Devotional

December 23, 2013

Advent Devotional: Monday, December 23

Exodus 34:4-10

4 So he cut out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. 6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” 8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though ]the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.”

The Covenant Renewed

10 Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 21, 2013

Advent Devotional: Saturday, December 21

Psalm 89:1-4

The Lord’s Covenant with David, and Israel’s Afflictions.

I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. 2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” 3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, 4 I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.

Psalm 89:19-26

19 Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones, And said, “I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. 20 “I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him, 21 With whom My hand will be established; My arm also will strengthen him. 22 “The enemy will not deceive him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 “But I shall crush his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him. 24 “My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him, And in My name his horn will be exalted. 25 “I shall also set his hand on the sea And his right hand on the rivers. 26 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 20, 2013

Advent Devotional: Friday, December 20

Galatians 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Romans 15:13

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 19, 2013

Advent Devotional: Thursday, December 19

3 John 1:2-8

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

 

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 18, 2013

Advent Devotional: Wednesday, December 18

Proverbs 10:28

28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

Proverbs 12:20

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.

Proverbs 21:15

15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

 

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 17, 2013

Advent Devotional: Tuesday, December 17

John 16:16-24

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 21 Whenever a woman is in labor she has [a]pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a [b]child has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises

23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 16, 2013

Advent Devotional: Monday, Decemer 16

Luke 15:1-10

The Lost Sheep

15 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, if she has ten [c]silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 14, 2013

Advent Devotional: Saturday, December 14

Isaiah 35:1-10

(This weekend’s message scripture for Week 3 of Advent: Joy)

The wilderness and the desert will be glad,
And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom;
Like the crocus
2 It will blossom profusely
And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The majesty of our God.
3 Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
4 Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.
For waters will break forth in the wilderness
And streams in the Arabah.
7 The scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground springs of water;
In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
8 A highway will be there, a roadway,
And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel on it,
But it will be for him who walks that way,
And fools will not wander on it.
9 No lion will be there,
Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;
These will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the Lord will return
And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
With everlasting joy upon their heads.
They will find gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 13, 2013

Advent Devotional: Friday, December 13

Psalm 34:12-14

12 Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

Isaiah 26:3

3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)

December 12, 2013

Advent Devotional: Thursday, December 12

Colossians 1:15-23

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Things to Consider While You Read:

Scripture: Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you, write it out.

Observation: What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application: Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now.

Prayer: Ask God to help you use this scripture. Pray for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)