November 1, 2020 (Sunday)
The Kingdom of Heaven
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
People who are poor in spirit have nothing to possess but they have the kingdom of heaven. When we empty our heart, the kingdom of heaven comes. People who are filled with self-confidence, have no room for the kingdom of heaven. Let us come humbly before God with a broken heart. God will heal our broken heart and grant the kingdom of heaven to dwell in our heart.
Lord, I come to you with a broken heart. Please grant the kingdom of heaven within me. Amen.
November 2, 2020 (Monday)
Comfort
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
God is God of comfort. God sheds tears for those who mourn. Our pain triggers God’s compassion. Through our tears, we experience God’s deep compassion for us. When God wipes our tears, not only are we comforted but we also meet God who deeply cares for us. God will never leave us alone when we are sad. He comes to us and embraces us in his arms.
Lord, thank you for your compassion. Amen.
November 3, 2020 (Tuesday)
Being Meek
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
Being meek is being unshaken. There are many things in life that hit us like a storm: fear, anger, and darkness. These things create turmoil within us. When we have meekness, we will not be shaken. We will just walk silently the path that we are supposed to take. It is to have calm confidence within our heart. The blessings of the earth will be firmly planted in the calm and unshaken heart.
Lord, please grant me the meekness. Amen.
November 4, 2020 (Wednesday)
Righteousness
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
People who are unjustly treated will hunger and thirst for righteousness. They have the spirit of being hungry and thirsty for righteousness. God does not ignore their outcries. God will establish his justice and fill the heart of those who are unjustly treated. Because there is God, justice will win in the end.
Lord, may your justice be done in this world. Amen.
November 5, 2020 (Thursday)
Mercy
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)
Mercy melts the anger within us. It builds up compassion within us. When we have mercy, we are protected from having our hearts cold and hardened. We will have warmth in our heart. From our merciful attitude, God’s grace flows out of us. Our mercy not only covers the mistakes and wrongdoings of others but also empowers them to overcome their own shortcomings. Living with mercy is better than judging others and rejecting them. God will be merciful to those who are merciful. This will make you be more merciful. Now your life will go on in the full cycle of mercy.
Lord, please be merciful to me. Amen.
November 6, 2020 (Friday)
Purity
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Being pure in heart means to have one heart that is not divided. When our heart is united, we can seek only one thing. When our heart is divided into many directions, we will lose the purity and the simplicity of our heart. Many desires bring confusion and chaos. Let us seek God and God alone. We will be able to see God.
Lord, I seek you with all my heart. Amen
November 7, 2020 (Saturday)
The Peacemakers
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Jesus came to break down the dividing wall within us. People build dividing walls within them to protect themselves. They may protect them to a certain degree but these dividing walls separate ourselves from others. Jesus came to break down these dividing walls. Instead of attacking each other, let us accept each other. Instead of judging each other, let us try to understand each other. Slowly the dividing walls will come down and there will be peace. This is what the children of God should do.
Lord, please break down the dividing walls within me. Amen.
November 8, 2020 (Sunday)
The Kingdom
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:3-10
Memory Verse: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
The poor in spirit and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake – they both experience the kingdom of heaven to dwell in them. The kingdom of heaven does not belong to those who rule and govern. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the invisible, the voiceless, and the oppressed who seek God’s righteousness. We do not live for the recognition of this world but for God’s righteousness. Even if it is a difficult path, we take the path of the righteousness. Then we will become poor in spirit and the kingdom of heaven will dwell within us. Jesus started his beatitudes with the kingdom and ended it with the kingdom. That means the true blessing of life is to have the kingdom of heaven within our heart.
Lord, establish your kingdom within my heart. Amen.
November 9, 2020 (Monday)
Increase Our Faith
“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.”
– Luke 17:5-6
Memory Verse: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” (Luke 17:5)
We need to grow in our faith. Our faith will grow not just by our effort. The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. Faith is a gift given by our Lord. When we have a fervent desire to have faith, Jesus will increase our faith. Let us ask earnestly for faith. When we have faith, we will not lose our hope even in impossible situations.
Lord, increase my faith. Amen.
November 10, 2020 (Tuesday)
The Light of the World
“‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 5:14-16
Memory Verse: “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
We have no light within us. We can be the light only when God shines his light upon us. When we try to be the light on our own, we may block the light of God. To be the light means to let God be revealed, not ourselves. As a candle shines the light while it itself becomes smaller, God’s light will shine brighter when we lower ourselves.
Lord, please shine your light upon me. Amen.
November 11, 2020 (Wednesday)
Wait for the Lord
“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil. For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”
– Psalm 37:7-9
Memory Verse: “For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:9)
It is natural for us to be angry when we see injustice. Jesus was also angry when he saw injustice. But we should not let our anger consume us. When we live with anger, it will only lead us to evil. Life of the wicked seems flourishing but their life will be like chaff that the wind blows away. Let us have hope in God and seek God’s righteousness.
Lord, help me to be still and seek you and your kingdom. Amen.
November 12, 2020 (Thursday)
Thirst
“As a deer longs for flowing streams, 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? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’.”
– Psalm 42:1-3
Memory Verse: “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)
Sometimes we cannot feel the presence of God and we get discouraged. But that is when we need to seek God because the thirst is created within us. We can seek God only when we have the thirst. God will quench our thirst.
Oh Lord, my soul longs for you. Amen.
November 13, 2020 (Friday)
Practicing Piety
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
– Matthew 6:1-4
Memory Verse: “Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them.” (Matthew 6:1)
We practice our piety not to show off our piety but to be helpful for those who are in need. Practicing piety is a beautiful act. Having compassion for those who are suffering and doing something for them is a holy lifestyle. God values the heart that does them. And God will help us in the same way when we are in need.
Lord, help me to have compassion for those who suffer. Amen.
November 14, 2020 (Saturday)
Our Prayer
“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. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.”
– Isaiah 9:2-4
Memory Verse: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Because of pandemic, the whole world is in darkness and fear. We see so many deaths and so much sorrow. We pray. We pray for God’s healing and we pray that God shines his light on this land of deep darkness.
Lord, shine your light on this dark land. Amen.
November 15, 2020 (Sunday)
Salvation
“For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Memory Verse: “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
We are not destined for the wrath of God. Through the death of Jesus Christ, God confirmed how much he loves us. God wants to save us. Jesus defeated our death through his own death. Now we have the eternal life. Let us encourage one another and build each other up.
Lord, help me to encourage others and build them up. Amen.
November 16, 2020 (Monday)
Meditate God’s Words Day and Night
“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: “Psalm 1”
Knowing God is directly connected to a blessed life. The secret of the blessed life is to meditate on God’s words day and night. Whatever we do will prosper. We can overcome our challenges. We can overcome our fear.
Lord, help me to meditate your words day and night. Amen.
November 17, 2020 (Tuesday)
Abundance of Life
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”
– Revelation 3:20
Memory Verse: “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Revelation 3:20)
God always knocks on the door of our heart. God wants to have fellowship with us because he loves us. Let us open our heart. Let us invite God in our lives. We can have deep and intimate fellowship with God and our soul will be enriched. In that abundance, we will experience life’s satisfaction and will be able to enrich others.
Lord, I open my heart. I want to walk with you. Amen.
November 18, 2020 (Wednesday)
The Rock of My Heart
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.”
– Psalm 73:25-26
Memory Verse: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.” (Psalm 73:26)
Flesh and heart are weak. They are feeble and easily shaken. God is the rock of our heart. Instead of trying to control our heart on our own, let God direct your heart. When God reigns over our heart, we can safely journey through our life problems. We desire God and God only.
Lord, reign over my heart. Amen.
November 19, 2020 (Thursday)
The Rock of My Heart
“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honour; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.”
– Psalm 62:5-7
Memory Verse: “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5)
Let us silence our soul and let us look to God. Hope will come from God. So many thoughts fill our heart. These thoughts distract us and take us wherever they wish to go. We are shaken in every direction. We are like chaff that the wind blows away. Let us empty our thoughts. Let us find calmness in our soul. We will be able to see hope that comes from God.
Lord, I calm my thoughts and seek you. Please fill me with hope that comes from you. Amen.
November 20, 2020 (Friday)
Suffering and God’s Words
“The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
– Psalm 119:69-72
Memory Verse: “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” (Psalm 119:72)
The arrogance fills our heart with the fat. Ultimately it will kill our soul. Sometimes suffering cleans out fat in our heart. When we are humbled by our suffering, God’s words come into our heart in a real way. God’s words will get rid of unnecessary things in our heart and fill it with the new life. As a result, our soul will live.
Lord, in my own suffering, help me to seek your Words. Amen.
November 21, 2020 (Saturday)
Fight the Good Fight
“Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
– 1 Timothy 6:12
Memory Verse: “Fight the good fight of the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
This is the time when we should fight the good fight of the faith. This is not the fight of hostility but it is our inner battle. It is the fight with ourselves. It is the fight against the darkness within us. It is fight against the darkness that throws us into despair. Let us fill our heart with the light. We can persevere in this dark time. When the light comes into our heart, hope will come alive.
Lord, please strengthen me to fight the good fight with myself. Amen.
November 22, 2020 (Sunday)
God of Justice
“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.”
– Ezekiel 34:15, 16
Memory Verse: “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down.” (Ezekiel 34:15)
When we are weak, God will make us strong. God will bind up our wounds and heal our broken spirit. But when our arrogance and strength oppress the weak, God will intervene. God will bring us down when we are arrogant and make us weak when we become too strong. God is God of justice.
Lord, help me always take care of the needs of the weak with humility. Amen.
November 23, 2020 (Monday)
A Giving Heart
“He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
– Luke 21:1-4
Memory Verse: “She out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:4)
God appreciates a giving heart. When we live with a giving heart, our life becomes abundant. When people with a giving heart gather together, there is no conflict. The widow wanted to give out of her poverty because she had a giving heart. She didn’t have much but she gave her offering, thinking that she received so much from God. She knew the essence of God’s grace.
Lord, help me to live with a giving heart. Amen.
November 24, 2020 (Tuesday)
A Giving Heart
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
– Proverbs 15:1-4
Memory Verse: “The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.” (Luke 21:4)
Wise people dispense knowledge with gentleness but the mouths of fools pour out folly. Wise people calm down wrath with their soft words but foolish people stir up anger with their harsh words. A wise tongue is like a tree of life but perverse tongue breaks the spirit.
Lord, help me understand that there is wisdom in gentleness. Amen.
November 25, 2020 (Wednesday)
Endurance of Love
“You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”
– Luke 21:17-19
Memory Verse: “By your endurance you will gain your souls.” (Luke 21:19)
Let us not fear people’s hatred. Sometimes we can be hated by people. Let us not be too discouraged because of that. Let us not cultivate hatred or a vengeful heart within us either. When we stand right with God, God will protect us. Let us persevere. By our endurance, we will gain our soul.
Lord, grant me the strength to endure with love. Amen.
November 26, 2020 (Thursday)
God Is Good
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
– Psalm 100
Memory Verse: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
We hold unto Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In all circumstances, we trust Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Let us know that the Lord is our God. He will take care of us. He will protect us. Worship the Lord with gladness and come into his presence with singing.
Lord, thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.
November 27, 2020 (Friday)
Home
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.”
– Psalm 84:1-4
Memory Verse: “Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.” (Psalm 84:4)
Our home gives us peace and comfort. Home is a safe place where we feel protected. Home is a resting place where we find true rest and a nest where we experience warmth and love. Our true home is where God is. When God is within our heart, we are at home.
Lord, thank you for letting me dwell in you and you in me. Amen.
November 28, 2020 (Saturday)
Wisdom In Humility
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but an accurate weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”
– Proverbs 11:1-3
Memory Verse: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.” (Proverbs 11:2)
Wisdom is with the humble. Wisdom of the humble has integrity and brings about fairness to all. Pride blinds our eyes and it destroys not only ourselves but also others. Humility builds people up and produces wisdom that saves many.
Lord, help me always to seek your wisdom with humility. Amen.
November 29, 2020 (Sunday)
God’s Image
“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
– Isaiah 64:8
Memory Verse: “We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
God created us in God’s image and he is still making his image in us. When we have God in our heart, his image will be formed within us. What we think every day shapes who we are. Let us meditate on God’s steadfast love and grace. It will mould in us a beautiful image.
Lord, please take control of my thoughts. Amen.
November 30, 2020 (Monday)
People Who Bring 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: “The Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 52:9)
The feet of those who bring good news are beautiful. Beautiful are the feet of those who bring God’s comfort and God’s salvation. God called us to bring good news to people. Let us bring good news of comfort to those who are sad, healing to the sick, and hope to those who are in despair.
Lord, help me to live a life of bringing good news to people. Amen.
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