God never promised believers would live an easy life, but He does promise our hardships aren’t in vain.

Matthew 14:22-33

When difficulties arise, are you surprised that the Lord would allow them? Such thinking assumes that being an obedient believer exempts us from problems. Consider today’s passage—the disciples did exactly what Jesus said by getting into the boat and setting sail for the other side. Yet before long, they found themselves battered and tossed about by a powerful storm. 

Then there are other believers who automatically assume that if trouble comes, they’re the problem. Even though God does use trials to correct us from time to time, not all difficulties result from our sins and failures. But He can use all situations to mature and conform us to Christ’s likeness. 

And that’s what was happening in Matthew 14 with the disciples. Jesus knew what lay ahead, and He was training them for the work He was calling them to do. In this case, the lashing winds created an environment that would help them learn key lessons about trust that would be invaluable for future ministry. 

God uses a variety of means to help us become strong, vital servants of Jesus Christ. Instead of keeping our heads bent low against the struggles of life, let’s look up to the Lord and seek His strength and purposes. 

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 20-22

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Because God gave us the gift of faith, we can choose to spend eternity with Him.

Ephesians 2:1-10

What do you consider your most prized possession? If it’s anything material or physical, it won’t bring lasting satisfaction. Why else do so many people keep trading up and racing to have “better” and “more”? In their quest for this world’s goods, a lot of people overlook the most valuable asset of all—faith. 

And faith is a gift from the Lord, not something we can work to obtain. We’re saved only by God’s grace, through faith in the work of Christ on our behalf. On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment that we deserve, and He gives eternal life to all who trust Him.

Without faith, we would have nothing of lasting value. Then all would be lost at death, leaving us to face eternal punishment “away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). 

Have you received God’s great gift? If not, won’t you place your trust in the Savior today? When you acknowledge Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:8-10). You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 13-14

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The more burdens we lay at Jesus’ feet, the lighter and freer we’ll be.

Ecclesiastes 1

As times passes, we’ll inevitably begin to experience more physical aches and pains. But disappointments can leave us feeling old in spirit at any age. In today’s passage, we find a disheartened Solomon bemoaning how meaningless his existence has become. The king who was once unsurpassed in wisdom has tragically allowed worldly ideals and pursuits to distort his priorities. And as a result, he’s become dissatisfied with life. 

What Solomon didn’t realize is that our focus determines our level of satisfaction. Those who stay young in spirit continually look for evidence of the Almighty—ways that He’s working, providing, loving, and guiding. Without this perspective, the pain and problems of life take center stage, which can then lead to discouragement and grumbling. 

These are burdens that believers are not meant to bear. Jesus Christ invites the weary and heavy-laden to come to Him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Our Savior is the solution for everything that weighs us down, but we must let Him carry it for us. 

What are you hauling around that is aging your body, soul, and spirit? Whether you’re burdened by unforgiveness, regret, guilt, or something else, cast it is on God, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). 

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 10-12

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Though our physical body ages, our soul stays young as we continually grow in the Lord.

Psalm 92:12-15

Our culture is obsessed with youth. The marketplace is flooded with products promising better health, fewer wrinkles, and stronger bodies. But these will only scratch the surface of our aging problem. Unless death intervenes, growing old is inevitable. Living as if we’re old, however, is a choice. We can be young in soul and spirit, regardless of our chronological age. 

Today’s passage tells us that when a righteous man is firmly planted in the Lord (Ps. 92:13), he’ll become fruitful in things that last into eternity. Believers are never to retire from bearing fruit; we’re to continually abide in Christ so we can do the work He’s given us to accomplish (John 15:4, Ephesians 2:10).   

Even when we walk with Christ, our bodies may grow physically weaker in our latter years. But we can have the confidence and stability that come only from growing strong in faith. Each year is an opportunity to trust God more and rely wholly on His Word. 

Staying young while growing old begins with your mind. Never stop listening to the Father and learning from His Word. Allow godly thinking to shape your attitude. Be thankful, never stop laughing, and rejoice in your Lord. Above all, keep believing and loving Him with all your heart. 

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 7-9

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Meditation helps us not only to know God’s Word but also to obey it.

Psalm 119:9-16

Some Christians try to live within God’s will while opening their Bibles only at church. This practice is akin to playing basketball without knowing the rules—it results in a lot of errors and frustration. In order to obey the Lord, you first have to know what He has said.

I once skipped reading God’s Word for a week as a sort of experiment. Over the course of just seven short days, my thinking seemed clouded, my attitude suffered, and I could feel my heart growing cool toward the Lord. That week confirmed Bibles aren’t just for Sundays. Scripture is always necessary because it shines a light on God’s true nature and teaches us His principles and commands. Knowing Him and His ways equips us to make decisions that are pleasing to Him. 

Only after reading passages from the Bible can we begin to meditate on those scriptures and let them change us. By keeping our focus on the heavenly Father and His Word, daily meditation helps us transform biblical knowledge into active obedience. As we ponder a passage, the Spirit will use it to teach the right way to live, correct our course when we go astray, and train us to obey biblical commands. And He will not only reveal how to apply truth to our life but will also give us His power to do so. 

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 4-6

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Practicing obedience to earthly authorities helps us learn to obey God’s commands.

Ephesians 6:1-9

Throughout the Bible, God commands His people to obey Him. But submission doesn’t come naturally to us because we’re all born with a rebellious spirit. We must be taught to obey the Lord, and we begin to understand how to yield through interactions with people in authority over us. 

The most common place for learning obedience is the home. Today’s passage tells children to honor and obey their mother and father (Eph. 6:1-2). God planned that our earliest experiences of authority would involve submitting to parents who love and care for us. Through their admonitions and discipline, we learn what it takes to master our rebellious spirit. 

At every stage of life, God places us under leaders, whether parents, teachers, coaches, employers, or governing officials (Romans 13:1-2). Of course, like all of humanity, these people were born into sin, so they’ll make mistakes and sometimes treat us unfairly—but they’re still His instruments. Whether or not we approve of how we’re ruled, people in these roles teach us the value of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.  

We often balk at the idea of answering to someone else. But it helps to realize that the ultimate goal is to obey the Lord—and that God’s commands are for our good (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). 

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 1-3

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We’ve all felt disappointed by God at some point, but the key is to remember His ways are better than ours.

John 11:1-15

Disappointment is an emotional response to dashed hopes, goals, and desires. Sometimes it’s the result of circumstances beyond our control, but when others are involved, it’s easy to blame them for the situation. We might even lose faith in the person we think let us down. 

Martha and Mary could relate. The gospel of John tells us that Jesus loved Martha, her sister Mary, and their brother Lazarus (John 11:5). Because of this, they expected He would come immediately after learning that Lazarus was sick. But Jesus didn’t come until after Lazarus had died.  

We’re often like Martha and Mary. We pray for God to intervene in a situation the way that we desire. But if He doesn’t, we’re confused and disappointed in Him. Now, maybe we don’t voice these feelings, but we’ve all felt let down. 

Today’s passage reminds us that the Lord has higher purposes than we can perceive. Don’t let your disappointment shape your view of God. Instead, rely on what you know to be true about Him—that His love for you never fails, and He orchestrates all the events in your life for His glory and your ultimate good. When you’re feeling disappointed, the best response is simply to trust Him. 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 25-26

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God meets our needs so that we can pass His blessings on to others.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

God’s blessings to us are not meant to end with us. His desire is that they flow to others. This principle applies in all areas of life, including finances. Did you know that our heavenly Father has plans for your money? 

The Lord graciously provides for our needs and even our wants. But He also wants us to use our money to achieve His plans. And one of His goals is that we share our resources with others. 

Just look at His extravagant promise in verse 8 of today’s passage: “And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” Sharing blessings with others will never lead to deprivation. In fact, the Lord promises to increase the harvest of our righteousness and enrich us in everything in response to our generosity. We can never outgive God. 

A hoarded blessing won’t ever be enjoyed as richly as a shared one. Using your gift to meet someone else’s need glorifies God by demonstrating His grace at work in your life. Don’t let His generous provisions end with you. Pass them on and discover the joy of a never-ending cycle of blessings. 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 22-24

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Singing at church isn’t the only way God is glorified—our whole life can bring Him honor.

Psalm 34:1-3

Glorifying God isn’t limited to church. In fact, praise ought to permeate every area of our life. But how is that done?

One obvious way that we praise the Lord is with our voices. True worship flows from the mouths of believers who are focused on God’s attributes. They desire to honor Him because of who He is, what He’s done, and what He has promised for the future. Genuine worship allows the Lord to fill our hearts and minds with His presence anywhere. 

Our God is also praised when we serve Him. We were created for the purpose of bringing honor and glory to His name. Therefore, nothing should limit our willingness to work for the King, particularly when we have a chance to share Him with others. Christ is honored when His followers speak boldly about His grace and His work—believers’ testimonies are a remarkable and honoring form of praise that magnifies God’s name. 

Jesus Christ is worth more than any treasure this world offers. Loving Him and understanding what He has done for us should be all the motivation we need to praise Him with our life—no matter where we are. 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 19-21

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The more we get to know God, the more we will praise Him and crave His presence.

Revelation 5

John’s revelation of heaven’s throne room is a picture of true praise. He describes the place exploding with worship and adoration of Jesus. Those present—the elders and “myriads of myriads” of angels (Rev. 5:11)—are motivated to sing their love of Christ because they know who He is. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He is the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5), the only one worthy to judge the earth and bring forth its renewal. 

What motivates believers to lift hands and voice in worship—shouldn’t the reason be to praise the Savior for who He is? To do that, we must take the time to know as much as we can about Him. That happens through regular Bible study and prayer that is less self-focused. 

Once we glimpse a side of Christ’s character that’s bigger and more amazing than we realized, there will be a yearning to know more. We hunger and thirst for God because only He can truly satisfy (Matthew 5:6). 

Praise is part of a cycle: Learn more of God’s character, love Him more deeply, worship and serve Him better, and receive spiritual fulfillment. Amazingly, even as we are satisfied, we crave more of His presence in our life. And so we dig into His Word and continually gain in the Lord. 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 17-18 

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It’s easier to wait on God when we remember that His plans are best.

Lamentations 3:24-26

Many Christians struggle with waiting. There are a lot of things we want right now—and we usually have the ability to follow through on our desires. In fact, that’s what the entire credit card industry is all about: Have it now; pay later. But possessions aren’t the only thing we’re in a rush for. Some people are so eager to be married that they make an unwise choice regarding a mate. Others are in such a hurry to become successful and well-respected in their career that they look for shortcuts to get ahead. 

So why might the Lord have us delay? One reason is to protect us. Those who can’t say no to their own desires end up enslaved to them. God wants us to be mature believers who have the character and self-restraint to wait for Him to provide in His perfect time. Because our heavenly Father is omniscient, He alone knows what’s best. You can trust that if He asks you to hold off, He has something more wonderful in mind than you could ever provide for yourself. 

Does anything seem to have a power over you? If so, it may be an area that requires the practice of self-restraint. Yield to the Lord and submit your desires to Him. Then, begin saying no to temptations as you wait for God to reveal His will for your life.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 15-16 

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Because God wants us to know what He’s like, He sent His Son—His exact representation—to live among men.

John 1:12-13

Our Creator never intended to be distant from mankind. Instead, He has always wanted an intimate, loving relationship with us. We know this because …

• He sent His Son. Christ came to earth so we could know God the Father. Jesus is His exact representation; His words and works were the same as God’s (John 5:19; John 12:50). Therefore, when we look at the Son, we are seeing the character of our Father in heaven.

• He adopted us as His children. Through salvation, God invites us to join His family (John 1:12). This close relationship with our heavenly Father lasts for eternity, providing us with support, encouragement, and love. 

• He is our friend forever. By calling His disciples “friends” (John 15:15), Jesus revealed a special aspect of His relationship with His followers. Christ is a friend who will never desert or turn away from us (Hebrews 13:5). 

• His spirit indwells us. From the moment of salvation, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit within our being. He is closer to us than any earthly kin can be. 

God desires intimacy with us, and our highest calling is to live for Him all of our days (Colossians 3:23). As we do, the Spirit will transform us to resemble the Lord more and more over the course of our life.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 7-9

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Our forgiveness of others should look like Jesus’ forgiveness of us.

Matthew 18:21-35

When someone repeatedly wrongs us, we often try to draw a line at the number of times we’ll accept apologies. In other situations, we may attempt to categorize which offenses we’ll pardon. But Jesus drew no such lines at the cross. God’s unconditional pardon of our sins means that our forgiveness toward others should likewise have no limitations—even when certain behaviors can’t be allowed to continue. 

Another issue is the temptation to hang on to resentment for a time instead of forgiving instantly. But when we cling to unforgiveness—even for a short period—Satan can gain a foothold. If the Father’s will is that we forgive, why should we wait? 

Forgiveness is painful and costly—Jesus felt every nail, every thorn. But a truly forgiving spirit knows that good can come from the unfortunate situation. For instance, “good” could take the form of God developing our character or perhaps exposing our weakness to drive us closer to Him. 

Realizing God is sovereign makes us more ready to forgive. Let’s trust Jesus to remove any desire for retaliation—and to provide us with the wisdom and strength necessary to act in ways that please Him. And when it comes to forgiveness, let’s approach our offender with the intent of reconciling. That means doing whatever God directs in order to get our relationship right—just as Jesus did for us. 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 4-6

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The Lord doesn’t want us enslaved by resentment, so He helps us forgive our wrongdoers.

March 23, 2022

Ephesians 4:25-32

Did you know it’s possible to extend forgiveness to another person and yet still cling to resentment? We might say everything is okay, but our unpardoning spirit remains—and it will linger until we emotionally release the other person from the wrong he or she did. Thankfully, there’s a way to truly move on: 

• First, assume responsibility for your unforgiving spirit, and choose a change of heart toward the other person. The healing process begins with repentance.

•  Then, release your hold over the debt you feel is owed. 

•  Recognize the other person’s violation has exposed an area of weakness in you—namely, your resentment and desire for vengeance. 

•  Finally, remember how often God forgives you. 

The Lord is grieved to see His children cling to an unforgiving spirit, because emotional debt imprisons us. We become paralyzed by our own distrust, resentment, and insecurity, which only build walls that shut out family and friends. In contrast, God’s goal for us is freedom from bitterness. He wants to see us reconcile with our offender and even show tenderhearted, loving acceptance. We have a calling from God to forgive. Though that can be difficult, it is possible because Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). 

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 1-3

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Confessing sin is important—not to keep our salvation but to maintain intimacy with our heavenly Father.

1 John 1:5-10

Many Christians find it troubling that they repeatedly deal with certain sins. And they rightly turn to 1 John 1:9 for assurance: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” They’re relieved to know God forgives our sins, and they promise to do better. But some people have misunderstood this verse—they believe our salvation is tied to continual confession. 

There’s a big difference between relationship (the unbreakable Father-child bond) and fellowship (our line of communication). Certainly confession plays a vital role in maintaining intimate communication with the Father, but the believer’s standing as His child cannot change. Fellowship with God is interrupted by sin (Psalm 66:18) but restored when we confess and repent. Then we are freed from the emotional bondage of guilt and shame. 

As we mature in our faith, the inclination to sin will decrease. But as long as our earthly life continues, we won’t be fully free of fleshly tendencies. Romans 8:1 offers this additional reassurance: “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” So, while our sin may have temporal consequences, we can be certain God has fully pardoned us. 

Bible in One Year: Ruth 3-4

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The sooner we accept Jesus as our Savior, the more time we have communing with Him.

John 5:24-30

Procrastination has serious consequences in many areas of life—especially when it comes to spiritual matters. You see, every person is going to spend eternity somewhere, and the destination is determined by a choice in this lifetime: We each must either accept or reject Jesus’ offer of forgiveness of sins. Some people think they can delay this decision until death is near. 

Unfortunately, there are several problems with this reasoning. First of all, there’s no guarantee that you’ll have any warning before death. Second, by spending a lifetime rejecting Christ’s offer, you run the risk of developing a hardened heart. Repeatedly saying no to God may result in being unable to say yes when death comes knocking at the door. In fact, you may not even be interested in Christ’s offer anymore. Then you’ll face the terrifying reality of judgment, as you stand before God without a Savior (Hebrews 10:26-27). 

By putting off a decision for Christ, you not only lose the immediate blessings of a deeply personal relationship with God now; you also risk permanent separation from Him for all eternity. Don’t procrastinate! Place your faith in Christ today. Acknowledge your sin, ask His forgiveness, and trust Him as your Savior and Lord. 

Bible in One Year: Ruth 1-2

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We cannot change the past, but when it weighs us down, we can turn to God for comfort.

Psalm 6:1-5

Throughout the world, people are mistreated and traumatized, and many carry deep scars throughout life. Not everyone’s experiences are extreme, but even mild hurts can fester, affecting relationships and self-image. Something as common as betrayal or rejection by friends or family can lead to distorted thinking and negative behaviors.

Unhealed hurts can lead to various symptoms, such as feelings of inferiority, fear of failure or criticism, and oversensitivity. Some people cope by criticizing others in an attempt to make themselves feel better. Others misinterpret innocent comments as personal attacks. Hurt can also overflow as unpredictable anger, as a person who’s been wounded is more likely to lash out at others. Sometimes those with a distorted self-image become loners because they’re overly concerned about others’ opinions of them.   

Now and again we’re bound to experience some of these feelings, but God doesn’t want us to be trapped by the hurts we’ve suffered. Nor does He want us to be so crushed by our experiences that we feel worthless. Those who know the Savior will find comfort, healing, and trust in the Father’s love. Then, painful experiences can make us more like Jesus so we can glorify Him with our responses. 

Bible in One Year: Judges 16-17

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We cannot change the past, but when it weighs us down, we can turn to God for comfort.

Psalm 6:1-5

Throughout the world, people are mistreated and traumatized, and many carry deep scars throughout life. Not everyone’s experiences are extreme, but even mild hurts can fester, affecting relationships and self-image. Something as common as betrayal or rejection by friends or family can lead to distorted thinking and negative behaviors.

Unhealed hurts can lead to various symptoms, such as feelings of inferiority, fear of failure or criticism, and oversensitivity. Some people cope by criticizing others in an attempt to make themselves feel better. Others misinterpret innocent comments as personal attacks. Hurt can also overflow as unpredictable anger, as a person who’s been wounded is more likely to lash out at others. Sometimes those with a distorted self-image become loners because they’re overly concerned about others’ opinions of them.   

Now and again we’re bound to experience some of these feelings, but God doesn’t want us to be trapped by the hurts we’ve suffered. Nor does He want us to be so crushed by our experiences that we feel worthless. Those who know the Savior will find comfort, healing, and trust in the Father’s love. Then, painful experiences can make us more like Jesus so we can glorify Him with our responses. 

Bible in One Year: Judges 16-17

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When we bring our problems to God in prayer, He responds with encouragement.

Colossians 4:2-6

Prayer should be a priority in the life of every Christian. If Jesus, who was the Son of God, often slipped away to talk to His Father, then we surely need it even more! Without prayer and Bible reading, believers are prone to feel discouraged and distant from God. 

When troubles loom, do you seek man-made options in place of taking your concerns to the Lord? Chasing counterfeit solutions only leads you away from God and His will. What’s more, they are short-lived at best and utter failures at worst. Under such conditions, discouragement is unavoidable. But a believer who’s immersed in prayer and Scripture reading finds security in God’s power and presence.

Even though a habit of neglecting prayer has negative consequences, the direction can be reversed at any time. First, confess your prayerlessness. Then ask the Lord to give you the strength and desire to make communication with Him a regular discipline. Then set aside time every day to read your Bible and pray. In those moments of communion, He’ll make burdens lighter, offer encouragement, and fill you with confidence in His faithfulness and care for you.

Bible in One Year: Judges 10-12 

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Through prayer, we give God the burdens we were never meant to carry.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Our heavenly Father invites us to come to Him with all our concerns. Even so, there are believers who do not bother communicating with the Lord, except in emergencies. Unfortunately, neglecting prayer is costly because it often results in weariness and discouragement. 

Certain situations take an emotional, physical, and spiritual toll on us—we refer to them as “burdens.” These low points can wear us out if we attempt to endure them alone. For one thing, we aren’t built for such loads, so trying to haul them around will deplete us. What’s more, 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you” (NIV, emphasis added). There’s no point in both the Father and us carrying that weight, especially when He wants to handle it on our behalf. In God’s design, His strength supports us in our weakness, and He is in fact glorified by this arrangement (2 Corinthians 12:9).

As you pray, picture Jesus’ shoulders just above your own—with Him bearing your problems. Even if the burden doesn’t disappear, it will feel noticeably lighter when you hand it over to the Lord. Then, like David, you can say, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden” (Psalm 68:19). 

Bible in One Year: Judges 7-9

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