The One Year Daily Moments of Strength: Inspiration for Men

By Walk Thru the Bible

Today, spend time with God that will fill your spirit with strength. The One Year Daily Moments of Strength will help men experience a deeper and more powerful connection with the Lord each day.

These short daily devotions contain:

• Bible verses for each day’s reading
• Helpful explanations
• Practical applications
• Examples and references that men will relate to

Covering a variety of everyday issues, this men’s devotional will help strengthen your commitment to faith and your walk with God. Through showing up to meet with God every day, you’ll be inspired to go deeper with him all year long.

“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Release date: Oct 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781496426772

Walk Thru the Bible

Walk Thru the Bible is a nondenominational evangelical Christian educational organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. The ministry ignites a passion for God's Word through innovative live events, inspiring biblical resources, and a global impact that changes lives worldwide, reaching more than five million people each year.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

A

S MEN, WE OFTEN FEEL

challenged to prove our worth to the people around us, whether it’s at home (perhaps as husbands and fathers), at work (as employees or supervisors), or on the basketball court or golf course with our friends. But with all the demands on our time, energy, and resources—not to mention our relationships—we can feel weak, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Thankfully, God never intended for us to go it alone, in our own power. He designed us to draw our strength and direction from Him, and to find encouragement and inspiration in community with our families and with other men. In fact, God tells us, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9,

HCSB

) and [we] can do everything through Christ, who gives [us] strength (Philippians 4:13).

This book of daily devotions is an invitation for you to spend a few minutes each day in quiet conversation with God—whether it’s first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or just before bed. God designed us to function best (and be strongest) when we regularly take time to connect with Him through His Word and in prayer. As God told the Israelites, Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

The One Year Daily Moments of Strength devotional can be your means of connecting with God for a few minutes each day throughout the coming year. It will also serve as a daily reminder that all our strength comes from God, and that He uses His strength to work through the weakness of our lives to accomplish His purpose and plan on earth. Written from a variety of perspectives and in a variety of styles, each devotion will encourage you to place your trust in the hands of the all-powerful God of the universe, in whom is found all we need to live our lives for Him.

You can use the Moment of Strength Scripture passage at the end of each reading to take a deeper look at what God’s Word says about that day’s topic, and to initiate a conversation with God about the situations and people you encounter in your day-to-day life.

This resource from Walk Thru the Bible is designed to inspire you to fully embrace your relationship with God and to walk in the strength of His love, mercy, and grace. For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3,

HCSB

).

JANUARY

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31

JANUARY 1

GOOD GRIEF

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

A

T THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR,

many people look back at the previous twelve months with some regrets. A relationship that went bad. Words that should—or shouldn’t—have been said. A risk not taken. These regrets may turn into grief and affect the way we live.

Grief is a common emotion as we face the difficulties of life. But grief can either be helpful or harmful.

Godly grief, as the apostle Paul calls it, brings about repentance and change for the better as we live for God. Godly grief doesn’t last long, but its impact can be life changing. Grappling with godly sorrow can help to deepen our resolve to live right and give us a greater appreciation for God’s grace.

Feelings of guilt induced by Satan last longer and only bring us down. We know that our sorrow is worldly when we struggle to move out of it. When you just feel like you’re in a slump or like you’re worthless, that’s a sign that your enemy the devil is at work.

Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 7:10: For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. God doesn’t want us to get caught up in guilt and regrets. Sure, we need to learn from the past. But instead of dwelling on past failures, we should look forward to godly successes. God doesn’t hold a grudge against us.

BOTTOM LINE

What regrets are bogging you down? Ask God to help you learn from those mistakes and serve Him with renewed energy and confidence.

Moment of Strength: Philippians 3:12-14

JANUARY 2

IN AND OUT OF SEASON

He never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.

Acts 14:17

S

O THE

C

HRISTMAS SEASON IS OVER,

and though you may be glad that the world can get back to normal, you at least have to admit that there is an increase of spiritual awareness or openness during December. It’s easy to invite a coworker to church for the special music, or to a Christmas Eve service. But now that it’s January, are there no more opportunities to witness to people?

All times are God’s seasons. A discerning Christian can learn many ways to sow seeds of God’s love. But like good farmers, we need to know whether it’s time to plant, whether the crop needs some watering or sunshine, whether it needs to be weeded a little, or whether it is ripe for harvest. All of these are critical points in the timeline of someone’s journey toward Christ. So, what seasons of opportunity are coming up soon?

Super Bowl. Though it’s great to be a champion on the field, it can sometimes be a struggle to be a champion off the field. Start a conversation with a coworker or a friend about the importance of being consistent in all areas of our lives.

Daytona 500. Reflect with a colleague about the endurance that NASCAR drivers must have and how the real-life race can be even tougher.

March Madness. Google the story of basketball stars Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, and discuss with a friend the kind of love it took for Jack to adopt Maurice.

BOTTOM LINE

Ask God to give you the words and the heart to share His love with others.

Moment of Strength: 1 Peter 3:15

JANUARY 3

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the L

ORD

.

Leviticus 19:18

T

HE WORD

NEIGHBOR

IS

mentioned more than 130 times in the Bible. Among other things, we’re told not to give false witness against our neighbors (Exodus 20:16) or covet our neighbor’s house or wife (Deuteronomy 5:21), and we’re instructed to build up our neighbors for their good (Romans 15:2) and love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18). That last one is probably the most famous. Jesus even used those words when He was asked about the greatest command in all of the Old Testament law (Matthew 22:39).

Yet despite the importance the Bible places on how we treat our neighbors, research shows that many of us don’t really know our neighbors. How can we love our neighbors if we don’t even know them?

The Bible describes a neighbor in broad terms—including people in need whom we come across—not just people who live on our street. When we concentrate on knowing and loving the people in our community, we, too, are blessed. Studies show that when we know our neighbors, we build a safer, stronger, healthier environment to live in. And the best part is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to get to know our neighbors. We just need to be friendly and say hello. Taking the initiative may stretch our comfort level a little, but it’s the right thing to do. We may even make some new friends and find opportunities to share the gospel in the process.

BOTTOM LINE

Make it one of your resolutions this year to know your neighbors better. It’s not complicated; it just takes a little intentional effort.

Moment of Strength: Matthew 22:36-40

JANUARY 4

FUNERAL FINANCES

Then he said, Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.

Luke 12:15

I

T’S INTERESTING

what nobody ever says at a funeral. You rarely hear statements like these: But most of all, he had an airtight 401(k) or I just can’t get over how awesome his pool was or Can you believe this guy’s car?

At a funeral, people don’t comment on the deceased’s possessions, because when someone dies, what remains of his life is what he invested—not in stocks or mutual funds or real estate but in the eternal and precious commodity of people. Some of the most well-attended funerals memorialize people with few earthly possessions. And yet their lives touched many other lives. They served the Lord by giving all they had and all they could to the people God called them to serve.

Whether you realize it or not, you have already begun to plan your funeral. The statement of your life—what will be remembered—is being written today in the choices you make. Will you abandon yourself and live for your Creator, or will you live for yourself? Will you build up a nest egg of temporary treasures, or will you send your wealth on ahead to the Bank of Heaven?

God has gifted you with one life, one chance to display His glory in the circle of influence you have today. What are you doing with this chance? Are you making the most of every opportunity in these evil days (Ephesians 5:16)? Every day counts. Every choice matters. Choose wisely.

BOTTOM LINE

Financial security is important, but eternal reward is much, much more important.

Moment of Strength: Matthew 6:19-20

JANUARY 5

TELEPHONE GAME

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

Proverbs 29:17

R

EMEMBER THE GAME

you played in school where everybody formed a line and the teacher whispered a message into the first person’s ear? As the message was passed along, it usually got messed up and garbled before it reached the last person.

That same thing is true today with kids and cell phones—the message is getting garbled. Trends show that parents are buying their children cell phones at younger and younger ages. However, many parents aren’t united in how to handle the challenges that a cell phone brings into their home.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to establish boundaries. When our children hit different milestones (first cell phone, first date, getting a driver’s license), we should already have a plan worked out about the rules. Some parents even come up with a contract that everybody signs before allowing their children certain privileges, such as a cell phone.

The Bible tells us to discipline your children, and they will bring you peace of mind and will make your heart glad (Proverbs 29:17). Discipline, whether in the sense of punishment or in a careful and deliberate approach to a situation, brings stability. Our children need to know where the boundaries are and what the consequences will be for stepping over the line. Make sure your children get the message loud and clear—not like kids at the end of the line in the telephone game.

BOTTOM LINE

Having discipline in your home brings peace of mind for you and your child. Are there areas where you need to provide better boundaries?

Moment of Strength: Proverbs 16:21

JANUARY 6

THE VALUE OF MARRIAGE

Guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

Malachi 2:15

Y

OU CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS.

But happiness can pay dividends, especially in your marriage. Economists David Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald calculated the compensation value of marriage by surveying 100,000 American and British couples from the 1970s to the 1990s. After compiling mounds of data and working through complex equations, they found that a happy marriage was worth $100,000 annually. As you can see, working toward a happy marriage makes a lot of sense (and cents)!

God doesn’t mince words when it comes to marriage. He wants you to love and honor your wife in a lifelong covenant relationship. Yet many times we find ourselves frustrated in our most important relationship. Those frustrations can bubble over into hurtful words or neglectful actions.

Being in a marriage isn’t easy. We must watch ourselves carefully so that we do not act treacherously against the wife of [our] youth (Malachi 2:15,

HCSB

). Acting treacherously doesn’t necessarily mean having an affair or emotionally checking out of the marriage. A treacherous act is anything that undermines the relationship, and it can be as simple as not honoring your wife’s opinion. Instead of taking little bits out of your wife’s heart, invest in building her up. God urges men to treat their wives well for many reasons. Happiness is just one of them.

BOTTOM LINE

Watch yourself carefully so that you treat your wife the way God wants you to. It’s not always easy, but it’s always the right thing to do.

Moment of Strength: Ephesians 5:25

Notes

JANUARY 7

DAD: TEACHER, MENTOR, TRAINER

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6,

HCSB

I

T’S EASY TO READ

the principles and adages expressed in Proverbs—especially one like today’s verse—and assume they’re promises that God will always fulfill. But more often than not, proverbs and principles are just that—principles that usually work out that way in our lives.

Many a dad has viewed today’s verse as God’s promise that even if his children rebel and abandon their faith, it’s a certainty that they will return. We need to understand that it’s a principle, not an absolute promise. The Bible is filled with both promises and principles; and it’s crucial to understand the difference, or we could experience great disappointment.

So what’s a dad to do? One thing is to always try to be moving ahead, encouraging your children in their faith and setting a good example.

One couple who had three boys agreed on four godly principles to instill in their sons. First, they would prepare their sons for the path, not prepare the path for their sons. Second, they would prepare their sons to do their best. Third, they would train them to be leaders. And fourth, they would teach them to deal with both open and closed doors. A boy who learns those principles is likely to hang on to his faith, even through tough times.

BOTTOM LINE

Prayerfully decide what principles you want to teach your children, and implement a plan that will help them stay strong in their faith.

Moment of Strength: Ephesians 6:1-4

JANUARY 8

A GOD ENCOUNTER

[Jacob] reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place.

Genesis 28:11,

HCSB

W

ALKING ACROSS THE

university graduation stage. Standing at the church altar on your wedding day. Pacing in a hospital birthing suite. Receiving a court summons. Strolling a Maui beach. Waiting in an emergency room. Looking down at a loved one in a casket. Certain places have significant meaning. In fact, certain sights, certain smells, or even a glimpse of someone who looks familiar can flood our minds with memories and escalate our emotions. Some of the events we recall are filled with great happiness and others with profound sorrow. Yet each holds a special place in our hearts.

In Genesis 28:11, we are told that Jacob reached a certain place. The underlying Hebrew phrase may simply describe a locale, but it often refers to a sanctuary. This certain place was a particular sacred spot—a transforming place—and it was sacred because God was there. Jacob was not expecting to see God in this place, but he did.

God is not absent. He is involved and at work in our lives. If we are His children, we can be certain that He hasn’t forgotten us. Just because we may not see what He is doing doesn’t mean He isn’t doing anything. God often works behind the scenes and in ways we will never know on this side of eternity. Are you awake to His presence and activity?

BOTTOM LINE

God doesn’t always change the circumstances of our lives, but He can use our circumstances to change us. If we look and listen, we just might encounter God.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 59:10

JANUARY 9

MISSING GOD

Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the L

ORD

 is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!"

Genesis 28:16

A

SCENE FROM THE

1999

MOVIE

October Sky depicts high school student Homer Hickam winning the national science fair. Following the presentation, people rush to congratulate him. One is Wernher von Braun, Homer’s scientific hero and the man heading up the rocket team at NASA at the time. But Homer doesn’t recognize von Braun or know that the man who shook his hand was the great scientist. He misses his hero.

God was in Haran—far from Beersheba—and Jacob almost missed Him. In those days, people believed in territorial gods, who were present only in certain locales, so a person could move beyond a god’s reach. Jacob thought that because he had traveled to Haran, he had left God in Beersheba. Jacob was wrong. God was in Haran, too.

Like those people who missed their chance to board the Titanic, we will never know how many times God has been watching over us, protecting us, and we didn’t even recognize Him. Sometimes we drown out God’s voice with our complaining. Other times we are so caught up in busyness and personal pursuits that we don’t notice God’s gracious acts of love. And then there can be times of suffering when we grow despondent and cold, faithlessly giving up on God and forgetting that it takes the fallow ground of winter for the bright blooms of spring to unfold. In our loneliness and despair, God is trying to break through. Look for Him. Listen for Him. Don’t miss Him.

BOTTOM LINE

God is always watching, always working, always preparing, and always communicating. We need to learn to pay attention. We need expectant faith.

Moment of Strength: Exodus 33:14

Notes

JANUARY 10

MARK THE PLACE

The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named that place Bethel (which means house of God), although it was previously called Luz.

Genesis 28:18-19

W

E UNDERLINE KEY QUOTES IN BOOKS.

We use pushpins on maps of places we’ve visited. We take pictures of people who are important to us. We record significant events in scrapbooks. We hang our diplomas on the wall. If it matters, we mark it or commemorate it.

It was no different with Jacob and his certain place in the wilderness. Though barren and desolate, this place had special meaning and significance to him. He placed a stone, a marker, like we do with monuments or markers at national historical sites, as a reminder of his encounter with God. He renamed the place Bethel, meaning God’s house. In renaming the site formerly known as Luz, Jacob made a lasting statement about the meeting he’d had there with the living God. This place was a sanctuary—a place where he met God, and he marked it for future generations to see.

That’s not a bad idea. We can’t erect Stonehenge in our backyards, but we could place a small rock on our desk or coffee table to remind us of a time when God’s presence and protection were tangible. Drawing a picture or writing a poem could remind us that God is never more than a prayer away. A plaque with a meaningful Scripture passage placed in a prominent place can serve as a reminder of God’s promises to us. Reminders of the Lord’s presence can be helpful because it’s easy to get caught up with everyday tasks and responsibilities and forget that He is with us to help us and work through us.

BOTTOM LINE

The next time you have an encounter with God, mark that place. Every time you see that marker, it will remind you of God’s faithfulness.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 89:1

JANUARY 11

THE SOIL OF HUMILITY

All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the L

ORD

looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.

Ezekiel 1:28

I

N A COLLECTION OF

children’s letters to God, Wayne, age eleven, wrote: Dear God, my dad thinks he is You. Please straighten him out. When we come before God, we must remember who we are talking to. We need to come to Him in an attitude of humility, recognizing His greatness.

A humble attitude reflects our understanding that we come to God on His terms. We come down from our lofty perch of self-importance and meet God on the soil of humility. It is worth remembering the root of the word humility is humus, meaning dirt or soil. Humbling ourselves before God doesn’t mean we become dirt; rather, it means we recognize our place as created beings who are completely dependent on God for everything.

When Ezekiel experienced the presence of God, he understood his place and the appropriate posture he should take. In humility, he fell facedown before God. It is interesting that God called Ezekiel son of man or son of dust. Ezekiel recognized the difference between himself and God, and he responded with appropriate awe and humility.

When we experience God, we will often be overwhelmed by His holiness and aware of our own sinfulness and insignificance. We, too, will often fall before Him in reverence and deep humility. He is a loving heavenly Father and an awesome God.

BOTTOM LINE

Have you taken a posture of humility before the holy God? It’s a natural response to His greatness.

Moment of Strength: Zephaniah 2:3

JANUARY 12

SIZING UP THE BODY OF CHRIST

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12

H

AVE YOU EVER THOUGHT

about how huge the church is worldwide? China Petrochemical, one of the world’s largest corporations, has a labor force of 1,190,000. How does that compare to the church? The body of Christ is at least a thousand times larger—numbering three million churches and hundreds of millions of Christians. Furthermore, a 2006 Gallup poll conducted in nineteen African nations revealed that the church was the most trusted institution in African society.

The numbers above come from Scott Todd’s book Hope Rising: How Christians Can End Extreme Poverty in This Generation. Todd is an executive with Compassion International, and his ministry assignment is to challenge men to go boldly where, historically, the church has often not been bold enough. Todd sees the church as the avenue through which God can meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the world.

As men, we can do that when we understand two things: first, that we are part of a muscle, a bone, an organ, a corpuscle, or a cell—a critical and unique part of the body of Christ; and second, that we are called to minister in the name of Christ and in connection with other believers.

BOTTOM LINE

How are you using the abilities, talents, and resources you have to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of the world?

Moment of Strength: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Notes

JANUARY 13

THE WISDOM OF MAN

He showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line.

Amos 7:7

T

HERE ARE A LOT OF HELPFUL

Christian books available, and we encourage you to read as many of them as you can. A reliable Christian author can offer valuable insights about the life of faith that God can use to help grow your faith.

But is there any danger in reading how other men interpret and apply Scripture? Possibly. We need to measure a man’s words against the Word of God, just as we would use the builder’s plumb line, mentioned by the prophet Amos, to build a wall.

In his classic The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer uses a similar illustration from music. A piano tuner doesn’t tune one piano to another piano, because differences in tone would still occur and both pianos would still be a little bit out of tune. Instead, he tunes each piano to a tuning fork—a reliable and consistent standard—and thus even a hundred pianos, all tuned to the same tuning fork, will be perfectly tuned to each other.

What can we learn from that example? When we read our favorite, trusted authors, we shouldn’t automatically take their interpretation of Scripture as the final word on the subject. Rather, we must apply God’s tuning fork—His inspired and holy Word—to find His truth, measuring all things against Scripture. At the same time, we should recognize that our own interpretations are fallible as well, and it is wise to prayerfully study the Bible with other Christians.

BOTTOM LINE

Read your favorite authors, but look up the Scriptures they cite and see whether their ideas line up clearly with the Word of God.

Moment of Strength: Amos 7:7-9

Notes

JANUARY 14

SHE LOOKS GOOD!

How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful!

Song of Songs 1:15

R

EMEMBER THAT FIRST DATE

with your future wife and how good she looked? After all you’ve been through together, she looks even better now. Your heart still skips a beat when she comes into the room or gives you a certain look. She’s got it going on, so don’t be shy about letting her know it. Despite the challenges we all face in marriage, God knew what He was doing when He designed men and women to walk through life together. During the hard times you experience together, just a touch of her hand or a whisper of support can help to make things better. It’s that kind of love between a husband and wife that defies description.

They say that beauty is only skin-deep, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, your wife is gorgeous on the outside, but it’s her heart that makes her the very best mate you could imagine. When you watch her interact with others, you wonder what in the world you did to be so blessed by having her as your wife.

As time passes, gray hairs will start cropping up. Gravity will take over, and things will sag. It happens to everyone, but the cool thing about marriage is that it happens to husbands and wives together. She is, and always has been, your best friend, your partner in fun, and your lover. She is God’s gift to you. So give thanks to God for her. And let her know how much she means to you.

BOTTOM LINE

Your wife is not only beautiful on the outside, but she’s got it going on in her heart as well!

Moment of Strength: Song of Songs 4:9-11

JANUARY 15

GRACE FOR THE CHURCHED

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Galatians 6:10

I

SN’T IT AMAZING HOW

hardened we can become toward our longtime Christian friends? When one of them offends us or slips into a pattern of sin, we often treat them with less grace than we would treat someone who is unchurched. Granted, a veteran believer should know better, but that doesn’t make the battle against sin any easier.

Scripture tells us that we should care for our fellow believers. As much as we should exhibit patience, kindness, and grace toward those who do not know Christ, we should also demonstrate these same qualities to those in the family of God. In fact, Jesus Himself said that our love for our fellow Christians would be a beautiful image for unchurched people to see (John 13:35). How Christians treat one another is a huge witness to a watching world. Love and grace are attractive—and unusual.

Perhaps our stingy expressions of grace stem from unhealthy expectations we have for our Christian friends. We may demand a level of perfection and sanctification from them that we don’t even demand from ourselves. We act surprised when they display human weaknesses. We may forget that (just like us) they need the gospel as much today as when they were first converted. No Christian ever advances to a state of perfect holiness in this life. It’s a struggle all the way through, but it’s a struggle made better in the presence of grace.

BOTTOM LINE

Don’t be stingy with the grace you show to fellow believers.

Moment of Strength: 1 John 3:18-20

JANUARY 16

READ, CHRISTIAN, READ

When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:13,

HCSB

"T

HE AVERAGE

C

HRISTIAN MAN DOESN’T READ BOOKS."

This is a well-worn axiom among some Christian publishers. Some blame the shortage of good materials that interest and challenge men. Others blame the demands of career and family. Neither explanation holds much water.

The pursuit of knowledge and truth is one way we can demonstrate our love for God. If we are to love God with all our minds, as Jesus instructs us in Matthew 22:37, one of the best ways we can do that is by reading. Consider the apostle Paul’s request to Timothy to bring him his scrolls and parchments. The man who wrote more than half of the New Testament and planted numerous churches still felt the need to stimulate his mind by reading.

Some consider the reading of good books to be optional, but the Bible itself comes to us in the form of a book, and Christians have often been known as people of the Book. Reading is an acknowledgment of our need to learn and grow and of the fact that we don’t know everything. It requires a posture of humility.

Reading isn’t the only tool for spiritual growth, of course, and on its own it cannot guarantee spiritual wisdom. But every Christian man should prayerfully pursue a disciplined life of the mind, and for that, reading is essential. Thankfully, it’s not just a duty but also a great pleasure. So, guys, make reading a priority.

BOTTOM LINE

Many Christian men pursue the reading of good books. And they enjoy it! Have you read any good books lately that have stretched your faith?

Moment of Strength: Matthew 22:37

JANUARY 17

EXPLORING GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Ephesians 6:10

G

OD IS ALL-POWERFUL.

He alone possesses the vast strength of omnipotence. Nothing is too difficult for God. He can do everything except contradict His own character.

God can create the galaxies with a word, and He can roll them all up again like a scroll. He rides forth in majesty and grandeur, never flustered, never at a loss. He depends on nothing, seeks help from nobody, and finds counsel nowhere but in Himself. He can do anything but fail.

God’s vast strength can strengthen you, as well. His omnipotence can calm every crisis, provide for every need, and help you overcome every obstacle in your life. Whatever your struggles, you can face them all with the power of God.

You can boldly face that illness, that court appearance, or that mountain of debt. With God’s help, you can handle a shattered relationship, comfort a heartbroken child, and ace a job interview. He’ll help you start a new business, patent an invention, or translate the Bible into a tribal tongue. God’s power is present to finish your degree, to reconcile your marriage, to lose extra weight, and to resist temptation. When He calls you, He strengthens you to fulfill every calling He places on your life. Nothing depends on you and your strength, but everything depends on God and His strength.

BOTTOM LINE

When the voice inside your head says, I can’t, turn to God, who says, I can, and I will, give you all the strength you need.

Moment of Strength: Joshua 1:6-9

JANUARY 18

WEARING GOD’S ARMOR

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Ephesians 6:13

E

VERY

C

HRISTIAN IS

a soldier in an all-out war against Satan. Scripture commands us to take up the full armor of God. Leave no place unguarded. The