The heavens declare

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

Psalms 19:1 NLT

Father God, thank You for creating the beauty around me. All of it is a miraculous display of Your creativity and kindness. You didn’t need to create any of this, but You chose to. You made the world with careful excellence. When I go outside, help me to appreciate what You’ve made. Show me how You’re at work in the world, and give me the courage to glorify Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Give and Receive

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Luke 6:38 NLT

God, You are my ultimate provider. And You have blessed me so that I can bless others! Please show me who I can bless today. I want to love others by generously blessing the work they are doing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Motivate one another

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24‭-‬25 NLT

God, thank You for being a constant encouragement to me. And thank You for placing people in my life who encourage and challenge me to grow closer to You. Today, please show me how I can intentionally encourage the people You place in my life. Show me how I can prepare for Your return by loving others as You have loved me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God hears us

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

1 John 5:14 NLT

Father God, here I am. You know the hopes and dreams I have for the future. You know the problems I am currently facing, and the struggles I’ve already overcome. You are with me, and You are for me. Please align my will with Yours as I bring my requests to You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Developing endurance

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3‭-‬5 NLT

God, You are well-acquainted with my struggles, and they don’t scare or shock You. Instead, You seem to view them as opportunities to strengthen me and show off Your glory through me. So today, I choose to bring my struggles to You. I will rejoice even as I encounter hard times—because I know You are refining me and giving me the strength to endure. Thank You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus is the only way

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 NLT

Jesus, thank You for creating a way for me to know the Creator of the universe by becoming the way for me to know the Creator of the universe. Because I can know You, I can know truth. Because I can know You, I can have eternal life. Show me how to intentionally pursue You today— because You alone are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.

Jesus was sent to save the world

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17 NLT

God, Thank You for having mercy on us. Thank You for choosing to save us through Your Son, even though we did nothing to deserve it. Every good gift that we have is because of You. So today, remind me of Your free gift of salvation, and give me the boldness to talk to others about Your amazing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29 NLT

Father God, thank You for sending Your only Son to save us. Thank You for creating a way for us to know You personally. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, my mistakes are forgiven! Please help me to never take this for granted. Help me to glorify You in every area of my life, forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God, show us how to love others

And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

John 13:14 NLT

Father God, please show me how to love people like You have loved me. When I am selfish, make me humble. Make me eager to serve anyone I meet. Transform my heart so that way I treat everyone with humility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Refine my faith Lord

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 1:2‭-‬3 NLT

God, thank You for allowing me to experience trials. And thank You for refining my faith through them. When I go through hard situations, please lead me away from temptation by giving me the strength to endure. Remind me of the joy set before me: the purification of my character and eternity spent with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Call on the name of the Lord

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 NLT

God, thank You for allowing me to call on Your name! Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue me from a life separated from You. Today and every day, please give me the courage to draw close to You, and to seek You with all my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We all fall short

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Romans 3:23‭-‬24 NLT

God, thank You for making me righteous in Your sight. There is nothing I can ever do to earn this—it’s something You have freely offered to me because You love me. Thank You! Forgive me for all the times I have selfishly rejected You, and please show me how to live a life that honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He Is Risen!

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Matthew 28:6 NLT

Jesus, thank You for making a way for us to have eternal life with You. Because of Your mercy and grace, I never have to be separated from You. Because You rose from the dead, I can experience Your presence forever! Help me to celebrate this life-changing gift not just on Easter Sunday—but every day. You are risen! Amen.

We have all strayed

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 NLT

God, it’s easy for my attention to shift away from You. Forgive me when I turn away from You. When I am tempted, please draw me back to You. Remind me that Your grace is available because Your Son took on the weight of my mistakes as a perfect sacrifice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God loves us this much

“For 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 NLT

Jesus, You came and took on the weight of our mistakes. You humbled Yourself, facing a humiliating death because You loved Your Father and us. As I reflect on Your sacrifice, help me to never take it for granted. Make me eager to model Your sacrificial love and forgiveness to others. Amen.

Keep watch

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Matthew 26:38 NLT

God, You comfort me when I hurt and You care for me in times of trouble. Please allow me to be a source of comfort for others in their sadness, too. And when I’m overwhelmed, provide me with people who will strengthen and encourage me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do not be ashamed

But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

1 Peter 4:16 NLT

God, when I experience suffering, I have the opportunity to glorify You with my words and actions. Help me to recognize the grace You give to help me through my circumstances. In all situations, allow me to remember that You are faithful to those who follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love as Jesus loved

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

John 13:34 NLT

Jesus, You gave us the command to love others. At times, this is easier said than done. Please work within our hearts to transform our character so that our love begins to look more and more like Yours. Amen.

He humbled Himself

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:7‭-‬8 NLT

Jesus, thank You for choosing to experience what it means to be human. At great cost, You came to earth and sacrificed Yourself for us by dying on a cross. Thank You for loving us so fully! As I think about Your selfless sacrifice, fill me with Your love. Let Your love flow through me today so that I joyfully serve others with humility. Amen.

Blessings in the name of the Lord

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

Luke 19:38 NLT

God, thank You for sending Your Son to take on the weight of my mistakes. Because of His sacrifice, I can experience Your heavenly peace on earth. This week, remind me of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and the eternal life-change I can experience because of His resurrection. Allow me to glorify You with every breath I take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He is the King of Glory

Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. Interlude

Psalms 24:10 NLT

God, You are the King of glory. You are worthy of all praise! Please help me to honor You through my words and actions. Let my life reflect who You are and the power of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God keeps us safe

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Psalms 4:8 NLT

God, I can sleep peacefully because You care for me and my future. So today, I commit my concerns to You. Give me peace-filled rest so that I can rise joyfully and do all that You have called me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The fruit of the Spirit

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NLT

God, from Your love I can experience the fruit of Your Spirit. These fruits are a natural outpouring of knowing You and Your love. By Your grace, help me to be more joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, and faithful. Deepen my relationship with You so that Your fruit becomes a natural part of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Loved at our darkest

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8 NLT

God, Thank You for sending Your Son to take on the weight of our mistakes. You demonstrated the ultimate act of love by caring for us while we were still sinners. Thank You for giving us grace and showing us mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Study God's Word

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Joshua 1:8 NLT

God, You give us Scripture so that we can know You better. Your Word is not meant to be a list of instructions, but a way of life that leads to You. The more time we spend in the Bible, the more deeply we get to know Your character and nature. Thank you for revealing Yourself to us in this way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The thing I seek most

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

Psalms 27:4 NLT

God, continue to be the focus of my daily life. Make Your presence known to me. Draw me close to You so that I can know You more deeply. I want to seek You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Because of God's mercy, grace, and love

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Acts of the Apostles 4:12 NLT

Jesus, we know that You are the only way to eternal life. Salvation is possible only because of Your grace, mercy, and love for us. There is no one else like You. Help us to focus our attention on You, and not allow distractions to overtake and discourage us from what You offer. Amen.

Iron sharpens iron

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

God, You have given us the gift of community so that we can encourage and sharpen one another. Thank You for the people in my life who challenge me to pursue You. Please provide me with opportunities where I can do the same for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Put on God's armor

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11 NLT

God, You equip us with tools that draw us closer to You and help us stand against schemes created to destroy us. Thank You for Your protection. Thank You for caring for us at all times. Today, help me to intentionally put on all of the armor You freely offer me. Give me the strength to stand firm in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.