Amending our ways is not so easy, it seems. Habits are hard to break, especially when we try to do so in our own strength. But a broken people can be made whole in Christ's strength.

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 7–12

Verse of the day: Jeremiah 7:3 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.'"

Word of the day: Amend. It is the Hebrew word: יָטַב (yaw-tab').

Understanding the holiness of God is hard for us to do in today's culture, but God is the same yesterday as He is today. God is holy. And those who walk with Him are required to be holy, too.

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 6–10

Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 6:20, "'Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?' they cried out. 'Where can we send the Ark from here?'"

Word of the day: Presence of; before. It is the Hebrew word: פָּנִים (paw-neem').

Forgiving the unforgiveable does not make sense when we operate from a position of retribution. But operating from grace reminds us that we who have been forgiven have no choice but to offer the same forgiveness we have been given.

Bible Reading: Genesis 49–50

Verse of the day: Genesis 50:17, ". . . And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him."

Word of the day: Forgive. It is the Hebrew word: נָשָׂא (naw-saw').

I've heard people jest that the only way someone would catch them running is if someone was chasing them. While running might not be enjoyable to our flesh, there is a race we all must enter and win.

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 9–10

Verse of the day: 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it."

Word of the day: Run. It is the Greek word: τρέχω (trekh'-o).

Hide and seek does not work so well when one is hiding from a God who sees everything. There is nothing hidden that will not ultimately be revealed.

Bible Reading: Mark 3–4

Verse of the day: Mark 4:22, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light."

Word of the day: Revealed. It is the Greek word: φανερόω (fan-er-o'-o).

What do you treasure or delight in? Where are treasure is, there our heart will be also.

Bible Reading: Job 23–24

Verse of the day: Job 23:12, "I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food."

Word of the day: Treasured. It is the Hebrew word: צָפַן (tsaw-fan').

What do you do when you are facing trouble? It can be easy to want to run to friends to hear their sympathies, but those who cry out to God find the answers they need.

Bible Reading: Psalms 28–30

Verse of the day: Psalm 28:1, "To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit."

Word of the day: Call. It is the Hebrew word: קָרָא (kaw-raw').

What is fair? When we consider what we really deserve, we realize that God's justice and mercy are greater than life's temporary struggles.

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1–6

Verse of the day: Jeremiah 2:5, "Thus says the LORD, "What injustice did your fathers find in Me, that they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?"

Word of the day: Injustice. It is the Hebrew word: עֶוֶל (eh'-vel).

So often we can neglect prayer and treat it as a to do list. But prayer gives us access to God. When we neglect the gift of talking with the God of this universe, we neglect the peace God longs to give us in His presence.

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 1–5

Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 2:1, "Then Hannah prayed: "My heart rejoices in the LORD! The LORD has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me.""

Word of the day: Prayed. It is the Hebrew word: פָּלַל (paw-lal').

There is a famine in the land, but many don't know they are famished. We tend to think of a famine associated with food, but it is our famine of God's word that impacts us the most.

Bible Reading: Genesis 45–48

Verse of the day: Genesis 47:13, "There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine."

Word of the day: Famine. It is the Hebrew word: רָעָב (raw-awb').