April 11 - Love Laid Down

“This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

(1 John 3:16 NIV)

 

Hesed is God's covenantal love, combining steadfast loyalty, mercy, kindness, and grace. It is action-oriented, loving-kindness that goes far beyond duty. How can I show hesed today? I can drop what I’m doing and help others. I can encourage those who offend me, lift them up to my Heavenly Father, and ask Him to forgive them, just like Jesus did. I hope you will, too!

April 10 - Receive

“Teacher, what good thing must I do

to get eternal life?”

(Matthew 19:16 NIV)

 

 

Today I pray with Joni Eareckson Tada, “Lord, I open the windows and doors of my life so Your refreshing breeze can blow through and drive out the stale, tired air. I need the freshness and fragrance of the Holy Spirit to swirl through every corner of my heart. I open my hands and receive Your grace, Your gifts, Your favor, Your counsel, and Your mercy.” Lord, I rejoice to receive Your free gift of eternity spent with You. I hope you will, too!

April 9 - Overcome

“I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33 NIV)

 

The world will try to distract me with its glamour and glitter. Social media tries to tell me I am not good enough. Advertisements invite me to want more or better. Because He is perfect and perfectly loves me and paid for my life, I am His. Since He has overcome the world, so can I. I will thank Him for the victories. I hope you will, too! 

April 8 - Wise Listening

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance.”

(Proverbs 1:5 NIV)

 

I will step into God’s classroom today. I will open my eyes and ears to learn what He wants to teach me. It will be a one-on-one experience that only He can give. He taps me on the shoulder and whispers in my ear. Such lessons occur daily, even hourly, moment-by-moment. I only need to recognize my Teacher, stop what I am doing, and absorb what He is teaching me. I hope you will, too! 

April 7 - Satisfaction

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

(Psalm 90:14 NIV)

 

I rise in the morning with a song in my heart and on my mind. I reach for the blinds and open them to let in the beauty of the day. Nothing can pull me away from His presence. I train my mind to thank my heavenly Father for revealing Himself to me in so many amazing ways. He is my complete Satisfaction. I will rejoice and praise Him today. I hope you will, too! 

Not What You Think

by Macy Johnson

“While they were listening to this,

He went on to tell them a parable,

because He was near Jerusalem

and the people thought that

the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.”

(Luke 19:11 NIV)

 

The Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27) is the last of Christ’s teachings in Luke before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The mina, valued at approximately three months’ wages, is a metaphor for the Gospel. God has given each of us the good news of Jesus and we are responsible for how we invest it and share it with others.

April 6 - Be Courageous

“Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,

for the Lord your God goes with you;

He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

 

On an episode of “Air Disasters” a pilot was afraid to manually fly his airline on a runway approach. He depended on the autopilot and the plane crashed. Sometimes God calls me to get my hands dirty, try something new, different, better. My old routine may not work anymore. I will be courageous and follow Jesus into unfamiliar territory. I hope you will, too!