JANUARY 1

Knowing God’s Faithfulness

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

LAMENTATIONS 3:22–23 NKJV

People are unreliable. They break their promises, kick you when you’re down, and judge you if you’re struggling. But have you ever had a friend who was so faithful you knew you could count on them no matter what? They love you, point you back toward God, and are always there to help you. They go the extra mile. Friends like that are such a blessing, and nobody is more like that kind of friend than Jesus. Nobody is more faithful and loyal than he. He is willing to meet you wherever you are and go as far as is needed to help you. He is more reliable than the sun. So, whatever you’re believing for in this new year, maintain a framework of faithfulness by trusting that God is going to be there for you no matter what comes your way. You are not alone. You are never alone. He is your closest friend and will never let you down.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

As you make plans for this new year, have you invited Jesus on your journey?

JANUARY 2

Things of Old

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.”

ISAIAH 43:18 NKJV

Are you ready for this new year? Are you ready to forget the former things and press on toward the new things God is doing in your life? Are you ready to let go of your past hurts and failures and move on? There are people in your life who have hurt you. Do those offenses still hold you back, or are you willing to forgive them even if those who hurt you never ask you for forgiveness? Perhaps you are struggling to let go of damaging relationships. Consider that they may be holding you back from new relationships the Lord wants to bless you with. Are you willing to let go and trust God so you may find healing and blessing? We can’t be wise without the wisdom of God. As we become wise, it is pertinent that we embrace the new things God is bringing us to. He is always doing new things, and he gives us grace to receive what he is releasing; however, it’s often through the door of forgetting the things of old.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

What in your past is holding you back?

JANUARY 3

Blind Leading the Blind

He spoke a parable to them:
“Can the blind lead the blind?
Will they not both fall into the ditch?”

LUKE 6:39 NKJV

When are you going to stop going to Negative Nancy’s home group? Or listening to Doubting Donna? You may not realize it right away, but people either pull you to greatness or reduce you to unbelief. Don’t ask directions from people who are not at the place you are trying to reach. Don’t take advice from the lost or the blind. You cannot allow people’s disapproval or approval to control you. You are not an orphan running around, trying to win approval from people. The approval you need is from your Father in heaven. It is from his approval alone that your heart will truly feel full. Stop worrying about being misunderstood and start desiring to please God alone. When you seek first God’s kingdom, people will no longer be able to tear you down because you’re standing on ground that cannot be moved.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

Who are the people in your life pushing you closer toward God and spurring you on to greatness?

JANUARY 4

Peace and Wisdom

Her teachings are filled with wisdom and kindness as loving instruction pours from her lips.

PROVERBS 31:26 TPT

Peace is an invaluable aid for decision-making. Peace guides our hearts in the right direction. If a decision doesn’t bring us peace, it’s a good indication that we probably shouldn’t follow through with it. A lack of peace is the Lord’s way of checking you, maybe giving you a nudge that something is not right. Colossians 3:15 takes peace one step further by instructing, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (NKJV). We don’t make decisions by ourselves because we are part of a bigger body. People who isolate themselves have a broken decision maker, which inevitably leads to a lack of peace. We need prayer and we need people in order to find peace. So, let’s make sure we are on our knees in prayer regularly and that we surround ourselves with wise and reliable people. That way, when those defining moments in life come, we will be able to make good decisions and lead a peaceful life.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

Is there a decision you need to make today that is stealing your peace? Pray and ask God to give you peace in your situation.

JANUARY 5

Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

MATTHEW 6:11 NKJV

Jesus had just finished explaining how God provides for us so we don’t need to worry, and then he follows it by saying, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (v. 33). What things? Everything. Everything we worry about, everything we strive for, everything we need. He continues by instructing us to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (v. 34). Every day God offers us spiritual manna from heaven, food for our souls. He’s a loving God who is always there for us, but if we don’t live according to his principles, we won’t acquire our desired results. He’s number one, and there is no number two. He is our everything. Everything we do, everything we are, everything we have is given to us through the filter of serving God.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

What are you focusing on today that is stealing your joy for tomorrow? What can you focus on today that will give you peace for tomorrow?

JANUARY 6

Find Your Jericho

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden?

Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.”

MATTHEW 11:28 TPT

David had a friend named Nahash, who was king of the Ammonites. When Nahash died, David sent two men as dignitaries to pay condolences. The Ammonites doubted David’s intentions and thought the men had come to spy, so instead of receiving the two men, they cut off their beards and the back of their pants so their backsides were exposed. Humiliated, the men returned to David discouraged, upset, and afraid. David stopped them before they entered the city. Instead of bringing them back to be embarrassed in front of their own people, he sent them to Jericho where they could stay, regain their strength, grow their beards back, and find rest. Then David went and overthrew the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10). Has life treated you unfairly? Have you been humiliated and brought low? God says that vengeance is his and that he is the one who will repay (Romans 12:19). And, honestly, he will do a much better job of it than you. So, go find your Jericho, regain your strength, and trust your King to defend you.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

Are you weary and discouraged? Go to the Lord for strength and encouragement. Trust him to fight your battles.

JANUARY 7

In His Image

Then God said,
“Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness.”

GENESIS 1:26 NKJV

God’s plan from the beginning was to create us in his image. The greatest tragedy today is that we are spending all our time trying to recreate God in our image. We need to stop attempting to pull the Lord down to our level. When Romans 12:2 (NKJV) tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world,” the word used for “world” is ion, which means “a period of time.” In our modern age, we could say, “Stop trying to fit in with today’s dead church culture.” Why is the measuring stick for our future the lack we’ve seen in the past? Today, dream again. today, separate yourself to God. Stop trying so hard. Stop everything you’re planning on doing and just spend time with the Lord today. Don’t waste all your energy trying to please other people when the only one whose opinion of you really matters is your Father. Seek to please him.

ENGAGING HEAVEN

You were created to bear God’s image. Are you being true and faithful to that in the way you live your life?

JANUARY 8

No Means No

We must be so full of integrity
that our “Yes” or “No” is convincing enough
and we do not stumble into hypocrisy.

JAMES 5:12 TPT

Some people really struggle to say no to requests from others. Because of this, they have a myriad of relationship issues and boundary issues. The word no is one of the most powerful words because it can save relationships by establishing healthy boundaries. We need to learn how to use it; otherwise, we will end up as frustrated, overworked doormats. “No” is powerful. It is equipping. It is empowering both for us and for others because by setting personal parameters, we allow and encourage other people to do what we really can’t do right now. Refusing to set those parameters by agreeing to every request asked of us will...