Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34:8

Some of us are starving to death. On the outside, everything appears fine. But a black, empty hole gapes deep in our souls.

We have craved what the world offers. We have drunk what it said to drink, bought what it said to purchase, swallowed what it said to take, and followed many streets to their dead ends. And still, we starve.

David encourages all of us to place our trust in God, to taste and see that the Lord is good. Try out His words to find them sweeter than honey in the honeycomb. Feast at His banquet table to be overwhelmed by His loving-kindness that is better than life.

Drink from His living water to never thirst again. He pours out fresh oil and new wine. He rains down manna from heaven in the desert of our days. He satisfies our souls with good things until our hearts overflow.

Take a taste test! We may have tasted misery, heartache, and sorrow in the past, but the Lord is good. He will never disappoint the person who trusts in Him and craves the things of God.

He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness (Psalm 107:9). Taste and see! 

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May He fill you with fresh hunger for the things of God. Live in the joy, peace, and love that the Father gives the righteous. Receive these things because He is Lord of Your life…Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10

New Testament 

Matthew 16:13-17:9

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 21:1-13

Proverbs 5:1-6

https://www.jhm.org

Today’s Scripture

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:11

God wove desires and cravings into our DNA. We cannot simply denounce our cravings and be done with them.

One of the first questions a doctor asks a new mother is: “How is the baby eating?” She wants to know if the child has cravings. A lack of craving indicates a serious issue, and she will quickly attempt to fix what is broken.

The dilemma is not whether we will or will not crave. It comes down to what we crave. Paul instructed us to reckon ourselves dead to sin. That does not mean that the capability to sin no longer lives within us.

In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul assured the believers that he died daily. He killed his cravings one day at a time. As long as his spirit was wrapped in flesh, he had to submit his carnal nature to the Word of God every day. He read, he prayed, and he gave thanks to God. And this daily dying awakened him to righteousness (v. 34).

When we submit to Jesus and His purposes, the desire to sin disappears. Our hearts are captured by a new love, and all of our desires and affections are bent more and more towards Him. We are dead to sin, but alive to God!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May your old cravings be crucified with Christ. May He live in you to carry out His will on earth. Glory to God for sending us His Son!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 48:1-49:33

New Testament 

Matthew 15:29-16:12

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 20:1-9

Proverbs 4:20-27

https://www.jhm.org

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Our cravings are created and controlled by the things that we see, hear, and experience.

The entertainment industry banks on our susceptibility to the images that it broadcasts: the miracle cream that erases wrinkles, the protein shakes that promise the perfect body, the happily-ever-after portrayed by the beautiful couple living in the huge house with the perfect children.

Where are our eyes focused? Are we looking at the distractions of this world or the Gospel truth? Are we listening to the opinions of imperfect others, or are we tuned in to the revelations of God? Are we experiencing the pressure of unrealistic expectations or the peace of His Spirit?

In today’s verse, John warns us not to love the world or its things. We must guard our hearts against its allures. Love for this world squeezes out our love for the Father. Demanding our own way, coveting the goods and gadgets, desiring to feel important – all of these isolate us from God.

What do we crave most? Nothing must edge out God’s presence in our lives. Nothing should consume us more than our hunger for Him. Nothing else deserves our devotion and delight. Our priority is loving Him.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you seek the kingdom of God and all His righteousness first and foremost, and He will be faithful to add everything that you need. Give praise to the only One worthy to receive it!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 46:1-47:31

New Testament 

Matthew 15:1-28

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 19:1-14

Proverbs 4:14-19

https://www.jhm.org

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.

Psalm 42:1

Our cravings have the power to kill or cure us.

Our cravings can deceive us into believing that we must have the very thing that damages and destroys. When the drug addict craves the fix, when the married person craves someone other than their spouse, when the CEO craves the promotion over personal ethics – those things end in destruction and eventual death.

When our souls begin to long intensely for God, though, He becomes our cure. The payment for our sin is death, but Jesus took our place. His cure bought our pardon and everlasting life. 

The lashes across the back of Jesus paid for our healing. He was wounded so we could be made whole. He was hurt so we could be healed. We are cured through His crucifixion.

When we crave Him, we find the confidence our souls lack. He does not give us a spirit of fear, but one of love and power and a sound mind. We can calmly rest in Him.

When we pursue Him with passionate zeal, the presence of God empowers us to walk in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Our minds are conformed to His truth, and we are transformed to act more and more like Jesus. This is the craving that cures!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May your soul pant after God like the deer that pants for water. May you experience the Cure that leads to life and healing and wholeness.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 44:1-45:28

New Testament 

Matthew 14:14-36

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 18:35-50

Proverbs 4:11-13

https://www.jhm.org

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Matthew 5:6

A tug-of-war exists between what we want and what we actually need. We often want brownies when we should choose broccoli! We desire things our way, but God asks us to submit to His will.

When these forces collide, we experience hunger pains. Sometimes, we long to give in to fleshly desires. Sometimes, we yearn to submit to the Holy Spirit. The one that we feed prevails.

How many are starving to death spiritually and do not even realize it? In America this year, 867,000 marriages will end in divorce, 46,000 lives will be cut short by suicide, and 68,000 people will die from accidental overdoses—famished for hope, relief from pain, and love.

The prophet Amos predicted a famine where people would long for the Word of the Lord. They would starve because they sought fulfillment outside God’s will. We have craved power and never been more out of control, riches and never been emptier, pleasure and never been more bankrupt.

The simple answer for this deep hunger is the Good News of Jesus Christ. He brings hope to the desolate, breaks the chains of the addict, and redeems broken relationships. To the hungry and thirsty, come try the Bread of Life and the Living Water. He satisfies our longing and fills us with every good thing.

His anointing truly does lift the burdens off our bowed-down backs and destroy the yokes of bondage. Pressed down, shaken together—our cups run over!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Taste and see that God is good! Nothing else can satisfy! No other name will save! No other hand can deliver! There is none like Him! He is greatly to be praised!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 39:1-41:16

New Testament 

Matthew 12:46-13:23

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 17:1-15

Proverbs 3:33-35

https://www.jhm.org

…You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Psalm 23:5

When the Lord anoints our heads with oil, our cups overflow with blessings. No need to tip them up to drain the bitter dregs at the bottom of our mugs. Our cups spill over with all the favor that He pours out!

We are vessels in the hands of a faithful Potter Who has plans to prosper us, to fill us with hope, to give us bright futures. He anoints us with the oil of gladness because we have loved Him and His righteous ways.

David assured us that goodness and mercy would follow us around all the days of our lives, that we would spend our days in the presence of the Lord where we will experience the fullest of joys. He pours out the anointing oil to the very brim – blessings that we cannot contain!

And when others jostle us, this mercy and goodness will splash over the rim with contagious joy. Our God-of-more-than-enough throws open the windows of heaven to rain down blessings that soak us, our children, our homes, our workplaces and communities. Dance in the downpour!

His anointing truly does lift the burdens off our bowed-down backs and destroy the yokes of bondage. Pressed down, shaken together – our cups run over!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May your cup overflow with the anointing of the Holy One as He pours out a blessing that you cannot contain. May you experience the divine explosion of the presence and power of His anointing!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 37:1-38:30

New Testament 

Matthew 12:22-45

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 16:1-11

Proverbs 3:27-32

https://www.jhm.org

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

1 John 2:20

Our natural minds are at war with the will of God. We often experience carnal thoughts in our new creation bodies.

Paul begged us to stop being conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds instead (Romans 12:2). Don’t be squeezed into the mold of this world; let’s fix our minds on Christ Who remakes and remolds—transforms—our way of thinking to be in alignment with God’s.

We are not left to figure out this metamorphosis on our own. We have an anointing from the Holy One! We can discern the lies of the enemy because the Holy Spirit teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus taught us.

This anointing guards against error. The Holy Spirit will whisper the way that we should believe, helping us take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. He shows us the way to walk in order to live the life that God wants us to live.

He sets our pace and leads us in right paths. If we run ahead, just the sound of His voice will cause us to stop and turn around. He convicts us of sin and convinces us of God’s righteousness. He leads us into all truth (John 16:13). We are renewed day by day!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you experience the transforming power of the anointing as He leads you into all truth. May your mind be renewed day by day!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 35:1-36:43

New Testament 

Matthew 12:1-21

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 15:1-5

Proverbs 3:21-26

https://www.jhm.org

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord has sent Jesus to proclaim pardon for prisoners, to restore sight to the blind, and to liberate the burdened and the battered.

Before Jesus came, we sat in darkness, in the very shadow of death. We were bound in a cell of sin, confined behind iron bars. Our eyes were blinded by sin, our minds darkened by a heavy veil that kept us from understanding the things of God. Sin was our master, and we were enslaved to corruption.

But Jesus came in the power of the anointing; the Light dawned on us! We were translated from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. The scales fell from our eyes, and He gave us eyes to see things as they truly are. He broke our chains in pieces, snapped the iron bars in half. We turned to the power of God to receive forgiveness and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith.

Our scarlet sins were washed white as snow by His crimson blood. We became brand new creatures in Christ. It is for freedom that He has set us free, and if He makes us free, we are indeed completely free!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. No more oppression! No more blindness! No more chains! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. His anointing has set you free!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 32:12-34:31

New Testament 

Matthew 11:7-30

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 14:1-7

Proverbs 3:19-20

https://www.jhm.org

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of God has anointed Jesus to break the yokes—the shackles of Satan—in our lives. When Jesus abides in us, the power of His anointing is brought to bear in our every need.

Jesus brings the gospel to the poor—not just those lacking in financial resources, but any of us who experience lack in our lives. Our bank accounts may be full, but our heart accounts can be empty. Our All in All recognizes the places where we fall short and brings the good news of His sufficiency into the equation.

In place of turmoil, He gives peace. In place of doubt, He gives confidence. In place of exhaustion, He brings refreshing. In place of weakness, He grants strength.

Jesus has come to heal the brokenhearted. Our hearts are so susceptible to brokenness. They can be crushed through circumstances beyond our control, destroyed by decisions that we long to take back, or shattered by tragedies of the past.

One touch of His anointed hand can restore the splintered fragments. He fills our hearts with hope again. We sing a new song. We learn to love once more. He is a God of second chances and new beginnings.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May God provide for your every need according to His glorious riches. Even though your weeping may last through the night, His joy will come in the morning!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 31:17-32:12

New Testament 

Matthew 10:27-11:6

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 13:1-6

Proverbs 3:16-18

https://www.jhm.org

I have been anointed with fresh oil.

Psalm 92:10

As we navigate the upcoming year, let us move forward in the power of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

This anointing distinguishes us from the world and sets us apart for service to our King. Consider how the anointing impacted David – the youngest of eight sons, forgotten by his father, and overlooked by his brothers. God saw his heart and commanded the prophet, Samuel, to anoint David as the next king of Israel.

From that day forward, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (1 Samuel 16:13). Under that anointing, he vanquished a giant and reigned over Israel as the apple of God’s eye.

The anointing puts a finger on our God-given talents and activates them to accomplish the divine purposes God has ordained for each of us. It gives strength when we are weak. It swallows up fear with courage.

The anointing destroys the yokes of slavery and oppression. It lifts the heavy burdens. It makes crooked paths straight and causes our feet to be steady on the journey.

Ask the Lord to pour out the anointing that will activate the gifts of God in our lives and set us apart for His service. For all that the new year holds, we can face it in the power of His anointing.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May the anointing of God break every weapon which the enemy has used to entangle and ensnare you. Shake off the yoke of bondage in the mighty name of Jesus!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 26:17-27:46

New Testament 

Matthew 9:1-17

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 10:16-18

Proverbs 3:9-10

https://www.jhm.org

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

How often do we spiral down into the dialogue of doubt? Instead of holding fast to our confession of hope in a faithful God, we begin to question His promises and doubt His Word.

In the coming year, practice the priority of behaving as if it were so—as if the promise of God was an in-living-color reality in your here and now. Romans 4:17 assures us that God breathes life into the dead; He calls those things which do not exist as though they already do. Even when those dreams seem down for the count, be confident that He is at work.

Eliminate the “if God moves” or “if God answers” from your vocabulary. Instead, begin to thank Him for the fulfillment of the promise – that He heard your prayer, that He is making a way, that He is healing your body, that He is providing for your needs.

Behave as though the breakthrough has come! Confess your hope, your alert expectancy for all that God is doing. Declare that you will rejoice right now, that you are one day closer to the answer.

Agree with Him that, even though it is not visible to you yet, the answer already exists in heavenly places. He is working everything out for good. Say it is so. Act like the answer has arrived!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Abide in Christ. Allow His words to come alive in you. And whatever you ask, in His name, shall be done! Amen and Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 24:52-26:16

New Testament 

Matthew 8:18-34

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 10:1-15

Proverbs 3:7-8

https://www.jhm.org

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

James 5:11

God values persistence. He honors those who are faithful, who hang on to hope and continue to believe for breakthrough.

When we continue to profess God’s faithfulness, when we persevere with patience, and when we wait with hope, the mountain of impossibility begins to move.

The prophet, Daniel, exemplifies the supernatural law of breakthrough. After receiving a message from the angel, Gabriel, regarding the desolation that would besiege Jerusalem, Daniel began to fast and pray.

On the twenty-first day of his fast, an angel appeared. God heard the very first prayer on the very first day, and He sent an angel in instant response. However, the angel was delayed by a demonic force that warred against him until reinforcements arrived. Only then was he able to carry the answer to Daniel.

The response that was sent on Day One took twenty days to sort out in heavenly places. If Daniel would not have persevered through the twentieth day, the angel could not have prevailed to bring the answer he sought.

Make perseverance a priority! Continue on course in spite of difficulty or delay. Do not forfeit the blessings of God by bowing out before the breakthrough. Do not pack it in right before the promises become your reality.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. No enemy can defeat you. No foe can oppose you. Persevere for the promises of God. He will never disappoint you!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 23:1-24:51

New Testament 

Matthew 8:1-17

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 9:13-20

Proverbs 3:1-6

https://www.jhm.org

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:7

Are you looking for something to blossom and bloom in your life this year? Have you been praying for breakthrough or hoping for increase? Learning how to manage your seed can lead to exponential blessing.

When you plant a seed, two things happen. You reap a harvest, and you reap more seed. One seed of corn grows a stalk with several ears and multiple kernels.

2 Corinthians 9:10 tells us that God supplies and multiplies the seed that we sow to increase the fruits of our righteousness. We can enjoy the harvest and plant even more kernels to produce an even greater yield.

Sometimes, we make the mistake of eating our seed. We hoard it or waste it indulgently. When our harvest needs have been met, the seed is our opportunity to sow in the fields of others.

Are you praying for a stronger marriage, increased finances, or open doors of ministry? Sow your seed! Sow tenderness and acts of kindness in your spouse’s field. Plant generosity and helping hands at your neighbor’s home. Invest your time and money into a ministry that furthers the Gospel.

Manage your seed well. And when you do, He promises a pressed-down, shaken-together, and running-over blessing. When you spread the seed liberally, it will come back to you!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Walk in the abundance that God has for you. Expect it. Believe for it. The Father wants to prosper you in every dimension of your life!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 20:1-22:24

New Testament 

Matthew 7:15-29

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 9:1-12

Proverbs 2:16-22

https://www.jhm.org

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:19

Three basic truths come to mind when we mention repentance.

First of all, everybody needs it! The Bible clearly tells us that if we say that we do not have any sin, we only fool ourselves; we contradict God Himself (1 John 1:8). We are sinners, and God commands all of us everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

Secondly, repentance is absolutely effective. Repentance is not a feeling; it is a fact. If we confess our sin, God is faithful to forgive us and make us clean (1 John 1:9). Many regret what they did, whom they hurt, and the consequences of sin, but true repentance involves confession to God and turning away from sin to follow His plan.

Thirdly, God assures us that He will rebuke and chasten every child He loves. He cares enough to correct us, to help us align our priorities with His. When He does convict and convince us, we must be eager and enthusiastic to repent. We discover why in Revelation 3:20.

He stands at the door of our heart and knocks. The longer we refuse to repent, the harder it is to hear His hand against the door. Repentance sweeps away the barrier of sin. We now hear His insistent knock and throw open the door to experience sweet fellowship with our Savior.  

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Be zealous and repent! Open the door to Jesus and His healing and hope. Thank God for the mercy and grace that is yours through repentance!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 18:20-19:38

New Testament 

Matthew 6:25-7:14

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 8:1-9

Proverbs 2:6-15

https://www.jhm.org

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

The priorities that you choose wield great power in your life. They determine what you do and where you go; they decide your “Yes” and your “No.”

Where are your treasures and your heart? Take a look at your calendar and checking account! Where do you invest your time and energy? Where do you spend your money? Those are the things you value most. Follow the treasure trail to find your heart.

God has mapped out the year before you. He has promises to fulfill, good work for you to accomplish, people for you to reach, and lessons to be learned. The priorities that you establish today will set you up to accomplish what God has ordained in every tomorrow!

Take hold of the priorities that abound in God’s Word. More than just acknowledging His truth, your willingness to obey places you in the proper position to receive His blessings. These tried-and-true promises come from a God Who never fails.

Priorities are the keys to unlock the power and prosperity of God in every area of your life. Priorities apart from God are the keys that lock you into a penitentiary of what-might-have-been. Will you embrace the year that God has planned for you? The choice lies in the power of your priorities.

https://www.jhm.org

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

Psalm 50:15

Every year holds blessings and burdens, sunshine and showers, dreams and disappointments. We each experience seasons of poverty and plenty, hurt and hope.

We can face the “day of trouble” with the absolute confidence that the Lord will deliver us. He loves us with an everlasting love. When struggles loom, they will not destroy us. What Satan intends for our demise, God will use for our good and His glory.

He knows how much strength we will need for every battle. If God is for us—and He is!—who can be against us? Every battle boasts a victor, and we claim that title. No enemy can defeat us when God is our Defender. We are champions because of Christ’s work on the Cross.

When trouble brews, the Lord encourages us to call on Him. Asking for help is not a shameful thing! Shouting out to God is a sacred privilege, a divine right. Independent of God, we will never be big enough, strong enough, or capable enough to meet the fiery darts that the adversary hurls our way.

When we cry out to Him, we reach out to the only One capable of the impossible. We will do great and mighty things in His name.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. Place your trust in the promises of a God Who never fails. He will watch over and guide you. In due season, you will shout to God with a voice of triumph. Praise the Lord!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 8:1-10:32

New Testament 

Matthew 4:12-25

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 4:1-8

Proverbs 1:20-23

https://www.jhm.org

Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

1 John 2:8

Does nothing look different as you awaken to this new day at the beginning of a new year? The battles of last year left you exhausted and longing for a fresh start and a brighter future.

Take heart! He has not abandoned you to disappointment. The fight you face may look like the same old battle, but it is not.

Because God has changed you! Because you have endured hardship like a good soldier, you are stronger. In the darkest nights and the fiercest battles, God has revealed Himself to you in powerful ways, and you will never be the same. You have learned to don the whole armor of God and wage war in heavenly places.

It might look like the familiar fight, but you are a different fighter. It may look like one more chapter in a long war, but you are a different warrior. It might require one more lap, but you are not losing ground. You are laying claim to enemy territory.

Every hard-won step brings you that much closer to a victory that is certain. The darkness is passing away, and a true light is already shining. You are well able to overcome!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. You are the property of heaven, and God is your Defender. May He bring down your enemies by the power of His might. Shout victoriously to the Captain of Angel Armies!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 5:1-7:24

New Testament 

Matthew 3:7-4:11

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 3:1-8

Proverbs 1:10-19

https://www.jhm.org

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

God is already in all of the tomorrows of 2024—working everything to your good in the new year into which you walk.

Many parallels exist between our lives and the story of Jericho. At the point that Joshua prepared to enter the Promised Land, he had been wandering in the desert for 40 years. He was eager to cross the Jordan and embrace the promises of God—new provision and new possessions. Instead, God instructed Joshua to do more of the same. Keep on marching!

You might be asking God to do a new thing in your life in 2022, but He is encouraging you to continue some old faithful habits:

God, please speak a fresh word to me.

        Open up My Book!

God, pour out a blessing.

       Give!

God, renew the joy of my salvation.

       Praise Me!

God, please send me a friend.

       Be a friend!

God, I am searching for hope.

       I am your Hope!

Like Joshua, when you are faithful to that which God has called you, He leads you into victory. When you continue to place one foot obediently after the other, He will cause you to walk out on the other side as more than a conqueror!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May angels go before you to prepare the way in 2024. As you continue to be faithful in the small things, may God unlock greater blessings in His timing. Persevere for the promise. Hallelujah to our Faithful Father!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 3:1-4:26

New Testament 

Matthew 2:13-3:6

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 2:1-12

Proverbs 1:7-9

https://www.jhm.org

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19

Happy New Year! Stretching out before us are 365 days of bright promise and divine potential. How will we fill them up?

By diving in! Some approach the shallow end of the pool, hold onto the handrail, and ease into the water. Others run straight at the deep end, shrieking with joy, and cannonball in to splash up a massive tidal wave.

DIVE IN to 2022! Keep your head up and your eyes on Him, take a giant leap of faith (hold your nose if you must!), and anticipate the splash.

DIVE IN to Prayer! The Bible is crowded with people who needed Someone bigger than themselves, and it made them bold. Ask, seek, knock, and receive. Be audacious in prayer.

DIVE IN to God’s Word! This is the key way that He speaks to us. Discover Him and His will in those pages. He will show you great and mighty things.

DIVE IN to Service! You were designed to serve others, created with good works in mind. If the world will know us by our love, how is His love demonstrated in your life?

Experience refreshing joy and messy freedom. Everyone around you will get soaked, and your exuberance will encourage them to leap too. DIVE IN! The water is fine!

Blessing

Heavenly Father, no more standing on the edge for me! Make me brave! May 2022 be the year I take the leap of faith and grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. I offer up my life again as a living sacrifice to You. I am diving in! In Jesus’ name…amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Genesis 1:1-2:25

New Testament 

Matthew 1:1-2:12

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 1:1-6

Proverbs 1:1-6

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And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:28

How comforting to know that God holds us securely in His hand, cradling us with great care and compassion. If you are exhausted at the end of a very difficult year, be assured of several things.

Every detail of 2023 was filtered through the loving fingers of our Father. Nothing and no one can tear you away from Him. He is not shocked or alarmed by the drama or tragedy in your life.

Whatever you perceive as your greatest weakness, whatever is lacking in you, in the place that you feel the most ugly and the least lovable…you are His. Now and forever. He will not disown or throw you away. You are precious in His sight.

He cannot wait to swoop you up and pull you in close. Zephaniah 3:17 says that He delights in you as He sings with joy. Imagine His lips on your forehead as He hums a lullaby. You belong to Him.

Run to Him as fast as your tired legs can carry you. Throw out your arms in complete trust. He will swing you up, pull you close, and call you His own. 

He won’t give you up, and He won’t give up on you. You are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). He’s got you. Better things are on the way.

Blessing

Heavenly Father, I am Your child. Thank You for the love that pulls me close, for the acceptance that makes me safe, and for the promise of a better tomorrow. Wipe away my tears, and fill my heart with hope for 2022. In the power of Jesus’ name…amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Zechariah 14:1-21

New Testament 

Revelation 20:1-15

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 148:1-14

Proverbs 31:8-9

https://www.jhm.org