March 1, 2021 (Monday)
Be Good To Others
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
– Luke 6:36-38
Memory Verse: “For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:38)
What we do for others will be what we will get. If we are merciful, we will get mercy. If we forgive others, we will be forgiven. If we give, it will be given to us. But if we judge, we will be judged. If we condemn, we will be condemned. If we don’t give, we won’t experience life’s abundance. With God’s mercy, let us be merciful to others.
Lord, be merciful to me. Amen.
March 2, 2021 (Tuesday)
The Burden of Our Sins
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
– Isaiah 1:16-18
Memory Verse: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
We cannot forgive ourselves for our sins but we can let down our sins before God. Living with guilt leads us into deeper darkness. When we let our sins be known to God, God is merciful and he will forgive us. Even though our sins are like scarlet, God will make them white as snow. Let us come and leave our burdens before God. God will lift our burdens off our shoulders.
Lord, cleanse me from my sins. Amen.
March 3, 2021 (Wednesday)
Life of Serving
“While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.’ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’ When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
– Matthew 20:17-28
Memory Verse: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:27)
There is beauty in serving others. Serving is not about what we do; it is about who we are. As we live our lives, serving others, serving becomes our lifestyle. Let us live our lives with the desire to serve. It will shape within us a serving attitude. Then whatever we do, it will serve the needs of others. That is life of serving.
Lord, help me always be mindful of serving. Amen.
March 4, 2021 (Thursday)
Trust in the Lord
“Thus says the Lord:
– Jeremiah 17:5-8
Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength,
whose hearts turn away from the Lord.
They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Memory Verse: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord. Let us always trust in the Lord. God will give us necessary wisdom. With the wisdom, we can make important decisions in life. God will provide us with what we need. If we need health, he will provide it. If we need friends, he will provide them. If we need help, he will provide it. Let us not worry about anything, but trust in the Lord.
Lord, help me always trust in you. Amen.
March 5, 2021 (Friday)
Eternal God
“Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,
– Psalm 102:25-28
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you endure;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You change them like clothing, and they pass away;
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
The children of your servants shall live secure;
their offspring shall be established in your presence.”
Memory Verse: “You are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:27)
The earth and the heavens will perish. They will wear out like old clothing and pass away. Our enjoyable moments are only for a short while. Even in this short span of time, we waste our time, fighting, hating each other, and getting angry. Why do we waste our precious time and energy, doing such unnecessary things? God is always the same and he is eternal. Let us stand humbly before the eternal God. He will teach us how to live our lives.
Lord, help me live my life loving more. Amen.
March 6, 2021 (Saturday)
Forgiving God
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
– Micah 7:18-19
and passing over the transgression
of the remnant of your possession?
He does not retain his anger for ever,
because he delights in showing clemency.
He will again have compassion upon us;
he will tread our iniquities under foot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.”
Memory Verse: “You are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:27)
Our sins are our weaknesses. They make us vulnerable. God does not use our sins to abuse and manipulate us. God loves us. When he sees our sins, he has compassion. Instead of condemning us, God treads our iniquities under foot and casts our sins into the depths of the sea. God does not let our sins come alive. God takes away the power of our sins. Let us praise God who binds our sins.
Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins. Amen.
March 7, 2021 (Sunday)
God’s Wisdom
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
– 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”
Memory Verse: “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)
People who think they are wise are actually foolish. The real wisdom is to know how little we know about God, ourselves, and our life. When we realize our own foolishness, we will seek the true wisdom. As we seek the true wisdom, God will grant us his wisdom. Through that wisdom, we will get to know God and knowing God is the greatest strength to us. With the strength that comes from knowing God, we can overcome any situation we face, how impossible it may appear to be.
Lord, please grant your wisdom to me. Amen.
March 8, 2021 (Monday)
Longing Heart
“As a deer longs for flowing streams,
– Psalm42:1-2
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?”
Memory Verse: “As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)
Longing for God is the beginning of our spirituality. As we seek God earnestly with a longing heart, a seed of faith gets formed within us. God values our longing heart and cultivates it to grow. As we seek God with a longing heart, God will show himself to us.
Lord, my soul longs for you. Help me feel your presence. Amen.
March 9, 2021 (Tuesday)
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.’ ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
– Matthew 18:21-35
Memory Verse: “So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35)
When we cannot have our own sins forgiven, we cannot forgive others’ sins. We don’t like what our sins do to us. They make us feel guilty and also weak. We run away from the reality of our sins by turning a blind eye to them or coming up with our own convenient justification. These efforts will not do much good to us. We can be free from our sins only through forgiveness. When we are free from our sins, then we can forgive others’ sins.
Lord, forgive my sins with your mercy. Amen.
March 10, 2021 (Wednesday)
Doing What Is Right
“Praise the Lord!
– Psalm 147:1-7
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the broken-hearted,
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
he casts the wicked to the ground.”
Memory Verse: “Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.” (Psalm 147:1)
God takes care of us when we feel small and insignificant. God wants only humility from us and it is all right to expose our weaknesses to him. He understands us. God wants us to be mindful of doing what is right. As we seek God’s justice, God will not only answer our prayers but also take care of all our needs. God will cast the wicked to the ground.
Lord, I seek your justice. Amen.
March 11, 2021 (Thursday)
Be Conscious of God
“This command I gave them, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.”
– Jeremiah 7:23
Memory Verse: “Walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.” (Jeremiah 7:23)
We often live our lives without being conscious of God. Be mindful of God. Let us set aside time for God to speak to us before we make decisions. God will show us the way. Let us follow the way God opens up for us. When we pay attention to God in our silence, we will be able to hear God’s voice. Sometimes our decisions are confirmed and other times we may realize that our decisions are mistaken. Let us live with the consciousness of God.
Lord, speak to me, I will listen. Amen.
March 12, 2021 (Friday)
Loving Heart
“One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.”
– Mark 12:28-34
Memory Verse: “’To love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength’, and ‘to love one’s neighbour as oneself’,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:33)
The best offering we can offer to God is our loving heart. That is what God wants from us. Loving God and loving our neighbour are one and the same thing. When we have a loving heart within us, it will express itself, regardless of who the other person is or what it is that we do. Love flows out of our loving heart.
Lord, please fill me with your love. Amen.
March 13, 2021 (Saturday)
Self-Respect
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
– Luke 18:9-14
Memory Verse: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
Self-respect is different from exalting oneself. Exalting ourselves is a subtle way of disrespecting ourselves. It is a recognition that we don’t like what we see in us. If we don’t like what we see in us, instead of hiding it by exalting ourselves, let us accept who we are but pursue to go beyond where we are. God sees what’s in us, not what we show.
Lord, with brokenness, I come before you. Mould me in your image. Amen.
March 14, 2021 (Sunday)
Gratitude
“For I am about to create new heavens
– Isaiah 65:17, 24-25
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind… Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.”
Memory Verse: “For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)
God will give us new heavens and a new earth in the end. It is a place where there is peace. We will live in harmony there. People uplift each other, care for each other, and appreciate each other. Let us dream of new heavens and a new earth. Let us try to make that dream come true here and now. That is what pleases God.
Lord, grant me a new heart. Amen.
March 15, 2021 (Monday)
New Heavens and a New Earth
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”
– John 10:10-15
Memory Verse: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Jesus lived an abundant life. He didn’t live long. He didn’t have a beautiful house and a fancy car. In what way did he live an abundant life? He cared for others. He lived with love. He was quite sure of what he wanted in his life. He enjoyed spending time with people. He was happy and content. He had a strong sense of God’s presence. That was his abundance.
Lord, thank you for love. Amen.
March 16, 2021 (Tuesday)
Abundant Life
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”
– John 10:10-15
Memory Verse: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Jesus lived an abundant life. He didn’t live long. He didn’t have a beautiful house and a fancy car. In what way did he live an abundant life? He cared for others. He lived with love. He was quite sure of what he wanted in his life. He enjoyed spending time with people. He was happy and content. He had a strong sense of God’s presence. That was his abundance.
Lord, thank you for love. Amen.
March 17, 2021 (Wednesday)
Being Connected with God
“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.”
– John 5:19-20
Memory Verse: “The Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19)
Jesus lived his life, being deeply connected with God. That is the secret of life. When we are not deeply connected with God, we cannot bear fruit. When we are connected with God, our life becomes abundant. When we are separated from God, our life will become dry and fruitless. Having God fully in our consciousness is to be connected with God.
Lord, I desire to be connected with you. Amen.
March 18, 2021 (Thursday)
We Will Never Perish
“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
– John 10:27-30
Memory Verse: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)
Those who follow Jesus will never perish. We are his sheep. We are in God’s good hand. Nothing in the world can snatch us from his hand. God who is greater than this world is holding us tightly. Let us listen to the voice of the shepherd. Every day, let us pay attention to him. We will receive the power to overcome the world.
Lord, I pay attention to your voice. Amen.
March 19, 2021 (Friday)
Faith
“as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’”
– Romans 4:17-18
Memory Verse: “God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17)
We believe not because we can understand everything that God does. God’s work is mysterious. Only through faith, we can accept God’s mysterious work. God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. We can never accept that with our logic. We can only accept that with faith that is hoping against hope. Let us look to God with faith.
Lord, grant me faith. Amen.
March 20, 2021 (Saturday)
Nicodemus Who Was Born Again
“Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”
– John 7:45-52
Memory Verse: “Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’” (John 7:50, 51)
We see Nicodemus today. Nicodemus once came to Jesus and asked him how to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus told him that he had to be born again. We see today Nicodemus who was born again. Everyone in the court tried to condemn Jesus but he alone spoke up to defend him. That is not possible without courage. When we are born again, we become courageous.
Lord, grant me courage. Amen.
March 21, 2021 (Sunday)
Attachment
“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.”
– John 12:24-26
Memory Verse: “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 7:50, 51)
Jesus said those who love their life will lose it. Here, Jesus used the word “love” as attachment. That is not true love. Attachment to life creates fear within us. When we live with fear, we lose life. Hating one’s life means letting go of the attachment and leaving our life in God’s hands. That is when fear dissipates from us and we find life.
Lord, I leave my life in your hands. Amen.
March 22, 2021 (Monday)
Condemnation
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’
– John 8:3-11
Memory Verse: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
When we clearly see sin within us, we realize that it is not easy to condemn others. When we don’t see sin within us, it enslaves us. People who are bound by their sins are trying to bind others also. They do that by condemning them. When they surrounded the woman caught in adultery and tried to stone her, they showed how enslaved they were by their own sins. Jesus clearly saw how sin worked in that particular situation. Jesus let them see their own sins and saved her from condemnation.
Lord, please forgive my sins. Amen.
March 23, 2021 (Tuesday)
A Desperate Heart
“Hear my prayer, O Lord;
– Psalm 102:1-7
let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
on the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily on the day when I call.
For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
I am too wasted to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my skin.
I am like an owl of the wilderness,
like a little owl of the waste places.
I lie awake;
I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.”
Memory Verse: “Do not hide your face from me on the day of my distress.” (Psalm 102:2)
When we go through suffering, we have a desperate heart that seeks God earnestly. When we lose everything, the only thing that is left in us is our desperate cry. When we call him with our desperate cry, God comes to us and answers us. In our suffering, let us seek God.
Lord, please do not hide your face from me. Amen.
March 24, 2021 (Wednesday)
Being Free From Sin
“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”
– John 8:31-34
Memory Verse: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)
Everyone who commits sin is a slave and everyone whose sin is forgiven is free. We cannot have freedom by not committing sin but only by being forgiven. What we cannot do Jesus did for us. Jesus freed us from our sin.
Lord, help me live freely with forgiveness you have granted for me. Amen.
March 25, 2021 (Thursday)
The Holy Sacrifice
“Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
– Psalm40:6-8
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering
you have not required.
Then I said, ‘Here I am;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
Memory Verse: “Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required.” (Psalm 40:6)
God does not desire sacrifice and offering. God wants us to be the sacrifice and offering. God wants us to have an open ear and be able to hear God’s will. Living according to God’s will is to become the holy and pure sacrifice. Let us open our ears every morning. God will let us listen to his will.
Lord, your servant is ready to hear you. Speak to me your will. Amen.
March 26, 2021 (Friday)
A Righteous Life
“For I hear many whispering:
– Jeremiah 20:10-12
‘Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’
All my close friends
are watching for me to stumble.
‘Perhaps he can be enticed,
and we can prevail against him,
and take our revenge on him.’
But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior;
therefore my persecutors will stumble,
and they will not prevail.
They will be greatly shamed,
for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonour
will never be forgotten.
O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous,
you see the heart and the mind;
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause.”
Memory Verse: “But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail.” (Jeremiah 20:11)
God is like a dread warrior. God fights for his righteousness. God will fight for those who live for his righteousness. Even if we get persecuted, let us not be discouraged. Let us keep on keeping on. God will be there for us. Let us only focus on seeking God’s righteousness. He will take care of us. He will fight our enemies for us.
Lord, help me first seek your righteousness. Amen.
March 27, 2021 (Saturday)
The Lord Is 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: “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121)
God keeps us safe. God has kept us safe all this time and will continue to keep us safe in the future. God is our shield, our fortress, and our refuge. When dangers come, God lets us know. When darkness comes, God shines the light for us. When despair hits us, God gives us hope. God keeps us safe.
Lord, thank you for keeping me safe. Amen.
March 28, 2021 (Sunday)
Let Us Live with Confidence
“The Lord God has opened my ear,
– Isaiah 50:5-8
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backwards.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?”
Memory Verse: “He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?” (Isaiah 50:8)
We have to live with confidence. He who vindicates us is with us, who will condemn us? When God recognizes us, who will destroy us? Let us live with confidence. God will help us. God will give us the power to be able to overcome challenges of this world.
Lord, thank you for your love. Amen.
March 29, 2021 (Monday)
Our Vulnerability
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
– Isaiah 42:1-4
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.”
Memory Verse: “…a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.” (Isaiah 50:8)
It is God’s will that a bruised reed will not break, and a dimly burning wick will not quench. God does not give up his hope for us. We are like a bruised reed and a dimly burning wick. We are vulnerable. The good news is that God will keep us strong no matter how weak we may feel. Let us not lose hope.
Lord, thank you for taking care of me when I feel weak and vulnerable. Amen
March 30, 2021 (Tuesday)
God’s Witnesses
“O God, from my youth you have taught me,
– Psalm 71:17-20
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and grey hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations to come.
Your power and your righteousness, O God,
reach the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.”
Memory Verse: “You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.” (Psalm 71:17-20)
We have seen God’s wondrous deeds all our lives. From our youth to old age, we have seen how God has been with us and done all the wonderful things for us. Let us keep that in mind and live our lives as witnesses. Our life is the evidence of God’s wonderful works and we are witnesses. Even when we go through many troubles and calamities, God will revive us again and bring us up again from the depths of the earth, as the psalmist said.
Lord, help me to live my life as a witness to your wonderful works. Amen.
March 31, 2021 (Wednesday)
Seek the Lord
“Let all who seek you
– Psalm 70:4-5
rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation
say evermore, ‘God is great!’
But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!”
Memory Verse: “Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’.” (Psalm 70:4-5)
Those who seek the Lord will rejoice and be glad in God. When we earnestly seek the Lord, we can overcome our suffering. All those things that intimidate us and trouble us will kneel down before us. When we seek the Lord, all things will work out for good and we will come out of darkness and from our sorrow.
Lord, I seek you every morning. Amen.
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