Word For Life Publishing Presents HOPE FOR EVERY DAY. 14 Daily Devotions That Will Encourage and Strengthen You. by Wendy Knight

Transcription

1 Word For Life Publishing Presents HOPE FOR EVERY DAY 14 Daily Devotions That Will Encourage and Strengthen You by Wendy Knight

2 HOPE FOR EVERY DAY copyright 2013 Word For Life Publishing, LLC All Rights Reserved Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation Used by permission. About Word For Life Publishing Home of Daily Scripture & Song, a free online video Bible teaching Our mission is to make God known through Scripture songs, teaching, and testimonies. We invite you to visit our website, where you will find a variety of Bible- based resources that are designed to help you know God and build your faith. Has this devotional made a difference for you? Would you like to encourage others by sharing a personal testimony of how God has worked in your life? Tell us about it. www. Wendy@ P.O. Box 1377 Saint Charles, Missouri USA 2

3 Contents The God of Abundant Hope Hope With an Unshakable Foundation You Are Not Alone A Living Hope Set Free From the Past! The Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit Set Free From the Past! Part The Power of Thanksgiving and Praise Jesus The Key to Every Promise Peace Freedom From Anxiety The Greatest Hope Booster Prepare For Christ s Return A Glorified Body and a Perfected Soul Heaven At Last! Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 Hope For Every Day 3

4 Day 1 The God of Abundant Hope Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 HOPE is a major theme in the Bible. Taking a closer look at Romans 15:13 reveals that God, the Author of the Bible, is the God of ABUNDANT Hope. Key phrases like FILL you with all joy and peace and ABOUND in hope speak of abundance. This description is consistent with how God is portrayed throughout the Bible. The one, true, Living God is abundant in love, mercy, truth, and grace. He is generous and giving. Before God created the world, His plan was to provide ABUNDANT HOPE to mankind. This abundant hope is available to you today because of the one, great, sacrificial act of love by God. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16,17 Jesus Christ is the only door to relationship with God. He is the only door to hope. Through Christ, God offers you abundant hope for your past, present, and future. He offers you forgiveness of sins. He offers you the power of His Holy Spirit to help you live your earthly life. He offers you a glorious future with Him forever in heaven. If you want to receive what God has for you, you must respond the way He prescribes. You must believe and trust in His Son. This agrees with Romans 15:13 and John 3:16 above. It is through believing that you receive joy, peace, and abundant hope. Only those who believe in Christ receive eternal life. Come to Christ today. Enter into the life of ABUNDANT HOPE that God has prepared for you. 1. Have you trusted in Christ? Don t delay. Click on the God tab at our website, and read How Can I Know God? 2. Increase your belief (faith) and hope. Meditate on, reflect on, and say aloud Romans 15:13 and John 3:16,17 above. 3. Give God thanks with this prayer. Dear God, thank You for revealing Yourself as the God of ABUNDANT HOPE. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus so I can know You and have abundant hope for every day. In Jesus name I pray, amen. Hope For Every Day 4

5 Day 2 Hope With an Unshakable Foundation In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago. Titus 1:2 There is a worldly hope that doesn t take God into account. It is generally defined as a feeling, or expectation that something desired may happen. The definition is vague because this hope, being associated with a world that is unstable and ever- changing, has no guaranteed foundation. Secular hope is uncertain. It is also only for this life. Though it may help a person to endure great difficulties or motivate him or her to accomplish great things, it cannot reach beyond the grave. Only a hope based on God can do that. At the end of a person s life, worldly hope is no hope at all. The Bible is clear that the hope of the godless will perish: So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless will perish, whose confidence is fragile, and whose trust a spider s web (Job 8:13,14). Biblical hope, on the other hand, has an unshakable foundation centered on God, who is absolutely faithful to His Word and powerful enough to accomplish what He has promised. This kind of hope can be defined as a strong and confident expectation. In Psalm 130:7, the psalmist encouraged the people to hope (trust) in God by reminding them of two important facts that form the foundation of our hope today. O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. God s faithfulness, power, and love through Christ will give you confidence that He will fulfill His promises for this life and for eternity. Such confidence in the future is vitally important. When you know there is a heavenly reward waiting for you, it encourages and energizes you to persevere during trials and to pursue a life that honors God. Look again at Titus 1:2 above. God cannot lie. His promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ is a hope that is guaranteed to every believer. 1. Examine your hope. In whom or what have you been putting your confidence? Your own wisdom and abilities? Wealth? Put your confidence in God. 2. Increase your faith and hope. Meditate on Titus 1:2 and Psalm 130:7 above. 3. Thank God by saying this prayer. Dear God, thank You that You never lie. You will do what You promise to do. Thank You that I can have confidence for the future because of Your gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen. 5

6 Day 3 You Are Not Alone For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15,16 When you place your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, God becomes your personal Father. What a wonderful New Testament truth! This is such a great encouragement. Do you feel like an orphan in life? Maybe you haven t had a good father figure. Come to God through Christ. You can have hope every day knowing that you have a heavenly Father who willingly paid the price of His own Son just so you could have a relationship with Him. He loves you that much. When you encounter difficulties in life, Satan wants you to believe that you are alone and isolated from help. He is your enemy. He wants you to feel discouraged and without hope. The truth is, if you have God in your life, you are NOT alone. There IS hope. Your heavenly Father is always with you and He cares about what you are going through. You can pray to Him in the name of His Son Jesus and He will hear. The Holy Spirit lives in you continually. He helps you know you are God s child and greatly loved. He is your Teacher and He empowers you to live a life that honors God. You can ask Him to help you. You are a member of God s family, which is made up of all believers. Be part of a local church that believes the Bible and honors Christ. Ask another believer to pray with you. You are not alone. Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Luke 12:6,7 1. Is God your Father? He loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him. Click on the God tab at our website, and read How Can I Know God? 2. Increase your faith and hope. Meditate on Romans 8:15,16 and Luke 12:6,7 above. 3. Give God thanks with this prayer. Dear God, thank You for revealing Yourself as a Father who cares and is always with me. Thank You that I can call You Father because of what Christ has done. In Jesus name I pray, amen. 6

7 Day 4 A Living Hope Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3,4 What is the basis for the Christian s hope? The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What kind of hope is it? A LIVING hope. What does this hope promise? An inheritance, eternal and pure, reserved in heaven for believers. How do you gain access to this hope? By being born again. Imagine starting every day with a LIVING HOPE. It s not a hope that is alive one day and dead the next. It s not a hope that you have to keep reviving. LIVING HOPE will give you the motivation and energy to start each day fresh, ready to trust in God to overcome obstacles and keep on going. Living hope is based on a living Savior. Jesus Christ gave His life for your sins and was raised from the dead. This was the fulfillment of promises God had made centuries before. Your Savior is in heaven today, interceding for you. Through Christ s resurrection, you can have confidence that God will fulfill every promise He has made. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, you will be raised as well. You will receive a glorified body like Christ s, a perfected soul free from sin, and an eternity with God in heaven. There will be no more sorrow or pain, only love, joy, and peace. You will receive every part of your inheritance that is reserved in heaven for you. God gives you a down payment on your inheritance: the Holy Spirit. He will help you prepare for that glorious day. God s Living Hope will not disappoint you. 1. Increase your faith and hope. Read today s devotion several times slowly. Meditate on 1 Peter 1:3,4. Imagine what it will be like to have your inheritance. 2. Say this prayer of thanksgiving. Dear heavenly Father, thank You for raising Christ from the dead and for giving me a living hope that will not disappoint. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to help me prepare for the wonderful inheritance You have reserved for me. In Jesus name I pray, amen. 7

8 Day 5 Set Free From the Past! For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear [reverence] Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11-13 It s hard to have hope for the future when you are bound by guilt and regret over past sins you have committed. Jesus Christ came to set you free from your past. He took upon Himself the punishment for sin that you deserved. Through His sacrifice, God has made forgiveness available to all who turn from sin and trust in Him. You can have your sins washed away as far as the east is from the west. Through Christ, you can become righteous (right with God) and have confidence to approach God s throne of grace to receive mercy and help for every need. Christ died so you could be forgiven. Believe it and accept it. Then forgive yourself. If you sin as you are following Christ, follow God s prescription in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There will still be consequences for your sins. There always are. But God promises that if you move forward and pursue His plan for your life, He will cause all things in your life to work together for good (Romans 8:28). The apostle Paul wrote over half the New Testament. He was a man who could have let his past rule him. Before He met Jesus Christ, he persecuted believers, even to death. Then Christ appeared to him in a bright light and called him to preach the gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ). Paul wrote later that he didn t deserve to be an apostle because of what he had done, but God s grace had changed him and enabled him to do what God had called him to do. Paul accepted God s forgiveness and he forgave himself. As a result, he was able to live a spiritually productive life and keep his eyes on his future hope. I pray that this attitude will fill your life as well. I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12b Have your sins been washed away? If not, what s holding you back? 2. Build your faith and hope. Meditate on Psalm 103:11-13 and Philippians 3:12b Say this prayer of thanksgiving. Dear Father, thank You for loving me so much You sent Your own Son to die for me. Thank You for forgiving my sins. I choose to forgive myself. Please help me follow You. In Jesus name, amen. 8

9 Day 6 The Transforming Power of the Holy Spirit But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 On the eve of Jesus crucifixion, He comforted His disciples by promising to send them another Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would live inside them. Why? So they could be transformed to be like Christ and fulfill God s purpose for their lives. God s plan is that you be conformed to the image of His Son. He has adopted you as His own child. In the same way that Christ perfectly reflected His Father, so should you. But you can t change on your own. You need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. What value will transformation have in your life? It will be a witness to the world that God is real. When God s love flows through you, unbelievers will be drawn to Christ so they can become children of God as well. When God s peace and joy are evident in you - even in trials - people will want to know why. Becoming more Christ- like will also improve the way you relate to others. This includes your marriage and family relationships, and relationships outside the home and in the work place. Your priorities will be more God- centered, enabling you to lead a productive life that honors God. Transformation will give you confidence for that day when you will stand before God. You will have assurance that you truly belong to Him and have a home in heaven. Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18 above. The mirror in which you behold the glory of the Lord is the Word of God. As you grow in your knowledge of Christ and act on what He says, you will experience a continual, progressive transformation. Don t be discouraged if you haven t become as Christ- like as you think you should be. Focus on God s Word. Be willing to yield to the Holy Spirit within you. Obey. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 1. Think about one area of your life that you know needs changing. Are you willing? Tell God. Look up some Scriptures that deal with that area. 2. Build your faith and hope. Meditate on 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Philippians 1:6. 3. Thank God with this prayer. Dear Father, Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Please help me yield to Him and become more like Your Son. In Jesus name I ask, amen. 9

10 Day 7 Set Free From the Past! Part 2 Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34 These are the words of Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He had been beaten, mocked, and brutally whipped. Yet He forgave His oppressors. Forgiveness goes against the human grain. Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully human. He experienced all the temptations common to man, but never sinned. It would have been easy for Jesus to be angry and unforgiving toward His enemies. Instead, He yielded to the will of His Father. He perfectly reflected the character of His Father. When we were still God s enemies, He sent His own Son to die for us so we could be forgiven and reconciled to Him. Now, as His children, we are called to follow the example of our Father and of His Son. But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27,28 When you are hurt, angry, or devastated by the cruel words or actions of others, it may seem impossible to forgive those who have hurt you. And it is - if you attempt to do it in your own ability. But with the power of the Holy Spirit and the operation of God s grace in your life, you can follow Jesus. If you choose God s way, He promises He will forgive you and your reward will be great. So what are the keys to forgiving? Being willing to forgive is a first step. Your first prayer may be, Lord, please help me be willing to be willing! But there is something else you can do, something very powerful, that will help turn your heart in the right direction: Step out in faith, open your mouth, and begin to pray for the person(s) who wronged you as many times as it takes for your heart to change. As you pray, God s grace will flow, enabling you to truly forgive. The Holy Spirit is transforming you and setting you free from your past. You can move forward, keeping your eyes on Jesus and your future hope. 1. Are you willing to forgive others? Think of times when others had to forgive you. Reflect on the tremendous price God paid so you could have your sins forgiven. 2. Meditate on Luke 23:34 and 6:27, Thank God with this prayer. Heavenly Father, thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit and for Your grace to change me. Please help me forgive others as You have forgiven me. In Jesus name I pray, amen. 10

11 Day 8 The Power of Thanksgiving and Praise Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:2,4,5 Gladness. Singing. Thanksgiving. Praise. These are ways you bring honor to God and please Him. This is how you can experience God s presence and power in your life. You can see a picture of this in the Old Testament in 2 Chronicles 5: On the day King Solomon dedicated the temple, he arranged for hundreds of singers and musicians to praise God loudly in unison. They sang, He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Suddenly, God s glory a visible cloud filled the temple. God s presence and power were so great, the priests were not able to stand to minister to the people. Do you want to defeat discouragement and hopelessness? Use God s prescribed antidote. Practice a lifestyle of thanksgiving and praise, which brings the presence and power of God into your life. This is God s will for you. This is one way you can glorify Him. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 Thanksgiving and praise will change your focus and help you get your mind off your problems and onto God. As you keep your focus on God, you will begin to see the spiritual reality that He is MUCH bigger than your problems. Then your faith and hope will increase. You may not feel like praising God during difficult times, but that s when you must offer a sacrifice of praise by faith. God will reward you as you continue to thank Him. He will lift you above your circumstances and give you His joy and peace. EXPECT it. 1. Meditate on the three Scriptures in today s devotion. 2. Practice thanking and praising God. Make a list of how God has provided for you during the past year (answered prayers, met needs, and other blessings). Thank Him for each one. Use truths from the Day 1-7 devotions to thank God. 11

12 Day 9 Jesus The Key to Every Promise For as many as are the promises of God, in [Jesus] they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:13-15 Jesus Christ is the key to every promise in the Bible. Through faith in Him, you have access to God and to all His promises. God s promises will give you hope. You can have confidence to believe that God will do what He has promised because He sent a Redeemer, a Lamb to be slain, His Son to die on the cross for your sins, just as He promised in Old Testament prophecy hundreds of years earlier. It is proof of His faithfulness. Through Christ, God abundantly pours out His grace on you. What is grace? It is unmerited favor and God s ability to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Salvation is a gift of God s grace. You don t deserve it (it is unmerited) and you can t earn it (you can t do it for yourself). You need God s grace to receive every promise God has made, including forgiveness and the hope of heaven. What do you need hope for today? Wisdom and guidance? A relationship to be restored? Healing? Finances? Whatever the need, God cares. His grace is still available today through Christ. Your loving Father invites you to come before His throne of grace with boldness, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). When you approach God s throne, it should be with an attitude of thankfulness and humility. The Bible says that God gives grace to the humble, not the proud. A humble heart says, Father, I need Your help. I can t do things on my own. Thank You for what you have done for me through Jesus. I come to You trusting in Him. God hears you when you pray according to His will. His will is His Word. Find Bible verses that relate to your specific needs. Trust God and obey what He says to do. Then you can confidently hold onto His promises and EXPECT to receive them. 1. Do you usually ask God for help, or do you try to do things on your own? Why? 2. Meditate on the two Scriptures above. 3. Pray. Dear Father, thank You for Your grace through Jesus. Please help me ask for Your help with the right attitude and receive Your grace. In Jesus name, amen. 12

13 Day 10 Peace Freedom From Anxiety Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 God s will for you is to have PEACE. Peace is reconciliation with God. It is found only through Christ. As you face various challenges in life, you can experience a supernatural peace from God that will guard your heart and mind. This peace doesn t come automatically. You have to obey God s instructions. Why should you be concerned about peace that guards your heart and mind? Jesus warns that it is dangerous to allow your heart to be weighed down with the cares and worries of life. They hinder the transformation that the Word of God is making in your life. Faith and hope cannot grow. Transformation into the image of Christ cannot take place. You cannot maintain the alert, prayerful attitude Jesus commands as the day of His return approaches. You won t have confidence to stand before God and receive what He has promised. God wants to give you His peace, but you have to be willing to let go of your problems. If you hold onto them, you are trying to remain in control. You are being prideful, thinking you can handle everything and don t need God s help. This attitude will prevent you from receiving God s grace. God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:4b- 7 Humble yourself. Take all your cares and worries to God. Thank Him in advance for taking care of every need, turning your situations for good, and working in the hearts of the people you are praying for. Fill your mind with God s Word. Then you ll be able to think on good things. EXPECT God to work on your behalf. EXPECT His peace. 1. Whenever worry comes, practice giving God your problems. 2. Build your faith and hope. Reflect on the Scriptures above. 3. Pray. Father, with You all things are possible. I trust You to provide what I need, take care of every situation, and work in peoples hearts. In Jesus name, amen. 13

14 Day 11 The Greatest Hope Booster Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3,4,13 Have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If yes, then you have a future and a hope. When Christ returns, you will receive an unfading inheritance that has been reserved in heaven for you. Christ s return and the grace that will accompany it are what the Bible calls the believer s blessed hope. This hope is what you are to fix your eyes on COMPLETELY. God has dedicated nearly one out of every twenty verses in the New Testament to this subject, just to remind you. If you feel weak, defeated, or even hopeless, examine your hope. Ask yourself, What am I trusting in, and where is my focus? Are you focusing on your earthly life and trusting in your own abilities, in other people, or in wealth to meet your needs and give you a feeling of hope? Everything connected to your earthly life is temporary and changeable, but your blessed hope is eternal and unchanging. It is guaranteed. Jesus has promised to return at an unknown future time that He calls soon. When He comes, something extraordinary will take place. You will receive the completion of the salvation God has given you. You will see Christ as He is, and in a moment s time, become like Him. Your body will be glorified, changed to be like His. Your soul will become perfect, free from sin. You will spend eternity with God on a beautiful new earth. One way to fix your hope completely on your blessed hope is to study Scriptures that describe this wonderful grace that is to be brought to you. Focusing on God s Word will strengthen your faith and renew your hope. You ll be better able to handle the challenges and trials of life, knowing they are only temporary and will soon pass away. The Bible instructs us to remind each other often of our hope and to comfort one another with these words. Help strengthen someone else s hope, and yours will be strengthened as well. 1. Pray and ask God to help you fix your hope completely on your blessed hope. 2. Build your faith and hope. Meditate on 1 Peter 1:3,4,13 above. 3. Encourage another believer. Remind them of their blessed hope. 14

15 Day 12 Prepare For Christ s Return For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Titus 2:11-13 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2,3 In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 Jesus Christ will soon return to gather to Himself all those who trust in Him. It could be today. Are you ready? If not, NOW is the time to prepare. Scripture indicates that the ones who will be taken up to heaven are the ones who are prepared. There is a purifying aspect to the believer s blessed hope. God is holy and He has commanded His children to be holy as well. As God s child, you are to demonstrate to the world that your Father is real by reflecting His goodness. God s plan has always been that you should be conformed to the image of His Son. This is made possible not through your own effort, but by relying on the guidance and transforming power of the Holy Spirit who has been given to you. Scripture promises that Jesus Christ will come again. You will receive a glorified body like Christ s. Your soul will be perfected, free from sin. You will stand before Christ and your works and motives will be judged. As a member of the Bride of Christ, you will feast together with your Bridegroom at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. You will joyfully live with your loving God forever on a peaceful, beautiful new earth free from pain, fear, and sorrow. If you believe these truths, they will transform the way you think and the way you conduct your life. The idea of living for yourself and trusting in worldly things will seem foreign to you. Just as an earthly bride prepares for her wedding, you will prepare for your union with Christ. You will meditate on God s Word, obey what He says, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you. Then your confidence and hope will be strengthened. You will love Christ s appearing. You will wait eagerly and expectantly, yet patiently, for His return. 1. Are you willing to allow transformation in your life? Why or why not? 2. Build your faith and hope. Meditate on the Scriptures above. 3. Pray. Dear Father, thank You for Your promises and the hope they give. Please help me prepare for Christ s return. In Jesus name, amen. 15

16 Day 13 A Glorified Body and a Perfected Soul Hold onto your faith and continue serving God and His people faithfully. There s victory just ahead! Christ will return. Your body and soul will be changed. You will be like Him. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:52-54 Consider your body. It s an important part of you, but it is just temporary and filled with weakness. Scripture calls it a tent. If you belong to Christ, you have received eternal life, the guarantee of a glorious future with God forever. You ll need a new body that will live forever. When Christ returns, He will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory (Philippians 3:21). Imagine what your new body will be like. It will be spiritual. Glorious. Powerful. Immortal. There will be no more sickness, weakness, or weariness. It will be like Christ s post- resurrection body. Jesus could be recognized. Even though He could appear and disappear at will, He said He was not a spirit, but had flesh and blood. The disciples could see and touch the nail holes in His hands and feet. Jesus ate with them. There is a second change that you will experience at Christ s return: a perfected soul. When He appears, we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). This will be the completion of the transformation process of becoming like Christ, begun by the Holy Spirit at the time you are born again. Your heart, mind, will, and emotions will be perfectly conformed to your Savior s and you will have fullness of knowledge. You will not remember the former things and will be free from ungodly thoughts and a tendency to sin. Permanent love, joy, and peace will be yours at last. 1. Imagine having your new glorified body and your perfected soul. 2. Build your faith and hope. Meditate on the Scriptures above. 3. Thank God. Father, thank You for transforming my body and soul when Your Son returns. Please remind me of this truth often. In Jesus name I ask, amen. 16

17 Day 14 Heaven At Last! Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. Revelation 21:1-4 The Bible says that God will come to live with us on a new earth, in a heavenly city. We will be in heaven in the sense that heaven is where God dwells. What will happen to our present heavens and earth? They will be destroyed by fire, a result of God s judgment on sin (2 Peter 3:1-13). Until then, when we die, we go to be with the Lord in heaven. This is our future hope. Much of what we learn about our future home comes from the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation 21 and 22. The New Jerusalem is described and a few details are given about the new heaven and new earth. We learn that the city is illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb (Jesus). They are its temple. Inside the city are the tree of life, which bears fruit every month, and the river of the water of life. No evil will be in this city, and no one may enter except those whose names are written in the Lamb s book of life. There are many blessings in store for us. The new earth will be beautiful and perfect, as it was before Adam and Eve s disobedience brought sin into it. There will be no night and nothing to cause fear. We will serve God and reign forever in meaningful and rewarding service, using the gifts God has given us as well as a new fullness of knowledge. The fellowship we have with others will be sweet and governed by love. We will enjoy permanent joy and peace and will be free from the memory of the former things. Above all, we will have unbroken communion with our merciful and loving Father God and with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom we owe our lives. God s plan has always been to bring all things in heaven and earth together in Christ. Jesus told His disciples He wanted them to be with Him forever, and that He was going to prepare a place for them. And what a place it will be! Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Reflect on this message. Read Revelation 21 and 22. Give God thanks! 17

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