October 1, 2021 (Friday)
God Sustains Us
“My companion laid hands on a friend
– Psalm 55:20-22
and violated a covenant with me
with speech smoother than butter,
but with a heart set on war;
with words that were softer than oil,
but in fact were drawn swords.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.”
Memory Verse: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22)
Friends can hurt us. People around us can attack us. Their speech is smoother than butter and their words are softer than oil but their heart is set on war. Let us not look to people for comfort. Let us look to God. Let us cast our burden on God. He will sustain us.
O Lord, I cast my burden on you. Thank you for sustaining me. Amen.
October 2, 2021 (Saturday)
God Reveals To Us
“At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and 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; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.’”
– Luke 10:21
Memory Verse: “You have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants.” (Luke 10:21)
God’s will is hidden from those who think they know. The moment we think we know, our understanding stops. The deepest mystery of God is revealed to those who are not tainted with their prejudice and preconception. Let us come to God as children who have desire to know.
O Lord, I empty my heart. Please reveal your will to me. Amen.
October 3, 2021 (Sunday)
God’s Precious Child
“O Lord, our Sovereign,
– Psalm 8:1-5
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.’”
Memory Verse: “what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4)
Compared to the splendor of God’s creation, we human beings are small and yet God crowned us with glory and honour. Let us always remember how precious we are to God. When we feel down, let us remember that God cares for us. When we feel like we are nobody, let us remember that we are God’s precious children.
O Lord, who am I that you are mindful of me? Thank you for your care. Amen.
October 4, 2021 (Sunday)
God Doesn’t Run Away From Us
“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, ‘Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.’ But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.’”
– Jonah 1:1-3
Memory Verse: “So he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3)
Sometimes we want to run away from God. When we feel guilty, we run away from God. When we don’t get what we want and therefore we are disappointed, we run away from God. But God never runs away from us. God never leaves us alone in our own guilt, anger and disappointment. God comes and restores us. God is patient and full of compassion.
O Lord, thank you for your compassion and understanding. Amen.
October 5, 2021 (Tuesday)
One Thing At A Time
“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’”
– Luke 10:38-42
Memory Verse: “You are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” (Luke 10:41)
There are many things going on in our minds. They divide our minds and take us into many different directions. We lose focus and energy to concentrate if we try to deal with them all at once. One thing at a time. One day at a time. Let us focus on one thing and leave everything else in God’s hands. God will help us.
O Lord, I leave all my worries and problems in your hand. Please guide me. Amen.
October 6, 2021 (Wednesday)
Crying Out
“Be gracious to me, O Lord,
– Psalm 86:3-7
for to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.’”
Memory Verse: “In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.” (Psalm 86:7)
Crying out to God expresses our yearning for God and his help. Crying out to God is our resolution not to accept our situation as it is. We cry out for justice. When we cry out, God will answer us. In the day of our trouble, let us call on God. God will answer us.
O Lord, thank you for listening to my outcry. Amen.
October 7, 2021 (Thursday)
The Holy Spirit
“Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
– Luke 11:11-13
Memory Verse: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
Having the Holy Spirit is not the possession we have. This is the mistake many people have about the Holy Spirit. People treat the Holy spirit as “something” they possess. When we ask for the Holy Spirit, we enter into the realm of the Holy Spirit and we become filled with the Spirit. The Spirit is within us and we are in the Spirit. Ask for the Holy Spirit and let the Holy Spirit guide us.
O Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit. Amen.
October 8, 2021 (Friday)
God’s Wonderful Deeds
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
– Psalm 9:1-3
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turned back,
they stumbled and perished before you.”
Memory Verse: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 9:1)
Let us live with thanksgiving. God has done wonderful things in our lives. God defeated all those enemies who attack us and try to destroy us. God is on our side and who will be against us? Peril, hardships, troubles, and threats? They will not destroy us because God is with us.
O Lord, thank you for your wonderful deeds in my life. Amen.
October 9, 2021 (Saturday)
God’s Faithful Love
“Know that the Lord is God.
– Psalm 100:3-5
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.”
Memory Verse: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
God’s love is constant. We don’t find that kind of love anywhere in the world. God is the same yesterday, today and forever in terms of his love for us. His love is not contingent upon us. It comes purely from who he is. Let us thank God for his faithfulness.
O Lord, thank you for always loving me. Amen.
October 10, 2021 (Sunday)
God’s Word
“Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.”
– Hebrews 42:12-13
Memory Verse: “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 42:12)
The word of God is powerful. It revives our soul. When the word of God works within us, it will give us understanding and this understanding will purify our thinking. Fear and worries will disappear from us and peace and confidence will fill our heart. Let us meditate on the word of God.
O Lord, please strengthen me with your word. Amen.
October 11, 2021 (Monday)
Serving
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’”
– John 13:3-7
Memory Verse: “Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.” (John 13:5)
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Even though he was their teacher, he washed their feet. Through this, Jesus has shown us how we should live. This is an example of serving others. Jesus said he didn’t come to be served but to serve. Serving others is a beautiful act. Let us serve one another. Let us live with a serving attitude.
O Lord, please let my life be a life of service. Amen.
October 12, 2021 (Tuesday)
God Reveals Himself
“The heavens are telling the glory of God;
– Psalm 19:1-4
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.”
Memory Verse: “The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)
God is God who reveals himself. He reveals himself through the nature, through events, and through his words. God also reveals himself through us. Let us show the glory of God. We are the light of the world that reveals the glory of God.
O Lord, thank you for revealing your glory to me so that I can be the light of the world. Amen.
October 13, 2021 (Wednesday)
God Alone
“For God alone my soul waits in silence;
– Psalm 62:1-2
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.”
Memory Verse: “For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.” (Psalm 62:1)
We wait in silence for God and God alone. Nothing else will be able to save us from all the troubles we face in life. Only in God, we find strength and hope. God deserves our whole attention. When we give our full attention to God, we will never be shaken. We will find light in the darkness and a way in the wilderness.
O Lord, I wait for you and you alone. Amen.
October 14, 2021 (Thursday)
God Made Us Righteous
“Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”
– Romans 3:27-28
Memory Verse: “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” (Romans 3:28)
We have nothing to boast about our righteousness when it comes to our righteousness. We did not become righteous by our own power and efforts. God saw our weaknesses and helplessness. God came to us and gave us his helping hands. That was what Jesus did. As we held his hands, he lifted us from the pit of our sinfulness. Let us be humble and thankful.
O Lord, thank you for helping me when I couldn’t help myself. Amen.
October 15, 2021 (Friday)
God Knows Us
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
– Luke 12:6-7
Memory Verse: “But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)
There is nothing we can hide from God. God knows everything about us. He knows what we think, what we do, and what we don’t do. God knows our fear, our weaknesses, and our shortcomings. There are no secrets we can keep from God. So, the best way to relate to God is to be honest. This gives us tremendous freedom because we know that God cares for us.
O Lord, thank you for knowing all about me and yet loving me. Amen.
October 16, 2021 (Saturday)
Faith
“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 4:18
Memory Verse: “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 4:18)
When our situation is hopeless and there is nothing that we can do, let us trust God. God will show us the way. God gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Faith we have even in our hopeless situation will show us who our God truly is.
O Lord, you are my hope and I trust in you. Amen.
October 17, 2021 (Sunday)
Sacrifice
“Surely he has borne our infirmities
– Isaiah 53:4-5
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.”
Memory Verse: “Upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:5)
It is the most beautiful thing to sacrifice oneself for others but it is very difficult to do so. In that sacrifice, there is healing power. In that sacrifice, we see humility and love. The cross is the ultimate form of this kind of sacrifice.
O Lord, thank you for your sacrifice. Amen.
October 18, 2021 (Monday)
Be Strong
“Strengthen the weak hands,
– Isaiah 35:3-6
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert.”
Memory Verse: “God will come and save you.” (Isaiah 35:4)
There is nothing for us to fear. God will strengthen our weak hands and make firm our feeble knees. Let us be strong. He will come when we suffer and he will save us from our troubles. Then, we will see God’s miracles in our lives.
O Lord, in you, I find strength. Amen.
October 19, 2021 (Tuesday)
Be Ready
“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.”
– Luke 12:35-37
Memory Verse: “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit.” (Luke 12:35)
Let us live a life of being ready. When there are so many things to take care of, we get overwhelmed. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, let us prepare ourselves and be ready. God will help us. Let us do one thing at a time. That is all we can do and that is the best way not to give up.
O Lord, please help me when I am anxious. Help me do one thing at a time. Amen.
October 20, 2021 (Wednesday)
God’s Grace
“Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
– Romans 6:12-14
Memory Verse: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
Sin has no more power over us. Sin used to have power over us and control us by making us feel guilty. Guilt takes away joy from us and also our self-worth. When we believe in Christ, he gives us the grace of God. This grace frees us from the power of guilt and restores in us, joy and the self-worth.
Thanks be to God for his grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
October 21, 2021 (Thursday)
Training of Godliness
“Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
– 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Memory Verse: “While physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)
Training of godliness is essential in our spiritual journey. We need to be pure in terms of serving God and serving people. There should be no other agenda but our love for God and for our neighbours. The best way to train godliness is to examine ourselves by God’s word and pray to God for his help.
O Lord, create in me a clean heart. Amen.
October 22, 2021 (Friday)
Dilemma
“For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.”
– Romans 7:18-21
Memory Verse: “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.” (Romans 7:21)
Recognizing the dilemma within us is the beginning of our spiritual journey. We are good at hiding our own faults and weaknesses because of shame. When we overcome our shame and have courage to be able to see our own darkness, we can seek God’s light and his grace.
O Lord, grant to me your grace for I am a sinner. Amen.
October 23, 2021 (Saturday)
The Spirit of Life
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
– Romans 8:1-2
Memory Verse: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2)
The Spirit of life dwells within us. The Spirit of life creates new life within us. We are free from the unnecessary burden of having to be always good to be approved. The Spirit of life accepts us as we are. That is the beginning of becoming who we ought to be.
O Lord, thank you for creating a new life within me. Amen.
October 24, 2021 (Sunday)
Being Desperate
“Ho, everyone who thirsts,
– Isaiah 55:1-2
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.”
Memory Verse: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)
God feeds the hungry and quenches the thirsty. When we have spiritual thirst, we will experience God’s grace of quenching our thirst. Spiritual thirst can be created through our desperateness. When we feel desperate, let us not fear but cultivate our spiritual thirst. We will experience God very closely.
O Lord, I am desperate for you. Fill my desperate heart with your grace. Amen.
October 25, 2021 (Monday)
Children of God
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”
– Romans 8:14-17
Memory Verse: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Romans 8:14)
Whenever we are doubtful about ourselves, let us remember that we are children of God. The Spirit within us cries out that we are children of God. We have nothing to fear. Now we live with courage and hope. The Spirit helps us.
O Lord, thank you for making me your child. I will live with courage. Amen.
October 26, 2021 (Tuesday)
Hope That Overcomes Suffering
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
– Romans 8:18-21
Memory Verse: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
Life is full of suffering. We can never free ourselves from suffering on our own. It is not something that human efforts can achieve. It is the Spirit of God who sets us free from our bondage to decay. We can experience this freedom when we are filled with hope.
O Lord, thank you for setting me free from the suffering that comes from the awareness of my own decay. Amen.
October 27, 2021 (Wednesday)
The Spirit Within Us
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
– Romans 8:26-28
Memory Verse: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
The Spirit is within us and helps us with our weaknesses. Even when we cannot even pray, the Spirit intercedes for us. That is why all things will work together for good. Let us be in touch with the Spirit within us and we will know what to do.
O Lord, thank you for the Spirit within me. Amen.
October 28, 2021 (Thursday)
Love That Connects Us To God
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8:38-39
Memory Verse: “(Nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
God’s love is a cord that connects us to God. Nothing will be able to cut this cord. God’s love is deeply ingrained within us. Nothing can take that love away from us. Since we are connected with God who is eternal, we have eternal life. Let us dwell in God’s love.
O Lord, thank you for your love. Amen.
October 29, 2021 (Friday)
Secret of Happiness
“His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
– Psalm 147:10-11
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
Memory Verse: “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Psalm 147:11)
Our effectiveness and capability may allow us to achieve many things. But the secret of happiness is not in our achievement. The secret of our happiness depends on God. God is pleased with those who fear him. When our effective and capability are combined with humility, we will experience the abundance of life.
O Lord, every day, I seek your wisdom and help. Amen.
October 30, 2021 (Saturday)
Self-Respect
“When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place’, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
– Luke 14:7-11
Memory Verse: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
Having self-respect is a sign of healthy mind. When we have a healthy mind, we won’t need to exalt ourselves. We will not be influenced deeply by how other people treat us. When we discover how much God loves us, we will be able to begin a journey of loving ourselves.
O Lord, thank you for loving me. Amen.
October 31, 2021 (Sunday)
Love Strengthens Us
“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.’”
– Luke 14:7-11
Memory Verse: “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…You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Luke 14:11)
Love shows our greatest strength. God has empowered us by loving us. We have the strength of God’s love within us. Now with that strength, we can love God and love our neighbour. Whenever we feel weak and vulnerable, let us remember God’s love within us. We will become strong again. With that strength, we will live again the life of love.
O Lord, thank you for strengthening me with your love. Amen.
Leave a Reply