FRIDAY

Happy January 2nd

Today’s Verse

No New Obituaries

Sunday School Lesson for Sunday

  • “Treasure”
  • Matthew 6:19-34

Reading the Bible Today

  • January 2
  • Matthew 5-6

Waylon Bailey:

The First Words of the Day

How did your day start?

I’ve long encouraged people to rise a little earlier than they really have to in order to start the day with God. That practice may be the most meaningful part of my day.

Starting the day with God can take several forms. You can pray, read Scripture, meditate and memorize Scripture, or simply sit quietly acknowledging God and His goodness. All of these are helpful. I recommend them all.

Today my day began with a wonderful surprise. On my phone screen from the YouVersion Bible App were these words:

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NASB).

Those words were given by the prophet to the people of Israel in exile. God had big things for them to do. They were to leave the only land most of the people had ever known to return to Jerusalem and the land of Israel to rebuild and to follow God.

They had plenty to fear and be anxious about, but they also had the promises of our Righteous God. God was encouraging them to be righteous and obedient.

You have plenty to make you anxious and obedient.

What would God say to you today? The Word of God speaks loudly to me today: “Do not be fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.”

When I begin my day in this way, I always have a good day. I pray the same for you.

Prayer Focus: Let’s spend some time praying for those whose family is short of a family member who was with them one year ago.

Plan your day.

I know I can get more done and have a better day when I plan ahead. It is as simple as taking a couple minutes time each morning to consider:

  • What I left incomplete yesterday
  • What I need/want to accomplish today
  • What I want to do for others today
  • What did I learn by reading my Bible today
  • Who can I call or send a card to
  • What small household/yard task can I accomplish with today’s weather conditions/schedule
  • Who I know who is full of joy today
  • What can I do today to make tomorrow a better day for me
  • What can I do today to make tomorrow a better day for someone else

Who can I pray or do for today?

  • Who recently moved?
  • Who recently had an illness or is ill today?
  • Who recently had a family problem that broke their heart?
  • Who recently had a problem in their house or yard?
  • Who needs a little house or yard work done?
  • Who need someone to listen?
  • Who has questions about God?
  • Who needs a friend to talk with?
  • Who needs an outing?
  • Who needs someone to read some Scripture to them?
  • etc.

When you turn your focus to others, you don’t dwell on yourself! That’s good!

I hope you now have some prayer thoughts and action plans that focus on others today.

Anna Lee