Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

The science of astronomy studies the heavensplanets, moons, stars, and more. In 1571 a boy was born in Württemberg, Germany who became one of the most famous and influential scientists and astronomers of all time. His name was Johannes Kepler. Like many of us, Johannes was awed by the beauty and mystery of a clear starry night. As a young boy, he was fascinated with the sky and saw two things that made him want to know more: the great comet of 1577 and a lunar eclipse in 1580. He grew up in the church and soon believed that he was called by God to glorify Him as he studied His creation. Johannes studied many different disciplines, including mathematics, astronomy, and theology. He believed he could come to know God more fully by observing the things He had made. He felt he had a divine duty to explore and discover the nature of God’s creation and share it with others so they could give God the glory too. Johannes was the first scientist to correctly explain planetary motion. He also explained that ocean tides are caused by the moon. He was even the first to formulate eyeglasses specifically for nearsighted and farsighted people. But these are only a sample of his work; his list of accomplishments is long. Everything Johannes discovered, explained, or described in the world of science was for the glory of God. He said, The wisdom of the Lord is infinite as are also His glory and His power. We are still benefiting from Johannes Kepler’s faith and discoveries today. May we all stand in awe of the Lord like Johannes did. Susan Sundwall What mysteries in the heavens do you think still need to be explored? How do new scientific discoveries about the universe make you feel about God? How does learning about the universe help us stand in awe of Jesus? (Colossians 1:15-20) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 19:1; Psalm 147:4; Colossians 3:17

In and out, I remind myself There’s no air in this room My lungs collapsing Pathogens attacking Brain on fire Keep it in, I remind myself This will have to end But, great tears rolling Body trembling Petrified with fear A voice, a call Whisper of hope Look up child says my Lord His golden sunbeam A ray of hope This sparkle of faith The ember spreading warmth In Him, I’ll be healed My future’s bright with hope Corinna Kahrs This poem describes what anxiety can feel like. Have you ever experienced something similar? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, you’re not alone. Jesus knows what it feels like to be overwhelmed (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-34; Luke 22:44). He was willing to face the terrors of death for usbecause He loves us. You can talk to Him whenever you feel afraid. In addition to talking to Jesus, who is a trusted adult you can talk to? If you’re not sure who to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. Because Jesus rose from the grave, everyone who has put their trust in Him can look forward to the day He will return and fully heal our hurtsincluding anxiety (Revelation 21:1-5)! Until that day, Jesus has promised to be with us through everything we face (Matthew 28:20). And He gives us healing through prayer, mental health counseling, medication, and community. How can these truths give us hope? Neither death nor life…will be able to separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38-39 (CSB) Read Verses: Romans 8:18-Romans 8:39

In reading the narrative of David and Goliath, I noticed a small detail, and it got me thinking. The first seven verses of 1 Samuel 17 detail Goliath’s very impressive appearance. Verse 5 mentions his bronze scale armor, which weighed more than one hundred pounds. Notice the word scale? That caught my attention. It reminded me of the serpent in the book of Genesis and the dragon that appears throughout the book of Revelation. Goliath embodies evil, and his behavior certainly serves as a reminder of other Bible passages that reference the work of Satan (which means the Accuser). Goliath shouts abusive and demeaning words at Israel’s army. He taunts their weakness and challenges anyone to come fight him, one on one, in a duel to the death. It’s a winner-take-all proposition, and none of the Israelites seem interested. Verse 11 describes Saul’s men as dismayed and terrified. Despite their weapons and training, no one wants to fight the giant man dressed in scale armor. Only the shepherd and eventual king, David, is willing to step up. Not only does David slay Goliath, he cuts off Goliath’s head (verse 51). David’s victory echoes the ancient promise God spoke over the serpent in Genesis 3:15: He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. David, the shepherd (and future king), did what no one else had been able to do. In victory, he cut off Goliath’s head and defeated Israel’s enemy. He silenced the serpent-like foe forever. At its core, Genesis 3:15 is clearly a Messianic promise that anticipates the victorious death and resurrection of Christ. Satan thought he had the upper hand when Christ went to the cross. But Jesus defeated Satan’s plan to subvert God’s work of reconciliation with His creation. Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished what we cannot. Jesus overcame Satan’s plan, and He offers hope to believers that we, too, will overcome death. Mike Hurley David defeating Goliath foreshadows how Jesus, the ultimate Champion, would one day defeat all evil. What other parallels do you see in this story between David and Jesus? (John 10:11; Revelation 17:14) How did the serpent use words in Genesis 3:1-5? Throughout Revelation, there are images of an evil dragon, who we learn is that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan (20:2). At the end of Revelation, we finally see the future promise that Jesus will destroy all that is evil and unjust. What hope can this promise bring us? So the Lord God said to the serpent, …he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV) Read Verses: 1 Samuel 17; Genesis 3:14-Genesis 3:15

READ: PROVERBS 19:21; ROMANS 8:28; 2 PETER 3:8-9; PSALM 31:15 I’m fourteen, and something I need to be constantly reminded of is that I don’t need to rush life. I always want my way—I want what’s next. I want to drive a car, have a boyfriend, be married, and have kids. I think I’m ready for a real job and college, but the truth is, I’m not. I’ve only just finished middle school, and I still have four years in high school to go. I need to be reminded every day that God is not in a hurry, and He knows what’s best for me—and for everyone else in my life. God understands everyone’s needs, and He knows what we’re ready for. And even when we get impatient and mess up, God keeps working out His good purposes. When we look back on decisions we’ve made and think, "I shouldn’t have done that," we don’t need to panic. God can take our mistakes and make a beautiful work of art. God has anticipated our actions, and nothing we do can ruin His ultimate plan: Through Jesus, God has promised to be with His people, and one day Jesus will return bodily to earth and restore His creation—and we’ll get to live with Him forever! In the meantime, He lovingly guides us, and He helps us learn from our experiences. Some days we need fresh perspective, which can come in random and unexpected ways, but God gives us what we need, when we need it. He is never too early, and never too late. His timing is different from ours, “But,” 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” To God, eternity cannot be counted in hours and days. His understanding is infinite, and we can trust Him to work all things for the good of His people, in His good timing. • Sophia Augustine • What are you looking forward to in the next few years? Do you find it hard to wait for these things? • Can you think of a time in your life when something didn’t go your way, but looking back you saw how God used it for your good? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. My times are in your hands. Psalm 31:15a (NIV)

We live by a lake in the northwEsther If we awoke from a twenty-year-long nap, like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, and we didn’t know what month it was, we could guess by looking at the lake. Different seasons bring us different wildlife, mostly waterfowl. Canada geese drop in to rest each spring and fall as they head north or south. They fill the skies, obeying God’s call to go where He has prepared a place. Later, white-backed mergansers come in their dozens and stay the winter, chasing fish and snails that multiplied all summer. Round black coots, painted wood ducks, and buffleheads all spend the late winter finding different food in and around the lake. In summer, they’re replaced by gangly cormorants and green-headed mallards with fluffy ducklings. Hummingbirds, swallows, and woodpeckers return too. Each is called here in their season to receive the bounty God provides. They hear, trust, and come. Listen is one of the most frequent commands in the Bible. In the NIV, the word “listen” appears more often than “trust,” “praise,” “obey,” and even “worship.” However, the word “love” exceeds them all. As you listen for God’s call, listen especially for love. God invites us to trust His love for each of us, which He perfectly expressed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God the Father tells us to listen to Jesus, who is God the Son (Mark 9:7). And as we follow Jesus, our loving God helps us to love one another. As you spend time in God’s Word and listen to the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12) that He speaks just to you, remember that the lake God has for you may be different from the one He has for your friends. Every year, I watch different geese fly past us for weeks. They don’t all stop by our lake because they each get a unique call. Similarly, all Christians are called by the same God, but our lives will not look the same. God has given us each unique paths. And, as we listen to Him, we can trust that the God who cares for the birds will also care for us. Rick Taylor How do we learn to listen to God? If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in us, reminding us of everything Jesus has said and helping us discern God’s voice (John 14:26). We also need to talk to trusted Christians and help each other answer questions like: “Does this agree with the Bible?” “Does this glorify God the Father and God the Son(John 16:12-15)?” “Does this bring the fruit of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10) or condemnation and fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1)?” “Who are trusted Christian mentors or peers you could talk to about this?” All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. Psalm 104:27 (NIV) Read Verses: 1Kgs:19:11-1Kgs:19:13; Matthew 6:26; Mark 9:7; Psalm 104:27

In most crime shows there is at least one episode involving something counterfeit: currency, artwork, even identities. While many of these shows depict the criminals using state-of-the-art technology to create their fakes, they are really just using the newest toys to commit the oldest crimes. People have needed a way to spot forgeries for ages. But how do they do it? I once heard a story about an FBI agent who talked about methods of spotting counterfeit money. Holding up a crisp twenty-dollar bill, the agent said the best way to catch a fake was to study thisthe real thing. They don’t study the endless ways something could be made counterfeit; they study the details of the real thing. In the Bible, teachers like Paul were constantly warning fellow Christians about false (or counterfeit) teachers. So, should we go around assuming no teacher can be trusted? That won’t work, because the Bible makes it clear we need mentors, teachers, and trusted friends to help us grow. Instead, we can learn from the FBI’s counterfeit-spotting techniques. To recognize a fake, we need to study the real thing, aka the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we can learn about the first counterfeit truth ever told to Eve and Adam (chapter 3). Because humans listened to a lie and rebelled against God, our relationship with our Creator was broken. But that wasn’t the end of the story. Throughout the Old Testament, God prepared to send His Son, Jesus Christ, who is called not only the truth, but also the way and the life (John 14:6). Jesus didn’t just teach us about the way to be made right with God, He literally made the way for us through His death and resurrection. The gospel is the greatest treasure, and we surely wouldn’t want a counterfeit of it. Abigail Scibiur How does focusing on Jesus help us recognize counterfeit teachings? The Christians in Galatia started following a false teaching, so Paul reminded them of the true gospelthe good news about Jesus dying and rising from the dead to forgive us and make us right with God. Paul explained these truths and urged the Galatians to reject false teachings (Galatians 1:6-8; 3:1 4:7). Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you discern false messages by comparing them to the gospel? Do you have any questions you could ask them about now? (You can also learn more about the gospel on the “Know Jesus” page.) Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV) Read Verses: 1 Timothy 6:3-1 Timothy 6:16; John 14:6

Are you a morning person? I am an early bird, and I love to start most days with a brisk walk. I greet the people I meet with a Good morning! Not everyone answers, and some look downright grumpy. I used to feel offended when people would look the other direction when I smiled at them, but then I realized it may not be a good morning for everyone. My cheery greeting could be taken negatively by someone who’s struggling, as I’m reminded in an obscure proverb: A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse! (Proverbs 27:14). Sometimes, we have good intentions behind what we say, but it’s the wrong time or place. That’s why it’s important to be considerate of otherswe may not know what struggles they’re going through. It is strange, though, that I often throw around the phrase good morning even if the morning hasn’t been good for meI may have slept poorly, or I might be stressing about a busy day ahead, or I could be feeling depressed. I might have even struggled to get out of bed. But we have good news: whether we are morning people or not, God’s mercy and grace are new every morning! Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He gives us a fresh start every day. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He enables us to live each moment with Him, and even on the worst days, He gives us access to His strength, peace, and hope. Each day is full of good gifts from God and reminders of Jesus’s unfailing love. He is good all the time, even when our circumstances are not. Abby Ciona Do you consider yourself an early bird, a night owl, or something in between? Why is it important to be considerate of others’ needs when we share encouragement? How might remembering that God’s mercy is new every morning give you comfort and strength to face the day? The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 59:16-Psalm 59:17; Psalm 90:14; Lamentations 3:19-Lamentations 3:26

When I was in fifth grade, I made a unique request of my mom. For my birthday, I wanted a homemade cake with homemade icing. Specifically, I asked for frosting made of peanut butter and jelly. Once in a while, my mother would whip up a cake for dessert and, if she didn’t have a can of store-bought frosting, she would mix some of her homemade jelly with peanut butter from the kitchen cabinet to ice the cake. It always satisfied my brothers and me. So, why not ask for it for my birthday? I’m sure Mama would have purchased icing if I’d wanted it. But I desired the homemade concoction. On my birthday, we sliced into the three-layer golden cake lathered in Mama’s peanut-butter-and-jelly goodness. Mama probably used an entire jar of her homemade blackberry jelly to create what I’d requested. And my siblings, grandparents, and I all dug in with gusto. Surely, I could have marked my birthday without the special cake I’d craved. But I believe Mama wanted to delight me at my celebration, and I think she delighted in giving me what I desired. Similarly, God is a good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children. For those who’ve trusted in His Son, Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins, we have the privilege of approaching God with all our requests. Of course, God won’t grant us every specific thing we ask for, yet God tells us we can ask for what we want, trusting that He is a generous giver. If I had not requested the peanut-butter-and-jelly cake from Mama, I probably wouldn’t have gotten it that year. But I asked, and she provided. Similarly, we can come to our heavenly Father and present all of our requests. Allison Wilson Lee God has created so many good thingslike tasty food! He loves it when we enjoy His good gifts, and He invites us to be honest about our desires. Have you ever wanted something but felt hesitant to ask for it? Do you have any longings that feel too big or too small to bring to God? As we grow in relationship with God through Jesus, we desire more and more of what God desiresfor His kingdom to come, for His will to be done, for His righteousness, peace, and joy to spread through every nook and cranny of creation! God invites us to pray for all these things along with our other desires. If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 6:9-10 and Romans 14:17. In every situation…present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6b (NIV) Read Verses: Matthew 7:7-Matthew 7:11; Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 4:16

Humans are flawed, but God is not. Humans mess up, hurt us, or abandon us, but God never will. Humans pretend to love, run out of love, and turn love into hate, but God isn’t like that. You are precious to God. He is a perfect Father. He loves you like no other. When humans disappoint or hurt you, you can remember that there is someone who cares about you so much more than they ever could. Even when you mess up, God still loves you. In fact, God loves you so much that He gave a great sacrifice for you. He sent His only Son, Jesus, into this broken world to suffer and die for you. And Jesus rose again on the third day, giving you salvation, the greatest gift you could ever receive: by putting your trust in Jesus, you can be forgiven, become God’s child, and have the sure hope of living with Jesus forever. So, remember that while humans are flawed and mess up all the time, God never does and never will. God knows you. He created you. He purposefully made you. God’s love for you is real, and it is never going to disappear. Humans can do all kinds of things to hurt you, but God wants a good life for you. He is always with you, and when you call to Him, He hears you. God is the perfect Father, and He will never fail you. Bethany Acker What does it mean that God is the perfect Father? If you have questions about what it means to become God’s child, who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to? (You can also find more information on the “Know Jesus” page.) If you want to dig deeper, read John 1:12; 8:12; 10:10-11; Acts 2:21-24; and Romans 10:9-11. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) Read Verses: John 1:12-John 1:13; John 3:16-John 3:21

Years back, my nephew told what he had experienced. His mother, who at the time was not a Christian (she has since been saved), was trying to take him and his sister to a witchcraft-worker supposedly to get protection. The girl refused, but the boy went. When asked later why he had agreed to go, the boy responded, but God says to obey your father and mother. While God commands us to obey our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3) and other authorities, these authorities are supposed to honor those who do right and only punish those who do wrong (Romans 13:1-4). So, when human authorities demand we do evil and break the commandments of Almighty God, who is the Highest Authority, we should not obey them. The apostles of the Lord Jesus, Peter and John, refused to obey the religious authorities who commanded themmore than onceto stop speaking in the name of Jesus. Peter and John were arrested after performing miraculous signs and sharing the good news of Jesus. The Jewish religious authorities told the two apostles not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. But Peter and John replied, Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?’ (Acts 4:19). So they continued to preach the message that Jesus is the Messiah every day (Acts 5:42). In the Old Testament, two Hebrew midwivesShiphrah and Puahwere commanded by Pharaoh to kill all the male children at birth. These midwives were faced with a choice: to obey the human authority, the pharaoh, and kill Hebrew baby boys, or to obey God, who is the Highest Authority. They chose to obey God. The midwives disobeyed Pharoah’s orders and delivered the babies alive! God was pleased and dealt well with these women (Exodus 1:15-21). Then, three Hebrew boysShadrach, Meshach, and Abednegodisobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to worship a golden statue, even though Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them alive into a burning fiery furnace. They knew God could save them from the furnace, but even if He didn’t, they told the king, we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up (Daniel 3:16-18). The boys chose to continue worshipping the only true and living God. And God rescued them from the fire. Charity Kiregyera Have you ever faced a situation where you had to choose between obeying God and obeying a person? When you find yourself in such a situation, you need help and support, counsel and encouragement. Who are trusted Christianssuch as pastors, parents, and church eldersyou can go to for help? The apostles replied, We must obey God rather than any human authority. Acts 5:29b (NLT) Read Verses: Daniel 3:16-Daniel 3:18; Acts:4:16-Acts:4:22; Acts:5:27-Acts:5:42; Exod:1:15-Exod:1:21

Thick and impenetrable silence hung over the village. For as long as the villagers could remember, no one had spoken a word, not even a whisper. A command from an enemy kingdom forbade anyone in the village from uttering a sound. While many villagers had grown accustomed to the forced silence, one girl increasingly found the muteness of the village unsettling. Fadiya could not understand how sound could be wrong when the warbling songs of birds filled the air and the leaves of the forest whispered in the breeze. The silence was all she had known in the village, but Fadiya felt like a prisoner to the quietness around her. Then one day, as she was walking through her beloved whispering forest, Fadiya discovered a wooden shed and went inside to investigate. The place was empty except for a bookshelf. On it stood an ancient book: The Song Maker’s Tune. The title instantly caught her attention, and to her surprise, the book was filled with a song-like poem describing someone named the Song Maker. She learned He sang the world into existence. He had created the birdsong, rustling leaves, and humming bees. Imprisoning silence was not His design. Instead, the Song Maker had entered the world many years ago to set the people free. He died for them, entered the utter silence of the grave on their behalfand then rose again with a triumphant shout of joy! One day, He would return to sing a new world into being. Fadiya, delighted by the music overflowing in her heart, soaked in the words from the book, engraving them in her memory. The next day, while her family was in the market square, Fadiya mounted an old wooden cart and lifted her voice to the words of The Song Maker’s Tune. Her heart burned as she sang of His love and sacrifice. Every face turned toward the cart as her words cut through the quiet like a knife. The silence had been broken by the freedom of the Maker’s song. Cheers rose around the square as villagers responded to the hopeful message of the music. No longer would they be imprisoned by the forced silence of the enemy. The Song Maker had set them free. Sophia Bricker In this allegorical story, Fadiya found freedom from the imprisoning silence of the enemy when she encountered The Song Maker’s Tune telling of the salvation He brought to His people. In the Bible, we see that God created the world through speakingor perhaps singing (Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 33:6). Though our sinful rebellion separated us from God and brought brokenness into the world, God came to restore and to set us free from slavery to sin. How has Jesus brought us freedom? (Read more on our “Know Jesus” page.) God invented music and singing! Did you know that God sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17)? Why do you think God calls His people to sing to Him and to each other? (If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 147:1; Ephesians 5:19; and Colossians 3:16.) Did you know that creation sings? How might spending time in nature help us know God better? (If you want to dig deeper, read 1 Chronicles 16:33; Psalms 65:13; 96:12; and 98:8.) When we experience the goodness of God’s love, it’s only natural for us to want to share the good news of Jesus with others! What is one of the ways you’ve personally experienced God’s goodness and love? If you can’t think of anything, you can ask God to reveal His love to you anytime. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 (WEB) Read Verses: Psalm 40:1-Psalm 40:3; John 8:31-John 8:36; Romans 8:2

One of the first missionaries, Paul, left Titus on the island of Crete to oversee the new churches there and appoint elders in every town. Titus may have been young, or at least younger than Paul since Paul refers to him as my true son in our common faith (Titus 1:4). In the book of Titus, which is really a letter, Paul advises Titus on how to handle false teachings and immorality in the church. Many people in the Cretan churches claimed to know God, but their actions denied Him (1:16). We can guess what some of their sinful actions were by noticing what Paul warns against: teaching false beliefs for dishonest gain, engaging in foolish controversies and quarrels about the law, getting drunk, behaving violently, gossiping and slandering others, stealing, saying Yes to ungodliness and worldly passions, and living in envy and hatred of others (1:7, 11; 2:3, 10, 12; 3:3, 9). Yet, the Cretans’ sin is no worse than anyone else’s sin. In fact, Paul writes, At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another (3:3). But the good news is, God mercifully saves us from hell and offers us eternal life through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us. He didn’t save us because of anything good we did or will one day do; He saved us because He loves us. And once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are able to live in a way that honors our loving God. Accepting the grace of God and the salvation message teaches us to say No to ungodliness (2:11-12). Although Paul’s letter is short, he stresses the need for self-control five times (1:8; 2:2, 5-6, 12). And self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit works in us, helping us to exercise self-control and live godly lives by loving God and loving one another (Matthew 22:36-40). Ronica Stromberg Why do you think Paul emphasized self-control in his letter to Titus? God doesn’t expect us to be able to say No to sin without His help. How do God’s love and mercy toward us make it possible for us to live self-controlled lives? For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) Read Verses: Titus 2:6-Titus 2:8; Titus 2:11-Titus 2:14; Titus 3:3-Titus 3:8

Put on is a phrase we use every day. Because on a daily basis, we do the physical act of putting on clothes and shoes in order to be clothed. Just as we get clothed physically, we also need to get clothed spiritually. In Ephesians 4:24, we learn that, in Christ, we put on a new nature. In Colossians 3, we see that our new nature is being formed into Jesus’s image, giving us a nature that is after God’s nature. Since our new nature is likened after God’s holy nature, we reject and turn away from sin, anything that goes against God or hurts our neighbor. For instance, in Colossians 3:9-11, we are admonished not to lie to one another because the new nature we have put on does not lie. It is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (verse 10), and God does not lie (Numbers 23:19). God is the One who clothes us with His holiness and righteousness. As soon as we become a Christian, we are given a new outfit. In order for us to put on the new nature, we have to put off the old one. In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, empowering us to choose to live in holiness and righteousness in our words, thoughts, and deeds. God walks alongside us and gives us grace as we put on the new nature and as we are being formed more and more into Jesus’s image. Enid Adah Nyinomujuni Reread Colossians 3:1-17. What things are not from our new nature in Christ? What things are from our new nature? How do Jesus’s death and resurrection give us a new identity? For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27 (NIV) Read Verses: Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:1-Colossians 3:17

“Wouldn’t these magnets make great souvenirs from my trip?” I thought, browsing the little shop high above the ground. My summer of serving with inner city ministries in New York was drawing to a close, and my friends and I had wanted to visit the Empire State Building one final time. We stopped by the gift shop before leaving, where I spotted magnets depicting classic New York City landmarks. I selected a few to give as presents but then inadvertently dropped one. Hitting the floor, it broke. I gathered up the two cracked pieces and chose a replacement for it as well. Reaching the cashier’s counter, I set down the items I wished topurchasealong with the broken one. The clerk pointed out that it was damaged; I explained I’d caused the accident and would pay for the broken souvenir as well as the ones I wanted to bring home. But the cashier told me I didn’t have to pay for it. The store made allowances for the occasional broken piece of merchandise; they would cover the cost. Amazed, I thanked her for being understanding about my mistake. When people surprise us with graceaffording us better treatment than we deserveit can remind us of God’s grace toward us, which He revealed in His gift of eternal life to all who trust in His Son, Jesus, for the forgiveness of their sins. While I had the ability to pay for the busted magnet, I don’t possess the power to pay for my own sins. By putting our trust in Jesus, who died on the cross and then rose from the grave for us, we experience God’s grace and mercynot being treated as our sins deserve, but instead getting to participate in His everlasting kingdom as one of His beloved children. As we grow in love for God, we can share this astonishing grace and mercy with others. Just as that cashier showed me many stories above the streets of New York. ⦠Allison Wilson Lee ⦠Have you ever been surprised by the grace another person showed you? What did they do? ⦠When we consider the mercy God showers on His children, how could that inspire us to show mercy to others? For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift. Ephesians 2:8 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 51:1-Psalm 51:2; Micah 7:18; Matthew 5:7; Ephesians 2:8

There was a point in my life when I was so ashamed that I didn’t want to associate or talk with people. I had messed up so badly that I didn’t see myself as fit to be with others. I was so down that I didn’t have the confidence to face people. I thought I was so wrong and a great sinner, even though I was already a Christian at the time. When we mess up, in big ways or small ways, we often feel ashamed. We may think it would be better for us to be away from people or disappear. A failure can cause embarrassment, feeling bad about ourselves, and doubting ourselves. Shame can be used by Satan to push our spirits down. When we feel ashamed, we might start to doubt God’s forgiveness. When we focus on our shame, we start to forget the love of God. When we let shame occupy our minds, we forget who we are in the eyes of God. What can you do to respond to shame? You can remember Jesus on the cross, who shed His blood for you, taking away your shame. And you can be assured that the blood of Jesus has covered your shame. Every time you sin and you’re filled with shame, you can ponder Jesus’s sacrifice, mercy, and grace for you. Jesus took all your sins upon Himself and paid the price for your wrongdoing with His life. Then God raised Him from the dead, triumphant over sin and death. Now, if you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you are totally forgiven. God does not want you to live in disgrace and shame. He came to set you free! He invites you to live life with Him, and because He has set you free from shame, you can walk forward with faith and dignity. You are a child of God who bears the name of the Lord, who has completely taken away your shame. Golda Dilema When we do something wrong, we often feel guilty. We can respond to guilt by repentingturning away from sin and toward Jesus. But sometimes, we feel like we haven’t just done something bad, but like we need to hide or like we are irredeemable. Thankfully, we can bring all these feelings to Jesus. He loves us unconditionally and forgives us fully. Do you feel guilty about anything today? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about it. When you feel overwhelmed by shame, who is a trusted Christian who could pray with you and remind you of who you are in Christ? (Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:22; 1 John 1:9) Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5 (NIV) Read Verses: John 8:2-John 8:12; Psalm 34:5; Isaiah 54:4; Isaiah 61:7

I confess the things I did. And the things I didn’t do but should have done. I confess letting anger explode And bitterness smolder inside. I confess that I strayed off the path of following you. I missed the mark of the goodness you planned for me. I lay down my pride and envy, selfishness and jealousy. My independent nature thinks I can live without you, But you’re the only source of life. Both my actions and attitudes are infected with sin. My heart needs transformation. I confess, I know I’ve done wrong. I turn away from my sin and turn back to you, And you are already running to me in love. You forgive me. You give me new life, a fresh start. And you lead me in becoming more like you. Abby Ciona Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God has already forgiven all our sinspast, present, and futurethrough His death and resurrection (Romans 8:1). And the Holy Spirit lives in us, transforming us to become more and more like Jesus and helping us turn away from sin. Why do you think God calls Christians to confess our sins frequently? Oftentimes, we sin because we don’t feel safe or loved, and so we try to rely on ourselves or other created things instead of coming to God and entrusting all our needs and desires to Him. But God knows our hearts even better than we do, and He has so much compassion for us. How can examining the needs and desires behind our sin help us turn to God? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us…1 John 1:9a (NIV) Read Verses: Romans 3:23-Romans 3:26; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32

God doesn’t despise our brokenness. He doesn’t look down on us when we are hurting. He doesn’t think less of us because we are broken. God loves the broken. He offers healing to the hurting. God is a comfort in times of trouble and sorrow. God doesn’t despise us when we are broken. He is there to help. He offered His love to us while we were still sinners, as it says in Romans 5:8, God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He knows how broken and messed up we can be, but He is still there for us. Because God loves us so much, He let Himself be broken so that we could be whole (1 Corinthians 11:24). When you are feeling broken, you don’t have to be ashamed. You don’t have to turn away from God; you can turn toward Him. You can ask Him for help and healing. You can know that, even in your brokenness, He loves you just as much as ever. So many times in the Bible, we are reminded of how much God cares for the broken. In Matthew 11, Jesus tells the weary and burdened to come to Him for rEsther Even though our sin separated us from God, He came in Jesus so that we could be forgiven and brought near to Him. God doesn’t despise our brokenness, and He loves us always. We can count on Him to be there for us through all the hard times, as the Bible reassures us that He loves us no matter how broken we are. Bethany Acker Have you ever felt broken? When we are in pain, we often feel alone. But Jesus identifies with us in our brokenness. He knows what it’s like to be human. He was broken…for us. When we come to Jesus, we’re coming to someone who understands our pain. He looks at us with deep compassion. He feels our sorrows as His own, and He holds us. And one day, all brokenness will be healed in the light of His presence. As we wait for that day, we can bring all our brokenness to Jesus. How might knowing that God doesn’t look down on us when we are hurting make it easier for us to come to Him? Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I [Jesus] will give you rEsther Matthew 11:28 (NIV) Read Verses: Romans 5:6-Romans 5:8; Matthew 11:28; Psalm 34:17-Psalm 34:18

Not five days had passed since we began our journey, and already we had seen trouble. My brother and I dragged our tired bodies down the road, our dented swords hanging limply in their scabbards and our stomachs moaning with hunger. I remembered how Supreme Agape told us that we would have troublesmany of themand that the journey would be far from easy. Even so, this particular hardship made me feel so defeated and inexpressibly weary. Ren, my brother, placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered, Nothing can separate, Jayla. It was our code of courage, our call to continue the journey despite everything thrown at us. I must remember. The next day dawned with clear blue skies, and my heart lifted as we continued on our way. Ren was his usual jovial self, making jokes and attempting to bolster my spirits from the troubles we had encountered. I didn’t know then that late in the day it would be my turn to remind and encourage. There was severe famine everywhere, and our reserves of food were gone. Large eyes in the gaunt faces of those we passed haunted us. Ren was already practically a giant for his age, which I teased him about incessantly. But the lack of food was wearing on him most of all, and it broke my heart to see him so weak. So, to cheer him up, I did what he couldn’t do, a wild dance of absolute ridiculousness, and yelled, Nothing can separate! Hungry as Ren was, he laughed at my antics. He must remember. Weeks later, I clung tightly to the cliff high on the Great Mountain. Heights were never my thing, and I honestly felt death would be preferable to continuing upward. Ren’s arm was injured from a prior sword fight, and he was struggling just as much as I was. Through labored breaths, I said, Supreme Agape told us to cross the mountain, but I don’t know if we’re going to make it, Ren. I tried to ignore the clouds swirling around my ankles. Just when we were about to give in to complete despair, a warm, golden light surrounded us. A voiceso pure and beautiful it brought tears to my eyessang over us: Nothing can separate you from my love. I knew His voice. Supreme Agape. We remembered. Savannah Coleman In Greek, the word “agape” means love (the New Testament of the Bible was originally written in Greek). Why do you think Jayla and Ren call God Supreme Agape? (Hint: read 1 John 4:16.) Before Jesus went to the cross, He told His followers, Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33). As Christians, we can trust Jesus to be with us until the day our journey endsand beyondbecause even death cannot separate us from His love. Just as God raised Jesus from the grave, He will raise us all on the last day, and those who put their trust in Jesus will live eternally with Him, free from all suffering and sorrow. How can remembering God’s unstoppable love for us give us hope in the midst of hardships? We were never meant to journey through life alone. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are part of His family (the church), and fellow Christians are our brothers and sisters. Who has God brought alongside you during this leg of your life journey? How can you encourage each other and remind one another that nothing can separate us from Jesus’s love? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to reveal trustworthy companions in His good timing.) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38a (NLT) Read Verses: John 10:27-John 10:30; Romans 8:35-Romans 8:39

You have done it all, God You created the sky, the earth You saved me when I was still a sinner You have written my name in heaven You have done it all, God You created goats and pigs You made grass and trees You have made beauty on earth You have done it all, God You have fed the hungry You have healed the hurting and sick You have touched the earth You have done it all, God You do something new each day You are worthy of our praise You reign above in heaven I worship you every day All that I am wants to praise you Emily Acker When you consider some of the things God has done, what impresses you the most? Do you ever want to pause in your day and praise Him? Consider taking a moment now to praise God for something He has done. God is the all-powerful Creator, and He is also our loving Savior who came to be with us in Jesus. How does this set Him apart from other gods? If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 1:1; Psalm 104:24; 146:5-7; Matthew 9:35-36; 14:14-21; Luke 10:20; John 1:14; Romans 5:8; 8:34; and James 1:17. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 96; Psalm 126:3

Psalm 23:1 says, The Lord is my shepherd. Did you know you can read this verse many times, and it can reflect something a bit different each time? This happens if you emphasize a different word each time you read the verse. When the word The is emphasized, it highlights how He is THE Lord. He is the One and the Only God. He is the Savior of the world. How amazing is that? When the word Lord is emphasized, it indicates that the omnipotent, all-powerful, all-knowing Lord is our shepherd. The Lord, who created everything around us, is our shepherd. When the word is is emphasized, notice the present tense of the word. The verse does not read, The Lord was my shepherd. It says, The Lord is my shepherd. He is our Shepherd now. He wasn’t just with David when he wrote this psalm; He is also with all of us now. When the word my is emphasized, it reflects that the Lord is our personal Shepherd and Savior. He is way above and beyond our understanding, but He wants a personal relationship with each of us. He wants us to recognize Him as our personal Shepherd who we can draw close to and trust to guide us. When the word shepherd is emphasized, it reflects that He not only loves us and guides us but that He also guards us, as a shepherd guards their flock. Like David killed a bear to protect his flock of sheep in 1 Samuel 17:34-35, God is powerful and willing to protect us. Our Shepherd protected us from everlasting death by humbling Himself to come down to earth as a baby, to grow up and live among us, and to die for us. Jesus died on a cross and rose from the grave so that each of us can put our trust in Him and have eternal life instead of eternal death. That God is our personal Shepherd. Kimberly Brokish Read John 10:11. How has Jesus revealed that He is the Good Shepherd? Which word in Psalm 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd, sticks out to you the most today? Why? He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 (NIV) Read Verses: Isaiah 40:11; Micah 5:4; Psalm 23

In the book of Esther, a Jew becomes queen of a gentile (or non-Jewish) nation that stretches from India to Cush (the upper Nile region). This kingdom is headed by King Xerxes. But Esther is not his first queen. The book begins when King Xerxes gives an enormous banquet for all his officials and the people of the land. At the end of the banquet, he commands his queen, Vashti, to come to him so he can display her beauty to the people. But Vashti refuses, so the king deposes her from her position as queen and replaces her with Estherafter choosing her from among many other beautiful girls who were taken to his palace. He doesn’t know Esther is a Jew. But one day, there’s trouble. Mordecai, who is Esther’s cousin, sits at the king’s gate to find out how Esther is doing, and he refuses to bow to a high-ranking official named Haman. In his anger, Haman determines to kill Mordecaitogether with all the Jews in the kingdom. Mordecai learns of Haman’s plot and sends a message to Queen Esther instructing her to go to the king and plead with him for her people’s rescue. Esther is at first unwilling to appear before the king, knowing that whoever intrudes in the king’s inner court uninvited must be killed. So Mordecai sends a messenger back to Esther with these words: If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14). Esther then agrees, instructing all the Jews to fast with her before she goes to the king. When Esther appears before him and pleads for herself and her people, the king listens. The genocide plan fails, Haman is impaled, and Mordecai is promoted! The book of Esther shows us that God loves His people, and He is able to deliver them from trouble using any means. God is sovereign. Even though there was a plot to exterminate Jewish people, God worked through Esther to save them. Generations later, God came to save His people from sin and deathpermanently. Because God loves us, Jesus died and rose again for us. We can become part of God’s family by putting our trust in Jesus. And, as a part of God’s family, when a need arises and we are in a position to help, we can do so because God’s love is in us, and He will give us the courage to do whatever He calls us to do. Charity Kiregyera If God can work through any means, why do you think He often works through His people? And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14b (NIV) Read Verses: Esth:4

Years back, I shared a house with a friend. This friend had a niece who also lived with us. For some reason, this girl harbored a dislike for me. Whenever something went wrong in the house, she was quick to point out that I was the one responsible when, in fact, I was innocent. This behavior of hers irritated me a lot, and I in turn developed a dislike for her. But this state of affairs didn’t leave me with peace in my heart, so I decided I was going to approach the situation differently. I decided to do what the Bible says: to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). That meant loving this girl with the love of God. God loved us when we were still sinners and hostile to Him. We were God’s enemies because of sinning against Him, but God demonstrated His love for us when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. Then Jesus rose from the dead, making the way for us to be reconciled to God. Because God loved us first, His love is available for us to respond to. When we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we accept His offer of forgiveness for our sins. As Christians, we are no longer God’s enemies; we are His friends. And we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to love others like God loves us. We can walk in love, even toward people who treat us unfairly. When we love with the love of God, we will endeavor to treat people kindly in spite of their wrongdoing. When I began to act in love toward my friend’s niece, she also changed her attitude toward me. She stopped accusing me of things I hadn’t done, and she actually became friendly to me. I’ve since realized that showing people love sometimes changes them for the better. As I’ve endeavored to walk in love toward unloving, hostile, and negative people, I’ve seen them begin to respond positively. It’s like pouring hot water on ice. Cold, hard characters can be melted by the warm love of God. Charity Kiregyera Have you ever been accused of doing something that you hadn’t actually done? What was your reaction? How do Jesus’s love for us, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, make it possible for us to love others even those who treat us unfairly? (Remember, loving after a deep hurt might include setting up healthy boundaries.) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 (NLT) Read Verses: Matthew 5:44; Romans 5:6-Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:3-Ephesians 2:5; Philippians 2:13

We live in a culture that’s full of divisiondivision that leads to differences in ideas, differences in politics, and even to war. We hear terms like cultural warfare, cancel culture, and cultural bias. These phrases are interlaced when it comes to decisions about education, voting rights, safety, and health. It can feel like there are more problems than there are solutions. It’s daunting. When I seek peace, I find it in nature. A hike in the woods makes me feel balanced. I’ll sit on a rock or find a small clearing and listen to birdsong, babbling creeks, and the whispering wind. I observe the rich shades of green trees and grass, the earthy brown dirt and branches, and the playful blue sky and crisp running water. I breathe it in. In nature, God shows us unity. All those parts of the landscapethe colors, the sounds, the various materialsare pieces of a whole. In nature, diversity lives in unity. While a fallen tree rots, a new flower blooms. Every part plays an integral role. Seeing all the pieces thriving together as one ecosystem brings me peace. God invites us to learn from nature. We are all created by God, kept alive by His power, on this planet, at this time, to honor and love Him. He made us each different on purpose. And we can thrive, all of us, when we put God first. This is only possible through Jesus. His death and resurrection have made the way for us to be united to Him and to each other. As Jesus’s people, we are called to follow Him and be part of His work of unity, knowing that one day He will return bodily to earth and fully restore His creationincluding relationships between people. In the meantime, my goal toward unity is to love God and live by His Word. As I remember the wholeness I experience in nature, I know that my small piece will be to love others as God loves me, and hopefully my piece brings a bit more peace to the whole. Kelly Bakshi Why is it a worthy goal to love and respect people you disagree with? When the world seems out of control, how can getting alone with God help us stay centered? Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:14 (CSB) Read Verses: Romans 14:19; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:12-Colossians 3:15; Matthew 22:36-Matthew 22:40

Jax! Celine pointed eagerly to her microscope. Come look at this. Jax put down the test tube he was holding and walked over to her. Thanks to the artificial gravity in the station, he could move quickly. Outside, where there were no magnetized floors tugging at the flecks of iron embedded in his uniform and boots, walking would have felt like hopping from one side of a swimming pool to the other. Things got done much more efficiently on Enceladus at one g. What is it? Jax was practically bouncing with excitement when he reached Celine. Did you find something? Celine pointed to the slide clipped under the microscope lens and said, Take a look at these rocks. Jax stopped bouncing. Rocks! He peered into the microscope, then laughed. Yep, those are rocks, all right. He sighed. You got me all excited thinking you found something, you knowalive! Celine shrugged and a gave a half-hearted apology. Sorry to disappoint you. But those rocks are excitingthey look different from the other ones we’ve sampled. I think they’re made up of different compounds. Jax raised his eyebrows and said, Um, I think I missed the part about why rocks with different compounds are exciting. Because it means we could be one step closer to finding life. Not all microorganisms on Earth prefer the same food or environment. If there’s life on Enceladus, it probably works the same way. Microbes may need a specific type of environment to surviveone we haven’t found yet. Jax plopped down onto a lab stool and said, Okay, I guess that is pretty exciting. He spun around on the stool’s wheels. Gravity was awesome. But Enceladus’s tiny gravityless than one percent of Earth’scould be fun too. There was a game of low-g volleyball he was hoping to get in on later. If there is life on Enceladus, I hope we find it. Me too. Celine sighed. But sometimes it seems like a hopeless search. Jax nodded slowly then said, I feel that way too sometimes. But then I remember that, whether we ever find anything on Enceladus or not, I’ve already found lifethe life that really matters. Any disappointments in this life can’t compare to that. Courtney Lasater Read the verse below. What life do you think Jax is talking about at the end of the story? In John 14:6, Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. How can knowing Jesus help us weather life’s difficulties and disappointments? And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:4 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 27:8; Jeremiah29:13; John 1:1-John 1:5; Colossians 3:4

As Celine peered through the window of her submersible, she could see the edge of Saturn’s rings looming through the gap in the ice above her. I’m approaching the fissure, Jax, she said into her headpiece. Ready to surface. Jax’s voice crackled in response. I see you, Tiger Three. Come on up, Celine. As the submersible emerged through the fissure in the ice, Celine had to shut her eyes tight against the glare. Even though Enceladus was much farther from the sun than Earth, the thick layer of ice that covered this moon’s surface made it the most reflective object in the solar system. After spending several hours in the dark ocean beneath the ice, the daytime brilliance felt like knives slicing through her vision. Once her eyes had adjusted, she steered over to where Jax was waiting at the edge of the ice. When she was within reach, he grabbed the handle on the front of the submersible and hoisted her out of the water. The moon’s gravity was so small that he barely had to use one hand. Once she was grounded, Celine opened the hatch. Despite her heated space suit, she could feel the icy blast of the moon’s airif you could even call it airand she quickly followed Jax into the warmth of the station. Find anything interesting today? Jax asked as he pulled off his helmet. I took some samples near one of the ocean vents, Celine said as they walked through the station hub. Voices crackled through the air as other search teams radioed back and forth. We’ve sampled there before though, so I doubt we’ll find anything. You never know, said Jax. All we need is one little microorganismone tiny proof of life from somewhere other than Earth. You think we’ll ever find it? asked Celine. Jax shrugged. I don’t know. Maybe not. But I like to think that God created life somewhere in our solar system other than Earth because He knew how excited we’d be to find it one day. Celine smiled. I like to think that too. Well, that’s why we’re hereno better place to start looking than Enceladus. Jax pointed to the sample box Celine had brought from the submersible. Let’s go fire up the microscope and see what we’ve got. Courtney Lasater Do you ever wonder if there’s life elsewhere in the universe? Does thinking about this excite you? Scare you? Why? Read John 1:1-3. Who are these verses talking about? (See John 1:14-18 and Colossians 1:15-22 for the answer.) We don’t know if there’s life out in the universe somewhere, but if there is, God created it, just like He created life on Earth. He is Creator and Lord of the whole universe. And God reveals Himself to us in Jesus. Jesus is the Word who created all things at the beginning, and because He came to live among us, die on the cross, and rise from the dead, we can have a relationship with our Creator through putting our trust in Jesus. How can knowing Him help you when you’re faced with the unknowable? The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. Psalm 33:6 (NLT) Read Verses: Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6; Psalm 89:11; John 1:1-John 1:3

A big bowl of stew is a comforting food when you’re hungry on a cold day. It’s a great meal to share…unless you put poisonous ingredients in it! If you like strange stories, today’s reading is one of the strangest ones in the Bible. During a famine, a hungry guy finds gourds and throws them in a pot of stew at a meeting of prophets. Unfortunately, the gourds weren’t safe to eat, and the people panickedeating this stew would kill them! But Elisha, God’s prophet and messenger, threw some flour in the pot, and just like that, the stew was safe to eat again. On the outside, this story could be seen as a dinner disaster and a warning about food safety. However, there’s more to it than that. This story reminds us that God brings life out of death. He provided nourishment in a famine. When the food was inedible, God, through Elisha, miraculously made it safe to eat so the prophets could live. We can also see glimpses of the gospelthe good news about Jesusin this story. The world is like the stew. God made everything good, but when humanity rejected Godchoosing to disobey His one command by eating the fruit from the forbidden treeour sin brought death into the world (Genesis 3). Ever since then, we continue to sin, and we search for satisfaction in things that look good, like the gourds, but in the end, these things lead to death. We try to save ourselves through our own self-reliance and self-righteousness, but we can only find life in God. The good news is, God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to give us eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus calls Himself the bread of life (John 6:35)and bread is made with flour, which is what Elisha threw in the stew. Jesus willingly died so we could live with Him forever, and in His resurrection, He defeated the power of sin and death. Jesus is alive, and He can bring healing and hope even in the parts of your life that seem the most poisoned by sin. Jesus’s life satisfies us and, like a good meal, strengthens us to follow God. Sharing Jesus’s life is a lot better than sharing a bowl of poisoned stew! Abby Ciona Where have you seen the poisoning effects of sineither in the world or in your own life? Though we live in a world poisoned by sin, Jesus has promised to return and renew His creation. Until that day, He promises to be with us no matter what. Where do you need Jesus’s healing and renewal today? Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about this. If you want to dig deeper, read Exodus 15:22-27 and John 2:1-12. How are these accounts similar? Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. John 11:25 (NLT) Read Verses: 2Kgs:4:38-2Kgs:4:41; 1 Corinthians 15:20-1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:1-Ephesians 2:10; John 11:25

It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to admit that you don’t have the answers. It’s okay to struggle. Just know that God has your back. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Through all the moments when you feel afraid, He is there. He knows your biggest fears, and He knows the challenges you will face. He has the answers to life’s biggest questions. It’s okay to not feel okay. In these moments, God doesn’t condemn us. Instead, He invites us to turn to Him. When we start to question life and the purpose and meaning of it all, we can turn to the author of life for answers (Acts 3:15). Even though we struggle through this life at times, we are never alone. Even though we feel afraid at times, we don’t have to be afraid. God is compassionate and gracious, and He reminds us of His faithful love and care for us. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us we don’t have to worry about tomorrow. We are free to follow Him, knowing God will provide everything we need along the way. Then later, in Matthew 10, Jesus tells us that God is so kind, He even cares for sparrowsand we are worth much more to God than a whole flock of sparrows! Over and over again throughout the Bible, God reminds us how much He loves us. And through Jesus, He is always going to be there for us. It’s okay to admit your fears and take them to God. He always has your back, and He will never let you down. Bethany Acker Have you ever felt like it wasn’t okay for you to not be okay? Psalm 103:13-14 says that God is tender and compassionate…For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. How might it be comforting to know that God doesn’t expect us to hold it all together, and He invites us to turn to Him when we feel weak and afraid? What is the price of two sparrowsone copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matthew 10:29 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 103:13-Psalm 103:14; Matthew 6:25-Matthew 6:34; Matthew 10:29-Matthew 10:31

Have you ever been on the brink of a major transition? New schools, new jobs, new homes, new friendsthese changes can be good, but they can also be painful. People might ask you how you’re feeling, but it can be hard to put those feelings into words. Transitions can be bitter and sweet, all at the same time. My family has a move coming up. We’re not moving far, and we’re moving back to the place I’ve always called home. But at the same time, I’m leaving a place that’s become home. Friends and a community I’ve come to love dearly. Change is hard. But as we prepare for this transition, I find joy, hope, and comfort in this good news: Jesus is with us, and He never changes. We can put our trust in Him. On the eve of a move like this, I might’ve once felt like my whole life would be completely uprooted. But as God has revealed His truth to me all throughout His Word, I’ve come to know that He never changes, even when our lives and our world are constantly in motion. He is consistent through all of life’s inconsistencies. Psalm 102:27 says, But you remain the same, and your years will never end. In Isaiah 40:8, we’re reminded that even as the earth crumbles, God’s Word is everlasting: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. And Hebrews 13:8 tells us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. These truths can change the way we live, because we don’t need to fear what tomorrow will bring. We don’t need to worry about whether transitions will be good or bad. God is with us, and He will never fail us. So, no matter what transition looms on the horizon, we can trust that God is with us. And we can find joy in His promise to be our constant. Becca Wierwille What kinds of transitions have you gone through in your life? How have you seen God’s faithfulness throughout these changes? What transitions are coming up in your future? Consider taking a moment to thank God for His faithfulness in the past, and then tell Him about some of your dreams and/or worries for the future and ask for His help. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 102:23-Psalm 102:28; Isaiah 40:6-Isaiah 40:8; Hebrews 13:6-Hebrews 13:8

Have you ever felt like an outsider because of your faith? Maybe people judge you, or even avoid you, because you are a Christian. Sometimes, it feels like having faith is a burdenespecially when you’re striving to act the right way in the midst of temptations and distractions. It’s hard when others misunderstand you, and even harder when you lose friendships or feel ostracized by people who don’t share your faith. You might even be ridiculed for believing in Jesus. You might wonder if you are battling alone. Be encouraged. You are not on your own. Faith in Jesus is something to be treasured. Think of the last few years: the terrible pandemic, floods, forest fires, violence, and the constant disharmony in the broken world we live in. Through all these events, in the destruction and despair, I have been reminded that I am blessed to have faithit really is a precious gift. If a crisis occurs, I know I have a loving Father who sent His Son, Jesus, to save us. He has walked the steps of suffering before me. People opposed Him, misunderstood Him, and ridiculed Him. He endured it all because He loves us. And He is with me through everything. He is willing to listen to me, even when friends cannot listen to me because they have their own tangle of worries knotted up inside them. He provides calm in the chaos around me. Even though I am a natural-born worrier, and sometimes my imagination stirs up troublesome thoughts in my mind, I know I can chat with Jesus and reveal the problems in my heart to Him. There is so much sadness, hatred, and fear in the world, but through all these terrible situations, God is there waiting for us, ready to guide us through our lives when we open our hearts to Him. Faith isn’t a burden, but instead a precious gift that sets us free. ⦠Cindy Lee ⦠Do you ever feel frustrated when people don’t understand your faith? Jesus understands what you’re going through. Consider taking a moment to pray for these people and pour out your heart to Jesus. He loves you, and He always listens. ⦠Being in relationship with Jesus means that when you go through hard things, you will never be alone. It also means that your eternal future is secure because Jesus has forgiven you. How might these promises give you hope in the midst of suffering? ⦠Have you put your trust in Jesus? What questions do you have? (Find more by checking out the “Know Jesus” page.) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 (NLT) Read Verses: Ephesians 2:1-Ephesians 2:10

At a young age, I was afraid of God. I grew up being taught that God is perfect and would be angry at me when I commit a sin or break His commandments. I had learned that God, in His anger toward me when I sin, would punish me. And it’s true that, in Scripture, God does sometimes get angry, especially when His people continue to go against His good laws and refuse to turn back to Him. Sin hurts people, so it makes sense that a loving God would get angry at sin. When Jesus Christ came, He revealed who God is. If we are in Christ, God no longer holds His anger against us (Romans 8:1). The apostle John, who was one of Jesus’s close friends, wrote that God is love (1 John 4:16). God is the author of love. He loves you, and He sent Jesus to come and save you. He knows that you’re not perfect and have sinned. That’s why Jesus came to die for our sins. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, God has taken your sin upon Himself and forgiven all of it: He accepts and loves you because you are His child and He is your Father. We can also see God’s patient love throughout the Old Testament. When He commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh and Jonah disobeyed Him, God was patient with Jonah. He saved and restored Jonah, even as He saved and restored the people of Nineveh. The next time you sin, remember that God loves you so much that He sent Jesus. You can repent from your sin and rest in His patient love andforgiveness. ⦠Golda Dilema ⦠Do you sometimes fear what God is about to do to you when you make a mistake? In response to the sin of humanity, God did not condemn us. Instead, He sent Jesus to save and restore us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. God loves you and wants wholeness for you. What might it look like to rest in this truth, even as you seek to follow God’s good ways? The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. Psalm 103:8 (CSB) Read Verses: Psalm 103:8-Psalm 103:14; John 3:16-John 3:17; 1 John 4:14-1 John 4:19

When life starts to get crazy, sometimes we dart between one task and the next. When you get toward the end of the school year and there is a lot you need to accomplish, or when you’re at work and your shift is about to be done but you haven’t finished everything you need to, you might get stressed and start running around. In trying to complete things more quickly than you usually do, sometimes you end up making messes. When we are stressed, we tend to get anxious and start moving faster. We try to fix things and get work done. The last thing we want to do is be still and let God move. But it can be helpful to remember that there are times in the Bible when God asks us to be still and let Him work. A good example is when the Israelites were leaving Egypt, and Pharaoh’s army came after them. The people were terrified and cried out to God. Then Moses said, The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14). Then God parted the Red Sea, and the people walked through on dry ground. It can be difficult to be still, no matter what we are facing. But God is with us through it all. As we turn to Him, He reminds us that He loves us and He is powerful (Psalm 62:11-12). Even when life gets busy, we can take a moment to be still with God and rest in His peace. And, once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, guiding us and helping us discern when it’s time to act (and how to act) and when it’s time to rEsther Sometimes, God invites us to let go of a situation and trust Him to take care of things. It can be hard to believe that God will actually work things out and He doesn’t really need our help to do it. But, then again, He is God. The same God who parted the Red Sea. The next time you feel stressed, instead of running around and pushing yourself too hard, why not take a breath and ask God for help? ⦠Emily Acker ⦠What do you tend to do when life gets crazy? How might God be inviting you to be still in these times? He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 46:10; Psalm 62:5-Psalm 62:12

If you’ve been dating someone for a while and you really like them, you may start asking yourself, Is this love? How do I know? The Bible has tons to say about loves of all kinds, including romantic, friendship, and familial. The Bible also says, God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Jesus demonstrated God’s amazing love for us by dying on the cross for our sins and rising again so that we can be saved and live with Him forever. Overcoming death and sin is a huge demonstration of love, but how do we relate Jesus’s love and actions to those of our significant other? Love should look like Jesus. Does your partner treat you and others with compassion, mercy, kindness, patience, selflessness, and humilitythe way Jesus treated those around Him? It sounds like a tall order, but true love includes all those things. Yes, none of us are perfect, so we won’t display all these attributes of love all the time, but the Holy Spirit moves us toward them. As we seek to follow Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit’s work should be present in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). It might be easier to ask, Does my significant other value becoming more like Jesus each day? And do I become more like Jesus when I spend time around my partner? Would my partner give in a self-sacrificing way? The person you’re dating might be fun to hang out with, but if you’re thinking about marrying a person, your relationship should reflect the relationship that Jesus has with His church. Jesus demonstrated a deep affection for us, His people, and He hasn’t abandoned us to be on our own. He invites us to rely on His help and guidance in every decision we face. If you’ve made it to the end of this devotion and you’re still not sure about any of this, that’s okay! Dating and falling in love isn’t always a straight path, but you can trust that God’s love for you will always be a steady relationship. ⦠Naomi Zylstra ⦠Who is someone you love (such as a friend, family member, or significant other)? How does this love reflect the love Jesus has for us? ⦠What does self-sacrificing love look like to you? ⦠The Bible tells us that Christians should not seek to marry non-Christians (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:14). Why do you think this is the case? But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 (NLT) Read Verses: 1 Corinthians 13:4-1 Corinthians 13:7; 1 John 4:8

What does it mean when Jesus called Himself the vine? He gave His disciples this picture on the night before He went to the cross, saying, I am the vine; you are the branches (John 15:5). Jesus as the vine is a great metaphor for our relationship to our Savior. Jesus being our vine means that we can draw love and strength from Him, like a branch that is connected to a vine can draw water and nutrients to sustain growth. Jesus wants to stay in connection with us, and when we remain in Him, we see growth in our lives. Jesus also offers us support as our vine. A branch that is connected to its vine won’t blow away or break off in a windy storm. When life gets windy and we are connected to Jesus, we can remember who we are in Christ and what our purpose is in Him. Remembering that we belong to Christ is a great way to center ourselves when life is getting chaotic. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we can reach back to our connection to the main vine, rest in His strong love, and reconnect with our purpose. And what is this purpose? To bear the fruit of love. Just a few verses after calling Himself the vine, Jesus commands His disciples to love each other like He has loved them. But He makes it clear that they cannot do this without Him, saying, No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me (verse 4). And Jesus has already shown us what bearing fruit can look like. Our vine has already demonstrated His love for us. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and rose again, beating sin and death, because of the deep love He has for us. And because of His sacrifice, we can now bear the fruit of love too. ⦠Naomi Zylstra ⦠What does it mean to bear good fruit as a Christian? (Take a look at Galatians 5:22-23.) ⦠Why is it important to remember that we can’t bear this good fruit on our own? What do you think it means to remain in Jesus? My command is this: Love each other as I [Jesus] have loved you. John 15:12 (NIV) Read Verses: John 15:1-John 15:12

God knows why things are happening the way they are in our lives and in this world. We can look at everything going on around us and wonder how it’s all going to make sense in the end. We can see bad things taking place and wonder if God might be surprised or if those bad things might mess up His plans. But God is not surprised by anything that happens. Not in your personal life, the country you are living in, or anywhere in the world and beyond. He knows what the future holds, and He cares about every detail. He knows how everything is going to work out in the end, and He is intimately involved in the mess. Through Jesus, He offers healing and invites people to know Him, trust Him, and follow Him. He is good, and His love endures forever (Psalm 136:1). God can take the bad and use it for good. He can transform even the horrible things into beautiful things. God knows what you are going to go through, and He has compassion on you. When you are suffering, He is grieving alongside you. And if you come to Him, He will comfort you, strengthen you, and even help you grow through your struggles. We serve a God who is not surprised by anything. We can rest easier when we remember that God holds His people securely in love and He has promised to right every wrong. We can know that God is ultimately in control, and He is going to make things work out just how they are meant to work out in the end. On the last day, Jesus will return. The Risen King will restore His creation, and all His people will live and reign with Him forever. Nothing can stop His kingdom from coming. Even when we don’t understand what is going on, we can trust God because He is trustworthy. ⦁ Emily Acker ⦁ When is it hardest for you to trust God? In these times, we can look to Jesus, who revealed God’s deep love and kindness when He died on the cross. When we see hurt and confusion and corruption and violence in our world or in our lives, we can come to Jesus with all our frustrations, sorrows, fears, and questions. His goodness and love are sure, and He will reveal Himself to those who seek Him. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11 (NIV) Read Verses: Romans 8:18-Romans 8:39; Psalm 33:11; Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 55:6-Isaiah 55:13

To be in the shadow of God is everything. This world is a scary place; there are so many rules, expectations, and dangers waiting for us around every bend. It’s more than scaryit’s paralyzing. Like a deer in oncoming headlights, instead of escaping to safety, we might freeze and feel the full impact of the world crashing in. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you have committed your life to Christ, you have escaped from disaster. And in doing so, you haven’t just run to safety. You’ve gained hope, joy, and glory. When you surrendered your life to Christ, you were added into God’s family. Your life was HIDDEN with Christ in God. When your life is hidden with Christ, your place with Him is secure. You will have troublethat is promisedbut you won’t be alone. You are held by Jesus, the One who overcame the world (John 16:33). And because Jesus died and rose from the grave, His followers have the sure hope of living with Him forever. As Christians, our lives are now united with Christ and should be in alignment with His way. Think about it. When someone belongs to Jesus, their life is not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We follow God’s ways, not out of an impersonal sense of duty, but because God loves us and He is the source of goodness. Obeying Him allows us to experience His goodness more and more. Yet, even as we learn to follow God with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will not do things perfectly. But Christ covers us, so when God the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ and does not count our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:21). When your life is hidden and covered by God, you can dwell with Him and rest in His shadow. He promises to be with you in hardship. Imagine it. If you’re in someone’s shadow, it means they are bigger than you, covering you, and they are close beside you. When you realize you are in God’s shadow, the world no longer seems as paralyzing. When you are a Christian, God is close beside you and covering you all the way. ⦠Emma Pamer ⦠What things do you see in the world that make you feel paralyzed with fear? ⦠Can you think of a time you felt free, safe, and/or comforted in God’s presence? If you haven’t experienced this, you can ask God for it. He loves to answer these prayers! Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (NLT) Read Verses: Psalm 91:1-Psalm 91:2; Psalm 91:14-Psalm 91:16; Colossians 3:1-Colossians 3:17

I like to feed hummingbirds. As I was researching how to feed them well, I found that many websites say to watch for stragglers at the end of the warm season. This year, we’ve had a couple stragglers. It’s November when I write this, and I am still putting out food and it’s still disappearing. I keep thinking these hummingbirds are lost and one day they’ll wish they were someplace warmer. In Luke 15, Jesus tells a story about another straggler. The Prodigal son left home with his father’s money in his pocket. Now no one would tell him what to dohe was free to make his own choices. He did exactly as he wanted to…until he had spent every bit of his money. Alone, abandoned by his partying friends, he was hungry, thirsty, and had no place to sleep. Then he found a job feeding pigs, which was about the lowest job anyone could find at that time. Pigs were seen as nasty, dirty creatures that would eat about anything. The Prodigal found himself feeding them pods. The hogs gobbled them up. The Prodigal stared at the pods, wondering what they tasted like. He might have been so hungry that he ate some. As his belly moaned and he could barely stand the smell of the pigs (or himself), he thought of his father. Realizing that maybe he could still be a servant in his father’s householda place where he could have something to eat and somewhere to sleephe started toward home. As the Prodigal approached his father’s house, he found his father waiting. Most of us might assume he wouldn’t be welcome. (And in fact, his older brother grumbled and complained when he came back.) Yet his father hugged him close, offered him a bath, clean clothes, and foodand welcomed him back as his son. Not a servant, but his son. Jesus welcomes usrebellious stragglers though we areinto His arms and into His household. And He asks us to welcome fellow stragglers who are lost. Jesus will take them in, offer them new beginnings, a place in His family, and love that overwhelms. ⦠Anna Gregory ⦠Have you ever felt like the younger brother in this story: lost, dirty, and broken? Jesus invites you to bring these feelings to Him and rest in His love. ⦠Have you ever felt like the older brother in this story: wary, suspicious, and perhaps jealous of outsiders coming into the church? You can bring these feelings to Jesus too and ask Him to help you extend His love and stragglers. For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 (NLT) Read Verses: Luke 15:10-Luke 15:32; Luke 19:10

God created the changing seasons Colored leaves, sunny skies So much autumn beauty I look at it and wonder, how small am I? But God sees me in the beauty I’m not too small for Him He created each unique leaf And in me, a light that will not dim God knows what is best Each season comes and goes He’s with me when it feels fast And I want the spinning of the world to slow His plans are all laid out He holds the world in His hands I can trust Him this and every season Enjoy the beauty, and follow His plans ⦠Bethany Acker ⦠What is your favorite season? ⦠Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming, especially in times of change. In moments like these, how could it be comforting to know that God, the Master of the seasons and the sky, sees us and loves us? As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. Genesis 8:22 (NLT) Read Verses: Genesis 16:13; Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-Proverbs 3:6; Genesis 8:22

I’m in my forties, and one thing I wish I’d known when I was a teenager is that it really is true when people say God loves us just as we are. We don’t have to earn His approval. In the book of Isaiah, God was speaking to the Israelites, but He is also speaking to us today through these same words. Isaiah 43:4 says that we are precious and honored in God’s sight, and He loves us. Thankfully, God’s favor isn’t based on what we do. Since the first humans went their own way against God, we are all sinful. We can never be good enough. We can never do enough. We can never be perfect enough. It’s just not possible. As humans, we are all flawed. But the wonderful news is that we don’t have to be good enough…because Jesus is. Jesus lived in perfect obedience to God the Father. Because Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He never did wrong, He was able to pay for our wrongdoing by dying on the cross and rising from the dead for us. The Bible says, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The love God has for us is powerful! His love can move mountains, heal broken hearts, and transform lives (Colossians 3:12). And His love for us is just because we are His! He longs to show us His love and be a part of our livesjust as we are, right where we are. You may ask yourself, But what about those little flaws and imperfections I havenot to mention all the big flaws? Don’t they change things? The wonderful answer is NO! God knows everything about you, and your sins and shortcomings do not diminish His love in any way! Romans 5:8 says, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Because His love is not based on what we do but on what Jesus has done, we can rest in this assurance. ⦠Leslie L. McKee ⦠Have you ever questioned whether God really loves you? Lots of people feel this wayeven people who have been Christians for a long time. You can bring this to Jesus in prayer. He won’t be offended. You are God’s precious, beloved child, and He doesn’t give up on you. ⦠Have you put your trust in Jesus? Romans 10:9 says, If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you… Isaiah 43:4 (NIV) Read Verses: John 17:26; Romans 8:31-Romans 8:39; 1 John 4:19; Isaiah 43:4

READ: JOHN 10:10; ROMANS 15:13; 1 JOHN 5:19 I’m twenty-six years old, and I wish I had known sooner that God wasn’t the maker of my depression. When ninth grade rolled around, I faced depression like I never had before. I didn’t think I could experience such strong and unsettling emotions while being a follower of Jesus. The part that confused me most was where the extreme sadness came from. Not able to find the answer myself, I’d ask God why He would allow such anguish to hurt me daily. Being a child of God, one misconception I had was that Christians had to be joyful all the time. Mind you, that is far from the truth. I’d question if I was abnormal because the way I was feeling was not joyful. Was I insane? Was I not doing something right in my relationship with God, and that’s how this started? Because of this, I started doubting the authenticity of my faith. This was before I knew how much influence Satan, sin, and brokenness have on this world. The enemy seeks to destroy Christ-followers such as myself. God created the world good, but when people rebelled against God, sin and brokenness infected everything. One version of this brokenness is depression. But, despite all the brokenness and evil in the world, God is the giver and maker of peace and joy. It’s through Him and the good gifts He provides (including things like mental health professionals and medication) that we can overcome our struggles. That doesn’t always mean the depression will go away, but it does mean that Jesus walks with us and brings us comfort and strength in the midst of it. He never abandons us. Though Satan continues to steal, kill, and destroy, God works miracles around the enemy’s conniving schemes. Jesus is far greater than the enemy, and His victory came through His death and resurrection—when He defeated sin, death, and brokenness on our behalf. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, God gives us a crown and a blessing in place of ashes and mourning (Isaiah 61:3). God has already won the battle. When we pay attention, we can see His provision in the midst of the sufferings we face. He is with us in our trials whether they’re in smaller dosages or larger quantities. He provides comfort and strength. He is the maker of joy and peace, not of depression. And someday, we will see His ultimate triumph when Jesus returns to get rid of all brokenness—including depression—forever. • Brenna Covelens • Have you ever felt like Christians are supposed to always feel joyful—and that it’s not okay for us to feel any other way? • Sometimes, God brings about full healing from depression and other types of brokenness we encounter. But other times, depression is a lifelong struggle that won’t fully go away until Jesus returns. Even when the hurt is here to stay, Jesus is with us, weeping with us. He never leaves us. As we draw near to Him, He wraps His arms around us and never lets go. Have you ever felt Jesus’s presence in the midst of pain? What was it like? • God does not want us to face depression—or any other kind of brokenness—alone. Christians can bring each other hope and comfort in hard times, pointing each other to Jesus. When you are struggling, who can you reach out to? If you know someone who is hurting, how can you come alongside them? • If you have been feeling depressed and need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care as...

If you ever feel left out or mistreated, if people talk about you instead of talking to you, you are not alone. It can be hard to deal with the pain of rejection or getting less than what is fair, but it can be comforting to know that you have a God who designed you, created you in a special way, and loves you. God knew what He was doing when He made you. He gave you the hair color and texture you havethe hair others might not like, but God does. He gave you the smile you havethe one you might feel self-conscious about, but He loves to see. He gave you your personalitythe one others might tease you for, but He is delighted by. You were designed in a certain way. You were put on this earth for a certain reason. You are not an accident or a mistake. We all have days we feel rejected and hurt. God is there for us on those days. He sees what we’re going through and has compassion on us. He created us, He made us special, and He loves us. â Emily Acker â What is one thing you like about the way God made you? â When it’s difficult to remember that God made you on purpose and He delights in you, who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you remember? How can you be this kind of friend to others? â Jesus knows what it feels like to be rejected and mistreated. He was betrayed and abandoned by His friends, insulted by unjust rulers, and mocked by crowds of people who had sung His praises only days before. Jesus endured all of this…for us. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God will never reject us, never mistreat us. How might this truth give you comfort? You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. Psalm 139:1 (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 139:13-Psalm 139:16; 1 John 3:1; Psalm 139:1

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved stained glass windows. When sunbeams reach through colored glass and paint the room with rainbows, something inside me stirs. These mosaics of color awaken my heart to wonder. I think beauty draws us closer to the heart of God. Something inside us craves beauty, and if we listen closely enough, we’ll discover a longing for God deep within us. It seems so fitting to me that some church buildings use stained glass in the spaces where we gather to worship God. After all, He is the One who spoke light into being. I didn’t know until recently that some churches used colored glass windows for a very specific purpose: to teach the stories of the Bible to people who couldn’t read. Stained glass has been crafted by different cultures in different parts of the world since ancient times, and during the Middle Ages, Christians in Europe started incorporating this artform into their church buildings. At this point in history, few people could read, and usually only wealthy people had access to books. But even though most common people couldn’t read the Bible for themselves, they could learn about the stories of the Bible through artwork. I love how these medieval Christians served each other, not just by making simple drawings that would serve as a teaching tool, but by making something beautiful. They invited everyone to know God, the author of beauty, and created a special place where all could worship Him. Hannah Howe How can making art be an act of service to the community? How can art, even art that doesn’t depict biblical stories, reveal truth that points to Jesus? Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights James 1:17 (WEB) Read Verses: Genesis 1:3; John 1:1-John 1:9; James 2:1-James 2:9; James 1:17

One of the most enduring tales of all time is the story of a wish granted. Whether it’s the three wishes of a genie’s lamp in “Aladdin,” the ironic twists of “The Monkey’s Paw,” or just a discussion among friends, we love the possibility of getting something we want, a chance to make life better. Money? Fame? A particular skill? Healing? There are too many options to list, which is probably why people throughout history have pondered, What do you want? In the Bible, Jesus sometimes asks people the same question. And when the Son of God asks this question, it’s a story worth considering. We’re going to take a closer look at one of these times, which is recorded in Luke 18. Jesus is approaching Jericho with a throng of followers. A man who is blind sits by the road, begging. This man is an outcast with many needs. He can’t see; he has no money and no Job He’s basically a loner in society with nothing going for him. The road to Jericho is dangerous, and this is where he sits and begs. When he hears that Jesus is passing by, he begins to shout, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (verse 38). The crowds tell him to hush, but he shouts louder. Then Jesus stops and asks the man, What do you want me to do for you? (verse 41). It may seem obvious. The man responds, Lord, I want to see. Then Jesus heals him, and immediately, he can see. What’s interesting to me is the man’s response after his eyes are healed. He could have gone home. He could have traveled around to see the sights and people he had never seen. He could have run from this dangerous place. But no. Verse 43 tells us that he followed Jesus, praising God. Not only that, but when all the people saw it, they also praised God. On His way to the cross, Jesus gave sight, both physically and spiritually, to a man who was blind. Because of what Jesus did, the man and the crowd began to see Jesus differently. Jesus was more than a cosmic genie granting the whims of random people. Jesus was, and is, God in the flesh, come to restore His creation. He is the Messiah and the Son of God. When the healed man and the crowd saw what Jesus had done, they praised God. Mike Hurley Why do you think this man wanted to follow Jesus after He healed him? If you want to dig deeper, you can read two other gospel accounts of Jesus healing blindness outside Jericho in Matthew 20:29-34 and Mark 10:46-52. You can also read about two other times Jesus says, What do you want? in Mark 10:35-45 and John 1:35-42. Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for you? Luke 18:40-41 (NIV) Read Verses: Luke 18:35-Luke 18:43

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to make an important decision, but you weren’t sure how to go about it? Do you sometimes fear that taking a wrong path would cost youmaybe jeopardizing your happiness or your relationshipsand yet you’re not sure of the right path to take? Often times, we find ourselves in situations where our knowledge and understanding is limited, and we don’t know what to do, or even where to start. If we’re going to make good decisions, we’ll have to apply wisdom. Wisdom is like a lamp that illuminates the way where there is darkness. And the Bible tells us that God is the source of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). We see this in 1 Corinthians 1:30. Paul writes to people who have put their trust in Jesus: God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Jesus is our wisdom, and through His death and resurrection, we can be in relationship with God. And God wants to help us. In James 1, God invites us to ask Him for wisdom, and He promises to give it to us (verse 5). So whenever we need to make a decision, we can ask God for help. One of the ways God guides us is through His Word, the Bible. James goes on to say, Humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says (verses 21-22). This passage echoes something Jesus said: that a person who hears His words and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock (Mathew 7:24). So if we live according to God’s Word, then our decisions will be built on a firm foundation. When we are at a crossroads of decision-making, wondering which way to go, we need not grope in the dark. God is there, ready to light the way (John 8:12). Let us accept God’s offer of wisdom so we can make good decisions in every situation. Enid Adah Nyinomujuni Where do you need wisdom? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about this. Are you ever afraid of making the wrong decision? There are some situations in our lives where there isn’t a right or wrong choice. And no matter what happens, as Christians, we can know that Jesus will be with us through everything we face. How might this truth give you hope? If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 (NLT) Read Verses: Proverbs 2:6; Matthew 7:24-Matthew 7:29; 1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5

They were beautiful, but wild and seemingly untamable. These horses of mine galloped across the white sands, surging at times into the foaming sea. A jet black mane and a tail that looked like wispy smoke trailed behind my stallion, Fear. He wasn’t always unruly, but when that glint appeared in his coal black eyes, I knew it would be near impossible to catch him. Passion pawed at the waves with a shining hoof, whinnying in delight as the salty spray hit her white face. The water glistened on her coat bright as a freshly polished pearl. Passion could be so fulfilling at times, but there were other occasions when she could not be reined in. I reached up to stroke Sorrow on her soft, gray muzzle. Her dappled coat swirled like drops of rain in a cloudy sky. Joy, her sister, was seldom separate from Sorrow. Joy’s golden back was warm to my touch in the sun, and she nickered softly when I spoke to her. Rage thundered by, tossing his red mane. His eyes were rolling and wide. There were times when he scared me most of all, when I didn’t know if I could ever control him. I knew in my heart that I could not keep my horses in check on my own. Thankfully, I was not alone. The Trainer wrapped His arms of love around Fear, calming him. When Passion was eager to gallop and explore, the Trainer taught her how to navigate all kinds of terrain with wisdom and discernment. Joy and Sorrow were never so beautiful as when they were walking close by the Trainer. They were intertwined in this inexpressible dance that made me want to laugh and cry all at once. The Trainer was never afraid of Rage as I was; He held him in gentleness and strength. As the setting sun glinted off the waves, I knew in the depths of my soul that I was not alone. The Trainer was near. I would hold His promise of peace close, knowing He would guard my horses. With the help of the Trainer, I could do what He called me to do with the strength that He gave. Savannah Coleman In this story, the horses represent our emotions, which are tamed by God the Trainer. We all have times when our thoughts and feelings seem unmanageable. God gave us emotions, but sometimes they can overwhelm us and threaten to control our actions. When do you find it difficult to handle your thoughts and feelings? As children of God, we can rely on His help. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He transforms our minds through the renewing power of His Word and His Spirit. He promises that He will be near us; we have His strength in all situations. How might it give you hope to know that you never have to face your emotions alone? As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, He helps us to better understand and deal with our emotions (Matthew 11:29). When fear, sorrow, or rage threaten to consume us, we can choose to give our anxieties over to God by telling Him about what we’re experiencing and asking for His help. What emotion(s) are you feeling right now? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about what you’re experiencing. Sometimes, our thoughts can be troubling. God invites us to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:6-8). (If you can’t think of anything that fits these descriptions, try thinking about God Himself, because He is all these things! Jesus reveals God the Father, so reading about His life in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John is a great way to find out what God is like.) God promises that His peace will guard our hearts and minds as we come to Him (verses 7, 9). If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, it’s okay to talk about this. Who is a trusted Christian in your life who co...

In James 3, we are given metaphors for what our “tongue” (or the words we say) is like. James says our words have inherent power, and that power can be used either for good or evil. He explains the power of the tongue with two analogies: the bridle of a horse (verse 3) and the rudder of a ship (verse 4). Have you ever ridden a horse? Horses are large, powerful creatures, but they can be turned this way and that by a small bridle. In the same way, large ships made of wood are driven by powerful winds at sea, but a single pilot can control a ship by turning a thin rudder. The bridle and the rudder are comparatively small, yet they possess great power. In the same way, the tongue is one of the smallest parts of the body, yet it packs enormous power. The tongues of Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill during World War II illustrate the inherent power of the tongue. On the one hand, Hitler’s passionate, angry speeches appealed to the worst in people, stoking the fires of resentment until they flared up into war and genocide. On the other hand, Churchill spoke boldly over the radio to the people of England, uniting them to resist Hitler and work together for the good of their neighbors. The tongue is a small, simple thing, but its inherent power is capable of much. We must be wise in how we use it. Jacob Bier How can we be wise in how we use our words? Jesus said, What you say flows from what is in your heart (Luke 6:45). Without Jesus, all of our hearts are corrupt, but if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing He died and rose again, His Holy Spirit begins to transform our hearts to be more and more like His. As we rely on His love for us, we can use our tongues for good (John 15:1-17; 1 John 4:14-16). Throughout the Bible, God commands His people to pursue justice for the oppressed and to love our neighbors. What are some practical ways we can do this through our speech? The tongue can bring death or life. Proverbs 18:21a (NLT) Read Verses: James 3; Proverbs 18:21

Have you ever heard such wonderful phrases as these? “You are precious to me.” “I love you.” “I am with you.” “Do not fear.” Do you know anyone who would speak so tenderly to you? This is how the God of heaven speaks over His people. And even more. He says: “I have created you.” “I have redeemed you.” “I have called you by name.” “You are mine.” “I will be with you.” “I am the Lord your God.” All these affirming, loving statements come from the same passage in the Bible, Isaiah 43. Can you dare to believe that God cares for you this much? To let these words sink in, you might try reading these verses again for yourself. If you’re ready, you can thank God for each phrase. You don’t have to read everything word-for-word; you can make it personal. If you’d like a guide, try praying this way: “Thank you, God, that I am yours. Thank you that I am precious to you. Thank you for loving me and being with me. You created me, redeemed me, and called me by name. Thank you for your promise to be with me, calming all my fears. Thank you, O Lord my God!” Daniel Dore When you feel lonely, abandoned, hurt how could the words in today’s reading, spoken by God Himself, give you comfort? Do you know anyone who needs to hear such life-giving words? Which one of the truths from Isaiah 43:1-5 could you share today? But now, this is what the Lord sayshe who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 (NIV) Read Verses: Isaiah 43:1-Isaiah 43:5

Not everyone has great parents. Not everyone has a family history they are proud of. If that’s you, know this: God loves you no matter who your parents are. They might be criminals. They might be people you aren’t proud of and never want to be like. But if you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you have been adopted into God’s family. You are God’s child. No matter who your ancestors are or what they have done, you don’t have to be like them. If you know Jesus, you are set apart. You are different. You can look to Jesus and follow Him instead. Through His death and resurrection, He has made you new and enfolded you into His family. And His Holy Spirit lives in you, showing you God’s love, guiding you in His good ways, and empowering you to turn away from sin and live in love. You are more than the sum of your parents’ genetics. You are more than your family history. You are God’s child. It doesn’t matter who people expect you to be or what you may have always imagined you would be. The truest thing about you is that you are God’s child. You can take your direction from Him. You are free to live your life how He calls you to and not worry about the expectations of others. This may take some hard work, but you can rely on Jesus and lean on the people He has put around you to help you discern God’s guidance and let go of unhelpful expectations. When you realize that you are God’s child, you can stop worrying about living this way or that. You can stop stressing about not doing enough or not accomplishing the same things as your parents or siblings or others. You can start looking at yourself through His eyes instead. God created you. He made every unique part of you. He knows you. You are His child, and you are precious to Him. The Maker of the universe formed you in your mother’s womb, and He has always had His eyes on you. He made you for a reason. No matter who your parents or ancestors are, you are God’s child. Bethany Acker While our family is an important part of who we are, it’s not all we are. When you get stressed about the expectations of others, how could it be freeing to remember that you are God’s child? See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a (NIV) Read Verses: Psalm 139:13-Psalm 139:18; Ephesians 5:1-Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 1:13-1 Peter 1:25; 1 John 3:1

READ: PSALM 13; ROMANS 8:18-39 Horatio G. Spafford was a lawyer, an investor, and a follower of Christ who suffered many tragedies in his life. Spafford’s son (also named Horatio) died of scarlet fever at age four. And in October of 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed all his investments along Lake Michigan. Two years later, in 1873, Horatio thought it would be a good idea to travel with his family to England, where their friend D. L. Moody was holding rallies. Unfortunately, Horatio had to stay in Chicago to attend to some business matters, but he sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters (Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta) on ahead, promising to follow in a few days. Horatio’s wife and daughters sailed on the SS Ville du Havre. During the voyage, on November 21, the SS Ville du Havre was hit by an iron sailing vessel and sank within twelve minutes, killing 226 people. When the survivors landed in Europe, Mrs. Spafford sent a telegraph to her husband that began with the words, ”Saved alone.” After he received the telegraph, Horatio sailed to meet her in England at once. Horatio had asked the captain to tell him when they were near the spot where the SS Ville du Havre sank. When they were over the area where his daughters drowned, Horatio said these words: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say: It is well, it is well with my soul.” These are the words of his famous hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” Horatio wrote the hymn while on board the ship. In the midst of his pain, Horatio trusted Jesus to hold his four daughters in His loving arms. And Jesus was holding Horatio too. • Sarah Jordan • Because sin has entered the world, terrible things like death, suffering, and brokenness exist everywhere. This is why Jesus came. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus covered the payment for our sin and defeated Satan, sin, and death. One day, He will return to get rid of all suffering forever. In the meantime, if you have put your trust in Jesus, He lives in you through the Holy Spirit, weeping with you and comforting you in hard times. How might these truths affect the way we walk through suffering? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

I can’t. But God can. I am weak. But God is strong. I am afraid. But He can make me brave. I can’t do it alone. But I don’t have to be alone. In my darkness, God is my light. In my pain, He gives healing. I love the verse in Isaiah that says if we hope in the Lord, we will soar on wings like eagles. We will not grow weary or be faint. God will give us strength. Sometimes, we need to be weak so that we can see God’s strength. Sometimes, we need to fall down so that we can remember how good it feels to be lifted and held by Him. I can’t do all the things I want to do. In many ways, I don’t have the ability to change my circumstances or make my life turn out how I want. I don’t have the strength to do big things. Not on my own. I can’t do a lot of things. But God can. When I feel weak, He invites me to turn to Him. When I feel alone, His Holy Spirit reminds me that I am never alone. Jesus came to be Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23), and He died and rose again so that everyone who puts their trust in Him could become part of God’s familyincluding me. My God is always with me, looking out for me, giving me healing, and being the light in my darkest moments. I can’t, but God can do all things. Bethany Acker Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the things you can’t do? How can times of weakness help us grow closer to God? (Take a look at 2 Corinthians 12:9.) Sometimes, life feels like it’s just too much. Yet, through Jesus, God gives us comfort and the strength to do what He calls us to do. One of the ways God helps us is through Christian community. Who are trusted Christians in your life who you can be honest with when you are struggling? But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) Read Verses: John 1:5; Isaiah 40:26-Isaiah 40:31

When God created the world, He saw that it was good (Genesis 1:31). But when the first humans went their own way against God, sin and brokenness messed up that goodness. While we are still made in God’s image, and we like to try to create good things too, we will never reach perfection in our broken world. We make mistakes. We mess up. For example, I love to write, and a big part of that process is rewriting. I could rewrite a thousand times and never be completely content with my work. It’s easy to get frustrated with myself. Why can’t I get it right? Why can’t it be perfect? But when Jesus came, He taught us a new waynot one of perfectionism, but of gentleness. He came to His people, as the prophet Zechariah foretold, gentle and riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus taught His followers to come to Him for rest, because He is gentle and humble in heart (Matthew 11:28-30). As children of God, we are called to clothe ourselves with gentlenessto let our gentleness be obvious to those around us. We can’t do this in our own strength, but the Holy Spirit helps us (Galatians 5:22-23). Often, learning to be gentle with others starts with learning to be gentle with ourselves. Have you ever triedand failedto do something perfectly? Have you ever gotten frustrated with yourself? Have you ever struggled to forgive yourself after making a mistake? You’re not alone. I’ve been there. It’s easy to hold grudges against ourselves. But Jesus promises redemption. He has shown us the ultimate gentleness and forgiveness. We can be gentle with ourselves because He is gentle with us. We can forgive ourselves because He has forgiven us. He took our sin upon Himself when He was nailed to the cross, and He defeated sin and death when He rose from the dead. One day, our gentle Savior promises to bring forth a new heaven and a new earth. There will be no more sin, no more brokenness. But for now, let’s make the most of our broken world. Instead of striving for perfection, we can rest in Jesus’s forgiveness and live in the way of gentleness and grace. After all, that’s how we will show people glimpses of Jesus Christ. Becca Wierwille Do you sometimes feel like you need to be perfect or do something exactly right? How might knowing that God is gentle with us help us to be gentle with ourselves and others? Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 (NIV) Read Verses: Matthew 21:1-Matthew 21:11; Colossians 3:12-Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:5