Team Daily Bible Reading and Commentary Thoughts for May 2024
316Judith
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May 2, 2024
Bible Reading
Mark 11:25-26
Commentary Thoughts
Spiritual authority can be diminished by the presence of sin in the life of the believer.
Jesus ended His response to Peter by warning the disciples that their spiritual authority in prayer would be compromised by a lack of forgiveness in their lives:
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions” (Mark 11:25).
The presence of sin not confessed is often the root cause of a lack of power and spiritual authority in the life of the believer.
In this situation, Jesus challenges us to remember that the particular sin of begrudging forgiveness to those who have sinned against us will block the flow of forgiveness for our own sins:
“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions” (Mark 11:26).
Jesus’s words to the disciples to understand that their prayers could have the spiritual authority to move mountains should not be understood as a step toward the excesses of a “name it and claim it” theology.
Our spiritual authority in prayer is derived from the authority that God grants; we should neither ask nor expect to receive things that God has not explicitly authorized. We must remember that even as Jesus gave the disciples the promise of authority to move mountains, He was living out His final days in obedience to the Father under the shadow of His soon coming death on a cross.
Jesus’s promise should likewise challenge us in the opposite extreme of going through life without experiencing the supernatural intervention of God in our lives.
As we grow deeper in our knowledge of God, who He is and what He has done, we will be emboldened in our faith as we receive spiritual authority to scale our seemingly impassable mountains.
Are you seeking His will for your needs or, in your
prayer life?0 -
May 4, 2024
Bible Reading
Mark 11:12-14
Mark 11:22
Commentary Thoughts
Spiritual authority is rooted in the knowledge of God.
Jesus’s specific response to Peter’s surprise at the withered fig tree was a command to have faith in God:
"And Jesus answered saying to them, 'Have faith in God.'"(Mark 11:22).
In other words, the power that Peter observed in the withering of the tree flowed from a single power source: God. Authority simply means the right to use an already existing power, but the key is to know how to access that power source.
Throughout His life, Jesus had modeled to the disciples how His own power and authority flowed out of His intimate relationship with God as His Father.
If the disciples were to exercise the authority to move mountains, they must first know the God who has the power to move the mountains.
A believer’s lack of spiritual authority can often originate from a lack of intimacy with the Source of all authority.
Are you struggling to scale an insurmountable obstacle in your life without first going to the Source of all power and authority?0 -
May 5, 2024
Bible Reading
Mark 11:24
2 Peter 1:3
Commentary Thoughts
Spiritual authority is activated by the believer’s response of faith.
Faith can be defined as not only the content of what we believe, but the action taken, based upon who God reveals Himself to be.
As we come to know God more intimately through prayer and study of Scripture, we can confidently respond in faith to whatever spiritual struggles, or mountains, we face.
Faith is the word for the action of exercising spiritual authority. If we are to pray with spiritual authority, asking for all things and believing that we have received them (Mark 11:24), we must first appropriate in faith what God has already done.
When speaking to unbelievers, we will often encourage them to come to faith by assuring them that God has already paid the price for their sins and has accomplished all that is needed to be reconciled to Him.
What we often forget is that this is no less true for the believer: God has already given us all that we need for every spiritual struggle we may face (2 Peter 1:3).
As you plunge deeper into an intimate relationship with God, will you act on the truth that He reveals to you?
Will you come to trust God more, so that you are emboldened to respond in obedience to what He
calls you to do?0 -
May 6, 2024
Bible Reading
Mark 11:25-26
Commentary Thoughts
Spiritual authority can be diminished by the presence of sin in the life of the believer.
Jesus ended His response to Peter by warning the disciples that their spiritual authority in prayer would be compromised by a lack of forgiveness in their lives:
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions” (Mark 11:25).
The presence of sin not confessed is often the root cause of a lack of power and spiritual authority in the life of the believer.
In this situation, Jesus challenges us to remember that the particular sin of begrudging forgiveness to those who have sinned against us will block the flow of forgiveness for our own sins:
“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions” (Mark 11:26).
Jesus’s words to the disciples to understand that their prayers could have the spiritual authority to move mountains should not be understood as a step toward the excesses of a “name it and claim it” theology.
Our spiritual authority in prayer is derived from the authority that God grants; we should neither ask nor expect to receive things that God has not explicitly authorized. We must remember that even as Jesus gave the disciples the promise of authority to move mountains, He was living out His final days in obedience to the Father under the shadow of His soon coming death on a cross.
Jesus’s promise should likewise challenge us in the opposite extreme of going through life without experiencing the supernatural intervention of God in our lives.
As we grow deeper in our knowledge of God, who He is and what He has done, we will be emboldened in our faith as we receive spiritual authority to scale our seemingly impassable mountains.
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May 7, 2024
Bible Reading
1 Corinthians chapter 13
Key Verse: Verse 13
Commentary Thoughts
FAITH. HOPE. LOVE.
By Annie Harley
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”—1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
Faith, hope, and love, are the three defining characteristics of Christ followers. 1 Corinthians 13:13 explains that even if everything else fades, faith, hope, and love remain. Pastor David Guzik says, “The three greatest pursuits of the Christian life are not ‘miracles, power, and gifts.’ They are faith, hope, and love.” All throughout Scripture, these three distinctives are found together (Galatians 5:5–6; Colossians 1:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:8; 2 Timothy 1:12–13; 1 Peter 1:21–22).
Faith is “the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT). Scripturally, faith and hope are inseparable.
You cannot have faith without the hope of salvation, and it is impossible to have hope without believing in faith. Love is described as the greatest because it was out of God’s love for the world that He sent his son Jesus to die and be raised from death, overcoming sin, so that we could experience a life of faith and hope. Love is an attribute of God. (1 John 4:8).
Faith and love seem like very obvious pursuits of the Christian life. However, hope can oftentimes feel like an elusive concept. It may feel confusing. Hope can feel like crossing our fingers and wishing for the best. And that's exactly how many people view hope. Often times, we equate hope to a wishful thought in which the outcome is unknown. Thoughts such as, I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow or I hope my friend doesn’t get bad news on her health.
But that is not the biblical word. The idea behind the word we translate as hope in the New Testament is that it's like an anchor for our souls.
Not wishful thinking, but confident expectation. It’s a joyful certainty! As Christ followers, hope is having confidence that God is who He says He is, which brings forth expectation that He will do what he says He will do.
Confidence is found in the character of God. As we learn who God is through reading the Word, we are able to have expectancy that his promises are true.
Biblical hope is always rooted in the future. All throughout scripture, hope is always pointed towards what is coming. It gives perspective to see beyond the current moment.
Whatever you are walking through right now, be encouraged that you can hope with confident expectation.
Over the next twelve days, we are confidently expectant. As you read each day’s devotional, we pray that “the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).”
Pause and Reflect: Where do I need hope?
Practice: In your journal, write down what area of life you need hope.
Pray: Ask God to give you confident expectation in who He is and in His promises.0 -
May 8, 2024
Bible Reading
Psalm 62
Key Verse: 5
Commentary Thoughts
REST IN HOPE
By Margarita Perez
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence for my hope is from him.”—Psalm 62:5 (ESV)
As a single woman who lives alone, I wake up every day to the silence of a quiet home.
However, as the day goes on, my emotions and my circumstances make a loud noise in my heart and mind. When this happens, I end up having conversations.
Some conversations I have with myself where I remind my soul of the promises of God, and some conversations I have with the Lord where I pour out my heart over the sadness I feel when things don’t go my way.
In today’s Scripture, we see David having a conversation with his soul; his inner man. The Psalm starts with these truthful words: "For God alone."
Multitudes will place their hope in God plus someone or something else, but our hope should be in God alone!
The more we are satisfied in Him, the better choices we’ll make.
David reminds himself of the attributes of God, followed by an outpouring of his troubled heart to the Lord.
Then he addresses his soul by saying “wait in silence.” We should learn from this.
We, too, can silence our emotions and insecurities and choose to quietly abide in God, in His unchanging character, in His steadfast love and power, but mainly, in His providence and sovereignty.
Throughout your journey of faith, you have held the hand of your Savior.
You’ve experienced His unfailing presence.
You’ve seen Him answer your prayers and wipe away your tears.
He has come through for you an innumerable amount of times.
And yet, today, you may find yourself filled with uncertainty, making it hard to remain hopeful.
If that’s you, take the time today to quiet your emotions, to invite your soul to wait in silence, and to quietly submit to Jesus.
You can believe in the love and will He has for you, without anxiously trying to force things to go your way.
Hope means to wait with expectation for Jesus to be your miracle maker and for His response.
To hope in God means to fix your heart in His Word.
The more you meditate on His promises, the less you’ll give ground to your doubts and fears.
Let your hope in God be an anchor to your soul, sure and steadfast.
Pause and Reflect:
Are you fixated on what you are waiting for rather than on Who you are waiting for?
Practice and Pray:
Write a prayer where you share with God what is holding you back from having an anchored hope in Him.0 -
May 10, 2024
Bible Reading
Hebrews 6
Key Verses: 19-20
Commentary Thoughts
CONFIDENT HOPE
By Gretchen Scruby
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”—Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV)
I sank into the chair in our living room, waving my white flag of surrender. I spent the day cooking and creatively locating quiet places for the kids to work while I played referee.
I was drowning in my circumstances, which left me unsettled instead of hopeful. I couldn't find the words to pray nor the energy to open my Bible. I should have asked for prayer, except my stressful day seemed insignificant compared to what other people were facing. We had been home for over a month adjusting to our new routine due to COVID-19. Thankfully, my family was healthy, and I was grateful we were all together. How could I complain?
Nevertheless, the days were running together, and the tensions continued to rise. The thought of doing this again the next day took my breath away. I know Jesus is always with me (Hebrews 13:5), but I still felt alone. Why wasn't remembering this enough to remove my despair?
The same way a captain must use an anchor to keep his ship stable, especially in turbulent seas, I recognized I needed Jesus in order to keep me steady. So, I began replacing the lies swirling in my mind with God's truths. I Peter 5:7 (NLT) says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Whatever we're facing, God wants us to bring it all to Him.
I made it through the day, and knew I could make it through the next one. I truly desired this new normal to end. I was seeking Jesus to change my difficulties instead of changing me. Embracing confident hope in Jesus doesn't mean all the storms will cease.
Despite the winds still raging, Jesus calmed me as I put a few practical steps in place: I shared how I was feeling with others and asked for prayer, I turned on worship music more often to combat the commotion in our house, and I focused on my blessings and how to bless others.
Most importantly, I now meditate on Scripture throughout the day. Over the past month while being at home, I began a Scripture journal—I just needed to open it. Little did I know God had been preparing me for when I'd grow weary in this season.
“This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”—1 John 3:19-20 (NIV)
Pause and Reflect: Is there a storm in your life which you're seeking Jesus to change the circumstances? Will you invite Him in to calm you in the midst?
Practice: Write down Hebrews 6:19-20 and meditate on it. Be reminded Jesus is your anchor of hope, even when you don't feel hopeful.
Pray: Continue to cling to the hope of Jesus, listen to worship music, list what you're thankful for, and reach out for prayer. You aren't alone. Jesus is with you, and He sees all that you're going through.0 -
May 12, 2024
Bible Reading
Isaiah 49
Key Verse: Verse 23
Commentary Thoughts
HOPE THAT WON'T DISAPPOINT
By Shara Carara
“Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”—Isaiah 49:23 (NIV)
God’s chosen nation of Judah was in a season of discouragement and started doubting the fulfillment of the promised “covenant to the people to restore the earth,” as they endured hardship. “The Lord has forsaken me, and My Lord has forgotten me,” was their cry as they plunged into feelings of hopelessness, reacting to the circumstances that faced them rather than clinging to the assurance of hope in their God’s love.
But it was in this moment that God gave them the promise we read above . . . that of a future Redeemer, the Messiah, Jesus Christ who would bring the message of salvation and be a light to all the nations.
In the midst of suffering, it’s easy to feel that you’ve been forsaken. The year my daughter was to enter her first year of college was also the same year I unexpectedly lost my job.
At the beginning, I had so much hope that the Lord would provide, that I would get a job soon. But with each passing month, that hope started to dissipate quickly.
Now, this single mom was in a state of discouragement and fear! Waves of panic and worry washed over me, not just momentarily, but quite often, as I started reconsidering the start date for my daughter’s college.
I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to pay rent and the many bills that started piling up.
I knew the promises of God. I read it in His Word. I recited it over and over.
I prayed earnestly, and yet month after month and several job rejection letters later, I became stuck on the question, “Lord, why have you forsaken me?”
I was losing hope in Him, His promises, and His timing.
This is where God’s people found themselves, and this is where the Lord, who heard their cry, reminded them, saying,
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:16).
Think about it: Engraving is permanent!
So, even in the momentary troubles, the Lord never forgets about us in our times of struggle, sickness, unemployment, or lack.
He will never forsake those whose hope is in Him.
The question the Lord laid before me during my time of unemployment is the same question He will ask you:
“Will you put your hope in Me, the source of all things no matter what you are facing?
Or is your hope in the resource of a person or job?”
When our hope is in the Lord, He will never disappoint us.
At His appointed time, His promises will be fulfilled. He is faithful!
Pause and Reflect: Ask yourself, “Is my hope in the source of all things, Jesus Christ or in His resources such as a job or other people?”
Practice: Write down the discouragement you're facing and ask the Lord to reveal His faithfulness
as you build up your hope in Him.
Pray: Thank the Lord for His timing, for His faithfulness, and His blessings in the waiting. Ask Him for the strength and an increased measure of faith. Mark 9:240 -
May 14, 2024
Bible Reading
Psalm 119:14
John 1:1
Philippians 4:6
Commentary Thoughts
HOPE IN THE WORD OF GOD
By Maritza Cosano
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”—Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
People are seekers. Often, they’re seeking the benefits of God: peace, love, joy, and hope. But the truth is, to attain those benefits, you need to have a real relationship with Him. How does that develop?
Well, just like any other relationship, it starts by getting to know Him, which can only be developed through Jesus Christ—the Word of God.
John 1:1 (NIV) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Pretty simple concept, right?
Jesus is the Word of God. Having a relationship with Jesus produces hope.
But how is this hope developed, and how is it different from the hope the world offers?
Before I answer that, think about someone who’s been diagnosed with cancer and has already exhausted all of their treatment options.
Imagine them saying, “I’ve given up hope on getting well, but my hope in the Lord will never die.” What does this show?
This person’s hope to get well has been a wish, a desire, but their hope in the Lord is a firm conviction.
God knows we can’t live without hope. He’s not in the business of merely fulfilling wishes, He’s in the business of giving us a living hope.
Even while facing death, Christians, though at times discouraged, have an eternal hope.
So, to answer those questions . . . Just as faith is a gift of God, hope is as well. The Holy Spirit is the One who fills us with the love and hope of God.
This hope produces joy and contentment, and our experience of it can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
No world remedy or provision can come close to that.
This assurance can only be found in God’s Word.
It’s our “all-access badge”! From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus tells us several remarkable things: we’re God’s children, we’re chosen, we’re wanted, and we’re never alone.
The Scriptures clearly point out the path toward a life of joy and hope: accept your circumstances and be thankful in them (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), choose not to worry (Philippians 4:6), fix your eyes on Jesus rather than on your situation—following His example in suffering (Hebrews 12:2)—and put your hope in future glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Colossians 1:5; Titus 1:2).
Jesus is our refuge and shield (Ephesians 6:10-18).
And when we engage in a real relationship with Him by praying, studying, and meditating on His Word, we experience the kind of hope that surpasses understanding.
Pause and Reflect: This week, look at your life
from a new perspective.
Imagine your life on the screen of eternity, where your 70+ years of life are a mere blip on the screen. It is eternity that matters.
Practice: Read Psalm 25:3, 119:105, and Ephesians 6:10-18.
And then ask yourself: What are the benefits of the hope I have in Jesus, in God’s Word.
Pray: Praise Jesus that He is your hope. He will never disappoint you (Romans 5:5).0 -
May 15, 2024
Bible Reading
Hebrews 10:23
Commentary Thoughts
HOPE IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
By Maritza Cosano
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”—Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Hope is a special gift of our salvation. According to Hebrews 10:23, it’s a certainty of God’s promise.
While we can “hope” that our troubles will be over tomorrow or that our children won’t spill their cereal on the living room carpet (again), we must remember that our only reliable hope is in what we cannot see or control: the outrageous faithfulness of God.
Like most women, my brain is wired for intuitive thinking and is good at controlling things. Make no mistake, although the technical ingenuity involved in our brain wiring is awesome, sometimes we can allow it to get a lot of things in a tangle.
Mainly, that central desire to control things. Yes, I hate to admit it, most women don’t deal well with expecting the unexpected. So, we organize, plan, and execute that plan . . . whatever it may be.
A key thing to bear in mind is that from the time we were young girls, we were given certain responsibilities, like holding a baby (toy) in our arms. We rocked it. We fed it. We protected it from others, most especially from our boy siblings—or boys in general.
Is it so surprising then that when it comes to our circumstances in life, we have a hard time placing our hope on something or someone other than ourselves or someone we can’t see or trust?
Trust . . . Now, this leads me to our second key thing.
As women, most of us have had our share of mistrusting others. Be it from bad relationships with the opposite sex or with friends and family members.
But, ladies, this is where we need to untangle our thoughts and let God take control.
And that can only happen when we trust Him with all our hearts.
I know trust doesn’t always come easy. But if there’s one person we CAN trust, it’s the One who made us and saved us, who sent His Son for us and gave us eternal life!
And our responsibility to God as His daughters is to study His character so we will know, without a doubt, that whatever way He deals with our circumstances in life, it’s the right way.
Even when things don’t go the way we thought or desired, we can still stand firm on knowing He is our Abba Father—all-loving, all-knowing, incredibly merciful and gracious.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to persevere in a number of areas, to hang on to hope when life gets crazy—moving forward, heading toward the day when Christ returns or takes us home.
Meanwhile, let’s hold on to each other as sisters in Christ, offering the love, support, and assurance each of us needs.
Your relationship with Jesus is instrumental in
your life as a believer.
This week, I challenge you to place all your confidence in God’s plan for your life, with an expectation that He will fulfill everything He has promised, though you haven’t experienced fulfillment yet.
Pause, Practice, and Pray: Read Hebrews 11 and journal what God shows you, what it means to you. And then, ask God: “Lord, please increase my faith in you.”0 -
May 16, 2024
Bible Reading
Romans 8
Key Verses:
Verses 24-25
Commentary Thoughts
HOPE IN WAITING
By Priya Ramsaran
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”—Romans 8:24-25 (NIV)
Have you ever felt like you had no control over a situation and fear began to engulf you?
A year ago, my dad was rushed to the hospital in a comatose state. I knew it was bad when my mom said those dreaded words, “He’s not doing well.” My emotions started to rage and my prayer was, “Lord please save him!”
The moment our lives are met with crisis, disappointment, or loss, it becomes evident we need hope—just like what we’re facing now in the middle of this pandemic.
We need hope to carry on and make it through whatever we’re facing.
It’s easy to lose hope because of our surroundings or the dreaded outcome.
We don't need hope when things are good, but rather when things are hard and uncertain.
I love how Paul first tells us that in this hope we were saved. Our eternity becomes secure when we place our trust in Jesus, which is the greatest hope and outcome.
That security gives us confidence to face any situation, even when anxiety, loneliness, or discouragement set in. This is the foundation of our faith.
Almost every morning my two-year-old goes outside in our front yard and takes rocks from our landscaping.
She stacks them into beautiful little towers. We leave them there, and they become a reminder of her presence and handiwork.
Similarly, we need stacks of hope in our lives so we can look back at our stories of hope, when our great God showed up, and share these beautiful moments of hope with others.
It encourages others to see God's hand in our lives, and it builds great towers of faith.
But what about those unresolved things in our lives that still don't have an answer or an ending?
How do we wait and for how long?
This is the patience part of the verse that has to come into practice. Patience is the capacity to accept, tolerate, and delay trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.
It takes practice and repetition to work it out.
Patience is not passive. We have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and surround ourselves in His Word where we’ll find His promises of hope so we can trust Him with the process, regardless of time.
For months, I visited my dad in the hospital. I had to release control and exercise great patience.
When he finally came home, I realized that hope takes great faith, patience, and perseverance.
Maybe you’re in need of hope. Do not grow weary in the waiting.
Instead, look to the God of hope and surrender the outcome to Him. He will work all things out for good—in His time and in His perfect way.
Pause and Reflect: Take time to reflect and share moments of hope you’ve experienced in your life.
Practice: Is there a situation that requires hope in your life?
How can you practice patience in the waiting?
Write out some verses that will encourage you to
stand and remain strong.
Pray: Ask the Lord for patience and His strength in the waiting.0 -
May 17, 2024
Bible Reading
Romans 12:12
John 15:5
1 Corinthians 4:7
Commentary Thoughts
JOYFUL IN HOPE
By Isabelle Reardon
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”—Romans 12:12 (ESV)
Today’s verse falls amidst a lengthy list of actions that Paul encourages us to walk in. A few things he encourages us to do is to let our love be genuine, to love and honor one another, to bless those who persecute us, and to not be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good.
Honestly, when I read Romans 12:12 I’m not encouraged because everything in me doesn’t want to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.
Instead, everything in me is prone to complain, is impatient especially when it comes to tribulation, and doesn’t want to be in constant prayer. I’d love to say to Paul, “Come on, who do you think I am? This feels like an impossible to-do list!”
You may be thinking the same thing. And it’s true.
It’s hard to do all of these things in our own strength, which has proven to be quite weak and not really strong at all. Jesus doesn’t expect us to conquer a to-do list.
Instead, He wants us to receive the gift of hope, patience, and steadfastness in prayer which can only come from abiding in Him.
We’re entirely incapable of doing anything on our own (John 15:5), and Jesus knows this.
In 1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) Paul states, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Any good thing we have, and any good that has ever been produced out of us, has never come from our humanness. They have always been the result of the living God at work within us.
We don’t have to try and conjure up something that looks like rejoicing in hope. We have been freely given hope Himself, and because of this gift we’re able to rejoice.
Friends, Jesus has given us so much. He’s given us a family, the hope of eternity, and He’s given us Himself.
But we do have free will. And as such, we get to choose where we’ll look and what we’ll cling to.
The question is: Will we look to ourselves to muster up rejoicing in hope, will we look to our circumstances to satisfy our longing for joyful hope, or will we set aside the things we’ve held onto and take hold of the treasure we’ve been given—the Savior of the world who calls us His beloved and gives us purpose?
Let’s surrender, cling to Jesus, and watch as the gift of His joyful hope arises within us and changes the way we see the world around us.
Pause and Reflect: Why are joy and suffering so often linked together in Scripture?
Practice: It's been said before that happiness is a feeling, but joy is a choice. So, as an outpouring of the hope of Christ, consider ways you can practice joy today.
Pray: Hope in the Lord and joy in the Lord are fueled by time with the Lord. As you pray today, thank the Lord for all the things He has given you that cause you to walk in hope and live with joy.0 -
May 18, 2024
Bible Reading
Romans 15:13
Romans 5:5
John 12:3
Commentary Thoughts
OVERFLOWING WITH HOPE
By Colleen Robichaud
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”—Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
Among the many treasures received as a daughter of God are knowledge, Scripture, and the Holy Spirt. Let’s use these tools to mine the depth and blessedness of abounding hope.
In today’s Scripture, Paul introduces our Lord as “the God of hope,” which can also be interpreted as "the God who is Himself hope!"
Romans 5:5 (TPT) tells us His “hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts . . .”
Fill means to the brim. We see this same meaning of this word used in John 12:3 (NIV) “as the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” used to anoint Jesus’ feet.
Paul goes on to say, “fill you with all” to highlight that God is not stingy.
He fills those that love Him to the max!
Paul then states that God lavishly fills “you with all joy and peace.”
Our first joy is the forgiveness of sin, which leads to the joy of eternal life with Jesus—the prized upward call of God (Philippians 3:14 NASB).
Life with God produces a deep inner rejoicing. It doesn’t matter whether circumstances are favorable or unfavorable, we will rejoice, “and no one will take away [our] joy” (John 16:22 NIV).
Biblically, peace is defined as “a state of harmony and restoration.”
One Bible scholar called it, "The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.”
Peace is twofold . . . it comes when we accept God’s forgiveness, and thus experience restoration to God and harmony with God.
And it’s felt when we’re in God’s intimate presence.
In Mark 6:50–51 (NLT) with the winds howling and the storm raging, Jesus walks on water to meet His disciples and says to them, “‘Don’t be afraid . . . Take courage! I am here!’
Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped.” You see that?
As soon as He entered the scene, as soon as they were in His presence, peace came!
Now we move on to the vital role of believing.
Trust, faith, and belief all come from the Greek root word pistis, which means “to have complete confidence in what is worthy of trust.”
Surely God is able “to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20 NASB). We must believe in this!
Today’s verse ends with “by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Think about this: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) is in you!
Just as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 3:22–23), when the Holy Spirit enters you, it’s the beginning of yours.
Your mission is to abound in hope, knowing that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Friends, “may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him.
And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” (Romans 15:13 TPT).
Pause and Reflect: Using words from Romans 15:13 (NKJV), answer the following questions:
1. Who is the source of your hope?
2. What must you do to be filled with all joy and peace?
3. When you believe, who are you filled with and what does He bring?
4. What is the result of the power of the Holy
5. Spirit in you?
6. What will you abound in?
Practice: Write down Romans 15:13 and display it somewhere you'll see it each day.
Pray: As you spend time in prayer today, ask the Lord to fill you with His peace, His strength, and His joy, so that you may abound in hope.0 -
May 19, 2024
Bible Reading
2 Peter 1:3
Commentary Thoughts:
Let us pray and acknowledge the holiness of God. If we are to become holy people, we must
tap into His holiness, and that comes only through intimacy and obedience. It is God’s desire that we become holy, even as He is holy.
Holy God, your desire for my own personal growth and holiness stems from Your great love for me. By growing in spiritual maturity and holiness, I will be able to tap into a deeper intimacy with You. That is something I desire.
You are holy, and I know those who share a close fellowship with You will walk in Your holiness. I give praise that You want me to become the very best version of myself, according to Your will and perfect plan. I adore You for the power You make available to me so I might live a life of holiness. I know that I cannot do that alone. But You have placed within me all that I need to live a life of godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
I worship You for Your provision of goodness and how that draws me closer to You in every way. Holy Lord, please make me holy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
How can we learn what it means to be holy? What is our model for a life of holiness?0 -
Monday, May 20
Secret Hero
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26
We try so hard to be self-sufficient. Although we delight in helping others out of our strength, it takes a giant swallow of our pride to accept help.
We avoid feelings of brokenness and dependence. We would rather struggle for months on end before admitting we need help.
This tendency stunts our growth because it rejects the help and power God has provided.
Bible Reading:
Romans 8:26-39
Although unseen, the Holy Spirit is the invisible hero dwelling within us. God knows our weakness and provides the Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and sustain us. The Spirit comes to our rescue time and again.
We are loved, and our weakness is never mocked.
When God calls us, we can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will equip us through His insight and power.
The evidence is clear in both the life of Christ and the lives of His followers.
The first thing that accounts for God’s using D. L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man.
Every ounce of that two-hundred-and-eighty-pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God. R. A. Torrey0 -
May 20, 2024
Bible Reading
Romans 6:22
Hebrews 12:10-11
Commentary Thoughts
There are many roadblocks and diversions on the pathway to holiness.
Let us pray that we might continue to walk in the way He has made ready for us.
Let us be quick to admit when we have not lived up to the holiness He desires to find alive within us.
Holiness is a gift that comes to us as we walk obediently in the light of His love and grace.
Heavenly Father, I confess that I am not holy as You are holy. I desire to be. I want to be. I strive to be.
But so often I fall short.
I confess my selfishness and my self-absorption. I know these keep me from living a holy life and from being a living demonstration of Your kingdom rule of love.
I confess that I pay far more attention to my own wants and needs than the needs of others. I do not adequately seek what You want me to do with my time, talents, and treasures.
I confess that I seek to feed my pleasures and stroke my own ego rather than pursuing Your way. Sometimes I get lost in my lust for the things I think I need rather than letting You provide for me.
Loving God, I am sorry, and I do want to do better. Forgive me for falling short. Forgive me for my laziness, greed, jealousy, envy, hate, bitterness, pride, and the other things I give in to instead of giving in to You. Forgive me for the things that keep holiness from truly manifesting itself through my life as Your kingdom disciple. Let my light shine as a beacon of holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What are the things you can do to show forth more holiness in your life?0 -
May 21, 2024
Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 1:30
Ephesians 4:24
Commentary Thoughts
Let us pray that we might become more holy. We can only become holy as we walk in the light of His Word, which shows us what the path of holiness looks like when it is lived out.
To be holy is to be set aside for God’s use and to be transformed in a way that all those around us can see.
Father, You have called me to a life of holiness. Thank You that you care enough to lift me higher than I ever knew possible.
Thank You that You do not toss me aside due to the sins I continue to struggle with—sins of pride, selfishness, and a lack of love for others.
Lord, holiness is the goal for my life, and I want to embody all of who You are so I can share Your love and holiness with others.
Holy God, make me holy. Make me pure. Help me take every thought captive and cast those away which are contrary to Your holiness and truth. Please convict me at the very first thought of sin. May my thoughts and actions reflect Your holiness to such a degree that I more fully reflect You. Make me holy as You are holy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What is the relationship between holiness and purity?0 -
May 22, 2024
Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 16:8-9
From…
Max Lucado Devotional Book:
God is With You Every Day
Commentary Thoughts
A Prayer of Praise
Father, you are so worthy of it all—my attention, praise, worship, and love. Your works are amazing, beyond anything I can even express.
Help me be a light that shines toward you today. It is often hard for me to stand out from the world and be different. Give me the courage to make your goodness known and to never be ashamed.
Please give peace to my friends who are standing up for you and as a result have found themselves friendless or with few who understand them.
I thank you for your wonderful works and all that you have done and will do. In the glorious name of Jesus Christ, amen.0 -
Friday May 24, 2024
Bible Reading
Luke 2
Key Verse: 49
Commentary Thoughts
Be About His Business
Time on God’s anvil should clarify our mission and define our purpose. When a tool emerges from a blacksmith’s anvil, there is no question as to what it is for. There is no question as to why it was made. One look at the tool and you instantly know its function.
As a human emerges from the anvil of God, the same should be true. Being tested by God reminds us that our function and task is to be about his business, that our purpose is to be an extension of his nature, an ambassador of his throne room, and a proclaimer of his message. We should exit the shop with no question as to why God made us. We know our purpose.
We are God’s people, and we are to be about his business. If we live our lives in this way, then we can enter our final years with the assurance of knowing that life was well spent and that heaven is but a wink away.
And is there any greater reward than this?0 -
May 26
Bible Reading
Galatians 6:4-5
John 21: 21-22
Commentary Thoughts
Your Assignment
You be you. Don’t be your parents or grandparents. You can admire them, appreciate them, and learn from them. But you cannot be them. You aren’t them. “Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (Galatians 6:4–5 msg).
Jesus was insistent on this. After the resurrection he appeared to some of his followers. He gave Peter a specific pastoral assignment that included great sacrifice.
The apostle responded by pointing at John and saying, “‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me’” (John 21:21–22 ncv).
In other words, don’t occupy yourself with another
person’s assignment; stay focused on your own.0 -
May 27, 2024
Bible Reading
Acts 2:24
Matthew 28:18
Acts 2:24
Matthew 11:27
2 Corinthians 10:4
Commentary Thoughts
Unimpeachable Authority
Jesus has unimpeachable authority.
The Roman government tried to intimidate him.
False religion tried to silence him.
The Devil tried to kill him.
All failed. Even “death was no match for him” (Acts 2:24 msg).
He was not kidding when he declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18 niv).
Jesus is the command center of the galaxies.
He occupies the Oval Office.
He called a coin out of the mouth of a fish.
He stopped the waves with a word.
He spoke, and a tree withered.
He spoke again, and a basket became a banquet.
Economy. Meteorology. Botany. Food supply. “All things have been handed over to me by my Father” (Matthew 11:27 nrsv).
That includes Satan. The Devil was soundly defeated by Christ on the cross. Jesus outranks him in every situation. He must obey Jesus, and he knows it.
Prayers offered in the name of Jesus have “divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4 niv).
Demolish! Not damage or hamper but demolish.
Satan setting up a stronghold in your life?
Lift up a prayer and unleash the demolition power of Jesus.0 -
May 29, 2024
Bible Reading
Matthew 5:16
Commentary Thoughts
A Prayer . . . to Shine
Heavenly Father, work in my life in such a way that people will see you shining forth. Help me to break free from the selfishness and sin that prevent me from being conformed to your image and expressing your holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen.0 -
May 30, 2024
Bible Reading
Commentary Thoughts
Live a Stirring Life
Each of us should lead a life stirring enough to start a movement. We should yearn to change the world. We should love unquenchably, dream unfalteringly, and work unceasingly.
We should close our ears to the manifold voices of compromise and perch ourselves on the branch of truth. We should champion the value of people, proclaim the forgiveness of God, and claim the promise of heaven.
And we should lead a life stirring enough to cause a movement. A movement comes of age when one life harvests the seeds planted by countless lives in previous generations. A movement occurs when one person, no greater or lesser than those who have gone before, lives a forceful life in the fullness of time.
Let’s live lives stirring and forceful enough to cause a movement. A true mark of the visionary is his willingness to lay down his life for those whom he’ll never see.
Will the movement come in our generation? I hope so. But even if it doesn’t, even if we never see it, it will occur. And we’ll be part of it.0 -
May 31, 2024
Bible Reading
Psalm 94:19
Numbers 13:26-33
Commentary Thoughts
Ask for Hebron
Turn a deaf ear to doubters. Ignore the naysayers. People have a right to say what they want. And you have a right to ignore them.
When the twelve spies reported back to Moses, all but Caleb and Joshua were spouting doubt (Numbers 13:26–33).
They were outnumbered ten to two, but they still believed in God’s power. Let’s take our cue from Caleb. Disregard the lethal disbelief of cynics.
This is no sanction for rudeness or isolation.
When people express their sincere struggles or questions, help them. But some folks do not want to be helped. They would rather pull you down than let you pull them up. Don’t let them.
Caleb didn’t. He filled his mind with faith and took on a Godsize challenge.
When Moses sent Caleb to spy out the land, Caleb saw something that troubled him: the town of Hebron.
Abraham had buried his wife there. He was buried there. So were Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob.
Hebron was a sacred site, but it was inhabited by unholy people. So Caleb asked Moses for Hebron.
Moses took the request to God, and Caleb was given the land. Forty-five years later, at the age of eighty-five, the old soldier chased the enemy and reclaimed the city.
Caleb wanted to do something great for God. He lived with a higher call. You can too.
Ask for your Hebron.0