This plan provides a good balance between Old Testament readings and New Testament Readings because it guides you through the New Testament twice as you read through the Old Testament once. To allow time for reflection, it follows a two-year plan.
Every week I will post the readings for that week and add the daily devotionals as time permits. If you wish to print a copy of the plan without the devotions, you can find copies of it in pdf format at the link below. I like to print and use them as bookmarks in my Bible.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing
The daily readings for this week are included below.
Aug 13 (Read: Matt. 18 & 19)
“So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (Matt. 18:35 NASB)
Holding unforgiveness is a serious manner. We know that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us (1Jn. 1:9). But we also know that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matt. 6:15). What happens if we are not forgiven for our sins? This is not talking about salvation, but training in righteousness. God disciplines those whom He loves. If we refuse to forgive others, we will be judged for any wrong we commit as children of God. “When we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1Cor. 11:32). If we want mercy, we must offer mercy (Matt. 5:7).
The forgiveness God expects must be sincere, from the heart. We may have to affirm it a few times. It is a decision done as an act of obedience; it does not depend on feelings. Emotional healing may not happen right away but that does not mean we have not forgiven. We choose to forgive by faith, and we yield our soul to the Lord for healing.
Bear in mind, also, that forgiveness is not trust. Love demands that we trust, but these are two separate issues. We trust as an act of faith and hope, in love (1Cor. 13:7). This also is a decision we make, but it may require more time than forgiveness, when healing is required. The trust we offer will also be dependent on the ability of the other person to succeed in doing what is right.
Heavenly Father, I choose to forgive everyone that has offended me. I do it as an act of faith; it does not depend on my feelings. Show me, Holy Spirit, whenever I do not forgive from the heart. I know that healing may take some time but I trust in You, Lord, to restore my soul. When it comes to trusting those who have offended me, help me to treat them as I would want to be treated. I choose to walk in love with genuine faith and hope. I can do all that You ask of me because of your abundant grace.
Aug 14 (Read: Matt. 20 & 21)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 15 (Read: Matt. 22 & 23)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 16 (Read: Matt. 24)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 17 (Read: Matt. 25)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 18 (Read: Matt. 26)
“Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41 NASB)
Jesus walked this earth as a man. He set aside His divinity, and took a form like ours, so He could become our Redeemer. In His ministry, He demonstrated to us what a man yielded to God can do with the assistance of angels and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Because He was human, He had to prepare His soul for the crucifixion. His soul was greatly distressed over what He was about to suffer, even to the point of sweating drops of blood (Matt. 26:38; Lu. 22:44). Through prayer, He was able to bring His soul into subjection. He won the victory in Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane before He won the battle for us on Calvary.
The counsel He gave to the disciples that night reveals a lot about how He could walk in victory. The spirit of a redeemed man is willing to serve God; it is his flesh that is weak. Most of us pay too little attention to our spirit; we rely instead on our soul. Do you realize that our spirit is in communion with the Holy Spirit because they live together in our body which is His temple (1Cor. 6:17-20). Our spirit knows everything about us (1Cor. 2:11). When we pray in an unknown tongue, it is our spirit that prays (1Cor. 14:14). Our spirit does not get hindered by the thoughts and emotions of our flesh. If we want to be strong in the Lord, we must become strong in spirit. Our body and soul must come under submission to our regenerated spirit. God’s order for us is spirit first, then soul, then body (See 1Thess. 5:23).
Thank You, Father, for baptizing me with Your Holy Spirit and giving me the ability to pray with my spirit. My spirit is willing to serve You, so with my spirit, I will rule over my soul and body. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for I will worship God in spirit and truth. (Acts 2:4; Ps. 42:5; Jn. 4:23).
Aug 19 (Read: Matt. 27 & 28)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Highway in the Wilderness 