December 1

Daniel 8:1-27, 1 John 2:1-17, Psalm 120:1-7, Proverbs 28:25-26 

Pray: Dear Merciful Father, I pray that You would keep Your hand on our men and women defending our country so that we can be free. Be with our soldiers as they go onto their assignments. Bring them back to base safely. I praise You for our brave men and women! I thank You for our brave men and women! I also pray that You give them the skills that they need in every moment, so that they can come back home safely to their families.

Read: When I was young, my mom would lead my brother and I in singing songs to help make the time go by faster (this was before the advent of the portable DVD player and the iPad). Today’s Psalm comes to us from a grouping of songs that would have been sung my travelers on their way to the Temple to celebrate the annual festivals. Psalm 120 is the first “step” along that journey as the travelers embark in hostile lands on their way to their destination. 

Edify: We all make mistakes… we fall short of the expectations that we have for ourselves and we certainly fall short of the expectations that God has for us. However, even when we fall short and find ourselves dealing with sin, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ is pleading on our behalf for another chance. John writes this letter to all Christians who find themselves dealing with their sin problem and wondering if there is a chance for them to, not only move beyond, but find victory over their sin. John's words of reassurance are meant to help all believers who struggle with their sin and remind us that Jesus paid the price so that our sins don’t mean condemnation.

Practice: Let’s take a moment as we begin a new month to be reminded that we are commanded to love God and love our neighbors. Find a way to demonstrate your love for your neighbor today. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but it does need to be done in the right spirit. Get moving!