December 12 - Husbands and Wives

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 22:31-38
1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Old Testament -
Psalms 79
Joshua 20-21
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 7:1-5
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Insight:
Remaining unmarried is a good thing, but it is not advisable for people with strong sexual needs and desires. People must be realistic about their sexuality and the temptations they will face in a sexually immoral culture.

Marriage is the only God-given context for sexual activity. It is the sacred context for the fulfillment of sexual needs. Husbands and wives must take sexual intimacy very seriously -- caring for each other and considering themselves to be one flesh.

Husbands and wives may, by mutual consent, agree to refrain from sexual activity if it serves a higher spiritual purpose, but even that must be approached as temporary situation. A healthy sexual relationship in marriage serves as a deterrent to sexual immorality.

Response & Action:
I am a married person. I must treat my wife with loving respect and care. Our marriage is a sacred and committed context for sexuality. Even within marriage, there may be times where spiritual formation and ministry needs may require a season of sexual abstinence. This must be mutually agreed upon. My wife and I belong to each other, and our healthy intimacy is a safeguard against sexual immorality and temptation.

Lord God, I thank you for the gift of marriage. Help me to love, cherish, and honor my wife. Thank you for this special relationship, and thank you for making it a sanctuary of sexual purity in a world filled with sexual sin. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Ephesians 5:3
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Resources:
The Mystery of Marriage: Meditations on the Miracle
by Mike Mason

December 11 - Bodies

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 22:24-30
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Old Testament -
Psalms 78:40-72
Joshua 18-19
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: 1 Cor. 6:13b-20
13b The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Insight:
Sexual immorality is a product of fallen humanity. The human body is not meant for immorality. The body is intended for glorifying God. God raised Jesus from the dead and by that same power he can raise us from our fallen condition. Sexuality is a very deep part of the human self. That makes it a very dangerous form of sin. Once it takes root in our bodies it is very difficult to root it out, and its impact upon our whole person can be devastating.

We need to think of our bodies as a temple--a holy place for the Holy Spirit to live. We bring honor to God by caring for our bodies and making sure they are used for holy purposes.

Response & Action:
I must avoid sexual immorality. I must recognize the danger sexual immorality poses to my whole self. I need to honor God with my heart, mind, and body. I need to draw upon the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit to rise above my vulnerability and the sexual sinfulness of my fallen world, recognizing that God's power and grace can raise me up. God is the creator of sexuality, and so it follows that if it is to be a blessing to me, and an honor to God, I must acknowledge and heed God's boundaries and purposes for sexuality.

O God, lead me away from temptation and deliver me from evil. Create in me a clean heart. Help me to delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Give me the wisdom and the will and the strength to do what is right. Help me to honor you with my heart, my mind, and my body. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Ephesians 5:3
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Resources:
Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity
by Lauren F. Winner

December 10 - Service

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 22:14-23
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Old Testament -
Psalms 78:1-39
Joshua 15-17
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 22:24-27
24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Insight:
Jesus was and is a servant. He did not serve despite his greatness, but rather, he served because of his greatness. Servanthood is at the core of greatness. To truly follow Jesus, I must become a servant. Unless a person learns to serve and care for others, it is impossible to be like Jesus.

Response & Action:
I will not pursue greatness, but rather Christ-likeness. I will look toward the needs and interests of others, rather than concern myself with how others think about me. I will apply my energy, time, and creativity toward helping others more than myself. I will come alongside and below others in an effort to lift them rather than try to exalt myself over others. Even when I am placed in positions of leadership and authority, I will see them as a privilege and a responsibility. Leadership is to be exercised with humility toward self and concern for others.

Lord God, help me to be a servant. I want to follow in the way of Jesus. Help me to pour out my life for others. Help me to serve my wife, my family, my neighbors, my co-workers, my church, and my community, through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 1 Peter 5:2-3
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Resources:
Full Service: Moving from Self-Serve Christianity to Total Servanthood
by Siang-Yang Tan

December 9 - Zoom Out

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 22:1-13
1 Corinthians 5
Old Testament -
Psalms 77
Joshua 13-14
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Psalm 77:6b, 9-13
6b My heart mused and my spirit inquired: - - - 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" 10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13 Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?

Insight:
God cannot forget to be himself. God would have to forget who he is in order to forget his mercy and compassion. God would, in fact, simply not be God if he forgot himself. God cannot be who he is and, at the same time, contradict who he is.

Asaph mused and wrestled with this puzzle. He looked at the trials and problems he was facing and wondered why God was not intervening. He felt like his cries were not being heard. He felt like God was far off. He wondered, "Has God stopped being God? Has God forgotten who he is?"

As he thought more, he began to appeal to the things God had done in the past. Instead of rejecting God, Asaph wisely rejected his own doubts about God. Through worship and faith, Asaph concluded that God really was holy, good, powerful, and faithful. He recounted all the ways God had been faithful to his people throughout history. He trusted that God really was God and would always be God. He trusted that God would save in the future, just as he had saved in the past.

Response & Action:
My limited view of my trials and circumstances can give a distorted view of God. From my point of view, it can look as though God has lost interest or forgotten to check in on me. It can be tempting to wonder if God has forgotten to be who he claims to be. After all, if he is loving, caring, powerful, merciful, and able to save, where is he?

When I have doubts about God, I'm forced to choose between my fearful perceptions and the testimony of Scripture. I have to decide if I will trust my limited perspective more than I trust the promises of God. Will I reject God, or will I reject my doubts?

When I find myself wondering about God's faithfulness, I will gain perspective by reflecting upon the Scriptures, the testimony of Christians, the history of Israel and the church, and the encouragement of Christian friends today. When I can't see past my circumstances, I will "zoom out" in order to get a broader view. I will trust God to be the good and holy God he has proven himself to be.

O God, I trust you to be faithful and good. I trust you to be YOU. I give thanks to you, for your Name is near. People tell of your wonderful deeds. You choose the appointed time for everything. You judge uprightly. When the earth and all its people quake, it is you who holds its pillars firm. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Matthew 7:24-25
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Resources:
Reflections on the Psalms
by C. S. Lewis

December 8 - Faithful Servants

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 21:29-38
1 Corinthians 4
Old Testament -
Psalms 76
Joshua 10-12
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: 1 Cor. 4:1-5
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Insight:
The motives of our hearts are open before God. He knows them and he can expose them and bring them to light. Those who are humble and serious about sin look to God for the understanding, guidance, and strength they need to confront sin in their own lives. This same humility and seriousness should extend to the life of their Christian community.

Response & Action:
I want to please God. Only God can truly understand my actions and the motivation for those actions. When I seek God with all my heart, I gain a deeper and truer understanding of who I am. I want God to show me who I am, and how I need to change in order to be the person he has made me to be. I will seek to draw near to God and be sensitive to the leading of his Spirit through the Scriptures, through prayer, and through my Christian community. Honoring God and bringing him praise should be the deepest motivation for all that I do.

O God, help me to keep my eyes on you. Help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. You have blessed me in many ways; help me to live faithfully for you. Do not let me be tempted or influenced by a need to receive the praise of people, but instead, give me a heart that is motivated by a desire to receive your commendation. Help me to be honest and humble about weaknesses and failings in my life, and give me the courage and the strength of your Spirit to turn away from sin. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Resources:
Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts With The Heart Of God
by David G. Benner

December 7 - The Highest Loyalty

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 21:20-28
1 Corinthians 3
Old Testament -
Psalms 75
Joshua 8-9
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Insight:
Christians can be too preoccupied with loyalties to a certain teacher, tradition, or denomination. "I am of Apollos" and "I am of Paul" sound very similar to “I am a protestant," "I am a Calvinist," "I am an evangelical," or "I am a post-evangelical."

God is the one who makes the seed of faith grow, not your favorite pastor, theologian, or author. Teachers, traditions, and denominations can help plant, water, and nurture the seed of faith, but they do not deserve the credit for what only God can do.

Our highest loyalty and identity should be placed in Christ Jesus. Christians wear the name of Christ, not the name of his servants. Let's be thankful for those who help us to mature in our faith and devotion to Christ, but let's not let them become a source of division and quarrels. No Christian teacher worth following wants that!

Response & Action:
While I value specific individuals, writers, teachers, groups, ministries, and denominations, I must not allow this appreciation to turn into something divisive. My loyalty is to Christ Jesus, and I embrace his church in its entirety. Those who plant and water the seeds of faith in my life deserve my thanks and love, but they would be dishonored if my loyalty to them overshadowed my loyalty for Christ and my desire to see all who follow him to be united in testimony and fellowship.

O God, I believe in one, holy, and universal church. I thank you for the men and women who have planted and watered the seeds of faith in me. Thank you for their examples, teachings, and writings. Help me to demonstrate true appreciation for them by placing my faith and commitment in Christ, rather than in them. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Romans 15:5-6
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Resources:
Mere Christianity
by C.S. Lewis

Reading Schedule for December 7 - 12

Proverbs 4:18-23
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Schedule and Tips
2009-10 Reading Schedule
Tips for Daily Bible Readers

December 7 -
Luke 21:20-28 / 1 Corinthians 3
Psalms 75 / Joshua 8-9

December 8 -
Luke 21:29-38 / 1 Corinthians 4
Psalms 76 / Joshua 10-12

December 9 -
Luke 22:1-13 / 1 Corinthians 5
Psalms 77 / Joshua 13-14

December 10 -
Luke 22:14-23 / 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Psalms 78:1-39 / Joshua 15-17

December 11 -
Luke 22:24-30 / 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Psalms 78:40-72 / Joshua 18-19

December 12 -
Luke 22:31-38 / 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Psalms 79 / Joshua 20-21

December 5 - Standing Firm

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 21:1-19
1 Corinthians 2
Old Testament -
Psalms 74
Joshua 6-7
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Luke 21:16-19
16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain life.

Insight:
Jesus warns his followers of a time when, because of their faith in him, they will face betrayal, hate, and even death. He tells them to stand firm in their faith because in standing firm they will gain life. Jesus speaks these words with great confidence and authority. He even appropriates the very words of God (Isaiah 40:8) as his own when he says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

Response & Action:
I have never yet faced the kind of persecution Jesus warns about in these verses, but someplace in the world today Christians are suffering because of their faith in Jesus. I must pray for them and prepare my heart and mind for the very real possibility of persecution at some time in my future. The world is a volatile place where things can shift dramatically and unexpectedly.

I must follow Jesus with my heart, soul, and strength today--acknowledging his lordship and authority--if I am going to be ready to stand firm in him in times of trial and hardship. I must embrace Jesus' words and promises with the same confidence he speaks them to me. I will hold to the words of Jesus as the very words of God Almighty. In faith, I must live with the conviction that if I stand firm in Christ, I will gain life.

O God, you are my hope, my strength, and my deliverance. The escapes from death belong to you. You scatter your enemies and overcome the darkness with light. You bear my burdens, you save me, and you sustain me. By your power and grace, O Lord, help me to navigate difficult times and dark days. Help me to stand firm in you. Give me your peace and guard my heart and mind. Give me confidence for life through faith in Christ. Blessed be his name! Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 1 Peter 1:3-6
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Resources:
The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance & Assurance
by Thomas R. Schreiner and Ardel B. Caneday

December 4 - Wisdom and Light

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 20:41-47
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Old Testament -
Psalms 73
Joshua 3-5
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 1:20-24
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Insight:
The power and wisdom of God are revealed in Christ Jesus. Philosophy and academics are useful, but they cannot, in and of themselves, give life. The wise man, the scholar, and the philosopher of this age need the truth of God to inform their wisdom, scholarship, and philosophy. Human reason has its limits. Inquiry and research can take us only so far. God has revealed his truth and wisdom through Jesus.

Response & Action:
Ultimate wisdom is found in Jesus Christ. His words, actions, teachings, relationships, prayers, and stories all reveal the truth of God. I will examine all my studies, ideas, and beliefs in the light of what Jesus has said and done, because he is the wisdom of the God.

O God, thank you for revealing yourself through Jesus, your son. Just as the rising sun is visible with each new day, and by its illumination makes all things visible, I believe in Jesus, not just because I see him, but also because by his light and wisdom I become able to see everything else. Help me to grow in wisdom and truth of Christ as I follow closely after him. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Resources:
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
Dallas Willard

December 3 - Strong in Grace

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 20:27-40 / 1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Old Testament -
Psalms 72 / Joshua 1-2
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Joshua 1:7-9
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Insight:
The torch of leadership was passed on from Moses to Joshua. God admonished Joshua to be strong and courageous and to be careful to follow the commands he received through Moses. Though they would face frightening opposition and discouraging circumstances, God promised Joshua that he would be with him wherever he went, giving him strength and success.

Response & Action:
I'm no Joshua, but my life's journey requires strength and courage. Whether its big or small, we're all leaders in some way. We all have to take the lead at some time. As a follower of Jesus, I take heart in knowing that God will not forsake me in the times I need to be a leader. Like Joshua, I will commit myself to knowing and meditating upon God's written word. When I face difficult and discouraging circumstances, I will look to God for the energy and confidence I need to keep pressing forward.

O God, thank you for the promise to be with your people. Give me an awareness of your presence with me today. Grant me the strength and the faith I need to face the challenges and circumstances of my life. When I am frightened, guard my heart and mind with the peace of Christ Jesus. Protect me from discouragement, and encourage me, by your Holy Spirit, through your Word, your people, your promises, and all that is beautiful and true. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Resources:
Serious Times: Making Your Life Matter in an Urgent Day
by James Emery White

December 2 - Divisive

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 20:20-26 / Romans 16
Old Testament -
Psalms 71 / Deuteronomy 33-34
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Romans 16:17-18
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Insight:
Fellowship among Christians is threatened by those who confuse the clear teachings of scripture with their own opinions, agendas, or selfish interests. These create obstacles to unity. Christians must be on guard against conflicts and circumspect about the people who start them.

Response & Action:
I need to watch out for people and influences that would damage Christian community. Are problems arising out of selfish motives? Are opinions and issues raised contrary to scriptural teaching and precedent? I must be careful to recognize deception and manipulation, and discern when people are putting their own interests over the interests of others and of Christ. I must also guard against self-centeredness.

Reading and studying the Scriptures will help me recognize the things that run contrary to the truth. I will take time for prayer and Bible reading every day in order to learn what Christ and the apostles have taught. I will strive to be humble and selfless and carefully examine my own actions and motives.

O God, help me to recognize those things that are divisive -- opinions, arguments, lies, pride, manipulation, and selfishness. Help me to know your word, to live by it, and to bring people together through it. Help us all to turn away from selfish impulses and instead be filled with the desire to serve and honor you. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Philippians 2:1-3
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Resources:
Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal With Destructive Conflict
Kenneth C. Haugk

December 1 - Cry for Help

Today's Readings:
New Testament -
Luke 20:9-19 / Romans 15:14-33
Old Testament -
Psalms 70 / Deuteronomy 32
Click on Text Links to Read Online

Focus Verses: Psalm 70:4-5
4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" 5 Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

Insight:
There are times when the pain and need of our lives seems to be in absolute contradiction to the hope and confidence we have in God. How can I say "Let God be exalted!" when I am poor and needy and in need of deliverance? How can we rejoice in God's salvation, when the circumstances of our lives draw scorn and ridicule ("Aha!" - vs. 3) from those who think our confidence and faith are misplaced?

Response & Action:
My hope is in the Lord! The circumstances and heartaches of today do not diminish who God is. The trials and heartache of today do not negate God's promises. On the contrary, my faith is proved and strengthened by my need and weakness. I cry out to God, trusting that he will help and deliver and not delay. Weeping may last for the night, but joy will come in the morning (Ps. 30:5).

Though others may mock my trust in God, I believe that my faith in God's unfailing mercy and salvation will always be vindicated in the end. Even in the darkest of days, I will hold on to the promise and hope that are mine in Christ. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2).

Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. You have been the help of your people in ages past, and you are my hope for the years to come. My hope is in you all day long. I will not give in to fear and worry and sorrow, but will instead make my requests known to you. May the peace of God guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit--one God, now and forever! Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Resources:
Waiting: Finding Hope When God Seems Silent
by Ben Patterson

Grace Points: Growth and Guidance in Times of Change
by Jane Rubietta