Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 25)

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.

June 18 (Read: Ps. 73 & 74)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 19 (Read: Ps. 75, 76 & 77)

“My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; my voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.” (Ps. 77: NASB)

Sometimes it seems like our prayers do not accomplish much.  We pray, and we even sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, as He helps us to pray.  Why does it seem like God is not listening?  At times like that, we need to reassure our hearts.  The enemy will say that there is no point in praying, but we must be persistent.  We must press on with fervency, because “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (Jas. 5:16).  As we wait on the Lord to answer, we can strengthen our faith by meditating on His promises, and on His works (Ps. 77:12).  God is faithful; He will listen, and He will answer.

Thank You, Father, for listening to my prayers.  I am righteous because of what Jesus has done.  Through faith and patience, I will receive what You have promised. Help me, Holy Spirit, to pray with faith, according to the will of my Heavenly Father. (Heb. 6:12)

June 20 (Read: Ps. 78)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 21 (Read: Ps. 79, 80 & 81)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 22 (Read: Rom. 1 & 2)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16 NASB)

When Paul preached to the Corinthians, he wanted their faith to rest on the power of God (1Cor. 2:5).  Faith is essential to receive anything from God, but what we rest our faith upon will determine its effectiveness.  Salvation is possible because of God’s power that was demonstrated in raising Jesus from the dead.  Whether salvation, or any other promise of God, it is important that our faith rests upon the power of God, not anything else.  We cannot think too much about faith; we simply need to do it.  It is a matter of the heart, not the mind (Mk. 11:23).  Even when we begin to see answers to prayer, we must be careful not to become prideful.  Taking our eyes off the Lord and turning the attention to ourselves will cause us to be distracted by the wind and the waves.  Our faith must be in God, not in our ability to believe.  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6).

Thank You, Father, for giving me the measure of faith.  My faith is strong when I keep my eyes on You and meditate on Your promises.  You have not left me alone, but You have sent me Your Holy Spirit.  With Your help, Holy Spirit, I will rest my faith in the power and character of God, rather than on my ability to believe.  (Rom. 12:3; Jn. 16:7). 

June 23 (Read: Rom. 3 & 4)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 24 (Read: Rom. 5, 6 & 7)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 24)

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.

June 11 (Read: Lev. 17 & 18)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 12 (Read: Lev. 19 & 20)

“You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” (Lev. 19:18 NASB)

Jesus said that loving God first and loving our neighbour as ourselves is the summation of the Law (Matt. 22:40).  He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.  The various instructions for animal sacrifices were not the essence of the Law; they merely pointed to the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah.  Having become righteous through faith in the finished work of the cross, we now have fellowship with God.  We are called to know Him and to be like Him.  He is love, so we must walk in love.  When we do this, we fulfill His Law.  The Israelites had the same commandment to love, but they did not obey it, because they did not mix the word with faith (Heb. 4:2).  The mystery of the Gospel is Christ in us (Col. 1:27).  It is because He lives in us that we have the ability to obey God.  We walk from faith to faith (Rom. 1:17).  First, we believe in Him for mercy; then we believe in Him for grace.  Not only are we forgiven, but we are enabled to do what is right.  Let us, therefore, “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” (Heb. 4:16). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for overcoming sin and death for me.  I have been crucified with You and now have life in You.  Your grace enables me to walk in righteousness.  By faith, I choose to obey the commandment of love.

June 13 (Read: Lev. 21 & 22)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 14 (Read: Lev. 23 & 24)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 15 (Read: Lev. 25)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 16 (Read: Lev. 26 & 27)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 17 (Read: Prov. 15)

“A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute.” (Prov. 15:18 NASB)

Overcoming anger should be of utmost importance to us.  So much harm is done when we react angrily with words or actions. The key to overcoming this problem is to recognize its activity and to give it no place in our heart.  When we have difficulty overcoming a problem, the reason is often because we want something it has to offer.  Anger is like that.  We may think that raising our voice in anger gets the response we desire from others.  Or, there may other reasons why we think using anger “in a controlled way” is beneficial.  Scripture does not agree with that thinking.  We must renew our mind to the principle that “man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God” (Jas. 1:20).  The fruit resulting from anger will not be righteous fruit.  It may produce what looks like good behaviour, but it does not result from a change of heart. 

The key to victory over any sin is repentance and faith.  We will not believe God for mercy and grace if we deny the behaviour or if we blame others for it.  We must accept responsibility for our own behaviour.  God is more than willing to forgive us and to help us overcome sin. 

Help me, Lord Jesus, to control anger.  It is normal for me, as a human being, to experience strong emotions like anger but Your word says that I should not sin with anger.  Help me to discern how it operates in my life.  Thank You for mercy and for the grace I need to overcome it.  (Eph. 4:26; Heb. 4:16; 5:14)

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 23)

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.

June 4 (Read: Lev. 4, 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 5 (Read: Lev. 7 & 8)

“Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.” (Lev. 1:1 NASB)

To consecrate Aaron to the priesthood, Mosed had to wash him, then anoint him with oil and with the blood of the ordination sacrifice.  As believers in Christ, we a called to a royal priesthood (1Pe. 2:9).  Our bodies are washed with water, and our hearts are sprinkled clean by the blood of Jesus.  Additionally, we are anointed with power from the Holy Spirit.  All three are needed to fulfill our calling.  We must be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit to serve Him effectively.  The Holy Spirit clothes us with power for service.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He breathed on the disciples so they could receive the Holy Spirit (Jn. 20:22).  Then He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they would be anointed with power from on high (Lu. 24:49).  Receiving the Holy Spirit “in us” occurs when we are saved.  Power from on high is received when the Holy Spirit comes “upon us” (Acts 1:8).  First, we are set apart onto Him; then we are empowered for service.  The promise of the Holy Spirit’s anointing is “for you as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39). 

Thank You, Father, for sealing me with Your Holy Spirit when I believed the Gospel.  Thank You also for immersing me in Your Spirit when I believed Your promise.  Your Word says that I should be continually filled with Your Spirit, so I ask You to refresh Your anointing upon me.  Even the disciples were filled again with the Holy Spirit when they prayed for boldness to preach Your word.  I yield, therefore, my body to You Holy Spirit so I may glorify God with it.  (Eph. 1:13; Acts 1:8; Eph. 5:18; Acts 4:31; 1Cor. 6:20)

June 6 (Read: Lev. 9 & 10)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 7 (Read: Lev. 11 & 12)

“I am the Lord your God.  Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, because I am holy.” (Lev. 11:44 NASB)

The Law of the Old Testament contained various instructions on food.  For the Israelites, this resulted in them being set apart from the nations around them.  These things were “a mere shadow of what was to come; but the fulness belongs to Christ.” (Col. 2:17).  In Him, we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (1Pe. 2:9).  As a holy nation, we are still different from the world around us, but the difference is not “according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world” (Col. 2:8).  We are different because Christ lives in us.  We are justified by His precious blood and sanctified by the Holy Spirit (2Thess. 2:13).  Our soul is purified by obedience to the truth (1Pe. 1:22).  It is not obedience through our own efforts, but through faith.  The Spirit of Christ living in us give us grace to obey.  We walk in this grace by faith.  We need not struggle to believe.  We simply rest in the confidence that God is working in us and He will complete the work He has begun (Phil. 1:6; 2:1). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for living in me, transforming me into Your image.  I walk in the Spirit through the measure of faith You have given me.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me put to death the deeds of the flesh.  The Law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.  (Rom. 12:3; 8:13; 8:2).

June 8 (Read: Lev. 13)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 9 (Read: Lev. 14)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 10 (Read: Lev. 15 & 16)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 22)

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.

May 28 (Read: Mk. 15 & 16)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 29 (Read: Ps. 71 & 72)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 30 (Read: Prov. 11)

“When pride comes, then comes dishonor; but with the humble there is wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2 NAS)

Humility is normally associated with grace (1Pe. 5:5), but in this verse, we find it associated with wisdom.  Knowledge and wisdom are closely related; wisdom is the correct application of knowledge.  From a heavenly perspective, wisdom is the application of knowledge in a spirit of love.  “Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” (Jas. 3:13).  Knowledge without love results in pride (1Cor. 8:1).  If we want to be wise, we must guard against pride.  The humble are teachable.  When people are puffed up by knowledge, they become unbalanced in their understanding.  “If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.” (1Cor. 8:2).  Pride will even prevents people from learning what they should; instead, they will “accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires” (2Tim. 4:3).  Another problem with pride is that it causes us to resist correction.  A humble person will accept correction and obtain wisdom.  “One who neglects discipline rejects himself, but one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding.” (Prov. 15:32).  They way I resist pride in my life is through repentance and faith.  I refuse to give it a foothold.  If I find any trace of it, I confess and repent of it.  I do not dwell on it because it has no power over me.  Instead, I resist it through faith in the power of the cross, and I present myself to God as a servant of righteousness. (Rom. 6:11-14).

Father, Your word says that if I lack wisdom, I can ask for it and You will give it to me generously.  Search my heart, Lord, and see if there is any pride there.  You resist the proud but give grace to the humble.  Thank You for setting me free from the power of pride and for leading me in the everlasting way.  (Jas. 1:5; Jas. 4:6; Ps. 139:23,24).

May 31 (Read: Prov. 12)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 1 (Read: Prov. 13)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 2 (Read: Read: Prov. 14)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

June 3 (Read: Lev. 1, 2 & 3)

“Now the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.” (Lev. 1:1 NAS)

Moses had a close relationship with God.  What made his relationship so special was his humility.  “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth.” (Num. 12:3).  He was also very faithful.  God said of him, “He is faithful in all my household.” (Num. 12:7).  Because Moses found favor in God’s sight, he was shown His glory (Ex. 33:17).  Whenever he entered the tent of meeting, the pillar of cloud would descend upon the tent and God would speak to Moses face to face (Ex. 33:9-11).  Joshua, as the servant of Moses, would be there in the tent with Moses.  He must have had some wonderful spiritual experiences because when Moses returned to the camp, Joshua “would not depart from the tent” (Num. 33:11). 

We may not have a calling like Moses or Joshua, but we can all have a close relationship with God.  We can also be like Joshua, who desired to remain in the presence of God.  If we serve faithfully in God’s house, we can partake of some of the crumbs that fall from the table when those more spiritual than us minister to God.  Eventually, our humility and faithfulness will be rewarded and we may, like Joshua, obtain our own calling to serve the Lord.

Lord Jesus, when You walked the earth, You taught the disciples how to pray and how to minister in Your name.  You did not leave us alone on this earth to continue Your work, but You sent us Your Holy Spirit.  Help us, Lord, to recognize the presence of Your Spirit in our lives, and to be attentive to His voice.  The Early Church walked in His fellowship and power, and there is no reason why we cannot.  Bring us, Lord, to the same degree of experience because You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Jn. 16:7; Heb. 13:8).

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 21)

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.

May 21 (Read: Mk. 5)

“But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be afraid, only believe.’” (Mark 5:36 NAS)

Too often, our faith is weakened by fear.  We are anxious when we should be at peace.  Jairus’ faith settled when he chose to listen to the Master instead of those around him.  Our circumstances can speak quite loudly, and the sound can even be amplified by our family and friends.  What we need is to hear from the Lord. When we take time at the start of our day to fellowship with God, we are more alert to His voice as we complete the tasks of our day.  I like the verse that says, “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1Cor. 6:17).  To me this means that my spirit and the Holy Spirit live together in my body.  My spirit is sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, so all I need to do is be sensitive to my spirit.  This happens when I am praying, worshipping, and meditating on the Scriptures.  If there is an issue that I am believing God for, I meditate on His promises.  I try also to maintain an attitude of prayer throughout the day (1Thess. 5:17).  Giving thanks in all circumstances is one way to accomplish this.  Praying in the spirit is another way.

Your words, Lord Jesus, are full of life.  I open my heart to Your still small voice, Holy Spirit.  You guide me into all truth.  You help me to hear what my Father and my Lord are saying.  (Heb. 4:12; 1Ki. 19:12; Jn. 16:13)

May 22 (Read: Mk. 6)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 23 (Read: Mk. 7 & 8)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 24 (Read: Mk. 9)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 25 (Read: Mk. 10 & 11)

“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” (Mk. 10:42,43 NKJV)

How effective has our obedience to the Lord been on the topic of leadership?  Jesus came to serve and not be served (Mk. 10:45), but He also knew how to exercise authority.  “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mk. 1:22).  Whenever He spoke to evil spirits, He spoke authoritatively, but when dealing with people, His approach was different.  He humbled Himself as a servant and became obedient to God, to the point of death (Phil. 2:7,8).  His leadership was by instruction and example.  He placed the good of others before His own but was careful to discern between good and evil.  His service was to mankind, but His obedience was to God.  We must be careful to lead the same way.  “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10b).  One of my favourite lessons on authority is from the centurion who knew how to be “in authority” while being “under authority”.  Even as an officer in the Roman army, he recognized the spiritual authority of the Son of God.  Jesus called this “great faith”.  (Math. 8:8-10).  When we recognize our spiritual authority, we can exercise authority through prayer rather than through dominance.  “But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”  (Jas. 1:19,20). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me authority over all the power of the enemy.  Give me wisdom to exercise this authority as Your servant.  In love, You gave Yourself up for me as a fragrant offering to God.  I choose also to offer my members as a living sacrifice, that I may serve others in love.  (Lu. 10:19; Jas. 1:5; Eph. 5:2; Rom. 12:1; Gal. 5:13).

May 26 (Read: Mk. 12 & 13)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 27 (Read: Mk. 14)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 20)

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.

May 14 (Read: Ps. 55, 56, 57 & 58)

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid, what can mere mortals do to me?” (Ps. 56:3,4 NAS)

It is important as disciples that we learn to control our negative emotions. We should not suppress them, but neither should we give in to them.  What helps me to manage them is to redirect my thoughts and exercise my faith.  If I am experiencing negative emotions, I try to discern the thoughts behind them.  There may be good reasons why I am experiencing these feelings, but if I turn my attention to God, I can choose to believe His word instead of those negative thoughts.  “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you.’  So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear.  What can man do to me?’”. (Heb. 13:5,6).  The same method works for other emotions like discouragement.  “Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him.” (Ps. 42:11 NKJV).  I will thank God in all circumstances because He is merciful, and quite able to make all things work for my good (Rom. 8:28; 1Thess. 5:18). 

Thank You, Father, for loving me and sending Your Son to pay the price for my redemption.  You loved me even when I was separated from You.  How much more will you demonstrate Your love to me now that I have been reconciled.  Help me, Lord, to always put my trust in You.  You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2Tim. 1:7).

May 15 (Read: Ps. 59, 60, 61 & 62)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 16 (Read: Ps. 63, 64, 65 & 66)

“If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear; but God has heard; He has given attention to the sound of my prayer.” (Ps. 66:18,19 NAS)


How blessed I am that God has forgiven my sins (Ps. 32:1,2).  Because I have been redeemed through the precious blood of my Lord, I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3-7).  As I continue to walk in the light, His blood cleanses me from all sin (1Jn. 1:7).  Through faith, I have been justified and have been given access to God’s grace (Rom. 5:1,2).  Besides faith, all that is required is that I confess my sins (1Jn. 1:9).  There is no need to perform religious works; by His love, I am accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:5,6).  Not only am I redeemed by the blood, but my soul is transformed though obedience to the truth (1Pe. 1:22).  I am “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2Cor. 10:5). 


Thank You, Father, for working in me to both to will and to do what is pleasing to You.  I am not overcome by evil, but I overcome evil with good. I overwhelmingly conquer because of Your love.  Nothing can separate me from Your love.  (Phil. 2:13; Rom. 12:21; Rom. 8:31-39)

May 17 (Read: Ps. 67 & 68)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 18 (Read: Ps. 69 & 70)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 19 (Read: Mk. 1 & 2)

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mk. 1:15 NAS)

To receive the message of salvation when it is preached, it is necessary to repent and believe the message.  The way to grow in Christ is the same.  “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being bult up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Col. 2:6).  To achieve transformation in different areas of our lives, we must go through a period of death, burial, and resurrection.  First, we must hear the word of God.  As we accept the word of the Lord, we put to death the old ways and choose to believe Him for the grace to obey His instructions.  The change is rarely immediate.  Between death and resurrection, there is always a period of burial.  During this time, we reaffirm our decision to let go the old, and we allow the seed of the Word to germinate in our hearts.  Before long, the word is formed in us and we begin to walk in it by faith.  No one likes this time in the grave, so many return to the old ways instead of persevering until the change occurs in them.  Even for spiritual growth, faith and patience are required to inherit the promises (Heb. 6:12). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You train me as a disciple to hear Your instructions.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for judging those evil ways in me and convincing me of righteousness.  I am transformed into Your image as I obey Your Word.  (Isa. 50:4; Jn. 16:8; Jas. 1:25)

May 20 (Read: Mk. 3 & 4)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 19)

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.

May 7 (Read: Ex. 24 & 25)

“And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.” (Ex. 25:22 NAS)

God made a covenant with the descendants of Israel and allowed His presence to rest over the ark of the covenant.  Moses would meet with God behind the veil and talk with Him face to face (Ex. 33:11).  God has always wanted to fellowship with His children.  The Israelites drew back because of fear so they only came to know His acts, but Moses came to know His ways (Ps. 103:7).  Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus opened the way for us to know the Father personally.  God may speak to us through others, but we must never rely on other men to speak for us with God.  Instead, we should draw near to God ourselves.  The children of Israel could have risen above their fear through faith in God’s mercy.  Because of their unbelief, however, they failed to enter a place of rest in God’s presence (Heb. 3:19).  We must not allow the fear of God to keep us away from Him.  Instead, we should believe in His love which can dispel fear (1Jn. 4:18).  We should also believe in the power of the blood of Jesus to make us righteous.  “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:22).  As we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us and make Himself known to us (Jas. 4:8).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making a way for me to know the Father.  Thank You, Holy Spirit for Your abiding presence.  With Your help, I have fellowship with my Father and my Lord.  Thank You for manifesting Your presence to me and through me.

May 8 (Read: Ex. 26 & 27)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 9 (Read: Ex. 28 & 29)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 10 (Read: Ex. 30, 31 & 32)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 11 (Read: Ex. 33, 34 & 35)

“So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.” (Ex. 34:30 NAS).

If we spend time in the presence of the Lord, we will be transformed into His image, from glory to glory (2Cor. 3:18).  The anointing of the Spirit rests upon us, even after our time of prayer.  Transformation occurs because the Holy Spirit reminds us of what we have seen and heard, and helps us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only.  “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” (Jas. 1:23,24).

After we spend time in God’s presence, others will sense the glory of the Lord upon us.  Some may pull away because of fear, but those who are hungry, like Joshua, will want to be where we have been.  “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.  When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” (Ex. 33:11)

I love You Lord, and I want to know your ways that I may find favor in Your sight.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me to hear and see what the Lord is saying.  Thank You also for helping me to be a doer of the word, and not a hearer only.  (Ex. 33:13; Rev.1:10-12)

May 12 (Read: Ex. 36 & 37)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 13 (Read: Ex. 38, 39 & 40)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 18)

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.

April 30 (Read: Ex. 5 & 6)

“Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people?  Why did You ever send me?’” (Ex. 5:22 NAS)

God rarely does things the way we expect Him to.  What is our response when He appears to have failed us?  Either we question whether we heard correctly, or we begin to doubt that God will do what we asked for.  Many of God’s promises are conditional on obedience and faith, so our shortcomings could be a problem.  What I have come to understand, however, is that even with our weaknesses, God is merciful and faithful.  What we need is faith and patience to see His promises fulfilled (Heb. 6:12).  With faith, we may immediately receive an impression in our heart that we have received the answer from God, but it may not be manifested right away.  In those situations, I remind myself that Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks before the angel Gabriel appeared to him with the answer.  God had sent the answer as soon as Daniel began to pray, but the principality over Persia opposed Gabriel (Dan. 10:3,12,13).  Daniel’s experience should help us understand that the enemy still attempts to prevent the answer to our prayers from reaching us.  Sometimes we must continue to fast and pray so that the enemy can be defeated.  At other times, we only need to wait patiently until the rearranging of some circumstances are completed.  We should not be surprised, either, if our circumstances get more challenging after we pray.  This is simply evidence that the enemy is threatened because God is answering our prayers.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for placing me in Christ, where all the promises of God are “yes”.  Angels ascend and descend as messengers on my behalf because I am a member of the body of Christ, the house of God.  Help me, Father, to receive all that is needed for life and godliness, through patience and faith in Your promises.  You are always faithful to watch over Your word to perform it.  (2Cor. 1:20; Gen. 28:12; 2Pe. 1:3,4; Jer. 1:12)

May 1 (Read: Ex. 7, 8 & 9)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 2 (Read: Ex. 10, 11 & 12)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 3 (Read: Ex. 13, 14 & 15)

“And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” (Ex. 13:21 NAS).

We know that God lives in the hearts of believers.  This is what we call His “abiding presence”.  There is also what we call God’s “manifested presence”.  Because God is present, we can open our hearts to Him, and He will manifest Himself to us (Jn. 14:21-23).  For the Israelites, God manifested His presence through angels.  An angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush (Acts 7:30).  The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire involved the work of an angel (Ex. 14:19).  In the New Covenant, we have something far greater than angels; God manifested His presence through His Son (Heb. 1:1-4).  After Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to live in us.  As believers, we have the “abiding presence” of the Spirit, but we can also experience the “manifested presence” of the Holy Spirit.  Too many Christians are satisfied with just knowing that they have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13).  There is so much more that God wants to do among us through His Spirit.  In the early church, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit was not limited to the apostles.  “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8).  The Scriptures instruct us to “pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts” (1Cor. 14:1).  As we do this, let us also remember that angels are minister of God (Heb. 1:7).  As lovers of God, we should expect God to manifest His presence to us, both through the gifts of the Spirit (1Cor. 12:7) and through the ministry of angels (Rev. 22:9).

Father, You are the same God Who delivered the sons of Israel from Egypt through the ministry of angels.  You also anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.  Thank You for sending me the same Holy Spirit.  I yield my spirit, soul and body to You, Holy Spirit, that God’s grace may be manifested through my life.  Thank You also, Father, that You send angels on assignments to work with me to extend Your kingdom upon this earth. (Acts 10:38)

May 4 (Read: Ex. 16, 17 & 18)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

May 5 (Read: Ex. 19, 20 & 21)

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5,6 NAS)

Jesus told His disciples that His food was to do the will of the Father (Jn. 4:34).  We also are fulfilled by being about our Father’s business (Lu. 2:49).  Each of us has a calling; we are to complete the works that “God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10).  Some of these are specific, but most are general in nature.  Every believer has a priestly ministry.  We can stand in the gap for others, asking for God’s mercy because of the blood of Jesus (Ez. 22:30).  We can also offer spiritual sacrifices.  This includes offering praise and thanksgiving to God, and sharing our possessions with others (Heb. 13:15,16).  The first sacrifice we should give is the surrender of our own life to serve Him (Rom. 12:1,2).  We are set apart, sanctified for His use (2Tim. 2:20,21).  By faith, we serve one another in love (Gal. 5:6,13).  It is only as we obey God in a general way that we will be directed by the Spirit to serve in more specific ways.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for anointing me with Your Holy Spirit to serve as a royal priest.  Your presence in me enables me to offer spiritual sacrifice to our Father.  I continue to offer myself as a living sacrifice, to love God and my neighbour, which is my reasonable act of worship.  Thank You for Your help, Holy Spirit, to serve with the gift of grace that God has given me.  Help me to be sensitive to Your promptings, as You also lead me to minister grace to others in specific ways.  (Acts 1:8; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 12:1,2; 1Pe. 4:10,11).

May 6 (Read: Ex. 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.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 17)

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.

April 23 (Read: Ps. 42, 43 & 44)

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps. 42:5 NIV)

There are times in our spiritual walk when it seems that God is far away.  Our soul is dry because God seems to have forsaken us (vs. 9).  In such times, we should awaken on the inside.  “Deep calls to deep at the sound of Thy waterfall.” (Ps. 42:7).  From our innermost man, the man of the spirit, we should command our soul to cast off discouragement (2Cor. 4:16).   “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.”  Our spirit man is willing to praise God, even if our flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41).  We should offer the sacrifice of praise, regardless of how we feel (Heb. 13:15).  What may be a sacrifice for our soul, is a pleasure to our spirit man.  Stepping out in faith, we can thank God that all things will work for our good because He is bigger than our circumstances.  Faith praises God for His faithfulness, even before we see the victory.

Help me, Holy Spirt, to bring my soul under subjection to my spirit man.  You are faithful to Your promise, Lord, to never leave me or forsake me.  Father, You will make all things work for my good, because I love You and am called according to Your purpose.  I choose, therefore, to praise and thank You, regardless of how I feel.  (2Cor. 10:5; Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:28).

April 24 (Read: Ps. 45 & 46)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 25 (Read: Ps. 47, 48 & 49)

“Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” (Ps. 48:2 NAS)

God is establishing a dwelling place for Himself amid His people.  What a wonder that is!  Paul spoke of it as a mystery that God planned from the beginning of creation.  The two (Christ and the church) shall become one flesh.  (Eph. 5:31,32).  Even when God led the sons of Israel out of Egypt, Moses prophesied about it.  “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.” (Ex. 15:17).  Mount Zion is something we are going to (Isa. 35:10) and something we are becoming (1Pe. 2:5).  When God creates a new heaven and a new earth, this holy city will reflect the glory of God.  There will be no temple in the city, “for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple”. (Rev. 21:22).  Since we have such a hope, let us travel the Highway of Holiness to Zion (Isa. 35:8,10).  Let us prepare the way of the Lord (Isa. 40:3).  Let us ready ourselves for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7).

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for choosing me to be in Your Bride.  I long to be with You forever in Your heavenly city, the New Jerusalem.  Thank You for Your help, Holy Spirit, as I follow the Way of Holiness.  The fine linen I will wear at the marriage are the righteous deeds that You are working through me. (Rev. 19:8).

April 26 (Read: Ps. 50 & 51)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 27 (Read: Ps. 52, 53 & 54)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 28 (Read: Ex. 1 & 2)

“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel.” (Ex. 1:12 NAS)

Did affliction cause the sons of Israel to increase in number?  If so, can we make a comparison to the growth of the Church?  As we read the account in the Book of Exodus, we find that the sons of Israel had grown in numbers even before they were oppressed (vs. 10).  This was because of God’s faithfulness to the promise He made to Abraham.  Because of their afflictions, the sons of Israel cried out to God for deliverance (Ex. 3:7).  Their increase in numbers added to their afflictions, which caused them to cry out even more to God.  They needed to increase in numbers so God could accomplish His purposes for them as a nation. 

In the Early Church, when the leaders of the Jews persecuted the apostles, the believers cried out to God for more boldness and power, which caused the church to increase (Act 4:29,30).  Persecutions after Stephen’s death caused the believers to spread out away from Jerusalem, so in this sense it did cause the church to grow (Acts 8:1).  Can growth occur, however, without persecutions? Absolutely!  After the conversion of Saul, “the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” (Acts 9:31).  What causes the Church to grow is the fear of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the people crying out to God.

Father, when the Early Church cried out to you for more boldness and power, they were filled once again with the Holy Spirit.  They preached with boldness and miracles, and abundant grace was upon them.  I open my heart again to Your presence in me, Holy Spirit.  Thank You for an abundance of grace.  (Acts 4:33; 1Cor. 12:4)

April 29 (Read: Ex. 3 & 4)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan: Old and New Testament Balance (Wk. 16)

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.

April 16 (Read: 1Cor. 12, 13 & 14)

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.” (1Cor. 13:4-6 NAS)

It is a good practice to regularly meditate on this description of agape love.  Not only is it valuable instruction for how we should live, but it is also an excellent description of the nature of God, because God is love (1Jn. 4:16).  Try reading this passage as a description of God’s thoughts toward you.  He is patient with you.  He believes in you.  He does not keep a record of the wrong things you have done but He forgives you.  He does not seek a relationship with you for selfish reasons; He desires to bless you and to show you kindness.  Many of us have formed negative opinions about ourselves through the experiences of life.  If we take time to meditate on how God sees us, it will transform how we see ourselves. 

Also, if we meditate on this passage as a description of God’s nature, it will also transform our relationship with Him.  We should not allow past relationships with our earthly parents, siblings, or friends influence our relationship with God.  If we truly have come to know and believe the love that God has for us, we will have no difficulty in trusting Him (1Jn. 4:16).

Thank You, Father, for loving me as a loving Father should.  Forgive me for not trusting You with all my heart.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me as a true Brother, for paying the price for my salvation.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being my true Friend, remaining with me even if You know everything about me.  Help me, Lord, to love You the way You have loved me.

April 17 (Read: 1Cor. 15 & 16)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 18 (Read: 2Cor. 1, 2 & 3)

“Not that we are competent to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2Cor. 3:5,6 NIV)

Each believer has received grace from God to serve as His minister.  We do not all have the same gifts and ministries, but we all have a special function in Christ.  “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pe. 4:10).  When we are called upon to serve, it is important to place our confidence in God Who has made us competent to minister.  We must not think too highly of ourselves but recognize, with sound judgment, that God has placed each of us in the Body with a special function, which we fulfill by faith (Rom. 12:3).

When we first attempt to minister, we do not see ourselves as competent.  Then, as we walk out in faith, we begin to see the Spirit working through us.  Our ability to administer His grace grows as we continue to trust Him.  After a measure of success, however, it is easy to fall into pride.  God will resist us if we get proud, but He will continue to release His grace through us if we walk in humility (Jas. 4:7).  We must always remind ourselves that we are not competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

Thank You, Father, for placing me in Christ with a special gift of grace that fits my natural personality and talents.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made!  As an act of worship, I yield my spirit, soul, and body to You as a living and holy sacrifice.  You have made me competent to minister.  (1Cor. 12:18; Ps. 139:14; Rom. 12:1).

April 19 (Read: 2Cor. 4, 5 & 6)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 20 (Read: 2Cor. 7, 8 & 9)

“As it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever.’” (2Cor. 9:9 NAS)

As restoration occurs in the Church, God is bringing back to the awareness of believers some forgotten revelations of truth.  Too often, immature Christians will receive these principles with selfish motives.  As a result, the message is rejected because of how it is applied.  This is the case with teachings on faith and prosperity.  Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, addresses one of these issues.  While encouraging the believers to complete what they had determined to do in giving, he asked that it be a “bountiful gift, not affected by covetousness” (2Cor. 9:5).  How often have we heard people encouraged to give finances so they could receive more finances?  Is this not covetousness?  Paul tells us the correct way to receive the promises of God for prosperity.  He relates giving to sowing and reaping in righteousness.  Giving as an act of righteousness will yield a harvest of righteousness.  It will result in producing thanksgiving to God (vs. 10 & 11).  There is nothing wrong with believing that God will bless us with seed for sowing and for our needs.  What is important is that we pursue righteousness, not the things of this world.  “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” (2Cor. 9:10).  If we have sufficient finances, we will have enough for every good deed (vs. 8).

Father, Your Word says that the man who fears You is blessed and his righteousness endures because he is gracious.  Thank You for blessing me with abundance so I can have enough for every good work.  My success is not measured by an abundance of riches, but by an abundance of good deeds.  I choose to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.  (Ps. 112; Matt. 6:33).

April 21 (Read: 2Cor. 10 & 11)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.

April 22 (Read: 2Cor. 12 & 13)

The daily devotion will be added later.  Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.