JANUARY 1

DO THE WORK

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished.”

1 CHRONICLES 28:20 NLT

Consistency and perseverance are important factors in our spiritual development. They set us up for steady growth, and they allow the building of our faith muscles. When we are afraid, it does not mean we should give up. When we are anxious about an outcome, it is not a reason to shrink back or abandon course.

Look to Jesus. He is with you. Be strong, take courage in him, and do what he has given you to do. He promises to be with you. He promises to never leave you. Everything you do, do it for him, and he will bless the work of your hands. Keep going, no matter what, and trust him to do what only he can.

Jesus, when I am afraid, I will trust you. I will keep moving ahead in what is already mine to do, and I will trust you to direct and redirect me. Bless the work of my hands as I offer it all as a living sacrifice to you.

JANUARY 2

QUIET TRUST

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.

ISAIAH 30:15 NIV

How often have you felt at rest in your salvation? When you take your burdens to the cross of Christ, do you leave them there? When you turn from the things you know are not benefitting you or others, do you look to the Lord for help?

Jesus is a faithful Savior and friend. May you know the deep abiding peace of his presence. May you know the quiet strength that comes with trust in his eternal love. He is for you, and he always will be. He builds you up in his love so that you can courageously and confidently live in him. Let your heart find its home in his mercy today.

Jesus, I want to dwell in the liquid love of your presence. I want to know your peace that passes all understanding. I give you my heavy burdens, and I take respite in you today. Bring relief and refreshment to my soul as I look to you.

JANUARY 3

GLORIOUS MEDITATION

On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

PSALM 145:5 NLT

When we take time to meditate on the tangible goodness of God, our hearts expand in his incredible mercy. The Lord is more glorious than our minds can comprehend at any given moment. He is larger than our little lives can contain. He is purer than the most well-intentioned act of love we have ever known.

Let’s take time to meditate on his wondrous works. As we remember who he is, what he has done, and what he has promised to do, may our hearts bloom with hope. He is so very good and always worthy of our praise, our time, and our attention.

Jesus, I meditate on your glorious goodness today. I remember what you said, and I turn my thoughts to what you taught us about the Father. Fill my mind, my heart, and my very being with your ever-present love that breathes peace, joy, and hope into my expanding faith.

JANUARY 4

THANKFUL HEART

Let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear.

HEBREWS 12:28 NCV

Gratitude leads us to the throne of God. It paves the way for our waning hope to be strengthened. It leads us to an ever-expanding faith. It builds the foundation of sacred trust. When we don’t know where to begin as we come to the Lord, we can always start with thanksgiving.

What do you have to be thankful for today? What are the little and big things that enrich your life? Start with a heart that is open to look for deposits of God’s kindness already within reach. Then, let gratitude grow and swell until worship is a natural overflow of your heart’s response.

Jesus, there are so many reasons I have to be thankful: the air I breathe, the home I dwell in, the people and animals in my life that support me. I am thankful for the fulfillment of long-awaited desires and the faithfulness of your love. For all these things and more, I worship you!

JANUARY 5

PRAISE HIM

Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!

PSALM 150:2 NLT

Can you remember a time when you were astounded by an answer to prayer? Has there ever been a moment in your life or in a loved one’s life that had no earthly explanation? God is a God of miracles. He restores what was stolen, and he redeems what seems lost forever. In his earthly ministry, Jesus healed the sick, drove out tormenting spirits, and raised the dead. He still does these things today.

Jesus is alive and well. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he lives to intercede for you and me. He is still the God who defends the vulnerable, still the one who reaches beyond the boundaries of religion, and still the one who loves perfectly and powerfully. Let’s praise him!

Lord Jesus, how could I begin to praise you for all you have done? You have had a hand in more glorious goodness than the earth’s libraries could hold. You are better than I have given you credit for, and I worship you today.

JANUARY 6

ALREADY KNOWN

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

JEREMIAH 1:5 NIV

Have you ever felt alone in this world? Even surrounded by others, we can feel unseen. Even when we have felt known, transition tears at the threads of our lives and leaves us feeling like our worlds are being shredded. There is one who understands. There is one who sees the end from the beginning and all that lies between.

Take some time to meditate on the verse for today. Before God formed you in the womb, he knew you. Before you were born, you were set apart by him. Everything he does is done with intention and love. He imagined you and created you with affection and purpose. When you feel far from connection, know that you are intimately connected to his heart.

Jesus, thank you for the reminder that you know me best and know me fully. In your love, you created me. In your love, you pursue me. In your love, I have found acceptance and a true home that never fades or crumbles. I love you!

JANUARY 7

SUCH GOODNESS

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

PSALM 31:19 NLT

No matter what is going on in the world, God is unchanging in faithfulness and mercy. He lavishes his love on those who run to him. He pours out blessings on those who take refuge in him. He is a safe place to abide in the storms of life. He is full of redemption, grace, and understanding.

When we live with hearts surrendered to God’s mercy, we will know the goodness of his care. There is more goodness than we can imagine! There is fullness of life, love, peace, joy, power, and grace. There is so more than we can fathom available to us through fellowship with him. Let’s run to him when we are afraid. Let’s come to him when we are confident. In every season of the soul, he is full of goodness.

Jesus, there is no one else like you in all the earth. No one can claim to love more than you do. I trust you with my heart, my life, and my loved ones. I trust you more than I trust myself. I trust you more than my closest friends. I trust you.

JANUARY 8

EVERY OPPORTUNITY

Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!

GALATIANS 6:10 TPT

Every day holds a myriad of opportunities to either respond or withhold love. When we choose compassion over judgment, we look for ways to be a tangible blessing to others. A kind response, an encouraging word, a helping hand to one who is struggling: these are all ways to bless others significantly and yet easily.

There is a cost to love. It is risky to reach out in mercy when our instincts would have us self-protect in fear. Fear does not promote love. It keeps us restricted when love compels us to expand. May we take every opportunity that presents itself today to be a blessing to others, those we know and love as well as those we don’t. It’s worth it.

Jesus, give me grace to extend compassion and mercy to others when I would rather go about my day. Give me eyes to see where I can help. Fill my heart with your love that compels me to reach out. I want to partner with your purposes today.

JANUARY 9

GENEROSITY TO GOODNESS

Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

PSALM 112:5 NLT

Does generosity have a place in your day-to-day life? Have you made room to practice giving to others out of the excess you already have? Though we have needs, there are likely ways we can give to others without fear of our own destitution. We don’t need to cheat (a system or anyone else) in order to hoard more for ourselves. In giving, we find a greater reward: satisfaction.

Jesus taught us that those who give will receive. Those who trust the Father to provide have no need to worry, for he even takes care of the birds and the flowers. Let’s find ways to be more generous than we have been. Let’s look...