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ISBN: 978-1-62707-612-8

First eBook edition in May 2016

Contents

Welcome to Our Daily Journey

How to Use This Our Daily Journey Devotional

Day 1 – Leaping From the Enclosure

Day 2 – Pause Points

Day 3 – Broken Instruments

Day 4 – Vindicated

Day 5 – Behold the Plains

Day 6– Hand of God

Day 7 – All Alone

Day 8 – Is There Wi-Fi?

Day 9 – Deadly Perspective

Day 10 – The Greatest Love Story

Day 11 – Premature

Day 12 – Beautiful Captivity

Day 13 – Praise In the Pain

Day 14 – Fires and Faith

Day 15 – Compelling Grace

Day 16 – Learning Trust

Day 17 – Foretastes of the Kingdom

Day 18 – Loving God, Loving Others

Day 19 – Chosen Instruments

Day 20 – Genuine Life

Day 21 – Paint Your Leaf

Day 22 – Full-Circle Compassion

Day 23 – Torn Apart in Aisle 9

Day 24 – Shine Like Stars

Day 25 – In Jesus’ Love

Day 26 – Spiritual Struggles

Day 27 – Demonstrated Faith

Day 28 – Laying Burdens Down

Day 29 – The Waiting

Day 30 – Holy, Holy, Holy . . .

Welcome to Our Daily JourneyA 30-Day Walk with Jesus!

It’s our hope that you’ll grow deeper in your faith as you use this devotional over the next 30 days. On the following page, you’ll find some helpful tips on how to get the most out of your experience.

Our Daily Journey is a devotional that helps you dig deeply into the Bible as it tackles real-life issues. If you find these articles to be helpful, you can continue reading new devotional articles each day Our Daily Journey online or by signing up to receive the Our Daily Journey edevo daily in your email inbox.

There’s no charge for this devotional and other Our Daily Bread Ministries resources. Our support comes from those who choose to contribute to our ongoing work around the world.

Welcome to Our Daily Journey! May you find inspiration and encouragement as you take this 30-day journey with Jesus.

The Our Daily Journey staff

PS: Questions or thoughts about Our Daily Journey? Write to us at comments@ourdailyjourney.org

How to Use This Our Daily Journey Devotional

Day 1

Leaping From the EnclosureREAD: Genesis 12:1-8

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you” (v.1).

The African impala is a deerlike creature that can jump to a height of 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) and cover a distance greater than 11 meters (36 feet) in one bound. Yet the impala can be kept in a zoo enclosure with just a 1-meter-high wall. Why?

Because it isn’t tall enough to peer over the barrier, and it won’t jump if it can’t see where its feet will land. That’s like a lot of us—we often won’t take a leap of faith unless we can see where we’ll land. Abraham can show us another

way. Abraham was 75 when God’s call to leap came. He was old and childless, but he was called to found a new land and start

a nation (Genesis 11:30, 12:1-8). God gave no details where Abraham was to walk or how he would have a child, saying only, “Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation” (12:1-2, 17:5).

Leap from the enclosure, Abraham—leap! Abraham leaped. He set out in faith (12:4-6), soon found his land (v.7), later had his son (21:1-5), and became the father

of a great nation (Hebrews 11:12). God guided Abraham’s feet, but only after he took the leap of faith.On three occasions I believe God has led me to leap from my comfortable enclosure. In each case I’ve left a secure job

without knowing what lay ahead. Leap from the enclosure, Sheridan—leap! I will guide your feet, but first you must leap.And in each case God has led me to a place of greater service and impact. I’m not a perfect role model, though. I’ve fretted

about money and the future. But I’ve learned this about walking by faith: We’ll rarely know the outcome before we make the leap, and we’ll rarely know the destination before we begin to walk.

Is God calling you to leap? Then leap! —Sheridan Voysey

MORE: Read Hebrews 11:1 and consider what real faith requires.Discover more about trust in God.

NEXT: When did God last call you to take a leap of faith? What is He calling you to trust Him bravely for today?

Day 2

Pause PointsREAD: Exodus 20:8-11

The seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work (v.10).

Atul Gawande, in his book The Checklist Manifesto, shows how doctors can use a checklist to save lives during surgery. Gawande’s checklist includes three vital “pause points”: before anesthesia, before incision, and before leaving the

operating room. Each pause point lasts no more than a minute—just long enough for the team to make basic checks. The results? In

2008, eight hospitals began using Gawande’s checklist, and within months, the rate of major complications fell by 35 percent and deaths by 47 percent. What an amazing difference brought about by surgical teams taking time to pause during their procedures!

After God delivered His people from Egyptian bondage, he gave them a pause point: the Sabbath. “The seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work” (Exodus 20:10). God instructed His people to remember and observe this day and treat it as holy or set apart from any other regular workday (v.8). When they observed the Sabbath, they were actually pausing to remember several things: God’s work/rest rhythm in creation (Genesis 2:2), their deliverance from bondage (Deuteronomy 5:12-15), their relationship with God, and

His desire to give them refreshment and life (Exodus 31:17). As our loving God has revealed, it’s vital that we intentionally, regularly include pause points in our lives. On Sunday or

some other day, we should pause to remember God’s work/rest rhythm in creation (20:11), to thank Jesus for delivering us from the bondage of sin, to find rest and refreshment in Him, and to anticipate the ultimate pause point when we’ll be in His presence! —Marvin Williams

MORE: Read Isaiah 40:29-31 and Philippians 4:6-7, then consider the purposes of spiritual “pause points.”Discover more about rest.

NEXT: What kind of “pause point” rhythms do you presently have? If pause points can save patients’ lives, how can spiritual pause points make for healthier lives in Jesus?

Day 3

Broken InstrumentsREAD: Leviticus 16:1-34

On that day . . . you will be purified in the Lord’s presence from all your sins (v.30).

A good friend broke my double bass—a large, expensive, stringed instrument used in orchestras and jazz bands. We were loading up the van before traveling to a gig and he carelessly set the bass down on an incline. The wind was blowing

that night and the hollow, wooden instrument toppled, resulting in multiple breaks.“I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed and assured me he’d find the money to fix it. He felt guilty and wanted to fix what he’d

broken, but he couldn’t really afford the repairs. I couldn’t pay for them either, so my parents offered to have it mended. They paid a high cost for someone else’s mistake.

Leviticus 16 is about the Day of Atonement, an annual ceremony designed to cleanse the sins of the people of ancient Israel (vv.29-30). It was a day when goats were killed so that God’s people could know life (vv.15-17, 20-22). These animals died because sin, the people’s offenses against God, required the payment of death (10:1-3; Romans 6:23).

The same is true today. Sin still causes death, but Scripture reveals that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” and that Jesus’ blood is the “perfect sacrifice” for our sins (10:13; Hebrews 9:12-14). He’s paid the price for what we’ve broken (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Leviticus 16 is an easy chapter to overlook in our Scripture reading. It’s in the middle of a section of the Bible that can

seem difficult to apply to our lives. But it’s also a glimpse into the work of God: He alone atones—pays the debt for our sins. It’s part of a theme that gets developed in the big story of the Bible: God is more powerful than death.

Today, read Leviticus 16 with fresh eyes, and thank Jesus for your atonement. —Andy Rogers

MORE: Read Hebrews 9:1–10:18 alongside Leviticus 16 and consider the themes of atonement and sacrifice found throughout the Bible.Discover more about atonement.

NEXT: Has anyone ever paid the cost of fixing something you’ve broken or destroyed? How does this experience help you better understand the atoning sacrifice of Jesus?

Day 4

VindicatedREAD: Judges 8:1-3

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare (Proverbs 15:1).

Augustine’s Confessions traces his journey through misspent youth, false religion, and finally to Jesus. As a man with much to confess, Augustine was sometimes tempted to be defensive. A translation of one of his prayers says: “O Lord,

deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” A story in the book of Judges tells how an unlikely leader chose not to vindicate himself. Gideon had put the vast

Midianite army to flight with just 300 men. Then he rallied troops from several Israelite tribes to assist with the pursuit. But Ephraim’s warriors challenged Gideon: “Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” (Judges 8:1).

Ephraim obviously didn’t know the backstory. Gideon could have said, “Hey, listen, I was doing exactly what God told me to do. Why don’t you take it up with Him?” But he didn’t. Instead, he employed a deft blend of humility and diplomacy.

“God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army,” he said. “What have I accomplished, compared to that?” The historical account tells us, “When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided” (v.3).

It’s our human tendency to deflect blame. We try to absolve ourselves for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one may be

pride. Jesus displayed the antithesis of pride. Although He lived a perfect life, He refused to defend Himself and willingly

accepted the blame for us, paying for our sins on a cruel cross. In some small way we can reflect His life by choosing gentle words of reconciliation when we face conflict with others. Our vindication is best left to Him and His righteous ways. —Tim Gustafson

MORE: Read John 18:19-23, 19:8-11 to see how Jesus refused to vindicate Himself. Discover more about humility.

NEXT: What’s your reflexive response to criticism and blame? How do you think Jesus might handle false blame?

Day 5

Behold the PlainsREAD: Ruth 1:1-17

Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God (v.16).

If there be any value in scaling the mountains, it is only that from them one can behold the plains.” —G.K. ChestertonThose sentiments resonate. I’ve climbed some mountains during my lifetime—some real and some metaphorical.

Pressing on ever higher can be hard and lead to suffering. But at the peak we can catch a view of what’s been hidden, a beauty that’s now made plain. There we can rest and experience a mysterious peace and joy, finding that we’ve been enriched and awakened by the journey.

Ruth didn’t see the jagged, foreboding ridge at first. Life was good. But then, after just 10 years of marriage, her husband and brother-in-law died (Ruth 1:4-5). A mountain of pain and disappointment shadowed her path. Living in a patriarchal society, she felt alone and vulnerable.

The journey up the side of her mountain had begun with grief. Then, because Ruth’s mother-in-law heard that the land of Judah was ripe with good crops—something that could help sustain them—Ruth left her family and homeland. Loss upon loss. A final, difficult rise in the path appeared: Naomi told Ruth and her sister-in-law to go back to Moab and not to follow her, for she was also a widow. Tears flowed as Naomi kissed the girls goodbye (v.9).

Ruth, however, stood tall on the mountain of pain and suddenly saw the “plains.” She saw what she should do—stay with Naomi and place her faith in God (v.16). The journey up the peak had led to a mountaintop experience of knowing and embracing the God who loved her.

Like Ruth, you too may be facing problems that loom like jagged peaks. Keep staying the course with your eyes on Christ. Soon you’ll “behold the plains” . . . the good God has planned for you. —Tom Felten

MORE: Read John 16:33 and see why we can experience peace even when mountains of pain come our way.Discover more about hope and joy.

NEXT: What painful challenge are you facing right now? What “plain” of hope and goodness is God bringing into view?

Day 6

Hand of GodREAD: 2 Samuel 15:13-31

Let [God] do what seems best to him (v.26).

Lorenzo Quinn’s 900-pound aluminum sculpture called “Hand of God” features a gigantic open hand with a man seated on the highest part of an upturned palm. The man appears to be troubled and his posture reflects deep discouragement. But

the hand that holds him up is much larger than he is.Of certain situations, we’ll say, “It’s in God’s hands,” meaning that He’ll determine the outcome. David recognized this

when his son Absalom tried to take over as the king of Israel. Absalom “stole the hearts of all the people of Israel” and stirred up rebellion against his father in Hebron (2 Samuel 15:6-12).

When David learned that all of Israel had joined Absalom, he left Jerusalem. Zadok and the priests followed him, carrying the ark of the covenant (v.24). Headed into the wilderness, David told Zadok to take the ark back to the city. He said, “If the Lord sees fit . . . He will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him” (vv.25-26).

I find it interesting that David, a famous warrior, didn’t try to fight Absalom for the throne. And although he was deeply sad, he didn’t express despair. David saw himself as being fully in God’s hands. He knew that he would determine Israel’s king—not him, and not Absalom.

During another difficult time in David’s life, someone reminded him, “Your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch!” (1 Samuel 25:29). As believers in Jesus, we can rest in the same God who kept David safe. We can relax and trust Him. He knows what He’s doing, and as Jesus said, “No one can snatch [believers] from the Father’s hand” (John 10:29). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

MORE: Read John 10:27-30 to learn about the security a believer has in Jesus. Read Psalm 32:8 to take in some comforting words for those who are in His hands.

Discover more about God’s care.

NEXT: Do you believe that you determine what happens to you, or do you believe God determines your life events? How might this affect the way you engage in spiritual disciplines?

Day 7

All AloneREAD: 1 Kings 19:1-18

I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him! (v.18).

The familiar darkness of clinical depression rolled over Leigh as she sat on the edge of the bed holding a revolver—tormenting voices urging her to pull the trigger. As a Christian wife and mom, she knew this picture was all wrong, but

the consuming illness had clouded her mind. Apart from her husband and doctor, no one knew of the daily struggle she faced. Leigh slowly put the gun down, walked out the room, and chose to begin reaching out and sharing her story with others.

Following Elijah’s stunning victory over the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him (1 Kings 19:1-2). Consumed by fear and disheartened at her words, he fled alone into the wilderness where he sat under a tree and begged the Lord to take his life. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life” (vv.3-4). Elijah fell asleep, but an angel of God woke him, telling him to eat and drink. He did so, and then began walking for 40 days and nights to Mount Sinai (vv.5-9). God met with Elijah and told him to return through the wilderness, where He would anoint the future leaders (vv.15-16). The prophet had become depressed in his desperation and felt alone in his convictions, but God showed him that there were 7,000 others who had also remained faithful to Him (v.18).

When you’re at your wit’s end, spend time with God and have the courage to tell Him and others how you truly feel. Although Leigh continues to wrestle with dark thoughts, she has found comfort in other moms who also battle with depression. Together, they pray, hold each other accountable, and regularly remind themselves of God’s presence and promises. God doesn’t leave us alone. —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

MORE: Read Deuteronomy 31:6 and consider what it reveals about God and His presence.Discover more about depression.

NEXT: Do you feel isolated and alone? Have the courage to be vulnerable with God and with godly people you trust. Know that you are not alone.

Day 8

Is There Wi-Fi?READ: Proverbs 15:14, 20-33

A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash (v.14).

A few years ago, I brought a group of young people on a mission trip. As we neared our departure date, the most frequently asked question was, “Is there Wi-Fi?” So just imagine the wails and groans one night when the Wi-Fi was down!

Many of us become anxious when we’re separated from our smartphones. And when we have our iPhones or Androids in our hands, we can be fixated on our screens.

Like all good things common to man, Wi-Fi and all that it allows us to access can become either a distraction or a blessing. It depends on what we do with it. In Proverbs we read, “A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash” (15:14). In our daily food choices, a healthy diet takes discipline and may not be as sweet or as enticing as junk food. So it’s also important that we take care in what we feed on as we browse the web.

What might that look like? It can be as simple as reviewing who you follow on Instagram. Do the things they post bring “joy to those with no sense” or encourage sensible living? (v.21). Do your Facebook posts or Snapchat messages reflect “the heart of the godly [who think] carefully before speaking” or the “mouth of the wicked [that] overflows with evil words”? (v.28).

The words of Proverbs 15:14 make it plain: We are what we eat . . . and what we do and view online. Feed on wisdom, and you’re more likely to become wise. Feed on trash, and you’re headed for trouble.

As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, we can fill our minds and mobile device screens with things that are “true, and

honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” (Philippians 4:8). By God’s wisdom, we can make good choices online and in all of life. —Poh Fang Chia

MORE: Read 1 Corinthians 10:23 and 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 and consider the wise counsel they provide for what we do and say online. Discover more about living for Christ.

NEXT: Do your social media habits reveal a person who hungers for knowledge or feeds on trash? What are some ways to use social media wisely—to honor God?

Day 9

Deadly PerspectiveREAD: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time (v.4).

During the Middle Ages, some monks kept a skull on their desks to remind them of their mortality and eventual death. The bony paperweight was a vivid reminder that life is fleeting and that they needed to keep their priorities in line.

While the monks’ practice of staring at skulls and keeping their deaths ever before them seems depressing, both the psalmist and the teacher connect the practice of considering the fleeting nature of life with gaining true wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:4). The psalmist prayed, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (90:12). So does that mean we should be morbid and depressed all the time? No, the exact opposite!

The wisdom of remembering how little time we have on this earth enables us to love and cherish others and to be grateful for the moments we share with them (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Remembering our death can motivate us to celebrate life and to make good choices, to accept God’s plans and the things He allows to enter our lives (vv.13-14). Ideally, the practice of remembering the brevity of our lives will guide us in filtering out what’s important from what is not. It should drive us to Jesus and experiencing the abundant life He has provided to flow in and through us (John 10:10).

Have we been unwisely and perhaps ungratefully using our precious time on things that don’t really matter—that are “meaningless”? (Ecclesiastes 7:6). Instead, since we don’t know how many days we’ve been given, let’s ask ourselves, “What will we do with the life God has given us today?” For as James put into words, “[Our] life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone” (James 4:14). Now that’s perspective. —Marlena Graves

MORE: Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and consider what Moses said about life and death.Discover more about death.

NEXT: What impact has the brevity of life been having on your priorities? How can thinking about death be good or bad?

Day 10

The Greatest Love StoryREAD: Song of Songs 2:4-16

My lover is mine, and I am his (v.16).

In 2013, John and Ann Betar became the oldest known American married couple as they celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary. Their advice on staying happily married includes the following: “Don’t hold a grudge. Forgive each other. Live

accordingly,” John advises. And Ann adds, “It is unconditional love and understanding. We have had that. We consider it a blessing.”

The longing in any marriage is in knowing that the affection of your spouse is directed solely toward you. The Song of Songs captures this active commitment with two lovers delighting in and yearning for each other (1:15-16, 3:1-3). They love and are loved in return (2:16, 7:10) and are satisfied and content in each other’s company (2:16, 4:9-11, 7:10). Surely this can be one of life’s greatest joys.

The earthly love between husband and wife, however, is an echo of the passionate love and fervent pursuit of Jesus for those who believe in Him—His bride. The powerful and deceptive lure of sin forced a chasm between God and man, turning our affections away from our first love and focusing our attention on the temporary things of this world—resulting in emptiness, death, and destruction (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23).

But herein lies the greatest love story: “This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8).

While it’s beautiful to see the love a man and woman can share for decades, it pales compared to the amazing love God extends to us for eternity. That’s the greatest love story! —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

MORE: Read Romans 5:1-2 and consider how the broken relationship between God and us has been restored through Jesus.Discover more about God’s love for us.

NEXT: What marks a truly loving and beautiful marriage? How is God’s love for us even more beautiful?

Day 11

PrematureREAD: Isaiah 51:1-16

I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. . . . I am the one who says to Israel, “You are my people!” (v.16).

Born at 34 weeks, he was 3 pounds of miracle. Tubes and wires extended from his diminutive body to monitor his steady progress. His vision was restricted by a soft gauze eye mask to protect his eyes from the bilirubin light. He often became

frustrated with all the equipment restricting his movement. But when his dad reached through the small opening in the incubator to gently cup his son’s tiny head in his large hand, the mighty warrior in baby form grew still and drifted off to sleep.

Scripture tells us, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” and “his intentions can never be shaken” (Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 33:11). But in a world where options seem to extend infinitely, we become convinced of our own infallibility. Constructing and deconstructing, we smooth out the roads of our lives as best as possible, and every turn in the journey leads back to our own abilities. Plans and backup plans, our ultimate goal becomes the elimination of unpredictability. We forget God’s sovereignty—until a crisis arises.

An untimely birth, an unexpected death, any number of changes we didn’t anticipate remind us of our frailty (Isaiah 51:6). We are not in control.

Like a premature infant—possessing what’s needed to thrive but not yet grown—we bear the image of what we will one day become. But while we wait in hope—often unseeing and confused—God reaches out to us in our deepest moments of need and cups us in His hand (Isaiah 51:12,16). Here, as we wait, we learn to rest in hope because “the Lord will work out his plans for [our lives]—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever” (Psalm 138:8; see also Isaiah 51:7-8,11). —Regina Franklin

MORE: Read Romans 8:10-28 and consider how we can experience a God-given, practical hope for what we can’t yet see.Discover more about waiting on God.

NEXT: When did an event in your life seem premature? In what ways did God demonstrate His sustaining hope to you?

Day 12

Beautiful CaptivityREAD: Jeremiah 24:1-10

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good” (v.5 NKJV).

I know a couple who share freely about a devastating time in their marriage. But the focus of their story isn’t the hurt or the wounds they inflicted. Instead, they talk about how God used that experience to reveal deep-seated issues that needed to be

addressed and dealt with. As a result, they emerged from the painful pruning closer to each other and to Him. Amazingly, they’re grateful for it and the good that has come from it.

Speaking of good and bad things, God once asked, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” The prophet replied, “Figs, some very good and some very bad, too rotten to eat” (Jeremiah 24:3). The people of Judah who remained after Babylon’s first Judean raid were the bad figs. Rather than choosing to heed God’s warnings, they turned to Egypt for help. But all of pharaoh’s horses and all of his men couldn’t save Judah from utter destruction. Instead, Egypt too was judged. By the time Babylon was through, Egypt would never again be a major world power.

What about the exiles? At first, they “sat and wept” by the rivers of Babylon (Psalm 137:1). But then a new perspective emerged. Jeremiah proclaimed that they were the good figs, who God “sent out of [Judah] for their own good” (Jeremiah 24:5 NKJV). God promised them a future and hope—including the restoration of their homeland.

Sometimes life’s challenges and difficult days are actually blessings in disguise. As we go through hard seasons, God can use them to mold and grow us. He told the exiles that He would “build them up and not tear them down” (v.6). It wasn’t a time to weep, but one to rejoice. God took something meant for evil and turned it around for good. He does the same for you

and me today! —Remi Oyedele

MORE: Read Genesis 50:19-20 to see Joseph’s perspective on his brothers’ brutal betrayal.Discover more about spiritual transformation.

NEXT: Are you currently in a situation you desperately want to escape? How might it be used to glorify God and eventually bring about joy?

Day 13

Praise In the PainREAD: Lamentations 5:1-22

But Lord, You remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation (v.19).

Kim Nguyen was preparing for her doctoral exams in Old Testament when she learned that she would need surgery on her eyes. She should have recovered in 2 weeks, but 6 months later she still couldn’t see. She feared that her dream of

teaching the Bible was slipping away. How could she write her dissertation if she couldn’t see? How would she find work to pay back her student loans?

At the bottom of her darkest day, Kim found hope in the book of Lamentations. The nation of Israel had been ravaged and pillaged by the Babylonians (Lamentations 5:11). The temple and palaces had been burned, leaving Jerusalem “empty and desolate, a place haunted by jackals” (Lamentations 5:18; 2 Chronicles 36:17-20). There was nothing left but tears and a plaintive cry of praise. Lamentations ends with a defiant shout from the rubble. “But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. . . . Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!” (5:19-21).

Kim realized that not everything of value was lost. She may have lost sight, but she hadn’t lost her Lord. She claimed Lamentations’ closing praise as her own and prayed, “Lord, I don’t understand why you haven’t healed my eyes. I beg you to give me as much as you will. But either way, I want you to know, you’re still the best thing I’ve ever got.”

Kim spoke those touching words in a chapel meeting. God finally did answer her prayer, and she is now a colleague at

the Christian university where I teach. But even before she knew she would be healed, she chose to praise Him in the pain. May we seek God and His faithful ways when pain comes our way! —Mike Wittmer

MORE: Read Psalm 34:1-22 to learn how to praise God in the midst of pain.Discover more about adoration.

NEXT: Do you need to cry out to God for something? How might your lament be an act of faith?

Day 14

Fires and FaithREAD: Daniel 3:8-30

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy (James 1:2).

If I’m hiking and camping out for several days, campfires are vital. And the most important thing I carry with me as I begin each day is a handful of charred sticks from the previous night’s fire. They’re the very best fire starters—no need to find

tinder or other sticks. I just spark the charred ends, blow on them, and pile on a few fresh logs. The charred sticks are dirty, smelly, and appear to be worthless. The reason they’re so useful, however, is that they’ve

already been through a fire and the flames prepared them for future use.Speaking of fire and smoke, why did God allow Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to face what appeared to be death in

an inferno? (Daniel 3:19-21). Why weren’t they afraid of the flames? How could they stand in the fire without being seared as the guards near them died from the intense heat? (vv.22-24). God was glorified in this amazing story, but perhaps He also used the experience to grow and deepen the trio’s faith. It would be hard to go through an experience like that without being refined and tempered!

There’s no shortcut to being prepared to serve God, and it almost invariably means going through a fire (though thankfully it’s not usually a literal one). Look at how “fire” produces endurance and maturity in James 1:3: “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

Just as only a hiker sees the true value in his charred sticks of the night before, the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 had all been through trials that God used to perfect their faith. He sees the fires of life for what they are: active agents that cause our faith to be burnished, tempered, and fortified for Him. —Russell Fralick

MORE: Read Hebrews 11:32-40 and note the challenges many heroes of the faith endured, but also how they were considered “too good for this world” (v.38).Discover more about faith.

NEXT: What “fires” of life have you faced? How has God continued to prepare and perfect your character through them?

Day 15

Compelling GraceREAD: Jonah 1:1-17, 4:1-3,11

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry . . . ?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” (4:9).

My friends in my Bible discussion group chuckled when I shared how I was trying to avoid God. I smiled, but it was no joke. His promptings to overlook my demands for justice and extend grace filled me with resentment. I felt like

shaking my fist (as the prophet Jonah might have done) and screaming, “You want me to go where, and do what?!” Assyria was Israel’s bitter enemy—a wicked nation that delighted in unspeakable acts of cruelty. No one was more

deserving of judgment. When God sent Jonah to preach in the Assyrian city of Nineveh, he took off for Tarshish instead—away from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3). The prophet would have benefited from my friends’ counsel. “You can’t run away from God,” they told me. “He knows how to find you.”

They were right. God pursued Jonah with a raging tempest—subsiding only when he was thrown into the sea. Then God provided a fish’s

belly in which the prophet would cool his fleeing heels (v.17). Finally, Jonah did obey God’s voice. But the indignation he had felt at the call bubbled over when the Ninevites actually repented (3:6-10). Filled with rage, Jonah declared that he’d “rather be dead” than see his enemies saved (4:1-3). But God didn’t see vile, wicked people. He saw lost souls in need of salvation (v.11).

Like Jonah, I found myself pursued by God’s grace and mercy. Everywhere I turned, images and messages of the cross

were waiting to confront me. My demands for justice paled when compared to those of God’s holiness in light of my sin. His grace compelled me to humbly face the accusations flung at me, for Jesus made the ultimate exchange—His righteousness for my lack thereof. Rejoicing in that truth, I heard Him whisper, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:37). —Remi Oyedele

MORE: Read Luke 15:25-32 and think about how the prodigal son’s older brother reacted to his return.Discover more about obedience.

NEXT: Is there a person or situation in your life that has caused you great pain? What does the reality of God’s grace contribute to your response or reaction?

Day 16

Learning TrustREAD: Matthew 6:25-34

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear (v.25).

As a child, I worried about making friends at school. As a college student, I worried about getting work after graduation. Today, I worry about the health of my parents and if my books will sell.

What do you worry about? Take a moment and make a mental list. Some of your worries may be similar to mine.Jesus told us “not to worry about everyday life” (Matthew 6:25) and said there are two good reasons why. One reason is

practical: When we worry, we waste energy on something that may never happen. Notice how many of your worries relate to the future—that you’ll be jobless, never get married, or your project will fail. The fact is, most things we worry about won’t come to fruition, and fretting won’t make an ounce of difference in those that do. “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Jesus asked (v.27). They can’t. “So don’t worry about tomorrow,” He said. “Today’s trouble is enough for today” (v.34).

The other reason is theological: Worry denies that God will provide for our needs through His power and goodness. Jesus said that His Father “cares so wonderfully” for all creation, including us! (v.30). And He also “knows all [our] needs” and will give us “everything [we] need” (vv.32-33).

To make His point, Jesus provided a guided meditation on the natural world. “Look at the birds,” He said. Look how God “feeds” them (v.26). “Look at the lilies of the field,” He adds. Look how beautifully clothed they are (vv.28-29). God is active right now, providing for creation. If He tenderly looks after birds and flowers, won’t He look after you, His child?

May we trust God with today’s needs and challenges. For He’s real and He’s there, and far greater than our phantom

worries. —Sheridan Voysey

MORE: Read Philippians 4:6 and consider what Paul instructs us to do with our worries.Discover more about fear.

NEXT: How many of your worries concern the future? What do God’s power and presence provide as you seek to trust in Him instead of worrying about what might happen?

Day 17

Foretastes of the KingdomREAD: Mark 1:9-15

He preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced (vv.14-15).

When I was 10 years old, Baskin-Robbins opened a new ice cream store in my neighborhood. It didn’t serve the icy, generic brand of sweet treats that my mom occasionally bought at the grocery store. This was good ice cream—thick

and creamy! Better yet, Baskin-Robbins let its patrons sample their different flavors of ice cream with their iconic pink taste-testing

spoons. These provided small but yummy samples of what was to come if you ordered a full scoop or two. This was uncharted territory for a 10-year-old. And I’m here to report that I took full advantage of it!

In her book Kingdom Calling, Amy Sherman tells of a pastor who held up one of those pink taste-testing spoons as he was teaching about joining Jesus in His “grand, sweeping work of restoration.” Just as pink spoons offered “foretastes” of the ice cream to come, he encouraged his Christian audience to think of themselves as offering “foretastes” of God’s coming kingdom to their “neighbors near and far.”

King Jesus taught that the kingdom of God has already arrived in our world through Him (Mark 1:14-15). But it won’t fully come until He returns to the world, sits on the throne, and renews all things (Revelation 21:5). The second coming of Jesus, however, shouldn’t motivate us to live a passive life, where we sit around and wait for Him to show up someday. For we, the body of Christ, have a job to do!

Until Jesus returns, our mission is to partner with Him in giving foretastes—previews—of God’s kingdom. One day that kingdom will fully come to earth as it is in heaven (Mark 1:15; Matthew 6:10). As we wait and anticipate, we too can bring

great joy to God the Father (Mark 1:11).Let’s spread His good news today! —Jeff Olson

MORE: Read Matthew 24:14 and consider what part you play in God’s kingdom-building plan.Discover more about evangelism.

NEXT: How have you been a “foretaste” of God’s kingdom? How can you be one today?

Day 18

Loving God, Loving OthersREAD: John 13:31-35

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (v.35).

While watching the orbit of Uranus, astronomers noticed that the planet didn’t seem to orbit as expected, almost as if there was another unknown planet nearby whose gravity was pulling Uranus toward it. Using mathematics, the

scientists were able to compute both the position and the mass of this unknown object and then observed it for the first time in 1846: the previously unknown planet Neptune. Math allowed them to identify Neptune before they could even see it!

This reminds me of how unbelievers can see God in us before personally recognizing His reality themselves. But how? For we don’t receive a badge or jacket proclaiming to the world that we’re Jesus’ disciples when we become believers in Him. Some might choose to make this identification based on whether a person goes to church or not, but we all know it’s not that easy. It can be quite difficult to identify whether someone is a true disciple of Christ.

But in John 13, Jesus reveals how—even without any kind of outward sign—we can identify someone as a true believer: by the way they love one another. Jesus said, “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (v.34).

This shouldn’t surprise us, given how central love is to our faith in Him. Consider that love is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) and the ultimate fulfillment of the entire Law (Romans 13:8). Love is also the evidence that Christ is Lord over our lives. “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples,” the Savior declared (John 13:35).

Our love for one another truly reveals our love for God! —Peter Chin

MORE: Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 for another reminder of how important love is.

Discover more about love.

NEXT: How do you typically identify someone as being a believer in Jesus? Who is God calling you to love? How is He calling you to truly love them?

Day 19

Chosen InstrumentsREAD: Acts 9:10-19

Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to . . . the people (v.15).

My daughter is only 5 years old, but she’s a self-declared “artist.” One day we talked about paintbrushes. I selected two and handed them to her. The first brush was slim, with bristles that ended in a fine point. The other brush was larger

and thicker. I explained that artists typically use bigger brushes to fill in large areas, while tiny brushes work better for small spaces and creating details. Painting involves choosing the right tool at the right time in the artistic process.

Not long after Jesus’ death and resurrection, He announced, “[Paul] is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

Paul was the right man for the job, partly because he had been “given a thorough Jewish training from [his] earliest childhood” (Acts 26:4). As a Jewish man using the Hebrew language, Paul reached Israel’s ordinary people as well as prominent government officials. He even had a voice with the uppity religious leaders because he had been a practicing “member of the Pharisees” prior to his conversion! (Acts 26:5).

As a Jewish man and a Roman citizen by birth, Paul was fluent in Hebrew and in Greek (Acts 21:37). This additional language allowed him to converse with almost anyone he encountered on his missionary travels. Fluency in Greek enabled him to start churches and even debate with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (Acts 17:18).

God uniquely created Paul to be an effective evangelist (Galatians 1:15-16). Likewise, God has shaped all of our lives in unique ways—we speak different languages, live in different places, and have diverse abilities. We’re His chosen, created instruments for today (Ephesians 2:10). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

MORE: Read Philippians 3:5-7 and see more of Paul’s qualifications along with where he found his true identity. Discover more about spiritual gifts.

NEXT: How do you see the limitations in your life as they relate to your ability to serve God? How has He uniquely called and qualified you for His service?

Day 20

Genuine LifeREAD: Romans 8:1-11

Just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you (v.11).

During a conversation with friends, several in the circle took turns recounting their early experiences with certain words in the Christian vocabulary. One person said, “Whenever I heard the word life mentioned by a Christian or in the

Bible, I always thought it was only talking about heaven. I never thought it had much to do with me right now.” Most everyone nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it was difficult to know what there really was to be excited about,” another confessed. “I imagined playing harps somewhere in the clouds, and I felt guilty when the whole idea just didn’t excite me too much.”

While these descriptions of heaven have little to do with what Scripture actually reveals, it’s true that we often carry a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Bible means when it speaks of the life God brings. Paul describes the Holy Spirit as “the life-giving Spirit” and assures us that this Spirit of life “has freed [us] from the power of sin that leads to death” (Romans 8:2). At the very core, we discover that in Jesus we find freedom and life—the cure to the wreck and ruin that surrounds us.

Further, to “set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace,” Paul tells us (v.6 RSV). When we yield ourselves to God, setting our affections on Him and His truth as God’s Spirit reveals it to us, then we’ll find ourselves experiencing true life—life full of wholeness and well-being.

This true, genuine life isn’t only for the future, but for now. When we embrace God (or better, when we open up to God embracing us), we find ourselves stepping further into what it means to be truly human and truly alive. We find the genuine life that only Jesus provides. —Winn Collier

MORE: Read through Romans 8:1-11 again. Mark each time the word life appears. What does this tell you about

your own existence and what it means to truly live? Discover more about heaven.

NEXT: When are you most aware of the wreck and ruin of life? How does Jesus’ call to genuine life speak against these places of death?

Day 21

Paint Your LeafREAD: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (v.58).

In his short story “Leaf by Niggle,” J. R. R. Tolkien describes a kindhearted, perfectionistic painter who failed to complete the landscape that became his life’s work. Because he was kind, Niggle often helped his neighbors rather than work on his

painting. And because he fretted over details, he only managed to paint the first leaf on the first tree. He died with apparently little to show for his life. His “one beautiful leaf ” was placed in the town museum “and was noticed by a few eyes.”

But when Niggle entered the presence of God, he found a surprise waiting for him. Tolkien writes, “Before him stood the Tree, his Tree, finished . . . its leaves opening, its branches growing and bending in the wind that Niggle had so often felt or guessed, and had so often failed to catch. He gazed at the Tree, and slowly he lifted his arms and opened them wide. ‘It is a gift!’ he said.”

Do you wonder if the things you weren’t able to finish because you were doing good to others possess any value? Paul concludes his long chapter on the resurrection by promising that your works will follow after you. They will result in God’s reward, so “always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

As with Niggle, you may feel that you’ve barely “gotten a leaf out.” But God will incorporate that leaf into His “transformed” creation (vv.51-53). He will fill you with the joy of His presence, surrounded by the most beautiful landscape you could ever imagine. Like a master artist adding depth and color to the squiggles of a child, so God graciously includes our efforts in the world He’s building. So go ahead, paint your leaf! —Mike Wittmer

MORE: Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 to learn what will happen to our works that aren’t eternally significant and valuable.Discover more about serving others.

NEXT: What’s your “leaf ”? What will motivate you to work diligently on it, regardless of success or failure?

Day 22

Full-Circle CompassionREAD: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (v.4).

Following a tumultuous season in her life, Bethany Haley Williams battled with shame and brokenness. The journey was difficult, but through Jesus she experienced healing that transformed her life. Prompted by the grace and mercy she received, Bethany formed Exile International, a nonprofit that implements art/

expressive therapy and long-term, rehabilitative care to restore and empower war-affected children—including children rescued from the dreaded Lord’s Resistance Army in Africa. In her book The Color of Grace: How One Woman’s Brokenness Brought Healing and Hope to Child Survivors of War, Bethany writes, “When your greatest heartache becomes your greatest ministry, grace comes full circle.”

Bethany now devotes her life to living out these words: “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Regardless of where we live, our social status, or our circumstances, we can rest assured that God knows about our suffering and misfortunes. He’s with us in the pain. God is merciful, loving, and attentive to our needs. Whether our suffering comes from persecution, disease, or emotional hurts, He can use what we experience to lift up and help others who are in need. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “When we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you” (v.6).

No matter what we’ve done or what we’re facing, God is there to shower us with His unfailing love and compassion—gifts we can then share with others. —Roxanne Robbins

MORE: Read Isaiah 41:10 and consider the comfort that God alone can provide.Discover more about suffering and tragedy.

NEXT: How have you experienced God’s presence and comfort when you’ve gone through difficult times? Who can you comfort today—pouring out the comfort you’ve received from your heavenly Father?

Day 23

Torn Apart In Aisle 9READ: Ephesians 4:11-32

[Jesus] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (v.16).

My heart heavy, I was tempted to park my grocery cart and interrupt their conversation. Though I hadn’t heard the entirety of their acidic discussion, I caught enough to know the four shoppers were deeply dissatisfied with individuals

at their local church. Ironically, not one of them looked any happier for their venting. I didn’t know them, those they were talking about, or even their church, but I grieved over this verbal ripping apart of the body of Christ in a public store aisle.

To verbally destroy one who has been created in God’s image is not only inconsistent with the character of Christ, but our disparaging comments grieve the Holy Spirit as well (Ephesians 4:30). We may pretend to tolerate those who frustrate us or make us angry, but the words we speak about them are a direct window into our hearts (vv.15,29; Luke 6:45).

Granted, every local church has its issues, and invariably even the healthiest of congregations will experience times of conflict. But the defining mark of Jesus’ transformation in us is the way we address our differences within the body. In the times when our concerns with a fellow believer are justified, we should look to Scripture to find the appropriate response (Matthew 18:15-17). Gossip can only create more trouble.

We’ve all acted like those shoppers at times—dishing out destructive words. But Paul tells us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior” (Ephesians 4:31). We’re to be a distinctive people who value and respect others as we “speak the truth in love” (v.15). And as we submit to the Holy Spirit, Christ-honoring words will flow from our hearts and mouths. —Regina Franklin

MORE: Read Jude 1:20-21 and consider what it means to build up other believers instead of tearing them down.Discover more about living with other believers.

NEXT: How can we work through our grievances with others in the body of Christ in a Christlike manner? Why are we tempted to tear people apart verbally behind their backs?

Day 24

Shine Like StarsREAD: Philippians 2:14-18

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people (vv.14-15).

I’m not exactly what you would call a stargazer, but I’ve spent my fair share of clear nights gazing up into the heavens. I’ve learned enough about the star field to point out constellations such as the Big Dipper or Orion’s Belt or Aquarius. And I’ll

never forget the time that locating the North Star was the only thing that saved me from spending the night lost in a cold, wet swamp. I used it to find my way out of the inky darkness.

Every now and then I find myself awestruck by the enormity of the star-filled sky. Even though the naked eye can see only a small fraction of the universe God has created, the myriad of twinkling lights in our field of vision can be stunning.

The vastness of this piece of God’s handiwork makes me feel small—as it should. It’s a striking reminder that there is a Creator-God and we are His creation (Nehemiah 9:6). But when I consider the night sky through the lens of Scripture, I find myself invited by our Maker to be a part of something as big and bright as the stars themselves.

The apostle Paul used the stars to describe our mission as believers in Jesus. He wrote that God calls us to “shine among [unbelievers] like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-16 NIV). Stars stand out like bright lights and draw people’s attention. In the same way, God calls us to shine brightly for Christ so that the world living in darkness will see it and be drawn to the “word of life”—Jesus Himself.

The next time you find yourself gazing up at a brilliantly lit night sky, remember that the One who hung those bright lights calls you to shine as beacons of hope and life for the sake of a dark and dying world. —Jeff Olson

MORE: Read Matthew 5:15-16 and consider what it means to “let your light shine before others.”

Discover more about living for Christ.

NEXT: What can prevent you from shining for Jesus? How will you help others see His light today?

Day 25

In Jesus’ LoveREAD: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through (vv.2-3).

In Jesus’ Love. He closed his email message with those words. And as I read them, I realized how poignant they were. For this young man—who I had seen come to a saving faith in Jesus, who I’d baptized, whose faith was maturing—was back home

for a stay in his birth country, a place not known for kindness toward believers in Jesus. He mentioned receiving “strange looks” from nationals as he prayed before his meal in a restaurant, the coolness his friend showed toward his faith, and that he was lonely. So I strived to encourage him by writing, “I’m so proud of you. God is using you to spread His presence in your city!”

Due to persecution, Paul couldn’t go personally to encourage the fledgling church at Thessalonica. So he sent Timothy on a stealth mission (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul wrote to the church that he sent Timothy “to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles [you’re] going through” (vv.2-3).

To the apostle’s delight, Timothy returned with encouraging news after his mission of joy and hope. With a grateful heart, Paul penned, “We have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles” (v.7). He was pleased that the Thessalonian believers had “remained strong in [their] faith” even while facing persecution.

At the close of this portion of his letter, Paul dished out some encouraging words: Keep loving one another just as our love overflows for you; may Jesus make your faith strong and your lives holy; and know that He will one day return for you! (vv.11-13).

Do you know a believer in Jesus who needs your encouragement today? Give that person a call or send them an email or text and let them know that you stand with them in Jesus’ love. —Tom Felten

MORE: Read and meditate on Romans 15:13 and then think of a believer in Jesus you could share these words with as a means of encouragement!

Discover more about encouragement.

NEXT: Why is it such an important thing to share encouragement with other believers? What Scripture verses have been most encouraging to you? Who will you share them with?

Day 26

Spiritual StrugglesREAD: Hebrews 12:5-12

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5).

Albert Einstein may have suffered from Impostor Syndrome—the tendency for accomplished people to suspect they’re frauds. He said, “The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease.” Few among us would

question Einstein’s colossal contributions to physics. If he doubted his work, where do the rest of us stand?The flip side of Impostor Syndrome is the Dunning-Kruger effect, in which incompetent people see themselves as gifted.

In other words, the clueless are clueless about their own ineptitude, while those who doubt their abilities are often among the high achievers.

A connection to our spiritual life becomes apparent here. If we’re aware of our spiritual struggles, or if we have doubts, that’s a healthy sign that we’re in the fight. It’s when we think we’re fine that we’re spiritually dead. The author of Hebrews pointed to our struggle as something positive. “Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?” he asked (12:5). Then he noted how God disciplines and corrects those who are truly His children. “If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all” (v.8). Strong words that help us understand our need for divine correction!

Thankfully, our spiritual well-being isn’t tied to our competence. We’re completely reliant upon God’s love and Jesus’ work on the cross on our behalf. “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us,” Paul wrote, “not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4-5).

God is with you in your spiritual struggles. You’re no impostor! —Tim Gustafson

MORE: Read Ephesians 2:8-10 and see what Paul wrote about the saving work of Jesus and our responsibility to serve Him.Discover more about doubt.

NEXT: When you struggle spiritually, how do you react? Do you turn to Christ and other believers? Rely on your own strength? How can you tap into God’s wisdom and guidance?

Day 27

Demonstrated FaithREAD: James 2:14-26

Even the demons believe this (v.19).

Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities, has spent his life loving those often ostracized by society. L’Arche creates living communities for those with disabilities or those who, because of their need for intense care, would be

institutionalized if they didn’t have such a home. Vanier talks about how the communities are centered around the most basic acts of caring for the physical body—bathing, dressing, and feeding residents who can’t do those things on their own.

The work of L’Arche resonates with James’ forthright question: “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” (James 2:14). Faith isn’t merely a mental category or an abstract idea, but a life infused by truth and the practice of it.

Faith that merely manifests itself in words but doesn’t express itself in our life isn’t true faith. When we see another human destitute and in danger and merely pat him on the back, offer him an empty blessing, or an off-handed comment in wishing him well, we face James’ rebuke: “What good does that do?” (v.16). The answer is plain: This kind of pious inaction does no good at all.

In fact, a half-baked faith is no better than the faith of demons. James wrote, “Even the demons believe” in this way (v.19). True faith acts. True faith receives what God says, and then true faith moves in response. True faith—deep belief—isn’t merely a matter of using our mind but also our body, our will, our hopes, our desires, and our commitments. Faith is demonstrated as we trust God and then obey and follow Him in action. True faith is far better than anything a demon has ever known, for true faith flows from God Himself. —Winn Collier

MORE: Read 2 Peter 1:5-8. How does Peter suggest our faith is supplemented or fulfilled? List everything that he says should accompany faith.Discover more about living like Christ.

NEXT: Where is your faith being called into action today? What has sometimes held you back from a bold step of faithful action? How can true faith help you move forward?

Day 28

Laying Burdens DownREAD: 1 Peter 5:1-11

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (v.7).

It’s documented that children shouldn’t carry more than 10 to 15 percent of their total weight in their backpack. Researchers in Spain assessed the backpacks and back health of 1,403 students ages 12 to 17. They concluded that over 60 percent were

carrying backpacks weighing more than 10 percent of their body weight. One in four reported suffering back pain for more than 15 days during the previous year. Other conditions included stress fractures in the back and nerve damage in the neck and shoulders.

How big a burden are we carrying these days? The Bible has an answer to our heavy loads. In 1 Peter 5, the apostle encouraged his readers to humble themselves under their elders, other older believers, and God (vv.5-6). One of the ways they expressed their humility to Him was by placing their burdens in His hands: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (v.7).

Peter wanted them to see that worry is a form of pride because it involves taking concerns upon oneself instead of entrusting them to God. The basis for their “humble handover” was their confidence that Jesus’ shoulders are bigger and stronger and that He’s genuinely concerned for our welfare.

If we’re carrying a heavy load on our backs, it’s time to lay our burdens down. Through humble prayer, we lay down our relationship problems, financial burdens, uncertain futures, and sickness. This includes acknowledging our dependence on

God—that our burdens are too heavy for us, that we desperately need Him and other believers to help us carry the burdens, that we’re completely handing over our cares and concerns to Him, and that we’ll wait on Him and trust Him with all of our lives. —Marvin Williams

MORE: Read Psalms 27:14, 37:5, 55:22 and list some ways we can cast our cares upon God?Discover more about worry.

NEXT: What burden are you lugging around that’s negatively affecting your spiritual state? What keeps you from humbly handing it over to God?

Day 29

The WaitingREAD: 2 Peter 3:3-16

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise. . . . No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent (v.9).

Since so many people are desperate for work, I’m grateful for my husband’s job. But his retail work with its agonizingly long hours can be ruthless on a family. Accustomed to evening meals and weekends together, my doing life almost as a

single mom has seemed like a very long 4 years. One evening, I was feeling particularly tired and sighed to my father that I didn’t know how to pray anymore. After many years of praying for a breakthrough in his own life, he knew how I felt and encouraged me from God’s Word—renewing my hope and resolve.

The events making news, along with our personal struggles, can leave us feeling disillusioned. And the reminder that Jesus will come back to set things right can seem insensitive and out of touch. The apostle Peter pleads with us never to forget who God is; He made the heavens and earth by His word and He also cleansed the ancient world with a mighty flood. A similar cleaning awaits the natural world, this time by fire (2 Peter 3:5-7,10).

Although we may lose heart and grow weary with the cares of this world, Peter reminds us that God’s timekeeping is very different from ours. He wrote, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord” (v.8). He isn’t being slow about His promise—He’s being patient because He doesn’t want anyone to be separated from Him for eternity. So He’s giving everyone time to repent and receive salvation through Jesus (vv.9,15).

We long for those we love to receive salvation, but our heavenly Father desires this even more! As we wait for Jesus to return, may we join Him in spreading the good news of His saving ways. Out of love, He “does not want anyone to be

destroyed” (v.9). —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

MORE: Read Isaiah 55:8-9 and be reminded that God’s way of thinking and His actions are different from ours.Discover more about the return of Christ.

NEXT: Have you become disillusioned in waiting for something? Be refreshed today as you think of the faithful love of God!

Day 30

Holy, Holy, Holy . . .READ: Revelation 15:1-4

Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy (v.4).

Theologian R. C. Sproul once wrote, “When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is . . . separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way.”As we consider what it means for God to be holy, we recognize this is one of His many attributes including love, grace,

mercy, and compassion. Even though our holy God is far different and greater than us, He allows us to know and love Him. Having led the Jews out of Egypt, Moses wrote a song celebrating God’s deliverance and lifting up His power and holiness

(Exodus 15:1-18). “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?” (v.11).

In the New Testament, the apostle John described a vision of worship in heaven where believers in Jesus sang “the song of Moses . . . and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3), proclaiming, “Great and marvelous are your works . . . . Just and true are your ways . . . . Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy” (vv.3-4). What an amazing, holy God!

In the few and rare occasions where people have been allowed to have a peek at what the angels are doing in heaven, the angelic beings were singing continuously “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God” (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4:8). Holiness is the only attribute of God mentioned in triplicate. If God says something about His character once, it’s vitally important. But when He says it three times, that’s some serious emphasis.

Our holy God is wonderful and without equal (Isaiah 40:25). May we worship Him today, declaring “You alone are holy”!

(Revelation 15:4). —K.T. Sim

MORE: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7 and 1 Peter 1:13-17. Since God is holy, how does that affect the way you live?Discover more about reverence for God.

NEXT: Pick a song that focuses on the holiness of God and worship Him by singing it. How can you practically live out holiness in what you’re facing today?

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3000 Kraft Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, U.S.A. For information about other Our Daily Bread Ministries’ materials, contact us at the same address or call 1-616-974-2210. Find us on the Internet at ourdailyjourney.org or contact us at http://ourdailybread.org/help/contact-us/