START YOUR DAY WITH JESUS · other is that life’s origin occurred without the benefit of any...

S T A R T Y O U R D AY W I T H J E S U S

A 3 0 D A Y D E V O T I O N



Day 1 HOPE WITHIN YOUR STORM

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 T h e s sa l o n i a n s 5 : 1 8 n k j v

When trials hit, if God is going to enter the equation for you at all, your natural reaction is most likely not to

worship him. You might turn to him with vulnerability, yell at him, lay your problems all out on the line and

generally vent your frustrations to him about your storm. I truly believe there’s nothing wrong with this, but

don’t solely focus on the negative or let this frustration take up your entire time with God, especially if you have

a relationship with him.

“As you remember the God by your side and all his amazing qualities—his love, his grace, and his power—thank

him and praise him for them! Even before your miracle has occurred, you need to praise God. Don’t wait until

he’s done something. Rather, praise him for who he is and who he’ll always be.

“Many times when I’ve chosen to do this during my family’s battle with [daughter] Georgia’s brain disorder, I’ve

found the whole thing much easier to deal with. I find my perspective shifting. Bitterness and panic fade away

when you praise and thank God for who he is even before your miracle comes.

C H A D V E AC H , Unreasonable Hope

R E F L E CT

What is the greatest storm or trial you are facing, and what difference would it make for you to praise

and thank God today for a positive (maybe even miraculous) outcome before it happens?



Day 2DREAMING OF JESUS

“ ‘And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will proph-

esy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.’”

J o e l 2 : 2 8 n i v

Kamal led Noor out of the main crowd to the edge of the souk and a patch of grass under a lone tree. The two

sat down before Kamal spoke.

“Noor, my name is Kamal, and I’m a Jesus follower. I have loved Him with an undivided heart for ten years now

and am honored to have been in your dream.”

Noor stared into Kamal’s green eyes, enthralled with the man’s words.

“Jesus is touching the hearts of Muslims all over the world. He’s calling them to salvation—real salvation—one at

a time, by visiting them in dreams and visions.” Kamal paused, thinking. “Is this your first dream about Jesus?”

Noor answered, hope in her eyes. “Yes, it’s my first. Will I have more dreams?”

Kamal measured his answer. “You might have many dreams about Jesus. It depends on what He plans for you. It

could be that one dream is all you need.” Kamal wondered briefly just what his Lord had in mind for this woman.

“You must have many questions.”

“About a thousand,” Noor blurted.

“Is this a safe place to talk?”

Noor understood the question behind the question. “My husband is at work, and besides, he lost interest in me

long ago. I’m his third wife, and last year he took a fourth. She is very young, and her smooth skin, beautiful

face, and shapely silhouette are all he can think about. I barely see him. He won’t come looking for me.” Anguish

flickered across her face, but wonder quickly returned. “We are safe here. Tell me about Jesus!”

T O M D OYL E W I T H G R E G W E B S T E R , Dreams and Visions

R E F L E CT I O N

What do you see as the purpose behind God’s use of dreams and visions to speak to his followers and

reach those who don’t yet know him, and have you personally experienced them in your own life?



Day 3DARE TO GIVE FREELY

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, [Jesus] gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then

he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They

all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.”

M a r k 6 : 4 1 - 4 3 n i v

The disciples had just a little bit of bread, barely enough even for themselves. But Jesus gave them the option to

fork it over, and when they did, God took their small, humble portion and stretched it across thousands of hungry

people, with basketfuls left uneaten. He does the same for us.

That is who God is and how he loves us.

He invites us into smallness and less, so that when he swoops in and steals the show, when we see for ourselves

that there is always plenty in his economy of abundance, when we take seriously our bit role in the rescue of his

people, all the glory belongs to him.

Surveying the sum of creation, God looks at you and me and decides we’re worthy allies. Each day brings a ques-

tion: “How much bread do you have?”

If we dare to hand it over, it’s multiplied.

S H A N NA N M A RT I N , Falling Free

R E F L E CT I O N

How might thinking about God’s compassionate generosity toward his people (including you) stir you to act

generously toward others as you go about life today at home, at work, in your neighborhood, and beyond?



Day 4FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

“I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

J o h n 1 5 : 1 5 a s v

If we are disciples of Jesus, then we are friends of God. Jesus lays down His life for His friends. He lays down His

life for us—even when we betray Him, even when we sin.

Friendship with God is at the core of the gospel message. I love how the New Living Translation words Romans

5:10, “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we

will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”

Think of your best friend on earth. There are no formalities with this friend, no fear with this person, and no

rituals to perform or special language to use. The relationship you have with each other is deep and close. Because

of the work that Jesus did on the cross for us, Jesus restored us to friendship with God. “All this is done by God,

who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends” (2 Cor. 5:18 GNT).

R O B E RT M O R R I S , Frequency

R E F L E CT I O N

Do you see God as longing to enjoy a deep, close friendship with you, and if not,

what difference would it make to know that in Christ you are no longer an enemy, but a friend?



Day 5THE POWER IN FORGIVING

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

E p h e s i a n s 4 : 3 2 n i v

Before I left Virginia Beach to begin my new life in California, I went with a colleague to the ballet. . . . The open-

ing dance was a depiction of a mother giving birth to her son. The dancer representing the baby stood wrapped

in white cloth bandages. Other dancers began to unwrap them until the child was standing alone with one last

sheath of cloth around his body. . . . The boy stood there, still convinced that he was confined. Then he realized

that if he took a single step, the rest of the cloths would fall away. (Fortunately he did have tights on underneath!)

As I watched this performance, I had an overwhelming sense of the Lord saying, “Sheila, you are free. I brought

some people into your life to start the process, but now you must walk in it.”

As I began to forgive others, they returned to normal size. I no longer saw them in monster-like proportions. As

long as I viewed someone as the enemy, I gave that person some power over my life. But as I forgave a person,

I, too, was free. I saw that I could spend a lot of time imprisoned by past failures, or I could thank God for His

never-ending grace and forgiveness and get on with the rest of my life.

S H E I L A WA L S H , Loved Back to Life

R E F L E CT I O N

Is there anyone in your life whom God has shown you needs your forgiveness, and if so,

what steps will you take today toward experiencing the freedom that comes when we choose to forgive?



Day 6LIFE IS NO ACCIDENT

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in

the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

J o h n 1 : 1 - 3 n i v

The overwhelming evidence for design is seen in the complexity of life at the smallest level. Life appears to be not

only designed but also undoubtedly engineered at the smallest scale. The probability of this happening by chance

is so vanishingly small that atheists have to propose an infinite number of universes to explain it away. In other

words, you can win this cosmic lottery if you have an infinite number of chances.

Furthermore, Darwinian evolution fails to account for all of the diversity and complexity of life. Though evolu-

tion is observed on a small scale, it fails to account for all the diversity present in the world. The fact that certain

functions of life are irreducibly complex, meaning that they can’t function without all the parts present at once,

points to the presence of an intelligent Designer. Naturalistic models for the origin of life have been refuted by

two recent breakthroughs. One is the discovery that life originated on earth in a geologic instant of time. The

other is that life’s origin occurred without the benefit of any natural source of prebiotic molecules.

Finally, life appears in the fossil record suddenly (the Cambrian explosion) and then changes only slightly. The

evolutionary narrative simply isn’t present. These gaps point to the fact that life in its major forms was designed

with the genetic capacity to adjust and adapt to a changing environment but has limits as far as its capacity to

change to a completely different genus. This leads to the definitive truth that life is no accident. Because life is no

accident, human life can have real meaning and purpose.

R I C E B R O O C K S , God’s Not Dead

R E F L E CT I O N

How does thinking about the complexity of Creation and evidence for a Designer

speak to you about the meaning and purpose of your own life?



Day 7SEEING OTHERS’ PAIN

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,

kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another

if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

C o l o s s i a n s 3 : 1 2 – 1 4 n i v

It’s amazing how we can pass people on a daily basis and choose not to acknowledge the hurt we see in their

eyes. We see it; we just don’t feel like doing anything about it. We feel too overwhelmed with our own burdens,

so the prayers that come out of our mouths are dominated by what’s going on in our lives, what we want to see

happen for us.

The hard truth I came to realize was that I had been so consumed with my own needs that I had failed to see the

needs of those around me. I’m not talking about the needs of random strangers; I’m talking about the friends,

family, and neighbors I talked to every day but never took the time to really see.

During the next few weeks, I recognized how the Lord was gently removing me from being stuck in front of

the mirror and was guiding me to the window, allowing me not only to see the struggle of others but also to do

something about it. The Word was coming to life by bringing life to others through action.

K R I S T I WAT T S , Talk Yourself Happy

R E F L E CT I O N

How might Kristi’s discoveries about the burdens around her stir your heart

to recognize the hurts, struggles, and needs of the people you will interact with today?



Day 8FACING YOUR GIANTS

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet

him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on

the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.”

I Sa m u e l 1 7 : 4 8 - 4 9 n i v

Maybe we find ourselves tolerating the harmful thing at first, even though we know it clearly goes against God’s

plan. Maybe we try to justify its existence. We wrestle with it and wish it were gone. We’re annoyed the harmful

thing is there in the first place, but we end up giving it free rent anyway. Before we know it, the harmful thing

has established a foothold. It becomes a giant. A default routine is formed. Our giant becomes a habit in the way

we think or act. Some days we fight to rid ourselves of the giant, but the problem never seems to go away entirely.

How do we get rid of the giants? Jesus offers an abundant life to everyone who follows him. “The thief comes only

to steal and kill and destroy,” Jesus said; “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Jesus didn’t come to earth to die on the cross and be resurrected from the grave so we could settle for a reduced

amount of God’s best. Jesus intended for us to “really live” (1 Thessalonians 3:8).

And that means we can live freely in the power of what he has accomplished for us. It starts with seeing and be-

lieving that whatever giant we’re battling might be big—but it’s not bigger than Jesus. Nine feet tall is nothing to

him. And he intends to set you free.

L O U I S G I G L I O , Goliath Must Fall

R E F L E CT I O N

What is a harmful “giant” in your life right now, and how does the promise of Jesus

in John 10:10 speak to you as you seek to defeat it through the power of Christ?



Day 9COME TO THE TABLE

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

H e b r e w s 1 3 : 2 e s v

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’

Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord.”

J o h n 2 1 : 1 2 n i v

For a while coming to the table seemed like one last push before I could clock out from the day. But what I

would come to learn is that sharing a meal at the table isn’t so much another thing to check off my list as it is an

invitation from God to see his goodness and rejoice in his work before surrendering to the night.

It’s about rescuing relationships and partnering with God to show more of his love to a hurting world. It’s about

discovering that perhaps before we invite people to meet Jesus at church or at Christian events, we should invite

them to meet him at our table. It’s about honoring what God has already given us to bring his kingdom down

to earth. It’s about looking at an invitation to come and eat as an entryway to God’s ultimate invitation to be

redeemed and rescued by him.

In its simplest form, it’s about mirroring how Jesus chose to enter this world and show his love to the people who

needed him so desperately. In fact, it’s amazing how often the Bible records Jesus showing up at a table to share a

meal, and furthermore, how many times Jesus himself extended the invitation to come and eat.

B R I M C KOY , Come and Eat

R E F L E CT I O N

How does God’s invitation to join him at the table speak to your heart, and how might it in-

spire you to open your own table to those who are hungry for love, grace and hospitality?



Day 10NEARING HOME…

“They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing.”

P sa l m 9 2 : 1 4 n k j v

We never know what the future holds for us, but God does. This is why Jesus urged us not to be paralyzed by fear of

the future but to trust our lives into God’s hands: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? . . . But

seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:27, 33)

I often think of my father-in-law, Dr. L. Nelson Bell. For twenty-five years he and his wife, Virginia, served the

people of China as medical missionaries. (My wife, Ruth, was born and grew up there.) He was one of the busiest

people I ever knew—and also one of the most dedicated. One of my strongest memories of Dr. Bell was the way

in which he cared for his wife after she suffered a series of debilitating strokes. She was confined to a wheelchair

and required almost constant care. It would have been logical for Dr. Bell to move her out of their house and into

a nursing home, but he refused. Instead he gave up almost all of his outside responsibilities and devoted himself

to caring for his beloved Virginia.

When someone asked him about his decision, he simply replied, “This is my calling now.”

One day you may not be able to do everything you once did or everything you would like to do. Instead of feeling

guilty or frustrated or resentful, however, thank God that you can still do some things—and make it your goal to

do them faithfully and do them well. Commit your time—and your whole self—to Jesus Christ, and seek to do

His will no matter what comes your way.

B I L LY G R A H A M , Nearing Home

R E F L E CT I O N

How does Dr. Bell’s example speak to you as you contemplate the perspective that can come

from surrendering a former role and embracing a new calling in a new season of life?



Day 11A WAY OUT

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we

have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threat-

ened with death? . . . I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”

R o m a n s 8 : 3 5 , 3 8 n lt

It’s time to see things not from our human point of view but from God’s and to let Jesus call us out. We need to

know how to navigate the open wounds and the unmet heart desires of this risky and dangerous life, but we have

not been left in those hard and confusing places on our own.

We are free to thrash and mourn and be human in our heartbreak, but when it’s time to set the anguish aside,

there is a way out of the pit of despair. We have the key, the map. We have the correct lens prescription. We are

the recipients of ancient mysteries privy only to the friends of God.

I’m not sure if Jesus would say, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” to my blindness, but I do know that he desires us to

be on the same page. True fellowship begins here. Like with a bestie or a spouse, the more we exchange ideas and

truths and show who we really are, the more deeply we will come to know God’s love.

I’ve found that the more I press into this, the more I don’t hinge God’s blessing and love upon my circumstances.

And that sparks hope.

K AT E M E R R I C K , And Still She Laughs

R E F L E CT I O N

In what ways do you find strength and encouragement in the reminder that

God’s love toward you is constant and does not depend on your circumstances?



Day 12SHARING THE GOSPEL

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Ac t s 3 : 1 9 - 2 0 n lt

“As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

R o m a n s 1 0 : 1 5 n r s v

We had traveled for some hours up the Mekong River in a wooden boat. Our purpose was to visit the pastor of a small house church, a man named Roth Ourng. . . . After a while I asked him, “Pastor, living in a country that is more than 90 percent Buddhist, how did you come to be a Christian?” . . .

“Five years ago,” he said, “World Vision came to our community and began to work. I was suspicious of these outsiders to our community and was convinced they had their own hidden agenda. You see, in Cambodia, since the genocide by the Khmer Rouge, we are always distrustful of strangers. But these people from World Vision [also Cambodians] set up a tuberculosis (TB) clinic to care for those suffering from the disease. They improved the schools our children attended, and they taught better agricultural methods to the farmers to improve our yields. But I was still suspicious and even angry, convinced that they were up to no good. Why would these strangers help us? I thought.

“One day I decided to confront them, and I went to the World Vision leader and demanded to know why they were here. His answer took me by surprise. He said, ‘We are followers of Jesus Christ, and we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are here to show you that God loves you.’

“I said in response, ‘Who is this Jesus Christ that you talk about?’

“The man went and got me this Bible that you see here today and gave it to me. He told me that everything about Jesus was in this book. That night I went home and read the book of Genesis. I was truly amazed because in this Genesis I met the God I had wondered about all of my life. I met here the God who created heaven and earth, the Maker of the universe. The next morning I ran back and told him what I had read but said that I still did not know this Jesus he talks about. He told me he would take me to the city to meet with a Christian pastor who would explain these things to me. Some weeks later he took me and my friend to meet the pastor. He opened his Bible and read to us many passages about Jesus and explained the good news of salvation. At the end, he asked if we wanted to become disciples of Jesus and commit our lives to him. We both said yes and that day committed to follow Christ as our Savior.”

R I C H A R D S T E A R N S , The Hole in Our Gospel

R E F L E CT I O N

What impressions and lessons do you see in Pastor Ourng’s story of meeting Jesus and becoming a follower of Christ?



Day 13JOY IN SUFFERING

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died

so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again,

we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”

1 T h e s sa l o n i a n s 4 : 1 3 - 1 4 n lt

Do you see it? Hope. Confidence. Wonder. Joy. Trust. Laughter.

If I believe Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Beginning and the End, if I believe Jesus adorned himself in humanity,

lived a humble life, and was scorned, tortured, and crucified to make atonement for me, will I not love him with

all I’ve got? Will I not still follow him regardless of where my life goes, regardless of any suffering I might endure?

I have decided it has been my honor and pleasure to love and serve with my whole life this God who became

humble, even to death on a cross.

If I believe this life is not all there is, shouldn’t I live accordingly? Will I allow despair to swallow me when I know

the goodness that is coming is incomparable? If I know I will be with Jesus, face-to-face with him forever, will I

not now live like a child who is well taken care of and loved by her parents? Free, joyful, secure.

I believe that I will be in the presence of the Lord, and part of being ready for him is enjoying the goodness we

have now. Crossing over into the fruit of belief.

K AT E M E R R I C K , And Still She Laughs

R E F L E CT I O N

What does it mean to you to “grieve with hope,” believing that even in our pain, struggle, and heartache

we can experience peace, joy—even laughter—through the love of God in Christ?



Day 14GOD’S PRESENCE

IN OUR PAIN“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

P sa l m 3 4 : 1 7 - 1 8 n i v

There are two reasons why your volume gets louder as life gets harder. First, when you’re going through a great

time of trial, people around you tend to get quieter. Their voices hush out of respect. Smart people walk on tiptoe

around hearts that are on fire.

When you’re a Christian and you’re going through a great time of difficulty, you will notice that those around you

who don’t know Jesus Christ—especially those you’ve shared your faith with before—will lean in extra close. Their

ears perk up. They want to see if what you have advertised is going to prove true in the product demonstration.

You told them that Jesus is the light of your world. Well, now your power has been cut, and they want to see if

you can glow in the dark. You’ve told them that Jesus is the anchor for your soul; he is the solid rock you can stand

on. Now everything around you is giving way, and they want to find out if you’re going to sink in the sand. If

they do see your claims proven true, you’ll find a greater willingness on their part to trust Christ in their own lives.

The second reason your volume gets louder when life get harder is because in trials, you can hear God better.

Why is this? Because he comes closer! That’s what we find in Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to those who have

a broken heart.”

C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His

megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” And the nearer he is, the better we can hear him and the more we can do for him.

L E V I L U S KO , Through the Eyes of a Lion

R E F L E CT I O N

Have you experience any or all of ways your “volume” can rise when you face pain and strug-

gle: some people getting quiet, some paying close attention, and God drawing nearer to you?



Day 15A NEW PERSPECTIVE

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

I sa i a h 4 3 : 1 8 - 1 9 a n i v

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

L a m e n tat i o n s 3 : 2 2 - 2 3 n i v

Where is your story today? Are you at the start of something, brimming over with excitement and anticipation?

Are you stuck in the middle and fumbling around for the light switch? Are you facing a trial you never saw coming

and find yourself paralyzed with fear and denial? Are you exhausted by life? Afraid? Uncertain? Are you looking

for hope and joy and love and wondering where it all went?

Start back at the beginning. Throw out your old, preconceived ideas about what a successful life should look like,

and restart with a new perspective. Grieve your losses and look for a new path as you accept the things you never

expected or wanted. Take a break—go for a hike, take a swim, sit out on the porch and listen to the rhythm of the

crickets singing. Call a sitter and take an afternoon nap. Breathe deeply. Cry when you need to.

Open your doors and your heart. Make a new friend, or two, or ten. Love bigger than you thought you could, and

find that expanding your borders increases your capacity to love and receive love.

L AU R E N CA S P E R , It’s Okay About It

R E F L E CT I O N

Thinking about the “story” of your life today, are there any areas where you could use a fresh perspective, a do-over,

a chance to pause from the routine and recapture some of the hope and joy that might have faded over time?



Day 16GLORY FIRST

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”

P sa l m 1 1 5 : 1 e s v

What do I want most?

For me there are so many things. I want a few silly shallow things: I need my car washed right now, and I would

love a new iPhone (since mine was recently dropped in the bath) and a night out with my husband or a night

to catch up on 30 Rock. I want deeper things such as close friendships, to be someone my kids would want to

be like, and for my words to make a difference. But what do I want most? What’s the deepest desire of my soul?

I cannot name it, but I am certain it centers entirely around me, a selfish desire to be important or appreciated.

Something like that.

What does God want most?

I’ve always known the answer, though I’ve never known what the answer meant. I certainly never knew what the

answer meant for my life.

God is most after his glory.

J E N N I E A L L E N , Anything

R E F L E CT I O N

Does anything keep you from putting God’s glory first, and if so, what would your life look

like if you were to consider the glory of God before anything or anyone else?



Day 17SLOW DOWN,

ACHIEVE MORE“Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows!

J e r e m i a h 4 4 : 2 5 b n i v

I know that blowing off a workout, or a date, or a promise to organize your closet, or some previous commitment

to yourself doesn’t seem like a big deal. But it is. It’s a really big deal. Our words have power but our actions are

what shape our lives.

If you choose today that you will not break another promise to yourself, it’s going to force you to slow down.

It’s impossible to keep every commitment, promise, goal and idea you’re setting without intentionality. If you

recognize that your words have power and that your commitments carry covenant-weight, you won’t so easily

agree to anything. You’ll have to ask yourself if you really, truly will have time to meet that friend for coffee this

week. You’ll have to decide if working out four times before Sunday is a real possibility, or if it’s more realistic and

achievable to commit to two beast-mode sessions and then one power walk with your neighbor. You’ll slow down

and think things through.

You won’t just talk about a goal; you’ll plan for how you’re going to get there. You’ll set a goal and surprise yourself

when you achieve it. You’ll teach yourself a new way to behave and set a standard for the type of person you truly

are. Not the one you talk about being or dreaming about becoming, but actually practice being every single day.

R AC H E L H O L L I S , Girl, Wash Your Face

R E F L E CT I O N

Is there a promise that you’ve made to God or to yourself that you haven’t yet

kept, and if so, what might help you see it through to completion?



Day 18CULTIVATING THE SOIL

OF YOUR SOUL“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.”

P r o v e r b s 2 8 : 1 9 e s v

Rich soil is transformed soil. Hand over your boulders of stress, worry, and fear, and God will crush them to fine

sand with His love and forgiveness. Give Him the thorny remnants and roots of your past, and He will till them

up and make them into nutrient-rich growing ground. Lay down your fruitless striving and dry soil, and God will

pour out His transforming grace to make you new. Your life may not look like you thought it would, but you’ll

be so grateful it doesn’t!

Redemption is messy, but it’s the only way to cultivate what lasts.

I had to let go of the old to make room for the new. I sat in the heartache and, little by little, chose God over

my fruitless ways: forgiveness over bitterness, hope over despair, and imperfect over perfect. It didn’t happen

overnight, but with each step forward, I began to nourish the soil of my life and cultivate hope.

L A R A CA S E Y , Cultivate

R E F L E CT I O N

What is depleting the soil of your soul, and what needs to be confessed or laid before the Lord

that He could graciously turn into a new and better yield in your life?



Day 19UNSHAKEABLE

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

L u k e 4 : 8 , n i v

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

M at t h e w 6 : 3 3 n i v

Here’s a question for anyone in a relationship: if you were to break up right now, would it feel like you’re losing

a boyfriend or girlfriend or would it feel like you’re losing your god? There’s a big difference. One will make you

sad. One will make you devastated. One you can live without. One you can’t.

Obviously, if Alyssa were to suddenly pass away tomorrow, I would be a wreck. Total mess. Completely devastated.

But I wouldn’t be without hope.

If Alyssa were my functional savior and god, then the minute she passed, I’d be without hope. And without hope,

the spiral of despair runs deep. But I follow a God who’s in the business of bringing resurrection where there was

death, beauty where there was ashes, and streams of water in the middle of a desert. And that’s why Jesus wants us

to put our identity in Him, not in relationships or partners—as good and as amazing as they may be.

Because He is the only thing that can’t be taken from us. Our job can be taken. Our house can be taken. Our

spouse can die. Our boyfriend or girlfriend can break up with us. But our identity and worth that rests on Jesus

can never be taken, and that means it’s an unshakeable hope.

J E F F E R S O N & A LYS SA B E T H K E , Love that Lasts

R E F L E CT I O N

How do today’s scripture and passage speak to you about what is—and what is not—

the most reliable, unfailing source of strength, peace and joy in your life?



Day 20NOT JUST A RESCUER—

A SUSTAINER“I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.”

I sa i a h 4 3 : 1 1 n i v

People can help us but they can’t heal us. People can lift us but they can’t carry us. On occasion people can pull

us out of a pit, but they cannot keep us out. Nor can they set our feet upon a rock. When we come out of a pit, if

our idea of stability is standing on another human’s shoulders, his clay feet will inevitably crumble and we’ll take

a tumble. The job’s too big for him.

Knowing all we are, all we feel, and all we hide, God overflows with love and willingness to deliver us. Even after

Israel sought the help of the Egyptians, inviting the chastisement of God, Isaiah 30 testified, “Yet the Lord longs

to be gracious to you; / he rises to show you compassion.” (v. 18).”

Longs to be gracious. I like the ring of that. We’re also repeatedly told that “His love endures forever” which means

the Lord is gracious for long. That’s what former pit-dwellers like me must have. We need a Deliverer who is in

for the long haul.

B E T H M O O R E , Get Out of That Pit

R E F L E CT I O N

Our desire to have a tangible rescuer is natural to our human souls, but so much more than rescuing is found

in our God; what power and benefits are found in having not simply a rescuer, but a sustainer?



Day 21LIGHT IN THE VALLEY

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

P sa l m 2 3 : 4 n i v

Maybe you have read through this and thought, But there’s not some big secret sin keeping me from God. I do attend

church regularly and read my Bible. Why does God still feel far? How can I have the Holy Spirit and yet not feel him at all?

These are some of the questions that come out of those dark nights of the soul we journey through. What we must

realize is that the Spirit has not abandoned us in these moments either. In fact, God’s Spirit is doing mighty work

in us, even when our faith seems dry and our way seems dark.

The famous Twenty-third Psalm talks about a valley of darkness where the shadow of death lies. You can imagine

that this place is pitch-dark. No light, no paths, no right way to be found. But in this valley, vacant of light, God

is there guiding us, even if we can’t notice . . .

Even when we are in darkness, God is with us. Even when we cannot see the movement of our own feet, God is

there guiding us. He may use his rod and staff to harshly correct us, but it will be for our betterment. That is the

role and the glory of the Holy Spirit. He is working inside of us, moving us to God.

DAV I D B O W D E N , When God Isn’t There

R E F L E CT I O N

What is the significance of knowing that God is with you, guiding and comforting you

like a caring shepherd, when the valley seems darkest or the desert feels especially dry?



Day 22THE PRAYER OF FAITH

“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

Ja m e s 5 : 1 5 n k j v

By the time I finished praying, I was a nervous wreck; I hardly slept a wink all night. The next morning, I realized

that my bedtime prayer had focused on my negative feelings rather than on God’s assurances and promises, and I

learned an important truth: unless we plead in faith, our prayers can do more harm than good.

How much better to offer what James called the prayer of faith (James 5:15).

Thomas Watson, the Puritan writer, said, “Faith is to prayer what the feather is to the arrow; it feathers the arrow

of prayer, and makes it fly swifter, and pierce the throne of grace.”

When you face impossible odds, pray urgently, unfeignedly, unitedly. And trust the great prayer-answering God

who grants mercy and imparts grace to help in time of need.

R O B E RT J . M O R GA N , The Red Sea Rules

R E F L E CT I O N

When you pray, if your words reflect anxiety and fear, are you open

to try praying words of faith based on the promises and assurances of God?



Day 23HOME FOR THE SOUL

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

3 J o h n 1 : 2 e s v

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”

P sa l m 6 2 : 1 e s v

I live in the Pacific Northwest, which happens to be the breeding ground for several species of salmon. If you are

in Seattle during July and August, you can visit the Ballard Locks and watch salmon swim up a fish ladder that

joins the salt water of the ocean with the freshwater of Lake Washington. Amazingly, these salmon have spent

their entire adult lives—usually several years—in the ocean, but they instinctively know how to return to their

birthplaces in streams and rivers far up in the mountains.

They have a driving passion to return home. . . . They don’t stop. They fight any obstacle. They face contrary

currents and wild creatures and dams, all in order to return home.

Maybe nature is teaching us something. Maybe the reason we feel restless on the inside is because we haven’t been

home in a long time. Maybe it’s because instinctively, intuitively, and subconsciously we are driven to return to

our place of origin: God. . . .

When are our souls home? It’s simple. Our souls are home when they return to God.

J U DA H S M I T H , How’s Your Soul?

R E F L E CT I O N

Is there any restlessness in your soul today, and what obstacles might you need to push

past as you seek to return “home” to a place of soul rest and peace in God?



Day 24KNOW YOUR IDENTITY, KNOW YOUR DESTINY

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which

God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

E p h e s i a n s 2 : 1 0 a n k j v

You can tell when people don’t know who they are. It’s easy to see when they don’t know their identity, their

destiny. It’s in their posture. They are despondent, always walking with their heads down. Walk with your head

up, with your shoulders square.

Let people call you stuck up. Let them say, “You think you’re all that.” Say, “I am all that! I am what God says I am.

Why do you want me walking around depressed and broken and pitiful? That’s not my testimony!”

God sent you here. God has a glorious plan for you. God wants to change your destiny.

J O S E P H W. WA L K E R , I I I , Reset Your Life

R E F L E CT I O N

When you think about who you are and what your future holds, are your thoughts positive, do you look forward

with hope, and how do your thoughts compare to the inheritance and abundant life promised to you in Scripture?



Day 25STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

“But [Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.’

So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ’s power can rest on me.”

2 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 2 : 9 n i rv

Look at Jesus instead of your sin. He doesn’t condemn you. He convicts you, sure, and that conviction comes

from the Holy Spirit to remind you of Jesus. Condemnation says, “You’ve gone wrong. You have failed. It’s over

for you.” Conviction says, “You’ve gone wrong. You have failed. Confess your sin, and turn from your failure and

toward the cross of Jesus Christ. He is faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and purify you from all

unrighteousness.”

Do you see the difference? Condemnation says that you’re heading down a bad road and there’s no turning

around. Conviction says that you’re heading down a bad road but Jesus can help you turn around and get back

on the right road.

Whenever I have moments of weakness, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Jesus. Even when I am weak, he is still strong.

Conviction is all about drawing you to Jesus. It’s a warning signal that something isn’t right and needs to change.

Christ has paid the price to make the change possible, and the Holy Spirit provides the strength to make the

change take place.

R I C H W I L K E R S O N , Sandcastle Kings

R E F L E CT I O N

Can you think of any times—maybe in the past, or maybe right now—when you’ve seen God

give you strength to overcome, or to make a change, when you felt at your weakest?



Day 26THE GREATEST STORY LINE:

REDEMPTION“O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.”

P sa l m 1 3 0 : 7 n k j v

Redemption is the Bible’s great theme.

God’s redemption plan is what turned a sordid story into a great story. His rescue mission was executed through

His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. He completed His mission more than two thousand years

ago, when He hung on the cross and shed His blood in ransom for the souls of mankind. He died for your sin

and my sin.

When He conquered death and was raised from the grave that could not hold Him in bondage, He reached out

His nail-scarred hands and said, “I’ve come to free you from your bondage and give you new life.”

This story is great because God gives each of us the choice to accept His forgiveness and live with Him eternally.

The Bible says that “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Matthew 22:32). God is alive and well

and wants no less for those He loves.

B I L LY G R A H A M , The Reason for My Hope

R E F L E CT I O N

In light of the truth we gain redemption as followers of Christ now—not just at one moment and then when

we stand before God—how could taking a few minutes to reflect on God’s redemptive love affect your outlook today?



Day 27PRESSING THROUGH THE PAIN

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Ja m e s 4 : 8 n k j v

Does it ever feel like the heartbreak in your life is trying to break you? I understand. I’ve been in that place where

the pain of heartbreak hits with such sudden and sharp force that it feels like it cuts through skin and bone. It’s

the kind of pain that leaves us wondering if we’ll ever be able to function like a normal person again. But God has

been tenderly reminding me that pain itself is not the enemy. Pain is the indicator that brokenness exists. Pain is

the reminder that the real Enemy is trying to take us out and bring us down by keeping us stuck in broken places.

Pain is the gift that motivates us to fight with brave tenacity and fierce determination, knowing there’s healing on

the other side. And in the in-between, that desperate place where we aren’t quite on the other side of it all?

Pain is the invitation for God to move in and replace our faltering strength with His. I’m not writing that to throw

out spiritual platitudes that sound good; I write it from the depth of a heart that knows it’s the only way. We must

invite God into our pain to help us survive the desperate in-between. The only other choice is to run from the

pain by using some method of numbing. But numbing the pain never goes to the source of the issue to make us

healthier. It only silences our screaming need for help. We think we’re freeing ourselves from the pain when, in

reality, what numbs us imprisons us. If we avoid the hurt, the hurt creates a void in us. It slowly kills the potential

for our hearts to fully feel, connect, and love again. It even steals the best in our relationship with God.

Pain is the sensation that indicates a transformation is needed. There’s a weakness where new strength needs to

enter in. And we must choose to pursue long-term strength rather than temporary relief. So how do we get this

new strength? We invite God’s closeness. For me, this means praying. No matter how vast our pit, prayer is big

enough to fill us with the realization of His presence like nothing else. James 4:8 reminds us that when we draw

near to God, He will draw near to us. When we invite Him close, He always accepts our invitation. And on the

days when my heart feels hurt and my words feel flat, I let Scripture guide my prayers—recording His Word in

my journal, and then adding my personal thoughts. One of my favorites to turn to is Psalm 91. I would love to

share this verse with you today, as an example for when you prayerfully invite God into your own pain: “Whoever

dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

LYSA T E R K E U R S T , Uninvited

R E F L E CT I O N

Read Psalm 91, and choose a verse to pray through in your own personal prayer journal.



Day 28YOU ARE CALLED

“I ,therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

E p h e s i a n s 4 : 1 n k j v

It’s time to get it together. Each of us has an inner voice that has said that at one time or another.

You may be hearing it right now. Your position in life is irrelevant. The tuned-in, well-connected young professional

can feel the tug just as surely as the lonely retiree.

At some point each of us comes to that place where we know it’s time to change course.

Listen carefully, and you’ll recognize the call for what it is—an urging of the Spirit. It is sometimes gentle, some-

times in your face, but this is what it is saying: Now is the time to move. Start doing what God has called you to do.

J O S E P H W. WA L K E R , I I I , Reset Your Life

R E F L E CT I O N

Are you aware of the Lord’s good plan for your life, and if not, what keeps you

from knowing your calling and taking steps to walk it out?



Day 29YOU ARE NOT

WHO YOU WERE“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

I sa i a h 4 3 : 1 9 e s v

You don’t have to be who you first were.

That early version of yourself, that season you were in, even the phase you are currently experiencing—it is all

good or purposeful or at least useful and created a fuller, nuanced you and contributed to your life’s meaning, but

you are not stuck in a category just because you were once branded that way. Just because something was does

not mean it will always be.

Maybe part of your story involves heartache, abuse, struggle, loss, choices you wish you had back. Those are

particularly sticky labels to unpeel. Those seasons tend to brand us permanently, at least to others, maybe especially

to ourselves. Once we are that one thing, it is hard not to be.”

You are far more than your worst day, your worst experience, your worst season, dear one. You are more than the

sorriest decision you ever made. You are more than the darkest sorrow you’ve endured.”

God created us to triumph; we are made in the image of Jesus who has overcome the world. We are never defeated,

not even when all evidence appears to the contrary. If you are still breathing, there is always tomorrow, and it can

always be new.

You don’t have to be who you were.

J E N H AT M A K E R , Of Mess and Moxie

R E F L E CT I O N

What labels, whether self-imposed or applied by others, do you currently wear,

and how could you replace them with truths about who you are in Christ?



Day 30TRANSFORMATION FROM SURRENDER

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

L u k e 1 2 : 3 4 e s v

Our actions follow the desires of our hearts. My heart can feel pretty messy some days. I want to do the right thing

and make meaningful progress, but I mess up or don’t know how to do it. I want to do it all and do it all well, but

I’m human. I’m flawed. And I need help.

So how do we grow what matters when we are flawed and forgetful? Jesus tells us the answer: “For where your

treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

We choose God as our treasure, no matter how many times we mess up along the way, and by His grace, the

desires of our hearts will transform. By His grace, we don’t have to transform our own hearts; we just have to

surrender them.

We cultivate what we pay attention to.

L A R A CA S E Y , Cultivate

R E F L E CT I O N

What are you cultivating in your life, and what areas do you hope to see cultivated as you lay them down to be shaped

by God’s good hand (remembering that you are not responsible for the transformation, only the surrender)?

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