December 1, 2021 (Wednesday)
God Is Good
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
– Isaiah 25:6-8
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death for ever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.”
Memory Verse: “Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth.” (Isaiah 25:8)
God gives us joy and wipes away the tears from our eyes. God forgives us and takes away our shame from us. God heals us and frees us from all diseases. God gives us life and gives us victory over death. It is God who does all these. Let us trust God and thank God. He takes care of us.
O Lord, I trust you and thank you for all the good things that you do for me. Amen.
December 2, 2021 (Thursday)
God’s Will
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 7:21
Memory Verse: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
It is important to know God’s will. Discerning God’s will is the highest goal of our spiritual discipline. We cannot decide God’s will in the way it fits our thinking. We cannot choose God’s will arbitrarily in the way we want. Devoting ourselves to God is beautiful but doing it without understanding God’s will is not only futile but also dangerous. Let us humbly seek God’s will. God will show it to us.
O Lord, please show me your will. I humbly wait for you to speak to me. Amen.
December 3, 2021 (Friday)
Fear
“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
– Psalm 27:1-4
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.”
Memory Verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
There are many things that bring fear in our lives. Fear itself is not what causes problems for us. Fear is something we experience every day and is very much a part of our lives. Sometimes it is even necessary to have fear. But when fear brings darkness upon us and drives us into despair, it has negative effects on us. When that happens, let us look to God. God is our stronghold. God is our light and salvation. No fear can destroy us.
O Lord, I praise you, leaving everything in your hands. Amen.
December 4, 2021 (Saturday
Wait With God
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.”
– Isaiah 30:18-19
Memory Verse: “The Lord waits to be gracious to you.” (Isaiah 30:18)
Our waiting is not in vain. God said, “Blessed are all those who wait for him.” God will hear us and he will answer us. But let us realize that God is also waiting to be gracious to us. So, waiting for God is waiting with God. As God waits for the right time to be gracious to us, we also wait for God.
O Lord, I wait for you with trust and hope. Amen.
December 5, 2021 (Sunday)
God’s Eternal Mercy
“Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?.”
– Psalm 80:3-4
Memory Verse: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80:3)
Sometimes we feel that God is angry with us. When we feel that, let us not run away from God. Let us ask God to forgive us and ask God to let his face shine upon us. God is slow to anger. God is patient. God will forgive us and will answer our prayers.
O Lord, thank you for your eternal mercy. Amen.
December 6, 2021 (Monday)
Be Strong
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!.”
– Isaiah 35:1-4
Memory Verse: “Say to those who are of a fearful heart,‘Be strong, do not fear!” (Isaiah 35:4)
Be strong. Do not fear. That is what God wants to be and to do. God will help us. God will strengthen our weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. We can be strong because of God. Trust in God. God will give you courage. Let us live with the courage God gives to us.
O Lord, thank you for strengthening me. Amen.
December 7, 2021 (Tuesday)
Be Clothed with Love
“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.”
– Colossians 3:12-15
Memory Verse: “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14)
Our clothes are important. They not only give us warmth but also they make us look good and presentable. St. Paul compares our character with our clothes. When we wear good characters, they make us look beautiful. Let us clothe ourselves with love. Other people will find warmth when they interact with us.
O Lord, clothe me with your love. May my life provide warmth to others. Amen.
December 8, 2021 (Wednesday)
God Strengthens Us
“Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God’?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.”
– Isaiah 40:27-31
Memory Verse: “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
God strengthens our weak knees. God renews our strength. With God, we can run and not be weary. From the depth of our being, we feel strength. Let us wait for the Lord. He will come and strengthen us. In God, we become new.
O Lord, thank you for strengthening me. I wait for you every day. Amen.
God Shows Us the Way
December 9, 2021 (Thursday)
God Shows Us The Way
“Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you for your own good,
who leads you in the way you should go.”
– Isaiah 48:17
Memory Verse: “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17)
God will show us the way which is the best for us. God will teach us so that our eyes may be able to see what is good. God will resist the proud and teach the humble who opens their ears to listen. Let us seek God’s ways and he will show us things that we never knew before.
O Lord, I humbly come before you. Please speak to me and show me your mystery. Amen.
December 10, 2021 (Friday)
Deep Empathy
“‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
– Matthew 11:16-19
Memory Verse: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” (Matthew 11:17)
Feeling numb is another form of pain. When pain penetrates deeply into our soul, we become numb. Joy disappears from us. Nothing excites us. Only thing that is left is bitterness and judgemental attitude. Jesus came to restore our empathy so that we can dance with those who rejoice and cry with those who weep.
O Lord, please help me to have deep empathy for those around me. Amen.
December 11, 2021 (Saturday)
Real Relationship
“Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
– Psalm 1
Memory Verse: “The Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:6)
God’s approval is important. God approves those who are honest before God. Being righteous does not mean being faultless. Being righteous means to have a right relationship with God, an honest relationship. God sees who we really are and he wants to have a real relationship with us, not a superficial one.
O Lord, I come to you as broken as I am. Please have mercy on me. I need you and I want you. Please watch over me. Amen.
December 12, 2021 (Sunday)
Joy
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 4:4-7
Memory Verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
Joy is essential in living a good and meaningful life. Joy makes everything come alive. Joy makes our life worth living. Joy is not what we make. It is God’s gift. When we ask for joy, God will grant it to us in abundance. Joy is contagious. When there is joy within us, it spreads to others around us.
O Lord, thank you for giving me your joy. Please guard my heart and my mind. Amen.
December 13, 2021 (Monday)
God’s Ways
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!”
– Psalm 25:4-7
Memory Verse: “Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” (Psalm 25:6)
Don’t let past our mistakes haunt us. Don’t let them define who we are. God is merciful and he does not hold our sins against us. God will teach us and lead us in his truth. Let us ask God to teach us his paths. He will show us the way.
O Lord, teach me your ways. Amen.
December 14, 2021 (Tuesday)
Speaking from the Heart
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.’”
– Matthew 21:28-31
Memory Verse: “Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matthew 21:31)
Words and actions go together. Words should be the expression of what’s inside of us. When we speak truly from our heart, our words will have power and authority. Let us not use our words to deceive others and God. Let us discipline ourselves to speak words that are true and edifying.
O Lord, please help me to speak from the heart. Amen.
December 15, 2021 (Wednesday)
God’s Peace
“Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.”
– Psalm 85:7-13
Memory Verse: “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” (Psalm 85:10)
God’s love and justice work in harmony. God will love those who fear him and honour him and will teach them God’s peace. Let us live with peace God gives to us. Let us find strength to live righteously in God’s peace.
O Lord, please grant me your peace. Amen.
December 16, 2021 (Thursday)
Being Called
“Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, ‘You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’
But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
and my reward with my God.”
– Isaiah 49:1-4
Memory Verse: “The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.” (Isaiah 49:1)
Sometimes we feel that our labour is in vain. We feel like we have spent our strength for nothing and vanity. That is when we have to hear that we are God’s children and he called us into existence. He will give us strength and restore our joy of being God’s children.
O Lord, thank you for calling me to be your child. Amen.
December 17, 2021 (Friday)
Evil Thoughts
“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”
– 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
Memory Verse: “But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
God will guard us from the evil one. We need God to protect us from evil thoughts. Often our thoughts are beyond our control. Our thoughts and our will are not in sync. Our thoughts are much more powerful than our will. We need God’s help. God will guard our thoughts and our minds. God will give us peace.
O Lord, when I go astray, please help me. You are faithful to me. Show me your way and give me strength to follow your way. Amen.
December 18, 2021 (Saturday)
Good News
“How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.”
– Isaiah 52:7-9
Memory Verse: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7)
Let us be messengers who announce peace and bring good news. We are surrounded by bad news. We hear the news of danger, disaster, fights, death and fear. We need news of salvation. God is with us. God will save us. God will redeem us from ruins of our life. God will comfort us and give us hope.
O Lord, you are my hope and salvation. Only in you, I have hope. Please reign in my life. Amen.
December 19, 2021 (Sunday)
Be In the Spirit
“A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.”
– Isaiah 11:1-5
Memory Verse: “The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2)
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jesus and filled him with wisdom and understanding. Jesus and the Spirit are one. His message came from the Spirit. Now Jesus dwells in our heart. He gives us wisdom and understanding. Be in the Spirit. Surrender yourself to the Spirit.
O Lord, fill me with your Spirit. May the wisdom of Jesus come upon me. Amen.
December 20, 2021 (Monday)
Pure Hearts
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.”
– Psalm 24:1-6
Memory Verse: “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.” (Psalm 24:3, 4)
People who have pure heart are blessed. People who do not idolize themselves are blessed. A pure heart is a humble heart that doesn’t fall into the trap of one’s vain ego. God blesses those who are humble and lifts them up. Jesus showed us what a humble person looks like. Let us follow the path Jesus showed us.
O Lord, help me to have a pure heart. Help me always be humble. Amen.
December 21, 2021 (Tuesday)
God Our Shield
“Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.”
– Psalm 33:20-22
Memory Verse: “Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” (Psalm 33:21)
We trust in God’s holy name. That’s why our heart rejoices. Joy comes from trusting God’s help. Joy comes from knowing that God loves us. We wait for God every day. He will come and lift up our heart and bring back joy in our heart. Nothing can destroy us. Nothing can harm us. God is our shield. He will protect us for ever.
O Lord, thank you for being my shield. You are always there for me. Amen.
December 22, 2021 (Wednesday)
Praise God
“Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time on and for evermore.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens.”
– Psalm 113:1-4
Memory Verse: “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.” (Psalm 113:3)
Let us praise God when life is hard. Let us praise God when our future is dark and gloomy. Let us praise God when we have nothing to hope for. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. There is power in praise. When we praise God, God will break open our future. We will march through our challenges, praising God.
O Lord, I will not let the praise depart from my lips. Amen.
December 23, 2021 (Thursday)
God and Time
“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”
– 2 Peter 3:8-9
Memory Verse: “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)
We live within the boundary of time. God does not exist within time; he created time. Time cannot control what God does. God is eternal. The eternal God took pity on us who live within the boundary of time and liberated us from the tyranny of time and gave us eternal life. We thank Jesus Christ who chose to come into our world and let himself be limited by the limitation of time, and teach us God’s eternal life.
O Lord, thank you for granting me eternal life. Help me not be discouraged by all the problems that happen in time. Help me always look to the eternal God and live my life. Amen.
December 24, 2021 (Friday)
Gift
“When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
– Matthew 2:9-11
Memory Verse: “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
We have received the best gift ever on Christmas, God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Because of him, we have a new life that never dies away. No one can take this gift away from us. This gift is not an old worn-out gift. It gets renewed and gets better. Let us celebrate this gift. Let us enjoy this gift. Let us give back our life as a gift to our Lord Jesus Christ.
O Lord, thank you for giving me this new life. Nothing can take this gift away from me. I will return this life back to you as my gift for you. Amen
December 25, 2021 (Saturday)
The Light
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
– Isaiah 9:2, 6
Memory Verse: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Jesus is the Light. With the birth of Jesus Christ on this day, the Light came into the world. People who lived in a land of deep darkness saw the Light. Let the light of Jesus Christ shine upon you. May the light of Jesus Christ deliver us from the life of darkness. Now let us live in the light.
O Lord, thank you for coming to me as the Light. Darkness surrounds me and brings heaviness upon me. Shine your light upon me so that I may be lifted from my burdens. Amen.
December 26, 2021 (Sunday)
Christ In Me
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me
– Galatians 2:19-20
Memory Verse: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:19-20)
We have a new life because Christ dwells within us. We live by faith now. We believe that Christ will help us when we cannot help ourselves. Often, we feel that we are helpless and that is when we should experience that Christ is within us and helps us. Let us recognize Christ who dwells within us. He will guide us which direction we need to take. He will give us strength to deal with challenges we face.
O Lord, thank you for being within me. Because you are within me, I can now find confidence in life. Guide me, O Lord. Amen.
December 27, 2021 (Monday)
Come To the Light
If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
– 1 John 1:6-10
Memory Verse: “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Being in darkness means being blind to our sins. When we come to the light, we will be able to see our own darkness and our own sins. Recognizing our sins and confessing them are essential in our spiritual discipline. That is the discipline of coming to the light. Don’t let pride lead us into darkness. Let us come to the light.
O Lord, forgive my sins. Help me to come to the light. Amen.
December 28, 2021 (Tuesday)
Power of God
“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Memory Verse: “God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are.” (1 Corinthians 1:28)
We are weak and we have nothing to boast about. Accepting that is the beginning of experiencing the power of God. Let us not get discouraged when we see our own weaknesses. Let us see how God turns our weaknesses into strength. That will give us confidence. God’s strength is manifested in our weaknesses.
O Lord, thank you for using me even though I am weak. Thank you for empowering me. Amen.
December 29, 2021 (Wednesday)
Hatred, Darkness, Love, and Light
“Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.”
– 1 John 2:9-11
Memory Verse: “But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.” (1 John 2:11)
Hatred brings darkness to us. Darkness will bring blindness to us. We will not be able to know the way to go. When hatred controls our lives, we will become lost and we will wander. We won’t know what we are doing. Love brings light to us. It will shine our way to show us where to go. Love will open the path for us.
O Lord, fill me with your love. Please don’t let hatred control my life. Amen.
December 30, 2021 (Thursday)
God’s Will
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.”
– 1 John 2:15-17
Memory Verse: “And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.” (1 John 2:17)
We become attached to things that we love. We do not want to be attached to things that pass away. We want to be attached to things that give us eternal pleasure. Let us enjoy our lives and the greatest joy is to live out the will of God for us. There is no greater joy than knowing the will of God and living it out.
O Lord, show me your will. May your will govern my life. Amen.
December 31, 2021 (Friday)
The Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
– John 1:1-5
Memory Verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
The Word was in the beginning before any matters were created. From the Word, the world was created. From the Word, life was created. From the Word, the light was created. In the new year, let us absorb the Word and it will create new life within us.
O Lord, may your word be alive within me. May your word create new life within me. Amen.
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