Our Daily Bread: Annual Edition

By Publicações Pão Diário

OUR DAILY BREAD
Annual Edition
This convenient edition is a great way to introduce family and friends to Our Daily Bread. With a new reading for every day of the year, it makes a great book for Christmas and birthdays—or just to
encourage others in their walk with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publicações Pão Diário
• Release date: Jan 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781680435764

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COVER PHOTO: Beach at Night, Alex Soh © Our Daily Bread Ministries.

WRITERS:

Dave Branon • Anne M. Cetas • Poh Fang Chia • William E. Crowder • Mart DeHaan

David Egner • H. Dennis Fisher • Chek Phang Hia • Cindy Hess Kasper • Alyson Kieda

Randy K. Kilgore • Albert Lee • Julie Ackerman Link • David C. McCasland

David H. Roper • Jennifer Benson Schuldt • Joseph M. Stowell • Marion Stroud

Marvin L. Williams • Philip D. Yancey

POEM CREDITS:

Jan. 9, by Keith and Melody Green. © 1982 Birdwing Music.

Jan. 15, by Ira F. Stanphill. © Renewal 1978. Singspiration.

Jan. 25, by Lelia Morris. © Renewal 1940. Hope Publishing.

Feb. 8, by Julia Johnston. © Renewal 1938. Hope Publishing.

Feb. 14, by Fredrick Blom. © 1968 Singspiration.

Feb. 19, by Edward H. Bickersteth. © 1968 Singspiration.

Feb. 23, by Frederick M. Lehman. © Renewal 1945. Nazarene.

Feb. 24, by Linda Lee Johnson. © 1979 Hope Publishing.

Mar. 6, by Alfred H. Ackley. © 1952 The Rodeheaver Co.

Mar. 22, by John W. Peterson. © 1957 Singspiration.

Mar. 27, by J. Wilbur Chapman. © Renewal 1938. The Rodeheaver Co.

Apr. 11, by Rich Mullins. © 1988 Edward Grant.

Apr. 23, by Virgil P. Brock. © Renewal 1964. The Rodeheaver Co.

Apr. 28, by Norman J. Clayton. © Renewal 1973. Norman J. Clayton.

May 7, by William J. Gaither. © 1963 William J. Gaither.

May 16, by Haldor Lillenas. © Renewal 1951. Lillenas Publishing.

June 4, by Thomas Chisholm. © Renewal 1951. Hope Publishing.

June 21, by Austin Miles. © Renewal 1940. The Rodeheaver Co.

ARTICLE CREDITS:

Jan. 9, Apr. 25, excerpted and adapted from The Jesus I Never Knew; Feb. 4, Mar. 5, Apr. 5, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; May 17, Rumors of Another World: What on Earth Are We Missing?; July 11, Finding God in Unexpected Places; Aug. 18, Sept. 29, Oct. 15, Nov. 29, Grace Notes by Philip D. Yancey, © Zondervan. Published by permission of Zondervan.

EBOOK PRODUCTION: S2 Books

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2014 Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. All rights reserved.

Internet address: ourdailybread.org • Email: [e-mail]

Printed in China. ISBN: 978-1-60485-985-0

Contents

Capa

Acknowledgments

Our daily bread ministries offices

Introduction

Enhancing Your Devotional Time

January 1 Friday - 31 Days Of Thanks

January 2 Saturday - No Appetite

January 3 Sunday - Help From His Spirit

January 4 Monday - Situation Excellent

January 5 Tuesday - Adoption

January 6 Wednesday - The Night No One Came

January 7 Thursday - Words That Help And Heal

January 8 Friday - The Hidden Life

January 9 Saturday - As Below, So Above

January 10 Sunday - For The Long Run

January 11 Monday - The Journey Begins

January 12 Tuesday - A Neighbor On The Fence

January 13 Wednesday - Much More Than Survival

January 14 Thursday - Sweet Rest

January 15 Friday - Food In The Cupboard

January 16 Saturday - The Little Tent

January 17 Sunday - Heavenly Perspective

January 18 Monday - True Greatness

January 19 Tuesday - Two Men

January 20 Wednesday - All Spruced Up

January 21 Thursday - In Harmony

January 22 Friday - Bricks Without Straw

January 23 Saturday - Load Line

January 24 Sunday - Where Have You Been?

January 25 Monday - An Ordinary Day

Tuesday The Discipline Of Waiting - Read Psalm 40:1-3

January 27 Wednesday - The Wonder Of The Cross

January 28 Thursday - Better Than Planned

January 29 Friday - Great Expectations

January 30 Saturday - Precious In God’s Eyes

January 31 Sunday - Buyer’s Remorse

February 1 Monday - Heard By God

February 2 Tuesday - Guidance Needed

February 3 Wednesday - Resolve To Resolve

February 4 Thursday - An Important Command

February 5 Friday - The Telltale Heart

February 6 Saturday - Before and After

February 7 Sunday - Who’s That Hero?

February 8 Monday - Unintentional

February 9 Tuesday - Maintain Unity

February 10 Wednesday - The Power Of Music

February 11 Thursday - Where Our Fears Live

February 12 Friday - Hyperseeing

February 13 Saturday - Character Or Reputation?

February 14 Sunday - True Love

February 15 Monday - The Great Creator-Healer

February 16 Tuesday - Why Cause Grief?

February 17 Wednesday - On Listening

February 18 Thursday - Helpers Needed

February 19 Friday - The Eleventh Hour

Saturday - Covering Sinkholes

February 21 Sunday - Tell It On The Mountain

February 22 Monday - Bolt On Blake

February 23 Tuesday - Limitless Love

February 24 Wednesday - Empty Fort Strategy

February 25 Thursday - Lie Down

February 26 Friday - The Power Of Love

February 27 Saturday - Consider The Lilies

February 28 Sunday - Big Spring

February 29 Monday - On Eagles’ Wings

March 1 Tuesday - Sunrise

March 2 Wednesday - Jesus’ Love For All

March 3 Thursday - Instant Gratification

March 4 Friday - No More Prejudice

March 5 Saturday - Me And Dad

March 6 Sunday - Boo!

March 7 Monday - Not Lost In Translation

March 8 Tuesday - Transforming Power

March 9 Wednesday - Dressed To Deceive

March 10 Thursday - Make It Personal

March 11 Friday - The Silent Pen

March 12 Saturday - The Golden Rule

March 13 Sunday - Without Power

March 14 Monday - Prone To Wander

March 15 Tuesday - Job Titles

March 16 Wednesday - Heart Food

March 17 Thursday - Perspective From The Clouds

March 18 Friday - Sweet Fragrance

March 19 Saturday - Heaven Rejoices!

March 20 Palm Sunday - Determination

March 21 Monday - Mistaken Identity

March 22 Tuesday - Coming Soon!

March 23 Wednesday - Promoting Unity

March 24 Thursday - Gentle Witness

March 25 Good Friday - I’m Alive

March 26 Saturday - The Spotlight

March 27 Easter Sunday - Easter Every Day

March 28 Monday - Victory Over Death!

March 29 Tuesday - A Better World

March 30 Wednesday - Blessed Are The Meek

March 31 Thursday - Bottled Water Binge

April 1 Friday - Free Tomatoes

April 2 Saturday - You’ve Got A Friend

April 3 Sunday - What’s In A Name?

April 4 Monday - Check The Oil

April 5 Tuesday - Not Counting

April 6 Wednesday - Choose Life

April 7 Thursday - Strawberry Mess

April 8Friday - Getting Beyond Ourselves

April 9 Saturday - Loved To Love

April 10 Sunday - Left Side Of The Road

April 11 Monday - Isn’t God Powerful!

April 12 Tuesday - New Beginnings

April 13 Wednesday - Misplaced Love

April 14 Thursday - Still Working

April 15 Friday - Spoonful Of Sugar

April 16 Saturday - Joining The Family

April 17 Sunday - All Kinds Of Help

April 18 Monday - Who’s At The Center?

April 19 Tuesday - Out Of Chaos

April 20 Wednesday - The Link To Life

April 21 Thursday - Waiting . . .

April 22 Friday - Acts Of Kindness

April 23 Saturday - Shout Hallelujah!

April 24 Sunday - Never Let Down

April 25 Monday - Fearful Fish

April 26 Tuesday - Down The Up Staircase

April 27 Wednesday - Learning To Love

April 28 Thursday - Probing Questions

April 29 Friday - Christ In The Storm

April 30 Saturday - Too Late

May 1 Sunday - If You Are Willing

May 2 Monday - Tree Of Rest

May 3 Tuesday - He Changed My Life

May 4 Wednesday - Tears Of Gratitude

May 5 Thursday - Who Gets The Credit?

May 6 Friday - Heart Matters

May 7 Saturday - My Kind Of People

May 8 Sunday - Mom’s Finish Line

May 9 Monday - Promises Still Kept

May 10 Tuesday - Way Out

May 11 Wednesday - Talking About Jesus

May 12 Thursday - Words To Live By

May 13 Friday - New Birth

May 14 Saturday - Looking Good

May 15 Sunday - Slow Healing Process

May 16 Monday - Many Advisors

May 17 Tuesday - Surfacing

May 18 Wednesday - A New Bucket List

May 19 Thursday - Interruptions

May 20 Friday - Once Upon A Time

May 21 Saturday - Anchors In The Storm

May 22 Sunday - Listening

May 23 Monday - More Than We Deserve

May 24 Tuesday - An Appropriate Name

May 25 Wednesday - Pace Yourself

May 26 Thursday - A Call To Comfort

May 27 Friday - Blessed Forgetfulness

May 28 Saturday - The Crash

May 29 Sunday - Quest For Stolen Treasure

May 30 Monday - Jordyn’s Journey

May 31 Tuesday - As White As Snow

June 1 Wednesday - Kangaroos And Emus

June 2 Thursday - The Careful Walk

June 3 Friday - The View From The End

June 4 Saturday - Room And Board

June 5 Sunday - Reframing The Picture

June 6 Monday - D-Day

June 7 Tuesday - What Do We Want?

June 8 Wednesday - Lesson From A Toothache

June 9 Thursday - Generous God

June 10 Friday - Crowns Of Honor

June 11 Saturday - An Honest Heart

June 12 Sunday - Keep Calm And Carry On

June 13 Monday - We’re Safe

June 14 Tuesday - Rock-Solid

June 15 Wednesday - Meet Shrek

June 16 Thursday - The World’s Children

June 17 Friday - The Light Of The Lamb

June 18 Saturday - Smile!

June 19 Sunday - Teaching By Example

June 20 Monday - Forgotten Memories

June 21 Tuesday - World’s Fastest Walkers

June 22 Wednesday - The Day My Dad Met Jesus

June 23 Thursday - Restored By The Master

June 24 Friday - Veins Of Gold

June 25 Saturday - Wisdom From Above

June 26 Sunday - Roadside Assistance

June 27 Monday - Do No Harm

June 28 Tuesday - Make It Attractive

June 29 Wednesday - Focus On The Process

June 30 Thursday - The Big Comeback

July 1 Friday - Who Is This Man?

July 2 Saturday - A Lesson In Worry

July 3 Sunday - Tender Loving Care

July 4 Monday - Dependence Day

July 5 Tuesday - The Growth Chart

July 6 Wednesday - Not A Hitching Post

July 7 Thursday - The Jaws Of Death

July 8 Friday - Uncertain Times

July 9 Saturday - Asking Different Questions

July 10 Sunday - Look To The Hills

July 11 Monday - Paranoia In Reverse

July 12 Tuesday - The Power Of A Name

July 13 Wednesday - No Grace

July 14 Thursday - Grain On The Mountaintop

July 15 Friday - True Loyalty

July 16 Saturday - Feeling Chained?

July 17 Sunday - Lookin’ Good!

July 18 Monday - Living Bridges

July 19 Tuesday - Whoppers Or Adventures?

July 20 Wednesday - Small Ways In Small Places

July 21 Thursday - Water For The World

July 22 Friday - Lasting Regrets

July 23 Saturday - Waving The White Flag

July 24 Sunday - He Calls The Stars By Name

July 25 Monday - Looking For Zacchaeus

July 26 Tuesday - The Work Of Our Hands

July 27 Wednesday - Divine Perspective

July 28 Thursday - Courageous And Consistent

July 29 Friday - Confident Access

July 30 Saturday - Family Trademarks

July 31 Sunday - Just As I Am

August 1 Monday - City Of Refuge

August 2 Tuesday - Graceland

August 3 Wednesday - A Shared Bond

August 4 Thursday - All We Need To Know

August 5 Friday - Breaking Free

August 6 Saturday - Broken But Beautiful

August 7 Sunday - Difficult People

August 8 Monday - The Upright Thumb

August 9 Tuesday - Finding God’s Pathway

August 10 Wednesday - Holy, Holy, Holy

August 11 Thursday - Power Of Simplicity

August 12 Friday - Example That Encourages

August 13 Saturday - Life-Giving Rain

August 14 Sunday - The Parable Of The Sting

August 15 Monday - Is There Hope?

August 16 Tuesday - Walking Billboards

August 17 Wednesday - Is Somebody Singing?

August 18 Thursday - Believing In Advance

August 19 Friday - Following The Master

August 20 Saturday - Our Foundation

August 21 Sunday - A Word For The Struggler

August 22 Monday - Live In Love

August 23 Tuesday - Keeping Darkness At Bay

August 24 Wednesday - Memory Loss

August 25 Thursday - More Than Waiting

August 26 Friday - Spiritual Navigation

August 27 Saturday - Life’s Darkest Moments

August 28 Sunday - A Picture Of Humility

August 29 Monday - Terms Of Service

August 30 Tuesday - Step Up!

August 31 Wednesday - The Ultimate Sacrifice

September 1 Thursday - I Am Not Forgotten

September 2 Friday - Not Even A Nod

September 3 Saturday - Hope To Continue On

September 4 Sunday - The Barking Lion

September 5 Monday - With Him Forever!

September 6 Tuesday - Let Me Be Singing

September 7 Wednesday - More Of Him, Less Of Me

September 8 Thursday - Sow What?

September 9 Friday - A Work Of Peace

September 10 Saturday - One Amazing Letter

September 11 Sunday - Born To Rescue

September 12 Monday - The Small Giant

September 13 Tuesday - Think Of Them No More

September 14 Wednesday - Gentle Jesus

September 15 Thursday - The Blame Game

September 16 Friday - A Heart For Prayer

September 17 Saturday - Giving It To God

September 18 Sunday - Love To Tell His Story

September 19 Monday - On Being Known

September 20 Tuesday - Rooted

September 21 Wednesday - Medieval Meal

September 22 Thursday - Repeat Warnings

September 23 Friday - An Emergency Of The Spirit

September 24 Saturday - The Language Of Whistling

September 25 Sunday - The Wise Old Owl

September 26 Monday - A Matter Of Trust

September 27 Tuesday - The Ultimate Reunion

September 28 Wednesday - Every Hardship

September 29 Thursday - Amazing Grace

September 30 Friday - A Fresh Start

October 1 Saturday - The Power Of Ritual

October 2 Sunday - In The Storm

October 3 Monday - Filtered Light

October 4 Tuesday - Disposable Culture

October 5 Wednesday - Pink Sheep

October 6 Thursday - A Faithful Helper

October 7 Friday - Fly The Flag

October 8 Saturday - Learn To Wait On God

October 9 Sunday - What Do You Expect?

October 10 Monday - The Lesson Of The Hula Hoop

October 11 Tuesday - The Power To Change

October 12 Wednesday - A Sanctuary

October 13 Thursday - Timely Words

October 14 Friday - A Forever Hello

October 15 Saturday - Seeing Upside Down

October 16 Sunday - Mysterious Detours

October 17 Monday - From Peeker To Seeker

October 18 Tuesday - A Genuine Friend

October 19 Wednesday - The Right Foundation

October 20 Thursday - A War Of Words

October 21 Friday - Undeserved Praise

October 22 Saturday - One Who Understands

October 23 Sunday - Clean The Closet

October 24 Monday - Tiny Island

October 25 Tuesday - First Response

October 26 Wednesday - All Together

October 27 Thursday - New To The Family

October 28 Friday - Working For The Wind

October 29 Saturday - Shadowed

October 30 Sunday - Music And Megaphone

October 31 Monday - What Love Is

November 1 Tuesday - Mosaic

November 2 Wednesday - Hands Off!

November 3 Thursday - Does God Care?

November 4 Friday - Perception Or Reality?

November 5 Saturday - Less Than The Least

November 6 Sunday - Horse Power

November 7 Monday - Multiply It

November 8 Tuesday - Oranges Or Milk?

November 9 Wednesday - Tear Down The Wall

November 10 Thursday - The Honor Of Following

November 11 Friday - The Drinking Gourd

November 12 Saturday - The Final Picture

November 13 Sunday - Creeping Christmas?

November 14 Monday - Heartbreak And Hope

November 15 Tuesday - Windfall

November 16 Wednesday - Amazing Guide

November 17 Thursday - Defeated Adversary

November 18 Friday - Rooted Love

November 19 Saturday - Goodbye

November 20 Sunday - Can You Help?

November 21 Monday - Dealing With Distractions

November 22 Tuesday - The Warmth Of The Sun

November 23 Wednesday - Outlasting Bitterness

November 24 Thursday - Hope In Suffering

November 25 Friday - Resting In God

November 26 Saturday - God Whispers Fish

November 27 Sunday - A Lesson In Praise

November 28 Monday - Amani

November 29 Tuesday - Happy Ending

November 30 Wednesday - For Sale— As Is

December 1 Thursday - Struggling With Addiction

December 2 Friday - Losing Our Way

December 3 Saturday - Whose Side Are You On?

December 4 Sunday - Called By Name

December 5 Monday - Human Chess

December 6 Tuesday - Better Than Before

December 7 Wednesday - Johnny’s Race

December 8 Thursday - Stones Cry Out

December 9 Friday - Our Life Is A Primer

December 10 Saturday - Wonders Of The Heart

December 11 Sunday - Snake In A Box

December 12 Monday - Snug As A Bug In A Rug!

December 13 Tuesday - Another Hero Of Christmas

December 14 Wednesday - A Special Birth

December 15 Thursday - Story Stewards

December 16 Friday - A Ukrainian Christmas

December 17 Saturday - A Work In Progress

December 18 Sunday - My Friends And I

December 19 Monday - The Heart Of Christmas

December 20 Tuesday - In Jesus’ Name

December 21 Wednesday - Just The Right Time

December 22 Thursday - Remember The Wrapping

December 23 Friday - What Really Matters

December 24 Saturday - Lasting Peace

December 25 Christmas - The Smells Of The Stable

December 26 Monday - In The Neighborhood

December 27 Tuesday - Out Of Egypt

December 28 Wednesday - Is Jesus Still Here?

December 29 Thursday - Delay May Not Mean Denial

December 30 Friday - He Leads Me

December 31 Saturday - Standing On The Edge

God Sends His Love

Resting In A Trustworthy God

OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES OFFICES

For information on our resources, please write to the office nearest you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices.

AFRICA REGION

SOUTH AFRICA (REGIONAL OFFICE)

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2637, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban 4320,

South Africa

PH: [phone] / 825 2001 • FX: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

KENYA

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2761, 00200 City Square, Nairobi, Kenya

PH: [phone] / 520 1415 • M: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

NIGERIA

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 80125, Lafiaji Post Office 101006,

Lagos State, Nigeria

PH: [phone] • M: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

ZIMBABWE

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box EH301, Emerald Hill, Harare, Zimbabwe

PH: [phone] • M: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

IBERO-AMERICA & CARIBBEAN REGION

BRAZIL (REGIONAL OFFICE)

Our Daily Bread Ministries, Caixa Postal 4190, 82501-970, Curitiba/PR, Brazil

PH: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

GUYANA

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 101070, Georgetown

PH: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

JAMAICA W.I.

Our Daily Bread Ministries, 23 Parkington Plaza, PO Box 139, Kingston 10

PH: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO W.I.

Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 4938, Tunapuna, Trinidad W.I.

PH: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Introduction

We want to hear from God, don’t we? To be near Him, to know more about Him, to be known by Him. This 2016 Annual Edition has been produced to help you in that desire. It will guide you through the Bible so that you might hear from His heart.

There’s a special story on page 373 about a young woman who questioned God’s love for her. She wondered, Is God’s love a generic sort of love for humanity as a whole, or does He desire a unique love relationship with each of us? Perhaps Christy Bower’s story can help you or someone you know.

You may also want to consider obtaining more copies of this book to share with loved ones.

Please contact us if we can serve you.

—The staff at Our Daily Bread Ministries

Enhancing Your Devotional Time

Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of your Our Daily Bread devotional reading:

Set aside a regular time and place. Your time will be more meaningful if you can concentrate and establish a regular practice.

Read the Bible passage. Those words from God’s Word are the most important statements you will read each day. As you read God’s Word, seek to learn more about God, your relationship with Him, and how He wants you to live each day.

Note the key verse. It is printed on the left side of each article. You may want to memorize this key Bible verse.

Read the article thoughtfully. Reflect on what the writer is saying.

Personalize the words of the prayer or poem. It may be used as a prayer-starter that expresses how you feel.

Use the closing thought to help you remember the key idea. The last statement in bold type on each page is what we call thought of the day.

Write down your discoveries. For example: What is God saying to you through His Word?

Take time to pray. Talk to the Lord about what you’ve discovered in His Word and your response to Him.

Share the lessons with others. When you talk with others, share what the Lord is teaching you from His Word.

It is our prayer that in these devotional articles you will find encouragement, hope, and comfort as you draw closer to God and grow in your love for Him.

January 1 Friday - 31 Days Of Thanks

January 1

Friday

31 Days Of Thanks

Read:

Psalm 136:1-16,26

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! — Psalm 136:3

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 1–3

■ Matthew 1

January, according to many US calendars, is National Thank You Month. This, of course, is easily transferable everywhere, so perhaps it should be Global Thank You Month.

In order to make the best use of this celebration of gratitude, let’s begin by seeing what Scripture says about thankfulness.

One place to start is Psalm 136, which begins and ends with the words, Oh, give thanks (vv.1,26). Again and again in this chapter we are reminded of a single, overriding reason to bestow our gratitude on our great God: His mercy endures forever. We could spend the whole month learning about gratitude from Psalm 136.

The psalmist reminds us of God’s great wonders (v.4). He tells us of God’s creative work brought on by His wisdom (v.5). He moves on to rehearse the great exodus of His people (vv.10-22). As we think through these pictures of creation and deliverance found in Psalm 136, we can easily find something to thank God for every day of this Thank You Month.

What better way to start off a new year than to concentrate on conveying gratitude to our Lord! "Oh, give thanks to the

Lord

, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (v.1). — Dave Branon

How good it is to thank the Lord,

And praise to Thee, Most High, accord,

To show Thy love with morning light,

And tell Thy faithfulness each night! — Psalter

When you think of all that’s good, give thanks to God.

January 2 Saturday - No Appetite

January 2

Saturday

No Appetite

Read:

Nehemiah 8:1-12

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. — 1 Peter 2:2

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 4–6

■ Matthew 2

When I was battling a bad cold recently, I lost my appetite. I could go through an entire day without eating much food. Water would suffice. But I knew I couldn’t survive long on water alone. I needed to regain my appetite because my body needed nourishment.

When the people of Israel came back from exile in Babylon, their spiritual appetite was weak. They had departed from God and His ways. To get the people back to spiritual health, Nehemiah organized a Bible seminar, and Ezra was the teacher.

Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses from morning until midday, feeding the people with the truth of God (Neh. 8:3). And the people listened attentively. In fact, their appetite for God’s Word was so stirred that the family leaders and the priests and Levites met with Ezra the following day to study the law in greater detail because they wanted to understand it (v.13).

When we feel estranged from God or spiritually weak, we can find spiritual nourishment from God’s Word. As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). Ask God to give you a renewed desire for relationship with Him, and begin feeding your heart, soul, and mind with His Word. — Poh Fang Chia

Break Thou the Bread of life, dear Lord, to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord,

My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word. — Lathbury

Feeding on God’s Word keeps us strong and healthy in the Lord.

January 3 Sunday - Help From His Spirit

January 3

Sunday

Help From His Spirit

Read:

Micah 6:3-8

What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? — Micah 6:8

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 7–9

■ Matthew 3

Many of us make promises to ourselves to mark the beginning of a new year. We make pledges such as I’m going to save more, exercise more, or spend less time on the Internet. We begin the year with good intentions, but before long old habits tempt us to take up our old ways. We slip up occasionally, then more frequently, and then all the time. Finally, it’s as if our resolution never existed.

Instead of choosing our own self-improvement goals, a better approach might be to ask ourselves: What does the Lord desire of me? Through the prophet Micah, God has revealed that He wants us to do what is right, to be merciful, and to walk humbly with Him (Mic. 6:8). All of these things relate to soul-improvement rather than self-improvement.

Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on our own strength. The Holy Spirit has the power to help us as believers in our spiritual growth. God’s Word says He is able to strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Eph. 3:16

niv

).

So as we begin a new year, let’s resolve to be more Christlike. The Spirit will help us as we seek to walk humbly with God. — Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me;

I myself would truthful be;

And with wisdom kind and clear

Let Thy life in mine appear. — Lynch

He who has the Holy Spirit as his resource has already won the victory.

January 4 Monday - Situation Excellent

January 4

Monday

Situation Excellent

Read:

Philippians 1:3-14

The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. — Philippians 1:12

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 10–12

■ Matthew 4

At the First Battle of the Marne during World War I, French lieutenant general Ferdinand Foch sent out this communiqué: My center is giving way, my right is retreating. Situation excellent. I am attacking. His willingness to see hope in a tough situation eventually led to victory for his troops.

Sometimes in life’s battles we can feel as if we are losing on every front. Family discord, business setbacks, financial woes, or a decline in health can put a pessimistic spin on the way we look at life. But the believer in Christ can always find a way to conclude: Situation excellent.

Look at Paul. When he was thrown in prison for preaching the gospel, he had an unusually upbeat attitude. To the church at Philippi he wrote, I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel (Phil. 1:12).

Paul saw his prison situation as a new platform from which to evangelize the Roman palace guard. In addition, other Christians became emboldened by his situation to preach the gospel more fearlessly (vv.13-14).

God can use our trials to work good in spite of the pain they bring (Rom. 8:28). That’s just one more way He can be honored. — Dennis Fisher

Comfort us, Lord, when life’s trials assail—

we fail and stumble so often. Renew us, and help us to grow so that others may also know Your goodness and comfort.

Trials can be God’s road to triumph.

January 5 Tuesday - Adoption

January 5

Tuesday

Adoption

Read:

Ephesians 1:3-12

He chose us in Him . . . having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself. — Ephesians 1:4-5

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 13–15

■ Matthew 5:1-26

My wife, Marlene, and I have been married for over 35 years. When we were first dating, we had a conversation I have never forgotten. She told me that at 6 months old she had been adopted. When I asked her if she ever wondered about who her real parents were, she responded, My mom and dad could have selected any of a number of other babies that day, but they chose me. They adopted me. They are my real parents.

That strong sense of identification and gratitude she has for her adoptive parents should also mark our relationship with God. As followers of Christ, we have been born from above through faith in Him and have been adopted into the family of God. Paul wrote, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Eph. 1:4-5).

Notice the nature of this transaction. We have been chosen by God and adopted as His sons and daughters. Through adoption, we have a radically new relationship with God. He is our beloved Father!

May this relationship stir our hearts to worship Him—our Father—with gratitude. — Bill Crowder

Loving Father, thank You for making me Your child and giving me a place in Your family. With a grateful heart, I thank You for making me Yours.

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. — Augustine

January 6 Wednesday - The Night No One Came

January 6

Wednesday

The Night No One Came

Read:

Matthew 6:1-7

Do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. — Matthew 6:1

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 16–17

■ Matthew 5:27-48

One winter night composer Johann Sebastian Bach was scheduled to debut a new composition. He arrived at the church expecting it to be full. Instead, he learned that no one had come. Without missing a beat, Bach told his musicians that they would still perform as planned. They took their places, Bach raised his baton, and soon the empty church was filled with magnificent music.

This story made me do some soul-searching. Would I write if God were my only audience? How would my writing be different?

New writers are often advised to visualize one person they are writing to as a way of staying focused. I do this when I write devotionals; I try to keep readers in mind because I want to say something they will want to read and that will help them on their spiritual journey.

I doubt that the devotional writer David, whose psalms we turn to for comfort and encouragement, had readers in mind. The only audience he had in mind was God.

Whether our deeds, mentioned in Matthew 6, are works of art or acts of service, we should keep in mind that they’re really between us and God. Whether or not anyone else sees does not matter. He is our audience. — Julie Ackerman Link

That my ways might show forth Your glory,

That You, dear Lord, greatly deserve!

With Your precious blood You’ve redeemed me—

In all my days, You I would serve! — Somerville

Serve for an audience of one.

January 7 Thursday - Words That Help And Heal

January 7

Thursday

Words That Help And Heal

Read:

Matthew 6:5-15

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. — Matthew 6:9

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 18–19

■ Matthew 6:1-18

On November 19, 1863, two well known men gave speeches at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The featured speaker, Edward Everett, was a former congressman, governor, and president of Harvard University. Considered one of the greatest orators of his day, Mr. Everett delivered a formal address lasting 2 hours. He was followed by President Abraham Lincoln, whose speech lasted 2 minutes.

Today, Lincoln’s speech, the Gettysburg Address, is widely known and quoted, while Everett’s words have almost been forgotten. It is not just Lincoln’s eloquent brevity that accounts for this. On that occasion, his words touched the wounded spirit of a nation fractured by civil war, offering hope for the days to come.

Words do not have to be many to be meaningful. What we call the Lord’s Prayer is among the shortest and most memorable of all the teachings of Jesus. It brings help and healing as it reminds us that God is our heavenly Father whose power is at work on earth, just as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10). He provides food, forgiveness, and fortitude for each day (vv.11-13). And all honor and glory belong to Him (v.13). There is nothing in our past, present, and future that is not included in our Lord’s brief words that help and heal. — David McCasland

How easy it is to use many words

And give little thought to the things you say;

So willingly yield your lips to the Lord

And hearts will be blest by them every day. — D. DeHaan

Kind words smooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer. — Blaise Pascal

January 8 Friday - The Hidden Life

January 8

Friday

The Hidden Life

Read:

Colossians 3:12-17

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. — Colossians 3:17

The Bible In One Year:

■ Genesis 20–22

■ Matthew 6:19-34

Some years ago, I came across a poem by George MacDonald titled The Hidden Life. It tells the story of an intellectually gifted young Scot who turned his back on a prestigious academic career to return to his aging father and to the family farm. There he engaged in what MacDonald called ordinary deeds and simple forms of human helpfulness. His friends lamented what they saw as a waste of his talents.

Perhaps you too serve in some unnoticed place, doing nothing more than ordinary deeds. Others might think that’s a waste. But God wastes nothing. Every act of love rendered for His sake is noted and has eternal rewards. Every place, no matter how small, is holy ground. Influence is more than lofty acts and