July 1, 2022 (Friday)
Be Merciful
“And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
– Matthew 9:10-13
Memory Verse: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Matthew 9:13)
Mercy is not a pity that looks down on others. Mercy is the ability to identify with those who suffer in pain. When you feel the pain they go through, then you can have mercy. Do not reject those who are hurting. Accept them and love them. That is what mercy is. That is what God does for you. Be merciful as God is merciful.
O Lord, help me not to be conceited but be always merciful. Amen.
July 2, 2022 (Saturday)
New Wineskins
“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
– Matthew 9:16-17
Memory Verse: “new wine is put into fresh wineskins.” (Matthew 9:17)
Life is constantly changing. Spiritual people live by the guidance of the Spirit. Knowing the changes that happen in your life, the Spirit guides you into the right path accordingly. If you do not depend on the Spirit but only on what you have known, then you will not be able to deal with new challenges that come at you. Be aware of the guidance of the Spirit, you will be able to have fresh wineskins that can contain new wine.
O Lord, thank you for the Spirit who is guiding me into the right path. Amen.
July 3 2022 (Sunday)
Faith
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’”
– John 20:29
Memory Verse: “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’” (John 20:29)
Faith does not depend on what you see. Faith is accepting what is more than what you can see. Faith does not depend on your ability to comprehend. Faith is letting yourself be led by the guiding hands of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will guide you into the unknown world. The Spirit will guide you from death that you can see to life that you cannot see.
O Lord, help me to have deeper faith that embraces what I cannot see. Amen.
July 4 2022 (Monday)
The Secret of the Gospel
“For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.”
– Romans 11:32
Memory Verse: “For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.” (Romans 11:32)
Even your disobedience could not destroy you. God has used your disobedience as a way to show his mercy. In God, all things are possible. Everything depends on God’s desire and his will. God has chosen to be merciful to you. That is why salvation is possible. This is the secret of the gospel. So, St. Paul shouted out this wonderful discovery: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!”
O Lord, thank you for being merciful to me. Amen.
July 5, 2022 (Tuesday)
Compassion
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
– Matthew 9:36
Memory Verse: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Having compassion is a highly developed state of mind. Compassion is one’s ability to feel what others feel. Compassion is God’s gift given to humanity for its survival. Without compassion, the world you live in cannot survive. Compassion is God’s gift but it is something that can be cultivated. Learn to have compassion and God will help you to be compassionate.
Memory Verse: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Having compassion is a highly developed state of mind. Compassion is one’s ability to feel what others feel. Compassion is God’s gift given to humanity for its survival. Without compassion, the world you live in cannot survive. Compassion is God’s gift but it is something that can be cultivated. Learn to have compassion and God will help you to be compassionate.
O Lord, as you have compassion for me, help me to have your compassion. Amen.
July 6, 2022 (Wednesday)
Humble Love
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.”
– Romans 12:9, 10
Memory Verse: “Outdo one another in showing honour.” (Romans 12:10)
Love must be genuine. Loving somebody means to show honour. You don’t need to be always better than others. You don’t need to always prove that you are better than others. A bigger person shows honour to others. Love makes you a bigger person.
O Lord, help me to practice your humble love. Amen.
July 7, 2022 ( Thursday)
Be With God
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.”
– Romans 12:12
Memory Verse: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Have hope in God, you will find joy. No matter what situation you may be in, always be hopeful. You will find joy. When you go through suffering, don’t give up. Don’t panic. Be patient and pray. God will give you strength to persevere. Your suffering will only make you stronger.
O Lord, thank you for being my God. Amen.
July 8, 2022 (Friday)
Take Care of Your Soul
“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
– Matthew 10:28
Memory Verse: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
There is nothing you need to fear in this world. No one can destroy you. You are in God’s good hands. The body by itself doesn’t give you meaningful existence. It is the soul that makes your existence meaningful. Take care of your soul. Ask God to make your soul well.
O Lord, my soul will be well when I am in your hands. Amen.
July 9, 2022 (Saturday)
You are Precious
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
– Matthew 10:29-31
Memory Verse: “So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31)
You are precious in God’s eyes. You are like a treasure to God. The more you get to know God, the more deeply you will appreciate how precious you are. When you understand your precious value, you will realize how beautiful life is. You will understand that life is worth living.
O Lord, thank you for treating me as a precious person. Amen.
July 10, 2022 (Sunday)
Seek God’s Righteousness
“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.”
– Proverbs 10:3
Memory Verse: “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:3)
Seek God’s righteousness. God will take care of your needs. Do not worry about what you shall eat or what you shall wear. God will provide you with abundant blessings when you seek God’s righteousness. But the cravings of the wicked will never be satisfied. The more they have, the more they will be thirsty.
O Lord, help me seek your righteousness in everything I do. Amen.
July 11, 2022 (Monday)
What God Requires of You
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.”
– Isaiah 1:11
Memory Verse: “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?” (Isaiah 1:11)
What does God require of you? Does God want you to give him material things? God doesn’t need material things. God wants you to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him. Be mindful of how you live. Take care of those who are in need. Have a compassionate heart. Be always humble.
O Lord, shape me and mold me in your image. Amen.
July 12, 2022 (Tuesday)
True Spirituality
“And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?”
– Luke 18:7
Memory Verse: “And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?” (Luke 18:7)
Pouring out our heart to God and doing it without giving up – that is the key to your spirituality. This kind of spirituality will move God. The true spirituality does not necessarily make you feel good. However, true spirituality has the power to move God. When God moves, justice will be granted.
O Lord, thank you for listening to my outcries. Amen.
July 13, 2022 (Wednesday)
Pure Heart
“At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants.”
– Matthew 11:25
Memory Verse: “You have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants.” (Matthew 11:25)
God reveals his wisdom to those who are pure in their heart. Intelligence is not a key that will open the door to God’s secret. Your heart is. Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God. Be pure. You will be able to see God’s secret and it will give you joy.
O Lord, open my eyes so that I may see you. Amen.
July 14, 2022 (Thursday)
Jesus’ Yoke
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30
Memory Verse: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30)
Jesus’ yoke is not to burden you. Jesus’ yoke is to help us carry our burdens easily. You have many burdens to carry. Jesus will not necessarily take away your burdens but he will give you strength and wisdom to deal with your burdens. With Jesus’ yoke, we can carry many burdens without being crushed.
O Lord, thank you for your yoke. Amen.
July 15, 2022 (Friday)
Sin
“Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
– Psalm 32:1-2
Memory Verse: “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)
Sin affects the whole humanity. No one can save himself/herself from the power of sin. Sin takes away joy from you and puts unbearable burdens on you. You can be free from the power of sin when God forgives you and covers your sin. Come to God and be free from sin.
O Lord, thank you for forgiving my sin. Amen.
July 16, 2022 (Saturday)
Be Wise and Be Good
“I want you to be wise in what is good, and guileless in what is evil.”
– Romans 16:19
Memory Verse: “I want you to be wise in what is good, and guileless in what is evil.” (Romans 16:19)
Wisdom is connected with doing what is good. In that sense, wisdom is different from intelligence. Wisdom has a moral quality in it. Wisdom not only helps you do what is good but it also comes from the desire to do what is good. Being good and being wise are interwoven together. They strengthen each other.
O Lord, please give me your wisdom. Amen.
July 17, 2022 (Sunday)
Bless and Be Blessed
“Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.”
– 1 Peter 3:9
Memory Verse: “Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9)
The secret of receiving God’s blessings is not to revenge but to bless. You are called to bless others and the blessings you bless them with will return to you. Repaying evil for evil will not eradicate evil. It will only strengthen the power of evil. Don’t let evil thoughts pollute your mind. Fill your heart with blessings. Now you are ready to fight for justice.
O Lord, bless me with your blessings. Amen.
July 18, 2022 (Monday)
Consolation
“If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:6
Memory Verse: “It is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering.” (1 Peter 3:9)
Don’t expect that you may experience no suffering. Expecting that gives you stress and makes you weak. Trust that God will give you consolation when you suffer. When you rely on yourself, you will be scared of sufferings, but when you rely on God, you will be able to endure challenges that often bring sufferings. Experience the power of God’s consolation.
O Lord, thank you for your consolation. Amen.
July 19, 2022 (Tuesday)
God’s Faithfulness
“For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’ For this reason it is through him that we say the ‘Amen’, to the glory of God.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:20
Memory Verse: “For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Trust in God’s promises. Accepting God means accepting faithful God. God is faithful. That is the essential nature of God. God does not change his mind. God gave you promises and he will be faithful to them. Knowing God’s promises makes your life abundant if you trust in them.
O Lord, thank you for your promises. Amen.
July 20, 2022 (Wednesday)
Fragrance
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.”
– 2 Corinthians 2:14
Memory Verse: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Be confident in Christ. Claim victory in everything you do. Overcome challenges with the power given to you by Jesus Christ. Don’t let failures discourage you. Failures are only doors to victory. Start your day with a smile and courage. That is the fragrance that comes from knowing Christ.
O Lord, thank you for leading me in triumphal procession. Amen.
July 21, 2022 (Thursday)
Desire To Know God
“For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”
– Matthew 13:12
Memory Verse: “For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Matthew 13:12)
Your desire to know God opens the secrets of God. The more desire you have, the more God will reveal his secrets. Our desire to know God is the first step of knowing God. Your desire to know God makes you pure because it consumes all other desires. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will be able to see God.
O Lord, thank you for giving me the desire to know you. Amen.
July 22, 2022 (Friday)
Becoming New
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
Memory Verse: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When you are in Christ, you become new because the power of his resurrection works in you. The power of his resurrection brings life in you. The old cannot hold you down and take you as its hostage because the power of life is too strong. With the power of his resurrection, your life will move forward.
O Lord, thank you for giving me a new life through the power of his resurrection. Amen.
July 23, 2022 (Saturday)
The Weeds
“Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
– Matthew 13:30
Memory Verse: “Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30)
Do not worry about weeds. Don’t focus on weeds in your life. Don’t focus on negative things within you. Don’t let your heart be overwhelmed by negative things about you. Ultimately God will take care of your weaknesses and you will be able to bear good fruits.
O Lord, thank you for helping me. Amen.
July 24, 2022 (Sunday)
Being Rooted
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
– Colossians 2:6, 7
Memory Verse: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6, 7)
Life needs to be rooted. When it is rooted, it can withstand storms in life. Be rooted in Christ. Being rooted in Christ means to believe that it is no longer you who deal with challenges in life by yourself but it is Christ who helps you overcome difficulties of life. You are in the good hands of Christ. Focus on Christ. He will give you strength. Be thankful.
O Lord, I am in you and you are in me. Amen.
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