January

JANUARY 1

Let’s Embrace the Beginning

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

GENESIS 1:1 ESV

The first day of the New Year appropriately begins with our focus on the color red, signifying love. We should seek ways to show God’s love, the foundation of the other fruit of Jesus’ character. Our Scripture Whisper today reminds us that even in the beginning, God loved us enough to create us.

Satan’s strategy is to disrupt the love in our relationships with God, our family, and our friends. Let’s begin each day on the lookout for the Enemy’s crafty strategies that interfere in our relationships so we can win the battle before Satan gains a foothold. By falling back on a lifestyle of living by the fruit of Jesus’ Spirit, we can diffuse evil attempts and send them fleeing. Over time, when our automatic default flows toward Jesus, Satan will surrender in that area of our life. That door is slammed shut and sealed with the sacrificial blood of Jesus when we intentionally remain on guard. The benefits will include us experiencing less conflict, watching our relationships soar, and becoming more intimate in our daily relationship with Jesus.

Jesus of love, help our New Year’s resolution to be making a habit of living a fruit of your Spirit each day.

JANUARY 2

Let’s Not Run from Hardship

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

JAMES 1:2 NIV

Life’s journey prepares us for what God created us to fulfill in his great plan. Circumstances and choices we make affect how our life unfolds. God loves us so much that he often corrects our course to better equip us for what’s ahead. Rather than using our efforts to avoid hardships, we can ask God to navigate us through, and he will give lavishly.

Often, trials and hardships are out of our control because we live in a fallen world, but they are never out of God’s control. God promises to take the experiences of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) and turn them into his blessings, far greater than we can hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Jesus of joy, we come to you today with a thirst to start this year renewed, aligning our desires with yours and realizing we need to approach the challenges, hardships, and trials of life differently, head-on. Help us always trust that you will lead the way and equip us for accomplishments for which you created us.

JANUARY 3

Let’s Fellowship with Jesus

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 JOHN 1:3 KJV

Fellowship with Jesus in a personal, intimate relationship is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; nothing is better as we navigate life on this earth. But why does it take a lifetime along the journey to realize this? It’s because we live in a fallen world, and it is Satan’s goal to disrupt our relationships with each other, which ultimately interferes with our relationship with God.

We must realize that when we accept Jesus in our hearts, we have the same power transferred from the cross to divert Satan’s attempt and send his efforts straight into the pit of hell. All we must do is call on God to fight our battles. Satan cannot permanently reside in the presence of our Lord, so when we invite Jesus on the scene, victory is won in him.

Jesus of peace, fellowship with you brings meaning and value to your sacrifice and joy within our souls. Help us become intentional about spending more time with you each day.

JANUARY 4

Let’s Partner with Jesus

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.

1 PETER 1:4 CEV

We can be assured that if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and have developed a personal relationship with him, our names will never be removed from the Book of Life. We will live in heaven for eternity, which our Scripture Whisper assures us.

Jesus calls us to spread that good news to others by following the fruit of his Spirit in our lifestyle. We are called to plant the seeds, and God will bountifully harvest them into his kingdom. It’s a partnership, working daily with him as he arranges divine moments for us to advance his kingdom.

Jesus of patience, we thank you for the sacrifice you offered so that our names can be written in your Book of Life. Please help us never miss an opportunity to be your ambassadors by attracting others into your kingdom through our lifestyles so that hopeless souls don’t have to navigate life on their own in this troubled land.

JANUARY 5

Let’s Ask Jesus for Wisdom

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not finding fault, and it will be given to him.

JAMES 1:5 BLB

It would be an unbelievable blessing to have a biblical counselor who lives by our side, precisely perceives the future, and has encountered every experience we could ever imagine. This counselor would know what’s best for us, assisting us in every aspect of our lives. We do have such a counselor; it’s the Holy Spirit.

So why do we not engage him? Why do we make choices and do life without his counsel? He has provided his Holy Word and prayer as his phone of communication, and he answers twenty-four seven.

Jesus of kindness, thank you that the Holy Spirit is accessible as our Counselor to guide us through life’s challenges. Forgive us when we do life alone; that’s our foolishness. We ask that we gain your wisdom in everything.

JANUARY 6

Let’s Leave the Planning to Jesus

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

JAMES 1:6 ESV

Aligning with the heart of God is a lifelong learning process and a recipe for answered prayers. God knows every detail of our lives, where he plans for us to reside, our career path, and our spouse. Rushing in with panicked prayer requests and quick decisions is not God’s design. When we begin seeking God’s plan, decisions of this magnitude come with ease and peace from the Lord as his perfect plan unfolds and the desires of his heart become our desires. Though things often happen differently than we envision, he has something arranged that is much more significant than we could ever imagine.

Those we encounter and those we were meant to miss will affect our lifelong journey and future. That applies to all decisions, significant life encounters, and small choices, too, whether at a red light, in line at the grocery store, or walking into a restaurant. Life is all about relationships, and God is the master planner.

Jesus of goodness, please mold our hearts’ desires to align with your desires and focus our minds on the unfolding of your plan.

JANUARY 7

Let’s Trust Jesus amid Trouble

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

The LORD is good, a strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him.

NAHUM 1:7 AMP

Nahum is such an overlooked book in the Bible. When was the last time you heard a verse quoted from the book of Nahum? Yet how powerful are these words in our Scripture Whisper, reminding us of the value of trusting in God?

When we are in trouble, he is our strength. When we feel weak and downhearted, he is our stronghold. When evil chases us down, we know the Lord is good. These words of Scripture assure us that God recognizes our troubles and knows what to do. He fully understands how to navigate us to the other side of trouble. We are blessed to be his children because we can call upon the one who will carry us through the storms of life.

Jesus of faithfulness, we are grateful that your promises were hidden in your Word centuries ago. They are full of encouragement that we can cling to today during troubled times. There’s so much noise, distraction, and hopelessness surrounding us in the world; help us find that quiet solitude to reflect on your rich words and then share with others the value of trusting you.

JANUARY 8

Let’s Know and Believe

SCRIPTURE WHISPER

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

1 PETER 1:8 BSB

Faith is an unwavering confidence and clear expectation, just like we trust that the four legs of a chair will not fail us, a tall building’s foundation will withstand its weight, and an invisible God is by our side leading the way.

But how can people live by faith if they do not have sufficient knowledge of God? We must welcome a personal relationship with God. That’s our part, to come to know and depend...