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September 1

Bread from Heaven

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

Bread from the grocery store will satisfy for a time, but the Bread from Heaven will satisfy for eternity. Earthly bread may give you sustenance, but the Heavenly Bread of Jesus Christ will give you salvation. Take His life into your heart, mind, and soul, and you will allow the nutrients of the Holy Spirit to transform, comfort, and guide you.

Eternal life cannot be achieved by our own doing, like the work of kneading and baking the bread. Eternal life is not of this world but is of Heaven and is ours only as we partake through faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray today for the Holy Spirit to continually dwell and work within us.

September 2

Discerning Evil

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Jesus Christ is all about giving life to the dying, while Satan is all about forcing death upon the living. Anything that is associated with the abundant life is a target for Satan’s attempt to steal, kill, and destroy. So be a discerner of these things and judge for yourself if a particular way promotes life or death so you will know if it is from Christ or Satan.

This promise from Jesus on giving life is also a good test of decisions and choices if you are wondering about your options. Choose the path, the person, the program, or whatever choice is before you that promotes life over stealing, killing, and destroying.

Let’s pray today for the Spirit of God to help us discern evil and trust in Christ.

September 3

The Shepherd’s Voice

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Many claim to be Christians, but few seem to be hearing, listening, or following the voice of Christ. We are sheep who know that without the true Shepherd’s voice, made plain in the Bible and clear in prayer, we are open to be prey of thieves and wolves. Thankfully, the pleas of God’s children never go unrecognized either.

Social media has added to the already existing multitude of causes that are voicing their fight and bidding us to join. Don’t be tossed about by everything you hear but stay clearly tuned to the call of the Shepherd.

Let’s pray today to walk close with our Lord Jesus Christ as we go about our day.

September 4

Jesus Promises

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28

Jesus has promised eternal life and He does not renegotiate, renege, or revoke His promises. Eternal life is a gift that you receive through faith and hold unto by His grace. The Savior has secured your salvation on Calvary’s cross as His promise to you. Jesus does not change, Calvary can not be undone, He simply delivers on His promise.

No one can undo the grace of Christ that saves you and brings new life into your hope for the future, no one can tempt you without your permission to yield, so do not allow anyone to talk you into taking your hand out of His.

Let’s pray today that we will not falter or turn our thankful heart away from Calvary’s gift.

September 5

Resurrected Life

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die“ John 11:25

You can try to renew yourself with new clothes, hair style, or cosmetic surgery, but only Jesus can renew your life. Despite our own changes on the outside we still need His changing on the inside. With Jesus, even in death we will find renewal as we transform from our fallen mortal life to our resurrected immortal life.

Like awakening from a night’s sleep, we will arise from the grave to an eternity with our saved loved ones and the hosts of Heaven forever. Not even death itself on earth can prevent us from the resurrected life when Jesus calls us forth as He did Lazarus.

Let’s pray today in thanksgiving that though the grave may take us it can not keep us.

September 6

At Calvary

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32

All people are attracted to the crucified Lord Jesus, either as their eternal hope or eternal curse. At Calvary He both redeems the sinner and repulses the sinning. The righteous praise His name and the wicked curse His name. We either believe and go to heaven or we deny and go to hell. There is no neutral, so please choose Jesus as your Savior.

When we fix our thoughts on what Jesus did at Calvary’s cross it will change us. Our hearts of stony resistance will soften as we realize that the Son of God gave up the glories of Heaven to die in our place so that we may leave the sorrows of earth to live in the glories of Heaven.

Let’s pray today for our friends and family to be convicted by the Spirit and follow Jesus.

September 7

Absolute Truth

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

Both sides of man’s framed arguments can seem convincing, but only God’s word offers absolute truth. God speaks truth without exaggeration, without lies, or without selfish persuasion. We are all capable of disguising lies behind flowering words, but in these troubling times it is only the Lord who is trustworthy.

As long as we are alive this side of Heaven, we will have troubles, but we don’t have to stay in those troubles because we can give them over to the Lord. We can trust in Jesus to walk with us and we can trust in His word as absolute truth.

Let’s pray today that we may become students of the Bible and discern man’s falsehoods.

September 8

Promised Return

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3

The evils of society and the wickedness of earth’s leaders will not prevent Jesus’ promised return. Just as daylight always follows a long dark night, so we can be as certain that our Lord will come again and take His church out of these troubling times. Jesus Himself has promised not to leave us and His promise is sure.

Jesus said He will return for us so we can be with Him throughout eternity. Think of it this way, if He came the first time to pay the price for our sin, if He came and died the horrific death as our sacrifice, why would He now forsake us?

Let’s pray today with a confidence in the Blessed Hope of Jesus’ promised return.

September 9

Glory to God

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

With the ascension of Jesus and His promise of the Holy Spirit’s power, comes greater glory to God. The Old Testament believers of the true God were limited to public expressions of obedience to old covenant laws until the gift of the Holy Spirit would come at Pentecost. We are now free to bring glory to God in all our circumstances of life.

With the Holy Spirit filling us and as we give Him authority over our human spirit — our will — it is in that yielding that we shine as a light before a dark world. The power of God’s grace in our lives will give glory to God, and not to ourselves.

Let’s pray today that in all situations, good and bad, we will rightly give glory to God.

September 10

Beauty of Prayer

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:13-14

The beauty of prayer is that it depends on Jesus Christ, His name, His character, His righteousness, not our own. It is not our works, our ability to use the right formula of phrases or proper posture that makes prayer work. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that under-girds the promise of God to answer our heart cries to our Heavenly Father.

Our Lord desires to bless us that we would reflect gratitude back toward Him and before others around us as a testimony of God’s goodness. As our prayers are answered we have opportunity to declare God’s power to others through that testimony.

Let’s pray today more than we have, trusting in the name of Jesus Christ.

September 11

Eternal Contentment

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Satan’s temporary fix for stress is illicit drugs and immoral activities, but in Jesus peace is an eternal contentment. It’s human nature to seek an escape from the discomfort of problems, but running and hiding doesn’t resolve them. Only by clinging to the cross of Christ can we find strength to cope and hope for managing the stress of our lives.

The follower of Christ knows contentment in having faith in the Lord. We may not be able to explain it, but as we live close to the Lord there is less to fear and stress over because He is right beside us and that means His peace goes with us.

Let’s pray today that we may run to Jesus in prayer as situations of life cripple our plans.

September 12

Prayer for Holiness

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

Prayer is not given as a means to achieving our happiness, but as a means to obtaining God’s holiness. It is not about getting our will done, but about getting God’s will done. When we are in communion with God through the Spirit filled life, we will be focused on being in His will, doing His will, and being filled with His holiness. Prayer is the means of remaining in Christ.

Prayer is a gift from God to draw us closer to Him and keeps us in communion with Him throughout the circumstances of each day. Prayer is meant as an avenue for us to talk with Him, share with Him, and be in communion with Him.

Let’s pray today to be filled with God’s Spirit and walk in holiness apart from this world.

September 13

The Commandments

“ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15:10

When we are abiding in the love of Jesus we are in harmony with God and we have no desire to harm others. The letter of the law is meant to keep us from doing harm to others and the spirit of the law is how we keep in harmony with God, but if we abide in Jesus’ love we are in harmony with God and will do no harm to others.

The commandments do not save us, but they do guide us in living the saved life. We do not keep the commandments by continually referencing them as if checking our progress, but by abiding in God’s love.

Let’s pray today that we may live by His Spirit so we will love God and others as Jesus.

September 14

The Spirit Convicts

“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” John 16:8

The Holy Spirit transforms the human heart by bringing conviction of wrongs and assurance of right. Many hell-bound people have an intellectual ascent of right and wrong, but they block the Spirit of God from bringing them conviction. The Spirit doesn’t just point a finger at us for being wrong, He also motions a finger to us to lead us to an assurance that Jesus Christ saves.

The Spirit of God doesn’t just convict us of right and wrong, but of the assurance that the Enemy of our souls stands condemned. Knowing that we follow a victorious Savior is empowering and the convictions from the Spirit of God are encouraging.

Let’s pray today to welcome God’s Spirit into our life to convict us and empower us.

September 15

Spirit of Truth

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13

The Holy Spirit takes the word of God and speaks convicting truth and freedom from falsehoods to the believer. Unless we are standing on the promises of Scripture we can be helpless in deciphering truth from error. God desires that we continue to grow in faith and the knowledge of the Bible, and we do that by listening to the Spirit of truth.

As we near the end of the age, error will masquerade as truth, even in the pulpit, and unless we are in the habit of consulting the very words of God to decipher truth from the lies, we risk being easily deceived.

Let’s pray today that we would remain tuned into the Spirit of God to convict us from God’s Word.

September 16

Witness of the Spirit

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Jesus promised that His followers would be led by the influence of His Holy Spirit and thereby witness to others. With the power of the Spirit we witness to those around us by the influence of our life, our words, and our deeds. Our selfish spirit will repulse others, but His selfless Spirit will point others to the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

A Christian witness is one with a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus who is only asked to share what is already part of their life experience. We can not give away what we don’t have, but we also can’t help sharing the joy we do have.

Let’s pray today that the Spirit of God will make our lives a witness of influence before others.

September 17

Angels Promised

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

The ascension of Jesus was an actual event and His promised return is as certain as His ascension. Like a child whose parent leaves in the morning for work with a promise to return with funds for dinner, so are we wistfully looking for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The prophets have promised it, Jesus has promised it, now the angels have promised it – our Lord will return!

The return of our Lord will not be some type of spiritual or mystical awareness like a new age dawning, but it will be a literal, real-life, personal, actual return of the Lord Jesus. We’ll meet our Lord in the air then we’ll be face to face forever.

Let’s pray today in an expectant faith that our Lord will return and redeem us from this world.

September 18

The Simple Gospel

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

The gospel is very simple – turn away from your sins toward Jesus as your Savior and live His Spirit-filled life. There is full forgiveness in the sacrifice of Calvary’s cross. Stop depending on your own feelings and start trusting in Christ through faith, not by sight, but by faith. His grace is given for you to change you, empower you, and lead you by His Spirit.

Sometimes over adherence to religion can complicate the simple relationship that our Lord wants with us, but don’t fall for it. God loves you, Jesus died for your sins, and the Holy Spirit assures you of His relationship with you.

Let’s pray today that we may frequently meditate on the grace of the simple gospel.

September 19

Repent

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” Acts 3:19

We are a fallen people, but we have a risen Savior, so let us be quick to repent of our sins. When temptation arises, resist rehearsing the excuses that keep you from victorious living and turn from yourself to your Savior. Have faith in the forgiveness of Christ’s grace and repent from participating in sin.

Yes, Jesus died for your sins on Calvary, but just having an intellectual assent to that won’t forgive your sins. We must act by believing Christ, receiving His forgiveness in faith, and then turning away from our sin in repentance.

Let’s pray today that we will keep our heart and soul fixed on the Savior’s grace, not ourselves.

September 20

Name of Jesus

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Jesus is the only name you must know to be saved, because He is the Messiah, the Christ, and there is no other. Jesus is the only One, the only Way, the only God who can redeem man. Don’t be fooled by heathen religions claiming we share a god by a different name, because only the name of Jesus gives eternal life.

His name is His character and that is why we trust in Him. No one has His character except Him, so we find salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ because only He has given His life for the sacrifice that forgives our sins.

Let’s pray today to be quick to speak the name of Jesus in prayer and conversations.

September 21

Gospel Change

“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31

Believing in Jesus as your personal Savior is not an intellectual acknowledgement, but trusting in Him to live a changed life. The gospel changes the one who believes and it influences those close to that one. The gospel changes hearts, minds, and attitudes and when others see that change in us we become a witness for God’s glory.

When a person finds Christ and follows Him by believing in Him and what the word of God says, the gospel change in their lives becomes evident to all. When we are saved we shine a light that dispels the darkness around us.

Let’s pray today that we may be so filled with the gospel in our lives that influences others.

September 22

Willful Rejection

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30

God does not hold men accountable for what they do not know, but for what they willfully reject. We either turn toward Him or we turn away from Him. Do not think anyone has a claim of excuse, because even without the Scriptures, men have the revelation of nature and the magnificence of creation that testifies to the existence of a loving God.

Our choice is repentance from our sins or rejection of truth. In that we give evidence that we are responding to the convicting power of the Spirit of God or are willfully rejecting the light that we have been given.

Let’s pray today to fully accept and follow the Lord Jesus Christ as we learn of Him.

September 23

Sanctified by Grace

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32

The sanctified life of a Christian is not about adherence to works but about growing in Christ’s grace. If you can be obedient to religious laws then you’ll have no need to be saved by Christ’s righteousness for forgiveness of sins. God doesn’t seek the self-righteous for His heaven because they won’t like a place where everyone else is a sinner saved by grace.

The Christian is not one by membership in a church organization, but by sanctification from believing in the promises of Christ’s grace through the word of God. We live like we trust in Christ’s grace.

Let’s pray today to not be discouraged by our sins but run to Christ for grace.

September 24

The Gospel

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

In modern times being a Christian has been a quiet walk, but the gospel is meant to be a loud pursuit. The gospel speaks volumes to those who choose to remain in their sin. The gospel puts backbone in a persecuted saint, it preaches words beyond the ability of any pulpit, it is power to the powerless, and that is louder than any evil-doer can shout.

The gospel is light in darkness, it is good news among bad news, it cannot be hidden or denied so as believers in Jesus Christ we ought not to shrink back in our testimony. Allow the gospel to simply shine.

Let’s pray today that we may be the gospel of Jesus Christ through our words and deeds.

September 25

Justified

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Romans 3:20

The old covenant law was meant to instruct us on how not to sin, not on how to be saved. Justification is by faith, not works. God will not justify your entrance into heaven by your religious works or by any standard of keeping the Old Testament laws and regulations, but by grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ.

We do not disregard the law, but we do not fixate ourselves on it either. There is no constant referencing of the law through our day because we fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ and become justified by Him.

Let’s pray today that we would obediently trust in Christ’s grace for our justification to be saved.

September 26

Calvary Has Happened

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” Romans 5:10

It’s easy to doubt your salvation when you see your sins, but remember that Calvary has already happened. God has invested in you prior to your birth through the sacrifice of His Son and He is not pulling back from that eternal investment in you. Jesus Christ gave up His Heavenly throne for an earthly cross so you can have eternal life.

The Son of God did not leave His glorious Heaven to die on your behalf only to lose interest in you — He gave His life for you and He has not changed His mind now. You are saved by His life so wholeheartedly give yours to Him.

Let’s pray today that we may be in praise and awe of what our Savior has done for us.

September 27

He Arose

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:5

Jesus didn’t just die for you, He also arose from the grave to eternal life for you. Just as at Calvary your sins were forgiven, so at the resurrection your life is made new, forever. You can not duplicate Calvary or resurrection morning through works, but through faith you can believe that His word is true – you are united with your Lord in forgiveness of confessed sins and the new life of His grace.

We really need to talk more from the pulpit about the resurrection promise because that will be the ultimate evidence of our faith in Calvary, if we are not translated with those who are alive at the time of Christ’s return.

Let’s pray today that we may put our faith in believing that His resurrection life is ours, too.

September 28

Live by Grace

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11

You struggle with a sinful fallen nature, but exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and live by His grace. Be alive in faith and believe that He died for you on Calvary’s cross and that He rose from the grave for you so that you may live in newness of life, now. Contemplate His great sacrifice and step forward in Christ’s grace through faith.

It does not matter how often you fall as long as you keep getting up by His grace, but you must trust that in Christ you are dead to sin. That means you don’t give sin life by yielding to it, rehearsing it, and keeping it alive in your mind.

Let’s pray today in meditation upon the glory of our Lord and His grace for us.

September 29

Under Grace

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

Living under the law as a means of salvation is a sure way to condemnation, but life under grace is freedom from sin. If we live our lives consumed with avoiding the breaking of the law, we are beholding our own imperfection. If we live our lives beholding the grace of Christ, we are consumed with His perfection.

We love Him most when we know His grace most. When we realize that the Creator of all has freely given Himself as the sacrifice for our sinful choices, we can’t help but to want to follow Him in obedience.

Let’s pray today that we may find freedom from sin through the covering grace of Christ.

September 30

No Condemnation

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

The believer in Christ’s grace is legally freed from the penalty of their sins – past, present, and future. There is absolute freedom in Jesus Christ, but His grace doesn’t motivate us toward greater sin, instead it inspires us toward a greater obedience to Calvary. Grace compels us ever closer in a daily walk with Him, not further from Him.

There is no condemnation for you as you seek to follow your Lord because He was tempted as man and is familiar with the battle you fight. Jesus Christ is full of compassion and endless grace for those who seek, follow, and obey Him.

Let’s pray today in praise and gratitude for forgiveness and mercy that is ours in Jesus.

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