Daily Bible Reading
To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only twenty-five readings. Today we start a few “free days” . We encourage you to catch up on any readings you may have missed this month.
If you have finished the month’s readings, you can use these final days of the month to study the passages that challenged or intrigued you.
Daily Devotion
Hope for a New Year
Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
I have been thinking about this Christmas season. I heard a lot of people saying, “I am just not feeling the Christmas Spirit this year.” Or “It doesn’t even seem like Christmas.” Christmas is a time many of us choose to remember the birth of our Savior. That is reason enough to celebrate. Yet many seem depressed, stressed, or worried. Some mention various things that are happening in the world today. Some had death or other losses recently. In all these circumstances refocusing on Jesus, His Word, His promises, the gifts He gives us, and living for Him not others or what is going on around us is the way out. You may not notice a change immediately, but it is a start. You have started the process of changing your mind.
I did hear people mentioning Jesus coming as a baby to give His life to bring us salvation. I did not hear much about the other gifts from God. God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. He brought us too many gifts to count. But as with all gifts, we must accept these gifts to obtain them. As we begin a new year, let’s be intentional in remembering God’s gifts and promises to us. Let’s accept every gift He gives us. This will give us hope for the new year.
Fear not!
He gives us the opposite of fear: confidence, courage, boldness, fearlessness, bravery.
- Joshua 1:9, Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 41:10, Luke 2:10, Matthew 1:20, 10:28, Luke 1:13, :30, 2:10, 5:10, Philippians 4:6, 2 Timothy 1:7
A few of the gifts He gives us are:
Joy
- Luke 2:10
Peace
- Let not your heart be troubled
- tranquility, security, safety, harmony, unity, agreement
- Assured of salvation through Christ and content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves
- Isaiah 26:3, Luke 2:10, Luke 1:79, John 14:27, John 16:33, Ephesians 2:17, I Timothy 6:8
Good will toward men
- kindly intent, compassion, generosity, delight, pleasure, satisfaction, peace between individual
- Luke 2:14, Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 18:33, 20:34, Philippians 4:11
Forgiveness
- 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 86:5, 1 John 1:9
Life and life more abundantly
- over and above, more than is necessary, superadded, something further, more, much more, superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon, advantage, more outstanding, more remarkable, more excellent
- John10:10, 6:33
Eternal Life
- John 3:16, 3:36, 5:24, 6:40, 1 John 5:11-12, Romans 6:23
Love
- John 3:16, 1 John 4:10
Light in a dark world
- Psalm 27:1, John 8:12, 12:46
Truth
- John 18:37
Adoption to be sons of God
- John 1:12, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-5
Freedom from condemnation
- Romans 8:1, 8:33
Power
- Isaiah 40:29, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:7
Healing
- spiritual, physical, and emotional
- Isaiah 53:5, 61:1, Mark 2:17, Acts 10:38, 1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Peter 2:24, James 5:14-15
Children
- Psalm 127:3
The fruits of our labor
- Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 5:19
Promises which give us Hope
- Psalms 34:17, 37:4, 37:23-24, Proverbs 22:6, Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 7:11, Mark 11:24, Luke 11:9, John 8:36, Romans 5:12, 8:28, 2 Peter 1:3-4, James 4:7, Revelation 3:5
See how many other gifts and promises you can add to this list. If there is a particular one that you need to remind yourself of this year; write it down or put it on your screen saver where you will see it often.
~Kathy Johnson