August 3, 2021 (Tuesday)
Living With Faith
“And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’.”
– Matthew 14:25-31
Memory Verse: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
Living with doubts makes us weak. It is like living with a divided mind. On the contrary, living with faith is like living with a very clear focus. Living with faith is to give our full commitment to what we are doing, leaving everything in God’s hands. We will experience God’s wonderful power. Let us see every day wonderful things that our faith can do in our lives.
Lord, I will fix my eyes on you. Amen.
August 4, 2021 (Wednesday)
A Willing Spirit
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
– Psalm 51:10-12
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
Memory Verse: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12)
We can only come to God with a willing spirit. How can we have the willing spirit? When we experience the joy of our sins being forgiven, a willing spirit is created within us. That is a clean heart and a right spirit. God blesses those who come to him with a willing spirit. From the willing spirit, true worship is possible.
Lord, please forgive my sins and create in me a willing spirit. Amen.
August 5, 2021 (Thursday)
Setting Our Mind On God
“From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’”
– Matthew 16:21-23
Memory Verse: “You are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” (Matthew 16:23)
When we set our mind on human things, we don’t see things clearly. We will see only a temporary solution. We will become weak and shaky. When we set our mind on divine things, we will be able to see that God is working behind us. We will be able to see that God has a key to all our problems. We will become strong and confident. Let us set our mind on divine things.
Lord, help me not to look for easy answers because of my fear but help me set my mind on you. Amen.
August 6, 2021 (Friday)
The Spirit Gives Life
“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
– 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Memory Verse: “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
We receive confidence not from the letter we read but from the Spirit that the letter points to. We need to encounter the Spirit that the Word of God points to. Let us not just read the Word of God; let us meditate on it with fervent desire. Let us trust that God will use his Word to give us confidence so that we can live with competence.
May the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.
August 7, 2021 (Saturday)
Faith
“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
– Matthew 17:19-20
Memory Verse: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
The secret of living a powerful life is to have faith. Faith gives us strength. Faith keeps us going. Without faith, we will become weak and shaky. Without faith, we will give up. With faith, we never give up because we will see what God can do, not what we can do.
O Lord, grant me faith the size of a mustard seed. Amen.
August 8, 2021 (Sunday)
Waiting
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
– Psalm 130:5-8
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.”
Memory Verse: “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.” (Psalm 130:7)
Waiting is hard. We don’t like to wait; we want quick answers. However, waiting is the art of living. Our waiting is not in vain. God works in our waiting. In our waiting, we learn to hope in God. In our waiting, we cultivate our desire for God. In our waiting, a new life is formed within us.
O Lord, I wait for you. My soul waits for you. Amen.
August 9, 2021 (Monday)
God Our Rock
“In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
– Psalm 71:1-3
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.”
Memory Verse: “Be to me a rock.” (Psalm 71:3)
Let God be our rock. Let us stand on the rock who will sustain us. When we have God as our rock, we will not be shaky. We will be firm and solid. God will give us strength to our feet and with our strong feet, we will stand tall. We will be able to march forward.
O Lord, be to me a rock of refuge. Amen.
August 10, 2021 (Tuesday)
When We Feel Lost
“What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.”
– Matthew 18:12-14
Memory Verse: “So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:14)
Sometimes we feel lost. We don’t see what is ahead of us. We don’t know where to go. Let us not panic. God will come and find us. He never leaves us stranded. Once God finds us, He will show us the way. Seek God and you will be able to find Him and the way for you to take.
O Lord, I seek you. Amen.
August 11, 2021 (Wednesday)
Seeking Wisdom
“If you indeed cry out for insight,
– Proverbs 2:2-8
and raise your voice for understanding;
if you seek it like silver,
and search for it as for hidden treasures—
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,
guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his faithful ones.”
Memory Verse: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)
We all need wisdom. Wisdom can save us from many troubles. Wisdom can protect us from hurt and pain. Wisdom is God’s gift. We can receive the gift of wisdom when we seek it. Our desire for wisdom brings deeper understanding of life and God. The secret of having wisdom is to seek it with fervent desire.
O Lord, I need your wisdom and I seek it. Please grant me your wisdom. Amen.
August 12, 2021 (Thursday)
Forgiveness
“Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”
– Matthew 18:21-22
Memory Verse: “‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22)
Forgiveness is at the core of Jesus’ teaching and his ministry. Forgiveness is the most important thing in our life. Jesus knew that. Without forgiveness, our life will be in darkness. Forgiveness brings joy and happiness. Forgiveness restores our relationships. Forgiveness is the best gift we can give each other.
O Lord, thank you for your forgiveness. Amen.
August 13, 2021 (Friday)
God’s Steadfast Love
“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
– Psalm 136:1-4
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.”
Memory Verse: “‘O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.” (Psalm 136:1)
Everything changes around us. Nothing stays the same. Our body changes, our relationships change, and our circumstances change. People who were close to us pass on. What we have built firmly collapses. There is nothing that stays the same. But there is one thing that does not change and that is God’s steadfast love. Let us trust God’s unchanging love. His steadfast love endures for ever.
O Lord, thank you for your steadfast love. Amen.
August 14, 2021 (Saturday)
Naivete and Vulnerability
“Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.”
– Matthew 19:13-15
Memory Verse: “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:14)
Naivete and vulnerability go together. Children are both naïve and vulnerable. Naivete and vulnerability are generally considered as negative qualities in our society but Jesus sees them as requirement for the kingdom of heaven. God wants to see who we are in the most naked form. We don’t need to present ourselves to be somebody who we are not for the sake of God’s approval. God already knows who we are.
O Lord, thank you for loving me and accepting me as I am. Amen.
August 15, 2021 (Sunday)
Freedom
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”
– Galatians 4:4-7
Memory Verse: “So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God” (Galatians 4:7)
We are no longer a slave to others, to ourselves, to punishment, and to fear. We are a child of God and we are free. In God, we have total freedom. Nothing can enslave us. Let us enjoy the freedom and use it not for our selfish desire but for the good of humanity.
O Lord, thank you for the freedom you have granted me. Amen.
August 16, 2021 (Monday)
Wisdom
“Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away
– Proverbs 4:5-7
from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever else you get, get insight.”
Memory Verse: “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight.” (Galatians 4:7)
Wisdom will guard our life. Seek wisdom and listen to her guidance. Do not follow what makes us feel good; follow the wisdom. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Listen to God’s word. We will get insights about life and these insights will guide us to a good place.
O Lord, please grant me your wisdom. Amen.
August 17, 2021 (Tuesday)
The Path of the Righteous
“The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
– Proverbs 4:18-19
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what they stumble over.”
Memory Verse: “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” (Proverbs 4:18)
When we live a righteous life, God will shine a light on us. The light will guide us and show us where to go. It is not so with the wicked. They will wander in darkness. They will not know where to go and what problems lie ahead of them. God blesses the path of the righteousness.
O Lord, help me follow the way of the righteousness. Amen.
August 18, 2021 (Wednesday)
God’s Wings
“You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
– Psalm 91:1-6
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.”
Memory Verse: “God will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4)
Find refuge under God’s wings. Under his wings, we find security and safety. He takes us under his wings and soars up to the sky. There God lets us fly. If we fall, God will catch us with his wings. With God, we are not only protected but we will also be able to fly high.
O Lord, please cover me with your pinions. Amen.
August 19, 2021 (Thursday)
Our Mouth
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
– Proverbs 10:11-12
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offences.”
Memory Verse: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:11)
What is in our heart comes out of our mouth. If there is hatred within our heart, our words become like poison and destroy the souls of others. If there is love within our heart, our words will cover all offences. The words of the righteousness bring salvation but the words of the wicked bring violence.
O Lord, may your love fill my heart. Amen.
August 20, 2021 (Friday)
The Humble and the Proud
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
– Proverbs 11:2-4
but wisdom is with the humble.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.”
Memory Verse: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.” (Proverbs 11:2)
Proud people bring disgrace to themselves. They become blind to their own faults and always seek faults in others. They are not able to see what they ought to see. It is not so with the humble. God gives the humble wisdom and through this wisdom, they see the needs of others and build them up.
O Lord, help me to follow the way of the humble. Amen.
August 21, 2021 (Saturday)
Wise Words and Rash Words
“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
– Proverbs 12:17-19
but a false witness speaks deceitfully.
Rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure for ever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
Memory Verse: “Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18)
With our words, we can save people or destroy them. Our words are like swords. If they are given to the wicked and the foolish, they will kill people. But if they are given to the wise, they will bring healing. Wise words are priceless and endure forever but rash words bring sadness and pain.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you O Lord. Amen.
August 22, 2021 (Sunday)
Fools and the Wise
“Fools think their own way is right,
– Proverbs 12:15-16
but the wise listen to advice.
Fools show their anger at once,
but the prudent ignore an insult.”
Memory Verse: “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)
Fools assert themselves because they don’t have confidence in themselves. When they are proven wrong, they get angry because their ignorance is exposed. The wise have confidence in themselves. They are not affected by insults but they listen to good advices.
Lord, help me follow the way of the wise. Amen.
August 23, 2021 (Monday)
Be Prepared
“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
– Ephesians 6:13
Memory Verse: “Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13)
To stand firm, we need the whole armour of God. Without preparing ourselves, we will not be able to resist the evil. We will fall into temptation. Darkness will poison our soul. As we face darkness, let us be ready to face it with God’s light.
Lord, may your light shine brightly on me. Amen.
August 24, 2021 (Tuesday)
Serving
“A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
– Luke 22:24-27
Memory Verse: “I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
To be great is to serve. Jesus did not come to be revered as a great person. Jesus came to serve. Being great is not the goal of spiritual people. Their goal is to serve. Find greatness in service. Great minds are characterized by their desire to serve.
Lord, help me to live my life humbly as a servant. Amen.
August 25, 2021 (Wednesday)
Sowing Seeds
“May those who sow in tears
– Psalm 126:5-6
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.”
Memory Verse: “May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.” (Psalm 126:5)
Our effort is not in vain. We sow in tears and we will reap with joy because God will help us. Good life we live is not in vain. It will always bear beautiful fruit. God honors those who do their best for the good of humanity.
Lord, I will sow today. Amen.
August 26, 2021 (Thursday)
Abound In Love
“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
– 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
Memory Verse: “May he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:13)
Love covers over a multitude of sins. The best way to be holy and blameless is to fill our heart with love. Without love, our holiness becomes empty piety and our words become meaningless rhetoric. Holiness can be achieved when we abound in love.
Lord, help us to abound in love. Amen.
August 27, 2021 (Friday)
God Who Knows Us
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
– Psalm 139:1-4
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.”
Memory Verse: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.” (Psalm 139:1)
God knows us. God knows what is in our heart. God knows what we are thinking and what we are desiring. Knowing us so well, he still loves us. That is a miracle. That is God’s grace. There is nothing to hide before God. Let us learn to come to God with honesty and sincerity. That is the best way to build relationship with God.
Lord, I come to you as broken as I am. Amen.
August 28, 2021 (Saturday)
God Our Keeper
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—
– Psalm 121
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.”
Memory Verse: “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.” (Psalm 121:8)
God is our keeper. He watches over us and keeps us safe. We have nothing to worry about. Nothing will be able to destroy us. When we have this confidence, we can live our lives boldly. We can dare to live, challenging ourselves. There is no challenge too big for us to face. Let us believe that God will keep our going out and our coming in and live boldly
Lord, thank you for keeping me in your arms. Amen.
August 29, 2021 (Sunday)
Greed
“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.”
– James 1:12-15
Memory Verse: “When that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:15)
Temptation comes from our greed. Wanting to become better is a good desire. It gives us motivation to work harder. We enjoy the process of becoming better. That is not greed. Greed does not respect the process. It wants to achieve the goal by any means. It wants to skip the process if necessary. It gives a false image about ourselves. It blinds us and that is sin.
Lord, I will work harder to become better. Amen.
August 30, 2021 (Monday)
Life Not In Vain
“Unless the Lord builds the house,
– Psalm 127:1-2
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.”
Memory Verse: “Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
Our life is in vain if God is not with us. With God our life becomes meaningful. Let us not be a fool to try to build things on our own. God can make everything beautiful and meaningful. With God everything comes alive.
Lord, without you, my life is in vain. May your blessings be upon me. Amen.
August 31, 2021 (Tuesday)
Wait for the Lord
“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
– Psalm 27:1-4, 14
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!”
Memory Verse: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)
There is nothing for us to fear. God is the stronghold of our life. Problems may surround us. We may feel life’s threats at times. But nothing can destroy us. God holds us in his strong arms. Let us not fear but take courage and wait for the Lord. Be strong.
Lord, every morning, I wait for you. Amen.
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