A Word for All Seasons

By Angela Brown

A Word for All Seasons is not just another devotional book. It is a year long journey into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Each month you will discover a new dimension of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the love they have for you.

Each day will introduce a new scripture to read and a short commentary to encourage and challenge you to learn more about the living God of all Creation. There are meditation suggestions as the end of each entry to help you share your heart with the Lord and listen for His intimate thoughts toward you.

A Word for All Seasons forms a pathway for you to discover more facets of God Almighty and His amazing grace and mercy toward all mankind. Enjoy this journey into the heart of your Savior and King. He is looking forward to your presence with Him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664238152

Angela Brown

Angela D. Brown is the founder of Vertical Worship Creative Arts Ministries. She has been dancing for the Lord since 1991. She currently resides in South Carolina. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, where she developed her creative arts craft while serving in a large church, she relocated to Austin, Texas in 1996 where she led dance ministry for 15 years after she was ordained as Minister. She mentored others in dance while challenging them to surrender their all to the Lord. She hosted annual conferences, leadership and prayer summits, and creative arts concerts drawing people from across the country. In 2010, Angela established an organization called "Vertical Worship Creative Arts Ministries" (VWCAM), of which she was ordained as Pastor in 2012. VWCAM helps believers effectively minister to the world horizontally by aligning themselves with the Lord vertically.

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Copyright © 2021 Angela Brown.

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make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book

and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible,

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®.

Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by

permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

Scripture quotations marked Mirror Bible are taken from THE MIRROR.

Copyright © 2012 Toit, Francois Du. Mirror Bible: A selection of key New

Testament texts paraphrased from the Greek. Used by permission.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3814-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3816-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3815-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021912746

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/10/2021

CONTENTS

Introduction

January

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

January 5

January 6

January 7

January 8

January 9

January 10

January 11

January 12

January 13

January 14

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January 19

January 20

January 21

January 22

January 23

January 24

January 25

January 26

January 27

January 28

January 29

January 30

January 31

February

February 1

February 2

February 3

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

February 18

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

February 29

March

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

March 30

March 31

April

April 1

April 2

April 3

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 7

April 8

April 9

April 10

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

April 25

April 26

April 27

April 28

April 29

April 30

May

May 1

May 2

May 3

May 4

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

May 12

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

May 18

May 19

May 20

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

May 31

June

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 9

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 28

June 29

June 30

July

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

July 23

July 24

July 25

July 26

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

August

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

August 5

August 6

August 7

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

September

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 6

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 12

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 20

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

September 29

September 30

October

October 1

October 2

October 3

October 4

October 5

October 6

October 7

October 8

October 9

October 10

October 11

October 12

October 13

October 14

October 15

October 16

October 17

October 18

October 19

October 20

October 21

October 22

October 23

October 24

October 25

October 26

October 27

October 28

October 29

October 30

October 31

November

November 1

November 2

November 3

November 4

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

November 20

November 21

November 22

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 26

November 27

November 28

November 29

November 30

December

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 5

December 6

December 7

December 8

December 9

December 10

December 11

December 12

December 13

December 14

December 15

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 24

December 25

December 26

December 27

December 28

December 29

December 30

December 31

About The Author

INTRODUCTION

When I started writing this book, I thought it was going to be a small set of devotionals for a month. However, the Lord had other ideas. I was also recovering from shoulder surgery and had expected to be learning more about being quiet and just listening. I did get to practice that a lot, but the Lord used my research for the book as a tool to build up my own faith and keep me encouraged.

As you read each day’s entry, I pray you will be encouraged and ushered into new ways of hearing from the Lord. The meditation ideas at the end of each entry are just suggestions to help you experience greater intimacy with the Lord.

I pray the scriptures will open up your heart to the pure goodness of the Lord and His desire to fellowship with you every moment of the day. Not only is He your Father and Savior and Comforter, but He also desires to be your best friend.

Enjoy your time with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and treasure God’s love for you. He has created you to be a glorious reflection of His mercy, grace, and power everywhere you go.

Your journey with Him is priceless so treasure it!

JANUARY

NEW BEGINNINGS

In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned,

and) created the heavens and the earth...

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our

image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over

the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all

of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth…

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness

of God He created him; male and female He created them.

And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill

the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God

and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the

air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.

Genesis 1:1, 27-28 The Amplified Bible

I write this now at the close of 2020—a year of unexpected, outrageous, and often heartbreaking events. But I am being encouraged to look to the new year ahead with hopeful expectation, fresh vision, and a heart to venture into new realms of thinking, believing, and behaving.

As we gain our perspective from the Lord, He equips us to see old things in new ways. He also enables us to accept new ventures and let go of old patterns that are not appropriate for the days ahead.

New beginnings can be exciting, but they can also trigger fear of the unknown. The Lord is more than capable of preparing and equipping us for those things we don’t anticipate and providing joy in the midst of the unexpected.

Enjoy the new beginnings He has prepared just for you!

JANUARY 1

Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing

with God; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].

Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings.

Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.

For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.

Psalm 33:1-4 The Amplified Bible

All those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior are forgiven of sin and declared righteous by our living God. So, if you have done that, rejoicing dwells in your heart and should be expressed often before the Lord. You have so much to be thankful for even when your circumstances want to shout otherwise.

The righteous person can hope in God’s almighty goodness and divine love for himself. You can put your total trust in Him to bring you into a settled and peaceful place in His presence. That reality is worthy of giving Him continual thanks.

This passage encourages us to sing a new song. I believe that means we need to look for new ways to rejoice in Him by the way we sing, and praise, and pray. Let the Lord see your willingness to do new things, and think new thoughts, and give Him new praise. New is good for everyone!

Meditation:

Offer the Lord a new song or prayer of praise today.

Ask Him to give you a new outlook on the year ahead.

JANUARY 2

The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom

and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the

alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those

who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.

Psalm 111:10 The Amplified Bible

Honoring the Lord and worshipping Him with sincere reverence is the starting place for all true life. When you recognize that He is your life source, you begin to realize that He has the answer to living a meaningful life on Earth.

Following the will of the Lord begins by learning His voice through reading His written Word. Listen to His inner voice as you fellowship with Him through prayer. As you begin to obey His teachings, you gain confidence in following that inner voice that lines up with His written Word.

The icing on this wisdom cake is that your praise of Him will endure forever! Imagine that—He will hear your praises into eternity. His love and wisdom for you is eternal and began when He created you.

Meditation:

As you give the Lord your praise today, think of it enduring throughout all eternity.

Thank Him for His enduring love and wisdom that is available to you.

JANUARY 3

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the

principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];

but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 The Amplified Bible

Again, we see through this passage in Proverbs that the reverent, worshipful, fear of the Lord is a beginning point in true life. Remember, reverent fear is a respectful and attentive attitude toward the Lord. You cannot worship what you don’t revere. When you look to the Lord as your ultimate source for true life, you will receive the knowledge that you need to walk victoriously through each day.

But these words remind us to be mindful of foolishness. A fool ignores his need for God’s wisdom, instruction, and discipline. We all need God’s perspective and correction. We are still learning to be all He created us to be. No one has arrived yet! Every year, every day, brings new challenges. We all need God’s help in navigating them.

So, continue to revere and worship Him and you will receive all the Godly wisdom you need to reflect His glory through your life.

Meditation:

Thank the Lord for new challenges and opportunities to gain His glorious knowledge.

Ask Him to help you keep an open heart to His correction and instruction.

JANUARY 4

The disciples of John the Immerser approached Jesus with this question: "Why

is it that we and the Pharisees fast regularly, but not your disciples?"

Jesus replied, "How can the sons of the bridal chamber grieve

when the Bridegroom is next to them? But the days of fasting will

come when the Bridegroom is taken away from them.

And who would mend worn-out clothing with new fabric? When the

new cloth shrinks it will rip, making the hole worse than before.

And who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually

the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything—

the wine is spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is

always poured into a new wineskin so that both are preserved."

Matthew 9:14-17 The Passion Translation

Jesus used every opportunity to teach more about the new life He came to bring to all those who would follow Him as the Son of God. Jesus knew His time on Earth was limited. He used every situation with His disciples as a learning tool.

In this case, He taught those who listened about the new life that was coming to change their world. He didn’t die to bring a new life into an old container. He came to bring the world a whole new beginning.

As a follower of Christ, you become a whole new person. Everything in your spirit man is recreated to contain the life of Christ Himself. You are able to take on the likeness of Christ in your words, your ways, and all your relationships. You are able to fellowship with the living God and reflect His glory all around you.

Jesus is your new beginning!!

Meditation:

Rejoice today in the newness of life that Jesus died to give you!

Ask Him to show you how you are reflecting His life to those around you.

JANUARY 5

"Every scholar of the Scriptures, who is instructed in the ways of heaven’s kingdom

realm, is like a wealthy home owner with his house filled with treasures both new

and old. And he knows how and when to bring them out to show others."

Matthew 13:52 The Passion Translation

This wise insight from Jesus gives us great inspiration to be a scholar of God’s word. His written word is a precursor for learning the ways of Heaven’s kingdom. His kingdom is also the domain of all those who have given their lives to the Lord Jesus as their Savior and King.

So it would do well for all of us who have a relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to learn how to function in the kingdom of God. We presently live on Earth, but our eternal domain is the heavenly realm.

As children of the living God, we all need to be students of His way of living on Earth and functioning with a heavenly mindset. As we do that, we have great treasures to share with others who are seeking for or beginning their journey into knowing their Creator and Savior.

What a joy to be able to share with those around us the treasures of God’s kingdom and His perspective of our journey on Earth!

Meditation:

Thank the Lord for the treasure He has stored up for you to discover.

Ask Him to tutor you in living on Earth with a heavenly perspective.

JANUARY 6

As they ate, Jesus took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave

it to his disciples. He said to them, This is my body. Eat it.

Then taking the cup of wine and giving praises to the Father,

he entered into covenant with them, saying, "This is my blood.

Each of you must drink it in fulfillment of the covenant.

For this is the blood that seals the new covenant. It will be

poured out for many for the complete forgiveness of sins.

The next time we drink this, I will be with you and we will drink it together

with a new understanding in the kingdom realm of my Father."

Matthew 26:26-29 The Passion Translation

Before Jesus went to the cross, He shared communion with His disciples to make them aware of the new covenant He was making with them to bring them into the kingdom realm of the Father. As a believer in Christ, you share the kingdom realm with your heavenly Father as well.

Each time you take communion, you are refreshed and renewed in His presence, remembering all that Jesus did for you to redeem your life and make you whole. You don’t have to wait to take it in a church setting. You can take it anytime you feel lead to worship and give thanksgiving to God for His provision for newness of life for you.

Rejoice in remembering that you are now a child of God living in His divine presence and gaining understanding of His kingdom ways.

Meditation:

Praise God for the broken body and precious blood of Jesus that prepared you for new life in Christ!

Take time to see yourself in Father’s presence, enjoying His fellowship and learning His kingdom ways for your new life.

JANUARY 7

Then Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum, and he immediately

started teaching on the Sabbath day in the synagogue.

The people were awestruck and overwhelmed by his teaching, because he taught in a

way that demonstrated God’s authority, which was quite unlike the religious scholars.

Suddenly, during the meeting, a demon-possessed man screamed out,

"Hey! Leave us alone! Jesus the Victorious, I know who you are.

You’re God’s Holy One and you have come to destroy us!"

Jesus rebuked him, saying, Silence! You are bound! Come out of him!

The man’s body shook violently in spasms, and the demon hurled him to

the floor until it finally came out of him with a deafening shriek!

The crowd was awestruck and unable to stop saying among themselves,

"What is this new teaching that comes with such authority? With merely

a word he commands demons to come out and they obey him!"

Mark 1:21-27 The Passion Translation

This scripture paints an amazing picture of the new understanding Jesus brought to the Israelites about their God and His powerful authority. Not only did Jesus teach about the kingdom power of God, but He displayed it openly as God gave Him opportunity.

This same power is available to anyone who has given their life to the Lord as Savior and King. The Jews only knew God through the rituals they performed when they went to the synagogue. Jesus showed them a new, powerful side to their God, and how He desired to share His power with them.

His desire is to share His authority with you as you follow His lead and believe His word.

Meditation:

Thank the Lord for the amazing authority He has come to share with you.

Ask Him to teach you how to use it for His glory and the good of those around you.

JANUARY 8

In the very beginning God was already there. And before his face was his Living

Expression. And this Living Expression was with God, yet fully God.

They were together—face to face, in the very beginning.

And through his creative inspiration this Living Expression made

all things, for nothing has existence apart from him!

Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity.

And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through

gloom—the Light that darkness could not diminish!

John 1:1-5 The Passion Translation

It is hard to comprehend that God has no beginning and no end—He is eternal! Jesus, the Light of all men, was with God (in God) as He created everything we see and all of the things we cannot see! These are concepts that are hard to understand.

This amazing, one, true God, has brought us to life and given us His Light, Jesus, to redeem and transform our lives into eternal beings who can enjoy His presence and power forever. Amazing!

As you begin this new year, ponder the eternal life the Lord has provided for you. Think beyond the present and imagine an eternal future with your God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These thoughts will usher you into a higher and deeper understanding of your life and purpose on Earth.

Meditation:

Rejoice in the Lord and His eternal plan for your life.

Spend time meditating on Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and their eternal provisions set aside just for you.

JANUARY 9

It is the Spirit that quickens the poetry of life - the flesh (muscle and

willpower) is useless without the spirit. The words that I speak unto you they

are spirit and life! I communicate from a different dimension and perspective

giving voice and substance to every prophetic shadow and purpose.

I notice that there are those among you who are not persuaded

about me. It was clear from the start that even amongst Jesus’

close followers there were signs of unbelief and treason.

I was addressing your hesitance to believe in me when I said to you that no

one is forcing you to see yourself mirrored in me - you do not need to go into

make-believe-mode or fake your faith – it is the Father’s gift to you!

John 6:63-65 The Mirror Bible

Jesus spoke these words to some of His closest followers. He wanted them to realize that faith in Him is a gift from Father God. You cannot fake true faith. You either follow His word and teaching or you don’t.

All of us miss it sometimes. We choose a way that is not fully directed by the Lord. If we realize we have missed His direction, we can repent and move forward in the direction He gives.

His mercy and grace are so abundant toward the truly repentant heart. He has new beginnings for us all as we stumble through our lives. Perfection is only found in giving your all to Him. But His perfect love makes up for our imperfect obedience!

As you look back on the year behind you, let the Holy Spirit show you how to look ahead with fresh perspective and renewed faith in His ability to lead and direct your steps. Nothing is beyond His reach to restore and renew when you are willing to see His truth and walk in it by faith.

Meditation:

Thank the Lord today for new mercies and abundant grace to walk forward in the new year.

Ask Holy Spirit to show you any place where change is needed and expect Him to give you faith to do it.

JANUARY 10

So I give you now a new commandment: Love each

other just as much as I have loved you.

For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one

another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.

John 13:34-35 The Passion Translation

These words spoken by Jesus added a depth to love that most of us don’t understand. In love, Jesus gave His all for us so that we could experience eternal love from our Creator.

This new commandment went beyond the love spoken of in the Old Testament. This kind of love takes us beyond our own capacity to love and introduces us to the selfless, everlasting, love of God for all of His creation.

You are one of a kind. You are totally different from anyone else on planet Earth—past, present or future! So His love for you is also one of a kind. He desires you to be yourself as He created you to be.

When you come to believe in Jesus as your Savior, you are born anew and receive His unique and eternal love through His broken body and shed blood. No one has ever done that before. He brings you to a new beginning of love, truth and wisdom that you have never experienced before.

He makes all things new in you!

Meditation:

Praise Him abundantly today for the newness of life He has given you in Christ Jesus.

Ask Him to reveal where you still walk in the old man, and to help you walk fully into your new life in Christ.

JANUARY 11

"The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You

are not permitted to know the timing of all that he has prepared by his own authority.

But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be

filled with power. And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout

Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!"

The disciples left the Mount of Olives and returned to Jerusalem, less than

a mile away. Arriving there, they went into a large second-floor room to

pray. Those present were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas,

Bartholomew, Matthew, James (the son of Alpheus), Simon (the zealot), Judas

(the son of James), and a number of women, including Mary, Jesus’

mother. His brothers were there as well. All of them were united in

prayer, gripped with one passion, interceding night and day.

Acts 1:7-8, 12-14 The Passion Translation

This section of scripture begins with Jesus encouraging His disciples after He has risen from death and appeared to them. He is offering hope and promise of power to fulfill their destiny in the days ahead.

Then we see that they promptly reacted to His words by gathering in unified prayer. They interceded for the promise of power to be fulfilled. Holy Spirit would indeed come and fill them with fresh, new experiences in relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This was their new beginning as sons and daughters of the one true living God.

Every day offers you a new beginning with the Lord to walk in the light of His revealed glory and power. Enjoy your new day today!

Meditation:

Praise the Lord for His presence in your life as a child of the one true God.

Ask Him to fill you afresh with the presence and power of Holy Spirit.

JANUARY 12

Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still

uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been

sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with

leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread]

of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 The Amplified Bible

These words instruct followers of Christ to put away old attitudes and beliefs and replace them with the bread of truth in Christ. His truth is noble, honorable, pure and sincere. Jesus is the truth that new lives must live by to glorify Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

When your spirit man is recreated through your surrender to Christ as Lord of your life, your mind, will and emotions must be renewed through repentance and obedience to His Word daily. We are recreated only once, but we must be willing to change our ungodly habits on a daily basis.

Acknowledging Christ as Lord of your life is your new beginning. Following His lead can make every day a new reality of His power and presence available to you. Living life with Christ is a daily practice of fresh, new ways of thinking and doing.

So for those who choose Jesus as Lord, each day is a new adventure in heavenly perspectives and realities. Life in Christ is not boring if you are genuinely following His Word and personal instruction for your life.

Meditation:

Praise God for your new beginning in Christ.

Expect Him to show you a new perspective from His kingdom today.

JANUARY 13

The love of Christ resonates within us and leaves us with only one conclusion: Jesus

died humanity’s death; therefore, in God’s logic every individual simultaneously died.

Now if all were included in his death they were equally included in his resurrection.

This unveiling of his love redefines human life! Whatever reference we could

have of ourselves outside of our association with Christ is no longer relevant.

This is radical and our most defining moment! No label that could

possibly previously identify someone carries any further significance!

Even our pet doctrines of Christ are redefined. Whatever we knew about

him historically or sentimentally is challenged by this conclusion.

Now, in the light of your co-inclusion in his death and resurrection, whoever you

thought you were before, in Christ you are a brand new person! The old ways of

seeing yourself and everyone else are over. Acquaint yourself with the new!

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 The Mirror Bible

These amazing words are tremendously encouraging and challenging to all who read them. Think about being a brand new person who can live a brand new life. Christ completely redefines everyone who accepts Him as the Lord of their lives.

His death was your death. His resurrection is now your resurrection. All things are new in Christ Jesus. Even your beliefs about Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will become new as you engage in a personal relationship with each of them.

You will also begin to see other people in the light of Christ and His love for them. If you are willing, your attitudes and relationships with others will take on a whole new perspective.

Life in Christ is fresh, hopeful, and adventurous. Each day offers new ways of seeing the mundane chores of life. Your expectations should become brighter and more positive as you walk with the Lord.

Meditation:

Thank the Lord for newness of life.

Thank Him for new perspectives in your relationships.

JANUARY 14

May my boasting be in nothing but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

The religious-systems and applause of this world have no appeal to me. As far as they are concerned, I am like a dead person.

The new creation in Christ steals the show; not whether someone is circumcised or not!

Our union with Christ sets the pace and makes us the true Israel, not whether we

are Jew or Gentile, circumcised or not! Oh, what peace we discover in his mercy!

This rule is the new law we submit ourselves to as the principle of our daily walk!

Galatians 6:14-16 The Mirror Bible

The Apostle Paul became free from the laws of the Old Testament when he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He knew Jesus had come to fulfill the laws of the Old Testament. He was free to walk in the truth that Christ had brought to the world.

Circumcision was no longer the sign that proved he was a son of God. His union with Christ was his pace setter. He discovered a genuine peace in his fellowship with Christ. Paul was able to fulfill the Law of God as he followed the leading of Christ.

You have the same privilege and opportunity to fulfill the Law of God through fellowship with Christ. He will guide your steps and teach you the ways of peace and power. Your life will glorify Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as you walk in the truth they give you as you fellowship with them daily.

Meditation:

Thank the Lord today for freeing you from the task of trying to follow the laws of the old.

Rejoice in your new freedom in Christ and look forward to the new law of love you find in true fellowship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

JANUARY 15

Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you

have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred

blood of Jesus—you have actually been united to Christ!

Our reconciling Peace is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ.

By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall of prejudice that

separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ.

Ethnic hatred has been dissolved by the crucifixion of his precious body on

the cross. The legal code that stood condemning every one of us has now been

repealed by his command. His triune essence has made peace between us by

starting over—forming one new man, Jews and non-Jews fused together!

Two have now become one, and we live restored to God and reconciled

in the body of Christ. Through his crucifixion, hatred died.

For the Messiah has come to preach this sweet message of peace to

you, the ones who were distant, and to those