Read the Word Daily

Would you like to read the Word daily, but don’t know how to begin? Reading our Daily Devotionals is a good way to develop the habit of studying the scriptures.

Daily Devotionals - December 2022
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31 Dec.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1, 4).

Since God is our protector and guardian, there’s no need to fear violence, disasters, sickness, disease, or any evil we see all around us in the world. Trusting in Him keeps us perfectly safe.

30 Dec.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

God is on our side; His presence in our lives empowers us to overcome the world. Giving our weaknesses and shortcomings to God lets Him transform them into powerful tools of victory.

29 Dec.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20, NIV).

God offers us eternal life, but He allows us to use our free will to make our own decisions. The same promises He made in ancient times still stand today.

28 Dec.

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18, 19, NIV).

Our God is merciful and forgiving, preferring to forget our sins instead of holding them against us. His mercy lasts forever.

27 Dec.

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3, 4).

God is the God of all creation; He made heaven and earth and everything in it. Despite His greatness and power, however, He made us in His image because of His love for us. We’re not just lowly human beings, but His beloved.

26 Dec.

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13, NIV).

The message Jesus spread during His life on earth was one of peace and reconciliation. The humble circumstances of His birth and the lifestyle He led embodied His message to the world.

25 Dec.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).

The true meaning of Christmas isn’t found in red and green ribbons, decorated pine trees, the holiday shopping rush, or Aunt Martha’s fruitcakes. The “Christ” in Christmas reminds us all that God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born on earth to save us from sin and open the gates of heaven.

24 Dec.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9, 10, NIV).

God sent His Son, who is love in a human form, to us. Jesus is love incarnate; this love has conquered death itself.

23 Dec.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… Do to others as you would have them do to you… Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:27, 28, 31, 36, NIV).

Loving others the way Jesus teaches us is different from the world’s definition of love. God’s brand of love goes much deeper than emotion; it actually involves a conscious decision to be more like Christ.

22 Dec.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

Letting go of grudges against others and forgiving from the heart the way God forgave us for our sins lightens our spirits. True forgiveness can be compared to letting go of heavy luggage weighing us down; this frees us up spiritually.

21 Dec.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14).

Christians are the light this world needs. In ancient times, a city on a hill was easy for weary travelers to see from afar; standing on God’s promises and sharing the Good News can make us like that town that is visible to all.

20 Dec.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12, NIV).

Light was an important concept in the Bible, and it’s just as important today. Trying to navigate life without Jesus can be compared to stumbling around in a darkened room in the dead of night.

19 Dec.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105, NIV).

In a world filled with spiritual darkness, God’s Word gives us the light we need to walk without stumbling.

18 Dec.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10, 11).

We are soldiers in a spiritual war between good and evil. On the battlefield, God equipped us with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and the gospel of peace.

17 Dec.

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (2 Corinthians 5:6, 7).

Walking along the path Jesus has outlined for us calls for courage and bravery when the devil tries to block our way. When trouble hits or we don’t understand something with our logical mind, we must be confident and walk in faith.

16 Dec.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22, ESV).

Prayer is a heart-to-heart conversation with God. He wants to keep the lines of communication open between Him and us, and He emphasizes the role faith plays in prayer.

15 Dec.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:8, 9, NIV).

One of Jesus’ many names is the Prince of Peace. When we take to heart His teachings about peace, we begin a transformation into God’s image.

14 Dec.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled… Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:6, 10).

As believers, we’re called to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, regardless of what the world thinks. God is watching us; He knows the innermost secrets of our hearts and He has blessed us.

13 Dec.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18, NIV).

The spirit of fear is running rampant on the earth, but when we live in Christ, His perfect love casts out all fear. God offers us a new kind of freedom, which includes freedom from fear.

12 Dec.

“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son’” (Hebrews 12:5, 6, NIV).

We’re God’s children. Like any earthly parent, He corrects and chastises His children, as needed. It’s always done in love.

11 Dec.

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity” (Proverbs 3:1, 2, NIV).

God—our heavenly Father—wants us to be obedient to His Word. Studying the Scriptures and living them will lead to a long and prosperous life.

10 Dec.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Bad things can happen to anyone, but how we interpret how they relate to our lives sets us apart from the world. We can be assured that God can turn what we see as failure or defeat into victory.

9 Dec.

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, 9, NIV).

When we try to make decisions based on our own perceived wisdom and limited knowledge, we can make mistakes. God has the big picture; when we seek His counsel, we won’t go wrong.

8 Dec.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

There will be times in our lives when we won’t understand our circumstances or what’s going on around us. When these times come, we can trust God to lead us in the right direction.

7 Dec.

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47, NIV).

For thousands of years mankind lived under the punishment and condemnation of the law. When Jesus came, He brought a new perspective by preaching peace, mercy, and reconciliation.

6 Dec.

“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

Christ came to bring an end to living under Mosaic Law and to herald in the freedom to live under grace. In His abundant love for us, God sent His Word to earth in the flesh, to show by example the meaning of true love.

5 Dec.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13, NIV).

The kind of love the Scriptures teach transcends any worldly attempts to describe it. Love came down at Christmas; His name is Jesus.

4 Dec.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17, NIV).

During the holiday season (as well as throughout the year), remembering the One who blesses us with all good and holy gifts from above helps us keep our perspective during frenzied gift-giving sessions between family and friends. Jesus is the reason for the season, and He’s the best gift of all.

3 Dec.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

The secular red and white candy canes that make an appearance at Christmastime can have a deeper significance. Their “J” shape resembles a shepherd’s crook, used to keep sheep from straying, and can remind us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. The red stripes can bring to mind the blood that Christ shed for us when He was wounded and bruised for us, and the white stripes can remind us of His purity.

2 Dec.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-11).

When the angel appeared to the shepherds that night, it must have been frightening to see; however, the first thing the angel uttered was a commandment not to allow fear to stop them from telling the world about the miracle they saw. Jesus Christ is the Good News we must spread to the ends of the earth.

1 Dec.

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6, 7).

The greatest gift we can receive is not one wrapped in glittery paper or fancy boxes, but Jesus, Himself. He humbled Himself and left His heavenly throne to come down to us, and was born in an ordinary stable surrounded by barn animals so He could become our Savior.