Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: JOHN 10:1-18; 14:26; 1 JOHN 4:1-21 Have you ever heard someone talk about what God is “telling them” and felt frustrated, wondering, “Why isn’t God talking to me?” I remember feeling that way. But let me encourage you! It takes time to learn someone’s voice. If I met you for twenty minutes today, and tomorrow you shouted to me in a crowd, I probably wouldn’t turn around. I wouldn’t recognize your voice. You would have to get louder, more persistent, even grab my arm—and I still may not remember who you are or where we met. However, if my mom or dad shouted to me—someone I spent every single day talking and listening to for eighteen years—I would turn around immediately. Even if I couldn’t see them, I would start in the direction of their voices, trying to find them. Faith is a lot like that! It takes time to learn God’s voice and how He speaks to us. It takes time in His Word, in prayer, and with other believers. Sometimes God might repeat Himself to try to get your attention, like you trying to catch up with me in public. Remember, He wants to talk to you, because He loves you. Since Jesus died and rose from the dead, everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is brought near to God and receives the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us. So be watching and listening. Test what you think may be Him—hold it up to the Word, share with a mentor to see what they think. You will grow more sensitive to His voice, and more familiar with it, over time. Don’t give up! • Abigail Aswegen • A huge part of learning to listen for God’s voice is knowing His Word—the Bible. Scripture is the primary place where He speaks to us, and it’s the first place we should go to test whether or not something we heard was from Him. So, to know what God is saying, we have to know what the Bible says. How could this affect the way we read Scripture? • Often God will communicate with us by bringing Bible verses or stories to mind when we need them. Have you ever experienced something like that? What happened? • If you know Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you, offering comfort and guidance. And He lives in every believer, so one way of discerning whether God is communicating something to you is to ask another believer, since you both have the same Holy Spirit. It can be especially helpful to spend time together in prayer, bringing your questions to God and listening patiently for His answers. Who are trusted Christians in your life who could pray and dig into Scripture with you? “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NLT)

READ: ROMANS 12:1-21; GALATIANS 2:19-20; COLOSSIANS 3:1-4, 16-17 The life of Macrina the Younger shows the profound influence we can have on others by faithfully following Jesus. Born around 330 AD, Macrina was the oldest of ten children, and she became a pillar of strength and faith for her family after her father’s death when she was only twelve. A few years later, Macrina decided to forego marriage and instead become her mother’s lifelong companion. Together, they raised Macrina’s younger siblings and used their considerable property to help disadvantaged women and those who were poor and sick. When Macrina’s brother Basil returned home quite arrogant from his higher education, she, as his dutiful older sister, managed to bring his ego back down to earth. In time, her brothers Basil and Gregory, along with Basil’s friend Gregory of Nazianzus, became known as the Cappadocian Fathers who guarded the orthodox Christian faith against the 4th-century heresy of Arianism. Although Macrina never wrote great theological works or participated in the church councils of her day, her brilliant theological mind and her life of whole-hearted service profoundly influenced the lives of her famous brothers and the many people she ministered to. After her death, her brother Gregory, who loved her deeply, commemorated her life and legacy in her biography, The Life of Saint Macrina. In it, he recounts poignantly his last meeting with his sister at her bedside, her final words of encouragement to him, her beautiful deathbed prayer, and the large crowd that unexpectedly attended her funeral procession. Macrina’s life reminds us that it doesn’t take fame or power to have lasting influence. Our Lord Jesus sacrificially served us with His own life, death, and resurrection. He transformed our eternal destiny because He loves us. So now, anyone who has put their trust in Jesus and is committed to seeking God and serving others can have an influence for eternity. • Kayla Esguerra • Can you think of anyone in your life who has influenced your faith in a positive way? What have they done or said that has helped you follow Jesus and rest in His love? • If we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us, empowering us to serve Him and others. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God where He is inviting you to serve today. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 28:16-20; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:3-11; 12:4–13:8 I was in a discipleship class, and I felt confused. How was I supposed to be a disciple-maker, to teach and support other Christians in their faith? I’m an introvert with few close friends, and making conversation is difficult for me. Was I really a disciple myself? I was comforted when I went back to the Bible after class and was reminded of three truths. First, being a disciple and being a Christian are the same thing. Acts 11:26 says, “The disciples were called Christians.” If you’re a follower of Jesus, you are already a disciple! Second, all disciples are called to evangelize and disciple. Evangelizing means sharing the good news of Jesus, and discipling means supporting fellow Christians in their journey of following Jesus. These aren’t just tasks for missionaries, teachers, or pastors. Both evangelism and discipleship are important parts of every disciple’s calling. We have been saved and given eternal hope through Jesus’s death and resurrection, and as we ponder these truths and press into relationship with Jesus, His love will naturally overflow from us. We will have a desire to share it through all the aspects of our lives. Third, not everyone evangelizes and disciples in the same way, and that’s a good thing! I had been feeling guilty because talking to other people isn’t my strength. But, while it is important for introverts like myself to push ourselves to reach out to others, we shouldn’t compare our personalities and abilities. Instead we should use the unique gifts God has given us. I may not be good at small talk, but I can use my love of writing to write devotions like this one. God calls the public speakers and the writers, the teachers and the musicians, the counselors and the caregivers and the friends, and every role in between—no job is more or less important. We are all disciples, following Jesus’s leadership in the unique ways He has called us. • Abby Ciona • Discipleship doesn’t only happen in specific programs or in formal relationships. Often, the Holy Spirit helps us notice opportunities to share the good news with someone we know or to disciple them. Can you think of a time someone else did this with you? What was that like? • How do you like to share Jesus with others—such as in conversation, writing, music, or art? • Who is another Christian in your life you can support in their faith? Consider taking a moment to pray for this person and ask God for ideas of how to love and serve them. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:8 (NIV)

READ: ROMANS 8:28-39; EPHESIANS 2:1-10; PHILIPPIANS 1:3-11; 2:13 Have you ever watched a carpenter at work? My grandfather is a skilled woodcarver, and as a young child I thought it was so cool to see him take an ordinary block of wood and turn it into an amazing work of art. Often, it was difficult for me to tell exactly what he was making, but he knew what he was doing and never lost sight of the end goal. Using various tools, he would shape the wood one shaving at a time until the design was just right. My grandfather’s woodcarving reminds me a lot of what God does with us. Over the course of our lives, He continuously chips away at harmful and unnecessary pieces of our lifestyle and behaviors to create a masterpiece. We don’t always know what the end product will look like, and as we watch God at work in and around us, it can be easy to wonder why certain things are happening the way they are. Perhaps we feel He’s not working fast enough, or we can’t see the point of a painful circumstance. However, God knows exactly what He’s doing. Even my grandfather makes mistakes or quits in the middle of a project sometimes, but God never does. He sees the whole picture, and He won’t stop until He has fashioned us into the image of Christ. Remember, turning a block of wood into a masterpiece takes time and work. The wood has to endure significant loss and scraping as a skilled carpenter removes the excess and sands down the rough spots. In the same way, spiritual transformation isn’t quick or easy. There will be hard situations, and times when we feel like our progress has stalled. However, God doesn’t give up on us. He is the master carpenter, and He will keep working until we are complete. • Faith Lewis • Imagine if a block of wood decided to turn itself into a masterful carving. Obviously, that wouldn’t work, but we often do the same thing and try to change ourselves without God’s help. But the only way to true transformation is to put our trust in Jesus—believing He died and rose again for our sins so we could be forgiven and have new life—and then allowing God to work in us. Have you ever gotten impatient with certain parts of your life and tried to change them yourself, without God? What happened? Consider bringing those parts of your life to God and talking to Him about them. Change may not look the way you expect, but you can rest in the assurance that He sees the big picture, and He has promised to complete what He started in you. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

READ: PSALMS 8:3-4; 19:1-4; 90:1-2; 139:5-12 "Do you ever get tired of it?” Clara asked her best friend Harriett as they watched the acrobats flip through the night sky. Fire cascaded in fountains of blue and orange from the mouths of fire-breathers. Parrots squawked, lions prowled, and dancers spun in dizzying circles. When Clara was a little girl, she loved the color and noise of her people. She loved the adventure of growing up on the road—sleeping in the back of a wagon or in a tent pitched outside sparkling city gates. There were always new people to meet, new foods to try, and new places to see. But lately, she desperately wanted a home with four sturdy walls and a solid roof, somewhere she could retreat to when the world felt too crazy. Harriett didn’t answer, but held out her hand and said, “Come on, I have something to show you.” She led Clara away from the noisy crowds, through cobbled streets lit by glowing lanterns, and into the countryside beyond. Clara breathed in deeply. The lights and sounds of the circus didn’t reach them here. When they crested the top of a hill, Harriett said, “Look up.” Constellations of stars blazed above them like glowing paint splattered on a massive canvas. The moon hung like pounded silver amidst the brilliance, still and steady and radiant. Clara stared up in awe. “My dad told me once about the Creator,” Harriett said, “the one who made the stars and the moon. He told me that even if the world changes, and we change inside of it, the Creator stays as constant as the night sky.” Clara felt tears welling in her eyes. She desperately needed someone like this Creator, someone still and stable in the wild kaleidoscope of her life. “Do you think,” she asked, “the Creator would care about me? Do you think He could be like a home for me?” Her friend didn’t answer, but she didn’t need too. Suddenly Clara could feel a strong, steady presence all around them, wrapping her up like a blanket and holding her tight beneath the star-strewn sky. • Margaret Bellers • Does God’s presence feel like a safe, secure place to you? Why or why not? • Does your life ever feel as chaotic as a circus? While circuses can be fun sometimes, we all need stability in our lives, and we all need time and space to be still. God can provide that stillness and stability. He has no beginning and no end—He was there before the heavens, and He will endure after they pass away, because He created them. And God desires a relationship with His creation. In Jesus, the Creator Himself took on flesh and bones to dwell with us and, ultimately, to be a home for us (John 1:1-3, 14; 14:23). God loves you so much that Jesus died for you. And then He rose again— so now, if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit indwells us. Jesus is with us every moment, offering stability in the midst of the chaos. He will return one day to renew the heavens and the earth. Then we will finally see Him face-to-face, and we won’t ever feel overwhelmed or unsettled again. In the meantime, God invites us to spend time with Him, remembering His greatness and resting in His love. Consider taking a moment to sit in His stillness today—maybe even go outside if you can—and just focus on God’s presence with you. You can talk to Him about whatever is on your mind, or you can just be silent with Him. • If we know Jesus, God is our refuge in times of change (Psalm 46:1). He wants to help us navigate these times, and He provides direction through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to when you’re struggling, like Clara talked to Harriet in today’s allegorical story? For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithf...

READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; ROMANS 3:23-24; GALATIANS 2:11-21 Youth group camp had just finished, and as we all settled in with pillows for the long bus ride home, my friend (who I’ll call Samantha) solemnly shared a tidbit from her college-age counselor (who I’ll call Brynn): “Brynn told me she’d never written ‘I love so-and-so’ about any boy. Brynn also said she’d never worn a two-piece bathing suit.” I could see how the counselor’s words impressed Samantha, and how much she felt this was a standard Brynn had set. Samantha left camp believing she needed to follow Brynn’s example to walk God’s path for her own life. Hearing this, I felt uneasy, as if I didn’t measure up in a way I’d only just learned about. I had doodled “I love so-and-so” about crushes on my notebooks. And I remembered wearing a bikini swimsuit as a little girl. I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d somehow blown it, although I longed to stay close to God and I wasn’t even sure I needed to confess those acts as sins. Had those choices made me less holy? Or less holy than Brynn? Of course not! Over time, God showed me a deeper truth about holiness. When we put our trust in Jesus, we are believing He paid for our sins because He laid down His perfect, sinless life and then rose again after death. We are acknowledging we need Jesus to accomplish what we can’t do for ourselves: provide us with purity before God. Once we’ve trusted in Him, we’re set free from trying to obtain holiness by good deeds—which we couldn’t do anyway. While God’s Word guides us in establishing biblical convictions about dating, dressing, and other details, nothing we achieve—or avoid—changes our holiness. That can be found only in Jesus. • Allison Wilson Lee • Do you feel you’ve fallen short of God’s standards? God doesn’t want us to be weighed down by guilt and shame. And He doesn’t want us to strive for holiness out of pride or fear. Instead, He calls us to rest in the holiness of Jesus and learn from Him (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 10:14). Through His Spirit, His Word, and His people, God helps us discern right and wrong so we can confess and turn away from sin in our lives, and so we can be free from rules and obligations that aren’t from Him (Matthew 5:27-28; Colossians 2:8-23; 1 John 1:9). Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus. You can bring Him your questions and frustrations and hurts, confess any sins that come to mind, and ask Him to remind you that He loves you, has forgiven you, and is always with you. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. Colossians 1:22 (NLT)

READ: MATTHEW 4:1-11; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13; HEBREWS 4:14-16 It’s happened again. You promised yourself you wouldn’t sin in that way, but you have. For weeks you’ve been struggling with combating this temptation, but you keep falling for it. At times like these, it’s easy to think that God is furious with us. After all, He’s a just and holy God. Isn’t He sick and tired of this? While it’s true God is a holy God, He’s not unaware of our struggle. When Jesus was on this earth, He was tempted to sin too. Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He’s well acquainted with the pressure the devil puts on us. At one point, the enemy told Jesus to turn stones into bread after He hadn’t eaten for forty days. A piece of bread must’ve sounded like a gourmet feast! While Jesus didn’t fall for the lies, He still needed to resist the temptation. Temptation is hard to deal with. Nobody would deny it, not even God. But Hebrews 4:16 says we can approach God’s throne and find grace and mercy to help us. On our own, it’s impossible to resist the devil’s bait, but God will help us conquer the lure of whatever sin we’re trying to fight. Because Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and rise up from the grave, He’s not just sympathetic toward us—He’s empathetic (Hebrews 4:15). Being empathetic means being able to identify with or understand another’s situation or feelings. So, as we’re struggling with temptation, we don’t need to worry about God being stand-offish and without pity. Instead, He’s always empathetic, and He’s ready to help us whenever we call on Him. • Morgan A. Mitchell • Have you ever viewed God as being uncaring when you were struggling with sin? A lot of us assume this is how God feels about us when we’re tempted or when we’re sinning, but He is always filled with compassion for us. He loves us so much that Jesus died for us so we could be forgiven for all our sins— past, present, and future. How could remembering that Jesus empathizes with us, and He wants to help us, change the way we struggle with sin? • Do you think God will help you with the sins you struggle with? He absolutely will! Consider taking some time to be totally honest with Him and ask for His mercy, grace, and help. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 16:11; PHILIPPIANS 4:4; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 April Fools’ Day is biblical. Many would stare at me or raise an eyebrow if I said that, but it’s true. April Fools’ Day is a day when practical (not harmful) jokes are encouraged, and people spring them on each other left and right. While pranks can go too far, if done in the right spirit a good joke can cause a lot of laughter and fun. How is all of this biblical? While April Fools’ Day isn’t in the Bible, Proverbs 17:22 tells us that “a cheerful heart is good medicine.” God doesn’t want us to walk around solemn and dull all the time. He wants us to enjoy life, have fun, and take time to laugh. When Jesus was on earth He attended weddings (John 2:1-12), went to parties (Mark 2:13-17), and celebrated holidays (Luke 2:41; John 5:1). He spent time with friends and family, including children and babies. He didn’t just teach and preach; He also had fun. And remember, Jesus didn’t become human and live on earth—and ultimately pay for our sins by dying on the cross and rising from the grave— just to send us to live in a humdrum place for eternity. While we don’t know what the new heavens and new earth will be like exactly, we do know that we will enjoy feasting and singing with Jesus and with all those who have gone before us who were saved. Psalm 16:11 says God will fill us with “joy” and “eternal pleasures” in His presence! So don’t be afraid to have fun and enjoy yourself. Maybe this April Fools’ Day you’ll pull a prank and get everyone laughing. It’s okay to do so—as long as the recipient ends up having fun too! After all, everyone knows Jesus played an April Fools’ joke on Peter in Matthew 29:1-3. Just kidding—April fool! • Morgan A. Mitchell • Have you ever played a fun practical joke on someone, or had one played on you? What happened? • Have you ever seen a prank that didn’t make the recipient laugh or maybe even hurt someone? Remember, if a joke is only fun for one person, it’s not a good joke. If you’re considering playing a prank, slow down and think things through. God calls us to love others the way He loves us by considering their needs, interests, and feelings. And God helps us do this through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians you can talk to if you’ve experienced a hurtful prank, or if you’re not sure if a joke is a good one? A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

This is a special episode of Unlocked featuring not only Dylan and Natalie together (sort of ) but hosted by Josh, who produces each podcast episode! Since Josh began editing the podcast, he has ever-so-kindly taken the initiative to save a large variety of verbal missteps, mess-ups, repeats, and mistakes from Natalie and Dylan, and beautifully arranged them into a lovely bloopers episode made especially for today It’s unfiltered. It’s unpredictable. It’s Unlocked…and yeah, it’s kind of a mess. But it’s their mess. And we love them for it. Hit play if you dare. ️

READ: ROMANS 12:6-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-12; 1 TIMOTHY 4:12-14 Have you ever had a teacher, mentor, or parent speak into your life in a way that you will always remember? When I was a junior in high school, I was struggling with anxiety following an event that happened at school. It was a dark time in my life. I was feeling lonely, scared, and overwhelmed. Worst of all, I was feeling distant from God. A few weeks after this event, my Spanish teacher took me aside after class one day. She told me she had noticed me struggling these past few weeks. And she felt like God had put it on her heart to share something with me. She believed that the Holy Spirit had gifted me in the area of listening. And that I would continue to use this to serve others and bring joy to God. Before this moment, I had never thought that listening could be a gift from God. But then I realized that even in the midst of trials, I could use my God-given gifts to draw closer to Him. The way that I listened to other people’s stories became a way to honor God. Listening with empathy and humility could be a gift to my neighbors to reflect God’s love to them. God has given each of us unique gifts, and it is a great source of joy to be able to use those gifts to honor Him. Some of us have been given gifts such as wisdom, service, and generosity. These gifts, as well as many others, can be used to live out our calling to share God’s love by being Christlike in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Whether you realize it or not, God has created you uniquely and beautifully in His image (Genesis 1:27). And whether you feel gifted or not, God can and will work through your life for His good purposes. • Emily McDonough • Before Jesus came, the Spirit of God gave some people special aptitude for craftmanship or superhuman strength (Exodus 35:30–36:5; Judges 14:5-6). Then, after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, God the Father sent God the Holy Spirit to live inside everyone who puts their trust in Jesus. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift, and we can find lists of these gifts in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12. God has also given us our own unique personalities and natural abilities, and He often works through these as well. How has God gifted you? How could you use your giftedness to show His love to others this week? • Have you noticed any gifts from God revealed in others? How can you encourage these people and speak into what you’ve witnessed in their lives? God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 139:13-16; EPHESIANS 3:17-19 Lately I have had one skin issue right after another. Just when one blemish starts to fade and I start to feel better about my appearance, another appears on my face. As I was thinking about how imperfect I feel and how I can never seem to have flawless skin, I started thinking about how God accepts us, with all of our imperfections, and loves us fully. Acne issues? God sees you as beautiful. Can’t stop worrying? God sees your concern and wants to help you with your burden. Struggling with a sin? Even in your temptation and sin, God loves you and cares about you. He will help you. We are never going to be perfect, in any way, until Jesus returns and makes all things new. Not in our appearances and not in our thoughts, words, or actions. We mess up on a daily basis. Even when we’re striving to love like God loves us, we fail. Not only do we sin, but we experience skin issues and illnesses too. We feel down about the way we look. We can’t be everything that we want to be. Yet, we are always going to be wholly, fully, incredibly loved by our God. He is with us, and He promises to one day put an end to all our suffering and struggles. And even now, He sees past any imperfections we have and accepts us. • Emily Acker • Throughout the Bible, we see God’s great love and care for us—a love that does not change based on our sins, our struggles, our appearance, our accomplishments, or anything else. It was because of God’s love that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us—so now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is forgiven, brought near to God, and has the hope of being transformed more and more into Jesus’s likeness until the day we are finally perfected at Jesus’s glorious return (Philippians 1:6). If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page. • What do you consider your biggest flaw? How do you think God sees that flaw? Remember, He as compassion on you, and your flaws don’t affect the love that He has for you, not one bit. • When you see the imperfections of others, do you ever feel that they are beyond God’s love? It’s normal to feel this way sometimes. Yet, how can remembering God’s love for you, despite your imperfections of all kinds, affect the way you see others? (Romans 15:7) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 4:1-11; HEBREWS 4:14-16 "We need to start cleaning out and organizing.” I groan when I hear my mom say those words. Digging through stuff, sorting, and deciding what to keep, give away, or throw away are some of my least favorite activities. It’s not that I mind getting rid of what I don’t need; I just don’t care for the actual process. It requires me to rifle through drawers, organizers, and containers, thinking about whether I need or want this, whether I should keep it or just get rid of it, and why I even had the item in the first place. There are times when we’re walking with Jesus and He calls us to do some purging and cleaning too. Bad habits and sins creep into our lives, even if we don’t mean for them to. But when we realize those sins have appeared, we can confess them to God and remember how, in Christ, we can count ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:10-12). This may lead us to do a physical clean out, such as getting rid of music, magazines, books, video games, apps, or movies that make it difficult for us to view God, ourselves, and the world the way He does. Or it may be a figurative clean out, like turning away from attitudes or thoughts that don’t line up with God’s character. This can be difficult. However, we have a Savior who knows what we’re going through. Even though Jesus is perfect and sinless, He was tempted by the devil. But Jesus refused to give in to his temptations. Our Savior is always there to remind us that He has already freed us from sin through His death and resurrection, and He will help us overcome these difficulties and become more and more like Him (Romans 6:18; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 4:7). Sometimes we have to do a clean out, but thankfully we have someone by our side to guide us. • Morgan A. Mitchell • Is there anything in your life that’s making you feel far from God? If you know Jesus, nothing can ever separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Yet so often we find that things like hatred, lust, and unforgiveness have snuck into our lives. Consider taking some time to do an inventory of your heart, asking God to help you notice bad habits and sins that have accumulated that you need to deal with. You can confess all of these to Him, resting in Jesus’s sure forgiveness and trusting Him to help you move forward in righteousness. Remember, in Christ you are dead to sin, and you don’t have to let any sin overpower you. In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians in your life you can talk to about your struggles? Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 33:1-11; LUKE 15:11-24 When I think of Esau, I picture a smelly, hairy, revenge-seeking man (Genesis 27). As the firstborn twin of Isaac and Rebekah, he is tricked and mistreated by his younger brother Jacob. One day, Esau is very hungry after going on a long hunting trip and getting nothing. Jacob sees how hungry Esau is and offers to trade him his inheritance for a bowl of soup. Esau makes a rash decision and agrees. Later, Jacob dresses up like Esau and tricks their elderly father into giving him Esau’s blessing. When their mother, Rebekah, realizes that Esau is planning to get revenge on Jacob and kill him, she sends Jacob far away. I’ve always imagined that over the years of separation, Esau harbors hatred for his brother, and I’m not surprised at Jacob’s cautious approach when he returns home. However, as Jacob presents gifts to his brother and bows before him, Esau runs to meet him, embraces him, and throws his arms around his neck and kisses him. I am struck by how similar Esau’s greeting is to the father in the parable of the prodigal son. Both Jacob and the prodigal son had seriously messed up and had left behind broken relationships that seemed irreparable, but they are both received with love, grace, and generosity. The words used in Genesis 33:4 to describe Esau’s reception of Jacob are almost identical to the way Jesus describes how the father receives the prodigal son in Luke 15:20. The father in Jesus’s parable is a picture of God and how He longs to welcome back His lost children. I never really thought of Esau as a picture of God, but Jacob did. He told Esau, “I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me” (Genesis 33:10). God desires to welcome back those who have left Him and even Hurt him. In fact, that’s why Jesus went to the cross. We’ve all sinned against God. When we rejected His love and turned away from Him, it grieved Him, but He still loved us so much that Jesus came to die for our sins and rise from the grave. He made the way for us to be forgiven and come home to Him. He is gracious and forgiving, offering His generous blessings to those who humble themselves and return to Him. And that’s also how God calls His followers to treat each other—with love, grace, and generosity. If we do that, we will reflect the face of God. • Mary Rozendal • Can you think of a time you experienced forgiveness, whether from another person or from God? What was that like? • Can you think of a time you felt like you were far away from God? We all feel like this from time to time, but God longs to run to us and welcome us back home. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you can know that nothing will ever be able to separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page. • Is there someone in your life you’re struggling to forgive? How could remembering all that God has forgiven us of, and how Jesus was willing to die on the cross to give us this forgiveness, help us extend forgiveness to others? • Consider taking some time to reread Genesis 33:1-11 and Luke 15:11-24 slowly. Do you notice any other similarities or differences between these two stories? • Perhaps Jesus wanted His hearers to remember Esau and Jacob when He told the parable of the prodigal son. Maybe He wanted to show us that God’s love is better than anything we’ve ever known, because when we compare Esau to the father of the prodigal son, we find some key differences. (1) Esau experiences an attitude change toward his brother—he goes from wanting to kill Jacob for stealing his blessing to embracing him. But the prodigal’s father shows his son love and compassi...

READ: PSALMS 46:1-3; 102:25-27; MALACHI 3:6; JAMES 1:17 The world changed for everyone in 2020. I know my family experienced some big changes in that year. Then 2021 brought even more changes for us, and in 2022 I lost a family member. Looking back to 2019 now, I had no idea what was to come. I never could have guessed the ways that my life would change between then and now. Change is constant. New leaders come into power, family dynamics shift…there is nothing on this earth that we can be sure will stay the same. God, though—He is never going to change. He is the same God who was present and working in Noah’s day. He guided Noah, giving him instructions to build the ark, and He took care of the ark even in the flood (Genesis 7:1-5; 8:13-22). What peace we can have in knowing that our God is our constant! When a former friend becomes someone entirely different and they’re no longer the support they used to be, we can cry out to God. When a family member gets sick, we can rely on God to be with us. When everything seems to be falling apart, and when life for us and everyone around us is more of a struggle than it was before, we can know that the God who led the Israelites out of Egypt is the same God who is in control today (Exodus 14). He is still reigning, and He sees all of our pain. We can have hope because He loves us, and that love is the reason Jesus died and rose again to free us from sin and death. He will never change, and once we’ve put our trust in Jesus to save us, His Holy Spirit will help us learn to trust Him in every situation. Through the changes that I have gone through over the past four years, God has continued to work in my life, and today I can say that I feel closer to Him. I have seen how He doesn’t change. His love for me is always there. His peace is always a part of my life. • Emily Acker • Jesus has promised to be with us through all the changes we go through, and He invites us to take time to rest in the peace that comes from knowing that He loves us and He doesn’t change. When life feels turbulent and chaotic, how can you take time to remember God’s faithful love and presence? Do you have any favorite Bible verses or stories that help you meditate on these truths? Are there any trusted Christians in your life you can spend time with, people who care about you and remind you of God’s unchanging character? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

READ: ECCLESIASTES 2:11; MATTHEW 6:19–7:12; COLOSSIANS 3:17 When someone talks about their achievements in a video game, people who share their passion for gaming will often celebrate with them! But other people’s reaction might just be to shrug and dismiss it based on the assumption that: “Those types of accomplishments don’t really matter.” Often, the people who feel this way prefer to spend their time and energy on things such as their career, physical appearance, grades, or any number of other pursuits. But are any of those things really that much more valuable than video games? God placed in us a desire to achieve. A desire to work, and to build, and to strive for things. This is a good desire. But when sin entered the world, this desire was corrupted. Our work became tainted by our greed, pride, lust, vanity, and other sinful desires. And, in the end, many of the accomplishments we work so hard for won’t last. But the good news is, our work does not have to be meaningless. In Matthew 6, Jesus says the treasures we store up on earth will all pass away. But the treasures we store up in heaven will last. He draws a clear distinction between earthly accomplishments and heavenly accomplishments. When we do the work of God’s kingdom for His glory, we are storing up treasure in heaven. When our work flows from our love for God and for the people around us, we produce fruit that will last (Matthew 22:36-40; John 15:16). It’s not wrong to work hard to achieve things. But it’s important to keep in mind the difference between storing up treasures on earth and storing up treasures in heaven. Remember, everything Jesus did—including His death and resurrection—flowed from His love for the Father, and for us. If we know Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in us, so we can love like Jesus loves as we work for God’s glory. • Josiah Eising • How can resting in Jesus’s love for us affect the way we work and what we choose to work on? • Our motivation for work becomes twisted when we get wrapped up in temporary, created things and forget our eternal Creator. God is always working. He designed us to work, and He invites us to enjoy doing the good things He made us to do—with Him! When Jesus returns, everyone who has put their trust in Him will live with Him forever in the new heavens and new earth, and our work will no longer be tainted by sin. If you want to dig deeper, read Genesis 1:26–2:3, 15; Isaiah 65:17–25; John 5:17; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 John 2:15-17. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (CSB)

READ: ISAIAH 55:1; LUKE 5:29-32; COLOSSIANS 3:12-15 "Why is there an empty seat?” Banji asked after swallowing a warm bite of soup. “Is someone else joining us?” Banji, Laz, and Sera enjoyed the food laid out in front of them on the mysterious table in the middle of the darkness. The man’s light still encircled them, and it even softened the sounds of the battle beyond. But Banji was right; there was an empty seat at the other end of the table, directly across from the man who had called them here. “As a matter of fact,” he said, “I have invited someone else. My table is not yet complete.” The three looked at each other, curious and concerned as to who could be coming. They hadn’t encountered anyone else in the dark abyss. “Ahh, here he is now!” At the man’s greeting, the three hurriedly turned around to see who was approaching and gasped. The crimson and gold cloak signified that the boy who approached was an enemy soldier. He looked right at the blue insignia on Laz’s chest and paled. “Why is he here?” Sera demanded. “He’s a part of the army that’s attacking us!” Their host looked at her but moved forward to guide the late arrival to his seat next to Sera and Laz. “Manul, I’m so glad you came,” he said. To the rest of them he continued, “All are welcome at my table. My rest and blessings are available to anyone who seeks me.” “But you don’t know what he’s done!” Laz exclaimed as Banji scooted his chair away from his enemy. Manul’s face hardened at the rebuke, but he remained seated. “I know what you all have done,” the man countered. “And still, I have invited you.” Laz turned his head down, ashamed of his past. “But,” the man continued, “here there is no guilt or fear. Only love and mercy. Each of you heard me calling your name, urging you to be still in my presence and bringing you away from your wrongdoing and into my forgiveness.” An awkward silence fell across the table. None of them knew how to respond. Sera resolved to poking around her bowl, suddenly not wanting to eat a thing. Banji and Laz didn’t look anywhere but at their own food, only daring an occasional glance at each other. “You could just talk to each other,” the host suggested. “You are no longer enemies now that you are united before me. And the better you know each other, the better you can love one another.” Sera met Manul’s gaze, but quickly looked away. “I’m Sera. And this is Laz and Banji,” she said, nodding to her companions. Manul grinned, and all three smiled back. • Zoe Brickner • In today’s allegorical story, we see a picture of the unity made possible through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. God’s constant message throughout all of Scripture is that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus is able to have a personal relationship with Him. Prophecies in the Old Testament looked ahead to the day when Jews and Gentiles would worship together. And often, when the Old Testament talks about tables, it’s looking forward to the Lord’s Table. On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He took bread and wine and gave them to His disciples, telling them to continue to do this together in remembrance of Him. We are all invited to Jesus’s Table, no matter what we’ve done, because we’re all sinners. So when we take the bread and the cup together, it’s not only a reminder that Jesus has saved us from our own sins by dying on the cross in our place, but also that He unifies us with all believers. What can the Lord’s Table reveal about God’s mercy and grace? How does it encourage us to view each other? • The unity Jesus calls us to is impossible without His Holy Spirit. Thankfully, God has given the Spirit to everyone who has put their trust in Jesus. Consider...

READ: PSALMS 23:1-6; 46:8-11; ISAIAH 25:6; LAMENTATIONS 3:24-26 This darkness wasn’t just pitch black like the night or chilled like a cave deep within the terrain, no, it was consuming, alive, and predatory. It crept up on Laz, Banji, and Sera as they huddled close, petrified they’d lose each other in whatever this chasmic place was. Their swords were gone, and they’d been stripped of their armor. They were utterly defenseless. “What is this place?” Banji exclaimed. Sera immediately shushed him, but he ignored her. “Where—” “Listen,” Laz said. Then they heard it. The harsh battle cries, the clanging of swords on shields, the crying. All emanating from the thick darkness that curled around them like a swathe of fabric being draped over the landscape. “We need to get back,” Sera said. “Get our weapons and get out of this—this abyss.” Something like a brush of fingertips caressed Banji’s neck, then the heaviness of the task pressed down on his shoulders. “I can feel it,” he murmured. “The hopelessness, our enemies surrounding us somewhere out there.” They trekked across the charred, rocky landscape in silence. But to where, they had no idea. Hours passed, but nothing around them changed. “Maybe we should stop,” Banji suggested. “Don’t you remember what the elders reminded us to do?” “Be still,” answered Laz, “and know that I am God.” Sera shook her head. “We can’t. We have to press on. That saying is just meant to be an encouragement.” “What if we just pause for a few minutes,” said Laz, “and really take in our surroundings. We’ve been moving so fast, we’ve hardly looked around, let alone caught our breath.” Reluctantly, Sera obliged, and the three of them shut their eyes. They were surprised to find the darkness in their minds wasn’t burdensome now. Their bodies felt a bit lighter too. “Look!” Banji said. Sera and Laz quickly opened their eyes and saw a faint, white glow illuminating a table. A robed figure sang wordless hymns that carried over the noises of the war that raged beyond this place. As they approached the table, they saw it was completely set. Beams of light radiated off the man, creating a bulwark around them. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said with a smile. “This table has been prepared for you. Come, eat.” “Thank you, but we don’t have time,” Sera said. “We have a battle to fight.” Before the man could answer, Laz asked, “Who are you?” “The one who tells you to ‘be still.’ Come and sit, join me.” They looked down, noticing the bowls of soup and platters of bread, both of which had steam rising into the cold air. The man said, “Don’t worry about the battle and evil in your world. Feast with me.” • Zoe Brickner • Have you ever felt like the three friends in this allegorical story—hopeless, surrounded by evil, or like you were fighting a losing battle? In Psalm 46:10, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (WEB). Some Bible translations say, “Stop fighting, and know that I am God” (CSB). Why do you think God calls us to do this? • Jesus is the Light of the World. He was willing to die on the cross for our sins, and then He rose from the grave to save us. On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He promised us His peace in chaos and His joy in suffering as we wait for His return. God invites us to sit and rest at a table He has prepared before us because the battle against sin and evil is already won! He wants us to enjoy His presence no matter our surroundings, and through Jesus’s death and resurrection He provides us with abundantly more blessings than we could fathom. How great is He! Consider taking a moment to pray, telling God about the chaos and suffering you’ve b...

READ: ROMANS 8:26-30; HEBREWS 13:20-21; JAMES 1:2-8 "I don’t know, Lord,” I said. This was two weeks ago. I was sitting in my car before worship practice. For the last two years, I have been following the Lord on a wild journey. I switched churches to lead a youth group. It has been an amazing ride, but recently I’ve been feeling discouraged. I’ve been missing going to church with my parents. I’ve been wrestling with doubt. I’ve been feeling stuck. But I know the Lord led me to where I am. He has made it so clear. Yet, I’ve been wondering if the devil is just trying to keep me discouraged, or if the Lord is stirring my soul because it’s time for a new endeavor. So I asked the Lord, “Can you please confirm my calling again?” The worship practice and the church service came and went, but nothing happened. And then one of the old ladies in the church approached me. She said, “I was talking to Peggy, and I told her that I thought you had said you were called here.” A little light when off in my head when she used the word called. And I went home thanking God for answering my prayer. But that wasn’t all. I had a phone call where another member of the church confirmed it. And then two more people came up to me this Sunday—one to tell me I’ve been doing the right thing, and another who literally said, “Today confirms that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.” I was shocked. My heart has been so full since Sunday morning. The Lord answered my request so clearly that it nearly takes my breath away. That is the kind of God we serve. He calls us. But then He also listens to us and supports us. Will we feel discouraged? Certainly. But He will follow through. • Natty Maelle • Throughout our lives, God invites us to ask Him for guidance—and we can even ask Him to confirm that guidance. He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Are you struggling to discern what God is calling you to do about a situation in your life? If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, you’ve been given the opportunity to talk directly to God (Hebrews 4:14-16). Consider taking some time today to talk to Him. • God frequently works through other Christians to confirm what He is calling us to do in the different seasons of our lives. Do you have someone in your life who could help you discern the Lord’s guidance? Like a friend, mentor, pastor, parent, or counselor? (James 3:13-18) Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will. Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

READ: GENESIS 3; ROMANS 8:19-39; GALATIANS 3:13-14 I love trees. They’re strong, and beautiful, and their shade feels great on a hot day. The real reason I like them so much, though, has nothing to do with their physical characteristics. I love trees because they remind me of God’s redemption. How do they do that? Well, to explain we have to go back to the very beginning. When God created the world, everything was perfect and life-giving. He told the first man and woman they could eat from any tree, except one. If they ate from that one tree, they would be choosing to disobey God and reject His good ways. Sadly, they made the wrong choice, and the world has been broken ever since. Through one tree and one decision, death, pain, and disease entered creation and affected everything. But thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. Generations after that first sin, Jesus, the perfect Son of God, was born into our broken world and lived among us. Then, He died on a wooden cross and rose again, destroying the curse of sin and death completely. Peter, one of Jesus’s followers, described it this way: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Do you see it? God’s plan was to take the very thing through which sin had entered the world in the first place—a tree—and use it to defeat sin and brokenness forever. In Jesus’s death on the cross, we see God’s redemption. To redeem literally means “to buy back.” When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the ultimate price to buy back all of His creation—including us. He is restoring creation into something beautiful for His good purposes. However, until the day Jesus returns, we all have parts of our lives that are still broken or painful—a relationship, an illness, a mistake we’ve made—and often, we just want those things to go away. But Jesus promises to be with us, even in the pain, giving us comfort, strength, and hope. We can trust that God’s plans are so much bigger and better than ours. No matter what you’ve been through, He can redeem it and use it for His glory and your good. • Faith Lewis • Today, consider talking to God about some of the hard situations in your life, and don’t be afraid to ask Him to show you how He is redeeming them. In addition to talking to God, is there a trusted Christian (such as a parent, friend, or pastor) who could help you see some of the ways God might be working through your circumstances, and maybe help you in other ways too? He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. “By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (CSB)

READ: 2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 I just started a Bible-reading plan that encouraged me—encouraged me—to skim through the chapters that I was going to be reading. This plan lists so many chapters to read per day that it suggests you simply fly through them, get the main idea of the passage, and then move on. That is very different from the way I usually read my Bible—and the way I’ve heard I “should” read it. But, as I’ve been following this Bible-reading plan over the course of recent months, I have found a greater appreciation for all that Scripture contains. I have found joy in reading through it and getting “the whole story.” I can see the benefits of skimming. If you would like to get the basic message of a passage and a general idea of its contents, you can read it quickly and maybe skip over some passages that are filled with lists of hard-to-pronounce names. There is no one right way to study the Bible, but it’s important for us to be in the Bible regularly. There is so much to be gained by reading God’s message to us! We can see the beauty of the gospel—how God pursues His people over and over, culminating in Jesus’s death and resurrection. All of Scripture points to Jesus, and how He made the way for us to be with Him forever. Whether you move slowly through a passage, highlighting the parts that stand out to you, or you hurry through multiple chapters, you can see the ways that God works and the love that He has for you. There are many ways to study this amazing book, and we can each find the way that works for us in each season of our lives. • Emily Acker • What is your favorite way to study the Bible? Are there any tools that you have found helpful? • Have you ever tried skimming a large passage of the Bible to get the big picture? Did you discover anything you hadn’t noticed before? • What are some benefits of skimming large passages of the Bible? What are some benefits of studying each passage slowly and carefully? For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)

READ: DANIEL 6:16-23; MATTHEW 19:26; ROMANS 1:20; 1 PETER 1:3-5 The sky at night is one of the most amazing sights in the world. Thousands of stars hang against a dark sky, with the moon lighting up the earth on a clear night. In a word, it’s beautiful. But have you ever thought about how difficult it would be for a human to recreate that? We don’t know how to hang one star, let alone thousands. We couldn’t build a moon even if we tried. The Milky Way, the endless galaxies, the aurora borealis, the planets—each of these are too complex for us to create. However, God can and did create all this. Humans have limitations and boundaries. But God doesn’t—nothing is too hard for Him. One of the attributes we use to describe God is omnipotent, which means all-powerful. There may be times in our lives when we think that the circumstances we’re facing are too hard even for God. But God’s power is unlimited. It was His power that created the world, shut the mouths of the lions in their den, and raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus has always been fully God, and when He became fully human, He willingly took on our weakness. The all-powerful God let us nail Him to a cross—why? Because He loves us, and He longs to forgive us and bring us close to Himself. We don’t serve a weak, helpless God who can’t do anything. We serve a God who is all-powerful. He is stronger and more loving than we can imagine. • Morgan A. Mitchell • Have you ever seen something in nature that left you in awe of God’s power? What was it? • Does it ever seem strange to you that Jesus has all power, yet He willingly took on our weakness? What does this reveal about God’s love? If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 53; Matthew 26:50-56; Philippians 2:6-11. • What are some ways you’ve seen God’s power in your own life or in the lives of people around you? If you can’t think of anything, consider asking God to bring examples to mind. You might notice His answer immediately, or in a few days or weeks. “Oh, Lord God! You yourself made the heavens and earth by your great power and with your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for you!” Jeremiah 32:17 (CSB)

READ: MATTHEW 5:21-22; JAMES 2:10; ROMANS 3:23-24 Every year in the college basketball tournament called March Madness, four sets of teams, numbered one to sixteen, are assigned to play each other. In each of the first sets, number 16 plays number 1, number 15 plays number 2, etc. It seems each game should be easy to predict. Just pick the better ranked team. But watching a lower-ranked team beat a higher-ranked team is why the tournament is so much fun. And it’s why nobody has ever predicted all the paths to the championship game. Something unique to March Madness is that the loser in each game goes home. That’s right. One loss and you’re out. Imagine the same rule applied to other sports. In baseball, you lose one game and your team is out for the season. In football, one loss and it’s see you next fall. Talk about pressure! What if the same rule applied in high school? One word spelled wrong in an essay. One error in a geometric proof. There go your chances for graduation, much less college admission. We can all be glad that life is usually not that severe. But God is. Not because He’s mean, but because He’s perfect. What are the odds of living a sinless life? Only one person ever has: Jesus, the Son of God. Sin can be thought, word, or deed. It’s easy for me not to murder someone. Harder to not get verbally angry. But even harder to not have a bad thought. Not one. Ever. My only hope is Jesus. He died on the cross so that God could declare me sinless. Because I’m not. He died so that God could declare you sinless. Because you’re not. But He loves us, and Jesus came to die and rise again because God wants to forgive us so that we can be with Him forever. All we have to do is put our trust in Jesus as Lord. • Carol Raj • We all sin many times a day, and in fact, we’re all born sinners (Psalm 51:5). Yet, if we know Jesus, all our sins are forgiven—past, present, and future. God has justified us and declared us righteous because of Jesus’s shed blood. What’s more, we are now dead to sin and alive to the Holy Spirit! That means sin doesn’t have to overpower us. And when Jesus returns, we won’t struggle with sin anymore. But until then, God calls us to confess our sin to Him often. While it’s impossible to confess every single sin, it’s good to take time to remember Jesus’s sacrifice for us and the power He gives us to turn away from sin and back toward Him (Psalm 19:12-14). Consider taking a moment to confess any sins that come to mind and thank God for His grace. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (CSB)

READ: PSALM 33:6-15; HEBREWS 13:8 Rain was in the forecast again today, But there’s none falling, only clouds. The weather never seems to be What we’re expecting, what is said to be coming. She told me that we’d get together, Then she canceled at the last minute. Plans never seem to work out How I’m expecting, how I think they will. I saved my money, ready for this, But the price is too high now. The cost doesn’t ever stay the same, It’s not what I’m expecting, it’s too much for me. You are there and I wait for You to change, I wait for You to fail me, to disappear. You never change, not even a bit, You are constant, the one I can trust. • Emily Acker • Sometimes it can feel like everything around us is constantly changing. What are some changes you’ve been faced with lately, whether in the world or in your own life? How do you feel about them? • How does it make you feel to know that God is always the same? It’s okay if you don’t feel instantly happy or peaceful. God invites us to be totally honest with Him. When others disappoint you or things aren’t as you thought they’d be, it’s hard. But God is always at your side, always offering support and hope. After all, Jesus died and rose again to save us. He promises to return one day and restore all the brokenness sin has caused in and around us. Until then, He is always with us. When we look to the cross, we can know that His love never changes. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)

READ: JAMES 5:13-20; 1 JOHN 5:13-15 As a freshman student attending college in the hub of Nashville, Tennessee, I took it upon myself to explore the best coffee stops in the area. One afternoon I happened to visit a small, rustic coffee shop run by a local church. Upon entering, the first thing that caught my attention was a large bulletin board that stretched along one side of the seating area. The bold letters on the sign above it read Prayer Wall. After ordering, I paused to read through the dozens of prayers people had posted. Prayers for healed relationships, for addictions, for healing, for children, for love, for peace. My heart hurt to feel the emotion behind the words of those expressing so much vulnerability, pain, hope, and fear…I whispered a silent prayer over every card I read, knowing there are many more brothers and sisters in Christ who have done the same. This mere ten-minute experience nearly brought me to tears. Oh so beautiful is this reminder of the power and influence of prayer! How amazing is it to have the ability to intercede directly on behalf of others? To be united with so many in the knowledge and faith that God hears every single word, every thought, every desire of our hearts! Each request penned in faith speaks to the knowledge of the Christian that these prayers are not in vain. The Father is present, and He listens, and He loves. He cares so much about us and the things we go through that Jesus came to live among us, to make the Father known to us, and ultimately to die for us on the cross and rise from the grave so that we could be in relationship with God. Brothers and sisters, this is the God we serve! A God of unchanging love and unmatched power. My own prayer, as I left the coffee shop that day and as I go forward today, is that we as the church never forget what a powerful and life-changing gift that is. • Eliana Canfield • Have you ever experienced God answering a prayer? What happened? • The Bible is full of stories of God answering prayers in amazing ways; there is no shortage of wonders that God has done to answer the prayers of His children, for He delights in us. If you want to explore a few of these stories, read Exodus 33:12-23; 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Acts 12:1-19. • In addition to stories of God answering prayer in amazing ways, in the book of Psalms we hear from people who feel like God is far-off and doesn’t hear them or care about them (Psalms 13, 22, 44, 77, 88, and others). Why do you think the Bible includes prayers like these? So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

READ: MARK 10:13-16 Even though I would be one among a crowd of thousands, I was completely confident I could meet the President of the United States of America. As a child, I joined one of my classes in visiting a political rally. We drove a couple of hours to hear the current president speak as he campaigned for a second term. On the way to be dropped off for the field trip, I announced to my mom that I’d brought a special journal in which I planned to ask the president to sign his autograph. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity! Of course, I didn’t get his autograph. I didn’t get within 100 yards of the president. Our student group stood with scores of other attendees, prevented from reaching the president not only by the mass of people but by barricades and security guards too. I had high hopes of meeting the president, although I suspect the adults around me knew I’d never return home with that desired autograph. Yet, I wonder if that’s the kind of childlike faith Jesus wanted for His followers when He told them to “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” (Mark 10:15). Receiving His Kingdom requires faith in Jesus as our Savior—as the one who lived a perfect life, died in our place, and then rose again. It requires trusting in a big God who promises to purify us from our sins, give us life as new creations, and provide the way for us to have a relationship with Him. Trusting our lives to Jesus gives us a new identity, a new autograph of our own: children of God. Little children dare to hope in extraordinary ways, believing almost anything is possible. Like little children, we can dare to hope and believe that God will fulfill all of His promises. Because in Jesus, our greatest hopes—and our greatest needs—are fulfilled. • Allison Wilson Lee • When we put our trust in Jesus, we are turning to Him to receive forgiveness and follow Him, instead of going our own, independent ways (you can find more about this on our "Know Jesus" page). What do you think it means to “receive the kingdom of God like a little child”? • What holds you back from deeper hope in Jesus—such as doubts, fears, or past disappointments? God wants to help us grow in our faith, and He invites us to be totally honest with Him about how we struggle to trust Him and to ask for His help (Mark 9:24). Consider taking some time to talk to Him now. “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 (NIV)

READ: ESTHER 4:1-17; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57 In the book of Esther, a young Jewish orphan named Esther is living in captivity in Persia, being raised by her older cousin, Mordecai. Esther is most likely a teenager when she becomes the wife of a powerful Persian king. She keeps her true identity a secret until Mordecai learns of a horrible plot to destroy the Jewish people: a high-ranking official named Haman has convinced the king to order that all Jews be killed on a set day. So Mordecai asks Esther to intervene by revealing that she is a Jew and begging the king to spare their people. Eventually Esther agrees to help, and because of Esther’s courage, the king stops the genocide plot and gives the Jewish people throughout Persia license to defend themselves and defeat their enemies. This victory is still celebrated by Jewish people each year at the holiday called Purim. In the book of Esther, we see how God saves His people. Mordecai implies that God is at work in making Esther queen, and he is confident the Jewish people will be saved even if Esther remains silent. Then Esther asks her people to fast before she goes to the king. But no one in the entire book mentions God by name. Jesus says clearly, “the Scriptures point to me” (John 5:39). So how can a book that doesn’t even mention God point forward to Christ? Let’s take a closer look. Haman, the enemy of God’s people, casts lots to choose a day to destroy them and pays money into the royal treasury to fund his evil plot (Esther 3:7-11). Similarly, Judas is paid thirty silver coins to turn Jesus over to His enemies, and soldiers cast lots to take Jesus’s garments (Matthew 26:14-15; 27:35). Both Mordecai and Jesus are sentenced to unfair deaths that are excruciating and public—Mordecai to be impaled on a pole, and Jesus to be crucified (Esther 5:14). But Mordecai is spared while his enemy, Haman, is killed in his place, and then Mordecai is exalted to a high position in the royal court and given a crown (Esther 8:15). Because of Esther’s and Mordecai’s acts of bravery and honesty, their people are safe. Jesus, however, is not spared. He goes to the cross, but when He dies, He defeats our enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Then, raised to life, Jesus is exalted and seated at the right hand of God, the ultimate King (Romans 8:34). Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, everyone who trusts in Jesus is spared from destruction and welcomed into His victory. And that gives us a reason to celebrate every day. • Amber Vanderhoof • What questions do you have about the book of Esther? Who are trusted Christians you can ask? “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (NLT)

READ: ROMANS 8:16-17, 28-39; EPHESIANS 2:1-10; 1 PETER 5:8-11 I can’t do this. I’m worthless. I’m a failure. I’ll never be enough. Sometimes our minds can be our own worst enemy, telling us things that we know deep down aren’t true, yet we can’t help but believe them anyway. We may know the truth of what God says about us in our hearts, but the whispers keep coming back, drawing us in and tearing us apart. How can we stop believing the lies when it seems like they’re all we hear? It’s simple really. To combat the lies that fill our minds every day, we can focus on God’s truth. Throughout our lives, we all struggle with self-esteem or self-doubt, so it’s important that we continually remind ourselves of who our Father says we are. Because, once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have a new identity. Through His death and resurrection, we are redeemed. All our sins have been forgiven, and we have been given a new life. This is the truth about you: You are loved. You don’t have to be perfect; you’re already enough through Jesus. You are chosen. You are courageous; you don’t have to live in fear. You are uniquely made, created with a purpose. You are a child of God, and you are never alone.* To help you remember what God says about you as you face the never-ending barrage of lies throughout your life, consider taking a piece of paper and writing down who God says you are. Maybe you need to remember some of what I’ve already mentioned in the list above. Or maybe the reminders you need are different, ones that I haven’t even touched on. I suggest reading through Ephesians to begin learning the truth about your identity in Christ. Take your time and write down whatever you personally need to remember. Then tape that paper up somewhere you’ll see it every day. Read it aloud. Ponder it. And remember. Remind yourself daily of God’s truth, and the lying whispers will start to fade. • Rebekah Scott • What are some lies the enemy often whispers in your mind? Can you think of any truths from God’s Word that counter those lies? • Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you find Bible verses and passages that reveal how God sees you and remind you of who you truly are? *Psalm 139:1-16; Romans 8:16-17, 28-39; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5 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 3:1 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 6:31-34; 22:37-39; 28:18-20; 1 PETER 4:8-11 When I was in my final year of high school, I dreaded the moment when people asked me, “Do you know what you want to do?” It felt like something was wrong with me when I replied, “I don’t know.” There were so many different paths I could take—how could I ever figure out what God was calling me to? I wanted to serve the Lord but had no clue what exactly He wanted me to do. Eventually, I buckled down, held my breath, and made a choice about what to pursue after high school. I’m still not sure where God will take me on the path I’ve chosen, but I trust that He’s leading the way. One thing that has been helpful is that my perspective on how I serve the Lord has changed. You see, in high school, I was obsessed with trying to figure out what lifelong career God wanted me to commit to. However, I have since learned that calling is not so much about what God has called you to—but who He has called you to. Ever since humans first rejected God and sin entered the world as a result, God has been on a mission to bring the world back to Himself. He sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. Jesus defeated sin and death by rising to life, making the way for us to be forgiven and made new by the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! And now, the final part of God’s master plan is underway—as we wait for the day Jesus will return and renew the heavens and the earth, we are called to encourage and teach others to come to God through Christ. All along, people have been the focus of this rescue operation, so people are the focus of our callings. God is calling each and every one of us to be a part of His beautiful mission to bring His redeeming love to people throughout the world. • Emma Schoessow • Thinking about our future can sometimes be stressful. But we find freedom in the good news of Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. We get to hand over our worries to God and take part in His mission. How could remembering God’s love—and how Jesus has already done all that was needed to save and redeem us—help relieve the pressure in your life? • First Peter 4:10 says, “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” What spiritual gifts and natural abilities or talents has God given you? How could you use these to serve others? “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

READ: ROMANS 10:14-15; EPHESIANS 2:10; 2 TIMOTHY 4:2 In the year 1838, near Gainesville, Alabama, a girl named Maria Fearing was born into slavery. While she was still a kid, she heard her white master talking about the children in Africa who had never heard the gospel. This fact stuck in Maria’s mind for the rest of her life, and impacting the lives of children for God’s glory became her calling. After the American Civil War, Maria became a free woman. Though she was already an adult and past the age most people would go to school, Maria learned to read and write. She then became a teacher. For many years she invested in the lives of young people with her teaching, but when she turned 56, she sensed God was calling her to take her ministry to a new place. Never one to let age stop her, Maria set sail for Africa with a group of other missionaries. For the next twenty years, she fought for the freedom of those around her. Maria set up a home as a safe place for orphan girls and girls who were previously trapped in physical slavery, and she translated and taught the Bible so they could be free from spiritual slavery to sin. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He offers us freedom from slavery to sin and death. And once we’ve received that freedom, His Holy Spirit lives in us, spurring us on to see others set free too. This is the same Holy Spirit that empowered Maria to do the good works He called her to do. All throughout her life, Maria was an unlikely candidate for having a big impact. She grew up as a slave, she was a woman in a time where women had very few rights, and she didn’t learn to read or write until her thirties—but God called and empowered her for His service anyway. Whether it was teaching school in Alabama or translating the Bible for freed slaves in the Congo, Maria Fearing was always ready for a new adventure with Christ. • Careena Campbell • What has Jesus set you free from? Consider taking some time to praise Him for that freedom! • Throughout her life, Maria learned new skills such as reading, writing, and translating, and God used these skills in her life to serve others. How might her story inspire us to learn new things? • Maria eventually went to the mission field, but she started with ministering and using her skills in her hometown. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God how He might be calling you to share His love with others in your community, church, neighborhood, or family. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 9:9-10; JOHN 14:16-21; ROMANS 5:5-8; 8:16, 35-39 One morning, I rushed into my parents’ room to say, “Good morning.” Mom removed her wedding ring and shoved it to the bottom of her jewelry box. “Mommy, where’s Daddy?” “He’s not coming back,” she said. I returned to my room and wept in my closet. The number of times I saw him after that, I could count on my fingers. Abandoned. I felt utterly and completely abandoned. As a teen, I made foolish choices to mask my pain. Losing my earthly father made it hard to believe there was a heavenly Father who loved me. But God never let me go. One day, I felt a strong urge to go to church. In a small church, I heard joy in the singing. And the smiles of the people shone in their eyes and reached into my heart. I felt a quiet voice telling me it was time to come close to God. I longed for the community, the love, and the joy these people shared. I knew I had done much wrong. But Jesus had already paid the price for my wrongdoing by dying on the cross. I admitted my sins, trusted God for forgiveness, and asked Him to be the leader of my life. I was no longer abandoned or alone. I had a heavenly Father and a family of Christians. When we feel hurt by an earthly parent, trusting in our heavenly Father can be difficult. But Psalm 27:10 tells us, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” God has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Our heavenly Father will never abandon us, and in Him we find love and joy that will never end. • Mary Schilling • Sometimes a loss in our lives makes it hard to trust others. But God has so much compassion on us and patiently brings healing to our hearts. Through His Word and His Spirit, He shows us He is trustworthy, and He provides fellow Christians who can show us His love in tangible ways. If you’ve experienced a deep hurt, who is a safe adult in your life you could talk to about it? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. 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. • Can you think of a time you tried to mask your pain by doing things you might regret? Jesus invites us to come to Him, confess our wrongdoing, and rest in His love and forgiveness because He already paid the price for our sins. Consider taking some time to come to Jesus now. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

READ: EPHESIANS 2:4-9; 3:12-21 One of the things that bothered me about God while I was growing up was that I thought He just loved me because He had to. I learned that God loved the whole world (John 3:16), but I didn’t think He really loved me personally. I thought He just loved me because I was part of “the world.” And honestly, I thought the main reason God saved me was so that He could save other people through me. Thankfully, God has been slowly breaking down this lie that says He doesn’t really love me for me. Over the years, He has provided different mentors who I’ve been able to honestly share my struggles with. Through these people loving me, praying with me, and pointing me to Scripture, I’ve learned that I can share my struggles—including all the messy questions and anger and shame and sorrow—with Jesus. And I’ve discovered that He really does love me. He’d love me even if I was in a permanent coma and couldn’t do one single thing for Him. He saved me, not because He wants me to do anything for Him, but because He delights in me and longs for me to be with Him. So now, when I look at the cross, I see Jesus’s love for me. He wanted to be with me so badly that the cross was worth it to Him. And through His resurrection, He frees me from every lie of the devil that accuses God of not being loving, and accuses me of not being lovable. It’s getting easier to spot these lies, and to know that they’re not true. But even when they feel true, I can bring them to Jesus and ask Him to remind me, or perhaps show me in a new way, that His love for me really is better than I could hope. Sometimes I can do this on my own, other times I need a Christian friend or mentor to remind me of Jesus’s promises and to pray with me and help me process what I’m feeling, thinking, and maybe even believing. But every time, Jesus meets me with tender compassion, life-giving truth, and—always—love. • Hannah Howe • When do you struggle to believe that God loves you for you? Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to help you know His love for you in a deeper way. (Ephesians 3:14-21) • Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with about your struggles—people who will listen well, pray with you, and point you to Scriptures where Jesus promises to love you, forgive you, give you grace, and always keep you and be with you? He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:19 (NIV)

READ: PSALMS 103:1-22; 139:7-12; JOHN 14:16-18 Have you ever heard someone say, “I really feel the Lord’s presence?” I hear this most often after or during a worship service. Whether it be a church service, youth group, or some other event, I’ve heard many people say they feel closest to God when worshipping through music. Maybe you agree with them, and during worship songs you find yourself throwing your hands up in praise to God and singing with joy. Or maybe you’re not sure what you feel. You want to feel the closeness to God it seems everyone else is feeling, but all you hear is music. I love worship songs and raising my hands in praise to God. But I must remind myself that worship is not about my feelings. Worship is about bringing honor and praise to our God, the one who loves us more than any other. And God’s presence is not dependent upon how we feel. He is always with us! We can never get further from or closer to God’s presence. In Psalm 139, David writes, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (verse 7-8). If we’ve put our trust in Jesus—believing that He died and was resurrected to save us from our sins—then through the Holy Spirit, we are always with God (Matthew 28:20). If you have a difficult time remembering that God is with you when you don’t specifically feel His presence, it might help to spend time focusing on God’s presence outside of worship services. You could try writing out a few Bible verses (such as the verses from Psalm 139) and hanging them up in your bedroom or somewhere you’ll see them often. If it’s a challenge to focus on God during worship when you don’t feel anything, tell Him. Pray during the worship. Talking to Him about our struggles helps us remember that He is there, and that worship isn’t actually about us and our feelings. It’s about God and His never-changing presence. And we can worship Him whether our feelings cooperate or not. • Elizabeth Cooper • Can you think of a time you didn’t feel connected to God during worship? God invites us to talk to Him when we don’t feel connected to Him. We can tell Him we don’t feel anything during worship. We can tell Him we don’t feel His presence. And we can tell Him that we’re going to praise Him anyway, because He is good and loving and so worthy of our praise. • Besides music and singing, what are some other ways that you like to worship God? But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 8:32; EPHESIANS 6:10-20 I participate in a unique physical therapy program for a spine condition I have. Before getting into a swimming pool, I snap on a wide, thick flotation belt, which makes my body very buoyant. With this big blue belt around my midsection, I go to the deep end and stay upright. In that position, I can do all sorts of exercises to help my spine condition improve. And I am improving, as the vertebrae “decompress” in that nearly gravity-free environment. Part of the program involves just hanging still, weightless, held up by that belt alone. The spine enjoys a nice decompression that way. The belt holds me up, and I can just be still. My flotation belt reminds me of the belt of truth that Paul describes in Ephesians 6. Paul says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil…Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist” (verse 11, 14). For the Roman soldier, the belt not only held his clothing in place (kind of essential), but was also vital for holding the short, effective Roman sword. That belt was indispensable. Truth is indispensable as well. Without a firm understanding of who God is, and who we are in Christ, we are liable to fall for all sorts of lies. Believing lies is easy; we often don’t even know it when we have fallen for some lie from our enemy. That’s why we are instructed to “put on” the belt of truth, knowingly, purposely binding the truths of God around us. Because truth has power. Knowing that God seeks us, that He wants us, that from the beginning He planned a way to include us in His family through Jesus’s death and resurrection, and that He loves us with an everlasting love, counters the lies that tell us differently. Of course, none of us is perfect, and until Jesus returns we will continue to find ourselves straying from the truth. But that’s okay. In John 14:6, Jesus tells Thomas this astounding statement: “I am…the truth.” Like my flotation belt, Jesus will hold us up when we are over our heads in a sea of crazy untruths. We won’t drown. Even when we fall into believing lies, Jesus will hold us in His love (Exodus 14:14; Romans 8:38-39). Floating with His flotation belt of truth snuggly wrapped around us, we can be still in Him, safe and secure. • Kristen Merrill • Our world has been broken by sin, so it can be hard to distinguish lies from truth. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people to help us. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of the gospel and help you identify lies you might be believing? “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (CSB)

READ: PSALMS 40:1-3; 119:1-16; 1 JOHN 1:8–2:2 Tanisha stepped off her lander onto the strange planet. The ground was soft, almost gelatinous. Odd formations surrounded her. But when she took a step toward one, her navigator—programmed by the king himself to guide her on her mission—beeped insistently. Glancing at it, she saw it was directing her the opposite way. It was no big deal if she explored for a minute though, right? She silenced the navigator and continued forward. With each step, the ground became stickier, and it was harder to lift her feet. She tried to turn around, but her right foot was stuck fast. She tugged frantically, until without warning her foot popped out of her boot and she fell headlong. She tried to get up, but she sank deeper into the muck with each movement. Completely alone on this strange world, Tanisha knew the ground would swallow her within minutes. Why hadn’t she paid attention to the navigator! Suddenly, she remembered: she had an emergency signal that went straight to the king. But could she really ask him for help when this whole mess was her own fault? Tanisha realized it was her only hope. Carefully working the emergency signal out of her pocket, she pressed the button. As the ground began to close over her, she prepared for the worst. Then, she felt a touch on her arm. Strong hands lifted her out, but Tanisha, feeling both relieved and ashamed, was unable to look at her rescuer. When a familiar voice said her name, she almost fell over in shock. The king, here? After what she’d done? Perhaps he was angry with her. Surely he wouldn’t let her continue the mission. But when she glanced at the king’s face, his eyes were compassionate. He held out the navigator, and said simply, “You’ll be needing this.” • Faith Lewis • Have you ever felt like Tanisha? In this allegorical story, she had the navigator, and God has given us the Bible to guide and help us. God’s Word may feel restrictive at times, but all His commands are for our good. The truth is, though, we can never keep His commands perfectly, and He knows this. In fact, the primary reason He gave us His commands was to show us our need for Jesus. John 20:31 says the entire Bible was written so that we would constantly and consistently place our confidence in Jesus—who is Messiah, the promised one foretold throughout the Old Testament—and by believing that we “may have life in his name.” If you want to know more about this good news, see our "Know Jesus" page. • When we disobey God and get into bad situations, we may feel unworthy of rescue. However, God knows that we all sin, and He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us by His death and resurrection. When we repent from our sin, we are placing our faith in His promised forgiveness. Until Jesus returns, we will continue to sin daily because, while the Bible shows us what the good way is, it cannot keep us from sinning. But Jesus’s obedience to the Father on our behalf is our confidence and hope. Consider taking a moment to pray, confessing any sins that come to mind and resting in His sure forgiveness. • If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, His Holy Spirit lives in you, empowering you to turn away from sin and embrace joy-filled obedience to God’s good ways. When you face temptation, how could it be helpful to remember that in Jesus you are forgiven, and that you have the Holy Spirit? Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

READ: LEVITICUS 19:4; JOHN 4:1-26; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:14 When things get tough, my instinct is to run—run to everything else and away from what is causing me pain and stress. I run to overworking. I run to comfort. I run away from staying connected with others. We all have vices we turn to when things get tough. It’s easy to go to things like overwork, exercise, screen time, food, shopping, or busyness because we like to think they fill something in us that we’re seeking. It’s easy to run to something else because it takes our minds off of what is truly going on in our lives. But that’s not where we want to go. Even good things—like exercise and work—can turn into something sinful when we begin to idolize them. Sometimes we don’t recognize it at first because we convince ourselves we’re doing a good thing. We justify our actions because we say what we’re doing is for the benefit of ourselves or others. The problem is, there can quickly come a point where we turn to those things instead of to God. That’s when we know we have crossed a line. That’s when we know we need to turn back to the only one who can fill us. Only Jesus can satisfy our deepest needs. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus— believing He died and rose again to save us—we don’t have to chase after idols anymore. As we rest in His love, we often find that idols begin to lose their appeal. And even when we are facing tough times, Jesus gives us strength to persevere. • Tynea Lewis • What do you tend to turn to when you get stressed? How have these things let you down? • We’re all guilty of turning good gifts from God into idols, especially when life is hard. But God has so much compassion on us, and He invites us to come to Him and be refreshed in His presence. Consider taking a moment to pray, confessing any idolatry that comes to mind, resting in Jesus’s sure forgiveness, and being honest with Him about all the needs and longings you have today. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you…I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” Jonah 2:8-9 (NIV)

READ: ZECHARIAH 13:7-9; 1 PETER 1:3-25 The image of fire appears many times in the Bible. For example, in Exodus 13, God comes as a guiding pillar of fire to the Israelites. And in 1 Kings 18, He uses fire to show His power and legitimacy against the false god Baal. But another type of fire mentioned in the Bible is a refining fire. When metals are heated in a refining fire, this process removes impurities. The metal has to go through this fire in order to become strong. Otherwise, a sword that contains impurities may crack in the heat of battle. The judgement of God is compared to a refiner’s fire. Although these are intense images, it’s good to remember that God is not only almighty and powerful, He is also loving and faithful. He knows that sin twists and breaks everything it touches, and He does not leave sin undealt with. The good news is we have a Savior who already took on the wrath of the Father and His judgment for our sins. Because of God’s great love for us, Jesus suffered the punishment necessary for sin by enduring the cross. He gave up His life for us so we could be spared from that punishment. And in His resurrection, Jesus gave us new life in Himself so we can begin to be refined. Once we put our trust in Jesus, we are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). There’s a good reason the picture of a refiner’s fire is used in the Bible. This work of refinement isn’t always fun or easy. It can be embarrassing and painful for us to look inward and come face-to-face with our own shortcomings. But this is all part of the process of becoming more like Christ. Thankfully, God has given His people the Holy Spirit, who guides us in the process of refinement. He helps us examine ourselves, notice actions and thoughts that aren’t Christlike, and bring these to God. Take heart, His love and forgiveness never fail, and He is always at work in us, transforming us to become more and more like Jesus. • Naomi Zylstra • How does it feel when you see something in yourself that’s not Christlike? As we examine ourselves, we can thank God for helping us notice sin, and we can confess our sin to Him. We can also thank Him for Jesus’s death and resurrection, through which He has provided our forgiveness and is already working to renew us. Consider spending some time in prayer, asking God to reveal impurities in you that He wants to refine today, and thanking Him for His mercy. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 103; ISAIAH 1:18 Egg-eaters are one of a chicken keeper’s worst nightmares. Nothing can ruin your day faster than when you head out to the henhouse, only to discover your hens have smashed their freshly laid eggs, leaving you with nothing but a sticky, eggy mess to clean up. I found myself in that situation several years ago. My flock had started eating eggs, and while I was able to break most of my hens from this bad habit, my little rescue hen, Ivy, continued to smash her eggs daily. Cleaning up Ivy’s broken eggs was frustrating, but every time I finished cleaning up her mess, I looked down at Ivy, and she looked up at me with her adorable face that always seemed to say, “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Sometimes, Ivy’s egg messes reminded me how much God loves us. He cleans up our sinful messes and wipes away any trace of our wrongdoings. In Psalm 103, David reminds us how far God’s forgiveness reaches. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (verse 12). Isn’t it amazing that God’s love is so perfect that He can remove all traces of our sin? Isaiah 1:18 says: “‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’” Just as I cleaned up Ivy’s eggy mess, God wiped away our sinful messes the moment we put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection. Let’s thank our heavenly Father, who removes our sins and remembers them no more. • Erin Snyder • Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, those who have put their trust in Jesus are clothed in His righteousness—in God’s eyes, it’s as if we never sinned. No longer do we sit in our eggy, sinful mess. How does it make you feel knowing God has removed your sin “as far…as the east is from the west”? • When we confess our sin, God always forgives us, but He doesn’t always remove the natural consequences of our sin. While those consequences can be painful, Jesus walks through them with us, offering His strength and comfort. And when He returns, all will be made well. Consider taking a moment to confess any sins that come to mind, and rest in Jesus’s sure forgiveness. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12 (NLT)

READ: JUDGES 3:12-30; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:6-10 In a world that prized normal, I was abnormal. A left-hander in a world of righties. For me, being left-handed meant not learning archery because there were no left-handed bows. Not being able to use most scissors. Being left-handed made me feel like the villain rather than the hero. Then I read Ehud’s story. Ehud lived in a nation filled with fear. An oppressive Moabite government had ruled Israel for the past eighteen years. Judges 3:15 says, “the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite.” Ehud traveled to the foreign court to pay tribute to Eglon, king of Moab. When he entered, Ehud told the king, “I have a secret” (verse 19). So the king sent everyone away. He didn’t envision Ehud as a threat. The guards would have searched him. But they wouldn’t have checked the right side—where a left-handed man would hide his weapon. Once Ehud had the king alone, he revealed his secret. With his left hand, Ehud plunged his hidden knife into King Eglon’s stomach. After killing the king, Ehud snuck out of the palace and led a rebellion against their oppressors. Because of Ehud’s left-handedness, and the Lord’s favor, Israel defeated the Moabites and enjoyed peace for eighty years. God used Ehud’s abnormality to defeat his enemy. God turns our weaknesses into strengths. He can work through anyone if only we will give Him our abnormal lives. • Sarah Schwerin • Have you ever felt abnormal or like God could never work through you? Remember that we are each made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), we’re all unique (aka “abnormal”), and He wants to work through all of us. How might God be inviting you to be part of the good work of His kingdom? (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 6:12) • God gives us all natural abilities, and He gives Christians spiritual gifts. What gifts and abilities has God given you that you could use to serve others? Who is a trusted Christian in your life who could help you spot gifts in yourself that you may not see? Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

READ: EXODUS 13:21-22; 40:34-38; DEUTERONOMY 1:33; PSALM 73:25-27 Have you ever been between houses or apartments? When you had to leave one home, but you didn’t have another home to go to? That’s happened to our family. It’s not pleasant. Those times can be very stressful, and there are so many unknowns. You don’t know how long you will have to stay with friends, or live in a hotel, or camp in a tent. You don’t know when you will find a new place, or where your new home will be. The Israelites were in a similar predicament. God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, but then they had to constantly move around. They would camp for a time, then move on when God told them. The Bible describes the scene in beautiful detail. God’s presence could be visibly seen as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. These would actually come down into the camp and rest in a special room, called the Holy of Holies, within a series of tents, called the tabernacle, which the Israelites had made specifically for God by His direction. The people would know that God was there with them because of the cloud and the fire. Then, when God wanted them to move on, the cloud would lift from above the tent. The people would see God’s presence move, and they’d know it was time to pack up and head out…where, exactly? Nobody knew, not even Moses, the one God had appointed to lead His people. That would be hard! Can you imagine the uncertainty of never knowing if tonight is the last night at this camping spot, or if we’ll hang out here for months, or even years? And yet, the Israelites had something pretty wonderful. They had the very presence of God, right there in front of them, in a pillar of cloud during the day, or in a pillar of fire at night. The visible presence of God. Perhaps they learned to look toward that cloud often. Perhaps they learned that any peace about next steps would only arise when gazing upon His cloud. Today, we don’t have a cloud or a fire showing us the presence of God that we can look at when we face uncertainties. But we have something better! Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, the curtain that sectioned off the Holy of Holies was torn in two (27:51). Now everyone who puts their trust in Jesus has the Holy Spirit of God living in them. We don’t need a tabernacle anymore—we can march right into God’s presence anytime (Hebrews 4:14-16). • Kristen Merrill • In what ways do you need guidance today? Consider taking a moment to talk to God about this. Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you… 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 107; ROMANS 5:1-10; 15:1-13 Our world is constantly changing, and our individual lives are no different. At any given moment, the most mundane of days can be altered by some life-changing event. When change is inevitable, and happy days are not a guarantee, where do we look for hope? The apostle Paul was well acquainted with massive life changes and plenty of brutal trials. But in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul talks about our source of hope. He reminds the Roman believers that the law was never enough to save us from sin—God’s plan was always to send His Son to save both Jews and Gentiles, everyone who calls upon His name (10:9-13). Paul reviews the history of the Jews: the depravity of people’s hearts, the dark hold of sin, the need for a Savior. Through all the people’s disobedience, God remained faithful to His promises—and these promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Hope will never disappoint us when the foundation of our hope is Jesus—because He died and rose again to save us (5:5). He alone can give us the endurance and encouragement required to navigate the ever-changing seas of life. He has given us His Word to guide us. As we read the Bible, His Holy Spirit will use these words to teach us, provide us with the endurance we need, and fill us with encouragement (15:4). Just look at the Old Testament—it’s full of “hopeless situation stories.” Psalm 107, for example, reminds us of God’s faithfulness as His people were constantly turning from Him, receiving His discipline, then tasting His mercy and love as He drew their hearts back to Himself. This psalm is a beautiful picture of God’s heart for humanity. No matter how many times we are faithless, God remains faithful to us (2 Timothy 2:13). His love is unfailing. God promises to fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him; He has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts to the brim with overflowing, ceaseless hope (Romans 15:13). • Savannah Coleman • What situations look hopeless to you right now? Remember, in every disappointment and every difficulty, Jesus is with us. He promises to help us—and one day He will make all things new. • In Psalm 119:147, the writer rises early to spend time in God’s Word, confident that this is where hope is found. Psalm 130:5 talks about waiting on the Lord while placing our hope in His Word. In Psalm 52:9, David writes about placing his hope in the good name of God. What Scripture can you meditate on today to remind your heart of the unfading hope we have? For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)

READ: LUKE 15:11-32 I was reading through the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 recently, and instead of paying attention to the parts of the story that I normally would or that are normally preached on, I felt jealous of the young man in the story. I thought about how nice it would be to have a father come running toward you like that, to fall into his arms, to have him take care of you when you have tried to do it all on your own and things just didn’t work out. I laughed at myself once I realized what I was feeling. Who does the father in this parable represent? God. He is my Father. I might not see Him physically run to me like in the parable, but He is there for me. This whole story was given to us to help us see how much God cares for us. It was meant to show us how much God truly loves us, and to give us a picture of how forgiving He is. Even though I found myself feeling jealous of the prodigal son, the truth is I don’t have to be jealous of anyone. Whenever I have messed up big-time, whenever I need someone to lean on as life gets hard, I have a loving God, a loving Father who is there for me. I will never go through anything alone—I’m always going to have Him looking out for me. And just as God loves me, He loves you too. God loves each of us the way the father in the prodigal son story loves his child. • Emily Acker • Do you long for someone to be excited to see you, for someone to pull you close when you are tired of being alone? To be with you when life gets hard, to love you still, even after you have really messed up? Consider reading Luke 15:11-32 slowly, and imagine yourself as the prodigal son. What do you notice? What do you feel? How does God feel about you? • Jesus is the one who gave us this parable, and Jesus only says what He receives from God the Father (John 5:19-20; 12:49). Jesus reveals the Father’s heart, and He is also the way to the Father (John 14:6). Because God the Father sent Jesus, God the Son, to die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead, we can become His forgiven children. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, God is your Father—forever! If you haven’t put your trust in Jesus, He longs for you to come home to Him like the prodigal son in Luke 15. He longs to pull you close, take care of you, and celebrate that you are His. You can come home— right now. Find out more on our "Know Jesus" page. 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 3:1 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 23; ROMANS 8:28-29; JAMES 1:5 My dog, Gibson, wakes me up very early every morning. Some mornings I just feed him, and other mornings I take the time to let him outside. But either way, it’s still dark when we get up. Because the rest of the family is still asleep, I often leave the lights off. The problem is, then I can’t see—and my mom is constantly rearranging furniture, so I can’t memorize my surroundings. So, I rely on Gibson to lead me through the house, assuming he’ll direct me around the corners, couch edges, and table legs. Unfortunately, Gibson is not a good lead dog—especially in the dark. Especially when he’s hungry. So I end up walking into walls and stubbing my toes on furniture. My mom and I were talking about this, and she mentioned how often we put our trust in the wrong things. We put our trust in ourselves, our money, our education, our work, and other people. Many of the things we rely on can flip, leaving us out to dry. And many of the people we rely on may not have our best interests at heart— just like Gibson would rather get to his food dish faster, and sacrifice my big toe, than slow down and guide me. Thankfully, God is not like that. Jesus is God the Son, and He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He came into the sin and darkness of our broken world to bring us hope. Jesus taught us many things, and ultimately He died and rose again to save us from sin. Now, God the Father has sent God the Holy Spirit to guide all who trust in Jesus. He will never lead us astray. God has our best interests at heart (Romans 8:28). He is not going to trick and rob us. He lights our dark path. He won’t ram us into a couch because he wants breakfast. • Natty Maelle • Have you ever been in a place where you couldn’t see where you were going? Have you ever had to rely on someone else to guide you? What was that like? • Do you feel like there’s an area of your life where you’re walking in darkness, and you need guidance? Consider spending some time talking to God about this in prayer. • James 1:5 tells us God generously gives wisdom to everyone who asks, and He does so through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). According to James 3:13-18, how can we recognize God’s wisdom? Who are trusted Christians you can talk to about this? • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 146:3-7; Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34; John 1:4-5; 10:1-30; 14:26; 16:13; Colossians 1:13-15. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

READ: JAMES 1:2-4; 1 PETER 2:21-23 Do you remember the last time you had a cold? Maybe you had a scratchy, sore throat, congested sinuses, body aches, a fever, or all of those at once. Colds can be pretty awful. Do you have someone to help you when you get sick? Someone who’ll bring you warm drinks and food, help you call the doctor and tell them about your symptoms, and remind you to take your medicine? Most of the time, we just need to rest and let a cold run its course, and eventually we’ll feel better. While having someone to help us through a cold can ease some of the discomfort, colds can sure teach us a thing or two about patience, can’t they? Romans 12:12 tells us to be “patient in affliction,” and in a small way, that includes colds. An affliction is when you’re going through a hard time. It could be when you’re not feeling well, or you’re in a painful situation, or something even worse. We all go through trials and afflictions in life, but we can endure them with patience when we remember Jesus is with us. He went through the greatest affliction of all when He died on the cross to save us, and one day He’ll bring all our suffering to an end (Revelation 21:1-5). Until then, He promises to help us through hard times, kind of like how a loved one can help us through a cold. And often, one of the ways Jesus provides the help and care we need is through other people. It’s not easy to be patient when we’re going through something difficult or painful, but we can remember we’re not going through it alone. Jesus suffered and died, and then rose from the dead, so we could be saved and have eternal life with Him. He promises to always be with us and care for us (John 14:16-18). We can trust Him to help us through difficulties, and to help us persevere as we wait for the day He’ll bring all our afflictions to an end. • A. W. Smith • Can you remember a time you experienced Jesus’s love and care during an affliction, perhaps through another person? What was that like? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this, and maybe even thank the person too. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)

READ: EXODUS 12:31-42; MATTHEW 4:1-11 Have you ever seen a desert before? Maybe you’ve been to Arizona, New Mexico, or Southern California, where some of the terrain is desert. The land is often rugged, rocky, and barren, with little plant life and plenty of dangerous animals. The desert is also remote; not many people live in deserts. In fact, the desert doesn’t offer much in the way of opportunity or economic value. But economic value isn’t the only measure of life. In Exodus, God led His newly-freed people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He was leading them to the land He’d promised them, and on the way they had to pass through deserts and wilderness. The Lord used Israel’s time in the wilderness to draw them closer to Himself. God made a covenant with His people, spoke with Moses, and provided for them. But it wasn’t all good—Israel also rebelled against God, and so He made them wander the wilderness for another forty years (Numbers 32:13). The wilderness was a time of trial and testing for Israel. Later on in the Bible, Jesus was led into the wilderness. He fasted, not eating anything for forty days—a bit like how Israel was in the desert forty years—and He was tempted by Satan. But Jesus resisted all of Satan’s temptations and succeeded where Israel had failed. You may walk through a desert place—God might feel distant, or life might be confusing. Maybe you’re walking through a desert place right now. First, remember that God is with you all the time, even if it doesn’t seem like it. And I guarantee you He is using your time in the desert to grow you and help you rely on Him more (Romans 8:28-29). Second, remember that Christ prevailed where Israel failed. Jesus never sinned; He took our sin upon Himself on the cross and set us free from sin’s power—all because God loves us. When Jesus died for us, and then rose again, He made the way for us to come back to God. So now, in every desert place—in every temptation and trial and failure—we can know that Jesus relates to us, His forgiveness covers us, and He is there to help us (Hebrews 4:14-16). • Steven Wierenga • Do you feel like you’re in a desert place right now, feeling aimless or wandering about? God had a plan for Israel. Even though they messed up and rejected Him again and again, God was still faithful and saw the plan through. And God has a plan for your life as well. Can you think of any ways God has been faithful to you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4 (WEB)

READ: PSALM 23; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13 I didn’t care much about mental health until I suffered from insomnia. It was so bad that I couldn’t sleep for many days. I was constantly worrying about my problems. And when I had problems sleeping, I started worrying about not being able to sleep. It was kind of crazy. By the grace of God, I eventually recovered. I tried to follow what Paul taught us in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I used to think that if I cared about something, I had to do something about it. I realize now that this is not true! I learned it’s important to be humble and accept my limitations. Some things are just beyond my control. So I started to pray and tell God my problems instead. The truth is, the best way to handle my problems is to leave them to God and trust Him. I understand now that worrying about my problems does not help solve them. Only God can help me and give me peace (Philippians 4:7). Slowly, I slept better. My problems were eventually solved, in God’s timing. I’m thankful for the support and help from my family and friends as I went through this. Looking back, my problems were not that big, more like inconveniences. I know now that God loves me, and He is greater than our problems. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that everything is ultimately out of our control, but nothing is out of God’s control. No matter what happens, we don’t need to be afraid, because Jesus died and rose again to bring us near to God. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that nothing will ever be able to separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). This is His promise to us. One day Jesus will return and put an end to all our troubles. But until that day, He is with us through everything we face, including insomnia. God “comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:4). And He helps us “to be happy and to do good” (Ecclesiastes 3:12), to enjoy the gifts He has given us and do the good things He calls us to do (Matthew 6:25-34; Ephesians 2:10). After going through that season of insomnia, I made changes to my lifestyle. I started to take care of my mental health. I’m encouraged by Psalm 23:1-3, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” I realized that when I trust God to be in control, I can relax. It’s important to take a break, forget about our problems, and unwind each day. We can go for a walk and enjoy the sunshine! • Kelly Choy • Is there anything troubling you today? Consider taking a moment to pray, telling God about what you’re going through, receiving His comfort, and seeking His wisdom. He may show you something you can do to move toward solving your problem, or He may just invite you to rest right now. • What are some things you like to do that help you relax and enjoy God’s good gifts? How could you take time to do at least one of these things today? • Have you ever experienced insomnia, or not being able to sleep? Sleep is an important part of our physical and emotional health. Sometimes, we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that’s okay. If you have difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor? • We all feel worried or anxious from time to time, and God has so much compassion on us. He wants to help us. Sometimes, we experience thoughts and feelings that are too much for us to handle on our own, even by praying and reading the Bible. But one of the ways God wants to help us is through other people. If you find yourself feeling afraid, stressed, or worried a lot of the time, and you need someone to talk to,...

READ: MATTHEW 21:12-16; REVELATION 4:8-11; 5:8-14 God is ever being praised— His land, His sea, His sky, His waves! All creation His glory sings— Every creature extols Him King! Angels hallelujahs raise— O Holy One, the Ancient of Days! Mighty and just in all His ways, Forever shall His name be praised! Come join the everlasting song— All voices blended, raised as one! From mouths of babes ‘tis thus ordained— God is ever being praised. Today’s poem celebrates the truth that eternal praise is echoing throughout the universe to God—our Maker, Savior, King, and Friend. When we read Scriptures like Matthew 21:16 and Revelation 4:8, we might be a bit surprised to find that God seems to delight as much in the praises of children and infants as He does in the praises of great winged, heavenly creatures covered with eyes! I find this truth both intriguing and somehow deeply comforting. Perhaps it’s because it seems to indicate that God—who made everything so wondrously unique—actually delights in all things uniquely. What do I mean? Simply that God, unlike us, does not compare everyone and everything to other created beings and things. Think about it! Isn’t that a marvelous relief? Whatever praise we offer to God, He simply delights in— without comparisons! My response to that? Hallelujah! • G. Kam Congleton • Throughout Scripture, we find that God wants all of creation—including us—to respond to His goodness by praising Him. Have you ever thought about your praises joining with the praises of mountains, oceans, stars, and angels? How does this make you feel? • It’s easy to compare ourselves to others, whether we’re singing in church, writing in a journal, creating a work of art, or praising God some other way. How could it be freeing to know that God delights in our praises, and He doesn’t compare us to anyone else? (Romans 2:11) • Praising God can include thanking Him, but mostly it’s recognizing who He is and what He’s like—how good, how loving, how strong, how infinite…He truly is. Most of all, we praise God for saving us through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Consider taking some time now to praise Him! Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. Psalm 113:2 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 119:97-104; JEREMIAH 15:15-17; MATTHEW 4:4 What is your favorite food? Think about how good it feels to eat that food, especially when you’re hungry! Now, listen to what the prophet Jeremiah says: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16). Have you ever wanted to eat the Bible? Probably not. But Jeremiah did! In this verse, Jeremiah probably didn’t literally eat God’s words, but he used this metaphor to express how God’s words sustained him and filled him with joy, especially at a time when he was worn out from trying to speak God’s truth to people who continually oppressed and mocked him. Have you ever been hungry for God’s Word like that? Has reading the Bible ever filled you with joy and delight? Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” The Bible is so good, we should want to consume it like a good meal. Just as we need to eat food every day to give our bodies the strength and energy we need, “eating the Bible” is vital to our spiritual life. That doesn’t necessarily mean we have to read it constantly or think about it every minute of the day. But it does mean we read it regularly so the Holy Spirit can use what the Bible says to transform us from the inside out. Much like eating food sustains us, hearing about Jesus’s love and promises in His Word gives us the strength we need for each day. When we’re reminded of how Jesus suffered and died to save us from sin, and then rose from the grave to give us new life, it helps us give our burdens to Him and trust Him to lead us. And as we meditate on His love for us, and for the world, it fuels us to extend His love to others through what we say and what we do. • A. W. Smith • Can you think of a time when something in the Bible encouraged and sustained you? What was that like? • It can be tempting to read or listen to a devotional (like Unlocked) and count that as our regular Bible reading time. But the truth is that devotionals, helpful as they are, can’t sustain us. Wise words from other Christians can’t sustain us. Only God’s Word can sustain us, and nothing can replace it. If you struggle to spend regular time in the Bible, why not start with the “Read” passages from each day’s Unlocked devotion? If you’re already doing this, great! Consider starting another Bible reading plan to do alongside your devotional, either by yourself or with other Christians. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Psalm 119:97 (NIV)

READ: PSALMS 23:4; 37:1-9; 139:1-18; ROMANS 8:28-29 Somewhere along in my life, I realized I loved taking photos. To me, it was the most amazing thing to be able to capture a moment forever. A camera is one of the best tools for rendering an image we want to remember. It takes the light and shadows and makes them into a two-dimensional picture we can enjoy. When we look at a photo, we see how the mix of light and shadows creates a beautiful image that we can revisit again and again. Life can be a lot like a photo. There is light, the good times in our lives. And shadows, the hard times. But unlike with a photo, in life we can’t see the whole picture—only the one small detail we’re in at the moment. And if it’s a hard time in our lives, it’s normal to wonder if God is still in control. But He is. And, unlike us, He sees the big picture. He knows how everything will work out, and He knows the person He’s growing us into. No matter what we go through, He is using the good times, the hard times, and everything in between to transform us into the people He wants us to be. And He’s crafting a big picture that we get to be part of. He is always working for our good, and He is spreading the hope of Jesus to every corner of creation. We can trust that He knows the outcome of it all, and He is with us, loving us in every moment. • Haley Walts • Sometimes we really wish we could see the big picture. How does it make you feel to know that God does see the big picture, and He is at work in every part of it for our good? • While it can be so hard not to know the outcome of situations we’re facing, it can be comforting to remember that we do know the final outcome. Jesus has promised to return one day and restore the world—then there will be no more dark places, no more hard times (Revelation 21:1-5; 22:5). In the meantime, Jesus has also promised to be with us no matter what (Matthew 28:20). Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about what your life is like right now, telling Him about the good things, and the hard and frustrating things, and asking Him to help you notice His presence with you. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

READ: JOHN 13:3-17; 15:7-17; ROMANS 10:9-13; EPHESIANS 2:1-10 The knight Yavain was on the verge of tears as he pulled off his dying comrade’s helmet. “Why on earth would you do that—my life is not any more valuable than yours, Rosalind.” As he cradled her head, Yavain noticed she wore the royal crest around her neck. He stared in disbelief—he hadn’t known that his friend was also the princess of Carissia. He stumbled over his words and bowed his head awkwardly. “My lady, I am, I—” “You may dismiss with formalities, Yavain, just speak to me as you would Rosalind. We are friends,” said the princess calmly. “Our lives are both equally valuable and treasured by our God.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” interrupted Yavain. “You’re the princess, your life is perhaps the kingdom’s most valuable life. It should not have been taken in an instant of stupid bravery.” “Not bravery, tender Yavain.” Here Rosalind used a royal voice to speak to her trembling friend, quelling his nerves. “My Lord’s greatest command is to lay down my life for others, just as He did for me. His love is why I did this.” She paused, tears beginning to stream down her paling face. “He sacrificed Himself for both of us. He has already set you free.” Rosalind’s breath started to waver. “By grace you are saved, Yavain. Believe in Him.” A moment later she closed her eyes, and was gone. Yavain wept bitterly. “Why would anyone sacrifice their life like that?” Yavain yelled into the forest. He sat there for a long time, pondering Rosalind’s words, still confused by her final moments. What did she mean I’m set free? Does this God really give a grace that saves me? Yavain felt angry. But something else was beginning to grow deep within his heart, whispering that he was loved. And then, all at once, Yavain knew he wanted to live like Rosalind lived, with a love for God and for others. The Holy Spirit had taken root. • Peter J. McDonough • In this allegorical story, Rosalind had been transformed by her relationship with God—Jesus’s sacrifice compelled her to love others as He loved her. Yavain wrestled with questions and viewed himself as unworthy of such a sacrifice. Have you ever felt like Yavain? As sinners, we could never deserve God’s love for us, but that is the beauty of Jesus. Even while we questioned and doubted, Jesus left His heavenly throne and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross—all so that we could experience His love and live in restored relationship with Him (Philippians 2:5-11). Consider taking a moment to thank God for His wonderful gift, and ask Him to help you begin to see yourself the way He sees you, as someone loved beyond measure. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 63:1-5; JOHN 4:7-14; 6:35; 7:37-39; ROMANS 14:7-12 As two knights of the Carissian court traveled through the forest on a scouting mission, they passed the time discussing their different beliefs. Rosalind brought up what she called the Holy Spirit. “In my end, dear friend, it is not water that I thirst for, but for my God, who gives me the water of life. My soul thirsts to meet my God.” Rosalind had often spoken of this God who gave her bread that wasn’t really bread and water that wasn’t really water. While Yavain doubted that her God could produce this water, he did appreciate that Rosalind was a kinder, more compassionate knight than others in the court. “Your God confuses me, Rosalind. Though I am glad what you believe in is reflected in your actions.” Yavain’s comrade had no time to reply—goblins crashed through the surrounding forest, an ambush! Yavain gripped his broadsword tighter as Rosalind drew her own. “Yavain, to my side, let’s show these fiends the Hidden Gauntlet maneuver,” Rosalind remarked coolly. Yavain flanked her, and together they swung their blades in quick circular blows, rotating gradually while still nearly linked together. They made swift work of their foes. But, neither noticed one last goblin raising his spear to Yavain’s back. “Yav—,” Rosalind spoke quickly, but the weapon was already in the air. Without a second thought she pushed him out of the way. The spear pierced a gap in her own armor. “Rosalind!” Yavain shouted. He threw his long sword, slaying the goblin, then spun around to his dying comrade. “Rosalind, friend, let me help.” Yavain scrambled through his pack to look for something to treat the wound. “Maybe I can—” Rosalind grasped his wrist. She knew it was too late for herself. “Just give me something to drink, Yavain, I’m so thirsty,” she sputtered out. “But we have no water left,” Yavain said desperately. Rosalind now whispered quietly. “Then remove my helmet so I may look upon the face of a friend before I prepare to finally rest in my God.” • Peter J. McDonough • In today’s allegorical story, Rosalind talks about how she longs to be with God. Have you ever experienced a longing like this? Maybe you’ve never met God before, but you want to. Maybe you already know Him, but you desire to spend more time resting in His presence. Or maybe your heart aches for the day we will finally see Jesus face to face. Consider taking a moment to tell God how you long for Him. And if you don’t long for God, you can ask Him to give you this desire. • God is the only one who can truly satisfy us. And the good news is, He longs to bring us near to Himself. The answer to the psalmist’s question in Psalm 42:2 is that Jesus comes and meets with us. In the Bible, we see that God sent Jesus to sacrifice His own life for ours on the cross, and then be raised from the dead. Through the cross, He provided the way for us to be forgiven and to know Him intimately. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can be sure that He is with us—right here, right now. If you want to know more about this good news, who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about it? You can also find out more on our "Know Jesus" page. • Rosalind knows that when she dies, she will be with God. Those who have put their trust in Jesus need not fear death, for Jesus promises that nothing—not even death—can ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). And when Jesus returns, He will raise us from the dead—just as He was raised from the dead—and all His people will live with Him forever on the new heavens and new earth. How could these truths give us courag...