Rom.12.3-Rom.12.8

Imagine feeling so certain that if you did one simple thing, you’d have your deepest desire fulfilled. What if that desire was to be healed from years of suffering? And what if, after spending all you had on doctors, you heard about someone who could heal you, even when doctors couldn’t? This is the story of the woman who believed that if she could only touch the hem of Jesus’s clothes, she would be cured. This woman was an outcast, shunned by others because of an illness that caused her to bleed continually. This made her unclean, so she couldn’t go to the temple or synagogue to worship God, and those who touched her or sat where she sat would also be unclean. But she hears about a Rabbi—some even called Him the Messiah—named Jesus. This woman sees Jesus’s power and believes she simply needs to get close enough to touch His clothing, and she will be well. But how? The crowds are pressing in. Yet, desperate to be healed, she reaches through the throng of bodies to be transformed by the Son of God. And she instantly feels a change. She feels her body healing, being renewed. And Jesus feels it too. He stops and says, “Who touched me?&#8230;I know that power has gone out from me” (Luke 8:45-46). Normally, Jesus is face to face with whoever He heals. This woman, transformed by Jesus’s power, admits what she’s done and why. Jesus isn’t angry. He has compassion for her and all she’s suffered. He accepts her and blesses her, saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace” (verse 48). Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the One God promised to send to save His people. And this event—with such power emanating from Him, and such knowing, and such compassion and forgiveness—reveals the love of God. Whenever we are suffering, Jesus invites us to come to Him, like this woman did. Lord, give us faith to reach out to you too. • Lisa A. Wroble • Do you have a deep desire? Jesus invites us to come to Him with all our longings. Sometimes, He answers our prayers with a miracle. Other times, He reveals His love for us in a different way. But if we know Jesus, we are never alone in our suffering. And because Jesus died and rose again for us, we get to look forward to the day Jesus will return and suffering will be no more. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. Luke 8:44 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.8.43-Luke.8.48

Death feels so final and real. Death has been on my mind recently because I have a family member who is not in good health. Once someone passes away, we cannot get them back. But, death does not have to be the end. Because God sent Jesus to die for us, death doesn’t have to be final. It wasn’t final for Jesus; He rose from the grave! And it doesn’t have to be final for us and those we care about. While we lose our chance to be with someone when they die, if that person has put their trust in Jesus and we have too, we can see them again when Jesus returns and raises us from the dead. Death can take someone from living here on earth, but, if they are a Christian, they are still held in God’s love, and He promises to give them new life. Death is in all of our futures (unless Jesus comes back during our lifetime), but we can be prepared for it. We can have a relationship with God through relying on Jesus for salvation, and we can look forward to the day He will raise us to eternal life. We can know that He holds us even in death. And we can share this hope with the people around us. Death feels final, but it isn’t. When Jesus returns and raises us from the dead, it will be the start of a new life in restored creation, a life that will last for eternity. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel afraid of dying? Jesus Himself experienced death—both the death of people He loved (like his friend Lazarus, see John 11:1-44) and His own death on the cross. And Jesus overcame death, rising from the grave and securing our resurrection and eternal life with Him when He returns. How could these truths bring you comfort? • When you have questions about death, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.15.50-1Cor.15.58|1Thess.4.13-1Thess.4.18|Rom.8.38

Many people sought Jesus during His ministry on earth. Some went to Him to get healed, and some longed to hear from Him and see His miracles. Jesus said that He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He even spoke as if He were a shepherd who would go out and search for a lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:1-7; John 10:1-18). One such sheep was a man possessed by a legion of evil spirits (Mark 5:1-20). He was separated from his family. The Bible is silent as to what led him to such a sad and lowly state, but Jesus found the man when he was lonely, avoided, rejected, hopeless, and despised. Nobody wanted him. Nobody associated with him. Until Jesus came. This man did not seek Jesus, yet Jesus crossed the lake to find him. Jesus traveled to reach out to him and set him free from evil spirits. And Jesus set him free without cost or condition. As Jesus cared for this man, He cares for us too. Like the man who was possessed, we can know that Jesus pursues us with God’s never-ending love. Because Jesus died and rose again for us, we can put our trust in Him and have a relationship with God. If we are in Christ, we can be freed from evil’s control. The Holy Spirit empowers us to reject sin, and reminds us of the promise of the resurrection, that one day, we will be freed from sin and death completely. So, no matter what we face—worries dragging us down, fears tormenting us, or other trials we experience in a world that’s broken by sin—we can know that Jesus is always with us. In Him, we find true freedom. We have peace even in the midst of struggles, and the promise of ultimate wholeness when Jesus returns and makes all things new. Like the man who was set free from demons, we can be completely freed indeed. • Golda Dilema • What things around you cause you to feel like you are a stranger, despised, avoided, or lonely in this world? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about these things, knowing that He cares for you. • Read Romans 8. How does Jesus’s love free us from the power of sin and death? How does His love give us hope for the future and comfort in the present? “So if the Son [ Jesus] sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.118.5|Mark.5.1-Mark.5.20|2Cor.3.17|John.8.36

Sometimes I struggle when I read the Bible. It sorts people into two groups: the righteous and the wicked. It says God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked. That sounds kind of good, right? Justice. We should all want that. My problem is, I often don’t feel like the righteous guy. When I read: don’t covet (don’t want something that belongs to someone else), don’t lie, love God and people, and on and on&#8230;in my mind, I hear: &#8220;fail, fail, fail.&#8221; And even when I try to improve, I’m never quite as good as that righteous guy. I’m pretty wicked. Does this mean I need to watch out for God’s punishment? What do I do? This is when Jesus helps me. Hey, He’s our Savior for a reason, right? Jesus hung out with a lot of wicked people: adulterers, fraudulent tax collectors, sinners. I’m like, “Yeah, I’m one of those sinners!” It makes you wonder, why would Jesus hang out with them? If God loves the righteous and is mad at the wicked, why wouldn’t Jesus avoid them or bring on some lightning strikes? The Pharisees, who worked hard to follow God’s commands and felt pretty righteous, wondered the same thing. They asked Jesus what He was doing. Jesus replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick&#8230;.I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). What? Jesus says He’s here for the wicked? Yup. Jesus is the Savior. He came to help people. Guess who needs help? Wicked sinners! And guess who’s a sinner according to Romans 3:23? Everybody! Guess who’s righteous? Nobody! (Not even the Pharisees.) The amazing truth of the gospel is that Jesus Christ, who never sinned, took our sins on Himself when He went to the cross, and then He rose from the dead, “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). No matter how wicked we are, in Christ, we become the righteous. He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. What a Savior, huh? • Carlita Southworth • Read Matthew 9:9-13. What did Jesus say to the people who thought they were wicked? What did He say to the people who thought they were righteous? • Jesus freely gives us His righteousness—it’s not something we have to earn. And once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we don’t have to sin anymore because the Holy Spirit in us enables us to turn away from sin and follow God’s good ways. How might Jesus be inviting you to follow Him today? What might it look like to follow Jesus out of love and gratitude, not obligation or fear? God made him who had no sin [Jesus] to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.9.9-Matt.9.13|Rom.3.9-Rom.3.26|2Cor.5.17-2Cor.5.21

I sat down for the umpteenth Sunday service. Same row. Same struggle. Same insecurity. Never perfect enough&#8230;or perhaps just never enough. I was exhausted by the hamster wheel of performance and anticipated leaving church just like I’d come in. Until&#8230; “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” &#8220;Did I hear that right?&#8221; I quickly turned my Bible’s pages to Galatians 5:16. &#8220;Aha!&#8221; I had read this verse beginning to end many times. But all this time, the way I lived it out was backward. All. This. Time. I had been living as though Paul’s letter to the Galatian church implored, “But I say, do not gratify the desires of the flesh, and then you can say you walk by the Spirit.” Catch the difference? It’s a big one. I looked around to see if anyone else was ready to start a dance party. The truth was suddenly clear: I didn’t have to run faster. I could stop running! I didn’t have to hide. I knew God was inviting me off my hamster wheel&#8230;and out of my cage too. Let me explain. For years, I walked with Christ (“by the Spirit”) like this&#8230; Work really hard. Do better than others. Then you will be named valedictorian. Work really hard. Do better than others. Then you will get the job. Work really hard. Do better than others. Then you will win the scholarship. Give and get. Work and receive. But Galatians 5:16 says the only power to overcome these insecurities and misplaced identities comes from Jesus Christ’s Spirit. It’s His power. We cannot catch it, claim it, or contain it apart from the work of Christ. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, the Spirit of Jesus lives inside you. “So I say, walk by the Spirit.” You don’t need to prove yourself. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for you, you are counted worthy in God’s sight. You are named Child of God. You already got the job. You already won. • Kelly Carlson • Do you ever find yourself trying to power through a struggle in order to earn or prove your worth? God loves you so much, it was worth it to Him to go to the cross for you. In Christ, you’ve already received God’s acceptance (Romans 15:7; 1 John 4:19). • Read Galatians 5:13-26. What are the acts of the flesh? What are the fruits of the Spirit? Why is it important that the only way we can resist the acts of the flesh—and instead produce the fruits of the Spirit—is by the Spirit’s power? So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.25-Matt.11.30|Gal.5.13-Gal.5.26|Zech.4.6

Do you feel like the world is falling apart? Do you wish someone would have the courage to step forward and fix it? Nehemiah knew what that felt like. He was a cupbearer to the Babylonian king, living in a time after God’s people had been exiled for worshiping idols and rejecting God’s good commands. Nehemiah was heartbroken when he heard the news that Jerusalem, the beloved city of God’s people, lay in ruins—homes reduced to rubble, the temple destroyed, and the walls broken down. A city without walls had no defense. Nehemiah wept and prayed for guidance, asking for forgiveness for the sinful things God’s people had done. Miraculously, God not only released him from his cupbearer responsibilities to the king but also provided protection along the way AND the materials to build! Once Nehemiah arrived, he assessed the damage, which was worse than he expected. But Nehemiah was not deterred in what God had called him to do. Instead, he rallied the Jews, newly returned from exile in Babylon, and told them he had a plan, the materials, and most importantly, God’s approval. The people would work together to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. But Nehemiah faced repeated and discouraging opposition. Still, he trusted in God. He knew God had blessed the rebuilding project, and eventually the walls were rebuilt. As Christians living life in this crazy world full of brokenness and lies, we find hope in Jesus when we read the Bible, God’s love letter to us. In the book of Nehemiah, we hear over and over again reminders and promises that point to Jesus: that God is with His people, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem, and that He is ready to restore and redeem those who repent, even though we have sinned. We are free to serve Jesus, knowing that we are never alone and that He promises to one day make all things new—free from sin and death. • Jarm Del Boccio • When Nehemiah saw the brokenness around him, he talked to God. What is weighing on your heart today? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about these things. • How can the promises of Jesus encourage us to pray about, and maybe even take action to help with, the situations that weigh on our hearts? (Matthew 28:20; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 21:1-6) When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Neh.1.1-Neh.2.8|Neh.6.16

Kyren adjusted her pendant so that the beam of light emanating from it illuminated the paper in her worn, leatherbound notebook. &#8220;Day 52. The darkness is all-consuming. Do I even remember what light looks like? Thank God for these pendants—but even they seem to be weakening after all this time in the deep. Still, we press on into the depths of the sea, deeper, perhaps, than anyone has gone before. We will fix our eyes on the One who made these ocean depths and remember that this night, though it seems everlasting, is only temporary—&#8221; Ink splattered across Kyren’s page, interrupting her journaling with a harsh jolt of the underwater craft. Taryn burst into the room, his eyes wide. “Ky, the vessel is taking on water. We need to make repairs before it’s too late!” The damage to the craft seemed extensive. Kyren paused to survey the inside of the hull and witnessed her people using their various gifts to assist. As several of them worked on reducing the water’s flow and repairing the fissure in the vessel with quick movements and keen minds, Kyren started emptying buckets into the emergency drain and prepared to use her gift. Lifting her voice, she spoke truth over the atmosphere of chaos and fear: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it! We will not lose heart! These troubles are but for a moment—the glory of eternity with God outshines all of this.” Hours later, the group lay sprawled by the vessel’s massive window, gazing at creatures of the deep they had never before seen, some of which glowed bioluminescent in the dark. By working together and relying on the power of God, the damage to the vessel had been repaired. Relief was evident on every face that was, at last, resting. Kyren pulled her journal out and penned the words she would not soon forget: &#8220;Miraculous, how the deeper we go, the more we see light. It’s all around us, these creatures of the deep, enabled to shine by the power of our Creator. No hardship can destroy our hope—for we have the Light of God in us through His Son. Though it is hard, we press on, for He is with us and in us.” • Savannah Coleman • Like Kyren and her crew, do you ever feel like the dark is surrounding you and choking out every bit of light in your life? • When we walk through inevitable hardships, it can be easy to give in to despair and forget that our God is with us through Jesus and in us through the Holy Spirit—and He is always for us. How can remembering God’s presence with us, and that He is greater than all the things we face, give us strength to keep going? • If you are a child of God, you can rest in Jesus’s promise: the Light of God will overcome the darkness (John 1:5; 12). And the Light has a name: Jesus Christ. Because we are in Christ, no difficulty we endure has the power to crush or destroy us; because Jesus came to live among us, die on the cross, and rise from the dead for us, we have an eternal glory that outweighs everything we go through on this earth (2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16-17). How could you remind fellow Christians of these truths in hard times? • Can you find the verses Kyren quoted from John 1 and 2 Corinthians 4? (If you want to dive even deeper, read Psalm 112:4; 139:7-12; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:31; and 1 John 4:4.) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.1.1-John.1.18|2Cor.4|John.8.12

While I was reading Psalm 55 the other day, I was reminded of sixth grade. Most days, I did not want to go to school. I was a lot smaller that a lot of my classmates, and the hallways were packed full. As I struggled up the stairs in the current of backpacks, I often wished I could fly away. When I read Psalm 55, I found out David felt the same way. When David was having a really tough time and he felt overwhelmed, he said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. How quickly I would escape—far from this wild storm of hatred” (Psalm 55:6-8). But David couldn’t leave. He didn’t have wings. And neither did I. When David couldn’t get away, when his heart was pounding in his chest, he turned to God and cried out for help. David told God all about the conflict, the threats, the cheating, and the violence going on all around him. Even David’s close friend—a friend he used to walk with on the way to worship God—was now taunting and insulting him. David told God about all of it, and God listened. He had compassion on David. And He didn’t leave David to struggle alone. Even when David was in distress, he wrote, “But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me&#8230;the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe&#8230;” (verses 16-18). Throughout our lives, we find ourselves in places that feel negative, even hostile. For me, school was one of those places. Teasing among peers and even friends, suspicion between teachers and students, gossip, lockdown drills, fights in the hallways&#8230; sometimes it all felt like too much. But even in these places, God says that He is “our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). During my days at school, I prayed more prayers than I can count. And God met me in my distress. Slowly, gently, faithfully, He drew me closer to Himself and revealed His great kindness. He gave me the courage to keep going, and He provided safe places where I could find rest in the midst of the chaos and safe people I could talk to. I found what David said to be true: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you” (Psalm 55:22). • Hannah Howe • Have you ever felt like David did in Psalm 55? We all go through hard things, but if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can rest in the sure hope that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Oh, that I had wings like a dove&#8230; Psalm 55:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.55

As winter fades into spring, you might feel good about the transition. The birds are singing in the trees again, and the flowers are starting to bloom. As fall fades into winter and the last of the colorful leaves abandon the branches, you might not feel so pleased. The world might feel too cold and dark during that time. But spring will come again. God created a world with many seasons. In addition to the weather and the changes we see around us, there are seasons we go through in our personal lives as well. There are seasons of joy that are as bright and beautiful as spring. Seasons when we feel like everything is going right and we have hope for the future. There are seasons of darkness when it feels like winter. When we aren’t sure what’s happening. When we lose a loved one, or when we just feel scared about what to do next. One thing that remains the same through summer, fall, winter, spring—and all the seasons in our lives—is God. He never changes. His love for us is steadfast, and His promises are sure. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” As people saved by Jesus, we can know that we are held securely in His love—always. He rejoices with us in seasons of celebration, and He weeps with us in seasons of grief, knowing that one day, He will put an end to death and there will be no more need for tears (Revelation 21:4). When you feel down or sad or worried about anything in life, remember that God is with you through it all. The seasons are always going to change—better, worse, better. Things in this world never stay the same. But God does. God is the same in every season, and we can always rely on Him. • Bethany Acker • What season does your life feel like right now: fall, winter, spring, or summer? Why? • Can you think of a time God helped you through a transition or a hard season? How might remembering His faithfulness in the past make it easier to face the unknowns of the future? “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.100.3-Ps.100.5|Isa.40.8

Love is not just a four-letter word. Sometimes we want to hear someone say, “I love you” and really mean it and show it. My dear husband doesn’t say “I love you” very often. When he does say it, I know he truly means it. More than anything, he shows me he loves me. He drives me to the doctor, or he fixes things for me. If I’m afraid or upset, he wraps me in his arms and holds me tight. I know my husband loves me. Jesus says He loves each and every one of us. His love is real, and He has shown it. Jesus showed love by healing people who were sick. He searched for those who were lost and didn’t know God. He spoke God’s words, saying they too could be part of His eternal kingdom. Doubters and cynics spoke unkind words to Jesus. There were haters who were afraid He’d tell them they were doing the wrong things. But Jesus—being God—knew what was in their hearts. And He spoke the truth in love. If they refused to listen and hear, He still cared. Jesus proved God’s faithful and undying love for all of us when He died on the cross for us. He gave His life and rose from the dead to open the door to God’s kingdom. That is true love. To lay down your life for other people who might not even receive it speaks of a love we do not understand (Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 3:19). It’s a love we truly do not deserve, yet He offers it. And Jesus’s amazing love transforms us, making us more and more like Him. As the Holy Spirit works in us, we can act like Him so others can see how amazing His love is. • Anna Gregory • Can you think of any ways God has shown you His love? Consider taking some time to write a few of them down, thanking Him for each one. • Have you ever seen God’s love through His people, the church? What did they do? For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.145.8|Eph.2.4-Eph.2.5|1John.4.10|John.3.16

Hating my father hurt. I had stomach-aches that doubled me over at times. But I tried to hide the pain. Mom shouldn’t have to worry about me, on top of everything else. My dad left us and moved in with another woman. Mom said to forgive him, but I won’t. I can’t. I could hear Mom cry at night, and the anger I felt with each of her sobs grew inside of me. But gradually, Mom started to cry less. She started living normally. She even seemed happy! “How can you be happy?” I asked. “Why aren’t you angry?” Mom took a deep breath. “I still feel angry sometimes—lots of times—but God helps me.” She brought out her Bible. Yellow sticky notes poked from between crumpled, worn pages. “God’s Words comfort me. He lets me know I’m loved and cherished, and that He will never leave me. And as I’m honest with Him, His love softens my heart so I can forgive, as He does.” “Well, I can’t forgive.” Mom nodded. “None of us can, not without the help of the Holy Spirit.” For weeks my stomach continued to hurt. One night I wandered into the living room and turned on a light. I saw Mom’s Bible. When I picked it up, the pages opened to one of her sticky notes. Luke 23:34: “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.’” Jesus said this about the people who crucified Him. He forgave those who whipped His back to shreds, pounded nails into His hands and feet, and let Him hang until He died. If Jesus could forgive them…could He forgive my dad? Could I? }God, I can’t forgive! Help me!&#8221; As I prayed those words, a calmness covered me. And, for just a moment, forgiving my dad felt a bit less impossible. • Bonnie Carr • Have you ever felt like the character in this fictional story? True forgiveness is only possible through Jesus. He paid the price for all our sins by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Since we’ve received Jesus’s forgiveness, we can forgive others. This doesn’t mean it will be easy, or that our anger will go away completely, but the Holy Spirit empowers us to turn to God in our hurt and respond to others with His love. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean we need to have close relationship with them—in fact, loving this person might include setting up healthy boundaries. Who are trusted Christians you can talk to about what forgiveness might look like in your situation? • How can pondering the price Jesus paid to forgive you help you extend forgiveness to others? Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Colossians 3:13b (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.23.18-Luke.23.34|Col.3.12-Col.3.13

Are you hungry for justice? Do you thirst for light in a dark world? Are you desperate for a purpose to go on? Are you searching for meaning in life? Do you wish to be understood? Are you longing to be loved? Bring your hopes to the only One who can satisfy, The Light of the World, The King of Kings, The Living Water and the Bread of Life. He understands what you are facing. He is with you in the storm. He knows who you are and loves you as you are. He will satisfy your needs and fill you with His holy life. He will give you strength to carry on, And overflowing grace to share with others. You never have to hunger or thirst again. • Abby Ciona • Read Hebrews 4:13-16. How does Jesus understand what we’re going through? • Read Revelation 7:16-17 and 21:1-7. One day, when Jesus restores His creation, He will right every wrong and there will be no more pain or suffering. What is one way this truth can give you hope through challenges? • In what ways does Jesus satisfy our deepest longings? (If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 58:6-11; Luke 4:14-21; John 1:5-9; 6:32-48; 7:38-39; 8:12; 1 John 4:19; and Revelation 17:14.) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.5.6|Ps.139.1-Ps.139.4|Isa.55.1-Isa.55.3|John.4.1-John.4.15

I held the paper in my hand, reading the message in surprise. A telegram! I didn’t know anybody who sent (or received) telegrams, yet there I stood with one of my own. I’d competed at a local level in a national scholarship program and then advanced to the state event. Participating at the state competition involved traveling several hours away from home and staying with a host family for a week. On the final evening of the contest, the telegram had been delivered to me. It came from Alice, a friend of my grandmother. She sent a note of support, reminding me that many people back home—some who I barely knew—cheered me on while I attempted to do my best. Although I got several cards in the mail that week, I received only one telegram, and it’s the only “good luck” message I remember from that season many years ago. The final recorded word that Jesus spoke to His disciples before He ascended was a message they wouldn’t forget either. The resurrected Jesus had instructed His disciples to meet Him on a mountain in Galilee, and when they had gathered there, He gave them what we often call “the Great Commission.” This included Jesus’s command to share the good news (or the gospel) with all the world, teaching others to follow and obey Him. And the Great Commission still applies to Jesus’s followers today. We also have been commissioned to make disciples wherever we go—sharing with others the hope and purpose we have in Christ through faith. Because He has forgiven our sins, we get to have a relationship with God, living transformed lives through the Holy Spirit and looking forward to the day Jesus will return bodily to earth. The telegram from Alice boosted my spirits during a challenging week because it reminded me that I wasn’t alone. The Great Commission also carries a reminder that God’s people (then and now) need to hear: Christ has “all authority…in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). As He calls us to live in service to Him, He also promises that He will remain with us, even to the very end. • Allison Wilson Lee • Why do you think Jesus saved the Great Commission for His final talk with His disciples? • Read Matthew 28:16-20. How might the Great Commission pertain to our lives today? What difference does it make knowing that Jesus promises to be with us always? “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19a (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.28.16-Matt.28.20

“Ugh,” my daughter said in disgust. Whole peppercorns covered Eloise’s broccoli alfredo and looked like mini meatballs floating on a sea of white sauce. The culprit: a broken pepper grinder. Lately, our pepper grinder had been breaking the peppercorns in half instead of grinding them. Now, the grinder lay in pieces, and I made a mental note to add a new one to the shopping list. Eloise set the broken pieces on the counter. I thought about throwing it all in the trash as I headed out the door to my weekly small group. My husband was doing the dishes, so I decided to let him deal with it. To my surprise, the grinder was put back together when I came home. I twisted it and smiled in delight at the finely ground pepper on my counter. We didn’t need a new grinder; the old one only required tightening and some TLC—Tender Loving Care. What about you? Is there something in your life that seems broken beyond repair? Has a friendship ended? Has your chance at making the team evaporated? Have you given up on a dream? Or made a decision you regret? As humans, we all make mistakes and we all sin. However, we are never out of God’s reach for His forgiveness, grace, or love. He never looks at what you’ve done and thinks you’re a lost cause. There is nothing that will make God stop loving you. The most magnificent gesture of TLC in all human history is Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins. Because of His sacrifice, we are never broken beyond repair. When Jesus rose from the dead, He revealed that God is greater than every kind of brokenness—even sin and death. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, our sins are totally forgiven, and the Holy Spirit is in us, healing the broken places in our hearts and transforming us to be more and more like Jesus. If you feel broken, remember that God is ready to pick you up and put you back together. When you ask for His forgiveness and guidance, He’ll get you back on track. With His strength, you can ask others for forgiveness and work to make amends. With His love, you’re never broken beyond repair. • Erin Nestico • Can you think of a time when you felt broken? Is there a broken area in your life right now? • Have you ever been hesitant to come to Jesus in your brokenness? How can remembering His “tender loving care” give us hope to approach Him? (Hebrews 4:14-16). No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.1-Rom.8.4|Rom.8.15-Rom.8.39

When you read Psalm 136, you might see why I’ve called it a psalm of thanksgiving. The first three verses say, “Give thanks.” This Psalm was written to be a group song of thanks, meaning that one person or part of the group would sing the first line, then the majority of the group would sing back, “His love endures forever.” But what exactly is the psalm—or song—thanking God for? Each verse thanks Him for a specific thing in Israel’s history. The verses can be grouped together to find four main themes about God’s actions and character that the singers were thanking Him for. First, in verses 1-9, they thank God for what He has made: the heavens, the waters, and the light. These verses praise God for being the Creator. Second, in verses 10-16, they thank God for saving Israel from slavery in Egypt by striking down the firstborn, dividing the Red Sea, and leading the Israelites (along with many other people, see Exodus 12:38) through the wilderness. By saving them from slavery, God revealed that He is the Redeemer. Third, in verses 17-22, they thank God for striking down their enemies so that Israel could live in the land that He had promised them as their inheritance. Israel praises God for being the great Conqueror. Fourth, in verses 23-26, they thank God for remembering them, for freeing them from captivity, and for feeding all living creatures. They praise God for being the Deliverer. God is not only the Creator, Redeemer, Conqueror, and Deliver for the people who sang this psalm many years ago; He is also all these things for us today! He created us and everything around us. Through dying on the cross and rising from the dead for us, Jesus—God the Son—redeemed us from sin, delivered us from death, and conquered all evil, and He will one day return to deliver all of creation from captivity to decay, brokenness, and death. What a thing to be able to thank Him for! • Kimberly Brokish • Have you seen God acting as the Creator, Redeemer, Conqueror, or Deliverer—either in Scripture, in your own life, or in someone else’s life? Consider taking some time to thank God for who He is and what He has done. • How could it be helpful to look back on your own life to remember the things God has done for you? Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:26 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.136

There have been times in my life when I would hear hurtful words, especially when I made a mistake. But there were also moments when I would speak harshly and hurt others. I would be inconsiderate of them. I would be insensitive and fail to understand people. I have been careless with my words. Whenever someone speaks unkindly to me, I have a tendency to speak with rudeness as well. I used to not care if I offended a person with my words. I only cared about airing my negative thoughts without minding if my words would offend the other person. Now I realize that spoken words can open the door to new and better relationships, but words can also cause relationships to break down. The Bible tells us that words can give peace, but they can also spark disagreements and anger. Words can bring joy, but they can also bring sadness and bitterness. Words can give life or bring death (Proverbs 18:21). Words have power. When you speak, you have the power to influence and impact your hearers. God calls us to use our words the way He does, to speak words that encourage. Speak words that empower. Speak with kindness. Speak words of comfort, healing, gratitude, and appreciation. Jesus said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45). If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, your heart is being transformed by His love. You are a child of God, and He has blessed you with a beautiful tongue to speak the right words. Soak yourself in the love and kindness of God. He will guide you with kind words to say. As you rely on God, the Holy Spirit will give you the right words and help you speak gently and with respect. • Golda Dilema • When people speak unkindly to us, it hurts. God invites us to come to Him with all our hurts and receive His healing love and kindness. Can you think of any hurtful words people have spoken to or about you? Consider taking some time to bring these words to God in prayer. • Can you think of a time you hurt others with your words? You can confess all these things to God, knowing that Jesus’s forgiveness covers all your sin, and you can ask Him to help you speak in ways that are wholesome and build others up (Ephesians 4:29-32). Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. Proverbs 20:15 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Prov.20.15|Prov.11.9|Prov.15.1-Prov.15.4|Prov.16.24

Military conflict breaks out. A tsunami hits. Justice is not accomplished. Christians are martyred. Violence escalates. At times, it seems there are unanswered ills that God is (at best) ignoring or (at worst) endorsing. This conundrum of God’s righteousness in the face of evil circumstances is not new. The prophet Habakkuk wondered how God could allow wickedness among His people. God’s reply was inconceivable: He said the Babylonian empire would be an instrument of judgment upon them. But how could a holy and righteous God allow His chosen people—rebellious as they were—to be consumed by a people even more wicked (Habakkuk 1:12-13)? Instead of answering Habakkuk’s questions, God revealed that there would be judgment against Babylon too. But, in the midst of all the brokenness and injustice, God made an important promise: “The righteous one will live by his faith” (2:4). This statement is quoted three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38), and it declares the gospel—the good news that Jesus Christ died for sinners, rose again, and offers new life and righteousness in Him to those who believe. This means that right standing with God (righteousness) is offered to everyone on the basis of faith. And persevering in the faith that God has given leads us to our eternal and lasting inheritance of life with Him: God’s people will dwell with Him forever, and all things will be made new, free from sin and death (Revelation 21:1-5). “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). So even when it seems like everything is lost, we can still rejoice in the God of our eternal salvation (Habakkuk 3:17-19). We can also pray for those who perpetuate injustice, knowing that even they can experience the gift of salvation, by God’s grace through faith (Romans 3:21-26). • Cameron DeCou • Have you ever asked God why He would allow something bad to happen? • When you are hurt or treated unjustly, who are trusted people in your life you can talk with about what you’re experiencing—such as counselors, parents, teachers, youth leaders, pastors, etc.? For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Romans 1:17 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Hab.2.4|Hab.3.17-Hab.3.19|Rom.1.17|Hab.1.2-Hab.1.4|Hab.1.12-Hab.1.13

We often feel like we have to be a certain way or reach a certain goal because that’s what will make the people around us respect us. I have struggled with this. I feel like I need to be at a certain point financially, bringing in a certain amount of money, in order to not feel ashamed of my life and what I’ve accomplished. The Bible talks about how people admire the rich and those who are able to save up a lot of wealth. But God makes it clear that no one will be able to take anything with them in the end. Money is not going to do us any real good when we die. More important than money, Jesus reveals that God loves us unconditionally, and through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we can be set free from every kind of shame. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God is already pleased with us, and we don’t need to accomplish anything to earn His acceptance. So, we don’t have to orient our lives around getting the respect of the people around us. Instead, we can orient our lives around following Jesus. As we make decisions in our lives, we don’t need to try to get rich. Instead, we can look to God for guidance and wisdom in our finances. He calls us to rely on Him for all our needs as we seek to live according to His Word, and to store up treasures in heaven. Money and power are not going to last, and we are not going to be able to take any cash we earn now with us when we die. But if we follow Jesus, our lives can bear fruit that will last (John 15:16; Galatians 5:22-23). • Emily Acker • Have you ever felt pressure to live a certain way in order to earn respect from others? • Sometimes, we try to store up wealth to get people to accept us. Other times, we try to get more money or possessions because we want to feel secure. God sees our needs for acceptance and security, and He has compassion on us. He wants us to rely on Him for all our needs, instead of relying on money. Do you tend to want money more for acceptance or for security? • What questions do you have about money? Who are trusted Christians you could talk to about these questions? “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.49.16-Ps.49.20|Matt.6.19-Matt.6.34

Jesus had the power to heal sickness. He had the power to forgive sins. He still does. You can trust Him with everything because He is great and powerful. Jesus has compassion for the hurting, and He cares for you. He loves the broken. He forgives sinners. Jesus can heal people who are blind, sick, paralyzed, and hurting—and He can forgive our sins. Jesus had the power not to die on the cross. He could have gotten away. He could have refused to do it. He could have left us in our sin. But He didn’t. Jesus, who is fully God and full of power, allowed Himself to be hung on the cross because He loves us so much. He was willing to take our sins on Himself even though He didn’t deserve any of it. Jesus endured the pain of the cross. He endured the full weight of God’s just wrath against sin. He was in the grave for three days because of our sins. But then, He rose again. Jesus had the power to do anything. He chose to love us. We can see the power of Jesus when we read about all He has done in the Bible, and we can also see His power in all He has done for us. Jesus can heal us, help us, and save us from our sins. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, all our sins are forgiven—past, present, and future. As His people, we can come to Him and receive His help at any time. And we can know that one day, Jesus will return and heal all our hurts, and we will live with Him forever. • Bethany Acker • Read Mark 2:1-12. How did Jesus reveal His power in this passage? • Is there an area of brokenness you’d like Jesus to heal—either in your own life or someone else’s? God invites us to pray about all these things. He might answer our prayers with a miracle, or He might show love to us in another way. But we can know that when Jesus returns, “‘There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). • Why was Jesus willing to go to the cross? (If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 26:36-56; John 18:1-14; 1 Peter 2:24; and Hebrews 4:14-16.) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mark.2.1-Mark.2.12|Rom.5.6-Rom.5.8

When life is busy, our minds are constantly full of things we have to do, places we have to go, and people we have to see. It’s very easy to find ourselves becoming a little self-centered. We never intended to live in our own little worlds, but that’s what life seems to demand right now. In the event of Jesus feeding the five thousand (which is recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we find Jesus and His disciples trying to find a secluded place to rest after a busy series of days (Mark 6:30-32). But the crowds are eager to hear more of this great miracle worker’s teachings, and they follow the Master and His disciples. When Jesus sees the crowd, He has compassion on them (verse 34). Knowing these people are hungry, Jesus decides food is needed. He then turns to Philip and asks, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” (John 6:5). When Jesus asks where, I imagine Philip doing a quick calculation in his mind, figuring the impossibility of what Jesus wants to do. This disciple responds by saying there’s not enough money to buy food for the whole crowd. There are five thousand men—not even counting women and children! That means there could be more than ten thousand hungry mouths to feed. There’s no point asking where to buy food when there’s no money to buy food. Then, I imagine Andrew scanning the crowd searching for something or someone to help solve this problem. He spots a boy with five loaves and two fish. What is this disciple’s response to Jesus’s question? He tells Jesus about the boy’s food then adds, “But what good is that with this huge crowd?” (verse 9). The need is massive; what can five loaves and two fish accomplish? Jesus then quiets the people and gives thanks. As the crowd watches in amazement, those scant five loaves and two fish are handed out. The food keeps on coming until everyone has their fill—and there’s even some leftover! It’s so easy to underestimate what Jesus can do. When life gets busy, we might feel like there aren’t enough resources to go around. But, as followers of Jesus Christ, we’re called to be attentive to the needs of those around us. Instead of living our Christian lives in our own little worlds, Jesus enables us to be compassionate and reach out to help those who need it, knowing He will provide. • Doug Velting • Read John 6:1-13. What was Jesus’s disciples’ role in feeding the crowd? What did Jesus do? • Especially when life gets busy, why is it important to take time to rest? (Mark 6:31) Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. John 6:11a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.6.1-John.6.13

Do you ever think about eternity? As a little kid, I used to lie awake at night, thinking about what it would be like to live forever and ever and ever—with no end. An eternal life with God! There was no way to wrap my mind around the idea. No matter how many zeroes I put on the end of the number of years, it would still be just a beginning to eternity. This is the perspective that the apostle Peter wanted his readers to have when they read his letter to them—we now call this letter “1 Peter.” In it, Peter is writing to believers in the early church during a time of suffering and persecution. Although he addresses their suffering in much of the letter, Peter wants them to remember their “living hope,” their eternal salvation and their “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade…kept in heaven” (1:3-4). The “little while” that believers have to “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1:6) cannot be compared to the eternal salvation that awaits God’s children. Jesus will return and unite heaven and earth, and everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live and reign with Him forever. Even now we can be filled with “an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1:8) as we rest in Jesus’s love for us and anticipate eternity with Him. Peter also reminds his readers they are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (2:9). He encourages them to remember that, even if they suffer for doing good, ultimately they will be blessed for doing what is right. Since “the end of all things is near” (4:7), believers should live self-controlled lives that are marked by prayer. “Above all, love each other deeply,” Peter urges, “because love covers over a multitude of sins” (4:8). Suffering is temporary. Our salvation in Christ is for all eternity! These themes in 1 Peter have encouraged believers ever since he wrote them two thousand years ago. • Laura N. Sweet • Have you ever stopped to really think about eternity? What amazes you the most about eternal life with Christ—which is promised to everyone who has put their trust in Jesus, believing He died on the cross and rose from the grave for us? • When we are going through hard times, why might it be helpful to remember that our suffering will only last a little while compared to living forever with Jesus in renewed creation? How might looking forward to Jesus’s return affect the way we live now? In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Pet.3.13-1Pet.3.18|1Pet.4.7-1Pet.4.8|1Pet.1.3-1Pet.1.9

Why is this happening, God? When will it stop?” Tears fell as I poured out my heart and journaled to the Lord. I had prayed for a particular person in my life for years, but the grueling situation continued. My emotions ranged from despair to anger. What emotions have you experienced lately? What about in the last twenty-four hours? Emotions encompass a wide range: love, happiness, fear, anger, hatred, and more. Our feelings are typically affected by the circumstances, people, or objects surrounding us. The Bible is filled with people who experienced emotions of every kind. Their stories display a wide range of human experiences, and through them, I’ve learned that God can handle all our feelings. While He does want to hear our praises and happy emotions, He also longs for us to share our hearts, pouring out our negative feelings as well. We can see this modeled in the book of Psalms. David wrote over seventy of the psalms, and he is described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). In some of David’s psalms, he praises God and gives thanks for all He’s done. In others, David is full of lament, anguish, and despair as he questions God and wonders why his circumstances have not changed. David had a personal, intimate relationship with God. He shared all his heart and didn’t hold back. God invites us to have this kind of relationship with Him through Jesus. God knows our hearts, minds, and the innermost thoughts of our being (Psalm 139:1-4). Even though He doesn’t need us to tell Him how we feel, He desires us to share everything on our minds. Similarly to how human relationships grow with trust and communication, we also grow closer to God when we share our deepest thoughts. God longs for us to give our concerns to Him. He’s ready to handle our big questions. No matter what emotions you’re feeling today, God is ready to listen to everything you have to say. • Erin Nestico • Why do you think God longs for us to pour out our hearts to Him? • Are there any emotions you don’t feel comfortable sharing with God? Which ones? O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.61|Ps.100|Ps.62.8

When my alarm clock first went off, I did not want to rise; I laid within my bed awhile; It held me like a vice. A blackened cloud hung over me, Of doubt and fear and pain; I shut my eyes and thought I would Not open them again. It felt like I could not get up, Nor could I face the day; But then in my deep dark despair, I heard my Savior say: “Oh come to Me, dear weary soul, And I will give you rest; My grace is all sufficient for Your every trial and test. Oh come to Me and I will give You peace and strength anew; And when you cannot carry on, Then I will carry you.” ⦁ Jacob Bier ⦁ Life can feel overwhelming at times, but Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He wants to help us. In what areas of your life do you need His peace today? ⦁ Sometimes, depression can make it difficult or even impossible to get out of bed on our own. In times like these, Jesus does not scold us. He knows how badly suffering hurts—He endured it here on earth. He has compassion on us and invites us to rely on His love. One of the primary ways God helps us is through other people. If you are experiencing feelings of despair, intense emotional pain, or emotional numbness, who is a trusted adult you feel comfortable talking to? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. • If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also talk with someone via web chat (suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat). If your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.73.26|Lam.3.21-Lam.3.23|Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30

We all have them: thoughts or desires that pop into our heads—some uninvited, others invited. There have been many times when, after such a thought, I was relieved that it was only in my mind and not flashing in lights for all to see. On one occasion, a thought had been plaguing me for several days. I just wanted to be rid of it. This thought was not helpful and would not further my relationship with Christ or others. Although I had prayed about it many times, my heart felt restless. I knew the temptation itself was not sin, nor had I acted on it, but why would this thought not leave me alone? That Sunday, my pastor talked about the importance of being real in our relationships. A few days later, I was having coffee with a close friend. As we shared the normal and the messy, I felt like God kept prompting me to share the messiest. But what would my friend think of me? God reminded me that He sees all of me—including the parts I am most ashamed of—and His love for me is unshaken. I knew I needed to be open and honest with my friend, who also loves God. I took a deep breath and said, “Could I tell you a thought I’ve been having that I know isn’t good? I need someone to listen and give me some godly wisdom.” After I told my friend, I felt such freedom. She listened, gave wise advice, did not judge, and committed to pray for me. I also asked her to keep me accountable to make sure I did not cross the line into sin. Being open and honest healed. • Savannah Coleman ⦁ Temptation is not a sin (Hebrews 4:14-16), and neither are intrusive thoughts, a common mental health struggle that happens when the brain overfocuses on something that horrifies or disturbs you. When a thought pops into your head, you are not bound by it. It’s just a thought. It only becomes sin when it begins to impact how you view and treat God, yourself, and others. Who are trusted people—such as counselors, friends, parents, or pastors—you can be open and honest with? How can you be a safe person for others, someone who will listen without passing judgment and offer to help shoulder a burden? Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eccl.4.9-Eccl.4.12|Gal.6.1-Gal.6.10

Ready for Bible trivia? What is the longest chapter in the Bible? The answer: Psalm 119, with a whopping 176 verses! Though it’s long, this psalm is all about the importance of God’s Word and how much the psalmist loves God’s law that He gave to the Israelites. A song about laws seems strange at first. We sometimes think of rules as annoying restrictions that keep us from doing whatever we want to do. But imagine a stop sign or a traffic light. Those things might seem frustrating at times, and we might think that they are getting in the way of our freedom. But without them, travel would be chaotic and dangerous. Stop signs and traffic lights point us to a better and safer way of sharing the road. God’s law is like that. It holds us back from certain things to protect us from the danger and damage of sin. It points us to the new way of life God desires for us: to love Him and our neighbor (Matthew 22:35-40). Therefore, the psalmist loves the law because it’s good for God’s people. It’s not surprising that the psalmist closes with a prayer, asking for God’s presence and help in following the law (Psalm 119:174-176). As humans, we constantly sin against, or reject God’s plan, and His laws make us realize how sinful we really are. But that’s why Jesus came. He followed God’s plan perfectly—not to get rid of the law, but to complete the law so that through Him, we can be made right with God (Matthew 5:17-20; Galatians 3:10-22). Jesus’s fulfilled law is not based on rules, but on relationship: following Him out of love and trust. When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit changes our lives and transforms us to be more like Jesus (Hebrews 10:15-24). That’s good news worth singing about! • Abby Ciona • Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. When we read Old Testament laws, we can know they were fulfilled in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. How can laws that don’t apply to us anymore (like animal sacrifices) still teach us about following God and living a life centered around Him in all we do? • Read Hebrews 4:12. God’s Word is powerful. How can it transform our thoughts, attitudes, and actions? Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.119.1-Ps.119.8|Ps.119.33-Ps.119.40|Ps.119.137-Ps.119.144|Ps.119.18

Glistening gold, embedded with rubies, topaz, emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, and pearls—the throne beckoned for something, or someone, to sit upon it. What would suffice? What could fill the desires of my heart and be worthy of that royal seat? First, I placed my family and friends on the throne. &#8220;Nothing is as precious as family and friends, surely. How selfless and thoughtful of me.&#8221; As I poured my soul into them, the ebb and flow of relationships just did not satisfy. No matter how hard we tried, we always ended up disappointing each other in one way or another. I loved them, yes, but placing them on the throne had more distorted life than enriched it. Next, I placed my dreams and goals on the throne. These pursuits were indeed worthy: to grow, better myself, and work hard. Sometimes I achieved and conquered, other times I failed, but I pressed on. Yet, no matter how many improvements I made, it was never enough. Sadly, I discovered that dreams and goals did not belong on the throne either. Then, I positioned my religious works on the throne. I served at church, volunteered in my community, and gave to those in need. While the longing in my heart was subdued for a while, eventually I became burnt out and jaded. No, religious works could not fill this void. Desperate and weary, I stared at the glittering throne. I was at a loss. Then, I felt a steady hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw Jesus, His eyes kind. “Will you trust me?” He asked. I hesitated, then nodded slowly…and Jesus took His rightful place on the throne of my heart. He invited me to spend time in His presence. I found His Words to be sweet, life-giving, and convicting. When I spoke to Him, He always listened to me…and I learned in time to be still and listen to Him speak to me. Living with Jesus on the throne of my heart not only transformed me, I watched as He slowly began to transform every part of my life. In relationships with family and friends, He helped me to love more deeply than I had imagined possible. My dreams and goals were no longer my own, but shaped by what God was doing in my heart. As I continued to serve others, I was sustained by the overflow of daily peace and strength that I received from Jesus. As I spent time with Him, He guided me, leading me into both seasons of productivity and seasons of rest. As I contemplated my life, one thing was abundantly clear: the only One who was worthy to claim the seat on the throne of my heart was Jesus Christ. • Savannah Coleman • What are you tempted to place on the throne of your heart? How have these things let you down? • Jesus—the One who died and rose again to save His people and restore His creation—is enthroned as King over all. But, we can choose whether or not we submit to Jesus in the context of our personal, loving relationship with Him. Why is Jesus the only One worthy to be on the throne of our hearts? I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne…be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!” Revelation 5:13 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.37.4|Matt.6.33|1Pet.5.6-1Pet.5.7|Rev.5.13

If only they took the time to really know me…. If only they took the time to ask how I’m doing… If only they understood my interests and what I want my life to be about… Do you sometimes feel like no one knows you or understands you? Do you feel as if your family members are so caught up in their own lives that they don’t really see you or notice when you are struggling? Do you rejoice alone when good things happen? If you feel lonely, know that God sees you. If you feel like no one will spend any real time with you, know that God is there and He understands you. God knows your secrets. He sees your pain and your celebrations. And He cares. He grieves your hurts alongside you, and He rejoices with you. God knows you in ways no human ever could. He created you, and He has been by your side through all you’ve faced in life. At least He really knows me… At least He pays attention to how I’m doing each day… At least He understands my interests and what I want my life to be about… He truly cares. He wants to know me. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel unknown? How does it make you feel when you think about God seeing you and knowing you? • God loves you so much. He knows you completely, and He wants you to know Him. Because Jesus came to die and rise again, you can have a relationship with the God who made you. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about something that matters to you—it could be how you’re doing today, or something you’re interested in, or even what you want your life to be about…God invites you to talk to Him about all of it. He always has the time to listen, and He always understands. • God does not want us to be lonely. That’s why He built the church—a community of people who seek to know and love God and each other. Has anyone shown God’s love to you when you felt lonely? What did they do? How could you show God’s love to others who might be lonely? You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. Psalm 139:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139.1-Ps.139.12

There are things in my life that I had once that I don’t have anymore. There are relationships that were once a big deal to me that were taken from me and are gone now. There are times when the pain of what I lost is very heavy… And there are times when I realize that the fact that I feel pain means I once had something good. I look back on the things I used to have, and I realize I have memories because life used to be different. I can smile at some of the things I used to do and the events I got to experience. I look back on the life I’ve lived because of the relationships I used to have, and I know those relationships made me a better person. I grew up because of all I went through. I’m grateful to God. He is working all things together for His good purposes (Romans 8:28). He gave me special moments with people before I lost those people. He used situations in my life to help me become who I am today. Jesus has been with me through it all, and He will continue to lead me. • Emily Acker • Have you had things come up in your life that hurt you but led to growth? • Read Hebrews 4:14-16 and 1 Peter 5:7. How might the promises in these verses make it easier for you to bring your hurts to God? Who are safe people—such as parents, counselors, teachers, friends, or youth leaders—you can go to when you are processing hard things? • Read Romans 8 and Revelation 21:1-4. In light of God’s good plans for the future, what promises are included for the present? How can these plans and promises give us comfort when we face difficult times? Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Prov.16.1-Prov.16.4|Prov.19.21

Have you ever witnessed an incredible storm? These amazing forces of nature can be mind-blowing—and dangerous. One of Jesus’s well-known miracles happened in this context. Because of the hills surrounding the Sea of Galilee, this body of water was prone to sudden storms with fierce winds. When Jesus’s disciples were taking a boat to the other side, a sudden storm came over the high country surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Four of the disciples were fishermen and knew how to handle these situations, but even they panicked. And where was Jesus? That’s right, asleep in the stern, exhausted after a full day of ministry. In a fearful state of mind, they shook Jesus out of a deep sleep and demanded, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” (Mark 4:38). The disciples wanted Jesus to do something, even if they weren’t sure what it was. Jesus handled this situation as only Jesus could. “Peace! Be still!” (verse 39). He spoke to the untamable, unpredictable forces of nature with authority and certainty. This rough sea became smooth as glass. On any body of water, it takes a period of time for rough waves to gradually become calm; storms don’t just vanish. But when Jesus commands, they do. The disciples witnessed something amazing about Jesus that day; He commands all of creation. He is God in human flesh. We serve the same Jesus who calmed the storm on that day. His mighty power is still at work—in all of creation, and in every detail of our lives. • Doug Velting • Can you think of a time you felt like Jesus’s disciples—overwhelmed, confused, and scared? You can bring all these feelings to Jesus, who loves you and died and rose again for you. In stormy times, how could it be comforting to know that Jesus reigns over all of creation? • Jesus has promised that He will return one day to renew and restore creation, and His people will live and reign with Him forever (Revelation 21:1-5). He also promised that He will be with us always (Matthew 28:20). • When things in our world seem out of control, or even deadly, how can Jesus’s promises give us hope? “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mark.4.35-Mark.5.1|Ps.46.10

Injustice is everywhere; just look outside. It’s hard not to see injustice. Why does God allow it? Humans have been wondering this for a long time. Psalm 73 was written by Asaph and records his struggles as he considers the wicked and those with callous hearts and evil imaginations. He sees how they are prosperous, healthy, and don’t have basic human burdens. Why would God allow this? Where is He? The wicked prosper while the innocent are trampled. Asaph wonders if he labored in vain to keep his heart pure. But, in trying to understand all this, Asaph enters the sanctuary of God. “Then I understood their final destiny,” he says in verse 17. Asaph realizes that, though the wicked may seem safe and untouched, they will be judged. God comes as an avenger, and in the end, He will repay them for their deeds. We can learn a lot from Asaph. We see all the injustice in the world and can’t help but wonder why God would allow it to happen. But when we understand the final destiny of evil, it’s easier to comprehend. God will one day destroy all evil. He is the Just God. It would be against His character to ignore injustice. That’s why He sent Jesus to become human, die on the cross, and be raised from the dead. Through His work, He has defeated death and sin and evil, and one day He will return to destroy all injustice—permanently—and restore His creation. We have all participated in evil and injustice. Everyone has been infected by the curse of sin. But the amazingly good news is that God provided a way for justice to prevail and for mercy to be given. He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for you so that if you believe in Him, you will be forgiven and restored. While evil may shudder at the thought of judgment, if we are in Christ, we can rest satisfied that God the Just will follow through, and His justice will prevail. • Emma Pamer • Has something unjust ever happened to you, and if so, how did you feel? Jesus has compassion on us, and He invites us to tell Him about all these hard things, knowing that He also suffered injustice on earth, and He came to set things right. In addition to talking to Jesus, who are safe people—such as parents, counselors, teachers, friends, or youth leaders—you can talk to about these experiences? • How can we find hope in the fact that (1) God is the avenger of evil and He will not let evil win, and (2) God is also merciful and forgives sinners through Jesus Christ? And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. Psalm 50:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.73|Rom.16.20|Ps.50.6

If you listen, you can hear it: the wind moving branches of trees long dead, these creaking bones that ache to live again. You hear it in the weary words of a mother at the store, comforting her crying child. You hear it in words unspoken in the eyes of the man holding a cardboard sign on the side of the road. You hear it in the undercurrent of sharp voices and the wound of words too hastily spewed. All this need, all this thirst. If you slow, you can hear it in your own heart: the beat of the broken. You can hide behind a smile; you can gloss over it with your busy or a facade of bravery. You can gather or give until your heart busts wide open, pouring out all this longing. If you listen, He will speak. Most likely not in roaring tones of gusting winds or blazing flames, but in a still, small voice. In the silence of your slow, His presence comes. Like softly falling snow on hard ground, His love comes and settles on you like a holy blanket. He invites you to draw near and “listen, that you may live” (Isaiah 55:3a). He will remind you of what you really need for life. Not a half-life, but a full, satisfying, abundant life (John 10:10). In His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Children of the One True King have His everlasting covenant, His faithful love (Isaiah 55:3b). When life crashes in and you wonder why—in your rushing, worrying, hurrying, and hurting—remember to listen. Seek the Lord and listen (Isaiah 55:6). Live in light of His presence and allow His Word to light up your path (Psalm 119:105). When you listen, you hear it: God delighting in you…He sings His love over you (Zephaniah 3:17). Will you choose to come, to still, to listen—and truly live? • Savannah Coleman • Jesus came so we could have life to the full—an abundant life (John 10:10). When He died and was resurrected for us, God’s old covenant with His people was replaced with a new and better one (Romans 3:20-24). When we choose to focus on His sacrifice for us, it will impact our lives not only on an eternal level but also on a daily one. What does it mean to you to know that the God who saves you also delights in you and sings over you (Zephaniah 3:17)? • What are some ways you can be still from rushing this week and listen to the voice of God? “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” Isaiah 55:3a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Kgs.19|Isa.55

The nightmares had started again. It had only been a few nights, and already I felt like I was sleepwalking through the days—pure exhaustion from the moment I opened my eyes. As the shower water beat down on my weary head, I prayed a prayer of the strength-sapped: “God, help.” Immediately, the words of Jesus filled my mind: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). How easy it is to forget, especially when you’re tired: the thing the weary need most of all is to come to Jesus for rest. When I endure days or even weeks of that mind-numbing exhaustion, I tend to flit from one task to the next throughout the day, keeping physically busy until I’m about to drop. Sometimes, the one thing I fail to do is the very thing I need most of all: to find my rest in Jesus. After several failed attempts to sit and open up my Bible, my rampaging thoughts stilled enough for me to sit at the feet of Jesus. As I read through Psalm 62, my heart lifted. I found my heart echoing David’s words: “Truly my soul finds rest in God…Yes, my soul, find rest in God…Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him” (verses 1, 5, 8). The Bible has hundreds of verses about rest. Taking time to sleep and care for our bodies is important, and the rest that’s even more crucial for our lives is found in the presence of Jesus. In Luke 10:38-42, when Jesus visited Martha’s house, He encouraged her to remember the one thing that was more important than all the things she needed to get done: sitting at His feet. Jesus offers us rest in His presence. As we spend time in His Word, in prayer, and with His people, He gives us the spiritual rest our souls crave. We can embrace the soul-rest God offers by pouring out our hearts to Him and allowing His unfailing love to fill us up. • Savannah Coleman • When do you find it difficult to rest? • Why do you think it’s important to spend time pouring out our hearts to Jesus and being reminded of His love, both individually and with other Christians? • Sleep is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Sometimes, we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that’s okay. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I [Jesus] will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.25-Matt.12.8|Ps.62

God, not in my own strength I can’t do this alone God, not without your help I am too weak to press on God, not without your promises I can’t keep going God, not without you holding me I am too weak to stand God, I need you to lift me My head has fallen God, I need you to help me fly My wings are broken God, I need you to breathe into me My breath is gone God, keep my heart beating Keep me close to you ⦁ Emily Acker • Have you ever felt like the author of this poem? How could it be comforting to know that, even when we are at the end of our strength, God’s strength will never run out? • When we feel like life is too hard and we are too tired, God has compassion on us. He doesn’t expect us to be able to do everything in our own strength—He invites us to come to Him and rely on His strength through the Holy Spirit (who lives inside every believer). Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God has made a way for us to live in union with Him, constantly relying on Him for our every need. He will never leave us, even at our weakest points. When is it difficult for you to rely on God? Who can you talk to during those times? • What promises does God give us in Isaiah 40:28-31? Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.41.10|Isa.40.28-Isa.40.31|2Cor.12.9-2Cor.12.10

I am adopted. From what I hear from my parents, adopting me was not an easy task! Lots of paperwork, government background checks, and other miscellaneous things—it took them many months before they could adopt. Adoption takes lots of money and time. It’s definitely not a calling for everyone, but when God does call people to adopt, it’s a reminder of the adoption we have in Christ. As Christians, we are adopted into the family of God. This adoption is much different than when earthly parents adopt a child. It’s free for us, because Jesus paid the price by dying on the cross. In this adoption, there is no paperwork or money involved, and it’s simple—even a young child can be adopted into the family of God. The only thing needed for our adoption is salvation, and it’s free to all who believe that Jesus is their Savior! When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God. Because we are in Christ, nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)! God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross and rise from the dead so we could be His children. Praise Him for making a way for us to be adopted into His family! • Lilly Wiscaver • Have you been adopted into God’s family by putting your trust in Jesus? If not, what’s holding you back? (For more about what it means to put your trust in Jesus, check out the “Know Jesus” page.) • Can you think of any other ways earthly adoption reminds us of the adoption God has made for us? For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gal.3.26|Rom.8.14-Rom.8.17|Gal.4.5-Gal.4.7|Eph.1.5-Eph.1.7

Sometimes, I don’t know how to pray for people. And that’s a bummer, because Jesus calls us to pray for others—for our friends, our leaders, and even our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). But how do you pray when you have no idea what to pray? One thing I’ve started doing is using some of the prayers in the Bible as a guide. After all, they are in the Bible. One of my favorite prayers is found in Ephesians 3. Paul is writing to Christians in Ephesus, and in the middle of his letter he includes a prayer. At the heart of it is a desire for his brothers and sisters in Ephesus to know Jesus’s love. I like to insert the name of the person I’m praying for into this prayer, and then read it aloud or silently as my own prayer to God. And, because Paul mentions that he kneels before God the Father at the beginning of this prayer, sometimes I kneel while I read these verses: “I kneel before the Father…I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you [ _____ ] with power through his Spirit in your [ _____’s] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts [ _____’s heart] through faith. And I pray that you [ _____ ], being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you [ _____ ] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19). So, the next time you want to pray for someone but you’re not sure what to say, consider using a prayer from the Bible as a guide. As we ask according to God’s will, we can rest assured that He hears us (1 John 5:14-15). • Hannah Howe • Have you ever wanted to pray for someone, but you weren’t sure how? Read Romans 8:26. How could it be comforting to know that the Holy Spirit prays for us, even when we don’t know how to pray? • Who is someone you could pray for right now? Consider taking a moment to read a prayer found in the Bible (such as Numbers 6:24-26; Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; or Colossians 1:9-14) and pray these words for this person. I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. 1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Num.6.24-Num.6.26|Eph.3.14-Eph.3.21

In our day-to-day lives, we meet different people who affect us in different ways. Some say and do things that break our hearts and cause us tears. Some of the people who hurt our feelings are those closest to us—our friends, schoolmates, and even our parents. There are other things that break our hearts—broken relationships, sickness and disease, and the loss of loved ones. When these things happen, we might feel all alone in our sadness, like nobody cares. Sometimes, we get in our beds and cry ourselves to sleep. We ask the Lord many questions, and we wonder why God allowed such things to happen to us. But, in times of pain and heartache, the Lord knows and feels our pain. As we see in John 11, Mary was very sad because of the loss of her brother, and when Jesus saw her crying, He was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (verse 33). He felt her pain. And when He was shown where Lazarus had been buried, Jesus wept. Jesus felt for Mary as she grieved this loss. However, Jesus did not stop at crying. He healed Mary’s pain by calling Lazarus from the grave. When we are hurt and our hearts are broken, it can seem like no one understands our pain. When we see others around us laughing and happy, we might not see any reason to be happy ourselves. In such times, let us remember that our Lord understands our feelings, and He is ready to heal our pain. So, when our hearts are broken and we are in tears, let us run quickly to Jesus, and He will help us. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • What kinds of things have left you broken-hearted? Jesus invites us to tell Him about what we experience (even though He already knows) and pour out all our messy questions. As we come to Him, He brings healing to our hurts. And, if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can look forward to the day He will return and raise us from the dead, and all our pain will be forever healed. • As Christians, God calls us to empathize with other’s pain and “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26). Have you ever experienced someone doing this for you? How could you do this for others? When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled…Jesus wept. John 11:33, 35 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.56.8|John.11.32-John.11.44|Ps.30.5

When I talk about my mom, it’s easy to become emotional. After losing my mom in 2020, I wondered at the ways she mirrored God’s grace. In moments when I stood guilty, I knew I was still loved by Mom. Growing up in my house, we saw this grace in action—and to be honest, sometimes it got a little personal. For example, when arguments broke out between me and my brothers, she was on it. First, she separated us, allowing everyone to calm down. Then, she let each of us tell our side of the story. Next, she brought us together and quietly pointed out how we had hurt, or perhaps manipulated, the other person. Finally, came the part I dreaded: we faced each other and apologized. This meant not only saying “I’m sorry,” but following it with: “Will you forgive me?” Sometimes, just uttering the words “Yes, I forgive you” was the hardest part. Other times, swallowing my pride and saying “I’m sorry” was harder. But Mom dealt with our pride by reminding us how Jesus humbled Himself to die on the cross for our sins—not His—because He loves us. Second Corinthians 5:21 says: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Because Jesus Christ willingly died for us, and then rose from the grave, we have the sure hope of experiencing His grace…and extending that grace to others. When I remember Christ’s humility, how much easier it is to let go of the grip of resentment. God’s inexplicable grace leads us to experience His forgiveness—a forgiveness so strong, we can pass it on to others. • G. Kam Congleton • Have you experienced God’s forgiveness by trusting in Jesus? (Read more by checking out the “Know Jesus” page.) • Even after we’ve experienced Jesus’s forgiveness, it can still be difficult to forgive others. But God is patient with us, and He invites us to rely on His power and love to forgive. How might remembering what Jesus has done to forgive us help us to forgive others? (Remember, if someone has hurt you deeply, forgiving them doesn’t mean you need to be in close relationship with them.) Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.4.31-Eph.5.2|Col.3.13

We can serve God in many different ways—in our families, at church, at school, and beyond. But sometimes, we can get discouraged when we feel like our service is not appreciated. We might feel like the prophet Isaiah when he said, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose” (Isaiah 49:4). For instance, we might help someone in need and never hear a “thank you” from them. I know a young man who helps an elderly lady, but she never seems to voice appreciation; instead, her words sound more like complaining, and this has been so discouraging to him. There have been times when we’ve tried to encourage others to come out of sin, to be committed to God, and to come to church…but we haven’t seen results, at least not right away, and this has also been so discouraging. In situations like these, we sometimes think that God Himself does not appreciate our service, so we feel like giving up because it seems all our efforts are being wasted. But God takes notice of everything we do for Him. Going back to Isaiah 49, after Isaiah complained of having labored in vain, he said, “Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward” (verse 4). The words of Jesus in Mark 9:41 are similar; Jesus says that a person who gives just a cup of water to one of His followers will not lose their reward. We can continue doing the Lord’s work—and not give up—as we remember that every little thing we do for Him matters, as it says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” So let us be encouraged that our labor in the Lord is not in vain, even when things don’t seem to be going right every time we serve, because God takes notice of everything we do for Him. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Have you ever tried to serve others, but it didn’t seem to be doing any good? • When you’re feeling discouraged, how could it be helpful to remember that God appreciates your hard work, even when others don’t? For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Hebrews 6:10 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.49.1-Isa.49.7|Mark.9.41|Heb.6.10

By day, the town of Goshen was like any other. People went to work, children went to school, and families gathered to share a meal at suppertime. But after dark, everything changed. Doors were locked and drapes were pulled tight over windows. Because here, the dead ruled the night. They came from the ground and from the sea, their howls and moans and screams filling the darkness. They wanted one thing—the living. They coveted their beating hearts and longed to feel air rush through their lungs once again. And though death had severed them from such joys, they wanted them all the same and went searching for them every night. But the living had been given protection. Every evening, before the sun went down, they would sprinkle lamb’s blood in the doorways of their homes. Any house sealed with blood, the dead could not enter. But the sound of their horrifying cries continued throughout the night, and people huddled away from the windows, covering their ears against the terror outside. One day, a man no one had seen before walked into Goshen. He went from house to house, knocking on each door. “Who are you?” people asked when they saw him. “I am the Lamb of God,” he said. He showed them the bloody wounds in his hands. “Will you trust me?” One by one, the people looked down at the blood, then back to his face. “Yes,” they replied. Then the man dipped his finger into his own blood and touched it to each of their foreheads. “No more sprinkling blood in the doorway,” he told them. “No more hiding in your houses at night. I have power over death and have sealed you with my blood. Death can never rule you.” That night, when darkness came, doors and windows remained open, letting in a cool, fresh breeze. There were no sounds of terror from the dead, for death could no longer hold its captives. Instead, the dead were raised to true life and the serenades of crickets wafted through the air as people poured into the streets. Men and women gazed up at the stars as children chased fireflies across the grass. Their fear of death and darkness was gone, for now an eternal light glowed inside them. They were the living people of God. • Courtney Lasater • Read John 11:25-26 and Romans 6:23. Why do those who trust in Jesus have no reason to fear death? • Do you ever feel afraid when you think about death? You can talk to Jesus about this and ask Him to give you His peace as you remember the sacrifice He made to save you from sin when He shed His blood on the cross. • While we will still experience death, we can find comfort knowing that Jesus has defeated death through His resurrection and will someday return to raise us to eternal life. How can this truth affect the way we view death now? How much more, then, will the blood of Christ…cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.12.21-Exod.12.23|Exod.12.29-Exod.12.30|1Pet.1.18-1Pet.1.19|1Pet.2.9|Heb.9.14

How quickly the grass changes. From green to brown to covered in white snow How quickly the trees shift First orange, then bare and gray How quickly the air cools From warm and balmy to cold and crisp How quickly our appetites change Craving something warm and hearty Summer goes away Seasons change Our God remains the same His love never leaves His love never fails He sees what is going on and has a plan Our lives change Seasons change God remains the same • Emily Acker • Do you have a favorite season? Does the changing of seasons impact you? • So many things in our lives change. We might enjoy some of these changes, and we might dread others. Do you ever feel like your life is moving and changing so quickly that you feel out of control? Take heart, God always remains the same. His love for you does not change. And Jesus has promised to be with you no matter what (Matthew 28:20). How might these truths give you courage? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Heb.13.8|Isa.40

We all have times in our lives when we mess up and things are not right. We all have times when we feel guilty and dirty. We want to make things better, but we aren’t sure what steps we need to take. God is there in those times. He is all about second chances and new beginnings. You don’t have to live with the weight of what you’ve done. He can take away your guilt and shame and make things new. We can see how God gives new life in nature. For example, a caterpillar goes into the process of becoming a butterfly not knowing what all is about to happen. An insect that had to crawl to get around is given beautiful wings and the chance to fly. God gives new life to that insect, new opportunities, a new future. No matter what you have come through, by putting your trust in Jesus, you can have a new beginning. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, you can receive forgiveness for every wrong thing you have ever done—and ever will do. You can receive hope after pain. You can smile again after going through grief. You can trust God to bring about real change in your life and give you a new beginning, like a caterpillar gets after morphing into a butterfly. • Emily Acker • Have you ever felt like you needed a new beginning? • Can you think of a time God’s transformative power brought hope to a seemingly hopeless situation? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! • Even when we go through hard things, Jesus wants to walk beside us, heal our hurts, cleanse us from sin, and give us hope in Him. Who is a trusted Christian in your life who can remind you of these truths when life gets messy—like it does for the caterpillar who’s still inside the chrysalis? Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.43.16-Isa.43.19|1Pet.1.3

The science of astronomy studies the heavens—planets, moons, stars, and more. In 1571 a boy was born in Württemberg, Germany who became one of the most famous and influential scientists and astronomers of all time. His name was Johannes Kepler. Like many of us, Johannes was awed by the beauty and mystery of a clear starry night. As a young boy, he was fascinated with the sky and saw two things that made him want to know more: the great comet of 1577 and a lunar eclipse in 1580. He grew up in the church and soon believed that he was called by God to glorify Him as he studied His creation. Johannes studied many different disciplines, including mathematics, astronomy, and theology. He believed he could come to know God more fully by observing the things He had made. He felt he had a divine duty to explore and discover the nature of God’s creation and share it with others so they could give God the glory too. Johannes was the first scientist to correctly explain planetary motion. He also explained that ocean tides are caused by the moon. He was even the first to formulate eyeglasses specifically for nearsighted and farsighted people. But these are only a sample of his work; his list of accomplishments is long. Everything Johannes discovered, explained, or described in the world of science was for the glory of God. He said, “The wisdom of the Lord is infinite as are also His glory and His power.” We are still benefiting from Johannes Kepler’s faith and discoveries today. May we all stand in awe of the Lord like Johannes did. • Susan Sundwall • What mysteries in the heavens do you think still need to be explored? • How do new scientific discoveries about the universe make you feel about God? • How does learning about the universe help us stand in awe of Jesus? (Colossians 1:15-20) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.19.1|Ps.147.4|Col.3.17

In and out, I remind myself There’s no air in this room My lungs collapsing Pathogens attacking Brain on fire Keep it in, I remind myself This will have to end But, great tears rolling Body trembling Petrified with fear A voice, a call Whisper of hope “Look up child” says my Lord His golden sunbeam A ray of hope This sparkle of faith The ember spreading warmth In Him, I’ll be healed My future’s bright with hope • Corinna Kahrs • This poem describes what anxiety can feel like. Have you ever experienced something similar? • If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, you’re not alone. Jesus knows what it feels like to be overwhelmed (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-34; Luke 22:44). He was willing to face the terrors of death for us—because He loves us. You can talk to Him whenever you feel afraid. In addition to talking to Jesus, who is a trusted adult you can talk to? If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. • Because Jesus rose from the grave, everyone who has put their trust in Him can look forward to the day He will return and fully heal our hurts—including anxiety (Revelation 21:1-5)! Until that day, Jesus has promised to be with us through everything we face (Matthew 28:20). And He gives us healing through prayer, mental health counseling, medication, and community. How can these truths give us hope? Neither death nor life…will be able to separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.18-Rom.8.39

In reading the narrative of David and Goliath, I noticed a small detail, and it got me thinking. The first seven verses of 1 Samuel 17 detail Goliath’s very impressive appearance. Verse 5 mentions his bronze scale armor, which weighed more than one hundred pounds. Notice the word scale? That caught my attention. It reminded me of the serpent in the book of Genesis and the dragon that appears throughout the book of Revelation. Goliath embodies evil, and his behavior certainly serves as a reminder of other Bible passages that reference the work of Satan (which means “the Accuser”). Goliath shouts abusive and demeaning words at Israel’s army. He taunts their weakness and challenges anyone to come fight him, one on one, in a duel to the death. It’s a winner-take-all proposition, and none of the Israelites seem interested. Verse 11 describes Saul’s men as “dismayed and terrified.” Despite their weapons and training, no one wants to fight the giant man dressed in scale armor. Only the shepherd and eventual king, David, is willing to step up. Not only does David slay Goliath, he cuts off Goliath’s head (verse 51). David’s victory echoes the ancient promise God spoke over the serpent in Genesis 3:15: “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” David, the shepherd (and future king), did what no one else had been able to do. In victory, he cut off Goliath’s head and defeated Israel’s enemy. He silenced the serpent-like foe forever. At its core, Genesis 3:15 is clearly a Messianic promise that anticipates the victorious death and resurrection of Christ. Satan thought he had the upper hand when Christ went to the cross. But Jesus defeated Satan’s plan to subvert God’s work of reconciliation with His creation. Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished what we cannot. Jesus overcame Satan’s plan, and He offers hope to believers that we, too, will overcome death. • Mike Hurley • David defeating Goliath foreshadows how Jesus, the ultimate Champion, would one day defeat all evil. What other parallels do you see in this story between David and Jesus? (John 10:11; Revelation 17:14) • How did the serpent use words in Genesis 3:1-5? Throughout Revelation, there are images of an evil dragon, who we learn is “that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan” (20:2). At the end of Revelation, we finally see the future promise that Jesus will destroy all that is evil and unjust. What hope can this promise bring us? So the Lord God said to the serpent, “…he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Sam.17|Gen.3.14-Gen.3.15

I’m fourteen, and something I need to be constantly reminded of is that I don’t need to rush life. I always want my way—I want what’s next. I want to drive a car, have a boyfriend, be married, and have kids. I think I’m ready for a real job and college, but the truth is, I’m not. I’ve only just finished middle school, and I still have four years in high school to go. I need to be reminded every day that God is not in a hurry, and He knows what’s best for me—and for everyone else in my life. God understands everyone’s needs, and He knows what we’re ready for. And even when we get impatient and mess up, God keeps working out His good purposes. When we look back on decisions we’ve made and think, &#8220;I shouldn’t have done that,&#8221; we don’t need to panic. God can take our mistakes and make a beautiful work of art. God has anticipated our actions, and nothing we do can ruin His ultimate plan: Through Jesus, God has promised to be with His people, and one day Jesus will return bodily to earth and restore His creation—and we’ll get to live with Him forever! In the meantime, He lovingly guides us, and He helps us learn from our experiences. Some days we need fresh perspective, which can come in random and unexpected ways, but God gives us what we need, when we need it. He is never too early, and never too late. His timing is different from ours, “But,” 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” To God, eternity cannot be counted in hours and days. His understanding is infinite, and we can trust Him to work all things for the good of His people, in His good timing. • Sophia Augustine • What are you looking forward to in the next few years? Do you find it hard to wait for these things? • Can you think of a time in your life when something didn’t go your way, but looking back you saw how God used it for your good? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. My times are in your hands. Psalm 31:15a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.28|2Pet.3.8-2Pet.3.9|Ps.31.15|Prov.19.21

We live by a lake in the northwest. If we awoke from a twenty-year-long nap, like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, and we didn’t know what month it was, we could guess by looking at the lake. Different seasons bring us different wildlife, mostly waterfowl. Canada geese drop in to rest each spring and fall as they head north or south. They fill the skies, obeying God’s call to go where He has prepared a place. Later, white-backed mergansers come in their dozens and stay the winter, chasing fish and snails that multiplied all summer. Round black coots, painted wood ducks, and buffleheads all spend the late winter finding different food in and around the lake. In summer, they’re replaced by gangly cormorants and green-headed mallards with fluffy ducklings. Hummingbirds, swallows, and woodpeckers return too. Each is called here in their season to receive the bounty God provides. They hear, trust, and come. “Listen” is one of the most frequent commands in the Bible. In the NIV, the word &#8220;listen&#8221; appears more often than &#8220;trust,&#8221; &#8220;praise,&#8221; &#8220;obey,&#8221; and even &#8220;worship.&#8221; However, the word &#8220;love&#8221; exceeds them all. As you listen for God’s call, listen especially for love. God invites us to trust His love for each of us, which He perfectly expressed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God the Father tells us to listen to Jesus, who is God the Son (Mark 9:7). And as we follow Jesus, our loving God helps us to love one another. As you spend time in God’s Word and listen to the “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12) that He speaks just to you, remember that the lake God has for you may be different from the one He has for your friends. Every year, I watch different geese fly past us for weeks. They don’t all stop by our lake because they each get a unique call. Similarly, all Christians are called by the same God, but our lives will not look the same. God has given us each unique paths. And, as we listen to Him, we can trust that the God who cares for the birds will also care for us. • Rick Taylor • How do we learn to listen to God? If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in us, reminding us of everything Jesus has said and helping us discern God’s voice (John 14:26). We also need to talk to trusted Christians and help each other answer questions like: &#8220;Does this agree with the Bible?&#8221; &#8220;Does this glorify God the Father and God the Son(John 16:12-15)?&#8221; &#8220;Does this bring the fruit of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10) or condemnation and fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1)?&#8221; &#8220;Who are trusted Christian mentors or peers you could talk to about this?&#8221; All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. Psalm 104:27 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Kgs.19.11-1Kgs.19.13|Matt.6.26|Mark.9.7|Ps.104.27

In most crime shows there is at least one episode involving something counterfeit: currency, artwork, even identities. While many of these shows depict the criminals using state-of-the-art technology to create their fakes, they are really just using the newest toys to commit the oldest crimes. People have needed a way to spot forgeries for ages. But how do they do it? I once heard a story about an FBI agent who talked about methods of spotting counterfeit money. Holding up a crisp twenty-dollar bill, the agent said the best way to catch a fake was to study this—the real thing. They don’t study the endless ways something could be made counterfeit; they study the details of the real thing. In the Bible, teachers like Paul were constantly warning fellow Christians about false (or counterfeit) teachers. So, should we go around assuming no teacher can be trusted? That won’t work, because the Bible makes it clear we need mentors, teachers, and trusted friends to help us grow. Instead, we can learn from the FBI’s counterfeit-spotting techniques. To recognize a fake, we need to study the real thing, aka the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we can learn about the first counterfeit truth ever told to Eve and Adam (chapter 3). Because humans listened to a lie and rebelled against God, our relationship with our Creator was broken. But that wasn’t the end of the story. Throughout the Old Testament, God prepared to send His Son, Jesus Christ, who is called not only “the truth,” but also “the way” and “the life” (John 14:6). Jesus didn’t just teach us about the way to be made right with God, He literally made the way for us through His death and resurrection. The gospel is the greatest treasure, and we surely wouldn’t want a counterfeit of it. • Abigail Scibiur • How does focusing on Jesus help us recognize counterfeit teachings? • The Christians in Galatia started following a false teaching, so Paul reminded them of the true gospel—the good news about Jesus dying and rising from the dead to forgive us and make us right with God. Paul explained these truths and urged the Galatians to reject false teachings (Galatians 1:6-8; 3:1– 4:7). Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you discern false messages by comparing them to the gospel? Do you have any questions you could ask them about now? (You can also learn more about the gospel on the &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Tim.6.3-1Tim.6.16|John.14.6

Are you a morning person? I am an early bird, and I love to start most days with a brisk walk. I greet the people I meet with a “Good morning!” Not everyone answers, and some look downright grumpy. I used to feel offended when people would look the other direction when I smiled at them, but then I realized it may not be a “good morning” for everyone. My cheery greeting could be taken negatively by someone who’s struggling, as I’m reminded in an obscure proverb: “A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!” (Proverbs 27:14). Sometimes, we have good intentions behind what we say, but it’s the wrong time or place. That’s why it’s important to be considerate of others—we may not know what struggles they’re going through. It is strange, though, that I often throw around the phrase “good morning” even if the morning hasn’t been good for me—I may have slept poorly, or I might be stressing about a busy day ahead, or I could be feeling depressed. I might have even struggled to get out of bed. But we have good news: whether we are morning people or not, God’s mercy and grace are new every morning! Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He gives us a fresh start every day. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He enables us to live each moment with Him, and even on the worst days, He gives us access to His strength, peace, and hope. Each day is full of good gifts from God and reminders of Jesus’s unfailing love. He is good all the time, even when our circumstances are not. • Abby Ciona • Do you consider yourself an early bird, a night owl, or something in between? • Why is it important to be considerate of others’ needs when we share encouragement? • How might remembering that God’s mercy is new every morning give you comfort and strength to face the day? The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.59.16-Ps.59.17|Ps.90.14|Lam.3.19-Lam.3.26

When I was in fifth grade, I made a unique request of my mom. For my birthday, I wanted a homemade cake with homemade icing. Specifically, I asked for frosting made of peanut butter and jelly. Once in a while, my mother would whip up a cake for dessert and, if she didn’t have a can of store-bought frosting, she would mix some of her homemade jelly with peanut butter from the kitchen cabinet to ice the cake. It always satisfied my brothers and me. So, why not ask for it for my birthday? I’m sure Mama would have purchased icing if I’d wanted it. But I desired the homemade concoction. On my birthday, we sliced into the three-layer golden cake lathered in Mama’s peanut-butter-and-jelly goodness. Mama probably used an entire jar of her homemade blackberry jelly to create what I’d requested. And my siblings, grandparents, and I all dug in with gusto. Surely, I could have marked my birthday without the special cake I’d craved. But I believe Mama wanted to delight me at my celebration, and I think she delighted in giving me what I desired. Similarly, God is a good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children. For those who’ve trusted in His Son, Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins, we have the privilege of approaching God with all our requests. Of course, God won’t grant us every specific thing we ask for, yet God tells us we can ask for what we want, trusting that He is a generous giver. If I had not requested the peanut-butter-and-jelly cake from Mama, I probably wouldn’t have gotten it that year. But I asked, and she provided. Similarly, we can come to our heavenly Father and present all of our requests. • Allison Wilson Lee • God has created so many good things—like tasty food! He loves it when we enjoy His good gifts, and He invites us to be honest about our desires. Have you ever wanted something but felt hesitant to ask for it? Do you have any longings that feel too big or too small to bring to God? • As we grow in relationship with God through Jesus, we desire more and more of what God desires—for His kingdom to come, for His will to be done, for His righteousness, peace, and joy to spread through every nook and cranny of creation! God invites us to pray for all these things along with our other desires. If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 6:9-10 and Romans 14:17. In every situation…present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6b (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.7.7-Matt.7.11|Phil.4.6|Heb.4.16

Humans are flawed, but God is not. Humans mess up, hurt us, or abandon us, but God never will. Humans pretend to love, run out of love, and turn love into hate, but God isn’t like that. You are precious to God. He is a perfect Father. He loves you like no other. When humans disappoint or hurt you, you can remember that there is someone who cares about you so much more than they ever could. Even when you mess up, God still loves you. In fact, God loves you so much that He gave a great sacrifice for you. He sent His only Son, Jesus, into this broken world to suffer and die for you. And Jesus rose again on the third day, giving you salvation, the greatest gift you could ever receive: by putting your trust in Jesus, you can be forgiven, become God’s child, and have the sure hope of living with Jesus forever. So, remember that while humans are flawed and mess up all the time, God never does and never will. God knows you. He created you. He purposefully made you. God’s love for you is real, and it is never going to disappear. Humans can do all kinds of things to hurt you, but God wants a good life for you. He is always with you, and when you call to Him, He hears you. God is the perfect Father, and He will never fail you. • Bethany Acker • What does it mean that God is the perfect Father? • If you have questions about what it means to become God’s child, who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to? (You can also find more information on the &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) • If you want to dig deeper, read John 1:12; 8:12; 10:10-11; Acts 2:21-24; and Romans 10:9-11. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.1.12-John.1.13|John.3.16-John.3.21

Years back, my nephew told what he had experienced. His mother, who at the time was not a Christian (she has since been saved), was trying to take him and his sister to a witchcraft-worker supposedly to get protection. The girl refused, but the boy went. When asked later why he had agreed to go, the boy responded, “but God says to obey your father and mother.” While God commands us to obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3) and other authorities, these authorities are supposed to honor those who do right and only punish those who do wrong (Romans 13:1-4). So, when human authorities demand we do evil and break the commandments of Almighty God, who is the Highest Authority, we should not obey them. The apostles of the Lord Jesus, Peter and John, refused to obey the religious authorities who commanded them—more than once—to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. Peter and John were arrested after performing miraculous signs and sharing the good news of Jesus. The Jewish religious authorities told the two apostles not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. “But Peter and John replied, ‘Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?’” (Acts 4:19). So they continued to preach the message that “Jesus is the Messiah” every day (Acts 5:42). In the Old Testament, two Hebrew midwives—Shiphrah and Puah—were commanded by Pharaoh to kill all the male children at birth. These midwives were faced with a choice: to obey the human authority, the pharaoh, and kill Hebrew baby boys, or to obey God, who is the Highest Authority. They chose to obey God. The midwives disobeyed Pharoah’s orders and delivered the babies alive! God was pleased and dealt well with these women (Exodus 1:15-21). Then, three Hebrew boys—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to worship a golden statue, even though Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them alive into a burning fiery furnace. They knew God could save them from the furnace, but even if He didn’t, they told the king, “we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). The boys chose to continue worshipping the only true and living God. And God rescued them from the fire. • Charity Kiregyera • Have you ever faced a situation where you had to choose between obeying God and obeying a person? When you find yourself in such a situation, you need help and support, counsel and encouragement. Who are trusted Christians—such as pastors, parents, and church elders—you can go to for help? The apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Acts 5:29b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Dan.3.16-Dan.3.18|Acts.4.16-Acts.4.22|Acts.5.27-Acts.5.42|Exod.1.15-Exod.1.21

Thick and impenetrable silence hung over the village. For as long as the villagers could remember, no one had spoken a word, not even a whisper. A command from an enemy kingdom forbade anyone in the village from uttering a sound. While many villagers had grown accustomed to the forced silence, one girl increasingly found the muteness of the village unsettling. Fadiya could not understand how sound could be wrong when the warbling songs of birds filled the air and the leaves of the forest whispered in the breeze. The silence was all she had known in the village, but Fadiya felt like a prisoner to the quietness around her. Then one day, as she was walking through her beloved whispering forest, Fadiya discovered a wooden shed and went inside to investigate. The place was empty except for a bookshelf. On it stood an ancient book: “The Song Maker’s Tune.” The title instantly caught her attention, and to her surprise, the book was filled with a song-like poem describing someone named the Song Maker. She learned He sang the world into existence. He had created the birdsong, rustling leaves, and humming bees. Imprisoning silence was not His design. Instead, the Song Maker had entered the world many years ago to set the people free. He died for them, entered the utter silence of the grave on their behalf—and then rose again with a triumphant shout of joy! One day, He would return to sing a new world into being. Fadiya, delighted by the music overflowing in her heart, soaked in the words from the book, engraving them in her memory. The next day, while her family was in the market square, Fadiya mounted an old wooden cart and lifted her voice to the words of “The Song Maker’s Tune.” Her heart burned as she sang of His love and sacrifice. Every face turned toward the cart as her words cut through the quiet like a knife. The silence had been broken by the freedom of the Maker’s song. Cheers rose around the square as villagers responded to the hopeful message of the music. No longer would they be imprisoned by the forced silence of the enemy. The Song Maker had set them free. • Sophia Bricker • In this allegorical story, Fadiya found freedom from the imprisoning silence of the enemy when she encountered “The Song Maker’s Tune” telling of the salvation He brought to His people. In the Bible, we see that God created the world through speaking—or perhaps singing (Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 33:6). Though our sinful rebellion separated us from God and brought brokenness into the world, God came to restore and to set us free from slavery to sin. How has Jesus brought us freedom? (Read more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) • God invented music and singing! Did you know that God sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17)? Why do you think God calls His people to sing to Him and to each other? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 147:1; Ephesians 5:19; and Colossians 3:16.) • Did you know that creation sings? How might spending time in nature help us know God better? (If you want to dig deeper, read 1 Chronicles 16:33; Psalms 65:13; 96:12; and 98:8.) • When we experience the goodness of God’s love, it’s only natural for us to want to share the good news of Jesus with others! What is one of the ways you’ve personally experienced God’s goodness and love? If you can’t think of anything, you can ask God to reveal His love to you anytime. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.40.1-Ps.40.3|John.8.31-John.8.36|Rom.8.2

One of the first missionaries, Paul, left Titus on the island of Crete to oversee the new churches there and appoint elders in every town. Titus may have been young, or at least younger than Paul since Paul refers to him as “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). In the book of Titus, which is really a letter, Paul advises Titus on how to handle false teachings and immorality in the church. Many people in the Cretan churches claimed to know God, but their actions denied Him (1:16). We can guess what some of their sinful actions were by noticing what Paul warns against: teaching false beliefs for dishonest gain, engaging in foolish controversies and quarrels about the law, getting drunk, behaving violently, gossiping and slandering others, stealing, saying “Yes” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and living in envy and hatred of others (1:7, 11; 2:3, 10, 12; 3:3, 9). Yet, the Cretans’ sin is no worse than anyone else’s sin. In fact, Paul writes, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (3:3). But the good news is, God mercifully saves us from hell and offers us eternal life through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us. He didn’t save us because of anything good we did or will one day do; He saved us because He loves us. And once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are able to live in a way that honors our loving God. Accepting the grace of God and the salvation message teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness (2:11-12). Although Paul’s letter is short, he stresses the need for self-control five times (1:8; 2:2, 5-6, 12). And self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit works in us, helping us to exercise self-control and live godly lives by loving God and loving one another (Matthew 22:36-40). • Ronica Stromberg • Why do you think Paul emphasized self-control in his letter to Titus? • God doesn’t expect us to be able to say “No” to sin without His help. How do God’s love and mercy toward us make it possible for us to live self-controlled lives? For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Titus.2.6-Titus.2.8|Titus.2.11-Titus.2.14|Titus.3.3-Titus.3.8

“Put on” is a phrase we use every day. Because on a daily basis, we do the physical act of putting on clothes and shoes in order to be clothed. Just as we get clothed physically, we also need to get clothed spiritually. In Ephesians 4:24, we learn that, in Christ, we put on a new nature. In Colossians 3, we see that our new nature is being formed into Jesus’s image, giving us a nature that is after God’s nature. Since our new nature is likened after God’s holy nature, we reject and turn away from sin, anything that goes against God or hurts our neighbor. For instance, in Colossians 3:9-11, we are admonished not to lie to one another because the new nature we have put on does not lie. It “is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (verse 10), and God does not lie (Numbers 23:19). God is the One who clothes us with His holiness and righteousness. As soon as we become a Christian, we are given a new “outfit.” In order for us to put on the new nature, we have to put off the old one. In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, empowering us to choose to live in holiness and righteousness in our words, thoughts, and deeds. God walks alongside us and gives us grace as we put on the new nature and as we are being formed more and more into Jesus’s image. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Reread Colossians 3:1-17. What things are not from our new nature in Christ? What things are from our new nature? • How do Jesus’s death and resurrection give us a new identity? For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gal.3.27|Eph.4.24|Col.3.1-Col.3.17

&#8220;Wouldn’t these magnets make great souvenirs from my trip?&#8221; I thought, browsing the little shop high above the ground. My summer of serving with inner city ministries in New York was drawing to a close, and my friends and I had wanted to visit the Empire State Building one final time. We stopped by the gift shop before leaving, where I spotted magnets depicting classic New York City landmarks. I selected a few to give as presents but then inadvertently dropped one. Hitting the floor, it broke. I gathered up the two cracked pieces and chose a replacement for it as well. Reaching the cashier’s counter, I set down the items I wished topurchase—along with the broken one. The clerk pointed out that it was damaged; I explained I’d caused the accident and would pay for the broken souvenir as well as the ones I wanted to bring home. But the cashier told me I didn’t have to pay for it. The store made allowances for the occasional broken piece of merchandise; they would cover the cost. Amazed, I thanked her for being understanding about my mistake. When people surprise us with grace—affording us better treatment than we deserve—it can remind us of God’s grace toward us, which He revealed in His gift of eternal life to all who trust in His Son, Jesus, for the forgiveness of their sins. While I had the ability to pay for the busted magnet, I don’t possess the power to pay for my own sins. By putting our trust in Jesus, who died on the cross and then rose from the grave for us, we experience God’s grace and mercy—not being treated as our sins deserve, but instead getting to participate in His everlasting kingdom as one of His beloved children. As we grow in love for God, we can share this astonishing grace and mercy with others. Just as that cashier showed me many stories above the streets of New York. ⦁ Allison Wilson Lee ⦁ Have you ever been surprised by the grace another person showed you? What did they do? ⦁ When we consider the mercy God showers on His children, how could that inspire us to show mercy to others? For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift. Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.51.1-Ps.51.2|Mic.7.18|Matt.5.7|Eph.2.8

There was a point in my life when I was so ashamed that I didn’t want to associate or talk with people. I had messed up so badly that I didn’t see myself as fit to be with others. I was so down that I didn’t have the confidence to face people. I thought I was so wrong and a great sinner, even though I was already a Christian at the time. When we mess up, in big ways or small ways, we often feel ashamed. We may think it would be better for us to be away from people or disappear. A failure can cause embarrassment, feeling bad about ourselves, and doubting ourselves. Shame can be used by Satan to push our spirits down. When we feel ashamed, we might start to doubt God’s forgiveness. When we focus on our shame, we start to forget the love of God. When we let shame occupy our minds, we forget who we are in the eyes of God. What can you do to respond to shame? You can remember Jesus on the cross, who shed His blood for you, taking away your shame. And you can be assured that the blood of Jesus has covered your shame. Every time you sin and you’re filled with shame, you can ponder Jesus’s sacrifice, mercy, and grace for you. Jesus took all your sins upon Himself and paid the price for your wrongdoing with His life. Then God raised Him from the dead, triumphant over sin and death. Now, if you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are totally forgiven. God does not want you to live in disgrace and shame. He came to set you free! He invites you to live life with Him, and because He has set you free from shame, you can walk forward with faith and dignity. You are a child of God who bears the name of the Lord, who has completely taken away your shame. • Golda Dilema • When we do something wrong, we often feel guilty. We can respond to guilt by repenting—turning away from sin and toward Jesus. But sometimes, we feel like we haven’t just done something bad, but like we need to hide or like we are irredeemable. Thankfully, we can bring all these feelings to Jesus. He loves us unconditionally and forgives us fully. Do you feel guilty about anything today? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about it. • When you feel overwhelmed by shame, who is a trusted Christian who could pray with you and remind you of who you are in Christ? (Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:22; 1 John 1:9) Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.8.2-John.8.12|Ps.34.5|Isa.54.4|Isa.61.7

I confess the things I did. And the things I didn’t do but should have done. I confess letting anger explode And bitterness smolder inside. I confess that I strayed off the path of following you. I missed the mark of the goodness you planned for me. I lay down my pride and envy, selfishness and jealousy. My independent nature thinks I can live without you, But you’re the only source of life. Both my actions and attitudes are infected with sin. My heart needs transformation. I confess, I know I’ve done wrong. I turn away from my sin and turn back to you, And you are already running to me in love. You forgive me. You give me new life, a fresh start. And you lead me in becoming more like you. • Abby Ciona • Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God has already forgiven all our sins—past, present, and future—through His death and resurrection (Romans 8:1). And the Holy Spirit lives in us, transforming us to become more and more like Jesus and helping us turn away from sin. Why do you think God calls Christians to confess our sins frequently? • Oftentimes, we sin because we don’t feel safe or loved, and so we try to rely on ourselves or other created things instead of coming to God and entrusting all our needs and desires to Him. But God knows our hearts even better than we do, and He has so much compassion for us. How can examining the needs and desires behind our sin help us turn to God? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us…1 John 1:9a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.3.23-Rom.3.26|1John.1.9|Ps.32

God doesn’t despise our brokenness. He doesn’t look down on us when we are hurting. He doesn’t think less of us because we are broken. God loves the broken. He offers healing to the hurting. God is a comfort in times of trouble and sorrow. God doesn’t despise us when we are broken. He is there to help. He offered His love to us while we were still sinners, as it says in Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He knows how broken and messed up we can be, but He is still there for us. Because God loves us so much, He let Himself be broken so that we could be whole (1 Corinthians 11:24). When you are feeling broken, you don’t have to be ashamed. You don’t have to turn away from God; you can turn toward Him. You can ask Him for help and healing. You can know that, even in your brokenness, He loves you just as much as ever. So many times in the Bible, we are reminded of how much God cares for the broken. In Matthew 11, Jesus tells the weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. Even though our sin separated us from God, He came in Jesus so that we could be forgiven and brought near to Him. God doesn’t despise our brokenness, and He loves us always. We can count on Him to be there for us through all the hard times, as the Bible reassures us that He loves us no matter how broken we are. • Bethany Acker • Have you ever felt broken? • When we are in pain, we often feel alone. But Jesus identifies with us in our brokenness. He knows what it’s like to be human. He was broken…for us. When we come to Jesus, we’re coming to someone who understands our pain. He looks at us with deep compassion. He feels our sorrows as His own, and He holds us. And one day, all brokenness will be healed in the light of His presence. As we wait for that day, we can bring all our brokenness to Jesus. How might knowing that God doesn’t look down on us when we are hurting make it easier for us to come to Him? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I [Jesus] will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.5.6-Rom.5.8|Matt.11.28|Ps.34.17-Ps.34.18

Not five days had passed since we began our journey, and already we had seen trouble. My brother and I dragged our tired bodies down the road, our dented swords hanging limply in their scabbards and our stomachs moaning with hunger. I remembered how Supreme Agape told us that we would have troubles—many of them—and that the journey would be far from easy. Even so, this particular hardship made me feel so defeated and inexpressibly weary. Ren, my brother, placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered, “Nothing can separate, Jayla.” It was our code of courage, our call to continue the journey despite everything thrown at us. I must remember. The next day dawned with clear blue skies, and my heart lifted as we continued on our way. Ren was his usual jovial self, making jokes and attempting to bolster my spirits from the troubles we had encountered. I didn’t know then that late in the day it would be my turn to remind and encourage. There was severe famine everywhere, and our reserves of food were gone. Large eyes in the gaunt faces of those we passed haunted us. Ren was already practically a giant for his age, which I teased him about incessantly. But the lack of food was wearing on him most of all, and it broke my heart to see him so weak. So, to cheer him up, I did what he couldn’t do, a wild dance of absolute ridiculousness, and yelled, “Nothing can separate!” Hungry as Ren was, he laughed at my antics. He must remember. Weeks later, I clung tightly to the cliff high on the Great Mountain. Heights were never my thing, and I honestly felt death would be preferable to continuing upward. Ren’s arm was injured from a prior sword fight, and he was struggling just as much as I was. Through labored breaths, I said, “Supreme Agape told us to cross the mountain, but I don’t know if we’re going to make it, Ren.” I tried to ignore the clouds swirling around my ankles. Just when we were about to give in to complete despair, a warm, golden light surrounded us. A voice—so pure and beautiful it brought tears to my eyes—sang over us: “Nothing can separate you from my love.” I knew His voice. Supreme Agape. We remembered. • Savannah Coleman • In Greek, the word &#8220;agape&#8221; means love (the New Testament of the Bible was originally written in Greek). Why do you think Jayla and Ren call God Supreme Agape? (Hint: read 1 John 4:16.) • Before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As Christians, we can trust Jesus to be with us until the day our journey ends—and beyond—because even death cannot separate us from His love. Just as God raised Jesus from the grave, He will raise us all on the last day, and those who put their trust in Jesus will live eternally with Him, free from all suffering and sorrow. How can remembering God’s unstoppable love for us give us hope in the midst of hardships? • We were never meant to journey through life alone. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are part of His family (the church), and fellow Christians are our brothers and sisters. Who has God brought alongside you during this leg of your life journey? How can you encourage each other and remind one another that nothing can separate us from Jesus’s love? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal trustworthy companions in His good timing.) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.10.27-John.10.30|Rom.8.35-Rom.8.39

You have done it all, God You created the sky, the earth You saved me when I was still a sinner You have written my name in heaven You have done it all, God You created goats and pigs You made grass and trees You have made beauty on earth You have done it all, God You have fed the hungry You have healed the hurting and sick You have touched the earth You have done it all, God You do something new each day You are worthy of our praise You reign above in heaven I worship you every day All that I am wants to praise you • Emily Acker • When you consider some of the things God has done, what impresses you the most? Do you ever want to pause in your day and praise Him? Consider taking a moment now to praise God for something He has done. • God is the all-powerful Creator, and He is also our loving Savior who came to be with us in Jesus. How does this set Him apart from other gods? • If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 1:1; Psalm 104:24; 146:5-7; Matthew 9:35-36; 14:14-21; Luke 10:20; John 1:14; Romans 5:8; 8:34; and James 1:17. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.96|Ps.126.3

Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Did you know you can read this verse many times, and it can reflect something a bit different each time? This happens if you emphasize a different word each time you read the verse. When the word “The” is emphasized, it highlights how He is THE Lord. He is the One and the Only God. He is the Savior of the world. How amazing is that? When the word “Lord” is emphasized, it indicates that the omnipotent, all-powerful, all-knowing Lord is our shepherd. The Lord, who created everything around us, is our shepherd. When the word “is” is emphasized, notice the present tense of the word. The verse does not read, “The Lord was my shepherd.” It says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” He is our Shepherd now. He wasn’t just with David when he wrote this psalm; He is also with all of us now. When the word “my” is emphasized, it reflects that the Lord is our personal Shepherd and Savior. He is way above and beyond our understanding, but He wants a personal relationship with each of us. He wants us to recognize Him as our personal Shepherd who we can draw close to and trust to guide us. When the word “shepherd” is emphasized, it reflects that He not only loves us and guides us but that He also guards us, as a shepherd guards their flock. Like David killed a bear to protect his flock of sheep in 1 Samuel 17:34-35, God is powerful and willing to protect us. Our Shepherd protected us from everlasting death by humbling Himself to come down to earth as a baby, to grow up and live among us, and to die for us. Jesus died on a cross and rose from the grave so that each of us can put our trust in Him and have eternal life instead of eternal death. That God is our personal Shepherd. • Kimberly Brokish • Read John 10:11. How has Jesus revealed that He is the Good Shepherd? • Which word in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd,” sticks out to you the most today? Why? He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.40.11|Mic.5.4|Ps.23

In the book of Esther, a Jew becomes queen of a gentile (or non-Jewish) nation that stretches from India to Cush (the upper Nile region). This kingdom is headed by King Xerxes. But Esther is not his first queen. The book begins when King Xerxes gives an enormous banquet for all his officials and the people of the land. At the end of the banquet, he commands his queen, Vashti, to come to him so he can display her beauty to the people. But Vashti refuses, so the king deposes her from her position as queen and replaces her with Esther—after choosing her from among many other beautiful girls who were taken to his palace. He doesn’t know Esther is a Jew. But one day, there’s trouble. Mordecai, who is Esther’s cousin, sits at the king’s gate to find out how Esther is doing, and he refuses to bow to a high-ranking official named Haman. In his anger, Haman determines to kill Mordecai—together with all the Jews in the kingdom. Mordecai learns of Haman’s plot and sends a message to Queen Esther instructing her to go to the king and plead with him for her people’s rescue. Esther is at first unwilling to appear before the king, knowing that whoever intrudes in the king’s inner court uninvited must be killed. So Mordecai sends a messenger back to Esther with these words: “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Esther then agrees, instructing all the Jews to fast with her before she goes to the king. When Esther appears before him and pleads for herself and her people, the king listens. The genocide plan fails, Haman is impaled, and Mordecai is promoted! The book of Esther shows us that God loves His people, and He is able to deliver them from trouble using any means. God is sovereign. Even though there was a plot to exterminate Jewish people, God worked through Esther to save them. Generations later, God came to save His people from sin and death—permanently. Because God loves us, Jesus died and rose again for us. We can become part of God’s family by putting our trust in Jesus. And, as a part of God’s family, when a need arises and we are in a position to help, we can do so because God’s love is in us, and He will give us the courage to do whatever He calls us to do. • Charity Kiregyera • If God can work through any means, why do you think He often works through His people? “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Esth.4

Years back, I shared a house with a friend. This friend had a niece who also lived with us. For some reason, this girl harbored a dislike for me. Whenever something went wrong in the house, she was quick to point out that I was the one responsible when, in fact, I was innocent. This behavior of hers irritated me a lot, and I in turn developed a dislike for her. But this state of affairs didn’t leave me with peace in my heart, so I decided I was going to approach the situation differently. I decided to do what the Bible says: to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). That meant loving this girl with the love of God. God loved us when we were still sinners and hostile to Him. We were God’s enemies because of sinning against Him, but God demonstrated His love for us when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. Then Jesus rose from the dead, making the way for us to be reconciled to God. Because God loved us first, His love is available for us to respond to. When we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we accept His offer of forgiveness for our sins. As Christians, we are no longer God’s enemies; we are His friends. And we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to love others like God loves us. We can walk in love, even toward people who treat us unfairly. When we love with the love of God, we will endeavor to treat people kindly in spite of their wrongdoing. When I began to act in love toward my friend’s niece, she also changed her attitude toward me. She stopped accusing me of things I hadn’t done, and she actually became friendly to me. I’ve since realized that showing people love sometimes changes them for the better. As I’ve endeavored to walk in love toward unloving, hostile, and negative people, I’ve seen them begin to respond positively. It’s like pouring hot water on ice. Cold, hard characters can be melted by the warm love of God. • Charity Kiregyera • Have you ever been accused of doing something that you hadn’t actually done? What was your reaction? • How do Jesus’s love for us, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, make it possible for us to love others— even those who treat us unfairly? (Remember, loving after a deep hurt might include setting up healthy boundaries.) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.5.44|Rom.5.6-Rom.5.10|Eph.2.3-Eph.2.5|Phil.2.13

We live in a culture that’s full of division—division that leads to differences in ideas, differences in politics, and even to war. We hear terms like cultural warfare, cancel culture, and cultural bias. These phrases are interlaced when it comes to decisions about education, voting rights, safety, and health. It can feel like there are more problems than there are solutions. It’s daunting. When I seek peace, I find it in nature. A hike in the woods makes me feel balanced. I’ll sit on a rock or find a small clearing and listen to birdsong, babbling creeks, and the whispering wind. I observe the rich shades of green trees and grass, the earthy brown dirt and branches, and the playful blue sky and crisp running water. I breathe it in. In nature, God shows us unity. All those parts of the landscape—the colors, the sounds, the various materials—are pieces of a whole. In nature, diversity lives in unity. While a fallen tree rots, a new flower blooms. Every part plays an integral role. Seeing all the pieces thriving together as one ecosystem brings me peace. God invites us to learn from nature. We are all created by God, kept alive by His power, on this planet, at this time, to honor and love Him. He made us each different on purpose. And we can thrive, all of us, when we put God first. This is only possible through Jesus. His death and resurrection have made the way for us to be united to Him and to each other. As Jesus’s people, we are called to follow Him and be part of His work of unity, knowing that one day He will return bodily to earth and fully restore His creation—including relationships between people. In the meantime, my goal toward unity is to love God and live by His Word. As I remember the wholeness I experience in nature, I know that my small piece will be to love others as God loves me, and hopefully my piece brings a bit more peace to the whole. • Kelly Bakshi • Why is it a worthy goal to love and respect people you disagree with? • When the world seems out of control, how can getting alone with God help us stay centered? Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:14 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.14.19|Gal.3.28|Col.3.12-Col.3.15|Matt.22.36-Matt.22.40

“Jax!” Celine pointed eagerly to her microscope. “Come look at this.” Jax put down the test tube he was holding and walked over to her. Thanks to the artificial gravity in the station, he could move quickly. Outside, where there were no magnetized floors tugging at the flecks of iron embedded in his uniform and boots, walking would have felt like hopping from one side of a swimming pool to the other. Things got done much more efficiently on Enceladus at one g. “What is it?” Jax was practically bouncing with excitement when he reached Celine. “Did you find something?” Celine pointed to the slide clipped under the microscope lens and said, “Take a look at these rocks.” Jax stopped bouncing. “Rocks!” He peered into the microscope, then laughed. “Yep, those are rocks, all right.” He sighed. “You got me all excited thinking you found something, you know—alive!” Celine shrugged and a gave a half-hearted apology. “Sorry to disappoint you. But those rocks are exciting—they look different from the other ones we’ve sampled. I think they’re made up of different compounds.” Jax raised his eyebrows and said, “Um, I think I missed the part about why rocks with different compounds are exciting.” “Because it means we could be one step closer to finding life. Not all microorganisms on Earth prefer the same food or environment. If there’s life on Enceladus, it probably works the same way. Microbes may need a specific type of environment to survive—one we haven’t found yet.” Jax plopped down onto a lab stool and said, “Okay, I guess that is pretty exciting.” He spun around on the stool’s wheels. Gravity was awesome. But Enceladus’s tiny gravity—less than one percent of Earth’s—could be fun too. There was a game of low-g volleyball he was hoping to get in on later. “If there is life on Enceladus, I hope we find it.” “Me too.” Celine sighed. “But sometimes it seems like a hopeless search.” Jax nodded slowly then said, “I feel that way too sometimes. But then I remember that, whether we ever find anything on Enceladus or not, I’ve already found life—the life that really matters. Any disappointments in this life can’t compare to that.” • Courtney Lasater • Read the verse below. What life do you think Jax is talking about at the end of the story? • In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” How can knowing Jesus help us weather life’s difficulties and disappointments? And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:4 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.27.8|Jer.29.13|John.1.1-John.1.5|Col.3.4

As Celine peered through the window of her submersible, she could see the edge of Saturn’s rings looming through the gap in the ice above her. “I’m approaching the fissure, Jax,” she said into her headpiece. “Ready to surface.” Jax’s voice crackled in response. “I see you, Tiger Three. Come on up, Celine.” As the submersible emerged through the fissure in the ice, Celine had to shut her eyes tight against the glare. Even though Enceladus was much farther from the sun than Earth, the thick layer of ice that covered this moon’s surface made it the most reflective object in the solar system. After spending several hours in the dark ocean beneath the ice, the daytime brilliance felt like knives slicing through her vision. Once her eyes had adjusted, she steered over to where Jax was waiting at the edge of the ice. When she was within reach, he grabbed the handle on the front of the submersible and hoisted her out of the water. The moon’s gravity was so small that he barely had to use one hand. Once she was grounded, Celine opened the hatch. Despite her heated space suit, she could feel the icy blast of the moon’s air—if you could even call it air—and she quickly followed Jax into the warmth of the station. “Find anything interesting today?” Jax asked as he pulled off his helmet. “I took some samples near one of the ocean vents,” Celine said as they walked through the station hub. Voices crackled through the air as other search teams radioed back and forth. “We’ve sampled there before though, so I doubt we’ll find anything.” “You never know,” said Jax. “All we need is one little microorganism—one tiny proof of life from somewhere other than Earth.” “You think we’ll ever find it?” asked Celine. Jax shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe not. But I like to think that God created life somewhere in our solar system other than Earth because He knew how excited we’d be to find it one day.” Celine smiled. “I like to think that too.” “Well, that’s why we’re here—no better place to start looking than Enceladus.” Jax pointed to the sample box Celine had brought from the submersible. “Let’s go fire up the microscope and see what we’ve got.” • Courtney Lasater • Do you ever wonder if there’s life elsewhere in the universe? Does thinking about this excite you? Scare you? Why? • Read John 1:1-3. Who are these verses talking about? (See John 1:14-18 and Colossians 1:15-22 for the answer.) • We don’t know if there’s life out in the universe somewhere, but if there is, God created it, just like He created life on Earth. He is Creator and Lord of the whole universe. And God reveals Himself to us in Jesus. Jesus is the Word who created all things at the beginning, and because He came to live among us, die on the cross, and rise from the dead, we can have a relationship with our Creator through putting our trust in Jesus. How can knowing Him help you when you’re faced with the unknowable? The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. Psalm 33:6 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Neh.9.6|Ps.33.6|Ps.89.11|John.1.1-John.1.3

A big bowl of stew is a comforting food when you’re hungry on a cold day. It’s a great meal to share…unless you put poisonous ingredients in it! If you like strange stories, today’s reading is one of the strangest ones in the Bible. During a famine, a hungry guy finds gourds and throws them in a pot of stew at a meeting of prophets. Unfortunately, the gourds weren’t safe to eat, and the people panicked—eating this stew would kill them! But Elisha, God’s prophet and messenger, threw some flour in the pot, and just like that, the stew was safe to eat again. On the outside, this story could be seen as a dinner disaster and a warning about food safety. However, there’s more to it than that. This story reminds us that God brings life out of death. He provided nourishment in a famine. When the food was inedible, God, through Elisha, miraculously made it safe to eat so the prophets could live. We can also see glimpses of the gospel—the good news about Jesus—in this story. The world is like the stew. God made everything good, but when humanity rejected God—choosing to disobey His one command by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree—our sin brought death into the world (Genesis 3). Ever since then, we continue to sin, and we search for satisfaction in things that look good, like the gourds, but in the end, these things lead to death. We try to save ourselves through our own self-reliance and self-righteousness, but we can only find life in God. The good news is, God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to give us eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus calls Himself “the bread of life” (John 6:35)—and bread is made with flour, which is what Elisha threw in the stew. Jesus willingly died so we could live with Him forever, and in His resurrection, He defeated the power of sin and death. Jesus is alive, and He can bring healing and hope even in the parts of your life that seem the most poisoned by sin. Jesus’s life satisfies us and, like a good meal, strengthens us to follow God. Sharing Jesus’s life is a lot better than sharing a bowl of poisoned stew! • Abby Ciona • Where have you seen the poisoning effects of sin—either in the world or in your own life? • Though we live in a world poisoned by sin, Jesus has promised to return and renew His creation. Until that day, He promises to be with us no matter what. Where do you need Jesus’s healing and renewal today? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this. • If you want to dig deeper, read Exodus 15:22-27 and John 2:1-12. How are these accounts similar? Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Kgs.4.38-2Kgs.4.41|1Cor.15.20-1Cor.15.22|Eph.2.1-Eph.2.10|John.11.25

It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to admit that you don’t have the answers. It’s okay to struggle. Just know that God has your back. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Through all the moments when you feel afraid, He is there. He knows your biggest fears, and He knows the challenges you will face. He has the answers to life’s biggest questions. It’s okay to not feel okay. In these moments, God doesn’t condemn us. Instead, He invites us to turn to Him. When we start to question life and the purpose and meaning of it all, we can turn to the author of life for answers (Acts 3:15). Even though we struggle through this life at times, we are never alone. Even though we feel afraid at times, we don’t have to be afraid. God is compassionate and gracious, and He reminds us of His faithful love and care for us. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us we don’t have to worry about tomorrow. We are free to follow Him, knowing God will provide everything we need along the way. Then later, in Matthew 10, Jesus tells us that God is so kind, He even cares for sparrows—and we are worth much more to God than a whole flock of sparrows! Over and over again throughout the Bible, God reminds us how much He loves us. And through Jesus, He is always going to be there for us. It’s okay to admit your fears and take them to God. He always has your back, and He will never let you down. • Bethany Acker • Have you ever felt like it wasn’t okay for you to not be okay? • Psalm 103:13-14 says that God is “tender and compassionate…For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” How might it be comforting to know that God doesn’t expect us to hold it all together, and He invites us to turn to Him when we feel weak and afraid? “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” Matthew 10:29 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.103.13-Ps.103.14|Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Matt.10.29-Matt.10.31

Have you ever been on the brink of a major transition? New schools, new jobs, new homes, new friends—these changes can be good, but they can also be painful. People might ask you how you’re feeling, but it can be hard to put those feelings into words. Transitions can be bitter and sweet, all at the same time. My family has a move coming up. We’re not moving far, and we’re moving back to the place I’ve always called home. But at the same time, I’m leaving a place that’s become home. Friends and a community I’ve come to love dearly. Change is hard. But as we prepare for this transition, I find joy, hope, and comfort in this good news: Jesus is with us, and He never changes. We can put our trust in Him. On the eve of a move like this, I might’ve once felt like my whole life would be completely uprooted. But as God has revealed His truth to me all throughout His Word, I’ve come to know that He never changes, even when our lives and our world are constantly in motion. He is consistent through all of life’s inconsistencies. Psalm 102:27 says, “But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” In Isaiah 40:8, we’re reminded that even as the earth crumbles, God’s Word is everlasting: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” And Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” These truths can change the way we live, because we don’t need to fear what tomorrow will bring. We don’t need to worry about whether transitions will be good or bad. God is with us, and He will never fail us. So, no matter what transition looms on the horizon, we can trust that God is with us. And we can find joy in His promise to be our constant. • Becca Wierwille • What kinds of transitions have you gone through in your life? How have you seen God’s faithfulness throughout these changes? • What transitions are coming up in your future? • Consider taking a moment to thank God for His faithfulness in the past, and then tell Him about some of your dreams and/or worries for the future and ask for His help. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.102.23-Ps.102.28|Isa.40.6-Isa.40.8|Heb.13.6-Heb.13.8

Have you ever felt like an outsider because of your faith? Maybe people judge you, or even avoid you, because you are a Christian. Sometimes, it feels like having faith is a burden—especially when you’re striving to act the right way in the midst of temptations and distractions. It’s hard when others misunderstand you, and even harder when you lose friendships or feel ostracized by people who don’t share your faith. You might even be ridiculed for believing in Jesus. You might wonder if you are battling alone. Be encouraged. You are not on your own. Faith in Jesus is something to be treasured. Think of the last few years: the terrible pandemic, floods, forest fires, violence, and the constant disharmony in the broken world we live in. Through all these events, in the destruction and despair, I have been reminded that I am blessed to have faith—it really is a precious gift. If a crisis occurs, I know I have a loving Father who sent His Son, Jesus, to save us. He has walked the steps of suffering before me. People opposed Him, misunderstood Him, and ridiculed Him. He endured it all because He loves us. And He is with me through everything. He is willing to listen to me, even when friends cannot listen to me because they have their own tangle of worries knotted up inside them. He provides calm in the chaos around me. Even though I am a natural-born worrier, and sometimes my imagination stirs up troublesome thoughts in my mind, I know I can chat with Jesus and reveal the problems in my heart to Him. There is so much sadness, hatred, and fear in the world, but through all these terrible situations, God is there waiting for us, ready to guide us through our lives when we open our hearts to Him. Faith isn’t a burden, but instead a precious gift that sets us free. ⦁ Cindy Lee ⦁ Do you ever feel frustrated when people don’t understand your faith? Jesus understands what you’re going through. Consider taking a moment to pray for these people and pour out your heart to Jesus. He loves you, and He always listens. ⦁ Being in relationship with Jesus means that when you go through hard things, you will never be alone. It also means that your eternal future is secure because Jesus has forgiven you. How might these promises give you hope in the midst of suffering? ⦁ Have you put your trust in Jesus? What questions do you have? (Find more by checking out the &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.2.1-Eph.2.10

At a young age, I was afraid of God. I grew up being taught that God is perfect and would be angry at me when I commit a sin or break His commandments. I had learned that God, in His anger toward me when I sin, would punish me. And it’s true that, in Scripture, God does sometimes get angry, especially when His people continue to go against His good laws and refuse to turn back to Him. Sin hurts people, so it makes sense that a loving God would get angry at sin. When Jesus Christ came, He revealed who God is. If we are in Christ, God no longer holds His anger against us (Romans 8:1). The apostle John, who was one of Jesus’s close friends, wrote that “God is love” (1 John 4:16). God is the author of love. He loves you, and He sent Jesus to come and save you. He knows that you’re not perfect and have sinned. That’s why Jesus came to die for our sins. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, God has taken your sin upon Himself and forgiven all of it: He accepts and loves you because you are His child and He is your Father. We can also see God’s patient love throughout the Old Testament. When He commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and Jonah disobeyed Him, God was patient with Jonah. He saved and restored Jonah, even as He saved and restored the people of Nineveh. The next time you sin, remember that God loves you so much that He sent Jesus. You can repent from your sin and rest in His patient love and forgiveness. ⦁ Golda Dilema ⦁ Do you sometimes fear what God is about to do to you when you make a mistake? In response to the sin of humanity, God did not condemn us. Instead, He sent Jesus to save and restore us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. God loves you and wants wholeness for you. What might it look like to rest in this truth, even as you seek to follow God’s good ways? The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. Psalm 103:8 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.103.8-Ps.103.14|John.3.16-John.3.17|1John.4.14-1John.4.19

When life starts to get crazy, sometimes we dart between one task and the next. When you get toward the end of the school year and there is a lot you need to accomplish, or when you’re at work and your shift is about to be done but you haven’t finished everything you need to, you might get stressed and start running around. In trying to complete things more quickly than you usually do, sometimes you end up making messes. When we are stressed, we tend to get anxious and start moving faster. We try to fix things and get work done. The last thing we want to do is be still and let God move. But it can be helpful to remember that there are times in the Bible when God asks us to be still and let Him work. A good example is when the Israelites were leaving Egypt, and Pharaoh’s army came after them. The people were terrified and cried out to God. Then Moses said, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). Then God parted the Red Sea, and the people walked through on dry ground. It can be difficult to “be still,” no matter what we are facing. But God is with us through it all. As we turn to Him, He reminds us that He loves us and He is powerful (Psalm 62:11-12). Even when life gets busy, we can take a moment to be still with God and rest in His peace. And, once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, guiding us and helping us discern when it’s time to act (and how to act) and when it’s time to rest. Sometimes, God invites us to let go of a situation and trust Him to take care of things. It can be hard to believe that God will actually work things out and He doesn’t really need our help to do it. But, then again, He is God. The same God who parted the Red Sea. The next time you feel stressed, instead of running around and pushing yourself too hard, why not take a breath and ask God for help? ⦁ Emily Acker ⦁ What do you tend to do when life gets crazy? How might God be inviting you to “be still” in these times? He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.46.10|Ps.62.5-Ps.62.12

If you’ve been dating someone for a while and you really like them, you may start asking yourself, “Is this love? How do I know?” The Bible has tons to say about loves of all kinds, including romantic, friendship, and familial. The Bible also says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Jesus demonstrated God’s amazing love for us by dying on the cross for our sins and rising again so that we can be saved and live with Him forever. Overcoming death and sin is a huge demonstration of love, but how do we relate Jesus’s love and actions to those of our significant other? Love should look like Jesus. Does your partner treat you and others with compassion, mercy, kindness, patience, selflessness, and humility—the way Jesus treated those around Him? It sounds like a tall order, but true love includes all those things. Yes, none of us are perfect, so we won’t display all these attributes of love all the time, but the Holy Spirit moves us toward them. As we seek to follow Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit’s work should be present in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). It might be easier to ask, “Does my significant other value becoming more like Jesus each day? And do I become more like Jesus when I spend time around my partner? Would my partner give in a self-sacrificing way?” The person you’re dating might be fun to hang out with, but if you’re thinking about marrying a person, your relationship should reflect the relationship that Jesus has with His church. Jesus demonstrated a deep affection for us, His people, and He hasn’t abandoned us to be on our own. He invites us to rely on His help and guidance in every decision we face. If you’ve made it to the end of this devotion and you’re still not sure about any of this, that’s okay! Dating and falling in love isn’t always a straight path, but you can trust that God’s love for you will always be a steady relationship. ⦁ Naomi Zylstra ⦁ Who is someone you love (such as a friend, family member, or significant other)? How does this love reflect the love Jesus has for us? ⦁ What does self-sacrificing love look like to you? ⦁ The Bible tells us that Christians should not seek to marry non-Christians (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14). Why do you think this is the case? But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.13.4-1Cor.13.7|1John.4.8

What does it mean when Jesus called Himself the vine? He gave His disciples this picture on the night before He went to the cross, saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). Jesus as the vine is a great metaphor for our relationship to our Savior. Jesus being our vine means that we can draw love and strength from Him, like a branch that is connected to a vine can draw water and nutrients to sustain growth. Jesus wants to stay in connection with us, and when we remain in Him, we see growth in our lives. Jesus also offers us support as our vine. A branch that is connected to its vine won’t blow away or break off in a windy storm. When life gets windy and we are connected to Jesus, we can remember who we are in Christ and what our purpose is in Him. Remembering that we belong to Christ is a great way to center ourselves when life is getting chaotic. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we can reach back to our connection to the main vine, rest in His strong love, and reconnect with our purpose. And what is this purpose? To bear the fruit of love. Just a few verses after calling Himself the vine, Jesus commands His disciples to love each other like He has loved them. But He makes it clear that they cannot do this without Him, saying, “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (verse 4). And Jesus has already shown us what bearing fruit can look like. Our vine has already demonstrated His love for us. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and rose again, beating sin and death, because of the deep love He has for us. And because of His sacrifice, we can now bear the fruit of love too. ⦁ Naomi Zylstra ⦁ What does it mean to bear good fruit as a Christian? (Take a look at Galatians 5:22-23.) ⦁ Why is it important to remember that we can’t bear this good fruit on our own? What do you think it means to “remain” in Jesus? “My command is this: Love each other as I [Jesus] have loved you.” John 15:12 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.15.1-John.15.12

God knows why things are happening the way they are in our lives and in this world. We can look at everything going on around us and wonder how it’s all going to make sense in the end. We can see bad things taking place and wonder if God might be surprised or if those bad things might mess up His plans. But God is not surprised by anything that happens. Not in your personal life, the country you are living in, or anywhere in the world and beyond. He knows what the future holds, and He cares about every detail. He knows how everything is going to work out in the end, and He is intimately involved in the mess. Through Jesus, He offers healing and invites people to know Him, trust Him, and follow Him. He is good, and His love endures forever (Psalm 136:1). God can take the bad and use it for good. He can transform even the horrible things into beautiful things. God knows what you are going to go through, and He has compassion on you. When you are suffering, He is grieving alongside you. And if you come to Him, He will comfort you, strengthen you, and even help you grow through your struggles. We serve a God who is not surprised by anything. We can rest easier when we remember that God holds His people securely in love and He has promised to right every wrong. We can know that God is ultimately in control, and He is going to make things work out just how they are meant to work out in the end. On the last day, Jesus will return. The Risen King will restore His creation, and all His people will live and reign with Him forever. Nothing can stop His kingdom from coming. Even when we don’t understand what is going on, we can trust God because He is trustworthy. ⦁ Emily Acker ⦁ When is it hardest for you to trust God? In these times, we can look to Jesus, who revealed God’s deep love and kindness when He died on the cross. When we see hurt and confusion and corruption and violence in our world or in our lives, we can come to Jesus with all our frustrations, sorrows, fears, and questions. His goodness and love are sure, and He will reveal Himself to those who seek Him. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.18-Rom.8.39|Ps.33.11|Gen.50.20|Isa.55.6-Isa.55.13

To be in the shadow of God is everything. This world is a scary place; there are so many rules, expectations, and dangers waiting for us around every bend. It’s more than scary—it’s paralyzing. Like a deer in oncoming headlights, instead of escaping to safety, we might freeze and feel the full impact of the world crashing in. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you have committed your life to Christ, you have escaped from disaster. And in doing so, you haven’t just run to safety. You’ve gained hope, joy, and glory. When you surrendered your life to Christ, you were added into God’s family. Your life was HIDDEN with Christ in God. When your life is hidden with Christ, your place with Him is secure. You will have trouble—that is promised—but you won’t be alone. You are held by Jesus, the One who overcame the world (John 16:33). And because Jesus died and rose from the grave, His followers have the sure hope of living with Him forever. As Christians, our lives are now united with Christ and should be in alignment with His way. Think about it. When someone belongs to Jesus, their life is not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We follow God’s ways, not out of an impersonal sense of duty, but because God loves us and He is the source of goodness. Obeying Him allows us to experience His goodness more and more. Yet, even as we learn to follow God with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will not do things perfectly. But Christ covers us, so when God the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ and does not count our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:21). When your life is hidden and covered by God, you can dwell with Him and rest in His shadow. He promises to be with you in hardship. Imagine it. If you’re in someone’s shadow, it means they are bigger than you, covering you, and they are close beside you. When you realize you are in God’s shadow, the world no longer seems as paralyzing. When you are a Christian, God is close beside you and covering you all the way. ⦁ Emma Pamer ⦁ What things do you see in the world that make you feel paralyzed with fear? ⦁ Can you think of a time you felt free, safe, and/or comforted in God’s presence? If you haven’t experienced this, you can ask God for it. He loves to answer these prayers! Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.91.1-Ps.91.2|Ps.91.14-Ps.91.16|Col.3.1-Col.3.17

I like to feed hummingbirds. As I was researching how to feed them well, I found that many websites say to watch for stragglers at the end of the warm season. This year, we’ve had a couple stragglers. It’s November when I write this, and I am still putting out food and it’s still disappearing. I keep thinking these hummingbirds are lost and one day they’ll wish they were someplace warmer. In Luke 15, Jesus tells a story about another straggler. The Prodigal son left home with his father’s money in his pocket. Now no one would tell him what to do—he was free to make his own choices. He did exactly as he wanted to…until he had spent every bit of his money. Alone, abandoned by his partying friends, he was hungry, thirsty, and had no place to sleep. Then he found a job feeding pigs, which was about the lowest job anyone could find at that time. Pigs were seen as nasty, dirty creatures that would eat about anything. The Prodigal found himself feeding them pods. The hogs gobbled them up. The Prodigal stared at the pods, wondering what they tasted like. He might have been so hungry that he ate some. As his belly moaned and he could barely stand the smell of the pigs (or himself), he thought of his father. Realizing that maybe he could still be a servant in his father’s household—a place where he could have something to eat and somewhere to sleep—he started toward home. As the Prodigal approached his father’s house, he found his father waiting. Most of us might assume he wouldn’t be welcome. (And in fact, his older brother grumbled and complained when he came back.) Yet his father hugged him close, offered him a bath, clean clothes, and food—and welcomed him back as his son. Not a servant, but his son. Jesus welcomes us—rebellious stragglers though we are—into His arms and into His household. And He asks us to welcome fellow stragglers who are lost. Jesus will take them in, offer them new beginnings, a place in His family, and love that overwhelms. ⦁ Anna Gregory ⦁ Have you ever felt like the younger brother in this story: lost, dirty, and broken? Jesus invites you to bring these feelings to Him and rest in His love. ⦁ Have you ever felt like the older brother in this story: wary, suspicious, and perhaps jealous of outsiders coming into the church? You can bring these feelings to Jesus too and ask Him to help you extend His love and stragglers. “For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.15.10-Luke.15.32|Luke.19.10

God created the changing seasons Colored leaves, sunny skies So much autumn beauty I look at it and wonder, “how small am I?” But God sees me in the beauty I’m not too small for Him He created each unique leaf And in me, a light that will not dim God knows what is best Each season comes and goes He’s with me when it feels fast And I want the spinning of the world to slow His plans are all laid out He holds the world in His hands I can trust Him this and every season Enjoy the beauty, and follow His plans ⦁ Bethany Acker ⦁ What is your favorite season? ⦁ Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming, especially in times of change. In moments like these, how could it be comforting to know that God, the Master of the seasons and the sky, sees us and loves us? “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” Genesis 8:22 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.16.13|Ps.32.8|Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6|Gen.8.22

I’m in my forties, and one thing I wish I’d known when I was a teenager is that it really is true when people say God loves us just as we are. We don’t have to earn His approval. In the book of Isaiah, God was speaking to the Israelites, but He is also speaking to us today through these same words. Isaiah 43:4 says that we are precious and honored in God’s sight, and He loves us. Thankfully, God’s favor isn’t based on what we do. Since the first humans went their own way against God, we are all sinful. We can never be good enough. We can never do enough. We can never be perfect enough. It’s just not possible. As humans, we are all flawed. But the wonderful news is that we don’t have to be good enough…because Jesus is. Jesus lived in perfect obedience to God the Father. Because Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He never did wrong, He was able to pay for our wrongdoing by dying on the cross and rising from the dead for us. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The love God has for us is powerful! His love can move mountains, heal broken hearts, and transform lives (Colossians 3:12). And His love for us is “just because” we are His! He longs to show us His love and be a part of our lives—just as we are, right where we are. You may ask yourself, “But what about those little flaws and imperfections I have—not to mention all the big flaws? Don’t they change things?” The wonderful answer is NO! God knows everything about you, and your sins and shortcomings do not diminish His love in any way! Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because His love is not based on what we do but on what Jesus has done, we can rest in this assurance. ⦁ Leslie L. McKee ⦁ Have you ever questioned whether God really loves you? Lots of people feel this way—even people who have been Christians for a long time. You can bring this to Jesus in prayer. He won’t be offended. You are God’s precious, beloved child, and He doesn’t give up on you. ⦁ Have you put your trust in Jesus? Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…” Isaiah 43:4 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.17.26|Rom.8.31-Rom.8.39|1John.4.19|Isa.43.4

I’m twenty-six years old, and I wish I had known sooner that God wasn’t the maker of my depression. When ninth grade rolled around, I faced depression like I never had before. I didn’t think I could experience such strong and unsettling emotions while being a follower of Jesus. The part that confused me most was where the extreme sadness came from. Not able to find the answer myself, I’d ask God why He would allow such anguish to hurt me daily. Being a child of God, one misconception I had was that Christians had to be joyful all the time. Mind you, that is far from the truth. I’d question if I was abnormal because the way I was feeling was not joyful. Was I insane? Was I not doing something right in my relationship with God, and that’s how this started? Because of this, I started doubting the authenticity of my faith. This was before I knew how much influence Satan, sin, and brokenness have on this world. The enemy seeks to destroy Christ-followers such as myself. God created the world good, but when people rebelled against God, sin and brokenness infected everything. One version of this brokenness is depression. But, despite all the brokenness and evil in the world, God is the giver and maker of peace and joy. It’s through Him and the good gifts He provides (including things like mental health professionals and medication) that we can overcome our struggles. That doesn’t always mean the depression will go away, but it does mean that Jesus walks with us and brings us comfort and strength in the midst of it. He never abandons us. Though Satan continues to steal, kill, and destroy, God works miracles around the enemy’s conniving schemes. Jesus is far greater than the enemy, and His victory came through His death and resurrection—when He defeated sin, death, and brokenness on our behalf. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, God gives us a crown and a blessing in place of ashes and mourning (Isaiah 61:3). God has already won the battle. When we pay attention, we can see His provision in the midst of the sufferings we face. He is with us in our trials whether they’re in smaller dosages or larger quantities. He provides comfort and strength. He is the maker of joy and peace, not of depression. And someday, we will see His ultimate triumph when Jesus returns to get rid of all brokenness—including depression—forever. ● Brenna Covelens ● Have you ever felt like Christians are supposed to always feel joyful—and that it’s not okay for us to feel any other way? ● Sometimes, God brings about full healing from depression and other types of brokenness we encounter. But other times, depression is a lifelong struggle that won’t fully go away until Jesus returns. Even when the hurt is here to stay, Jesus is with us, weeping with us. He never leaves us. As we draw near to Him, He wraps His arms around us and never lets go. Have you ever felt Jesus’s presence in the midst of pain? What was it like? ● God does not want us to face depression—or any other kind of brokenness—alone. Christians can bring each other hope and comfort in hard times, pointing each other to Jesus. When you are struggling, who can you reach out to? If you know someone who is hurting, how can you come alongside them? ● If you have been feeling depressed and need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak wit

If you ever feel left out or mistreated, if people talk about you instead of talking to you, you are not alone. It can be hard to deal with the pain of rejection or getting less than what is fair, but it can be comforting to know that you have a God who designed you, created you in a special way, and loves you. God knew what He was doing when He made you. He gave you the hair color and texture you have—the hair others might not like, but God does. He gave you the smile you have—the one you might feel self-conscious about, but He loves to see. He gave you your personality—the one others might tease you for, but He is delighted by. You were designed in a certain way. You were put on this earth for a certain reason. You are not an accident or a mistake. We all have days we feel rejected and hurt. God is there for us on those days. He sees what we’re going through and has compassion on us. He created us, He made us special, and He loves us. ● Emily Acker ● What is one thing you like about the way God made you? ● When it’s difficult to remember that God made you on purpose and He delights in you, who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you remember? How can you be this kind of friend to others? ● Jesus knows what it feels like to be rejected and mistreated. He was betrayed and abandoned by His friends, insulted by unjust rulers, and mocked by crowds of people who had sung His praises only days before. Jesus endured all of this…for us. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God will never reject us, never mistreat us. How might this truth give you comfort? You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. Psalm 139:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139.13-Ps.139.16|1John.3.1|Ps.139.1

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved stained glass windows. When sunbeams reach through colored glass and paint the room with rainbows, something inside me stirs. These mosaics of color awaken my heart to wonder. I think beauty draws us closer to the heart of God. Something inside us craves beauty, and if we listen closely enough, we’ll discover a longing for God deep within us. It seems so fitting to me that some church buildings use stained glass in the spaces where we gather to worship God. After all, He is the One who spoke light into being. I didn’t know until recently that some churches used colored glass windows for a very specific purpose: to teach the stories of the Bible to people who couldn’t read. Stained glass has been crafted by different cultures in different parts of the world since ancient times, and during the Middle Ages, Christians in Europe started incorporating this artform into their church buildings. At this point in history, few people could read, and usually only wealthy people had access to books. But even though most common people couldn’t read the Bible for themselves, they could learn about the stories of the Bible through artwork. I love how these medieval Christians served each other, not just by making simple drawings that would serve as a teaching tool, but by making something beautiful. They invited everyone to know God, the author of beauty, and created a special place where all could worship Him. • Hannah Howe • How can making art be an act of service to the community? • How can art, even art that doesn’t depict biblical stories, reveal truth that points to Jesus? Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights&#8230; James 1:17 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.3|John.1.1-John.1.9|Jas.2.1-Jas.2.9|Jas.1.17

One of the most enduring tales of all time is the story of a wish granted. Whether it’s the three wishes of a genie’s lamp in &#8220;Aladdin,&#8221; the ironic twists of &#8220;The Monkey’s Paw,&#8221; or just a discussion among friends, we love the possibility of getting something we want, a chance to make life better. Money? Fame? A particular skill? Healing? There are too many options to list, which is probably why people throughout history have pondered, “What do you want?” In the Bible, Jesus sometimes asks people the same question. And when the Son of God asks this question, it’s a story worth considering. We’re going to take a closer look at one of these times, which is recorded in Luke 18. Jesus is approaching Jericho with a throng of followers. A man who is blind sits by the road, begging. This man is an outcast with many needs. He can’t see; he has no money and no job. He’s basically a loner in society with nothing going for him. The road to Jericho is dangerous, and this is where he sits and begs. When he hears that Jesus is passing by, he begins to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (verse 38). The crowds tell him to hush, but he shouts louder. Then Jesus stops and asks the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” (verse 41). It may seem obvious. The man responds, “Lord, I want to see.” Then Jesus heals him, and immediately, he can see. What’s interesting to me is the man’s response after his eyes are healed. He could have gone home. He could have traveled around to see the sights and people he had never seen. He could have run from this dangerous place. But no. Verse 43 tells us that he “followed Jesus, praising God.” Not only that, but “when all the people saw it, they also praised God.” On His way to the cross, Jesus gave sight, both physically and spiritually, to a man who was blind. Because of what Jesus did, the man and the crowd began to see Jesus differently. Jesus was more than a cosmic genie granting the whims of random people. Jesus was, and is, God in the flesh, come to restore His creation. He is the Messiah and the Son of God. When the healed man and the crowd saw what Jesus had done, they praised God. • Mike Hurley • Why do you think this man wanted to follow Jesus after He healed him? • If you want to dig deeper, you can read two other gospel accounts of Jesus healing blindness outside Jericho in Matthew 20:29-34 and Mark 10:46-52. You can also read about two other times Jesus says, “What do you want?” in Mark 10:35-45 and John 1:35-42. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Luke 18:40-41 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.18.35-Luke.18.43

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to make an important decision, but you weren’t sure how to go about it? Do you sometimes fear that taking a wrong path would cost you—maybe jeopardizing your happiness or your relationships—and yet you’re not sure of the right path to take? Often times, we find ourselves in situations where our knowledge and understanding is limited, and we don’t know what to do, or even where to start. If we’re going to make good decisions, we’ll have to apply wisdom. Wisdom is like a lamp that illuminates the way where there is darkness. And the Bible tells us that God is the source of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). We see this in 1 Corinthians 1:30. Paul writes to people who have put their trust in Jesus: “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” Jesus is our wisdom, and through His death and resurrection, we can be in relationship with God. And God wants to help us. In James 1, God invites us to ask Him for wisdom, and He promises to give it to us (verse 5). So whenever we need to make a decision, we can ask God for help. One of the ways God guides us is through His Word, the Bible. James goes on to say, “Humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says” (verses 21-22). This passage echoes something Jesus said: that a person who hears His words and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock (Mathew 7:24). So if we live according to God’s Word, then our decisions will be built on a firm foundation. When we are at a crossroads of decision-making, wondering which way to go, we need not grope in the dark. God is there, ready to light the way (John 8:12). Let us accept God’s offer of wisdom so we can make good decisions in every situation. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Where do you need wisdom? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about this. • Are you ever afraid of making the wrong decision? There are some situations in our lives where there isn’t a right or wrong choice. And no matter what happens, as Christians, we can know that Jesus will be with us through everything we face. How might this truth give you hope? If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Prov.2.6|Matt.7.24-Matt.7.29|1Cor.1.30|Jas.1.5

They were beautiful, but wild and seemingly untamable. These horses of mine galloped across the white sands, surging at times into the foaming sea. A jet black mane and a tail that looked like wispy smoke trailed behind my stallion, Fear. He wasn’t always unruly, but when that glint appeared in his coal black eyes, I knew it would be near impossible to catch him. Passion pawed at the waves with a shining hoof, whinnying in delight as the salty spray hit her white face. The water glistened on her coat bright as a freshly polished pearl. Passion could be so fulfilling at times, but there were other occasions when she could not be reined in. I reached up to stroke Sorrow on her soft, gray muzzle. Her dappled coat swirled like drops of rain in a cloudy sky. Joy, her sister, was seldom separate from Sorrow. Joy’s golden back was warm to my touch in the sun, and she nickered softly when I spoke to her. Rage thundered by, tossing his red mane. His eyes were rolling and wide. There were times when he scared me most of all, when I didn’t know if I could ever control him. I knew in my heart that I could not keep my horses in check on my own. Thankfully, I was not alone. The Trainer wrapped His arms of love around Fear, calming him. When Passion was eager to gallop and explore, the Trainer taught her how to navigate all kinds of terrain with wisdom and discernment. Joy and Sorrow were never so beautiful as when they were walking close by the Trainer. They were intertwined in this inexpressible dance that made me want to laugh and cry all at once. The Trainer was never afraid of Rage as I was; He held him in gentleness and strength. As the setting sun glinted off the waves, I knew in the depths of my soul that I was not alone. The Trainer was near. I would hold His promise of peace close, knowing He would guard my horses. With the help of the Trainer, I could do what He called me to do with the strength that He gave. • Savannah Coleman • In this story, the horses represent our emotions, which are tamed by God the Trainer. We all have times when our thoughts and feelings seem unmanageable. God gave us emotions, but sometimes they can overwhelm us and threaten to control our actions. When do you find it difficult to handle your thoughts and feelings? • As children of God, we can rely on His help. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He transforms our minds through the renewing power of His Word and His Spirit. He promises that He will be near us; we have His strength in all situations. How might it give you hope to know that you never have to face your emotions alone? • As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, He helps us to better understand and deal with our emotions (Matthew 11:29). When fear, sorrow, or rage threaten to consume us, we can choose to give our anxieties over to God by telling Him about what we’re experiencing and asking for His help. What emotion(s) are you feeling right now? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about what you’re experiencing. • Sometimes, our thoughts can be troubling. God invites us to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:6-8). (If you can’t think of anything that fits these descriptions, try thinking about God Himself, because He is all these things! Jesus reveals God the Father, so reading about His life in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John is a great way to find out what God is like.) God promises that His peace will guard our hearts and minds as we come to Him (verses 7, 9). • If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, it’s okay to talk about this. Who is a trusted Christian in your life

In James 3, we are given metaphors for what our &#8220;tongue&#8221; (or the words we say) is like. James says our words have inherent power, and that power can be used either for good or evil. He explains the power of the tongue with two analogies: the bridle of a horse (verse 3) and the rudder of a ship (verse 4). Have you ever ridden a horse? Horses are large, powerful creatures, but they can be turned this way and that by a small bridle. In the same way, large ships made of wood are driven by powerful winds at sea, but a single pilot can control a ship by turning a thin rudder. The bridle and the rudder are comparatively small, yet they possess great power. In the same way, the tongue is one of the smallest parts of the body, yet it packs enormous power. The tongues of Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill during World War II illustrate the inherent power of the tongue. On the one hand, Hitler’s passionate, angry speeches appealed to the worst in people, stoking the fires of resentment until they flared up into war and genocide. On the other hand, Churchill spoke boldly over the radio to the people of England, uniting them to resist Hitler and work together for the good of their neighbors. The tongue is a small, simple thing, but its inherent power is capable of much. We must be wise in how we use it. • Jacob Bier • How can we be wise in how we use our words? Jesus said, “What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45). Without Jesus, all of our hearts are corrupt, but if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose again, His Holy Spirit begins to transform our hearts to be more and more like His. As we rely on His love for us, we can use our tongues for good (John 15:1-17; 1 John 4:14-16). • Throughout the Bible, God commands His people to pursue justice for the oppressed and to love our neighbors. What are some practical ways we can do this through our speech? The tongue can bring death or life. Proverbs 18:21a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Jas.3|Prov.18.21

Have you ever heard such wonderful phrases as these? &#8220;You are precious to me.&#8221; &#8220;I love you.&#8221; &#8220;I am with you.&#8221; &#8220;Do not fear.&#8221; Do you know anyone who would speak so tenderly to you? This is how the God of heaven speaks over His people. And even more. He says: &#8220;I have created you.&#8221; &#8220;I have redeemed you.&#8221; &#8220;I have called you by name.&#8221; &#8220;You are mine.&#8221; &#8220;I will be with you.&#8221; &#8220;I am the Lord your God.&#8221; All these affirming, loving statements come from the same passage in the Bible, Isaiah 43. Can you dare to believe that God cares for you this much? To let these words sink in, you might try reading these verses again for yourself. If you’re ready, you can thank God for each phrase. You don’t have to read everything word-for-word; you can make it personal. If you’d like a guide, try praying this way: &#8220;Thank you, God, that I am yours. Thank you that I am precious to you. Thank you for loving me and being with me. You created me, redeemed me, and called me by name. Thank you for your promise to be with me, calming all my fears. Thank you, O Lord my God!&#8221; • Daniel Dore • When you feel lonely, abandoned, hurt&#8230;how could the words in today’s reading, spoken by God Himself, give you comfort? • Do you know anyone who needs to hear such life-giving words? Which one of the truths from Isaiah 43:1-5 could you share today? But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.43.1-Isa.43.5

Not everyone has great parents. Not everyone has a family history they are proud of. If that’s you, know this: God loves you no matter who your parents are. They might be criminals. They might be people you aren’t proud of and never want to be like. But if you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have been adopted into God’s family. You are God’s child. No matter who your ancestors are or what they have done, you don’t have to be like them. If you know Jesus, you are set apart. You are different. You can look to Jesus and follow Him instead. Through His death and resurrection, He has made you new and enfolded you into His family. And His Holy Spirit lives in you, showing you God’s love, guiding you in His good ways, and empowering you to turn away from sin and live in love. You are more than the sum of your parents’ genetics. You are more than your family history. You are God’s child. It doesn’t matter who people expect you to be or what you may have always imagined you would be. The truest thing about you is that you are God’s child. You can take your direction from Him. You are free to live your life how He calls you to and not worry about the expectations of others. This may take some hard work, but you can rely on Jesus and lean on the people He has put around you to help you discern God’s guidance and let go of unhelpful expectations. When you realize that you are God’s child, you can stop worrying about living this way or that. You can stop stressing about not doing enough or not accomplishing the same things as your parents or siblings or others. You can start looking at yourself through His eyes instead. God created you. He made every unique part of you. He knows you. You are His child, and you are precious to Him. The Maker of the universe formed you in your mother’s womb, and He has always had His eyes on you. He made you for a reason. No matter who your parents or ancestors are, you are God’s child. • Bethany Acker • While our family is an important part of who we are, it’s not all we are. When you get stressed about the expectations of others, how could it be freeing to remember that you are God’s child? See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.139.13-Ps.139.18|Eph.5.1-Eph.5.2|1Pet.1.13-1Pet.1.25|1John.3.1

Horatio G. Spafford was a lawyer, an investor, and a follower of Christ who suffered many tragedies in his life. Spafford’s son (also named Horatio) died of scarlet fever at age four. And in October of 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed all his investments along Lake Michigan. Two years later, in 1873, Horatio thought it would be a good idea to travel with his family to England, where their friend D. L. Moody was holding rallies. Unfortunately, Horatio had to stay in Chicago to attend to some business matters, but he sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters (Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta) on ahead, promising to follow in a few days. Horatio’s wife and daughters sailed on the SS Ville du Havre. During the voyage, on November 21, the SS Ville du Havre was hit by an iron sailing vessel and sank within twelve minutes, killing 226 people. When the survivors landed in Europe, Mrs. Spafford sent a telegraph to her husband that began with the words, ”Saved alone.” After he received the telegraph, Horatio sailed to meet her in England at once. Horatio had asked the captain to tell him when they were near the spot where the SS Ville du Havre sank. When they were over the area where his daughters drowned, Horatio said these words: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say: It is well, it is well with my soul.” These are the words of his famous hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” Horatio wrote the hymn while on board the ship. In the midst of his pain, Horatio trusted Jesus to hold his four daughters in His loving arms. And Jesus was holding Horatio too. • Sarah Jordan • Because sin has entered the world, terrible things like death, suffering, and brokenness exist everywhere. This is why Jesus came. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus covered the payment for our sin and defeated Satan, sin, and death. One day, He will return to get rid of all suffering forever. In the meantime, if you have put your trust in Jesus, He lives in you through the Holy Spirit, weeping with you and comforting you in hard times. How might these truths affect the way we walk through suffering? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.13|Rom.8.18-Rom.8.39

I can’t. But God can. I am weak. But God is strong. I am afraid. But He can make me brave. I can’t do it alone. But I don’t have to be alone. In my darkness, God is my light. In my pain, He gives healing. I love the verse in Isaiah that says if we hope in the Lord, we will soar on wings like eagles. We will not grow weary or be faint. God will give us strength. Sometimes, we need to be weak so that we can see God’s strength. Sometimes, we need to fall down so that we can remember how good it feels to be lifted and held by Him. I can’t do all the things I want to do. In many ways, I don’t have the ability to change my circumstances or make my life turn out how I want. I don’t have the strength to do big things. Not on my own. I can’t do a lot of things. But God can. When I feel weak, He invites me to turn to Him. When I feel alone, His Holy Spirit reminds me that I am never alone. Jesus came to be Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and He died and rose again so that everyone who puts their trust in Him could become part of God’s family—including me. My God is always with me, looking out for me, giving me healing, and being the light in my darkest moments. I can’t, but God can do all things. • Bethany Acker • Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the things you can’t do? How can times of weakness help us grow closer to God? (Take a look at 2 Corinthians 12:9.) • Sometimes, life feels like it’s just too much. Yet, through Jesus, God gives us comfort and the strength to do what He calls us to do. One of the ways God helps us is through Christian community. Who are trusted Christians in your life who you can be honest with when you are struggling? But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.1.5|Isa.40.26-Isa.40.31

When God created the world, He saw that it was good (Genesis 1:31). But when the first humans went their own way against God, sin and brokenness messed up that goodness. While we are still made in God’s image, and we like to try to create good things too, we will never reach perfection in our broken world. We make mistakes. We mess up. For example, I love to write, and a big part of that process is rewriting. I could rewrite a thousand times and never be completely content with my work. It’s easy to get frustrated with myself. Why can’t I get it right? Why can’t it be perfect? But when Jesus came, He taught us a new way—not one of perfectionism, but of gentleness. He came to His people, as the prophet Zechariah foretold, gentle and riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus taught His followers to come to Him for rest, because He is “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:28-30). As children of God, we are called to clothe ourselves with gentleness—to let our gentleness be obvious to those around us. We can’t do this in our own strength, but the Holy Spirit helps us (Galatians 5:22-23). Often, learning to be gentle with others starts with learning to be gentle with ourselves. Have you ever tried—and failed—to do something perfectly? Have you ever gotten frustrated with yourself? Have you ever struggled to forgive yourself after making a mistake? You’re not alone. I’ve been there. It’s easy to hold grudges against ourselves. But Jesus promises redemption. He has shown us the ultimate gentleness and forgiveness. We can be gentle with ourselves because He is gentle with us. We can forgive ourselves because He has forgiven us. He took our sin upon Himself when He was nailed to the cross, and He defeated sin and death when He rose from the dead. One day, our gentle Savior promises to bring forth a new heaven and a new earth. There will be no more sin, no more brokenness. But for now, let’s make the most of our broken world. Instead of striving for perfection, we can rest in Jesus’s forgiveness and live in the way of gentleness and grace. After all, that’s how we will show people glimpses of Jesus Christ. • Becca Wierwille • Do you sometimes feel like you need to be perfect or do something exactly right? • How might knowing that God is gentle with us help us to be gentle with ourselves and others? Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.21.1-Matt.21.11|Col.3.12-Col.3.15|Phil.4.5

This morning as I was reaching for my Bible, I was soul-weary from a week of grief and tears. I needed to be saturated in the truth. Then, a picture popped into my mind so instantly and clearly, I felt sure it was from God. The picture was of an IV line threading from my Bible into my arm. Doctors use an IV line (or intravenous line) to give a patient fluids or medicine. The small tube feeds straight into a vein. When our bodies are sick or dehydrated, an IV can give us the help we need. Similarly, when our souls are weary and the world feels like it’s crumbling around us, we can cling to the encouragement that comes from God’s life-giving words. When Jesus—the very Son of God—came to live among us, He embodied the truth of the Word. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness, He was weary. When the devil came to tempt Him, Jesus used Scripture to combat every attack (Matthew 4:1-11). Later, in Matthew 24, Jesus said that although heaven and earth will pass away, His words never will (verse 35). Jesus explained that the Temple, the place where God’s presence dwelled among His people, would be destroyed, but His words would endure. God has come to dwell with His people, no longer through a building but through flesh—Jesus Christ. He went to the cross and rose from the dead so we could be with God forever. And Jesus will return to reign over the new heavens and new earth—and God will dwell with us in a whole new way. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have unfading hope. We can rest in the knowledge that the enduring Word of God will not return void but will accomplish everything God intends (Isaiah 55:11). By reading the living and active Word of God, we have access to the truth our souls so desperately need. We can ask God for His mercy to help us in times of wondering and weakness. He will equip us with everything we need for life. Watch God’s transformative power as His truth flows through your veins. • Savannah Coleman • Do you have a favorite Bible verse, passage, or story? Why is it meaningful to you? • Have you ever felt refreshed while reading the Bible? Have you ever felt frustrated? Most people experience both—even people who have been Christians for a long time! Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to about the Bible? Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Tim.3.14-2Tim.3.17|Heb.4.12-Heb.4.16|Rom.15.4

Two of your closest friends are whispering to each other, glancing at you every now and then, giggling. What thoughts enter your head? Does your mind spin something negative without knowing the truth of the situation? Spoiler alert: Your friends were actually planning a surprise birthday party for you! Over a few days, you send multiple texts to a family member and even try to call them, but they never get back to you. Where does your mind go? Do you spend the days anxiously wondering if something you did or said upset them, only to discover their phone was acting up? Our minds play games—and not always the fun kind. How can we rein in those thoughts that whiz through our brains faster than the speed of light? If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are a child of God, and you have the Holy Spirit’s power in you to help you take your thoughts captive before they start making destructive pathways in your brain. It won’t be easy since our minds tend to drift toward the worst-case scenario, but with God’s help we can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In Colossians 3, Paul says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (verse 2). As followers of Jesus, we can practice thinking differently than we did before Jesus was the Lord of our lives. Jesus died for all our sins and rose again victorious; we have been raised with Him by believing in His sacrifice. Therefore, Christ is our life (verse 3), and we can practice dwelling on thought patterns consistent with our new self (verse 10). When our minds play games, Philippians 4 reminds us that we have God’s peace to guard not only our hearts but also our minds in Christ Jesus (verse 7). When thoughts enter, we have a choice to let them spread chaos or to evaluate them before they marinate in our minds. Verse 8 is the ultimate mind monitor: Is this thought true? Is this thought pure? Is this thought lovely? Is it admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy? When troubling thoughts threaten to take control of our minds, we can turn to Jesus and behold Him—He is always true, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of our praise. And His love for us is sure. • Savannah Coleman • When our minds play games, how could it help to remember what Jesus has done for us? Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Phil.4.4-Phil.4.8|Col.3.1-Col.3.17|Phil.4.8

I’m twenty-eight years old, and I wish I had realized sooner that God is my truest friend. As a teen, I was told that everyone could make friends easily. But in school, I felt as if I was the only one who couldn’t. I desperately wanted to, but I had a hard time finding true friends. I would make friends only to have them walk out of my life, sometimes permanently. This took an emotional toll on me. When really nice people would come into my life, I actually expected to be treated poorly. I expected them to leave me just like everyone else did. I went through so much heartache, I would sometimes forget that Jesus was— and is—my truest friend. He is someone I can always talk to and always rely on, no matter who walks in and out of my life. Jesus is the One who will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus never abandoned me to figure out life on my own, and He never will. He wants me to remember that He is always with me, even when my friends walk out of my life. No matter how people see me, He sees me as His beloved child. I’m thankful I can call Jesus my best friend. • Alexis Wohler • Have you ever had trouble making friends? Community is important to God, and He hurts with you when you are lonely. Consider taking a moment to pray and ask Him to bring people around you in His good timing. • When you feel left out or like you don’t have enough friends, how might Jesus be inviting you to come to Him and receive His comfort? (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.34.18|Ps.55.22|John.15.15|Prov.18.24

Do you often think about what is to come&#8230;tomorrow, next week, or next year? None of us know what is to come. It’s up to God to know. He holds the future, and He will be with us when we get there. We can trust Him because He’s good, and “His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). As we rely on God and follow Jesus, we don’t have to worry about the future. Instead, we can be free to focus on the present. If we take a look at our lives, we might start to notice some of the ways God is blessing us right now. Let’s not forget to enjoy these good moments because we are too focused on the future. Let’s not miss out on the good things happening right now because we are consumed with thoughts about what could happen later. For example, the people who are in our lives now might not be with us tomorrow. Perhaps God has put them here now for a reason. We can ask God to help us see what opportunities He is giving us, and we can rely on His strength to focus on being present where He has placed us. Every blessing comes from God, and we can praise Him for giving us so many good things (Ephesians 1:3; James 1:17). We can also thank Him for the promise that He will be with us in the future (Hebrews 13:5). Since Jesus died and rose from the dead for us, nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). And because of that, we have nothing to worry about. • Bethany Acker • God is powerful, and He loves us. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He will be with us no matter what. How might these truths give you comfort as you look toward the future? • What about the future is exciting to you? What are you concerned about? You can bring all these things to Jesus in prayer. He loves to listen to you, and He will guide you as you seek Him. • Do you ever have a hard time focusing on the present? When worries about the future feel overwhelming, who could you talk to—such as a parent, counselor, pastor, or friend? This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Ps.118.24

I sometimes struggle with the fact that God offers the same kind of grace and love to someone who has hurt me as He does to me. I mean&#8230;that person doesn’t deserve all that, do they? Maybe you are the kind of person who goes out of your way to do nice things for others. And then you have someone in your life who only thinks about their own needs. Does it bother you when you realize that God loves them just as much as He loves you, and He wants to accept them into His family too? We are all equal. We might feel like we’re better than some of those around us. We might feel worse. But we all have the same value in God’s eyes. The death of Jesus on the cross was not just for me or you or certain people who are “good” or “worthy” of being saved. There was a criminal dying on the cross next to Jesus’s, and he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The truth is, we are all sinful. We could never do enough good things to earn God’s grace. That’s not how grace works. God loves us with a never-ending love, a love that isn’t affected by what we do right or what we do wrong. And when we realize this is how God loves and accepts us, it becomes easier for us to accept others&#8230;and to admit our own faults. We are not better than others. We struggle too. We need God’s grace. Without Jesus giving His life for sinners, we would not have the hope of eternity. We are just like those who hurt us, those who look out only for themselves. All of us are unworthy. But Jesus is the Worthy One (Revelation 5:1-12). He went to the cross and rose from the dead so that EVERYONE who puts their trust in Him can be counted worthy in God’s sight. • Emily Acker • Do you ever struggle with thinking that you’re better than others? Jesus invites us to bring these thoughts to Him. He won’t condemn us; He will help us turn away from sin and live in His love. • Do you sometimes feel like you’re not worthy of God’s love and forgiveness? You can bring these thoughts to Jesus too. According to today’s Bible passages, what does Jesus say about you? For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Titus 2:11 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.3.23-Rom.3.24|Eph.2.1-Eph.2.9|Titus.2.11

God can do all things. There are countless passages in the Bible about amazing things God has done. The Exodus is a good example. God rescued the Israelites, along with many other people, from the ruthless rulers who had enslaved them in Egypt. God sent plagues until Pharaoh let the people go, and then God went ahead of His people in a pillar of fire and cloud to guide and protect them. When Pharaoh’s army came after them, God made a path through the Red Sea by piling up the water so His people could walk through&#8230;on dry ground! It’s just crazy to think about. Think about the sea; have you ever made piles of water while at the beach? Of course not! Only God can. God can do all things. In Joshua 6, the Israelites faced off with Jericho. The people of Jericho were already scared of the Israelites. They were really scared of God, because they had heard about how God parted the Red Sea for His people. Neither the Israelites nor anybody are anything without God. He told Joshua to lead the Israelite army around the city of Jericho once each day for six days. On the seventh day, God told Joshua to march around seven times. Joshua and the people listened, and the walls fell! God can do all things. In John 11, when Jesus arrived at His friends’ home, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Both Mary and Martha told Jesus that their brother Lazarus would have gotten better from his sickness if Jesus had been there. Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise again” (verse 23). Martha thought Jesus meant Lazarus would rise on Resurrection Day—which is the day of Jesus’s second coming when everyone will rise from the dead and those who believe in Jesus will live with Him forever. Later in the passage, Jesus was with Martha at Lazarus’s grave. Jesus told her to roll the stone away. She had no idea what Jesus was doing, but she obeyed. Then Jesus prayed out loud to God, and Lazarus walked out of the grave when Jesus commanded! God can do all things. • Josh Wager • Do you have a favorite story about something amazing God has done, either from the Bible or from your own life? • If you want to dig deeper, read Exodus 1:8-22, 12:37-38, 13:17–14:31, 15:8; and Joshua 2:1-24, 6:1-20. Jesus looked at them and said, “&#8230;with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.14.21-Exod.14.22|Josh.6.2-Josh.6.5|Josh.6.20|John.11.1-John.11.44|Matt.19.26

College preparation is daunting. You outline the roadmap to your future—a blueprint setting a foundation for your life. Thus, you strive to place every step perfectly in order, as though you were scaling a mountain and had to plan each foothold to reach the summit. In high school, I applied to a wide range of colleges, considering numerous paths, though I’d always planned to study English. By the midpoint of senior year, I believed I’d found the college for me, which offered two English tracks. Meanwhile, I had been exploring other colleges. And then, at one local university, I was amazed by the sense of connection and community I felt. A traditional English major program, however, was not offered. I was torn; I had to choose my original blueprint, didn’t I? Ultimately, I made the choice that was best for me, enrolling in the university with a great community but no English program. Initially, I was overwhelmed by designing a new course of study personalized to my dreams. But, as I let go of knowing all the details— leaving my worries in God’s care and trusting that He works all things for His good purposes—everything naturally fell into place, and new opportunities arose that I had not foreseen. It wasn’t a traditional English program like I’d imagined, but it exceeded my plans. I learned so much about myself, discovering new subjects I was passionate about. I cultivated a meaningful educational pathway through listening to God as I took steps into the future, resting in His immense love for me. I don’t have to worry about ordering every specific step of the future. I can rest knowing Jesus is with me now. He has already triumphed over death, rising from the grave. With faith in His goodness, I can let go of the fears weighing me down and savor the amazing journey of walking with Him. • Kathryn Sadakierski • As Christians, we walk with Jesus through our lives, which means we can talk with Him as we make big decisions, and we have the freedom to adjust course as we notice what opportunities God is giving us and as we learn more about the ways He has made us. Think of a time when God surprised you with a new opportunity. How did this help change you for the better? At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ&#8230; Colossians 4:3 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.28|Col.4.3|Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6

I might feel weak, not ready to face the bullies I see around me. I might feel weak, not prepared for a health battle in front of me. I might feel weak, unable to stand up for myself. I might feel weak&#8230;but I serve a God who is strong. You will have days when life gets to you and you feel weak. You will have days when you are tired. But even on those days, God is strong, and He is prepared to be there for you. Again and again, the Bible talks about God giving us strength (Psalm 18:30-36; Ephesians 3:14-21). When we are worn out and we don’t feel ready for the things that are coming up in our lives, we can ask Him to make us strong. The Bible talks about God being there for us. Sometimes, all it takes to feel stronger and ready for anything is knowing that someone is with us and we don’t have to deal with things on our own. When I am weak, God has the chance to show me just how strong He is. When I am weak, I can grow closer to God and accept the help He offers. When I am weak, God can work through me. Being weak does not always have to be a negative thing. • Emily Acker • Can you think of a time you felt weak? Do you feel weak today? • Has God ever surprised you with the kind of help He gave you when you were weak? That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.31.9-Ps.31.10|Isa.40.28-Isa.40.31|Rom.8.26|2Cor.12.10

&#8220;This better be worth it,” I muttered through gritted teeth. The straps of my backpack bit into my shoulders, making each step feel heavier than the last. &#8220;Malik said it would be just around this bend. If he’s wrong, I’m gonna tell him to carry this stupid weight all this way.&#8221; I knew it didn’t actually work that way—nobody could carry somebody else’s weight—but the thought made a wry smile stretch across my face. If Malik was right, soon I’d finally be able to put this weight down. I’d been carrying it for a long, long time. I followed a bend in the trail, and a gasp escaped my mouth. I saw it. &#8220;This. This has to be the place.&#8221; Straight in front of me stood a glorious building made of precious gold, shimmering silver, and glittering gems. It seemed to shine in the afternoon light. I pushed open the heavy wooden door, and inside I found a man. While His simple clothing wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the building around Him, He still seemed radiant. Before Him sat a large basket. “Welcome, Dominic.” He smiled. “I’m so happy to see you.” He glanced at my backpack. “That looks heavy. Would you like to put it down?” He asked, waving a scarred hand at the basket. I remembered Malik’s words when he told me that He would take whatever I put in the basket. “Y-yes, I think I would.” “Here, let me help.” He gently lifted the bag from my back and opened it on the floor, exposing its contents. Inside, I saw my life. Rocks of various shapes and sizes, each one labeled—mistakes, regrets, and hurts mingled with my talents, achievements, and prized relationships. I knelt to the floor, and one by one, I placed each rock in His basket. I expected to feel lighter, and I did, but a heaviness remained in my heart. I just couldn’t shake it. Giving Him the contents of my backpack didn’t feel like enough. Confused and desperate, I began to panic. &#8220;Why do I still feel this way? What else do I have?&#8221; In my desperation I looked up at Him, and in His eyes I saw&#8230;love. And suddenly, the answer was clear. Before I quite knew what I was doing, I got to my feet. He seemed to read my mind and beamed as He held out a hand to help me balance. Then, I got into the basket. • Taylor Eising • What is weighing heavily on you today? Consider taking a moment to imagine all these things as heavy objects. What are these objects, and what do they represent? Do you feel like you can give these things to Jesus? Why or why not? • Because God cares about us, we can cast all our burdens on Him (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus, in His grace, gives us the faith to drop all our worries at His feet and rely on His love. How can the truth that Jesus cares about us—and every part of our lives—make it easier for us to entrust our troubles to Him? • What do you notice about Jesus in this story? Why do you think the author depicted Him this way? • Why do you think Dominic got into the basket? You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.55.22|Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30|1Pet.5.6-1Pet.5.7|Ps.51.16-Ps.51.17

How should we react when negative and unkind words are spoken to us or about us? Do we react in anger to defend ourselves or get involved in arguments in order to clear our reputations? Do we meditate on these hurtful words and hold grudges? Years back, I would respond to such words in a rude way, either to defend myself or to hurt the people who had spoken hurtful words to me. I would meditate on the negative words so much that I would end up with bitterness in my heart. Then, I came across Philippians 4:8. In this passage, God’s Word tells us to think and meditate on good things. I began to see that I was doing a wrong thing by meditating on wrong words. Instead of storing up the cruel words of others in our hearts, we can meditate on God’s Word. We can rest in the truth that He loves us immeasurably and rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). And when we are secure in the love God has for us—a love fully revealed in Jesus’s death and resurrection—that love overflows into how we respond to the unloving people around us. In our day-to-day encounters with people, we hear unkind and negative words. In these situations, we are tempted to fight back, to hate and hold grudges. But such a reaction will lead us to sin against God and each other. James 1:20 warns us that the sinful anger of humans does not work toward the righteousness of God. Instead of reacting in sinful anger, we can rest in the love Jesus has for us and for those around us, and we can let that love direct our speech. Through the Holy Spirit’s work in us, we can be “slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). Let’s follow the example of Jesus: when He was insulted by others, He did not insult them in return but instead trusted God, who is the just judge (1 Peter 2:21-23). • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • When we hear gossip or unkind words about ourselves, we often want to get revenge. How could remembering Jesus’s love for you (and those who hurt you) bring peace and healing? May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.19.14|Phil.4.8|Jas.1.19-Jas.1.20|1Pet.2.21-1Pet.2.23

Miriam was a prophet, a leader, and a singer. In Exodus 15, she led the women in a dance to the Lord on the day He saved them from slavery in Egypt by parting the Red Sea and defeating the army that pursued them. In this instance, she used her mouth for good, to sing praises to God. However, in another incident (Numbers 12), Miriam used her mouth wrongly. She and Aaron spoke against their brother, Moses, because of the Cushite woman he had married. The same mouth that had sung praise to God was now backbiting and judging Moses, the servant of God. The Bible says, “the Lord heard this” (verse 2), and He summoned Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the tent of meeting, where He came down in a pillar of cloud and spoke to Miriam and Aaron. The Lord corrected them and spoke what was true about Moses. Then they repented of their sin, and God was merciful to them. We sometimes find ourselves doing what Miriam did. In one situation, we use our mouth for good, and in another, we use it for evil. We use the same mouth to praise God and to slander, criticize, and belittle others. James 3:10 says, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” James 4:6-12 urges us to turn away from sin, including slandering and condemning others, and instead submit to God humbly. This command comes with a promise: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (verse 8). We are able to come to God because Jesus took all our sin upon Himself when He went to the cross. Jesus—who always used His mouth for good and not for evil—let people insult Him and slander Him and judge Him unjustly. Jesus is fully God, yet He showed the utmost humility (Philippians 2:5-11). He laid down His life. And then He rose from the dead—so everyone who puts their trust in Him can be forgiven of all their sins. As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus as our example. With the Holy Spirit’s power, let us endeavor to use our mouths as Jesus did, for good and not for evil. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Have you ever been hurt by someone’s words? Have you ever hurt someone else? How can Jesus bring healing and restoration to these wounds? Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.15.20-Exod.15.21|Num.12|Jas.3.10

Confess your sins All the wrong things you do He won’t condemn But He will make you new When you are weary Remember the words He’s spoken Come to Him He heals the broken God’s Word is powerful He’s never lied He loves the sinners To them, His grace applied Confess your sins Let Him heal you Come to Him Let Him make your life new • Bethany Acker • When we do wrong, we don’t have to try to hide our sin. God already knows, and He wants us to come to Him and receive His forgiveness—instead of hiding in shame and fear. This forgiveness is possible because Jesus died on the cross, taking the full weight of our sin upon Himself, and then rose from the dead, beating sin and death once and for all. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, all our sins have been forgiven—past, present, and future. Because our forgiveness is secure, we don’t need to be afraid to confess the full extent of our sins to God and ask Him to help us turn away from them. In fact, confessing our sins is one of the ways we draw near to God. Are there any sins weighing on you today? You can bring these to Jesus in prayer. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1John.1.5-1John.2.2

We are living in a world where unconditional love is hard to find. This is the kind of love that has no conditions, where one person will always love the other person, no matter what they do. Unfortunately, many relationships are based on conditional love, on what one person can get from the other, what favors they can offer each other or what happiness they can give each other. In school, I wanted to be friends with the students who commanded respect from others, those who had a voice that could be heard in our circles. My motive for getting in such relationships was that I wanted to gain their favor, not that I really loved them or valued those relationships. And so, my love was conditional because, if they were to lose their social positions, I would no longer value them as friends. Back then, I did not understand what true love is. But today, I want to love people—not because of what I can get from them but with genuine love—the kind of love God has shown us. Because God loved us, He gave His Son, Jesus (John 3:16). He did not love us for what He could get from us. Instead, God showed His love by giving Himself up for us (Ephesians 5:25). God’s love is unconditional. What does this look like? Jesus showed us. On the night before He went to the cross, He took the position of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet, knowing that they would soon desert Him. And then He commanded them to love each other as He had loved them (John 13:14-15; 15:12). Jesus showed us the full extent of God’s love when He died on the cross and took our sins upon Himself, and then rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that we are held securely in His love. And when we rest in God’s unconditional love for us, it becomes possible for us to love others. Philippians 2 says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (verse 5). This means not doing anything out of selfish ambition, not looking out only for our own interests but also for the interests of others (verses 3-4). Because God loves us, we can love one another (1 John 4:19). • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • How might knowing that God loves you unconditionally help you love others unselfishly? • If someone has hurt you deeply, you don’t need to be in relationship with them. Instead, love might look like setting up healthy boundaries. Who is a trusted adult you could talk to about this? For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.13.14-John.13.15|John.15.12|Phil.2.1-Phil.2.11|John.3.16

&#8220;Where is that pearl?&#8221; Mira worriedly wound a strand of her long, lavender locks around her finger. She swam up to a glistening sea anemone and peered around it carefully. Nothing! “Hey girl!” Mira whipped around to see the freckle-filled face of her best friend grinning back at her. “Lena! You scared my tail off!” Mira huffed, smoothing her turquoise scales. Lena laughed and said, “What are you looking for so intently? I don’t think you would have noticed a flotilla of swordfish!” Mira grabbed Lena’s arm. “You’ve got to help me—I’ve lost the Pearl of Protection!” “Wait—you’ve lost the very pearl that protects all of Merlantis from enemy invaders&#8230;and now it’s out there just waiting for the Ligores to find it?” Lena’s face grew pale. “Keep your voice down!” Mira shuddered. The Ligores were the fiercest kind of tiger sharks known to mer-kind. Their jaws had been known to slice a mer-tail in half, their manes barbed with stinging tentacles that would render the victim immobile for up to a day. “Sorry—I’ll help you search.” Lena swam quickly over to the coral reef, her fuchsia tail blending with the bright colors of the reef. Hours later, Mira and Lena hovered at the edge of Skelton, the ship graveyard of the deep. “If the Ligores stole the pearl, they would hide it here.” Mira tried to keep the fear from seeping through her whispered words. Lena nodded solemnly, and they swam forward together. Deep in the hull of the third ship they searched, Mira noticed a board sticking up from the floor at an odd angle. She motioned Lena over, and they tugged until the board came free, revealing a pouch that looked as though it had been crafted from Ligore skins. Grimacing, Mira pulled on the strings that she hoped were not entrails. Inside lay the glistening Pearl of Protection. “Once it was lost, but now it is found.” Lena breathed with a victorious smile. Mira enclosed the smooth pearl in her palm. “Oh Lena, I’m so thankful we found it! Let’s get this beauty back to Merlantis where it belongs&#8230;then we can celebrate!” • Savannah Coleman • In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables about something lost: a sheep, a coin, and a son. In the first two instances, the people who lost things searched until they found them. But in the parable of the lost son, the father was eagerly waiting to welcome his straying son home with open arms. God the Father rejoices when the lost are found (verses 6-7, 9-10, 22-24, 32)! How might this truth give you hope? • Just as Mira and Lena searched for the pearl until it was found, and the people in Jesus’s parables searched for what was lost, God never stops seeking those who are lost. He desires that all people come to Him (2 Peter 3:9). He is the God who provides a home for the lost, safety for those in danger, and rest for the weary. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from bondage and set us free by dying on the cross and rising from the dead (Ezekiel 34:27; Luke 4:17-21). If you haven’t put your trust in Jesus, are you ready to come to the One who provided a way for you to be found? (Romans 10:9-13) If you have questions about this, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to? (You can also find more information on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) • Jesus also told a parable about how the kingdom of heaven is like an extremely valuable pearl. He said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46). As God seeks us with deep love, He also longs for us to seek Him. Why is knowing God more precious than anything else? “For the Son of Man [Jesus] cam

Sometimes, even the best-laid plans don’t work out. There’s nothing wrong with planning, and, in fact, it’s healthy. However, what I have learned since I was a teen is that God is working His purposes through all things, even when my own plans fall apart. Trust me, I know personally the pain of a lost dream and plan. My fiancé was someone I really loved. We seemed perfect for each other in every way, but ultimately, when we were planning our future, we felt God pulling us in separate directions. It hurt&#8230;bad. There aren’t words to express the anguish of a broken heart. But do you know what? Because he and I mutually and maturely ended our relationship, I finally took notice of another man who’d always been there for me. This young man helped me through this hardship and many others. Years later, I married him, and we now have four beautiful children together. It’s good to plan some things, but even when our lives don’t go according to our plans, we can know that in Christ—no matter what we face—God loves us and is working all things out for His good purposes. • Jordyn Johnson • Reread today’s Scripture passage. What are some of the good plans God is working out for His children? How can these promises comfort us in the face of disappointment and heartbreak? • Who are trusted people—such as counselors, parents, pastors, or friends—you can talk with when you’re facing disappointment and heartbreak? • Do you know someone who has been disappointed by a failed plan recently? Consider taking a moment to pray for them. You might even ask God to help you bring them comfort today. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation. Psalm 33:11 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8|Ps.33.11

Living creatures thirst for water. Thirst is the kind of feeling that makes one unsettled until water is found to quench it. As humans, we also experience spiritual thirst—the kind of thirst God alone can satisfy.In Psalm 42, the psalmist compares his longing and thirst for God to that of a deer for water. When a deer has an overwhelming longing for water, it can’t settle till it finds it. In a similar way, the psalmist had such longing for fellowship with God that he could not find rest elsewhere. He realized the only true and living God was the God of his life (verse 8). His innermost self desired God more than anything in this world. And he desired to live a righteous life before God.Like this psalmist, we are living in a world full of sin, where we are surrounded by evil and evildoers. When we long for God, for His holiness and righteousness, we are longing for Him to make things right and whole, to bring justice and restore this broken world. In Mathew 5:6, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Jesus will satisfy them Himself because He is the source of living water (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39). He alone is the source of life and the Savior of the world.As we get to know Jesus, we long for more and more of God, to worship Him and be near Him. He is the giver of living waters, and He will quench our thirst and give us full satisfaction in our souls. Let us desire more and more of God. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni• Have you ever felt a longing for God? Maybe you felt a desire to be closer to Him. Maybe you ached for some part of creation to be brought under His good reign. The wonderful news is God longs for these things too! And He invites us to come to Him and ask. • God has provided the way for us to know Him through Jesus’s death and resurrection. According to John 7:37-39, how does Jesus give us living water? Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.42|Matt.5.6|1Pet.2.2

If I could just reach a little farther Stretching as much as I canI see that hand reaching toward me I feel myself falling awayDown I goSave me!Just like that, I am grabbedHe pulls me upI am rescuedI am warm and wrapped in peace One cry to HimOne catch when I was falling awayI am okay nowHe is with meHe holds me and whispers to meI have been saved • Emily Acker• No matter how hard we try, none of us can save ourselves (Ephesians 2:1-9). But God is so near, ready to save us as soon as we cry out to Him. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God made a way for us to be forgiven and live with Him forever. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are held securely in God’s love. Have you put your trust in Jesus? If not, what questions do you have? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to about these things? (You can also find more information on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) • God doesn’t just want to save us from sin and death; He also wants to help us whenever we are in trouble. What hard things are going on in your life right now? Are you ever hesitant to cry out to God for help?If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved&#8230;For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9, 13 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.94.18-Ps.94.19|Zeph.3.17|Acts.16.29-Acts.16.32|Rom.10.9|Rom.10.13

Most of us don’t enjoy waiting; it feels like a boring, passive exercise. Just the word &#8220;waiting&#8221; might stir up images of sitting in a doctor’s office with nothing to do. Or maybe it feels like the endless days before summer vacation, staring out the window or watching the clock. Waiting seems like a non-activity.As Christians, we wait for many things. We wait for God’s perfect timing and for His promises to be fulfilled. Most of all, we are waiting for the return of Jesus. But this waiting is not a passive, sitting-on-our-hands kind of waiting, whiling away the time until He appears. In Luke 12, Jesus told a parable about servants waiting for their master to return home. Like these servants, we are called to be “dressed for service” (verse 35), actively serving God as faithful and wise managers who God has left in charge of caring for His creation (verse 42).Christ’s return is a sure thing, and as we look forward to it with hope, there is much for us to do in His service until He comes. God calls us to share in His joy by being part of the good things He is doing. We can engage in good works (which usually look like helping others), in prayer, and in sharing the gospel—which is the good news about Jesus. And we don’t do these things in our own strength; rather, we rely on the Holy Spirit and work together with fellow Christians. We are called to see ourselves as servants until our Master returns so that He will find us actively working for Him.Notice the special promises that come with this active waiting: Jesus says, “The servants who are ready and waiting for his [the master’s] return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!” (verse 37). The God of the universe reverses the roles of master and servants. Jesus showed this on the night before He went to the cross, when He took the position of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet. Then He told them to serve one another in the same way and to love each other as He had loved them. When Jesus returns, He will reward His faithful followers who loved well. What an honor for His people! Jesus will put these faithful servants “in charge of all he owns” (verse 44). In the life to come, He will give greater responsibility to those who have served Him in this world. So let us wait actively as we rest in this sure hope: Christ is coming again! • Laura N. Sweet• How might remembering the way Jesus has lovingly served us help us to lovingly serve one another? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 13:1-17, 34-35 and Philippians 2:1-13.)“The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!” Luke 12:37a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.12.32-Luke.12.46

Sparrows are the most common birds in the world, and almost every type of sparrow is small and beige with brown streaks. It’s no surprise that many people, even experienced bird-watchers, have trouble telling them apart! That’s why bird-watchers don’t just look at outside appearances to tell species apart. Even though many birds look the same on the outside, different species of birds often act differently from each other. They may also sing different songs or live in different habitats.The look-alike birds remind me a bit of being a Christian, a follower of Jesus. Sometimes, we can look like Christians on the outside, but we might not act like Jesus at all. We might say that we follow Jesus, but the “song” we sing—our words and actions—might say differently.Jesus saw this in His day too. He criticized the Pharisees and the religious teachers who said they followed God and looked very religious on the outside, but inside they were full of greed and pride (Matthew 23:23-28). Though they taught people about following God, they didn’t follow their own teaching (Matthew 23:1-4)!The fact of the matter is, no matter how religious we act on the outside, the only way for us to be made clean from sin is through Jesus. He died and rose again to forgive us and make us right with God. The Bible says that when we become followers of Jesus, He makes us new and changes us (2 Corinthians 5:17). We should not conform to the way of the world or go back to our sin but be transformed to become more like Jesus.Jesus loves us deeply, and He calls us to follow Him through every aspect of our lives. He said all God’s commands can be summed up by these two: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). So don’t be afraid to be different from the world—stand out for Jesus and show His love in your thoughts, words, and actions. • Abby Ciona• Are you ever tempted to make yourself look religious? You can bring this to Jesus in prayer.• Jesus forgives sinners—including Pharisees like Nicodemus and Saul/Paul. If you’d like to dig deeper, read John 3:1-21, 7:45-52, 19:38-42; Acts 7:54–8:3, 9:1-30; and 1 Timothy 1:12-17.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.23.23-Matt.23.28|Eph.4.17-Eph.4.32|Rom.12.2|Matt.23.1-Matt.23.12

I’ve watched people in my life struggle. I’ve watched them deal with health issues. I’ve watched them leave jobs, not knowing what was next. I’ve had my own struggles. Life isn’t always easy, and sometimes it’s hard to understand why things are happening the way they are.God created the world good, but when the first humans sinned, the world became filled with death and sickness and conflict and pain. But God didn’t give up on us. He came to restore what we broke.Jesus—God in flesh—took our sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. Then, He rose back to life, beating sin and death once and for all. Because of what Jesus has done, we can look forward to the day He will return to restore creation— then there will be no more health issues, no more struggles, no more heartache (Revelation 21:4). In the meantime, God does not leave us to fend for ourselves. He sends His Holy Spirit to be in everyone who has put their trust in Jesus.We have a God who wants to be with us. We can try to make it through each day alone, or we can lean on God. We live on a planet where life is difficult, and we have to deal with things that are hard and weigh us down, but we can choose to rely on the One who is over everything and God of all.Why do we sometimes forget—or even ignore—the fact that God is always there to support us? We don’t have to make plans without looking to God first. We don’t have to try to figure out what to do all on our own. When we need to go to the hospital, we don’t have to go by ourselves. We don’t have to walk a single step alone. Through it all, we can talk to God.We can come to God at any time. He loves us, and He invites us to rely on Him for guidance and support. At the first sign of trouble, we can turn to God. • Emily Acker• Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Why do you think God wants to be with us? • Have you ever experienced God guiding or comforting you in some way? If so, consider taking a moment to thank Him. If not, you can come to God anytime and ask. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.118.5-Ps.118.14|Isa.26.4

Perfect timing!” I exclaim as my family walks in the door just as I finish baking cookies. Usually, “perfect timing” is what we say when things happen when we want them to, at our convenience, according to our planning and preferences. But what about when things don’t work out according to our timing or terms? When disappointments pile up, or we miss out on opportunities? What about when our prayers feel unanswered, or we feel stuck in life?When we look at the Bible, we see that God’s timing often looks very different from the timing we have in mind. Take Abraham and Sarah, for example. God promised them a son when they were more than ninety years old! After years of waiting, even in their old age, God gave them a son, Isaac, and his descendants became the people of Israel (Genesis 21:1-7).Then there’s Job. He faced immense suffering and lost wealth, health, and family, but he was patient and trusted God and once again experienced God’s overflowing blessing. Job’s story reveals that “the Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:10-11).Finally, when Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, Jesus waited two days before starting the journey to Lazarus’s home in Bethany. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Everyone thought Jesus was too late to save him. But Jesus went to the tomb and shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came back to life (John 11:43-44)!These stories remind us that God is always on time: never too early, never too late. Waiting isn’t easy for any of us, but God is with us in times of waiting, steadfastly loving us. And if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He helps us to become patient like He is patient (Galatians 5:22). Through the Holy Spirit, He teaches us, reminds us to surrender control, and helps us trust in Him. Through waiting, He helps us grow in faith and learn to live in the present, trusting God with our future because His plan is bigger than ours. We might think God is slow to fulfill His promises, but that isn’t the case; rather, God is patient with us, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9). He sees things from an eternal perspective, all part of His great story. • Abby Ciona• Do you ever question God’s timing?• In John 11:4-7, why did Jesus wait to go to Lazarus? Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Prov.3.5-Prov.3.6|Lam.3.25-Lam.3.26|1Pet.5.6

Do you have a constant contact list on your phone? Mine includes my family and some close friends. I’m constantly texting, calling, or emailing these people with my schedule updates, plans, and schoolwork questions. We are in touch all day with the minutiae of pick-up times, homework assignments, and random things like funny videos.My constant contact list is my inner circle. They know my whereabouts, my habits, and my humor&#8230;and I know theirs. My constant contact list brings me a sense of security. We don’t necessarily have long talks or big adventures every day, but the short, frequent texts and calls make me feel included and cared for.I pray in text message format too. I pray constantly,about everything,every day.When I’m worried, I let Jesus know.When I see something beautiful, I thank Jesus.When I’m hoping for something, I ask Jesus for it.These prayers are not formal or long or even out loud,but they are constant and help me connect with Christ.He and I know that the lines of communication are always open. Whenever I’m talking, He’s listening.And by conditioning my thoughts to prayer,It has gotten easier for me to hear His Word.My ongoing dialogue with Christ opens my heart to His guidance, And I know I am never alone. • Kelly Bakshi• If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you can be in constant contact with God, who loves you more than you know. Jesus has made this possible through dying on the cross and rising from the dead (Mark 15:37-39; Hebrews 4:14-16). What would you like to talk to God about? Maybe you have some anxieties or fears on your mind? Maybe something made you smile recently? Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.26-Rom.8.27|Rom.12.12|1Thess.5.16-1Thess.5.18

I’m afraid my cousin is dying,” I confessed with a catch in my voice. I clutched my Bible as I sat in an upstairs room in our church building with a small group of young adults. The class leader had called for prayer requests before he led into that day’s study. While holding back tears, I expressed worry and sorrow about my cousin’s worsening battle with cancer.Instead of concern, though, I was met with awkward silence. The handful of other people in the class wouldn’t meet my eye. Some fidgeted. Then, into the silence, the teacher announced, “Let’s open our books.” My heartache had been overlooked, and I got the message I should keep my sadness to myself instead of burdening others.But, in Christ, there is another way to walk alongside each other during trials. When we turn to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, we receive new life, a new relationship with God as our Father, and a new place in the family of God.In His Word, the Lord shows us how to interact with those in His family—our brothers and sisters in Christ. He invites us to bear each other’s burdens, including mourning with those who mourn—sharing the load of grief with fellow believers (Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2).Jesus Himself carried our burdens all the way to the cross. He subjected Himself to the pain and weakness of human life so that He could rescue us. He showed us love and compassion. Now, as His followers, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to follow God’s command to offer that same love and compassion to others (John 15:12). • Allison Wilson Lee• Has God’s Word or the presence of Jesus ever comforted you in times of grief or loss? • How can you extend Christ’s compassion to others just by listening when they open up to you? • Have you ever been hurt by a church community? You can share your experience with Jesus, the One who knows our suffering (Hebrews 4:14-16). As you share with Jesus, you can talk with Him about who might be a good person to process your experience with—such as a pastor, parent, counselor, or friend. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.12.9-Rom.12.15|Gal.6.2|Rom.12.15

Of all the interesting things Jesus did, one of the most intriguing was that He stayed on that cross.Growing up, I remember childhood adversaries who would taunt, “I bet you can’t&#8230;” Of course, the first thing any of us want to do when challenged this way is to prove we can. It can be so hard to ignore the taunts of others.Jesus knows what that feels like. As He suffered on the cross for our sins, His enemies taunted Him to get down from the cross. Jesus had just spent years showing God’s glory to the world, and thenHis friends deserted and betrayed Him. Now He had a chance to stop His suffering and really prove God’s power. We know Jesus could have freed Himself in an instant because He had said earlier, in Matthew 26:53, “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?”This is amazing. Jesus could have climbed down from the cross, but He chose not to. Why? In verse 54, Jesus went on to say, “But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”And those Scriptures needed to be fulfilled because our salvation depended on it. It was for us that Jesus ignored the taunts and took the pain. It was for the people taunting Him. Jesus loved us more than He loved His own life. And He fully proved His power by rising from the dead, defeating sin and death on our behalf, and guaranteeing that, when He returns, His people will rise from the dead and live with Him forever. Who but God? • Heather Tekavec• Have you ever loved somebody so much that you would suffer greatly to help them? Jesus loves you so much that He suffered the cross for you. How might this truth give you hope? • What significance do Jesus’s death and resurrection have for us? (Find out more on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.)Because of the joy awaiting him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.26.47-Matt.26.56|Matt.27.39-Matt.27.44|Rom.5.10|Heb.12.2

&#8220;Gone. Passed away,” Distorted, disturbing words. Swallowing back painStinging eyes, blurred. I think of you.Gone! Stumbling away, Heart pounding. I can’t talk Searching a quiet space, To silence my thoughts.I think of you.Gone. I didn’t know you Your dreams, your hopes But your loss rips through Deep within my soul.I think of you.Gone. A community mourns Praying,Broken, torn,Jesus binds our wounds,We remember you. • Cindy Lee • Have you suffered a loss in your family, school, or community? Even if you didn’t know the person well, like the narrator of this poem, shock and grief can leave you feeling overwhelmed or even numb. This is normal, and it’s okay to need time to process. • Jesus understands our pain. He wept when Lazarus died, even though He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead that same day (John 11:35, 43-44). How might it give you comfort to know that Jesus grieves with us?• As God who became human, Jesus knows the brokenness of the world we live in, and He came to make things right. Jesus has defeated death by dying and rising from the grave, and when He returns, death will be no more (Revelation 21:4). On that day, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will be raised with Him. Yet, even as we cling to this sure hope, we can also be honest about the pain we’re experiencing now. Jesus invites us to come to Him with all our sorrows, questions, frustrations, and fears. In our grief, we may not feel His presence, but Jesus is always close to us. How have you experienced brokenness lately? Consider taking a moment to tell Jesus about what you’re feeling. • One of the ways God comforts us in our troubles is through community (2 Corinthians 1:2-9). In times of grief, who is a trusted adult you could talk to—such as a counselor, parent, or pastor? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eccl.3.1-Eccl.3.8|1Cor.15.26|Ps.147.3

My mom taught first grade at a local elementary school. One year, the group of students in her class included a girl named Rosa. But Rosa struggled to pronounce the letter R. When she introduced herself, the other kids thought she’d announced her name was “Wosa.” Throughout the early months of that school session, the other first graders referred to this little girl as Wosa. I don’t think they intended to tease or embarrass her; they were simply confused.Eventually, Rosa’s patience wore thin. She’d tolerated the mispronunciation of her name for far too long. So, during class one day, she passionately declared, “My name’s not Wosa—it’s Wosa!”Our names belong to us in a special way; they’re closely connected to our identities. When our names are misused or misspoken, it feels personal, maybe even insulting. And when others use our names intentionally to connect with us, we take notice.The Bible tells us that God calls His people by name—and He even calls them His own. The Lord’s voice beckons us into relationship with Him. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, summons His sheep by name to follow Him. When we turn to Jesus as our Savior—the One who died in our place and rose from the dead so we can have forgiveness—we begin a relationship with Him. We can recognize the voice of our Savior and follow where He leads. The Lord calls us to be joined with Christ and become His own—and He never mispronounces our names. • Allison Wilson Lee• Can you think of a time someone misspoke or misused your name? Jesus knows you by name, and He speaks your name with love. How could this truth encourage you? • If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have been enfolded into the people of God, grafted into the family tree of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—who God named Israel (Galatians 3:27-29). Take a look at Isaiah 43:1 (below) and try replacing Jacob and Israel with your own name. Then read it aloud slowly. What do you notice? Now this is what the Lord says—the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel—“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.10.1-John.10.30|Isa.43.1

Did you know that you are gifted? When you become a follower of Christ, He gives you at least one spiritual gift to edify the body of believers. In Romans 12, Paul wrote to the church in Rome and reminded them of God’s love for them and of the different gifts they were given. These gifts were to be used in humble service toward their fellow Christians.The end result of using our gifts is building one another up. Romans 12:6-8 lists some of the gifts we can have, including serving, encouraging, and leading.Is there an area you know you are particularly gifted in? Perhaps God has given you a heart for getting down in the trenches and serving those in your community who may otherwise be overlooked. Maybe you thrive on being that voice of encouragement to others around you who are suffering, who might even be going through some trials that are similar to ones you’ve walked through in your own life. Do you display leadership qualities that could be used to rally others around a worthy cause?The Holy Spirit has graciously given us various gifts to use for God’s glory and for the encouragement of His people (1 Corinthians 12:4, 11). If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit is in you, and you are a part of His body of believers. Like a body has many different parts, we are all different and we all need each other.If you feel like you don’t have a clue what your spiritual gift(s) may be, you can spend some time in prayer, asking God to reveal ways you can serve His people. You can also talk to some family members or friends you trust and ask them what kinds of qualities they see in you and how they think you are gifted.In many cases, our talents or the things our hearts bend toward can play a role in our spiritual gifts as well. For example, if you love praising God through song or instrument, ask God how you can use your musicality in the place He has you. If you don’t have a specific talent in mind, you can try out different areas of service in your church or community and see what fits your soul. • Savannah Coleman• What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? • What questions to you have about spiritual gifts? • How might God be giving you opportunities to serve His body, the church?A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.12.3-Rom.12.8|1Cor.12|1Pet.4.10-1Pet.4.11

CRASH! You failed. Again. You are sad and mad at the same time, not to mention humiliated. We have all experienced failure: making a low grade on an assignment, forgetting to complete a promised task, giving in to temptation to sin, etc. Usually, we can handle the minor failures. Though embarrassed, we carry on. But what about when we have a sinful failure? The painful knowledge of our actions seems to be more than we can bear. Our humiliation is crushing. Conviction of our sin against God is stabbing. What can we do in times of failure? Let’s look at a few people in the Bible who failed.Jonah disobeyed God’s instructions to go to Nineveh. So God sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah. What did Jonah do when he found himself trapped in the slimy belly of a fish? He repented, gave thanks to God, and went straight to Nineveh as soon as he was expelled from the fish. (Then Jonah sinned again, and God called him to repent again, but that’s another story.)David sinned deliberately and grievously. What did David do when the prophet Nathan delivered a convicting parable and exposed David’s sin? David repented, gave praise to God, and rose from his sorrow to tell others of God’s mercy.Peter denied that he knew Jesus. What did Peter do when the eyes of Jesus zeroed in on him at the crowing of the rooster? Peter wept tears of repentance. After Jesus died and rose from the dead, He reinstated Peter. And then Peter boldly spoke of his love for his Savior.Even when these people failed completely, God did not give up on them. And because of His love, they didn’t give up—they got up! God raised them up from the despair and humiliation of failure. Because Jesus took all our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross and rose again, we can be forgiven. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we do not have to wallow in sadness or anger at ourselves. We can look to God, receive His forgiveness, and return to the path of righteousness.Don’t give up! Repent, rise, and joyfully return to serving God and others! • Rebecca Moore• When we realize we have sinned, Jesus invites us to repent—which means turning toward God and away from our sin (anything we do or think that goes against God). He is eager to forgive us and reassure us of His love. Is there any sin you would like to repent from now?• If you want to dig deeper, read Jonah 1:1–3:3; 2 Samuel 11–12; Luke 22:31–34, 54-62; John 21:15-19; Acts 2:14-41.I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5b (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.40.2-Ps.40.3|Prov.24.16

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah and relocated some of the Jewish people to Babylon. God gave special wisdom to three of these young men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They impressed the king, and he placed them in positions of authority. All was well until the king built a golden statue. Everyone was ordered to fall flat and worship the statue when certain music was played. Failure to comply would result in death inside a furnace.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew if they worshipped the statue, they would violate the commandments of the one true God. So, when the music played, everyone fell down and worshipped the statue. Everyone except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who remained standing. The king found out and gave them another chance. He said, “If you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (Daniel 3:15). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respectfully told the king they would never serve his gods or worship his statue. The king became furious. He had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tied up and thrown into the fiery furnace.As they were thrown into the fire, they didn’t say a word. They didn’t curse the king. They didn’t say, “God’s going to get you, King, and the ones who snitched on us too!” They could have. The Bible says they were tied but not gagged. But they didn’t fight back. Instead, they said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).So, what did happen inside the furnace? Daniel 3 tells us King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up and said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (verse 25). Some biblical scholars think the fourth man was Jesus; others think it might have been an angel. Whoever it was, this fourth man certainly points to God’s activity and presence. And when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fiery furnace, they were completely unharmed and didn’t even smell of smoke. • Kathy Irey• In Daniel 3, how did God show His power and love to His people and to those watching? “&#8230;the God we serve is able to deliver us&#8230;” Daniel 3:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Dan.1.17-Dan.1.20|Dan.3|1Pet.3.15|Exod.20.3-Exod.20.5

How do you feel about libraries? They’re one of my favorite places! As the library doors swoosh open, I love breathing in the familiar scent of book pages and seeing the colorful spines lined along the shelves. I don’t even have a favorite section; I love them all—from history to literature to comparative religion to fiction. Libraries are the best.But libraries got even more exciting for me when I found out that Jesus—my Savior—has a librarian of sorts. The Bible tells the true story of Jesus, who is God, and how He died and rose again to beat sin and death. But the Bible isn’t just one book: it’s a whole library. It’s made up of many different types of books written by lots of different people, and the Holy Spirit oversaw the writing of all the Scriptures. The Bible includes history, law, poetry, prophecy, songs, letters, and more.But how did people know what books to put in the Bible? Enter Jesus’s Librarian.The Holy Spirit guided the people who wrote the Bible in a very special way called “inspiration,” which literally means the breath of God’s Holy Spirit guiding people. Then, He guided people in helping choose which books belonged in the Bible, His library. The people who chose the books in the Bible knew about the story of Jesus and listened to the Holy Spirit to figure out which books proclaimed that story well.That’s how we can know the Bible is true. God wrote it, using human people who trusted in and listened to Him. And we can see evidence of that truth in the unity of the Bible. Even though there are lots of different books, genres, and writers, it all tells the same story: Jesus died and rose again to beat sin and death!I love that God is so creative that He used a library to tell us the great story of His kingdom. And I love that this story has a happy ending, with Jesus coming back to make all things new—free from sin, death, and suffering (Revelation 21:1-5). • Kandi Zeller• What’s your favorite book of the Bible? Why? • What questions do you have about the Bible? • Who are trusted people you could talk to about these questions—such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, or counselors? “He [Jesus] is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Acts 10:43 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Acts.10.43|John.20.31|2Tim.3.16-2Tim.3.17

I recently planted sunflowers and realized the nature of the great outdoors reflects God’s nature. Consider the seasons: there’s an objective order to them—it’s always hottest in the summer, and birds migrate to warmer places in the fall. There’s a rightand wrong time for things to happen. Yet there’s also a flexibility. For example, there aren’t set days for sunflowers to bloom. Although it would be wrong for them to bloom in winter (because they would freeze), they could pop their heads up any day of mid-summer or fall.This is a lot like God’s commands. While His standards of righteousness are just and objective, there is more than one way to follow God faithfully. For example, God commands His people to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12). Objectively, you shouldn’t kill your parents or be otherwise hateful. But, graciously, God doesn’t say you have to serve them breakfast in bed every day to fulfill His command to honor parents. You might help fix their car instead—there’s no one set way to show honor.But even so, we all break God’s objective standards. We all sin. Yet, He has made it possible for us to receive a clean slate. God extends mercy to us through Jesus. Because Jesus paid for our sin by dying on the cross and rising from the dead, everyone who puts their trust in Him can be forgiven. Our sin separated us from God, but because of what Jesus has done, we can be with God again—our loving Creator who is both just and gracious.There are other touches of God’s nature on earth. The relationship between husband and wife is meant to show how Jesus and the church love each other (Ephesians 5:21-33). The relationship between parents and children is meant to show God’s protection and nurturing (Matthew 7:9-11). Our thirst for water reminds us of our desperate need for God (Psalm 63:1).This whole world is meant to reflect and glorify God and remind us of His love. Sadly, it is broken with sin, and so the pictures it’s supposed to paint are often distorted. Some spouses divorce. Some parents are abusive. Some water gets polluted. But this does not mean that God is not good or His love for us is not sure; rather, these things all point to the tragedy of sin. As Christians, we know Jesus will one day return and make all things well, and we will see His glory in a whole new way. • Lizzie Joy• How can looking at God’s creation help us learn more about Him? The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Job.12.7-Job.12.10|Rom.1.20|Ps.19.1

Levi was not a popular guy; in fact, most people didn’t like Levi at all. In Jewish society during Jesus’s time, tax collectors were despised as the lowest of the low. They worked for the enemy—Rome. They cheated their own people, and they got rich doing it. That was the kind of man Levi was—but he wasn’t that different from us. Like us, he was a sinner who needed Jesus.But God was working in his heart. When Jesus extended a simple invitation to Levi, “Follow me,” Levi did just that, leaving his tax collecting booth, his job, and his sinful past behind him. This complete obedience was evidence of his faith in Jesus. Levi became a follower of Jesus and, eventually, one of the twelve disciples. We know him as Matthew (Matthew 9:9)!Levi knew others who needed Jesus, and he invited them to his house to have dinner with the Savior. These people were just like Levi—tax collectors and sinners. Levi wanted them to meet Jesus; maybe they would be saved from their sins too. But the Pharisees (Jewish religious teachers) who witnessed Jesus eating with this crowd were shocked. &#8220;Why would Jesus hang out with such sinners?&#8221; Jesus answered them by saying, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I havecome to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (verse 17).Of course Jesus wanted to be with people like Levi and his friends. He loved them, even though their lives were empty and wasted because they followed sin, and not God. They needed their hearts healed from sin—they needed “Dr. Jesus” to save them and make them right in God’s eyes. These were the ones who needed Jesus.And so do sinners like you and me. • Laura N. Sweet• Levi’s abandonment of his job and his past showed his complete change of heart and his faith in Jesus. How did inviting his friends to meet Jesus also show that change?• Did the Pharisees see themselves as “healthy” or “sick”? What didn’t they understand about their own sin? • According to Romans 3:22-28, why do we all need Jesus? Jesus&#8230;told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Luke.5.27-Luke.5.32|Mark.2.13-Mark.2.17

During the summer after finishing high school, I had the opportunity to fulfill a dream: leading my all-state marching band as drum major. Along with other musicians and dancers in this group, I flew for many hours across many states to Honolulu, Hawaii. Once there, we performed in multiple venues and enjoyed free time in a beautiful destination.What would you guess were the most memorable experiences of that trip? Tropical beaches, beautiful food, the parade we marched in with spectators cheering for us? Surprisingly, no. My most special memories of that time centered around the laundry room in the dorm where we stayed.At the end of each day, finished with rehearsals and touring, we headed to our dorm. After dinner, we gravitated to the laundry room. It provided space for all of us to hang out where we had permission to be together. We talked and laughed and ate lots of candy bars. I have photos of gorgeous sunsets. But the pictures that bring a smile to my face are the ones of my buddies sitting atop washing machines and clothes dryers making goofy faces for the camera.What about the laundry room made it significant? It gave us a place for community, a place to be together and build friendships. God is a relational God, and He created us for relationships. First and foremost, He yearns for us to be in relationship with Him. Even though humanity has rejected God, He came and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. When we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, we begin a relationship with the God who loves us.And God also made us for connection with others. We’re not meant to do life alone. We’re stronger when we have others to walk with us through life. As I interacted with new friends who also loved Jesus, I felt boosted in my own faith. As you invest in relationships, you can be there to encourage your friends when they stumble—and you can receive their help when you need to be strengthened too. • Allison Wilson Lee• Why do you think God calls us to invest in friendships? Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Heb.10.24-Heb.10.25|Prov.27.9|Prov.17.17|Eccl.4.9-Eccl.4.12

When I wake up in the morning Let each breath be love When I go out and aboutLet my actions spread your love When I come home againLet me love those around me When life gets hardLet your love surround me When others hurt meLet me respond with love When I am scaredLet your love comfort meWhen I lie down at nightLet me know that I am held in love • Emily Acker• Love is a defining mark of Christianity. When Jesus came, He revealed God’s wonderful love for the world (John 3:16). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are held securely in His love. And because we are His followers, our lives should be centered around loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:37-40). Why do you think love is so important to God? • Have you ever made an attempt to live in a more loving way? While this is a great thing to do, it’s important to remember that we can’t do it in our own strength and wisdom. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” And so He calls us to remain in His love (John 15:4-5, 9). How might resting in Jesus’s love for us help us act lovingly toward others? And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Col.3.14|Prov.3.3|John.15.1-John.15.17|Rom.8.37-Rom.8.39|1John.4.19

Before, I used to think I was weak. I was not proud of myself. I looked down on myself because of my imperfections. I did not consider myself beautiful, talented, significant, or important. I had a broken family. I was lacking. I envied people. I thought I was not loveable or likable.How do you see yourself? Do you see how wonderful you are? Because that is how God, the perfect and almighty God, made you. In fact, He made you in His very own image. Because of this, you are infinitely valuable. It’s true! You have a beautiful place and a unique position in this world. You are pleasantly unique. You are dear to God, and you are loveable.If you have been drowning in doubts about your worth, these are lies from the devil. Do not believe him! Do not fall for his deception. You can know with certainty that you are precious because Jesus came to save you. He died and rose from the dead to rescue you from sin and death. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are perpetually blessed, and you are a gift to many. Believe the Spirit of God when He says you are a beautiful person.Yes, there are ways we all fail, but you are still loved beyond measure. Believe the truth that you were made in God’s image and likeness. You are a child of God. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can learn from, obey, and enjoy spending the day with God—your Father—and you can show His love to others. Embrace the truth that you are accepted and forgiven by God, and therefore you can forgive others. Through Jesus, you can be strong, compassionate, and able to help others. The truth is that Jesus lives in you. Believe it and live it, for that is who you really are. That is the truth about yourself. • Golda Dilema• Do you struggle to love yourself the way Jesus loves you? You can ask Jesus to show you how much you are worth to Him. In addition, who are trusted adults you could talk to about this?• How can loving ourselves and knowing the truth about ourselves help us to love others? • If you’d like to dig deeper, read Psalm 139:14; Ephesians 1:3-5, 2:10; and 2 Corinthians 5:20.My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.26-Gen.1.28|1Cor.2.16|1John.3.2|Gal.2.20

Sometimes, thinking about the future makes me feel stressed. I can get caught up trying to figure out what I’m going to do, and I can miss out on a lot.One of the most important things I can miss out on when I’m only thinking about the future is the present. I might not notice the ways God is already working in my life. And if I am so focused on the future that I don’t see the present, I will have a hard time trusting God.Why? Because I will not see the work He is doing right now.But when I slow down and look for signs of God working in my life in the present, I’m reminded that I can trust Him to continue to work in the future. When I don’t let myself focus on the here and now, fear starts to take over for me. Worries—about what might happen, what I should do, what I shouldn’t do—pile on top of each other. It’s easy to forget that God already knows the future, and He will be working out His good purposes then—just as He is now.God does so much in my life each day. As I pay attention to how He is caring for my needs, guiding me, and helping me grow, I am reminded that I don’t need to figure out how He is going to work in the future. As I look ahead, I can have confidence because I know that God will be with me. • Emily Acker• Do you ever feel stressed when you think about the future? While it can be good to consider what might happen and plan what we might do, there are lots of things we can’t know—or control—about the future. But if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He will always be with us and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:28-39). How might this truth give you hope? • How have you noticed God working recently? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. “And remember, I [Jesus] am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Matt.28.20

I’ve been to many funerals. I’ve yet to see the deceased rise up from the coffin and thank me for coming. I suppose there are scenes like this in horror movies, but movie-makers have ways of making you believe things like that can actually happen. Jesus was never in a movie, but He used His real power and mercy to raise people from the dead. There’s a riveting scene, recorded by both Mark and Luke, when Jesus brings a twelve-year-old girl back to life. Her father, Jairus, came to Jesus, fell at His feet, and pleaded with Him to come heal his daughter because she was dying. Jairus was a very prominent man in the synagogue, and he must have been desperate to even consider this wandering healer named Jesus as a solution to his daughter’s peril. Needless to say, Jairus was probably beyond anxious.To make matters worse, as Jesus was on His way to Jairus’s house, a woman in the crowd with a bleeding disorder of many years touched the edge of Jesus’s robe. The whole procession stopped as Jesus perceived healing power going out of Him. Jesus wouldn’t move on until He had spoken to this woman face to face.I imagine Jairus was close to pulling his hair out at this point. A lowly peasant woman had stopped the progress to where his daughter lay dying. What was Jesus thinking! But our Lord calmly assessed the situation, knowing the hearts of all involved. He comforted the woman, and not long after, He arrived at Jairus’s house, held the hand of the deceased girl, and uttered these words: “Talitha koum!” which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” (Mark 5:41).You may find yourself pacing the floor or getting depressed waiting for God to act. We are impatient creatures. But God does see, and He does act. Even though the twelve-year-old girl died before Jesus arrived, it wasn’t too late. Jesus raised her from the dead. In a similar way, all seemed lost after Jesus died on the cross. But the story wasn’t over. Jesus rose from the dead—beating sin and death once and for all!We may not see the healing we ask for in this life, but when Jesus returns, He will raise all His forgiven followers from the dead, and we will live with Him forever—free from all suffering and sorrow. And as we wait on Him, He holds our hearts. So stay calm, and trust the One who loves us. The day of your healing will come. • Susan Sundwall• What do you think it will be like when Jesus raises us from the dead? (John 6:40)Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.6.40|Ps.27.14|Mark.5.21-Mark.5.43|Luke.8.40-Luke.8.56

The air was cold and bitter as Taylor trudged up the mountain path. She was after a rare flower; this flower was the last hope of saving her village from a deadly illness.The flower only grew in the harsh northern mountains. Many had gone before Taylor and had returned with nothing but broken bones and crushed hopes. But unlike the others, Taylor was following God through the mountains. She prayed constantly for His help in her quest, and she listened for His leading.The wind picked up, and it began to snow. Taylor could hardly see the path before her. &#8220;Oh Lord,&#8221; she prayed in her heart, &#8220;please help me find this flower, and please save my people from death. In Jesus’s name I pray.&#8221; Taylor finished her prayer with the words of her Lord: &#8220;Your will, not mine, be done.&#8221; She remembered how He had prayed in the garden, knowing He was about to be executed. Jesus was willing to go to the cross because it was the only way to save His people from death. This was God’s will. But it was not the end. Three days later, God raised Jesus back to life—defeating death once and for all.The wind began to settle, the snow slowly started to let up. Taylor spotted a grass clearing ahead. She rushed toward it. In the center of the clearing, a single beam of sunlight shone on a pure white flower. Even the stems and leaves were white. The flower’s pollen was red. Taylor thought the pollen looked like the blood of Christ, the blood He shed for her sins, though He Himself was pure and sinless. Taylor knelt down. “Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for letting me find this Flower of Hope,” she said softly. Taylor took the flower and started back down the path. • Sarah Jordan• God is merciful. Though we all deserve death because of our sin, He came to forgive us and give us life. Jesus lived among us and healed countless people, revealing God’s heart to restore His creation. In love, Jesus died and rose again for us, to heal us from sin, death, and evil. One day He will return to fully heal the world of all the brokenness caused by sin. As we wait for that day, we get to be part of His ministry of healing—which points to the good news. We can pray for miracles, pray as we care for people who are sick, and pray as we search for ways to cure diseases and reduce suffering. How might God be inviting you to be part of His healing work today?Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.6|Luke.22.39-Luke.22.44|Acts.2.22-Acts.2.28|1Thess.5.17-1Thess.5.18|Matt.9.35

Have you ever asked a question and received an answer that began, “Well, in a perfect world&#8230;”? What would your perfect world be like? No pain or sorrow? Everything beautiful and fun?When God made the world, He made everything good. There was beauty everywhere, and no pain anywhere. Adam and Eve were placed in that good world, one that brought glory to God and joy to Adam and Eve. But all that changed when Adam and Eve sinned. Because they rebelled against God and broke His one command by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the world was broken.Does that make you angry at Adam and Eve? There was one rule, and they broke it! You might feel like saying, “Try a bazillion rules! That’s about how many we have now, thanks to you, Adam and Eve!”Do you think you would have done better? Would you have obeyed God if you were in their place? I don’t know you, but I know me. I would have broken that one rule. I think we all would have. The Bible says, “Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23). Everyone sins—from Adam and Eve down to me and you.And there are consequences for sin. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” But the good news is, that’s not the end of the story. Even though humanity rebelled against God, He still loves us. And God sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the awful price for sin. God took our sin upon Himself when He died on the cross, and He beat sin and death when He rose from the dead. He did it for world-breakers—sinners—like me and you. To all who come to Jesus and repent from sin, He gives eternal life instead of death. And when Jesus returns, He will restore our broken world, and there will be no pain or sorrow; everything will be beautiful and good again (Revelation 21:1-7). The wages of sin may be death, “but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). • Rebecca Moore• Where have you seen the effects of sin in our broken world? Consider taking a moment to pray for God’s healing in this area, knowing that one day Jesus will fully heal every hurt.For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son [Jesus], so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.5.15-Rom.5.17|John.3.16|Gen.1.1|Gen.1.31|Rom.5.12

If you have ever watched a baby sleep in the arms of an adult, you might have an idea what peace looks like. If that baby starts to squirm, if they start to get uncomfortable, the one holding them adjusts their position—or the baby&#8217;s— and the baby settles down again. Even when that child is screaming and fussing, the loving adult consoles the child until they can find deeper rest. God longs to hold us in this way. Isaiah 26:3 talks about God keeping us “in perfect peace.” We can have peace with God because Jesus came to die and be raised to life for us. Once we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we are held by someone who is bigger and stronger than we are. We are held by someone who cares about us and will make sure that we can have peace. We are held by someone who knows what we need. When life gets crazy, sometimes we cannot imagine what it feels like to be at peace. We have so much going on and are so anxious that we cannot even consider relaxing, cannot even fathom believing that everything is going to work out. God holds us in those times. We can be at peace like a baby in the arms of someone who cares about them. We have a God who is holding us, and He is bigger and stronger than anything we will have to face. We can trust that God will take care of things, and we can relax. • Emily Acker • Can you imagine God holding you like a caring adult holds a sleeping baby? What do you like or dislike about this mental picture? • Do you ever feel like you need to do something to earn God&#8217;s love or His peace? • We all have times when we find it difficult to relax or feel at peace. When you feel this way, who is a trusted Christian in your life who could listen to you, pray with you, and encourage you? • If you&#8217;d like to dig deeper, read Psalm 131:1-3 and Romans 4:23–5:2. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.3.16|John.10.1-John.10.18|John.17.3

Have you ever been to a candle shop or watched people make candles? There are so many variations in candles! It seems like the possibilities are almost limitless. Differences in size, shape, color, design, fragrance, intended use, rate of burn—all these contribute to the huge variety in candles. But there is at least one thing all candles have in common: they are meant to burn and give off light. I think we are a lot like candles. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16). God created us as individuals, and no two of us are alike. Our various traits—our strengths, talents, abilities, spiritual gifts, and even weaknesses—were given to us so that we could glorify God. He delights in us, and He invites us to share His love with others. Do you meet people easily and make friends quickly? You might be able to befriend people who don&#8217;t know Jesus and show them God&#8217;s kindness. Do you like working behind the scenes, organizing, and planning? You could use your abilities to help operations in your church go smoothly and create opportunities for people to hear the gospel—the good news about Jesus. Do you like to preach or teach? Meet the physical needs of others? Encourage people who are despairing? Whatever gifts and abilities God has given you, He will empower you to use them to do good to others. Let people see God&#8217;s love through you. Let them see God&#8217;s mercy, grace, peace, and kindness. Shine brightly! Shine, not to show others how good you are, but to show them how good our God is! • Rebecca Moore • Has someone in your life been a light to you, helping you know God better by the way they lived? Consider taking a moment to thank God for that person—and maybe thank the person too! • What are some of your strengths? How might God be giving you opportunities to use your strengths to serve others? “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.46.7-Ps.46.11|Isa.46.4|John.14.27|2Thess.3.16

Do you ever have those days when you try to pray, but it seems like God just isn&#8217;t listening? What can we do when those moments come? We might be tempted to give up in despair, or we can choose to push through and keep seeking. I encourage you: be a seeker! God&#8217;s Word has plenty to say about seeking—and for good reason. We all go through times when it seems like God is closing His ears to our cries. I think we need to be reminded to keep seeking Him—instead of just focusing on our feelings or our circumstances. In Psalm 105, the psalmist urges us to praise the Lord and tell others what He has done. When we glory in His name, our hearts can let go of the things that trouble us. We can rejoice as we seek Him, no matter what surrounds us. This psalm reminds us to “look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (verse 4). Psalm 119 urges us to keep God&#8217;s commands and seek Him with all our hearts. We may not always feel God&#8217;s presence, but we can still choose to seek Him and obey Him regardless of how we feel. One of the main ways God reveals Himself to us is through the Bible. He invites us to hide His Word in our hearts and meditate on His ways. When we open His Word, we can pray along with the psalmist, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (verse 18). God loves to answer this prayer, and He longs for us to come close to Him (Luke 13:34). Many people like to quote Jeremiah 29:11, when God speaks to His people exiled in Babylon, saying, “For I know the plans I have for you&#8230;plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” However, the following verses are also powerful: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (verses 12-14). God promises that, when we come to Him, He will listen to us. When we seek Him, we will find Him. Jesus echoes this amazing promise in Luke 11 when He says, “Seek and you will find” (verse 9). And then, only four chapters later in Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables about how God seeks us. When you feel like you just can&#8217;t seek anymore, think about how God seeks after you and pursues you. He never gives up. He is always waiting for you with open arms. • Savannah Coleman • How might reflecting on God&#8217;s passion for you give you the courage to seek after Him? “For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Cor.4.5-2Cor.4.6|Phil.2.14-Phil.2.15|Matt.5.16

As you get older, the problems in your life can seem to get bigger and scarier. When you were younger, there might have been someone who would take on your struggles for you, but now you have to face more of these challenges without help from others. Yet, God is still in control, even when your problems seem like too much to handle. You are never alone. When life is heavy, we only have to turn to God in order to get some relief. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus has compassion on us, and He calls us to follow Him instead of striving on our own. Because of what Jesus has done—dying on the cross and rising from the dead—we can be with God. Once we put our trust in Jesus, He sends the Holy Spirit to live inside us as our Helper, Counselor, Comforter, and Advocate. The Holy Spirit reminds us of everything Jesus has said and transforms us so we can love others as Jesus has loved us. When I feel like I have to do things on my own, I need to be reminded that God is there and I am never really alone. Even if I don&#8217;t have a human to turn to for help, I have a God who goes with me through all that I have to face. Nothing is too heavy or difficult for God. When you are faced with struggles, you can turn to God for help. Your life is probably not going to be easy. Most of us face some type of hard times. But even though we will have trouble in this world, we have an unshakable hope because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). And He has promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). When you are in the midst of a difficult experience, you can know that God is with you. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel all alone in life? We don&#8217;t always get the support we need from the people around us. But God sees us, and He loves us. We never grow out of needing Him, and He never gets tired of being there for us. • What problems or struggles are you facing today? How might God be inviting you to rely on His help in this situation? God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.119.1-Ps.119.20|Jer.29.10-Jer.29.14|Luke.19.10|Ps.105.1-Ps.105.5

I was young when my grandmother passed away. I loved her, and she loved and cherished me. We had good times together. I valued being with her. She accepted me for who I really was. She cared for me. She was the best grandmother to me. When she passed, I was in deep sorrow. I was not prepared for her to go. She became ill, but I never thought it could lead to death. When she was gone, I became like a flower that had lost its fragrance. I missed her very much. Joy had turned to sadness, and I grieved for many days. When someone you love passes away, remember that God did not want to take your joy away. God created everything good, but sin and brokenness came into the world when the first humans chose their will over God&#8217;s. While it can be easy to blame God or be bitter toward Him when a loved one dies, know that God grieves with us, and He is going to bring about an end to death. Jesus defeated sin and death when He died on the cross and rose again, and He will return one day to raise us from the dead and crush death underneath His feet forever. When you are in sorrow, remember that Jesus promises new life. If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, nothing can separate us from God, the owner of our souls who loves us deeply (Romans 8:38-39). God&#8217;s Spirit holds us, even in death. When you are sorrowful, you can cherish the memories and moments you and your loved one had together, and you can thank God for how He has blessed you with the life of this person. When you are sorrowful, come to God, and He will comfort you. • Golda Dilema • How might it be comforting to know that Jesus is with you as you grieve? • What are some ways you can bring comfort to those who are grieving? (Romans 12:15) • Death is a terrible thing, but it is not the end. All of Jesus&#8217;s followers will be with Him in the happiest, loveliest, and most peaceful place for eternity. He will wipe our tears, and there will be no more suffering (Revelation 21:1-7). How might this truth give you hope? Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. Psalm 71:20-21 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.14.18-John.14.26|Ps.46.1|Ps.23.4-Ps.23.6

Abraham is known for his obedience, faith, and trust in God. When God called Abraham (or Abram) to leave his homeland, he obeyed. It took a lot of trust for Abraham to leave his native land, not knowing where he was to go (Hebrews 11:8). He left his father&#8217;s house and relatives and went with his wife, Sarah (or Sarai), to Canaan. This was a point of strength in Abraham&#8217;s walk with God. However, in another incident, Abraham seemed to lose his faith and trust in God. When there was a famine in the land of Canaan, it was a time of danger and uncertainty. Abraham decided to go to Egypt, and he told Sarah to lie—to say that she was not his wife. Abraham was afraid the Egyptians would kill him and take Sarah, since she was a beautiful woman. So Sarah was taken into Pharaoh&#8217;s palace. This was a point of weakness in Abraham&#8217;s walk with God, as he failed to trust God to protect him and Sarah. So we see a man who once walked with God in obedience, faith, and trust, now relying on his own strength and wisdom. He wasn&#8217;t relying on the God who had promised to bless him. But God remained faithful. He rescued them by inflicting diseases on Pharaoh and his household. And God continued to keep His promises. In our own walk with God, there are times when our faith in God seems so robust that we can trust and obey Him in whatever He tells us to do. But, at other times, we are filled with fear. Especially in times of danger and uncertainty, we might doubt that God is really good and trustworthy. When we stop relying on God, we fall into sin—saying and doing things that go against God&#8217;s good ways. But even when we mess up, God remains faithful to us. When we are afraid, we can turn to Jesus. His love for us is sure. Before He went to the cross, He said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don&#8217;t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). We can rely on Jesus to keep His promises. He rose from the dead— defeating sin and death once and for all—and when He returns, we will live with Him forever. Until then, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who helps us learn to trust Him even in times of uncertainty. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • Even if we mess up, we are not failures. How might Abraham&#8217;s story give you hope? • When it&#8217;s hard to trust God, who are fellow Christians who can encourage and pray with you? If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.34.18|Ps.73.26|2Cor.1.3-2Cor.1.4|Ps.71.20-Ps.71.21

Sunshine and blue skiesFresh air and cool breezes Sparkling smiles and rosy cheeksFlowing hair and tight-knit curls Who would think of all of this? Green grass and blue lakes Snowflakes and hailstorms Human interaction and good talks Giggling babies and wild toddlers Who would think of all of this? Seashells and sandy beaches Raindrops and rainbowsSoft fur beneath my hand Great big dogs and tiny bunnies Who would think of all of this? You thought of us as you created earthYou did things your wayYou made great thingsYou created the earth in a unique and wonderful way Who would think of all of this? • Emily Acker • Are you ever amazed at all God has created? What is one of your favorite things God has made? • Did you know everything has been made through Jesus, who is the Word and the Son of God? (John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-20) How might this affect the way we view Jesus? For by him [Jesus] all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.12|Heb.11.8|2Tim.2.13

I try to make the right choices, but I know that I am messing up on a daily basis. Even though I call out to God over and over again and try to let Him guide me, I still make mistakes, and I still sin. No matter how hard we try, we just can&#8217;t be perfect. But the good news is, God doesn&#8217;t wait for us to be perfect to love us. He offers His grace in the midst of our mistakes. He is accepting even when we are messing up. On the journey of life, taking a wrong turn seems scary and dangerous when I am all alone. But I am not alone. I know that God is there to turn me around and make things right, and the assurance of His presence helps me feel so much better. God&#8217;s grace is bigger than we could ever imagine. We run out of patience with those around us, but God is always patient with us. God&#8217;s love is there for us even when we mess up. Human love can be conditional, but God&#8217;s love is not. God revealed the depths of His love on the cross. I am so thankful Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead so I could be forgiven. Nothing can separate me from God&#8217;s love because Jesus has covered all my sins—past, present, and future. I am so thankful God has chosen to show grace to me over and over again. That grace is so powerful. It can truly change my life and save me. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel like you are one wrong step away from God giving up on you? God&#8217;s grace is not based on what we do but on what Jesus has done for us (Ephesians 2:8-10). So His grace is always big enough to cover our messes. • Who are trusted Christians in your life who can encourage you and remind you of God&#8217;s love, even when you fail? How can you be this kind of friend to others? From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. John 1:16 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.33.5-Ps.33.9|Rom.11.33-Rom.11.36|Col.1.16

Sometimes, I read the Bible to study it, paying attention to who wrote each passage, who they were speaking to, what was going on historically and culturally, what the big ideas and themes are&#8230;stuff like that. When I read the Bible during my quiet time, I often like to have my journal open in front of me so that I can write down verses that stick out to me. Then I can underline and circle words and phrases, or write down thoughts, questions, frustrations, and prayers. I find that writing helps me focus as I engage with the Bible and connect with God. But there are other times when I don&#8217;t use my journal. Lately, when I have felt weary and frustrated, I will read a passage (usually a psalm) slowly, one phrase at a time, in rhythm with deep breaths. This practice helps me settle myself, slow down, let the words sink in. Here&#8217;s an example. Psalm 23 starts with the words, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” So, I might close my eyes, open my hands so they&#8217;re facing palms-up and resting on my knees, and repeat the words in my head as I breathe slowly: (Inhale) The Lord is my shepherd, (Exhale) I lack nothing. Sometimes, I do a whole verse in one breath. But if a word or phrase sticks out to me, I might breathe with it slower or repeat it a couple times. For example: (Inhale) The Lord is (Exhale) my shepherd (Inhale) &#8230; (Exhale) The Lord (Inhale) is (Exhale) my shepherd I might breathe through the whole psalm, or maybe just a verse or two. This slow practice has helped me calm and quiet myself, and re-center my heart and mind on God. When I spend time with God, I&#8217;m reminded of His goodness and love&#8230;and that makes it a lot easier for me to trust Him. As God&#8217;s truth washes over me, He cleans off the ick that has gotten stuck to me as I&#8217;ve gone through life, and He “refreshes my soul” (Psalm 23:3). • Hannah Howe • How do you like to read the Bible? &#8230;we meditate on your unfailing love. Psalm 48:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.5.6-Rom.5.11|Rom.7.21-Rom.8.1|1Cor.15.3-1Cor.15.10|John.1.16

There are times when someone in your life seems to need you in some way. Maybe someone new starts at your school and they are struggling in a class that you understand well. Maybe your sibling hurts their leg and struggles to get around with their crutches. Maybe you see a coworker going without anything to eat during their lunch break. When we see a need in someone else and we have the ability to meet that need, we can show God&#8217;s love by offering help. Throughout the Bible, God has compassion on people who are poor and struggling, and He helps them—often through the obedience of His followers. Today, God is still there for those who are going through hard times, and He can work through us to help the people around us. People go through a number of different struggles. We will all experience hard times until Jesus returns to restore our broken world, but God has not left us alone. If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we are part of God&#8217;s family, and He calls us to love one another as He has loved us. The more we are available to help others, the more we can touch this world and make it a better place. And remember, we aren&#8217;t supposed to do any of this in our own strength or wisdom. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit, who is our Counselor and Helper. The more we follow God&#8217;s lead and rely on His strength to do the right thing, the more we will shine His light. When we look out for the needs of those around us, we make a difference. • Emily Acker • Have you ever felt God&#8217;s love because someone helped you? • Can you think of someone in your life who is hurting? How could you look out for their needs? Carry one another&#8217;s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.23|Ps.48.9

Different things can happen that leave us in need of healing. Sometimes, we are injured physically, and we know we have a long journey ahead of us. Those times can be scary, and we might fear that our bodies will not heal as they are supposed to. There are also times when we are injured emotionally, when something happens in our lives that makes us feel hopeless or scared for the future. But there is always hope. God is a God of healing. Our world is broken because of sin, but when Jesus—God in flesh—came and lived among us, He healed all kinds of hurts (Matthew 9:35; Luke 4:17-21). He took our sin upon Himself when He went to the cross, and He rose from the dead—beating sin, death, sickness, and every kind of brokenness. Pain will not have the last word. Jesus will heal all of creation when He returns. And He gives us glimpses of that healing when we come to Him. Whether we have been hurt physically or emotionally, God has a way of saving us and making things better. Even in the midst of pain, He gives us hope. I injured my finger recently. The injury was pretty scary at first. It took me a couple days to calm down and notice the healing that was already taking place. It took weeks for my finger to start looking the way it used to, but every time I looked at my finger, I saw God working. The healing that He was bringing about amazed me. Sometimes, God brings healing naturally or through the people around you— such as friends or medical and mental health professionals. No matter what you have gone through, God can heal you. Who better to turn to when you need to be healed than the One who is all-powerful? • Emily Acker • Have you ever seen your body heal from an injury, even just a small cut or a bruise? How does the way God designed our bodies reveal His kindness? • Have you ever prayed for healing, either for yourself or someone else? We can always ask God for healing. Sometimes He heals right away, other times gradually. God works in all kinds of ways—through miracles, medical care, therapy&#8230;and when Jesus returns, He will fully heal all of creation, including us! If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we can look forward to that day (Revelation 21:4). • What needs healing in your life—a relationship, an injury, a broken heart? God knows what you&#8217;re going through and has compassion on you. You can bring your hurts to Him in prayer. God also gives healing through community (the church). If someone has hurt you, tell a trusted adult right away. O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gal.6.2|Ps.82.2-Ps.82.4

When I was a kid, I thought I had just about everything figured out. God was good. Evil and suffering were a result of sin, not a result of God. But then I got older&#8230; In the middle of my teen years, I began to see the effects of sin a little closer to home. Suffering (and every emotion that came with it) was no longer an abstract idea about the world; it became my world. An event happened in my life that ripped my reality in two. Life suddenly got more complicated. I felt numb at first. &#8220;Did that really just happen?&#8221; And then I felt mad. &#8220;Why did that just happen!?&#8221; Throw in some bitterness, relief, sorrow, and confusion for good measure and you&#8217;d have what I was feeling at the time. Doubt flooded my mind. &#8220;Am I strong enough to face this?&#8221; It was in this dark period of my life when I rediscovered 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Paul relays a real and present struggle that torments him. He tells the Corinthians that he repeatedly cried out to God, pleading for his Lord to take the struggle away. Jesus said in reply, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9). So Paul embraces his suffering, delighting in his weakness and difficulties. He says, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (verse 10). How powerful an idea! Paul understood that, because of Jesus&#8217;s death and resurrection, we can be honest about our weaknesses and rely on Him for strength. Applying this concept to my own life, I see that, no, I am not strong enough. My situation is too heavy for me to bear. But Christ is my comforter. He weeps with me. He is my strength when I don&#8217;t have any. And He will use my experiences to His glory. And, someday, He will return to get rid of all sin and suffering permanently. • Emma Pamer • Can you think of a time you felt like a situation was too heavy for you to bear? • During painful times, Jesus doesn&#8217;t sit at the end of the difficult season, waiting for you to catch up with Him. Jesus walks with you and weeps with you. He does not abandon you—and He never will. That is why we can embrace suffering—not because suffering is good (it&#8217;s not) but because Jesus Himself endures our suffering with us, giving us comfort and strength. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ&#8217;s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.103.2-Ps.103.4|Ps.147.3|Jer.17.14

I live long-distance from my best friend, and sometimes, it&#8217;s terrible. I miss her tons, and even though we video chat often, I usually go months without seeing her in person. The Bible stresses the importance of having a good Christian community, but what do you do when a part of that community is close in your heart, but not close on a map? Take a look at John 11. Jesus demonstrated love for His friends when He visited Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus had died. Jesus took time to mourn with His friends and listen to what they had to say. And then He performed a miracle and raised their brother from the dead! This miracle was just a preview of the resurrection all Christians will have when Jesus returns—because Jesus overcame sin and death through His own resurrection. Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He promised His followers that He would always be with them (Matthew 28:20). As I look at Jesus, I know I can still be a presence in my friend&#8217;s life, even if I can&#8217;t always physically travel to her. Because the Holy Spirit lives inside Christians, we have a special connection with other people who have put their trust in Jesus. In a letter to Christians in Colossae, Paul writes, “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit” (Colossians 2:5). One of the ways my friend and I stay present in each other&#8217;s lives is by praying for each other often. If I have an event that I&#8217;m anxious about, I&#8217;ll ask her to pray for me and vice versa. When we video chat, I listen earnestly to what she has going on in her life, and she does the same for me. We both offer support and advice when the other one needs it. Being friends over a long distance is difficult, but we both try to practice Christ-like love, even from far away. • Naomi Zylstra • Is there someone you love who lives far away? What&#8217;s one way you can show them that you love them? • When we miss people we love, Jesus invites us to tell Him about it. He mourns with us, and He listens to everything we have to say. How might it give you comfort to know that Jesus is this kind of friend to you? For though I [Paul] am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit&#8230; Colossians 2:5 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.71.20|2Cor.1.3|2Cor.12.5-2Cor.12.10

In the book of Acts, there is an account of Peter being rescued from prison by God. After an angel guided him out of the prison, Peter went to a house where fellow believers were praying forhis release from an unjust stay in the Roman jail. This account also tells of a girl named Rhoda who answered the door when Peter knocked. The Bible does not tell us any more details about this girl. What was going through her mind that night? It&#8217;s fun to imagine how she would have told her story&#8230; Hi, my name is Rhoda, and I am a servant in the house of Mary. We were gathered there late one night to pray for Peter. You see, Peter was arrested and thrown in prison. We were afraid the government leaders were going to have him killed. As we were praying, I heard a knock on the door. I went to answer and asked who it was. The voice on the other side said it was Peter. Recognizing that the voice was actually Peter&#8217;s, I ran back and told the others that Peter was at the door! Nobody believed me. I kept trying to tell them it was Peter until we all heard the knock again, and this time everyone went to the door, and there was Peter! We were all amazed. He told us how the Lord sent an angel to rescue him from prison. We all rejoiced and were very thankful. After I went to bed that night, I started thinking about what had happened. Why hadn&#8217;t I let the poor man in when he first knocked? We were all praying for Peter&#8217;s rescue from prison, and yet when God answered our prayers, we were amazed. After all, I remember when Jesus was going from town to town and healing people who were sick. I remember the time when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. And I remember when Jesus Himself rose from the dead! Yet we were all amazed when God rescued Peter from prison. Lord, you never cease to amaze me. Thank you for answering our prayers. Thank you that I can trust you to do more than I could ever imagine. • Doug Velting • Have you ever been surprised by how God answered a prayer? Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter&#8217;s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” Acts 12:13-14 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.11.1-John.11.44|John.15.12-John.15.16

My favorite verse in the Bible is Isaiah 54:10. It assures me of God&#8217;s unfailing love for me that will never be shaken and of His covenant of peace that will not be removed. It shows me that God&#8217;s love for me is more certain and stable than the mountains and the hills. Even if these are shaken and removed, God&#8217;s covenant of peace is a sure one. In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah the prophet said God would punish the Israelites for their sin. Because they did not obey God&#8217;s commandments but instead rebelled against Him, worshipping idols and acting unjustly, God would send them into exile. But then, because God is compassionate, He would bring restoration, forgiveness, and healing after the punishment. Not only would God rescue Israel from exile, but He would also send the Messiah who would bring peace and safety to Israel and beyond. The Messiah would be a light to the nations. He would suffer for sin, and through His suffering, our wrongdoings would be taken away. This verse was a message of hope and comfort to the Israelites, the original audience, when they were suffering in captivity because of their sin. God said, because of His unfailing love, He would never leave them. What does this promise mean for us today? At times, we may feel overwhelmed with the fear of abandonment by friends and even family. We crave safety, protection, and a sense of connection with people who love us—and these are all good desires. Yet, because our world has been broken by sin, the people in our lives will fail us. But even then, God will be with us (Psalm 27:10). He loves us with unfailing love, and He will not abandon us. In the New Testament of the Bible, we see the promise of a Messiah fulfilled. Jesus—who is God in flesh—came and suffered for our sins by dying on the cross. Then He rose from the dead, beating sin and death once and for all. Hebrews 7:22 tells us that Jesus guarantees the covenant of peace and love. Because I&#8217;ve put my trust in Jesus, this covenant assures me of God&#8217;s unfailing and everlasting love for me. Let us be encouraged to know God&#8217;s love for us will never fail and His covenant of peace stands forever. • Enid Adah Nyinomujuni • What feels shaky in your life today? How might God&#8217;s promise in Isaiah 54:10 give you hope? “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Acts.12.5-Acts.12.17|Eph.3.20-Eph.3.21

I like to give the things in my life names. I name my car, my plants—and I even brainstorm future pet names. Names can carry a lot of weight and significance, so what does it mean that God calls Himself &#8220;I AM&#8221;? In Exodus 3, God speaks to Moses through a burning bush that—miraculously—does not burn up. When Moses asks God what His name is, God replies, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you&#8230;The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.&#8217; This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation” (verse 14-15). When God uses the name &#8220;I AM,&#8221; He sets Himself apart from any other god the Israelites may have been worshipping. This is not a god of fertility or the sun,this is the God who rules over everything. This is the God who existed before the Israelites were even a people, and He will continue to exist after they rebel against Him and are sent into exile generations later. God presents His unchanging nature in His name. The Hebrew name for God, Yahweh, sounds like “I am” in Hebrew. This name was so sacred to the ancient Israelites that they would often substitute God&#8217;s name for &#8220;Lord,&#8221; or &#8220;Adonai,&#8221; in Scripture texts. This is why you see the name &#8220;LORD&#8221; in all caps in the Bible. God has lived up to His name. He showed His unchanging love and grace inthe sacrifice of sending Jesus to die on the cross and rise again for us. And God continues to show us His unchanging love by sanctifying and transforming us each day. So, whenever the future is uncertain, we can know that our God remains unchanging in His love and grace. • Naomi Zylstra • Why is it important that God is unchanging? • Besides His name, how else does God set Himself apart from other gods? • One of the ways Jesus revealed His identity was by saying, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). Why do you think Jesus said this? Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.54.10|Jer.31.3|Heb.7.22|Heb.13.5

The city of Atlantis was real. My forehead pressed against the thick glass window of the submarine, and I could only gape as the shining city came into view. The best we could have hoped to find was the crumbled ruins of a once great city, now resting at the bottom of the ocean. We never could have anticipated this. The city was fully intact, safely enclosed inside a clear dome that protected the buildings, vegetation, and people from the freezing water of the ocean&#8217;s depths. The captain of our sub made contact with the natives of Atlantis, and they welcomed us into their city through a special double-door chamber that drained all the water from around our vessel so we could breathe the sweet air inside the dome. The city was bright and colorful. Flowers grew along the bustling streets filled with people laughing and selling goods like fresh produce and clothing. Children chased each other through the crowd, not a care or concern on their faces for the darkness that lay just outside their city&#8217;s dome. The Atlantians threw a feast in our honor, and we took turns asking dozens of questions, them about the world on the surface and us about their life at the bottom of the ocean. “How is it possible?” our captain asked, gesturing to the city around us. “How can all of this exist in an environment as dark and cruel as the deep sea?” It was the question we had all been asking since laying eyes on the remarkable city. The queen of Atlantis smiled warmly and raised her arms, gesturing to the dome around us all. “I imagine the explanation is much the same as the explanation for how your submarine allows you to travel to such depths. Outside this dome, so deep in the sea, there are thousands of pounds of pressure. Outside the safety of our dome, or a vessel like yours, the water would crush us, killing us instantly. But this dome exerts a pressure equal; its materials are stronger even than the pressure that lies beyond it. And it is because of the pressure within,” she placed her hand on her heart, “that we are able to withstand the pressure without.” • Emily Tenter • If you&#8217;re a follower of Jesus, you have received the Holy Spirit, the One who gives us the power to withstand the pressures we face every day—loss, illness, decisions about the future, conflict with friends or family, etc. What pressures are you experiencing right now? • Sometimes, it feels like the problems of this broken world and the powers of evil will crush us, but Jesus is stronger than everything. Because Jesus beat death, sin, and evil through His own death and resurrection, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). How might this truth give you hope? • Inside the dome, the city of Atlantis was bright and full of life. When we trust in Jesus, what does He fill us with? (Romans 15:13-15) • How does the Holy Spirit help us endure, even during difficult circumstances? (Colossians 1:9-14) • Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit guiding or encouraging you? As we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, it&#8217;s important to remember that God does not contradict His written Word, the Bible. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern what is from God and what is not? &#8230;this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed&#8230; 2 Corinthians 4:7-8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.3.1-Exod.3.15|Ps.20.7

I grew up studying in a religious school. My parents were respected in our small town. They were kind, generous, and accommodating. I looked up to them, and I loved helping the needy. However, I did something terrible when I was a teenager.I ended up bullying a poor classmate of mine. She was silent as a lamb. She did not retaliate. I did not see her angry. I was not aware that I was already bullying her. I just thought I was making fun of her. One day, I came to realize that what I did was wrong. I realized I was hurting and shaming her. I was guilty of bullying. I was troubled and upset by what I had done. I realized I was being insensitive and narrow-minded. That hit me hard in my conscience. Regret followed me, and I was not at peace. Joy left me. I said to myself, &#8220;I should not have done that. I am not perfect, but I am compassionate, or so I thought.&#8221; Even after acknowledging that I had bullied someone, it was hard for me to forgive myself. What do you do when you mess up? Come to Jesus. God knows everything about you—including everything you&#8217;ve done wrong—and He loves you. No matter what you&#8217;ve done, He wants to forgive you. When Jesus, God the Son, died on the cross, He took the punishment our wrongdoing (or sin) deserves. Then He rose from the dead, beating sin and death forever. If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, all our sins have been dealt with. God does not condemn us. So we do not need to condemn ourselves. Instead, we can come to Jesus, confess what we&#8217;ve done, and rest in His complete forgiveness. God does not want us to be trapped in regrets and negative feelings. He helps us realize our sins so that we can confess them and live in His good ways instead. And He gives us the power to do so through the Holy Spirit. He will help us move forward. He will bring healing and make us whole again. • Golda Dilema • Do you ever have a hard time forgiving yourself? In moments like these, come to Jesus. • In Psalm 32, David describes how awful he feels after doing wrong. But when he confesses his sin to God, he is set free from guilt! Then David talks about how God shows us the way to go. When we do wrong, God might call us to do something to make it right, such as apologizing. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern what to do after you mess up? “Come now, let&#8217;s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18a (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.16.12-John.16.15|Acts.2.38-Acts.2.39|Eph.3.14-Eph.3.21|2Cor.4.7-2Cor.4.8

I&#8217;m twenty-eight years old, and one thing I wish I would have known about God as a teenager is that He made me unique and special. I was born three months premature, and I had a stroke at birth. I&#8217;ve struggled to gain weight ever since. Kids would be mean to me and call me anorexic because of how skinny I was. (Anorexia is a very serious eating disorder that should never be joked about.) I would try to explain my situation to them, but it never seemed to help. Everyone would either laugh at me or say that I was lying about my story. It got to the point where I just stopped explaining myself, and I wouldn&#8217;t say anything when the kids in school made fun of me. I felt embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I wish I had known sooner that God made me special and unique in His own specific ways. I know now that God made me on purpose, and He loves me deeply. He loves me so much that Jesus became human to die for me and rise from the dead, defeating sin and death so I can live with Him forever when He returns. In the meantime, He empowers me to share my testimony to help others who need encouragement or are going through similar circumstances. Because Jesus is so good, He can use even the hard things in our lives to connect people to Himself. I&#8217;m still small for my age, but I know God has worked in mighty ways to help me share His good news with everyone around me. I&#8217;m thankful for God&#8217;s incredible grace. He showed me that even though some kids made fun of me, my worth doesn&#8217;t come from them. It comes from Jesus. • Alexis Wohler • Have you ever struggled to gain weight? Have others made fun of you for any reason? • When people are mean to you, Jesus weeps with you. He knows your hurts, and He cares for you. How might Jesus be offering you comfort and healing? For we are God&#8217;s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.103.10-Ps.103.11|Rom.8.1|Rom.8.34|Isa.1.18

&#8220;Am I fake?&#8221; Has this thought ever crossed your mind? You are not alone. When someone decides to become a Christian, they might be surprised to discover they still struggle with sin. Even if they are working hard to follow Jesus and reshape their life choices and patterns, mess-ups inevitably happen. Trials come. The old you may be tempted to join in with thoughts and actions that don&#8217;t honor God. But the new you (with Jesus at the center of your life) wants to reject your past and strive to live in God&#8217;s good ways. This can feel like an internal battle. Because the world is broken, we experience hurt every day, and it&#8217;s easy to become enraged, bitter, or apathetic. The way we react to these struggles— whether with hatred, a fiery retort, or impatience—can leave a burning question in our heart: &#8220;Am I a fraud? Why am I so upset? I&#8217;m supposed to be a Christian.&#8221; Don&#8217;t despair. This is perfectly normal. The apostles were tempted and had imperfections—think of Peter&#8217;s fiery temper and how he cut off Malchus&#8217;s ear in John 18:10—and yet they were present with Jesus. We all face temptations, and when we recognize them, we may feel discomfort, but Jesus promises He will never leave us. His Spirit is in us and working to restore us, day by day shaping us to become more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). You are not a fake Christian if you lose your temper or say something wrong—you are a human Jesus loves. Even though you are being transformed, following Jesus isn&#8217;t easy. Making changes is a lifelong choice that doesn&#8217;t happen instantaneously, but you are not alone in the process. You are on a spiritual journey with Jesus. Remember that artwork doesn&#8217;t become a masterpiece right away; it happens in stages with a few brushstrokes here and there until a beautiful picture is made. As Christians, we are all God&#8217;s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). So keep going. Persevere because through it all you have a heavenly Father who loves you dearly, the Holy Spirit who helps you in your weakness, and Jesus who took all your sins upon Himself when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Jesus, you are totally forgiven, and nothing can separate you from His love. • Cindy Lee • Do you ever feel like a fake or a fraud? • As Christians, how can we come alongside each other when we sin? (Galatians 6:1-5) I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gen.1.27|Ps.139.14|Jer.1.5|Eph.2.10

Imagine you wake up one morning and begin to get ready for the day. When you look at yourself in the mirror, you are horrified by what you see: you have a massive case of bedhead, eye crust is piled up in your eyelids, last night&#8217;s dinner is stuck between your teeth, and you look like you haven&#8217;t showered in days. Would you shrug it off and start your day without cleaning up first? No way! When we read the Bible, it&#8217;s like looking into a mirror. The Bible reveals who God is and also who we are. It tells the story of God&#8217;s love for all people and the whole creation and how He is redeeming the world through Jesus. Part of what the Bible shows us is how sin operates in the world, and it even exposes our sin and shows us our need for God. Throughout the Bible, God invites us to live in His good ways—which must be centered around putting our trust in Jesus. Just as it wouldn&#8217;t make sense to look in the mirror and then not do anything about your appearance, it doesn&#8217;t make any sense to read the Bible and not be affected by it. James tells us that the person who reads the Bible and never does what it says is deceiving themselves—they are tricking themselves into thinking that everythingis okay when it&#8217;s definitely not! It can be difficult to read the Bible and become convicted of sin. But as we come to understand our sinfulness, we also gain a deeper appreciation for the work of Jesus on the cross. He took all our sins upon Himself and died in our place so that we could be forgiven. But that wasn&#8217;t the end. Jesus rose from the dead, beating sin and death and promising to return to heal all the effects of sin. If we have put our trust in Jesus, we can know that all our sins are forgiven. Now, Jesus is calling us to follow Him, and that means being both hearers and doers of the Word. • Jacob Bier • In John 14:15, Jesus says that obedience is a sign of our love for Him. We don&#8217;t obey God to earn His love— He already loves us completely! Rather, we obey God because He loves us and He is transforming us through Jesus. How might this truth affect the way you read the Bible? • When we realize we have sinned, Jesus invites us to come to Him. As we turn away from sin and back toward God, He forgives us and empowers us to live in His good ways. Are there any sins you would like to confess to God? Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Pet.5.8-1Pet.5.11|Phil.3.14|Rom.7.14-Rom.8.39

Do you yearn to break free from the chains of your past? Are you weary of runningOr wearing a mask?Pain, guilt, shame, and despair Ugly, heavy—it&#8217;s too much to bear Hope shines through the dark When all else seems lostHe took all our sinWhen He bore the crossNo longer slaves, no need to fear His burden is light;God&#8217;s presence is near Will you receive the freedom He gives?Grace is for all; healing is hereJoy, forgiveness, peace for the takingA new creation in Christ in the making • Savannah Coleman • Do you ever feel like you&#8217;re running, or like you&#8217;re wearing a mask? • Jesus came to free us—not only from sin and death—but also from shame and fear. From the beginning, God had a plan to send His Son, Jesus, to save us. When Adam and Eve sinned, death reigned—pain, guilt, shame, and despair were the rule of the day—until God abundantly provided the gift of new life through Jesus Christ. This gift is for everyone who puts their trust in Him (Romans 5:17-21, 10:9). Have you made the decision to put your trust in Jesus? (If you&#8217;d like to know more about what this means, see our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) • Once you belong to Christ, He begins a good work in you that He promises to bring to completion until the day He comes again (Philippians 1:3-11). Jesus invites us to live in His freedom and abundance. As you spend time in God&#8217;s presence, He will deepen your knowledge of Himself and equip you with everything you need to follow Him. How do you like to spend time with God? Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Heb.4.12|Jas.1.19-Jas.1.27

We have all experienced the pain of betrayal, unkind words spoken, and possibly even more serious hurts inflicted by someone against us. What is the natural response when people wrong us? Retaliation is often our first instinct. But is that the loving, Christian response? When someone wrongs us, God calls us not to do them harm in return. Instead, we are to do them good. Now, that sounds hard. What “good” can we do to someone who has hurt us? Take a look at the life of Joseph in the Bible. Because Joseph was his father&#8217;s favorite son, Joseph&#8217;s brothers hated him and continually spoke harshly to him. They hated him so much that they sold him into slavery to get rid of him, and Joseph was taken to Egypt. That is a very serious offense, and, for many years, the brothers thought they had gotten away with it. Joseph was gone, and no one would ever know why. Fast-forward a few years. A famine came to the land where Joseph&#8217;s brothers lived. They showed up in Egypt looking for food. Ah! Here was Joseph&#8217;s chance! Joseph, though once a slave, now had great power in Egypt and could imprison his brothers or require grave consequences for their actions against him. Instead, Joseph forgave them! And he met their need for food with abundance. He returned love for their spiteful sin, and his loving actions led to a restored relationship with his brothers and the survival of their entire family. Joseph&#8217;s actions foreshadowed the radical forgiveness that Jesus gives us. We have all done wrong, but God Himself took the punishment for our sin when Jesus died on the cross. And Jesus rose from the dead, so now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is restored to relationship with God! Though we all deserve death, He gives us life. When someone sins against us, we can forgive them as God has forgiven us— because the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so (Romans 8:9-12). In response to evil, we give good. We act in love. We let go of anger and resentment. With God&#8217;s help, we hope and pray that the offender will repent, and we choose to retaliate with good. • Rebecca Moore • How could you do good to someone who has wronged you? (Remember, when people hurt us deeply, forgiving them doesn&#8217;t mean we have to form close relationships with them.) See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.11.25-Matt.11.30|2Cor.5.14-2Cor.5.21

I recently had an experience that still makes me smile each time I think about it. I was carrying my five-month-old nephew while his two-year-old brother was running around in the house. We made a game of the younger one chasing the older one, and soon both boys were shrieking with laughter. It made me so happy to see the two interact and enjoy one another while they were still so young. When I got home, I said that I wanted to remember those moments forever. God gives us special times with the ones we love. He allows us to see and do things that create memories we cherish. I thank God that there is a time for joy along with a time for tears. As Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh.” Life can get really heavy. I have a lot weighing down on me right now. But God mixes in a lot of good as we go through each day, giving us a break from our pain and the chance to smile and laugh. • Emily Acker • What is a special memory you hold onto? • Has God ever given you a happy moment when you really needed it? Consider taking some time to enjoy this memory and thank God for it. • When Jesus came to earth as a human and lived among us, He experienced everything we do—the sorrows and the joys (Hebrews 4:14-16). When Jesus returns, there will be no more sorrow or pain (Revelation 21:4). But until then, He is with us through everything we experience, grieving our hurts and delighting in our joys right along with us. How might these truths give you comfort? Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.4.31-Eph.4.32|1Thess.5.15|Gen.45.1-Gen.45.11|Gen.50.15-Gen.50.21

When you mess up or wander away from God, you might feel like that&#8217;s it. You might think, &#8220;The things I&#8217;ve done are too much. God couldn&#8217;t forgive me.&#8221; But that is not true. The amazing thing about God&#8217;s grace is that it&#8217;s not too late for you. There is still hope for you even after you mess up. God knows none of us is perfect. Ever since the first humans went their own way against God, we all sin and do wrong. But God didn&#8217;t give up on us. Though we all rejected Him, He still loves us. That&#8217;s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to this world, to live and die and rise again for us. Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins. All of us have sinned. All of us. We have all fallen short of deserving anything from God—but He gives incredible grace to us anyway. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God&#8217;s grace that you have been saved!)” When you have messed up, even in a big way, it&#8217;s not too late. You can repent by turning away from sin and coming to God. You can ask for His forgiveness, and He will give you new life. God can make all things new. He can help you leave the past behind. God&#8217;s grace truly is beautiful and amazing. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can live without shame from the past (Psalm 34:5; Romans 8:1). We can live freely, knowing that God is with us, and we can look forward to eternal life with Jesus when He returns. Thank you, God, for your grace. • Bethany Acker • Have you ever felt like what you&#8217;ve done is unforgivable, like there&#8217;s no going back? Take heart. Jesus&#8217;s death on the cross was for you, and His grace is big enough to cover your sin—all of it. It&#8217;s not about what you&#8217;ve done; it&#8217;s about what Jesus has done. • If you&#8217;d like to know more about God&#8217;s grace and what it means to put your trust in Jesus, who is a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to? (You can also find more information on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God&#8217;s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eccl.3.1-Eccl.3.4|Jas.1.17

Your friends don&#8217;t always understand what has you upset. You are unique, and when it comes to things that hurt you and your feelings about what is going on in the world, not everyone will be affected the same way you are. When you feel misunderstood, know that God sees you. Your family might get uncomfortable when you cry. They might try to stop you or tell you that things really aren&#8217;t as bad as you think. Your hurts are real, though, and so are your feelings. God sees your pain when others don&#8217;t understand how you are feeling or don&#8217;t have the patience to deal with you. When you feel like your pain is yours alone and no one is going to stand by you or help you through it, know that God is there. He sees your tears, and He cares about you. He values you. He hurts for you. Jesus identifies with your pain, and He weeps alongside you. Jesus grieves what you grieve. God is not ashamed of you when you cry, and He is not going to tell you to stop. God knows what types of things bother you. He understands you. You can reach out to Him when you feel alone in your pain. He will never turn you away. • Emily Acker • Do you feel alone when you are hurting? Sometimes, other people don&#8217;t know how to be there for us in our pain, and this can make us feel even worse. In John 11, when Jesus&#8217;s friend Mary was crying because her brother Lazarus had died, Jesus did not tell her to stop. Even though Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus wept with Mary (verse 35). In the same way, Jesus weeps with you when you are hurting. • Jesus understands your pain because He has been through similar pain (Hebrews 4:14-16). He was willing to be wounded so that you could be healed (Isaiah 53:4-5). How might this truth give you hope? • In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Paul talks about God comforting us, and then he reminds us we can comfort others “through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” How could receiving God&#8217;s compassion for us help us show compassion to others? He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.3.23-Rom.3.24|Eph.2.1-Eph.2.10

While hiking on a trail in the Smoky Mountains, my husband and I needed to make a decision. The sign had said the trail was only a few miles—but it didn&#8217;t say we were headed uphill through rough terrain. Hot and weary, we considered going back, but once we realized how far we had already come, we rallied and kept hiking to the trail&#8217;s end. The book of Hebrews was written to weary people who were encountering difficulties as they followed the way of Christ. While we don&#8217;t know the identity of the writer of Hebrews, he or she is clearly someone who knew and understood God&#8217;s Word. This author is encouraging Hebrew (or Jewish) Christians who are discouraged by the persecution they are facing as believers. They are tempted to return to their old way of life, but this would be a terrible mistake. Point by point, the author of Hebrews shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. When God was revealing Himself to the Jewish people throughout the Old Testament, everything was leading up to Jesus. The book of Hebrews shows us that Jesus is greater than anything or anyone. He is greater the angels (chapter 1). He is greater than Moses, who was a faithful servant—but Jesus is faithful as God&#8217;s Son (chapter 3). Jesus is greater than the Old Testament priests (chapter 5) and the sacrifices they offered for sin, because Jesus offered His own blood as the very last sacrifice and obtained “eternal redemption” (chapter 9, verse 12) for His people. Because Jesus is greater than all these, the writer of Hebrews calls on believers to persevere and continue to walk in faith. Chapter 11 gives examples of Old Testament believers who did just that. People like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and others are listed as heroes of the faith who persevered during difficult days, even though they did not experience the fulfillment of God&#8217;s promises in their lifetimes (verses 13, 39). Hebrews calls us to do the same—to persevere, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (chapter 12, verse 2). • Laura N. Sweet • Do you ever get discouraged about following Jesus? Ever think about turning back? Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with when you feel this way? Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 2Cor.1.3-2Cor.1.5|Ps.147.3

&#8220;Go in peace,” the worship leader said at the end of my first chapel service at my Christian university. I had never heard the phrase before, but after hearing it at every following chapel, I learned that some churches close every service with the words “go in peace.” It was amusing at first to anticipate this catchphrase, but then I realized just how powerful those words are. It made me wonder, what does it look like to actually go in peace? First, before you go in peace, you have to come into peace. God invites us to refocus on Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in the middle of the craziness of the world (Isaiah 9:6). Coming into peace is drawing near to God and listening to Him, whether through prayer, reading and reflecting on His Word, doing a Bible study or worship night, or attending a church gathering. In Luke 7, a woman “who lived a sinful life” came to Jesus and, weeping, anointed His feet with perfume and wiped them with her hair (verses 37-38). While some people looked down on her, Jesus defended her. He said that her sins were forgiven, and He explained that her actions were done out of love for God. Then He told her to “go in peace” (verse 50). Like this woman, we can come to Jesus knowing that He will accept us. When we admit our sin to Him and accept His gift of eternal life through His death and resurrection, we too can go in peace knowing that we are forever loved by God. Our peace comes from knowing we have a secure future with Jesus. Through faith, we have an unshakeable hope wherever we go, no matter what the future holds. It&#8217;s peace during a challenging exam or a bad storm. It&#8217;s peace in health challenges and family struggles. It&#8217;s peace in war and persecution. It&#8217;s peace that passes understanding. Our world is broken by sin and full of chaos, but with Jesus, we can have peace no matter what we face because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). • Abby Ciona • Can you think of a time you came into God&#8217;s peace, either by yourself or with others? • Read Colossians 3:12-17. According to these verses, what does it look like to live in the peace that Jesus has given us? Who can you share Jesus&#8217;s peace with today? Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Heb.3.1-Heb.3.6|Heb.4.14-Heb.4.16|Heb.10.19-Heb.10.23

We tend to feel confident when the people in our lives respect us and celebrate our accomplishments. We feel good when we do big things. But when we are struggling and no one seems to notice us, we might start to question our value. As humans, we want to impress others and to be accepted by them. It&#8217;s hard when we feel like no one sees us. In those times, it&#8217;s important to remember that God sees us and He loves us. God created you just the way you are. The parts of yourself that you like, the parts of yourself that you don&#8217;t like—He made every part of you. He created you in His image, and Jesus said, “You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). God showed how precious you are to Him when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so that you could be accepted into God&#8217;s family. You have value because God made you and He claims you as His own. God sees you every day, whether you are accomplishing big things or just getting through each hour. You don&#8217;t have to do anything special to capture the attention of the One who made you. If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that you are God&#8217;s precious child, a child He celebrates. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel like you need to do something impressive to get people to notice or value you? • God says that you are precious to Him, and you don&#8217;t need to do anything to earn His love. Jesus has already done everything that was needed by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. How might this truth free you to follow God in love and gratitude? • If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 1:27; Romans 15:7; and Ephesians 5:1-2. But to all who believed him [Jesus] and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.14.27|Rom.15.13|Phil.4.4-Phil.4.9|2Thess.3.16

Recently, I was on a flight from Chicago. Shortly after takeoff, we reached our cruising altitude. The pilot warned us about some possible turbulence. &#8220;No big deal,&#8221; I thought. Suddenly, the plane dropped. A lot. It probably lasted barelytwo seconds. The oxygen masks didn&#8217;t even fall from the ceiling. But there was an audible gasp from the passengers as our stomachs seemed to fly upward. The guy next to me turned a ghastly white. Up till that moment, I had felt a bit sleepy, but the rush of adrenaline canceled my nap. I was reminded of the adrenaline-filled incident in Mark 4 when the disciples and Jesus are traveling by boat across the Sea of Galilee. A sudden storm erupts, and the disciples, many of them experienced fishermen, panic when water begins to gather in the boat. Unlike my brief adrenaline rush, I&#8217;m sure the disciples worked feverishly to right the small boat. They rowed hard against the storm, but they seemed to be losing. And Jesus? Mark tells us Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the boat. That may seem hard to believe, but I&#8217;m sure He was exhausted after days of teaching, healing, and traveling. Besides, we fear what we cannot control. Thus, Jesus had no fear. No aspect of creation fell outside His dominion—sickness and death,all aspects of nature, demonic powers—all of them are subject to Jesus&#8217;s power. Colossians 1:16 tells us that “in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth.” The next verse adds, “in him all things hold together.” Whether it&#8217;s airplane turbulence or the turbulence of our own lives, we fear the unknown. But the cross of Christ can overcome that fear. I can&#8217;t control the events of life, but I know the One who can. I can panic at the waves or turn to the One who overcame death and secured my salvation. Trust Him with your life, and He will secure it as surely as He calmed the waves and settled the storm. • Mike Hurley • We all have times when we feel afraid (Psalm 56:3). In these times, God invites us to rely on His sure love for us (1 John 4:13-19). How might knowing that Jesus is greater than everything help us to have courage even when things feel out of control? For in him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.135.4|Zeph.3.17|1John.3.1|John.1.12

I have days when I wonder, &#8220;How am I going to get through this?&#8221; It feels like the things I need to do and the steps I have to take are too much for me. I wonder if I will be strong enough to keep moving forward. But in the times when I feel like I am not enough and that I am too weak, I can reach out to God. When I don&#8217;t have the power to take on the things that I need to do, I turn to the One who made me and who definitely has more power than I have. The One who loves me and who came to be with me. God knows that we need Him, and He wants us to come to Him for help. The Bible makes it clear that we don&#8217;t have to be ashamed of our weaknesses. Rather, God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). On the days when you feel the weakest, God is there, ready to be strong for you. In the times when you don&#8217;t know if you are going to make it, God is still working. He wants to come beside you and give you strength. God strengthens us through the Holy Spirit. If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit in you, empowering you to do what God calls you to do. Sometimes God will call you to press on through difficulties, and other times He will call you to take a rest. Whatever the case, He will be with you through it all. How amazing is it that we serve a God who not only sent His Son to save us but who is also willing to step into our lives and help us? How amazing is it that He will be strong for us when we cannot be strong on our own? • Emily Acker • Can you think of a time you felt weak and God helped you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. • Where in your life do you need strength today? Do you feel like you can talk to God about this? The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Exodus 15:2a (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Mark.4.35-Mark.4.41|Col.1.16-Col.1.17

I used to have a little baby bird that I raised all on my own. Her parents neglected her since she was disabled and not as strong as the rest of her siblings. I fed her many times a day, including getting up twice a night (even on school nights) so that she would get enough food to become strong. She needed a lot of care, but I was willing to put in the effort to try and save her life. Even when I thought that my bird might not be able to survive, I never gave up on her. So, day by day, little by little, my bird became stronger. With the right amount of care, she was able to become a perfectly healthy bird. In the same way, Jesus doesn&#8217;t ever give up on us either. When nobody else believes in us, Jesus stays right by our side. He is always there for us, whether we&#8217;re doing great or we&#8217;re at our absolute worst. He will continue to help us, and we don&#8217;t need to do anything to earn that help. Jesus is the God of healing and miracles. He cares about all our hurts, and He came so that we could be made whole. He will be with us, and He will continue to love us and care for us, no matter what. • Hanna Leopold • Have you ever felt like that baby bird? How might it give you hope to know that Jesus never gives up on you? • If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we can look forward to the day He will return and put an end to sickness and pain forever. There is so much brokenness in our world, but Jesus has come to restore. Even now, God is bringing healing and wholeness all over creation. And He invites us to be part of this good work, extending kindness and compassion wherever we go. How could you show God&#8217;s love today? He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles&#8230; Isaiah 40:29-31 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.40.28-Isa.40.31|2Cor.12.5-2Cor.12.10|Exod.15.2

If we are honest, at one time or another we all have doubts about our faith, what God is doing in our lives, or God&#8217;s character. In Mark 9, a man brought his son, who had been possessed by a demon sincechildhood, to Jesus for healing. The father said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (verse 22). Jesus replied, “Everything is possible for the one who believes” (verse 23). The father immediately cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (verse 24). Jesus did not rebuke this father for his doubts. Jesus healed his son. What a beautiful picture of how Jesus cares for us in our suffering and doubts! In times of doubt and questions, we can echo this father&#8217;s simple yet powerful words: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” God won&#8217;t rebuke you for your honest cries to Him, He will pull you close and remind you of who He is. Another day, Jesus miraculously walked on water, and He invited Peter to join Him. So Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus! But when Peter saw the waves and began to sink, he cried out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus did—immediately. Peter was in the middle of the miracle of walking on water when he had doubts. And Jesus gently reminded Peter that He was with him. Peter trusted Jesus to save him in the midst of his doubt. After Jesus&#8217;s resurrection, Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them, and Thomas said that he would not believe Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw Jesus with his own eyes. Instead of leaving Thomas drowning in a pool of doubt, Jesus appeared to him and gave him what he needed. Even though Jesus&#8217;s disciples walked with Him and saw His miracles firsthand, they still had doubts (Matthew 28:16-17). When that inevitable doubt comes knocking, what should we do? We can cry out to Jesus. He wants to reveal Himself to us. He wants to help us know Him. And as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we are afraid, we can remember that God is with us—He is our strength and help (Isaiah 41:10). We can fix our minds on God&#8217;s truth (Philippians 4:8) and remind our hearts that nothing can separate us from God&#8217;s love (Romans 8:39). • Savannah Coleman • Even when Thomas was doubting, he stayed with the other disciples. Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with when you are doubting? “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24b (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.13.4-1Cor.13.13|Phil.1.6|Isa.40.29-Isa.40.31

I recently learned of two newborn babies who died, mere days and weeks after being born. Having a baby of my own, learning of such tragedies breaks my heart. I look at my sweet baby boy and hug him a little tighter, thankful for the gift of a healthy baby. But I can&#8217;t help but ask, “Why, Lord? Why is there so much sorrow and grief andsuffering in this world? Why is life filled with such heavy things as babies dying?” As I mulled over these things, the Lord reminded me of Romans 8, a passage that spoke comfort to my own heart a few years ago when I walked through my own season of heartache. This passage describes our world as being “subjected to futility” and being in bondage (verses 20-21). You see, the world as we know it now is not the way God originally created it to be. When God created the world, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed” (Genesis 1:31). But when humans went their own way against God, everything changed. Humanity became sinful, and the world groaned under the curse of their sin. But take hope! It won&#8217;t always be this way. Revelation 21:3-5 declares that the day will come when once again, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more grief and pain. No more sin. We can be sure of this hope because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead—defeating sin, death, disease, and sickness once and for all, and making a way for everyone who puts their trust in Him to be forgiven. When Jesus returns, every wrong will be made right. However, we&#8217;re not there yet. We still live in this world that is marked by the heartache of the effects of sin. Perhaps you have personally experienced the great sorrow of losing someone you love dearly. Suffering in this life is real. We cannot deny it. But as we suffer, we can cling to the hope of what is yet to come: one day, God will make all things right. • Angela Stanley • Where do you see brokenness? How can God&#8217;s promise to make all things new give you hope? • Do you feel like you can talk to God about the sorrows you experience? God sees all the brokenness of His creation, and He is filled with compassion for us. Through His death and resurrection, He made the way for us to come to Him. He invites us to process the hurt, grieve the wrongness with Him, and receive His peace (Romans 15:13). Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:5 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.14.22-Matt.14.36|Mark.9.14-Mark.9.29|John.20.24-John.20.29

Abeo sat alone in his room. He heard laughing and talking coming from downstairs. “Are they singing?” He laid back on his bed. He&#8217;d told everyone that he wanted to be alone. He really wished that they would miss him down there, though. There was part of him that hoped someone would come up by him and insist that he join them. The night went on and no one came to get him. None of his family&#8217;s guests came up to tell him goodbye before they left. Abeo stretched out on his bed, tears welling in his eyes. He was lonely when he was with people, but even lonelier when he was alone in his room. All he wanted was to be loved and to know that he was accepted. Reading in Psalms the next day, Abeo could understand the pain of the psalmist and how he felt alone in the world. As the psalmist cried out to God, Abeo cried out right along with him. He wanted to feel God&#8217;s presence. And then, Abeo started to feel that God was there with him. He started to feel God&#8217;s love and compassion. Sitting by himself in his room, suddenly Abeo knew that he wasn&#8217;t alone. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel alone, even when others are around? In times of loneliness, God invites you to come to Him. • God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other. But when humans went their own way against God, our relationship with Him was broken. Because we live in a world that&#8217;s been broken by sin, we all experience loneliness and have difficulty navigating relationships. Yet God doesn&#8217;t leave us alone. He came for us. He took on flesh to dwell among us. Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has made a way for us to be restored to relationship with God. If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that you are loved and accepted by the One who Created you—and you are part of His family, the church! God calls His people to love and accept each other (Romans 15:7; 1 Peter 1:22). How might God be giving you opportunities to reach out to others who are lonely? All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. Psalm 38:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.18-Rom.8.30|Rev.21.1-Rev.21.7

The psalmists weren&#8217;t afraid to admit when they were afraid. They even talked about feeling abandoned by God. Some of my favorite psalms are those that cry out desperately to God. You can feel the writers&#8217; authenticity. You can feel their struggle. It&#8217;s easy for me to relate to what was going on with them. These psalms remind me that God is not against our honesty. He knows what is on our hearts anyway (Psalm 139:1-4), and He invites us to tell Him when we are afraid or when we are feeling alone. When Jesus was in agony on the cross, He cried out in the words of Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46). In the same way, we can be honest with God. We can also talk to others about the way we feel. When we are frustrated with life, when we feel like God has abandoned us, it&#8217;s important that we reach out to other Christians who will listen to us and pray with us. As the body of Christ, we are called to encourage one another and remind each other that God is trustworthy and compassionate. Like the psalmists, we all go through struggles. At times, we find ourselves wondering why God is doing the things He is doing. In these times, the psalms can give us words to express our hearts to God, and they can help us remember His goodness and praise Him again. We don&#8217;t need to be afraid to ask for help, prayer, and encouragement when we need it. Like the psalmists, we can be honest with God, and with one another. • Bethany Acker • Can you think of a time you felt discouraged, alone, or afraid? Did you feel like you could talk to God during that time? Why or why not? • Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with about what you&#8217;re going through? And how can you be a good friend to others when they are struggling? For you, Lord, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Psalm 116:8 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.62.5-Ps.62.8|Ps.142|Ps.38.9

Do you get frustrated with the amount of stuff accumulating in your space? For some of us, it&#8217;s easy to get things&#8230;but not as easy to get rid of those items when they are no longer being used. Although the Israelites in the Bible did not necessarily have the issue of accumulating too many possessions, it&#8217;s possible that the root cause of their problems was similar to my own when it comes to material possessions. Soon after God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they needed food. To provide for His people, God sent bread, known as manna, from heaven. Each morning, the Israelites were to gather just enough to last for the day; the exception was on the sixth day of the week when they were to gather enough for the seventh day as well. But when some of the people gathered too much and kept it until the next day (besides the seventh day), the manna bred worms. Because they kept the manna overnight, the very thing they had needed one day became a burden the next. God was inviting His people to depend on Him daily. The Israelites simply needed to trust God and follow His instructions, and they would have enough food to eat (without having to deal with worms). Similarly, God invites us to trust Him daily. Though we should not be wasteful, we sometimes hold on to things too long. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that you have accumulated, maybe it&#8217;s time to get rid of some of it and trust God to provide for your needs in the future. • Jennifer Miller • We don&#8217;t need to hoard because God cares for us, and He provides for His people. When have you seen God provide for a need in your life? • Are you holding on to something you don&#8217;t need that could be a blessing to someone else? Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.” Exodus 16:4a (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.88|Ps.116.3-Ps.116.6

I swam to an old sea cave before the battle. Our odds of winning were beyond scary. Soon my kingdom could be enslaved to the Sinades again. There was already talk of surrender. Once inside, I removed my helmet and wept the salt into the water. My armor clanked as I fell to the sea floor. I was not equipped for this. How could I possibly save my people? I knew what I must do. I began untwining the straps that held my armor to my scales and placed it in a pile. Once I was unburdened from my armor, I closed my eyes and whispered, salt still streaming from my eyes. “Oh Lord, Protector of the sun and sea, this armor will do me no good. Only you can affect what is needed. I surrender this armor to you.” I breathed slowly, remembering our history. “You have been the one leading us. You are the one who died and rose from the dead to let us live in your freedom.” I floated in silence, letting this warm truth envelop me. “Save us once more so that we may raise the seas to your glory.” &#8220;You trust me?&#8221; I felt the question ripple through the waters. I could only nod. &#8220;Sink your armor.&#8221; With a gulp, I pushed my armor down a dark crevice in the cave. It sank into the depths from which things never returned. Then I heard, &#8220;Now go.&#8221; Fear quivered down my fins as I looked at my bare arms. I clamped my eyes shut. “Oh, please Lord, give me your armor lest I fail and die!” &#8220;Oh, dearest child. See, I have given you my armor.&#8221; “Where is it?” I looked again at my bareness. &#8220;I sunk it beneath your skin. It will protect you.&#8221; “No one will see it.” &#8220;That is how they will know that it was I who rescued you. Now go.&#8221; I trembled but began to leave. I stopped at the mouth of the cave. I almost smiled. “They will certainly laugh&#8230;both sides.” I could hear the smile in the Protector&#8217;s voice. &#8220;They always do.&#8221; • Abigail Scibiur • We live in a broken world, and the enemy is out to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). But Jesus came to save us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has guaranteed His victory over the evil one. Jesus fights our battles for us, and He also gives His armor to His followers. If we&#8217;ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit in us, empowering us to take our stand against the devil. Yet, our help always comes from Jesus, not ourselves. How might this truth give you comfort? Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Ephesians 6:10 (CSB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Exod.16.1-Exod.16.5|Exod.16.14-Exod.16.32|Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34

My heart aches for unity in the church. I see so many divisions—Christians disregarding each other, judging, shaming, excluding&#8230;and I feel powerless. Unity seems impossible. One day I shared my feelings with my church small group, and then one of my friends shared John 17:20-26. In this passage, Jesus was sharing the Passover meal with His disciples, a hodge-podge group of fishermen, tax collectors, political radicals&#8230;you get the picture. Jesus knew that in mere hours, one of them would betray Him, another would deny Him, and the rest would abandon Him. So, what did Jesus do? He prayed for them. And not just for the people who were following Him that day, but also for everyone who would believe in Him in the future. That includes us. It brings tears to my eyes when I realize Jesus prayed for us, for me, thousands of years before we were born. He knew us even then. He knew that we would all betray Him, deny Him, and run away from Him&#8230;and yet He loved us (Ephesians 1:4-6). When Jesus prayed for us, He prayed that we would be unified, that we would be one like Jesus and God the Father are one. Wow. When I look at the hodge-podge group of people who make up the church, many who I don&#8217;t agree with or even understand (and who don&#8217;t agree with or understand me), who have opposing perspectives on politics, how to interpret Scripture, and how to love others well—I think, &#8220;How could we possibly be unified?&#8221; But the freeing thing is, it&#8217;s not up to us to unify ourselves. God is the only one who can. And He wants to. He gives the Holy Spirit to those who&#8217;ve put their trust in Jesus, and the same Spirit empowers each of us to love and serve each other like Jesus loves and serves us. Unity in the church is possible because God&#8217;s love is stronger than anything. Jesus&#8217;s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead have covered over every wrongdoing, every offense, everything that separates us from God and each other. We will experience complete unity when Jesus returns, and it will be beautiful. But I believe we also get to experience some of that unity here and now as we live in God&#8217;s love. My friend from small group told us she&#8217;d begun reading John 17:20-26 daily and praying Jesus&#8217;s prayer along with Him. So, I started doing the same thing. As I read, I am agreeing with Jesus&#8217;s prayer, agreeing with what God wants to do, and asking Him to do it. • Hannah Howe • Where have you seen unity or disunity in the church? Consider taking a moment to pray. “I pray also for those who will believe&#8230;that all of them may be one&#8230;” John 17:20b-21a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Sam.17.23-1Sam.17.50|Eph.6.10-Eph.6.18

June 4, 1942. Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the Pearl Harbor attack, was steaming across the ocean on the aircraft carrier Akagi, alongside the powerful Japanese navy. Six months after crippling the United States Pacific Fleet in Hawaii,he was poised to destroy another target—the US airfields of Midway. Fuchida felt invincible—except for a ruptured appendix. After surgery, he was recovering on the flight deck, when he saw American Dauntless bombers divingstraight for him. “Hell-divers!” a lookout screamed. A one thousand-pound bomb rocked the ship. During the attack, Fuchida broke both of his ankles. The explosions and fires eventually brought the Akagi to a watery grave, along with three other carriers and over three hundred of Japan&#8217;s best planes and pilots. Fuchida, unable to walk, was rescued and taken to a nearby destroyer. He later found that everyone else in the sick bay, which he left before the attack, had died from a direct hit. On August 5, 1945, Fuchida was ordered from Hiroshima to Yamato. The next day, the United States&#8217; atomic bomb flattened Hiroshima. Fuchida had barely escaped. Later, he accompanied a search party to assess the damage. One by one, every member of his group died from radiation poisoning. Only Fuchida survived. After the war, Fuchida became very bitter. He hated the Americans for destroying his country. One day, he read a tract that led him to the Bible. Soon he came to Jesus&#8217;s words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Fuchida realized Jesus was praying for him! Then, Fuchida began a new life with his Savior. Until his death, Fuchida was an international evangelist, preaching the power of Christ to replace hatred with love. • Jonathon Baker • Have you experienced Jesus&#8217;s radical forgiveness? If you want to learn more, our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page. • Do you have any hatred or bitterness in your life? How might Christ&#8217;s prayer of forgiveness make a difference to you? But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.15.5-Rom.15.7|1Cor.12.4-1Cor.12.14|John.17.20-John.17.26

Have you ever been reading a Bible passage and a certain word or phrase keeps popping up over and over again? That happens to me with the word good when I read the book of Titus, and it&#8217;s why I think one of the main themes of Titus is “doing what is good.” The book of Titus is known as one of Paul&#8217;s pastoral letters. Paul wrote it to instruct and give advice to Titus, who had been put in charge of organizing the churches on the island of Crete. In this letter, Paul gives Titus advice about choosing church leaders, about how those in the church should relate to one another, and about avoiding false teachings and division among believers. Paul also focuses on the link between belief and behavior. Good works are evidence of a heart that has been changed through faith in Jesus. Doing good does not make you a Christian, but the more you get to know Jesus, the more you will desire to do what is good. Paul emphasizes this as he tells Titus that those who believe in Jesus should: Love what is good (Titus 1:8). Teach what is good (2:3). Do what is good (2:7). Be eager to do what is good (2:14). Be ready to do what is good (3:1). Be devoted to doing what is good (3:8, 14). Yet even as Paul urges these Christians in Crete to do good, he also makes it clear that God&#8217;s kindness and love toward us are not dependent on anything we do. Rather, God saved us because He is merciful. Our own goodness can never be enough to save us from sin and death, but God—in His infinite goodness—sent Jesus to die and raise from the dead so that we could live with Him forever. When we confess our sins to Him and put our trust in Jesus to save us, He changes our hearts so that we overflow with His goodness. Then He calls us to share that goodness with others. • Marie Cleveland • Have you ever tried to “do good” to earn God&#8217;s approval? In Titus, we see that God loves us no matter what we do. How might this knowledge affect the way we go about “doing good”? But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:4-5a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Tim.1.12-1Tim.1.17

As a daughter of missionaries, I had memorized John 3:16 in both English and Portuguese. I knew that God loved me and that Christ had died for me. But it still felt like a generic kind of love. So, God loves me. But with what kind of love does He love me? In a letter to the Christians in Galatia, Paul declares, “When the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children” (Galatians 4:4-5). We see here the purpose for Christ&#8217;s death and resurrection: to adopt us as God&#8217;s children. What does it mean to be adopted? Adoption is the process that makes a child, who was not originally part of a family, now part of that family. When a child is adopted, they can take on their new family&#8217;s name and identity. The legal process of a child becoming part of a new family provides an incredible picture of what happened to me when I trusted Christ as my Savior: I was adopted into—made part of—God&#8217;s family. As Galatians 4 says, Christ died for my sins (every evil thing I&#8217;ve done, said, and thought—past, present, and future), and He rose from the dead so that I might be adopted as God&#8217;s child. I became part of God&#8217;s royal family. I went from being an enemy of God to being His precious child and a joint heir with Christ (Romans 5:10; 8:17). If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Jesus, believing that He died for your sins and God raised Him from the dead, God has also adopted you. Once you were not a part of God&#8217;s family, but now you are His child, beloved and precious. With what kind of love does God love us? With the love of a father. • Angela Stanley • Have you put your trust in Jesus and been adopted into God&#8217;s family? If you have questions about this, who is a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to? (You can also find more information on our &#8220;Know Jesus&#8221; page.) • How might knowing that God loves you as His child affect how you understand His love? See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1a (WEB) &nbsp; Read Verses: Titus.3.3-Titus.3.8|Eph.2.8-Eph.2.10|Titus.2.11-Titus.2.14

People can push us down and mess with our minds. When others treat us wrongly, we can get into a dark place mentally and be scared to keep moving forward. When we have enemies coming against us, it can be hard for us to stay positive or keep our trust in God. In Psalm 143, we can see that David felt the same way. He writes, “The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead” (verse 3). And in this dark time, David cries out to God: “My spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed&#8230;Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails” (verses 4, 7). David knows that the people who have been pushing against him have affected his energy and the way he feels about life. He doesn&#8217;t want those people to destroy him. So David cries out to God, wanting to receive the hope and strength he needs to keep living. He tells God about his enemies, and he also remembers God&#8217;s unfailing love, saying, “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” (verse 5). Even as David asks God for help, saying, “Show me the way I should go&#8230;Rescue me from my enemies&#8230;Teach me to do your will&#8230;preserve my life” (verses 8-11), David also expresses his trust in God with words like, “To you I entrust my life&#8230;I hide myself in you” (verse 8-9). There are times when life will get to us, and certain people around us will make us feel like quitting. When we are tired and worn out, we can cry out to God like David did. We can ask God to show us how good He is and remind us that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20). As Christians, we can rest in Jesus&#8217;s compassion for us and rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us and remind us of all Jesus said (John 14:26). And we can look forward to the day Jesus will return to right every wrong. Just like David knew that he could rely on God and trust Him to be faithful, we can too. • Emily Acker • What do you have going on in your life right now that is making your spirit weak? How might God be inviting you to come to Him? Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Psalm 143:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Gal.4.4-Gal.4.7|1John.1.3

&#8220;Laila, don&#8217;t go in!” I yell, as my friend opens the door of an abandoned hut in the hills. “You can&#8217;t.” Ignoring my pleas, she whispers, her dark eyes staring back at me, “It&#8217;s not whatyou think. I have to, and you will too.” Within seconds, the door creaks shut behind her and is locked. I bang on the hut, calling her name, but there is no response. Prowling around, I realize there are no windows, only a sign: &#8220;The Hurting Room.&#8221; “God, please let her come out of there,” I pray, wishing I&#8217;d understood her instructions. How long I wait, praying, heart thumping, I do not know. The door springs open. I step inside, but Laila has gone. “Laila,” I call. “Laila. Are you in there?” No reply. I&#8217;m inside a charcoal room. My skin prickles and my head pounds. Then, surging inside, my body creaks with physical pain, every illness I&#8217;ve ever had manifests itself inside of me. Unable to think, nausea rising up inside, struggling to cope, the physical pain subsides. Next, mental anguish wraps itself inside of me. Conversations bounce around the empty room. Tears from a time before fall again, and rage burns within until every emotion spins itself inside and outside of me. “Make it stop—please stop!” I cry out, my voice shaking. “God, help me.” A bright light outshines the darkness. The charcoal gray transforms to yellow, then gold. I shield my eyes for a moment. My bruised skin is anointed with overflowing oil. The love swirling around me cancels out the pain and sadness. “I will take your hurts, I will wear them like scars on my skin and transform you,” echoes the light. “Hurt no more. I was crucified to bring you life. I am He who heals.” For a few moments, or maybe hours, I lie in the presence of the Healer and don&#8217;t want to leave. “Arise, be free,” whispers a voice in my soul. I stand up. Healed. The hut has disappeared. Laila stands next to me, a radiant smile on her face. • Cindy Lee • Because we live in a world that has been broken by sin, we all experience pain and suffering. But Jesus died and rose again to bring us healing. When we come to Him with our pain, He grieves with us and turns our suffering into hope (Romans 5:3-5). Where do you need healing? O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.143

Four different authors wrote accounts of Jesus&#8217;s life (called Gospels), and three of them recorded one of my favorite stories about Jesus: His interaction with a woman who bled for twelve years. This woman had spent over a decade suffering physically, but on top of that, in that culture she would&#8217;ve been considered “unclean.” She probably felt isolated, lonely, and hopeless. But then, she saw Jesus in a crowd. She edged her way toward Him until she was close enough to touch Him. She thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed” (Matthew 9:21). So she touched Him. The Gospels of Mark and Luke tell the rest of the story in a similar way. After the woman touched Jesus&#8217;s cloak, she was immediately healed. Jesus knew someone had touched Him, and He asked, “Who touched me?” Then the woman fell at His feet and shared the truth with Jesus and with the crowd. Jesus told her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48). Matthew&#8217;s Gospel gives us less detail. In his account, after the woman touches Jesus&#8217;s cloak, Matthew writes, “Jesus turned and saw her” (Matthew 9:22), then told her that her faith had healed her. I like to think Jesus knew right away who had touched Him. That He wanted the woman to come forward, but He saw her through the crowd. He saw her years of suffering. He saw her need to be healed, but also her need to be seen and known and loved. Have you ever felt like this woman? Like you&#8217;ve been waiting for healing for so long, but you&#8217;re not sure it will ever come? You are not alone. Jesus sees you. He&#8217;s waiting for you to fall at His feet and give Him your hurting heart. He is the God of healing. He fills our broken places with peace and love. All we need to do is reach out and touch His cloak. • Becca Wierwille • Have you ever experienced a time of loneliness, isolation, or suffering like this woman? What fears or anxieties do you think she might&#8217;ve had? • While we can always ask God for healing, sometimes it won&#8217;t happen the way we want it to right away. But God always meets us with love and compassion when we come to Him. And we can know with certainty that when Jesus returns, He will fully heal all our hurts. Where do you need hope today? How might God be inviting you to reach out to Him? Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Isa.53.4-Isa.53.5|John.1.5|1Pet.2.24|Jer.17.14

Do you find yourself reaching for the tissues at the end of a movie? Are you someone who chokes up when you hear a tragic news report? I am. Do you sometimes feel ashamed for shedding tears that you want to hide away? Believe me, I can empathize. Growing up, I was (and still am) very sensitive about everything and anything. There were certain shows I would avoid—anything to do with animals was a definite no—because I couldn&#8217;t cope with the emotions welling up inside of me. Music would have me swallowing back tears, and novels would have me sobbing in the night when everyone else was asleep. The news, especially concerning the elderly, would touch a nerve and stick with me for days. For a long time, I was ashamed. When I was particularly saddened by something, I would walk away or switch something off. I was jealous of those people who didn&#8217;t cry easily. In fact, I wished I was like them because I believed they were tough. Emotions were an embarrassing weakness that I wanted to hide but somehow couldn&#8217;t. My tactic was avoidance. Now, I&#8217;ve come to understand that being sensitive isn&#8217;t something to be ashamed of, and it can actually be a strength. You have a deep understanding of sorrow because you have experienced it yourself. It can be helpful to remember Jesus experienced and understands sorrow too (Hebrews 4:14-16). And remember that God made each of us wonderfully unique, and all different personality types are needed in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Some don&#8217;t cry easily and can keep people calm in a crisis, while others can create a compassionate space for people to process their emotions. We all need times we can think deeply, as well as times we can laugh. God created us to use our differences to love and serve one another. • Cindy Lee • What kind of temperament has God given you? How might you be able to serve others? • If you&#8217;re feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, it&#8217;s okay to ask people for help. If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.9.20-Matt.9.22|Mark.5.25-Mark.5.34|Luke.8.43-Luke.8.48

While talking to one of my friends, I was refreshed by their honesty about a current situation: “I was angry&#8230;but God can handle our feelings.” There is often the temptation to put on the mask of perfection or plaster on a smile when our world feels like it&#8217;s falling apart. My friend understood: God does not want us to stuff our feelings inside and suffer silently, He wants us to be real. He desires all of us: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Romans 8:1 breathes life into whatever we may be going through: in Jesus, there is no condemnation. As children of the King, we are His forever, and our spirits testify to this truth along with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-16). We have a God who desires that we come to Him with all our burdens and worries because He cares for us so deeply (1 Peter 5:7). There was a woman in ancient Israel who got real with God. Hannah had been longing for a child of her own for years, and her soul was consumed with grief. While worshipping at the Lord&#8217;s house, Hannah poured out her tears, bitterness, and anguish before the Lord. She was so raw and real that Eli, the high priest, accused her of being drunk. In response to the accusation, Hannah replied, “I was pouring out my soul to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:15). We will all walk through inevitable times of darkness, but we can follow the example of Hannah and countless others who have gone before us. We can pour out our hearts to God. The Psalms give ugly-beautiful raw pictures of many who suffered and chose to bring their struggles to God. Psalm 88 is filled with phrases such as: “I am overwhelmed&#8230;my eyes are dim with grief&#8230;darkness is my closest friend.” In the midst of all this realness&#8230;is beauty. Verse 13 says, “But I cry to you for help, Lord&#8230;” Not only does God hear our cries, He accepts us fully. May we allow this knowledge to draw us close to Him in our times of suffering and struggle. May we pour out our hearts to Him and choose to praise Him in the middle of the mess. • Savannah Coleman • Do you tend to try to hide your pain and struggles from God or from those around you? Remember that God can handle your feelings—anger, sorrow, confusion, and everything in between. He simply desires that you cry out to Him. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.6.6-Ps.6.9

Wandering, lost, and alone. How long have I been like this? My sins are against me, sapping my strength. Bones wasting away, I groan in agony. Those I had trusted in betrayed and enslaved me—quite honestly, my own evil heart enslaved me. This heart is as hard as stone, my transgressions heavy from the time of my birth. Have mercy, God. Wash away my sins! Your love is great, your mercies are endless! I confess my evil ways, my tendency to roam, my search for meaning and satisfaction in everything that is not You. What will I, this stubborn sheep who has strayed so far, offer my Shepherd? I know He will not turn me away when I come to Him—He will not despise a heart full of brokenness and sorrow for my sins. Create in me a heart of purity, my God! Make my heart steadfast; cover me with Your forgiveness. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh! My Shepherd turns to me with love in His eyes, arms open wide. I hear Him whisper to my soul, “I will gather you back&#8230;I will cleanse you from everything impure&#8230;I will give you a new heart, a new spirit&#8230;I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Are you willing to lay down your idols?” I contemplate the things I once thought would fill me, those pseudo-gods. My soul aches with emptiness and longing, and I know—I know. “Will it hurt?” My voice is barely a whisper. Sorrow shines in His eyes. “Yes. But I already endured the deepest pain for you.” It is then that I notice the nail scars in His hands. I nod, and He reaches deep. His hand finds my lifeless heart—a cold mess of hardened tissue, muscle, and valve. I gasp as He removes this mass of stone from my chest. I watch as the Shepherd covers my heart of stone with His nail-scarred hands. He breathes on those hands, my heart inside. Then, I hear it, the unbelievably sweet sound of a heart beating, deep and even. He opens His hands and therein lies a new heart—a heart of flesh. • Savannah Coleman • Ezekiel prophesied that God would save His people through Jesus—He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for us, His sheep (John 10:11). What do you think it means that God will remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh? “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Sam.1.1-1Sam.1.20|Ps.88|Ps.62.8

Are you getting enough sleep? So many of us are sleep-deprived; studies show we are tired at school, tired at work, and tired when we are driving our cars. During our teen years, most of us need eight to ten hours of sleep every night. That&#8217;s hard to get if we are worried or stressed about the day ahead. We may push stress to the back of our minds during the day, but at night, our minds circle around our problems. Sleep and worry do not mix. Yet God has compassion on us. He invites us to give our worries to Him in prayer. He not only hears us, He helps us with the problems we face. Psalm 3 was written by King David when he was fleeing the rebellion led by his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15). David was literally running for his life! As the psalm begins, David cries out to God about the danger he is facing: “Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!” But by verses 4 and 5, David is reminded that the God he trusts is faithful: “I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” David was able to rest at night, even when he was in danger. He gave his troubles to God, knowing that God would help him. If you are troubled by worries and fears at night, you are not alone. If you&#8217;ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that God is with you, even in the darkness. He is more powerful than anything that troubles us, and He invites us to give all our concerns to Him. And the Holy Spirit helps us remember God&#8217;s goodness and rest in His love. Some Christians make it a practice to come to God in prayer before bed, or meditate on Scripture or a song of praise as they drift off. Some find they can rest easier after they have a time of reflection and confession at the end of the day. No matter what is going on in our lives, we can trust God will help us with whatever the new day brings. And we can rest in His promises. • Laura N. Sweet • What kinds of thoughts keep you up at night? Worries, guilt, regret, fear&#8230;? God invites us to come to Him with all these things, and to rest in His love, forgiveness, and protection. • Sleep is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Sometimes, we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that&#8217;s okay. If you have difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor? In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ezek.11.16-Ezek.11.21|Ezek.36.24-Ezek.36.28|Ps.32.1-Ps.32.5|Ps.51

God strengthen me Sometimes I feel so weak God guide meSometimes I feel so lostGod hold meSometimes I feel aloneGod care for meSometimes I can&#8217;t care for myself God save meI cannot save myselfJesus, your sacrifice is enough for me I know you gave everythingLet me cling to your salvationI want to be yoursI want to be with youGod keep me going until you returnI want to honor you • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel so weak and empty, like there&#8217;s no way you can face what lies ahead without God&#8217;s help? God didn&#8217;t intend for us to try to get through life on our own. Rather, He came to save us, and He invites us to rely on Him for everything. Consider taking a moment to talk to God about whatever is weighing on you today. He longs to help you and to reassure you of His love. • Jesus died and rose again to be with us—and to save us from sin and brokenness. How can His sacrificial love bring you strength and comfort in hard times? ‘And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.&#8217; Acts 2:21 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Ps.3|Ps.4.8

In first grade, my teacher picked a leader for our class each day. The leader&#8217;s primary job consisted of taking the daily collection of lunch money to the school office. Additionally, the leader had the chance to select a classmate to join them on the trip to the office. We six-year-olds felt important marching the large envelope of coins and bills to the secretary who sat behind her desk, keeping the school running. Once my friend, who I&#8217;ll call Daniel, chose me as his lunch money buddy on his day to serve as class leader. We delivered the funds and began our walk back to the first-grade hall. But Daniel took a detour. I followed. Then he knocked loudly on another teacher&#8217;s door before skipping away. I stood alone at the door, confused and practically paralyzed. When the teacher opened her door, she scolded me and then turned away. I stumbled down the hall, rejoining Daniel and entering our own classroom. I don&#8217;t believe my friend&#8217;s intention that day was to get me in trouble. But his actions did lead to my embarrassment and a tongue-lashing from a teacher. Without knowing where Daniel was leading, I followed. It&#8217;s a mistake I wish I hadn&#8217;t made. While human leaders often disappoint us, God is always a trustworthy leader. When we put our trust in Jesus, the Son of God, for the forgiveness of our sins, we begin a relationship with Him, and He places His Spirit in us. The Spirit of God desires to lead us in decisions big and small. God realizes that we don&#8217;t do a good job of leading ourselves. Sometimes, we don&#8217;t know what to do, where to go—and sometimes, we follow the wrong leaders. When we look to God for wisdom and understanding, He will faithfully guide us. Our good Father wants to direct us down His good paths. • Allison Wilson Lee • Can you think of a time you followed someone and later regretted it? • Are you facing any decisions that seem overwhelming? How might God be inviting you to follow His guidance? Who is a trusted Christian you could talk to about this? He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Eph.2.1-Eph.2.9|Acts.2.21

&#8220;I must be the worst evangelist in the world,&#8221; I thought, as worry knitted itself inside of me. In church, I preferred being at the back, behind the scenes. Everyone around me was confident, talkative, and quickly put themselves on the frontline. I had heardabout the Holy Spirit transforming the disciples from quivering cowards to strong, bold preachers&#8230;but still my mouth was clamped shut. I wore my Christianity inside and avoided the limelight. I didn&#8217;t vocalize my beliefs because I was acutely aware that many people treated faith with derision and ridicule. Sometimes, I felt entirely alone, surrounded by worshipers in church who were not in my age group and wondering what on earth I could possibly have to offer others if I wasn&#8217;t prepared to open my mouth. What could I do to reveal God&#8217;s love for us, to share how He sent His Son, Jesus, to heal the broken relationship we had with Him? It was then that I discovered—while I might not shout out in prayer, preaching, or singing—I loved reading and knew the written word had the power to change lives. My gift wasn&#8217;t to try and be like everyone else. They had their skillset, and I had mine. My inner panic was slowly unlocked, and I found a freedom to express myself through writing what was in my heart. Joy filled up inside of me when I realized I could do something after all. You can too. If, like me, you are worried about speaking out, you don&#8217;t need to feel guilty or afraid. God&#8217;s love for you doesn&#8217;t depend on what you do, and He invites you to rest in His love and rely on His strength to use the gifts He has given you. The way we all preach is through loving the people around us, no matter what we happen to be doing at the time. There are different ways of speaking, preaching, and professing your faith. Maybe you will speak up through art, dance, acts of kindness, or having a quiet strength through adversity. Don&#8217;t chase what isn&#8217;t yours, but catch the skills our loving Father has given you. • Cindy Lee • Do you ever feel like it isn&#8217;t okay to be quiet? God made some of us to be naturally quiet, and He invites all of us to be quiet sometimes. It&#8217;s good to take time to think and reflect. • If you are naturally loud and extroverted, how could you support the quieter people in your life? Consider asking them, and remember to take time to listen to their ideas. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) &nbsp; Read Verses: Rom.8.14|Ps.25.1-Ps.25.11

The next morning, we continued down the forest path. After a couple hours, we came to a clearing on the top of a hill. I set down my pack with a grunt. My shoulders were sore where the straps had been digging in. He gestured to my pack and said, “That&#8217;s a heavy load.” I stooped down to check the straps and buckles. “Has to be,” I replied. “Why?” He asked. I looked at Him for a moment, then started pulling things out to show Him. “I need all these things.” Tools and rope and food and clothes and flint and kindling and more&#8230;I took everything out and laid it on the ground all around me. Finally, I looked up at Him again. He surveyed all my things, carefully picking up each object. Sometimes, He smiled, other times His eyes grew sad. I watched Him and held my breath. “I know—I know,” I said. “It&#8217;s too much. But I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;ll need.” He looked at me with the tenderest compassion. “That&#8217;s a heavy load.” I could feel tears starting to roll down my cheeks. Where did I set my kerchief? He held out His own clean kerchief to me. Hesitantly, I took it and blew my nose. “Would you like something to eat?” He asked. My eyes darted to the last of my stale bread, and my stomach made a noise. He continued, “How about some soup?” I looked all around, but He didn&#8217;t seem to have anything with Him. He smiled, then reached inside the folds of His cloak and pulled out two steaming bowls. I took one uncertainly, but then I smelled it—leeks and carrots, my favorite. I muttered a thank you and took a sip. It was perfect. As we ate our soup, He leaned back and looked up at the sky, where clouds were skuttling across the great big blueness. I looked too. It was&#8230;peaceful. I finished my soup and let out a contented sigh. He smiled at me again. I was starting to like His smile. “You know,” He said, “you don&#8217;t have to carry that heavy pack anymore.” I felt a pang of guilt, and something deeper—fear? But I looked at Him and said, “I don&#8217;t know how not to.” He reached for my hand and held it. His hand was strong and kind. He said, “You&#8217;re traveling with me, remember? Do you trust me?” I looked at my pack, then at our empty bowls. Finally, I said, “I—I don&#8217;t know. I want to trust you.” He nodded and said, “That&#8217;s enough.” I took a deep breath. “Okay,” I said, and realized I was smiling. • Hannah Howe • Sometimes, it feels like we are never enough. Never prepared enough, strong enough, smart enough&#8230;But Jesus is always enough. How might God be inviting you to rely on Him today? “Come to me [Jesus], all you who are weary and burdened&#8230;” Matthew 11:28a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Cor.12.4-1Cor.12.11|1Pet.4.10-1Pet.4.11

After a while, I kept walking. Mercifully, the sun continued its course in the sky and no longer beat down on me. I pulled a crust of stale bread from my pack and ate as I walked. I tried to remember an old hymn to turn my thoughts to praise, but I was too tired to sing. Then I realized night was falling. The path sloped downward, and soon I wassurrounded by trees. &#8220;Great,&#8221; I thought. &#8220;I guess I chose the wrong way. What now, God? Should I go deeper into the forest? Should I turn around? What do I do!&#8221; I strained to get a better look at the path, the terrain, anything—but it was so difficult to see in the dark. My breath came faster. I rubbed at my eyes and realized I was crying. I sat on a rock, my head in my hands. I was so tired. So tired. “Dear one,” the words came on the breeze. “I&#8217;m here.” I wanted to hear more of the voice, but I held back. I had to figure out what to do about the path, and the voice would just lull me to sleep. How was I supposed to fix this mess? I was such a fool! “Dear one.” The voice was closer. And then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I shivered at the warm touch. I hadn&#8217;t realized until now that I was cold. “Dear one, I love you.” I buried my head deeper in my lap. “How? How could you love me?” I could hear the bitterness in my voice. “I love you,” He said again, with such tenderness that I looked up at Him. When I saw the compassion on His face, the tension I&#8217;d been holding in my shoulders released. I felt like I might collapse, but He caught me, gently, and held me in a warm hug. I didn&#8217;t want to pull away, and He didn&#8217;t want to either. He just held me. And slowly, ever so slowly, my tired limbs began to warm. I cried. Eventually I told Him about the hot sun and the confusing path. I told Him I was angry at Him. He listened, and He kept holding me. Finally, I had said all that was inside me to say, and I felt&#8230;lighter. Then He whispered, “Dear one, I am the way.” My breath caught in my throat as I recognized the verse. He nodded, knowing my thoughts. “You&#8217;ve been asking me and asking me which way to go&#8230;” It was so clear to me now. All I wanted was to be near Him, to be loved by Him. Could I really be loved? He smiled, then said, “I want you to be with me. The way&#8230;is with me.” • Hannah Howe • When was a time you felt lost? Jesus seeks us when we&#8217;re lost (Luke 19:10). He died and rose again so that we could be close to Him. How might God be inviting you into His presence today? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: Matt.6.25-Matt.6.34|Matt.11.28-Matt.11.30

The sun beat down on my back. Was I going the right way? Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes. I had known the journey was going to be hard, but I didn&#8217;t expect it to be—confusing. As I trudged down the path, I squinted to see what lay ahead. Was that? No. Not again. A moan escaped my throat as my feet came to a crossroads. Another choice. I dropped my pack to the ground. This would take all my energy. I knelt on the dusty road and prayed, &#8220;Lord, you are Sovereign. I want to honor you in all I do. Help me choose.&#8221; The sound of water found my ear, and I looked up. There, only a few steps from the path, was a stream. I stumbled over to it and drank. The water was cold and delicious, cooling my travel-weary throat and rinsing the dust from my fingers. I felt my muscles start to relax; the water felt so good. &#8220;No,&#8221; I thought. I snapped myself to a standing position. That was enough. I didn&#8217;t have time for more than that. I needed to make the decision about the fork in the road. It was my fault I didn&#8217;t start my journey earlier in the day. It was my fault I didn&#8217;t have time to rest by the stream. I was too tired. If I lingered, it would just get harder to move on. So I pulled my weary self back up to the road, with one last longing glance at the stream. &#8220;Which way?&#8221; I asked again, impatient this time. I squeezed my fingers to my temples, squinting down each path. &#8220;Which one?&#8221; I was exhausted. So exhausted. Couldn&#8217;t He see I was exhausted? I needed an answer—now! Maybe He was letting me use my intellect. I searched for clues. The path on the left had berry bushes, but I couldn&#8217;t tell if they were good for food or if they&#8217;d make me sick. The path on the right had no berry bushes. I chose the right and asked God for strength. “Wait.” I heard a voice like wind. “Go back to the stream.” I hesitated. Then the voice said, “Come to me. Let me refresh you.” I was confused. &#8220;But what about the journey?&#8221; I asked. “There&#8217;s time,” the voice replied. “Take a rest.” After a moment of deliberation, I walked back over to the stream and drank deeply. • Hannah Howe • Jesus is the Good Shepherd who guides us, and He gives us living water (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39; 10:10-18). Through the cross, He has made it possible for us to enter His rest. How might Jesus be inviting you to rest in Him today? He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:2-3a (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: John.14.1-John.14.21

Have you ever been at school, with nothing to eat, and felt so hungry? Have you been on a diet or had to fast for a doctor&#8217;s appointment? It isn&#8217;t fun when we can&#8217;t satisfy our physical cravings, and it&#8217;s even worse when we can&#8217;t meet our basic needs. On a deeper level, we all want to feel satisfied and whole. We want to feel complete. And it can be frustrating when life does not satisfy us at all. Have you ever tried to get happy by buying something new, or even going on a trip? Have you looked for fulfillment by taking on a new project? There are times when nothing we do makes us happy. The fact is, nothing this world offers can make us whole, and it makes sense that we feel incomplete. Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that He is the only one who can fully satisfy us. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but we have all rejected Him and gone our own way. That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re left feeling empty. But God loves us, and He chases after us. He came to live among us and restore our relationship with Him. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”(John 10:10). When we follow after Jesus, we are made complete. As we trust in Him, God fills us with joy (Romans 15:13). And He helps us when we are in tough places. God knows everything we need, and He provides for us as we seek Him (Matthew 6:32-33).No matter what we do, we will never be able to find joy or completeness on our own. Only God will satisfy us. • Emily Acker • Do you ever feel empty inside, like you&#8217;re missing something? • How has Jesus made it possible for us to have life to the full? (Read John 10:10-18.) • One important way God satisfies our needs—both physical and emotional—is through Christian community. Who are trusted Christians you can share life with? The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NIV) &nbsp; Read Verses: 1Kgs.19.3-1Kgs.19.8|Ps.23.1-Ps.23.3