Your Daily Bible

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.- 1 John 5:14-15

Why can we pray with such a high level of expectation? First, God is our Father. If earthly fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more will our heavenly Father give us good things? Secondly, if God has given us Christ, why would He withhold from us any good thing?

Because of Jesus, we can approach God with boldness. Our access to God is no longer restricted by our sin. As a result, we have confidence that God hears our prayers and will respond. So why are we not praying with a high level of expectation?

 Reflect: 

Has your understanding of a good father affected your understanding of our heavenly Father?

What is your confidence in approaching God in prayer based on?

What are you praying in expectation for right now?

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'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.' - Malachi 3:10

When we bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, God promises to bless us beyond our capacity to receive. The test is a test of the heart. Will we be willing to give the first of our income as an act of faith and trust in the Lord?

Many people followed Jesus because He fed them (John 6). They wanted His stuff, not Him. Tithing tests our commitment to the person of Jesus over the provision of Jesus. Tithing is the ultimate test of the position of our possessions and the lordship of Jesus in our heart.

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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Why? There are so many things we don’t understand, and there are so many ways we can get upset at God because life isn’t going the way we think it should. But while we only see part of the story, God sees the big picture. Everything turns out good!

God has chosen and arranged every detail of your life — every single event, every single relationship — for His great purpose, and His plan is greater than anything we could imagine. Every line of your story, from beginning to end, will point to the magnificent, mind-blowing love of God for you and all His people.

 Reflect:

Can you think of a time when something bad turned out to be for your good?

What’s one area of your life where you struggle most to believe this promise?

What one step can you take to help you see God’s good purpose in your life?

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Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  - Romans 5:3-5

No one wants to experience suffering and troubles. If we’re honest, we question why we have to go through them. When we’re at our weakest and most weary, God is building our character. Our struggles carve the channels through which the love of God flows into our hearts.

God promises none of our pain is wasted! He is working through difficulty for our ever-increasing good. And what is the highest good? The all-satisfying hope of Jesus — for ourselves and those around us. The experience of Jesus’ love enables us to triumph in our trials.

Reflect: 

Can you think of a past struggle that you’re thankful for? Why?

What has stopped you from experiencing hope in difficulty?

How could you respond to a struggle differently today knowing God is using it to bring you His love?

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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.- Ephesians 2:10

We’ve all felt worthless, hopeless, or useless. But God promises you have a special purpose. You are created by God and for God. You are not an accident or a mistake. You are God’s masterpiece, hand-crafted with pride and joy.

God has planned out good for us to do from the beginning of time. Don’t allow yourself, Satan or anyone else to say your life has no purpose, meaning, or value. If you are alive and breathing, you can be sure God is working in you and working through you. God promises He will fulfill your destiny.

Reflect:
 
Is there a time when you have doubted your worth to God?

How does this promise make you feel? Ask God to show you the “good work” He is doing in your life.

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart

  and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

  and he will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

On every long journey, there are many moments when we get tired, impatient, fearful or disoriented, and we wonder whether we’ve lost our way. God promises to keep us on the right path through the problems and challenges of life. He only asks that we let go of our ideas and assumptions of what’s right and good and give Him complete control.

 Following Jesus takes us beyond what’s familiar or comfortable, and we must trust and depend on God’s Word to stay on the right path. He’ll get us safely to our destination on the most direct route, guaranteed.

 Reflect: 

Can you think of a time when you leaned on your own understanding? How did it turn out?

What’s one area in your life where you need to give control to God?

What’s one thing you can do every day to remind you to lean on God?

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If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. - James 1:5

We all have a hard time making sense of life. We mostly tend to grumble about discouraging things and despair about trials. We even doubt God will help us through them! What we don’t often do is ask God about them.

God promises to give us the wisdom we need for understanding. God doesn’t expect us to know everything we need to know to meet our challenges or make the right choices. But He does expect us to ask Him and listen for His answer.

Through the Bible, God pours out His wisdom, and it will always be more than enough to meet our needs.

Reflect: 

Do you remember asking God for wisdom for a situation in the past? How did it turn out?

What is the difference between having more information and more wisdom?

Can you think of a situation or choice where you need wisdom right now? Ask God for help.

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But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3

We can be sure God is faithful. His past performance in our difficult circumstances points to His unchanging character and faithfulness. In addition, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves Satan’s impotence and confirms that in Christ, no situation is hopeless.

We are aware of the enemy’s schemes. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But our God is a strong Father, guarding and establishing our steps. He has not left us alone. While the enemy may prowl around like a lion seeking to devour the weak, our God is strong and makes us strong. We can stand up and endure no matter what the enemy throws our way.

Reflect: 

Where have you seen God’s faithfulness?

What’s one area of your life where God has strengthened you?

How have you seen the Lord protect you from evil?

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For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 8:38-39

 If you knew you couldn’t lose, would you bet differently? Most of us would say yes. We’d go all in and wait with anticipation, not worry, for the outcome.

God promises us that His love is a sure bet. Once we’re in Christ, nothing we do and nothing that happens to us can separate us from God’s love. He does not kick us out of His family when we mess up. God’s grace is big enough to forgive all our sins, and His power is big enough to conquer them. That fact allows us to approach each day with confidence.

Reflect: 

Is there anything you’re holding back from God because you’re worried He’ll stop loving you?

How does it change your perception of death and your approach to life knowing that nothing, not even death, can separate you from God’s love?

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“He does not treat us as our sins deserve

    or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

- Psalm 103:10-12

Americans have an obsession with justice. Think about the number of crime dramas on TV today. True crime podcast, entire networks devoted to crime. You can probably list five without even trying.

God loves justice. It’s the reason He cannot let sin go unpunished. But God is as merciful as He is just, and nowhere are those two qualities more clear than the cross where Jesus died. Jesus took the punishment we deserved. As a result, we can confess our sins without fear, knowing God will greet us with mercy, love, and grace.

Reflect: 

Is guilt or shame keeping you from experiencing the full measure of God’s grace?

Is there anything you need to confess and repent of today? As things come to mind, pray and ask for forgiveness.

Is there anyone you need to forgive? Ask God to help you forgive the way He forgives you.

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