Day 7: Mercy Overflowing

Reading: Psalm 6:1-10

I'm sure you've had days like David. Days where words like "agony", "worn out", "grief", and "tears" seem to sum it up. David uses some powerful language here to talk about the agony he faces. He asks God when He'll hear his cries and wonders when the misery will end and his enemies taken away. But we also see that David knows that God is indeed a merciful God, and that He has heard his cries for help.
Life can sure throw some hard stretches our way. Sometimes it may feel like it will never end with bills, loneliness, health issues, and other unfortunate situations in life. But like David, we can remember that God hears us, and He is there to pull for us. Though the storm is rough, you'll come out a stronger person. Rely on God's mercy and remain confident that He hears you.


When did you face a time in life that things just seemed to go wrong, one after another? What did you do?



Looking back on that situation, how did you come out of it? How are you the person you are today because of it?



Reading: Matthew 5:43-6:24

Jesus teaches about being a person of mercy and humility. We read more from the Sermon on the Mount today, and realize more and more that God's way is not necessarily the world's view today. Jesus tells us to love those who have wronged us - something that isn't really practiced in our media and society. But we are warned that if we don't forgive those who have wronged us, the Lord will not forgive us. This may feel like a blunt threat, but if you think about it, those who truly carry the love of God in their hearts will forgive. They will display the love to others that God has displayed to them. It can be hard to forgive, and given the situation, may seem impossible. But that is the power of God's love and His mercy.
We are also told to not flaunt our faith. Praying in public and using the fancy words and babbling on and on are not what God wants. He also doesn't much care for displaying fasting and giving to those in need. When we announce to the world, or make it known that we've done these things, we get all the reward we will need right there. But when we keep it to ourselves and just delight in the satisfaction of being closer with God and growing in our faith, we will reap rewards in heaven.
A final warning we get in this reading is not to treasure things of this earth. Our true treasure and the apple of our eye should be above. When we put all of our time and energy into the things of this world that don't matter in the long run, instead of the work God has carved out for us, our hearts will be lost to that thing. We can not serve two masters, and money is a great example here. Basing our lives around the things of this world will only destroy our hearts for God. Remember why you're here and stick to what God has laid out for you - to carry out His mission and be called to a life of serving Him. The rewards for that are far greater than anything in this world can offer you!

Is there someone you need to forgive? What are you going to do about it?



What happens to true, genuine faith when it is flaunted for your own recognition?



Reading: Genesis 14:1-16:16

We see an ample amount of God's mercy in this ready. First with Lot and how Abram came to save him. We read yesterday that he got the good land from Abram, but ended up captured. God showed mercy and rescued him through Abram (and it won't be the last time). God also shows His mercy to Abram by making a covenant with him that He would give him a son. Abram believes God and he is praised for his righteousness.
Then when Abram and Sarai try to take matters into their own hands, instead of waiting on God's timing, Abram takes Sarai's servant, Hagar and gets her pregnant instead, since they wanted a son so badly. Because of this, Hagar is poorly treated out of Sarai's jealousy, and runs away. We see mercy poured out on Hagar though, as she is seen by God and remembered in her time of distress. She is blessed and returns home. We even see God show Abram and Sarai mercy in looking over the fact they took matters into their own hands, even after Abram stated his faith in God's covenant. We certainly have a merciful God.


When have you tried to take matters into your own hands, instead of waiting on God's timing? What happened?



How has God shown you mercy in a time you've felt hopeless and lost?



Mercy is a trait we can all take and use generously. God is a God of mercy, and we need to display His love to all around us by sharing that same love and mercy to not only our neighbors, but our enemies. With mercy comes humility. Both can be hard traits to grasp at times, but they are crucial in growing our faith.

Day 6: World Map or God's Map?

Reading: Psalm 5:1-12

Everyday should be started with directions from God. This Psalm is a wonderful example of starting out the day, requesting God's direction for the day. David even mentions God hearing his voice in the morning. And even though we are more than welcome to pray anytime of the day, there is something that just starts out a day right when you spend it in prayer and having a quiet time with God. I personally try to start the day off on the right foot in keeping an ear out for what God wants me to accomplish that day. And when the days come that I don't even think about God's will until later usually turn into a train wreck. I'm scattered, overwhelmed, and usually crying by the end of it all. But every morning I open the Word and go to Him in prayer and requesting His will and help in my day, I find it to be a bit more bearable. David sought protection from his enemies. What if we turned the last verse of this reading into a daily, morning prayer? "Bless me, oh Lord, and surround me with your shield of love." (vs. 12, NLT)

How do mornings usually start for you? How does that feed into the rest of your day?



What happens when you take the pressure of making all the decisions yourself, and allowing God to take over your day?




Reading: Matthew 5:21-42

Jesus sure lays out some ground rules here that aren't even glanced at in today's world. In a society that watches shows called "Revenge", "Betrayal" and "Scandal" and listens to music that endorses these things, we can see that Jesus sure had something to say about each of these. When it comes to holding grudges, Jesus says to settle these quickly. If someone takes something that's yours, give them more. If you are married, you go to radical measures to stay faithful and keep it alive. Looking lustfully at someone is adultery. Jesus even goes to the extreme to say that if your eyes are causing you to sin, get rid of them. But we have watered down the rules today. We watch shows about it. We live it. Yet we don't look twice at it because the rest of society finds it acceptable. The new normal is not God's way of life. The question that remains from these very blunt passages is which direction will you take?

What have you seen lately in our society that clearly doesn't match God's will in our society?



What do you need to cut out of your life to have a closer relationship and stronger faith in Christ?



Reading: Genesis 11:10-13:18

I couldn't imagine being Abram and being told by God to pick up everything I own and my family and go in the direction He tells me to. That must have taken great faith indeed to trust God to protect and bless him as he took God's directions one step at a time. How many times does God ask us to do something even less and we refuse because we are content with where we are at? I'm sure Abram felt comfortable as a 75 year old man where he was at, but he trusted God enough to do what he was asked.
Later we see how Lot and Abram have a falling out about land, but Abram resolves it by letting Lot take the better land and he settled for the less than perfect land. Abram was blessed in the long run though. And later we read how Abram had to save Lot from the land in which he chose. More on that tomorrow.
When you are looking for direction and trying to pick out the world's way vs. God's way, we can learn from Abram in this case. Though we may feel disappointed and jipped by what we have, in the end, we may end up being the ones blessed. God knows the path you're taking and when we trust Him to guide us along, we will find ourselves blessed and completely content in what He gives us. Don't fall for the "shininess" of what the world tries to offer you, when you know what God would intend.

Has there been a time in your life when God called you to do something? What happened?



Has there been a time you felt you were getting the short end of the stick, and then you found it to be a blessing instead?



There are so many things in this life that we can choose over God. We may try to get the best stuff and the best treatment, but in the end, humility may have been the biggest blessing. How are you focusing your day? In a society that lives to watch shows called "Revenge", "Scandal" and "Betrayal", we can learn something major from how Jesus said it should be. The question is, which map will you follow in this life?

Day 5: The True Source

Reading: Psalm 4:1-8

True security is only found in God, and yet we continue to try and fill our lives with peace and happiness through success and possessions. This Psalm is filled with David questioning why people look to other things for their security. Even though David faces continual hardship, we see that he remains confident that God will hear him the instant he calls out to Him, because his heart is filled with joy from the Lord. When we try to solve our problems with things and success, we will find ourselves falling again and again, and the cycle will continue into a downward spiral. Until we finally realize that peace and security only come from God, we will find it quite miserable to cope with the life that is thrown at us. What are you chasing after and what is the center of your life? Perhaps the heartaches you carry are the center.

What do you chase in this life, other than God?


How can chasing after God and His mission for your life make things less complicated?



Reading: Matthew 4:23-5:20

Where are you finding the ultimate happiness? Many people will find it in money, fame, experiences, drugs, possessions, looks, men, women, etc. but we read in the sermon on the mount that Jesus says He is the only true hope and happiness. God blesses all who mourn, all who are poor, all who are humble, all who hunger for justice, all who are merciful, all who have pure hearts, all who work for peace, and even all who are persecuted and mocked in His name. Seems pretty backwards from our get all you want now society. We live in a world that glorifies sex, violence, immediate gratification, gadgets, technology, and money. Yet in Matthew, we are told that Jesus blesses the poor, the pure and the humble. So which of these do we follow? Something that will leave you longing for more later? Or the One, true happiness that will leave you with unimaginable, eternal rewards?

 What makes it so hard to put God first in our society?



How do you think people would react in today's society to the Beatitudes? 



Reading: Genesis 9:18-11:9

There is something about created names for ourselves in life. Success and being remembered for greatness are big in today's world, but we read that God wants us to strive to glorify His Name and His honor. In the case with the tower of Babel, we read that the people wanted to build a mighty tower so that they may be remembered and glorified. When we strive for success for our own name and miss the point of where our true success and name come from, we will fail and find ourselves empty in the end. Only God can grant such success in our lives, and we are to glorify Him for our success.
One of my favorite artists of all time is Christian hip-hop artist, Lecrae. I find his words to be blunt and just what our world needs in a country that is losing it's bravery and value in Christianity and in Jesus. For a country that is the safest and is the most free for attending church and sharing faith, we are surely the most fearful. Lecrae doesn't care what people think of his words. Take these lyrics into consideration as we look into today's topic:

 "He (Satan) lies to us all, told Adam he could ball
'Why you following God when you could have it all?"
I tell you what's better, or better yet, worse-
Chasing your own glory, while doing the Lord's work
So holla if it hurts, but we were made for greater
Our greatest satisfaction is making His Name famous..."

Though we might hear the lie that we can have it all without God in this world, the truth is with the world, we will never have it all.

What are you chasing in this life that you believe will fill you up?


What lies does the media try to sell us that isn't biblically accurate?



There are so many lies we can buy into in this world. Media is full of them, and even though we believe they will fill us up whole, the truth is, we are left unsatisfied in the end. The only consistent security and happiness in our lives comes from God.

Day 4: Navigating Ups and Downs

If one thing is for sure, life is filled with both blessings and trials. One day we can be on top of the world, and things will just seem to be flowing smoothly, but the next, we can find ourselves hitting a bump and wondering how we'll get through life. We can learn a lot from God's Word when it comes to navigating through this roller coaster called Life.

Reading: Proverbs 1:1-7

Proverbs kicks off in stating it's intentions. We learn that it is there to teach us from the wise and to help us grow as life comes. Using words of those before us to keep us on course is a great way to learn about getting through the ups and downs of life. We also learn from this opening segment of Proverbs, that the wise will take the instruction and turn first to God with life's roller coaster. But the stubborn will try to go their own way and fall. There's no question that we'll face battles in life, but the way we handle them will make all the difference from person to person. Heeding the wise words of Proverbs and the rest of God's Word is a good place to start, whether life has you feeling good, or feeling scared and low.

Where do you tend to turn when you face a battle in life?


What do you tend to do when you are feeling good about life?



Reading: Matthew 4:1-22

 This reading about Jesus is a great example of how life can be wonderful one minute, then be hard the next. Jesus, Who has just come off of this spiritually high moment in His life - baptism, goes out into the wilderness and fasts for 40 days. Of course, Satan takes advantage of Jesus' weakness at the time and tempts Him, first with food and turning stones to bread, then with attention as he tempts Him to jump from the temple and prove He will be saved, and finally with power over all the kingdoms of the world if He kneels and worships Satan. Jesus, however, uses His wisdom from the scriptures to fight against Satan and his temptations. Satan even uses scripture to try and sway Jesus, but Jesus uses scripture in the right context to shut him down.
Once Jesus is out of the wilderness, He learns that John the Baptist has been thrown in prison for preaching. Of course this saddens Jesus and probably discourages Him a bit, however He doesn't stop doing what He was called to. Jesus continues to rally for the cause and seeks disciples to follow Him and carry out His mission.
Though we face ups and downs in life, we can stay focused on the mission and continue to fight for what is right. Satan will push us down, and we will be tested in many aspects, but we can learn from Jesus' determination and continue hard into the fight. Learn from Jesus' life and take the battles as they come, yet stay focused on the big picture and the mission.

When have you been tempted before? How did you handle it?



What can you do when life throws the curve balls at you? (Look at Jesus' reactions.)



Reading: Genesis 7:1-9:17

From Noah, we see how blessing can come out of hardship. It is a horrible thing that God had to destroy the earth and all in it because of such terrible behavior and evil. The fall of the human race certainly causes great hardship for all. But there is blessing for those who seek Him. Noah and his family are called to carry on the human race after all is destroyed. And though I'm sure Noah faced his own realm of frustrations and hardships during this time (you try building a  huge boat during a dry season, then living months on it with relatives and animals), he was able to see the outcome of the hardship. Once the flood receded and they were free to again wander the earth and fill it back up, Noah was able to see God's greatness and blessing through it all. He was able to experience the great love that God had for him, despite the horrific things that went on around him in the world.
When we feel as if life is horrible and that everything is working against you, remember that there is blessing at the end of the road. It may take some time to see it and to see the purpose in the craziness you have gone through, but God always has a plan of blessing. He won't fail you when you are set on following Him and His will. Hold tight to these truths as you face battles.

At what point in your life have you felt that everything was working against you, even though you knew it was what God was intending for you?



How were you blessed through it? What kind of light did it shed at the end of it all?



Navigating through life's endless battles and blessings can be daunting and even frustrating. But we can see from God's Word that it is possible and even worth it when we stick close to Him. Remembering that a hardship can shed light in the end is important, though it may be the last thing you care about at the time. God will use it and refine you through it. Hold tight to Him and remember that He won't ever leave you. 

Day 3: Saying "Yes" to God

Reading: Psalm 3:1-8

Psalms is filled with many of the emotions that David experienced as he walked with God. Many times, David was met by hardship and unimaginable trials. We get a look at David's life and heart through his writings to God in Psalms. Today, those trials meet him, and we see how distraught he is by his foes. But we also get a look at the hope he carries with him. Though he feels overwhelmed by his enemies, he is confident that God will carry him through. He has confidence that he can sleep, even in the midst of "ten thousand enemies" because he knows God will protect him. An example we can take from David is that we should keep our eyes on God, even in those rough times. No matter how hard life beats you down and threatens to steal your confidence in the One who can carry you through, we need to keep our eyes on Him. Saying "yes" to God is putting our trust in Him and relying fully on His protection. 

What "enemies" are overwhelming you right now?

How can you have the same confidence David had in the midst of these hardships?

Reading: Matthew 2:19-3:17

When we say yes to a life with God, we say yes to so much more than attending church, reading the Bible, and praying when the time is right. We say yes to a whole new life, filled with the things Jesus was filled with the day of His baptism. When John the Baptist insisted that it should be him who gets baptized by Jesus, Jesus replies that it is only proper in righteousness that He be baptized, symbolizing that He identified with human beings. When Jesus is baptized, his Father's voice comes down on them, stating, "this is My dearly loved Son, Who brings Me great joy." We can take many things from this baptism that applies to us when we give our lives over to God: 

A sign of refinement. We are made new and washed pure when we say yes to a life with God. Jesus displays this to those around Him, though He is already pure. 

Filled with peace. Though life isn't going to be easier after you give your life to Him, you will experience a new kind of piece that surpasses all understanding. Like we saw in David's life when his enemies overwhelmed him. When the dove descended down to Jesus, this was a sign of peace that only comes from the Holy Spirit. 

We join a new family. Being in the family of God is being adopted by Him. We are His children, and He is our Heavenly Father. He will watch over us and guide our steps.

He loves us dearly. God tells Jesus that He is His dearly loved Son. We are dearly loved by Him too, and He cares for us enough to sacrifice for us. 

He takes joy in us. Walking with God will give you the opportunity to experience His joy and pleasure for you. Everyday is a blessing with Him.

What are some things you've experienced since saying "yes" to God? What do you look forward to?

Why do you think it was so important that Jesus be baptized by John the Baptist even though He is already pure and sinless? What symbol did this create for humanity?

Reading: Genesis 4:17-6:22

In today's world, saying "yes" to God is not an easy task. We read about the corruption in the world, and evil that took place after God created man and woman. This saddens God so much, that He regrets putting man here. However, we read about two men in this passage who found favor in God's eyes and said "yes" to Him, despite what the world was doing. Enoch found favor in God's eyes, we read, and The Lord just took Him one day. Noah, who also found favor with The Lord, was put to a great task, however. Even though it seemed ridiculous and people surely mocked him, Noah obeyed anyway. And by the end of this story, you can see why obeying God would be for the best. But even in today's world, we will face the corruption of the world around us, and feel the pressures of the norm. We can follow the examples of these two men, and decide to pursue what God has in store, rather than what the rest of the world demands. 

What pressures do you face from the world around you that don't line up with God's will?

How can obeying God be beneficial in the big picture, though the rest of the world may find it silly or against what is "normal" to them?

Saying "yes" to God is not only overwhelming, but it is saying "yes" to a life filled with His amazing love and peace. It takes a lot of courage to stand up and proclaim you will follow someone with the most controversial name in history, Jesus. And the world will definitely shove it's own values down your throat, then complain when you voice yours, but hold your head high, and remember the confidence that David had when he was overwhelmed by ten thousand enemies, and Noah, who persisted with the mockers around him. 

Day 2: Decisions

Life is loaded with questions and endless decisions. A new year and a new chapter in life most likely raises it's own set of decisions. Everyday you face questions and decisions, big and small. Today's readings look at the history of some decisions made in the Bible.

Reading: Psalm 2:1-12

Many times we may find ourselves angry with God, and even tempted to rebel against Him. But when we read this Psalm, we see the reasons why we should stick next to Him. The decision to do so can be hard though, especially if life has dealt you with a rough hand of cards. But no matter how hard life gets, we are told that the safest place to be is next to God. He is our refuge and strength when life gets shaky. When the decision comes to accept or reject God's refuge, we are warned about what happens when we choose to go our own way. 

What kinds of things in your life cause you to question your sticking by God's refuge?

What things in your life prove that He is taking care of you? 

Reading: Matthew 2:1-18

There may come a time in our lives where we have to decide what is right and wrong in forming our faith. King Herod hears of Jesus' birth and asks the wise men to find the child for him, so he can go and worship. However, Herod's motives are quite the opposite. Once the wise men find Jesus and worship Him themselves, the have a warning through a dream to not return to Herod. Their decision to do this kept Herod from Jesus. This can apply to our lives today in the decisions we make to protect Jesus in our own lives. Placing priority on Jesus over the things that could push Him out of our lives is important in keeping our faith growing in Him. Are you seeking Him to worship Him daily in your life, or are you seeking Him out of selfish ambition and only do it when you need something? 

What things in your life do you need to get rid of to allow your faith to grow?

At what points of your life do you seek Jesus? 

Reading: Genesis 2:18-4:16

God blessed us human beings with free will. Because of this, we have the power to control our own lives and make decisions everyday that will have consequences. Our first example comes from Adam and Eve, who give in to the serpent and eat the fruit that God told them not to. Because of this decision, there are heavy consequences. Then we see the case of Cain and Abel. Another example of disobedience and consequences. We can see from these examples that the decisions we make will have consequences, whether they are for the good or bad. We are warned in God's Word on how to live and that the decisions we make put us on certain paths for life. But we also can see from biblical history that no matter how many times we mess up and no matter how horribly we mess up, God still is there to welcome us back into His arms. His love never fails, and nothing can ever separate us from it. 

What have been some outcomes of the decisions you've made before? Good ones and bad ones:

How have you felt God's blessing in your life despite the bad decisions you have made in the past?

We are blessed with free will. But when we abuse this, we face consequences. Life can be tough, in fact, life WILL be tough at times, but we still have a decision to make when times come. Our decisions will reflect our maturity and how we take life's demands. We face temptations and trials, but we can choose how we react to them. Consider your decisions carefully. 

Day 1: New Beginnings

Congrats on setting a goal to dive into God's Word this year! The best part about this is that it doesn't matter where you've been and where you're coming from, but that you are here now, and striving to learn more about this Bible thing. Today's topic couldn't be more fitting for each of you here. We all have a past, and we all begin new, each and everyday. Hopefully we can all relate to the readings today, and find comfort in them. With that said, are you ready to get this new journey in the Word started?

Reading: Psalm 1:1-6

One thing you may already know about Psalms is that it is a book of poetry. However, we can learn much from the words it gives, and from the feelings of those who contributed to this book. Today, we can be encouraged in knowing that this path of striving to follow God is full of hope. And, we can definitely be reassured that following what is wicked and evil in life will lead us to what we ultimately are chasing- destruction. Depending on what we do, those things will lead us down the path we set before ourselves.

What do you want to chase after in this new year? This new week? This new day?



How will you accomplish that, according to today's reading from Psalm?


Reading: Matthew 1:1-25

This year, and the rest of our lives actually, let's focus on Jesus. The book of Matthew opens up with the genealogy of Jesus, which may seem boring and make you wonder why go into it, but as you learn more about the history and the pasts of the people in Jesus' line, you'll see that they are no different than you and me. In fact, many have quite a messed up past, but God still used them to bring about the greatest gift of all. No matter what your yesterday looks like and what things creep back into your life from your past, remember that God can still use you to do miraculous things. Joseph stuck by Mary's side when he saw that this baby was going to be a wonderful act of God.

What things from your past haunt you? How do they hinder you from starting new today?

What can we learn from the line Jesus came from? How do we remember that God has big picture plans for us in the midst of a scary past?



Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:17

We see the theme of beginnings here in the beginning of the Bible. God made all of these beautiful things around us to enjoy and to take care of. All of them He said are good. Yet when He created us, He created us in His image and said it was very good. Many times we may find ourselves depressed and feeling worthless, but this reading alone proves that God values you deeply. He put humans above all other creation and sees us higher than them. We can value ourselves because God values us highly. He gave us free will and allows us to make decisions for ourselves. Today, you face a new beginning, filled with many decisions.

How can you value yourself as God values you?


What decisions can you make today to help you grow deeper in Him and help prove how much you value yourself?




Today marks a new beginning. Whether you're checking out this plan January 1 or middle of July, you are starting new today. Everyday is a new beginning, and God gives you the choice as to what you can do with those opportunities. We all screw up and fall (as we'll read about more tomorrow), but keep starting new in Him everyday, longing for His endless mercy and love.