READ: MATTHEW 1:22-23; ROMANS 15:4; HEBREWS 13:5-6; 2 PETER 1:3-4 Growing up, I was surrounded by God’s promises. In church, with friends, and at home, I heard people say things like “God will never leave you,” or “God has good plans for you.” I could even find these promises in the Bible, but I was still a bit skeptical. After all, God’s promises—especially in the Old Testament, like the ones mentioned above—were given to specific people in specific situations, so how could I be certain they applied to me? I had seen people take Scripture out of context or twist its meaning, and I didn’t want to make the same mistake. So when I heard God’s promises, I often felt anxious instead of comforted, wondering…did He really mean me too? I began seeking answers, and slowly realized that, because God’s promises are all fulfilled in Christ, they are indeed still relevant to me and you. Romans 15:4 states that everything written in the past was written to teach and encourage us today, and in Hebrews 13:5-6, the author quotes two Old Testament promises to reassure the early church. Both of these passages reveal that God’s Word applies to His people now just as much as when it was first given. The verse that finally convinced me, though, was 2 Corinthians 1:20, in which Paul tells us that all of God’s promises are “yes” in Christ. This means that not only do God’s promises extend to followers of Jesus, but they are actually fulfilled through Jesus: as Immanuel (God with us), He will never leave us; through the Holy Spirit, He gives us strength and hope; and since we belong to Him, He uses everything for our good and gives us a bright future with Him forever. Therefore, as a child of God who has put my faith in Jesus for salvation, I can know God’s promises are for me—and so can you. • Faith Lewis • What questions do you have about God’s promises and how they apply to you? Consider taking some time to talk to God about this today. Additionally, is there a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to about your questions—such as a friend, parent, or pastor? • Jesus completely fulfills all of the meaning and intent of the promises we find in the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus is the end goal and the point of the entire Old Testament, as well as the entire New Testament. How can this truth affect the way we read the Bible? For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) 

READ: LUKE 23:43; HEBREWS 3:3-6; 11:13-16 Home, sweet home, The volatile, the vile memories Of tears, and shrieks, and all the while The place meant to be safe is anything but, And the place meant to bring warmth… Freezing, we are exiles. Exiles battered by the pounding rain of Bruises and divorce, of foreclosures And, of course, the silence that wraps us In a home sweet homely hug. Home, sweet home, How sweet the sound of Thy kingdom come and heavenly bound. No tears, no screams…just light beams, Reflecting off the golden streets. This country I seek, The here but not yet here. When it comes, shining as the sun, I’ll crumple to my knees, sighing. “Home at last. Home at last.” • Hope Bolinger • What does home mean to you? • In Jesus, God took on flesh and bones to dwell with us and, ultimately, to be a home for us (John 1:1-3, 14; 14:23). Because He loves us so much, Jesus died and rose again so we can be with God. What will home look like for those who’ve put their trust in Jesus after He returns and raises us from the dead? (Hint: read Isaiah 11:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:1-5, 21; 22:1-5) • Jesus is making all things new, and even though the world is still broken and full of sin right now, He is still with us. He has so much compassion on us, and He provides rest and stability in the midst of our struggles. Can you think of a time you were reminded of God’s love and care for you in a difficult time? What was that like? Were there any particular ways you noticed God providing for you? • If you or someone you know is experiencing home or family instability, who is a trusted adult you could talk to, such as a pastor, parent, teacher, coach, counselor, or youth leader? • If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, and especially if your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away. If you need help doing this, who is a trusted person you can reach out to? • If you are not in immediate danger but need someone to talk to about hurts you have experienced or are currently experiencing, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. Hebrews 11:14 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 20:25-27; LUKE 10:1-9; PHILIPPIANS 2:3-8 Have you ever tried to be impressive to gain friends? Sometimes we operate under the mistaken belief that being stronger, smarter, or funnier than those around us will draw others to us. In reality, positioning ourselves above others often creates space between us and them—Jesus cautions His disciples against doing this. After all, healthy relationships are foundational to the kingdom He is building. Faith comes from hearing the message, and no one wants to listen to someone who is constantly signaling I’m better than you through their attitudes and actions. Often the opposite is the true path to friendship: vulnerability. When we know someone else makes mistakes and struggles just like we do, we can relax about our own flaws and relate to them more fully. Vulnerability isn’t self-deprecation or unloading all our negative experiences and feelings onto others, but it does mean letting people see us as we really are—and sometimes, this includes sharing the dark or difficult areas of our lives. It also means accepting help rather than pretending to have it all together. Jesus doesn’t have flaws or transgressions like we do—He’s sinless—yet He can truly empathize with all our hurts and temptations (Hebrews 4:14-16). And Jesus modeled healthy, relatable vulnerability throughout the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John): when He was tired, He fell asleep; when He was grieved, He wept; when He was distressed, He asked His close friends to keep watch and pray with Him; when He was hungry, He ate; and when He ministered, He accepted financial support. Jesus even sent His disciples out to meet people without taking supplies or resources that would make them self-sufficient. He told them to stay in people’s homes and eat the food they were offered, giving them time to get to know their hosts as they shared their faith and their own need for Jesus. We can do the same, walking in humility and kindness toward the people we meet, opening our true lives and selves to one another as we point toward God’s unflinching love for us. • Amber Vanderhoof • Can you think of a time when you were vulnerable with someone who made you feel loved and welcomed? What did they say or do that made you feel this way? • Can you think of a time when a friend challenged you to grow in your walk with Jesus, and you accepted that challenge? What about your relationship with that person made you willing to accept their advice and guidance? In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus… Philippians 2:5 (NIV) 

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31–11:2; EPHESIANS 5:1-2; PHILIPPIANS 3:17; 4:9 I recently had the opportunity to play cello with my old high school orchestra as an alumni. Before the concert, our director held multiple alumni rehearsals, and I went to all of them. But an old cellist friend of mine was only able to come to one, and on that day we shared a music stand. As we started the first song, something in my brain told me to follow what he was playing. But as I did, my own playing became more messy and hesitating. We laughed about how he should probably be the one following me, since I’d been to more rehearsals, and by the day of the concert we were both playing more confidently. Reflecting on this later, I was reminded of something I’d read in the Bible that kind of bugged me. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” And I thought, That sounds a little presumptuous. Paul seems pretty confident he knows what he’s doing. But this example from orchestra helped me make sense of what Paul was saying. When I’m practicing cello by myself, it’s definitely helpful to be alone so that I can work on the parts of the music that aren’t coming easily to me. And then at rehearsal, it’s great to have the conductor telling me how fast to go, how loud to play, and which places to really emphasize. But there’s also this other element of listening to the people playing next to you that just really helps. Plus, playing the same music together with other people is part of the joy of an orchestra! I wonder if this is what Paul was getting at, that reading the Bible and talking to God by ourselves is super important. But sometimes, as we try to work out what it means to live out our faith in our everyday lives, it really helps to see some examples, especially from people we know personally. The older I get, the more grateful I am that God has set up His community this way, that He has given us each other so we can learn from one another and walk together as we follow Jesus. Because He loves us with an un-ending, death-defying love, He went all the way to the cross for us, sacrificing Himself so that we could live. And when He rose from the grave, He told us to teach and remind each other of the good news, and help each other follow Him. So now when I read this verse, I see God’s tenderness. As I long for the day I’ll see Jesus in the flesh, it comforts me to know that I have brothers and sisters here in the flesh with me, showing me imperfect yet powerful glimpses of the love and goodness of Jesus. • Hannah Howe • Is there a Christian in your life you admire? What about their walk with Jesus would you like to imitate? Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (CSB) 

READ: 1 KINGS 3:5-12; ROMANS 12:2 God did an amazing job when He created humans. Our brains alone are made up of about 86 to 100 billion nerves that communicate in 100 trillion connections, controlling all of the systems in our bodies and allowing us to communicate, think, and reason. But, because our world has been broken by sin, sometimes our brains give us the farthest thing from wisdom. Especially when we get overwhelmed, our thoughts run wild, often telling us things that simply aren’t true—about who we are, who God is, and what’s going on around us. And these thoughts influence our feelings and actions. For example, let’s say you enter a room. Everyone looks at you, then goes back to what they were doing. Wild thoughts might sound like this: “They all just looked at me. Nobody came over to talk to me. They probably hate me. I should just go home.” Then you might go stand in the corner because you think you don’t belong. But if you can capture those negative thoughts, you might be able to see the situation differently: “They all looked at me, but nobody talked to me. They might be just as nervous as I am. But Jesus loves me, and He loves everyone in this room. That table only has two people. I’ll see if I can join them.” Instead of standing in the corner, you choose to engage by showing Jesus’s love to others. So how can we change our wild thoughts? We can’t. Not on our own. We need God’s strength and wisdom, found only in knowing Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:2-3). In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asked the Lord to give him wisdom, and God was pleased. He’s pleased to give us wisdom too (James 1:5). God will greatly increase our wisdom when we read His Word, the Bible, because it shows us who we are in relationship to Him, our Creator. It tells us the good news of how Jesus came to free us from sin and death—and how that wonderful truth affects every area of our lives. Capturing your thoughts to obey Christ can help you over and over as you go through life. Instead of letting your wild thoughts push you around, you can rely on Jesus—the one who died and rose again for you—and tell yourself the truth from God’s Word. • Robyn Mulder • Step 1: Take out a piece of paper and try writing all of your thoughts down for five minutes or so. Read over them and see which ones line up with God’s Word and which ones are just wild, untrue thoughts. • Step 2: In the space below, take each wild thought and rewrite it as a Christ-captured thought. For example, the wild thought, “No one could ever love me” would become, “God loves me more than I can imagine, and He proved that I am lovable when Jesus died on the cross for me.” • Step 3: Find Bible verses that back up each Christ-captured thought (and debunk the wild thoughts). If you get stuck, who is a trusted Christian in your life who could help you? We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

READ: MICAH 7:18-20; ROMANS 8:31-39 Have you ever wondered if your sin is more than God could forgive? You’re not alone. We’ve all had moments when we’ve felt and seen the darkness in our own hearts and minds and wondered, How could God still love me? Sometimes we might feel as though God only forgives us because Jesus paid for our sin at the cross—so, you know, He kind of has to. But maybe He doesn’t like it. Maybe our sin has made God weary. In the Old Testament, the biblical authors have a favorite Hebrew word to describe God’s love: hesed. Most of our Bible translations translate this word as either “steadfast love,” “mercy,” or “lovingkindness.” The word hesed conveys the idea that God’s love is unfailing. In Micah 7:18, the prophet Micah declares that God delights in steadfast love. Did you catch that? It doesn’t weary God to love us. It’s a source of delight and pleasure for God to love us with His unfailing love! A passage like this frees us to be completely honest with ourselves before God. It allows us to look unflinchingly at the depths of our sin and to go before God with all our wrongs to confess, repent, and cry out for mercy. It allows us to be filled with the sweet confidence that when we do, it brings God delight to respond with His never-failing, never-stopping, steadfast love! • Jonathon Fuller • How can Bible passages like today’s shape our understanding of who God is? • Consider taking a few moments to examine your own heart before the Lord. You don’t have to be afraid to be honest with yourself as you look at your sin. Are there any sins that you feel as though God may not forgive? You can confess all those sins to God, repent (or turn away) from them, and then rest in the knowledge that God delights in forgiving and loving you with His unfailing love! • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalm 18:19; Ephesians 1:5; 5:25; Hebrews 12:2. You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! Micah 7:18-19 (NLT) 

READ: DEUTERONOMY 10:18-19; 27:19; GALATIANS 3:28; REVELATION 7:9-10 At various times throughout US history, my nation has been shamelessly racist: enslaving African Americans, killing and relegating Native Americans to reservations, interning Asian Americans, etc. And while America has worked to put an end to these horrible practices, today we live in a time that continues those abuses with more subtle prejudices: off-color jokes, fear mongering, and hatred toward immigrants. Sadly, many Christians all around the world fall into these kinds of racial and ethnic stereotypes as well, treating people of different ethnicities with suspicion and cruelty. This behavior is not of God. And it’s nothing new. Ever since the first humans chose sin, we’ve all been struggling with racism in every nation in history. But God loves diversity. He created it! God loves us so much, and He wants to be with us. In fact, Jesus died and rose again to forgive all the sins of those who put their trust in Him, including the sin of racism. He made the way for people of all ethnicities to be saved from sin and death and live with Him forever. At the end of time, the kingdom of God will be the most diverse kingdom ever imagined. Revelation describes it as a group of people who represent every nation, every language, and every people group—from all time— worshipping God together as one. So, no matter what country we live in or came from, we are called to be welcoming to all people. Jesus Himself calls us to share our hope and our faith with “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In Deuteronomy, arguably one of the stricter Old Testament books, God gave instructions about treating immigrants well, reminding the Israelites that they were refugees once too (how many of our ancestors were as well?). We are commanded by God to love our neighbors as ourselves, which certainly includes those whose ethnicities aren’t the same as ours. And Jesus is always with us, empowering us to see and love others like He does, and offering forgiveness when we fail. So, as we attend school, discuss politics, and ask for prayers in our churches, may we not fall into unseemly jokes, prejudiced behaviors or thought patterns, or fearful talk about those who were born somewhere else. Instead, let’s seek to welcome everyone into a kingdom as diverse as God’s heart. • Abigail Aswegen • Why do you think God created diversity? What can this tell us about what God is like? After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9 (NIV) 

READ: PROVERBS 17:1; PHILIPPIANS 4:10-13; 1 TIMOTHY 6:6-19; JAMES 3:13-18 Cheerful colored cloths hung from candlelit windowsills and plump pumpkins crouched like friendly gnomes near doorways. The courtly procession was traveling through a village on the way to the autumnal feast. Around Crispin were other people wearing fine silks walking along to the lilting music of minstrels. Yet he felt anything but joyful. Glancing at his companions, dressed in rich attire but wearing no smiles, Crispin knew they felt the same. They quarreled constantly in court. And when they did get along, it was only because the members pretended to be friends to appease the king. As they would tonight. Sighing, Crispin glanced around at the simple surroundings of the village. Families laughed among makeshift tables spread with harvest dishes as children played with colorful streamers. But what caught his eye was an old man alone on a bench. He held a plate of meager vegetables, yet contentment was evident on his face. Crispin paused, allowing the procession to move ahead. “Excuse me sir, but how can you be glad when such a meal sits on your lap?” The man looked up from his plate and smiled. “Sit down, friend.” Crispin joined him. “Is all this not worth giving thanks for? But even if I was out in the wild, I would still rejoice—because I know the King.” Shifting in his seat, Crispin said, “I know the king and his court, yet our banquet will not be as joyous as yours.” “I am talking of the King of the stars and mountains. The one whose kingdom never ends. Where He is, love and joy overflow, and there is enough to go around whether I am eating vegetables or sitting as a guest at the great autumnal feast.” The man handed Crispin some roasted potato and began telling him the ancient tales about the King with nail-scarred hands and feet. As Crispin ate and listened, he slowly began to smile. “Love,” murmured Crispin. “That is what we are missing, the love of this King…but not for long.” Crispin jumped up and started to leave. Then he stopped and called back to the man. “I must tell the others—thank you for the feast!” • Sophia Bricker • Today’s allegorical story points to Jesus’s kingdom. Because God in flesh let His hands and feet be nailed to a cross, because He bled and died for us, then rose again from the dead, we can be part of that kingdom. Even when we don’t have much, we have everything—because we get to experience the overflowing love and joy that come from knowing Him! And we get to look forward to the day when Jesus will return to raise us to eternal life. Then we will join Him in the greatest feast of all, and we’ll never experience lack again. If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 34:8; 63:3-5; Mark 10:17-31; John 4:4-14; 10:10; Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 1:3–2:10; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 2:1-3; Revelation 19:6-9; 21:1-5. • James 3 says there are two kinds of wisdom. Earthly wisdom is characterized by bitter envy, selfish ambition, disorder, and evil (verse 14-16). Can you think of a time you were in a group of people that felt this way, perhaps like Crispin described the royal court? Can you think of a time you lived according to earthly wisdom? • How does James describe heavenly wisdom in verses 17-18? How does knowing Jesus make it possible for us to live this way? (Hint: read 1 John 4:19) • It was the old man’s contentment that caught Crispin’s attention. And it was through his hospitality— sharing what he had—that Crispin was able to hear the gospel, or good news. How can contentment be a testimony of God’s love? What are simple ways we can offer hospitality using what we have?<...

READ: NUMBERS 12; MICAH 6:4; HEBREWS 2:10-18 If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that God is always at work in our lives, forming us to become more and more like Jesus through our relationships and experiences. This is not always an easy process, especially when it comes to family relationships. Your sister can feel like a best friend and ally on Monday, but by Friday you could be at odds. Your brother can have you in a headlock during an argument, but then work seamlessly with you on an important project later that same day. Moses led the people out of slavery in Egypt and gave them God’s word, but he didn’t do it alone. His sister Miriam’s care and cleverness in approaching Pharaoh’s daughter saved Moses’s life as a baby. And his brother Aaron’s willingness to speak to the Israelites on Moses’s behalf made it possible for Moses to participate in God’s magnificent plan to rescue His people. God called Moses to something great, and He gave him siblings to help him carry it out. But much like our relationships with our siblings, these siblings experienced anger, disappointment, and disunity. One of these times is described in Numbers 12, when Aaron and Miriam doubted and complained against Moses. The Lord Himself corrected the two of them and struck Miriam with leprosy as a result. At this point, Moses was faced with a choice: to let Miriam sit in her punishment, and possibly die, or to show love and mercy. Moses chose mercy. He cried out to God on Miriam’s behalf, letting his love for his sister eclipse any desire for revenge he may have felt. This points forward to another Israelite who would love God and show mercy, even when His brothers and sisters betrayed Him unto death. Jesus made the way for us to be spared from the just punishment we deserve by taking our punishment for us. Instead of a death sentence, we receive a welcome into God’s family and a promise that we will live forever with Jesus and our heavenly Father. In God’s family we have a vast array of siblings—all the people who have trusted in Jesus around the world and throughout history. As we rest in Jesus’s merciful love for us, we can extend that same love to our brothers and sisters. • Amber Vanderhoof • How is the love Jesus has for us similar to the love between siblings? How is it different? • If you want to dig deeper, read Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 4, and Exodus 15:19-21. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11 (NLT) 

READ: 2 CHRONICLES 32:1-22; MATTHEW 4:1-11 At one time in Israel’s history, the army of Assyria came to invade Jerusalem, and the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, was sure that this Israelite God would be as easy to defeat as the gods of the other nations surrounding it. He laid siege to Jerusalem, then used fear tactics. He sent threatening letters to King Hezekiah of Judah and sent officers to yell threats at the Israelites standing on the city walls, directly addressing the people in their own language. Sennacherib did this “to frighten and discourage them in order that he might capture the city. They spoke against the God of Jerusalem like they had spoken against the gods of the peoples of the earth, which were made by human hands” (2 Chronicles 32:18-19). Here’s some of Sennacherib’s long and pompous speech: “So now, don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, and don’t let him mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!” (2 Chronicles 32:15). King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah both sought God’s help, and the story has a wonderful ending. I hope you read it for yourself. But notice how the enemy used lies to terrify God’s people. Sennacherib wanted to “frighten and discourage them.” Their fear could have become so crippling that Sennacherib could easily have conquered them. Our enemy does the same thing today. Satan’s lies abound. We might feel like nobody cares or that we are all alone. But none of those things are true! We are treasured and loved by God, and He is always with us. So how can we combat the lies? The best way to defeat the lies of the enemy is with the truth of God’s Word. That’s what Jesus did when His enemy tempted Him with half-truths (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus knew that He was going to defeat Satan through dying on the cross and rising from the grave—and He did! Today, we can know that if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He is with us, and His Holy Spirit fills us with truth and hope in the face of the devil’s lies. Whenever we’re afraid, let’s look to Jesus. • Kristen Merrill • How can things like memorizing God’s Word, talking with Him in prayer, and spending time with other believers help us remember the truth about who Jesus is and who we are in Him? • When we fall for Satan’s lies, God has so much compassion on us. He always wants to forgive and restore us. What lies do you need to bring to Him today? [Jesus said,] “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (CSB) 

READ: PSALM 25:1-5; ROMANS 8:35-39; REVELATION 6:9-11 I’ve been reading the book of Revelation recently, and Revelation 6:11 is one of the verses that’s really stuck with me. Though it describes John’s vision of events that haven’t yet taken place, it still feels very relevant. The martyrs described in this verse are waiting in heaven for the Lord to punish those who had killed them because of their faithfulness to Him on earth. Rather than acting in that moment, however, God waits. The time for Him to enact justice hasn’t come yet. Even though I’m not a martyr, I can relate to the people John sees in his vision, wanting God to act on their behalf but being told to wait. It can be difficult for me to trust God, especially because I know He can act. I don’t doubt His ability, but sometimes I doubt His timing. In situations when I’m tempted to doubt the Lord’s timing, it helps to remember He’s never early or late. His understanding of what the “right” time is far surpasses mine. Although I can only see a small part of the whole picture, He can see the entire thing. If you’re in a situation where you need God to intervene, you can trust that He’ll act at exactly the right moment—not a moment early or a moment late. You may simply need to wait a little longer. • Grace McCready • Is there a situation in your life where you want God to take action? God invites us to cry out to Him and be totally honest about what we want Him to do. As we draw near to Him in prayer, we often find it becomes easier to trust His timing in each situation and rely on Him while we wait. Consider taking a moment to talk to God openly about what’s going on in your life and what you want Him to do about it. • As we think about justice, it helps to remember that God is perfectly just, and He promises to right every wrong and punish every sin—including the sins others commit against us, and also the sins we commit. This is a sobering thought, and yet it makes the good news all the more wonderful, that Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross, taking the punishment for us. That means everyone who has put their trust in Jesus is spared from the punishment we deserve. This is God’s heart: He longs to forgive sinners and bring them into His family to live with Him forever. According to 2 Peter 3:3-9, why is God waiting to bring about full justice? Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. Revelation 6:11 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 46; JOHN 16:33; HEBREWS 4:14-16   I have heard that peace is like a river of serenity. I have heard that the Lord is the giver of tranquility. If peace can be revealed through the raindrops of a raging storm, Why does the thunder never stop? It leaves my heart feeling torn.   My friends are gone. I’m alone in the dark. No peace can I find. Fear holds me as a slave. I feel like I am losing my mind. My heart races fast inside of my chest. I can’t catch my breath. The darkness closes in all around me. Is this the end: death?   But wait! His scarred hands are lifting me high above the darkness. Though the raging waters are by my side, He is my fortress. Jesus knows the anguish that makes me tense. He is human too. His reckless love is never any less for me or for you.   He is my peace in the raging storm when fear is all around. Even though things may fall apart, I will stand on solid ground. So, I will raise my head and fix my eyes, seeing only Him. Though Satan tempts, I know fear is a lie. Darkness will grow dim. • Brooke Morris   • Jesus promises peace to everyone who puts their trust in Him. In fact, Ephesians 2:14 says that Jesus “himself is our peace.” Because He died on the cross and rose from the grave to forgive our sins, we can have peace with God (Romans 5:1). And we can look forward to the day Jesus will return and make all things new! But in the meantime, we all experience times when we feel anything but peaceful. Thankfully, Jesus invites us to take refuge in Him—to honestly tell Him all we’re thinking and feeling, and be reminded of His steadfast love and faithfulness. Can you think of a time you experienced Jesus helping you when you were afraid? What was that like? • If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 88:18; 139:12; Isaiah 41:10; 66:12-13; Matthew 7:24-27; 26:37-38; Luke 22:44; John 20:24-29; Romans 8:15; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 2:15; 12:1-3. [Jesus said,] “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 (NIV) 

READ: ROMANS 3:21-26; EPHESIANS 2:1-10; 3:14-21 Have you ever sat and watched a pendulum clock? The rhythmic back and forth motion can be mesmerizing, even relaxing. Many things have been likened to the swing of a pendulum. Most of them are not relaxing but instead refer to constant change. Clothing, for example, is compared to a swinging pendulum. This year, women’s pants are wide, and in a few years they will be skinny once again. Popular colors also follow the swinging pendulum. For a while, many new homes had various shades of gray inside, but we’re already starting to see colors return to tans and beiges. Those preaching the Word of God can also swing on a pendulum. When I was growing up, I remember mostly hearing churches preach on hell. We would regularly hear, “If you don’t repent of your sins, you are going to hell!” And I rarely remember the church teaching about the love and mercy of God. Today, most people who attend most churches will regularly hear about the wonderful truth of God’s love and how important it is to receive that love. Yet, at many churches, the heavy topics of sin and judgment are rarely spoken about. Both sides of this pendulum swing are problematic by themselves: the full gospel has to incorporate both parts. We are sinners who desperately need to repent of our sins—and if we don’t, we are on a slippery slope to eternal judgment. But God, in His abundant love beyond imagination, by grace and mercy, offers us forgiveness. We need only put our trust in Jesus to receive the gift of His blood, shed for your sin and mine. • Bonnie Haveman • Do you have questions about what it means to confess your sin and put your trust in Jesus—receiving His gift of love through His death and resurrection as payment for your sin? Who are trusted Christians in your life you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) • Have you ever presented the gospel as God’s gift of love but skipped the fact that we need to repent? Or vice versa? How can we include both truths when we share the good news? For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (CSB) 

READ: ISAIAH 49:15-16; ROMANS 8:35-39 Have you ever wondered, “Where is God now? Doesn’t He love me?” Isaiah 49:15-16 presents one of the most beautiful expressions of God’s everlasting love in all of Scripture. God contrasts His love with one of the closest of human bonds: that of a mother with her nursing child. As unlikely as it is, a woman could forget her child. Yet God says He will never forget us. Then God says He has inscribed us—some translations even say “tattooed” us—on the palms of His hands! Why is this significant? Because our palms contain some of the most sensitive areas of skin on our bodies. Getting a tattoo on your palm is not only extremely painful, but it can also take weeks or even months to heal. When God says, “I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands,” He is using figurative language to say that He would go to the excruciating pain of having our names tattooed on His palms so that we would be ever before His face. Isn’t that incredible? And it gets even better. This Scripture points forward to Jesus. God loves us so much that He took on human flesh and went through the excruciating pain of the cross to be with us. And Jesus’s hands still bear those scars. If you know Jesus, you can rest assured that your name is permanently inscribed on God’s palm. This represents all of you—your fears, loneliness, circumstances, desires, and dreams. Everything that concerns you is always before Him. Because…He loves you. • Cheryl Elton • Can you think of a time God’s love felt distant? We all experience times like these, but the truth is God wants to be with us. Our sin separated us from God, yet Jesus came to endure the pain of the cross so our sins could be forgiven and we could have an intimate and lasting relationship with Him. How could it be helpful to meditate on this good news through Scriptures like today’s? • In Psalm 42, David struggles with acknowledging God’s love while feeling far from it, even crying out to God, “Why have you forgotten me?” (verse 9). How can David’s raw lament in this psalm provide comfort to us? • If you want to dig deeper, read Isaiah 53:5-6; John 3:16; 14:18; 20:24-27; Hebrews 13:5. “Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16 (CSB)  

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 13; 1 JOHN 4:19 Gunshots—they were distant, but the sound jolted through Kor’s body like bolts of lightning. He knew with every shot, another of his comrades could fall. CRACK! His friend Finn was going to be a doctor. CRACK! Mika dreamed of being a professional athlete. CRACK! Zade just wanted to get home. In the trenches, Kor always thought about how many were lost, praying that he wouldn’t be next. “Fight the good fight, Kor,” his dad had said before boarding the military jet. “There is no greater love…” his mother had said tearfully when they got the news that Dad wouldn’t be coming home. “You’re my hero,” his little brother had declared, the first time Kor tried on his uniform. “You know,” Kor had answered, “I’m fighting for lives that have already been saved by someone else. Jesus is the real hero.” Kor froze at the memory. Without Christ, there was no hope. He glanced at the others around him, crouched in the shadow of the trenches. Did Finn, Mika, and Zade know? Suddenly, from somewhere in the darkness, an object whistled through the air and hit the dirt with a thud: a grenade. Kor’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the weapon about to destroy a trench full of soldiers. The memories swirled around him like a blur of silver stars in the blackness: “Fight the good fight.” “There is no greater love…” “You’re my hero.” Then, he thought of a night long ago, of dropping to his knees, asking for forgiveness, and putting his trust in Christ. “Is Jesus your hero?” his little brother had asked. Kor stood and began to run. “You bet.” Others needed to know Him. They needed what Kor already had. He jumped through the air, crossing the last few paces in a moment. They needed hope. He threw himself onto the grenade. An explosion shook the ground. • Anita Seavey • Today’s fictional story provides a poignant picture of the kind of love Jesus has for us—a love so strong that, once we’ve experienced it for ourselves, we are compelled to love others. Have you ever experienced a sacrificial love like this? What was that like? • Romans 5:7-8 says, “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” When Jesus died on the cross, He sacrificed His life for us so that we could be forgiven for our sins. And when He rose from the dead, He made the way for everyone who puts their trust in Him to become God’s friend and live with Him forever (verse 9-10). What questions do you have about what it means to know Jesus? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you could talk to about this? (You can also find out more on our "Know Jesus" page.) • When we know Jesus, we have confidence that death is not the end for us and that Jesus will be with us no matter what. How could this hope give us courage when we find ourselves in difficult situations? (Romans 8:35-39; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; Revelation 21:1-5) [Jesus said,] “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 96:2-3; MATTHEW 28:19-20; ROMANS 10:9-15 When I was a young teen, I really wanted to go on a mission trip. And I mean really wanted—I read missionary biographies, researched unreached people groups (communities who have never even heard of Jesus) and was sure that when I grew up, I too would serve God in some far-off place. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work out that way. In my first few years of high school, I tried to go on four different mission trips—but each time, for one reason or another, when the plane left, I wasn’t on it. One day, though, I learned something that completely changed my perspective. Did you know the nation that receives the most missionaries each year is the United States of America? Yes, you read that right: the country I call home also happens to be where other countries send the most missionaries. Because it isn’t just people on the other side of the world who need Jesus—so do the people I see at the mall and sit with in class, and the same is true for you. No matter where you live, there are likely people around you who haven’t heard the gospel—who don’t know that God loves them, and that He sent Jesus to set them free through His death and resurrection. So, while I would still love to spread the gospel in distant lands, it transformed my entire mindset when I realized that I don’t have to get a passport to be a missionary—and I shouldn’t wait until I grow up either. When I go to school or the grocery store or the doctor’s office or sports practice, if I go wanting to share God’s love and truth with the people I’ll encounter, that’s a mission trip! Jesus commanded His followers to take the gospel into all the world, and that includes my neighborhood—and yours too! • Faith Lewis • The word gospel literally means good news. Once we’ve received this gift ourselves, Jesus has given us the responsibility and privilege of sharing the news with others. Yet, even after we’ve experienced the love of Jesus in our lives, sharing it can still feel intimidating. We may wonder how best to do it and worry about how people will respond. Remember though, God has promised to be with us and give us courage and wisdom. In the end, He’s the only one who can change a person’s heart, which means there’s no pressure. As we show His love and share the truth, we can trust Him with the outcome (1 Corinthians 3:6-8; Ephesians 4:15). Can you think of any opportunities you might have to be a missionary right where you are? Consider taking a moment to ask God for boldness and the words to say when the time comes (Acts 4:23-31; Ephesians 6:19-20). He [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV) 

READ: MALACHI 3:1; 4:5; MARK 1:1-3; LUKE 1:11-17 The book of Malachi in the Bible contains an oracle, or a message from God. The name Malachi means “my messenger,” and it’s the last book in the Old Testament. It’s God’s final message to His people before 400 years of silence. By the time the prophet Malachi came on the scene, about a century had passed since the first Israelites returned from the seventy-year exile in Babylon. This exile was a consequence of their disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. Shortly after their return to Jerusalem (538 BC), they began reconstruction on the Temple, which took about 20 years to complete (we read about rebuilding the Temple in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah). But it only took a few decades before the priests and the people became complacent in their worship and neglectful in the care of the Temple, as well as in their observances, duties, and devotion to God. Once again, God’s people had become disobedient and unfaithful. And once again, God sent yet another prophet, Malachi (around 430 BC), to call His people to repentance and restoration of their relationship with God. Malachi uses questions and answers from God, much like how a teacher uses questions and answers to get students to think and help them learn lessons. And like a loving parent, Malachi begins with God’s affirmation: “I have always loved you” (Malachi 1:2). After confronting the priests and people about their sins relating to worship, sacrifices, lifestyles, tithing, and twisting the truth, Malachi proclaims hope. As we read Malachi 3:1, we see God’s prophecy and promise to send a messenger who will prepare the way for the coming Messiah. When God’s 400 years of silence ends, we read in the New Testament about the fulfilled prophecy of Malachi. The messenger, John the Baptist, has come telling God’s people, once again, to repent of their sins. And as foretold, John proclaims the good news about the promised Messiah, Jesus, who will forgive sins and provide the way to spend eternity with Him. • Lynda Boucher • Isn’t it amazing to think that God kept His promise 400 years after He made it? What can this show us about God’s character? • What questions do you have about the book of Malachi? Who could you talk to about it? Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) 

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-5; 6:3-10; 10:3-5 "God won’t give you more than you can handle,” many well-meaning people have said. However, when you’re going through that dark night of the soul—such as the death of a loved one, an unexpected diagnosis, or other deep pain—this saying does not ring true. Why does God allow these hard things we don’t, and may never, understand? Is He even still good? Whenever I read the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6, I feel comforted. He endured so many hard things for the sake of Christ, including beatings, prison time, and hunger. Instead of making light of his trials, Paul acknowledged them for what they were: painful! But what gave Paul the endurance and the ability to stand up under his troubles? The answer is in verse 7: “the power of God.” He relied on God to give him strength. As children of God, we belong to Jesus. Paul says we have His power to demolish strongholds. We have the Holy Spirit’s help to take our every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Even though Satan would like to keep us in our place of pain, sorrow, and discouragement, he doesn’t have the final word—because Jesus Christ has defeated sin and death through His own death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-26; 1 Peter 2:22-25). Perhaps you feel like Paul felt many times, beaten and broken. Be encouraged, for you are not alone. If you know Jesus, He has given you His power and He is with you! • Savannah Coleman • You or someone you love may be in a place of deep pain and sorrow right now. We live in a broken, sin-filled world, and God never promised an easy life, but He did promise that He will be with us always (Matthew 28:20). How could it be comforting to know that Jesus, the God of the universe who went to the cross for you, will never leave or abandon you? (Deuteronomy 31:8) • Do you ever feel like God doesn’t want to hear about your troubles and your pain? God loves you and wants you to share the good, the bad, and the ugly—your joys, and even your cries of anger (1 Peter 5:7). What are some things weighing on you that you’d like to share with God? • The Bible never says, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” The closest verse we have is 1 Corinthians 10:13, which is about God providing a way to withstand every temptation. When we hear sayings that don’t ring true, how can we examine the Bible for ourselves? By the word of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left. 2 Corinthians 6:7 (CSB) 

READ: ROMANS 5:1-11; EPHESIANS 2:1-10; TITUS 2:11-14 God’s ability to rescue and transform is incredible. “I once was lost, but now am found,” wrote John Newton in his famous hymn “Amazing Grace,” and these striking words weren’t simply for dramatic effect. Newton had experienced God’s grace—His undeserved kindness— firsthand, and his story is a beautiful example of God’s power. Newton was born in England in 1725. His mother was a Christian, but after her death, he spent much time at sea with his father and abandoned his mother’s godly teachings. Eventually, he joined the crew of a slave ship, where he embraced a rough lifestyle. However, God was still pursuing Newton. One day, a storm arose at sea, and Newton was terrified. Realizing he was a sinner unworthy of help, he nevertheless cried to God for mercy, and he was spared. That very day, he turned back to God. That wasn’t the end of God’s grace in Newton’s life, though. When he was twenty-nine, illness forced him back to land, where he sought God earnestly and threw himself into ministry. He was soon ordained as a minister and then started writing hymns. Later, he felt called to pastor a church in London, and many people came to hear him preach about the grace that had saved him. As he grew spiritually, he also repented of his part in the British slave trade and began to oppose it passionately. All his life, Newton remained awed by God’s love and kindness toward him— that God would not only rescue a poor sinner, but would continue working in and through him to reach many people. Newton’s story shows that because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, no one is too far gone. God can save and change anyone. Like Newton, we are all sinners unworthy of rescue. And God offers us the same amazing grace that transformed John Newton’s life. • Faith Lewis • History is full of stories of sinners who God saved, just like John Newton, just like us. Jesus lived, died, and rose again to make the way for anyone to come to Him. No one is beyond His reach. And salvation is only the beginning of God’s grace—after we place our trust in Jesus, He continues to transform and work through us for the rest of our lives. We still struggle with sin, but when we rely on God’s grace instead of our own efforts, He can do great things in and through us. How have you seen God’s grace at work in your life? What about the lives of others? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24 (NIV) 

READ: PSALM 119:10-16, 50-52, 103 I used to have crippling anxiety during violin recitals because I put too much pressure on myself to nail every note in front of an audience. No matter how well I knew the music, my fingers, arms, and legs would shake uncontrollably. Instead of playing the beautiful flowing melody I spent months learning and rehearsing, my performance would be choppy and somewhat screechy. It would crush me every time. But I finally learned how to tackle this anxiety—I would memorize my music. Through the process of memorizing, I would know the music so well that I wouldn’t need to think about it while playing on stage. I could simply close my eyes and let my violin sing. I could even pray while playing! And I stopped feeling so anxious at recitals. Violin recitals aren’t the only things that have made me anxious. Tests at school, trying out for sports teams, and having hard conversations with friends—just to name a few—have made me anxious. But, like I’ve learned that memorizing music calmed my anxiety during recitals, I learned that memorizing God’s Word calms my anxiety throughout everyday life. In Psalm 119, David says, “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word” (verse 15-16). Memorizing God’s Word helps us focus on Jesus and what He has done for us, especially in times when we feel anxious and our minds easily stray from the truth. Memorizing my violin music helped my mind and body calm down because I didn’t have to overthink what I was doing—the music was engraved in my mind and heart. God’s Word is like that too. When we carve His Word on our hearts, we often find that anxiety-inducing situations are not as overwhelming. Though we’ll all have times when we experience anxiety in our bodies and minds—that is, until the day Jesus returns—we don’t have to go through it alone. Jesus is with us, and He helps us relax as we join in the music of His truth. • Rachel Wierenga • We all feel anxious from time to time, but God has so much compassion on us, and He wants to help us through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Do you have any favorite Bible verses that help you when you feel anxious? Consider choosing one to memorize this week. • Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk openly with when you feel anxious? If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:15-16 (NIV)