40 Days in the Word – Power of the Word

Theme | The Promises Of God Are Yes In Christ 

From | Alex Peters 

Verses | Luke 24:13-35, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Colossians 1:15-20, John 1:1-5 

Today we begin the journey of engaging with the Word of God for the next 40 days. God uses “40 days” to complete an important spiritual challenge. Often the challenge involves repentance and the strengthening of an individual’s faith, exemplified in stories such as Noah’s Ark, Jonah, or David and Goliath. Other times, it’s overcoming temptation like Jesus in the desert, or time to prepare for an encounter with God like Moses on Mount Sinai. Over the next 40 days, we will intentionally engage with the Word, seek God, and take hold of His promises for our lives and for the world around us. 

There are two main mistakes we can make when we read the promises of God, and both can be equally dangerous. The first is to assume that every promise can be lifted from the pages of Scripture and applied directly to our lives. The other is to believe that nearly all of the promises came and went in history—that the only one meant for us today is the promise of eternal life which we receive when we place our trust in Christ. Neither approach is correct as Scripture says that, “no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV). 

And of course they are! When every story in the Old Testament points forward to the coming of the Son of God, and every word in the New Testament is a response to His life and work, we should not be surprised to find that every promise is indeed, “Yes”, in Christ. Not only that, but all the promises in the Old Testament—the ones we thought were surely over and done with—are transformed and enlarged in the wake of Christ’s ministry. The New Testament helps us see the way these promises are renewed in Christ and just as relevant for us today. 

When we spend time with Jesus, just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Scriptures and the Word of God comes alive in a new way. It is our prayer that as you journey through the next 40 days, that the promises of God come alive in your heart in a new way. 

Journeys like the Emmaus road, or 40 Days of The Word, were never meant to be done alone. There are times where you will need your faith strengthened, and other times where you need to strengthen another’s faith in your world. Other times, revelation will continue to unfold in conversation with friends. 

Why not grab your Life Group or a few friends and do this journey together?

Over this first week, we are going to read through promises of our salvation. Every promise that we can receive from the Word of God, starts with our salvation. As you read these Scriptures this week, may it give you assurance of your salvation and inject faith into your circumstances. 

Prayer | God, I give You the next 40 days. I pray that as I spend time with You, that You would challenge me, strengthen my faith, reveal Your truth and show me Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. Amen

Theme | I Will Forgive Your Sins 

From | Tim Biasetto 

Verses | Luke 7:36-50, Mark 2:1-12, Titus 3:3-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 

Our great love for Jesus is evidence of our revelation of His forgiveness in our lives. 

When the lady who was worshipping Jesus with her whole heart was ridiculed by the self-righteous religious leaders Jesus used her extreme devotion to teach on forgiveness. 

Forgiveness is the greatest gift God has given us and it is a very expensive gift. 

God created all of us to be in relationship with Him. This is God’s intention and desire. In the earliest chapters of Genesis we learn that we were created in His image and were invited by God to walk with Him in a loving relationship of trust and surrender. Humanity has not fulfilled its original mandate to be image bearers of God, instead, we have turned from God trusting in ourselves and living life as we see fit. This rending of ourselves away from God is known as sin and leads to our separation from God who is life resulting in death. 

All of us fall short of God’s image in the way we act, think and communicate. But thank God for His gift of forgiveness through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus, who while being God, became flesh and lived as a man. Unlike all other people, Jesus lived as a man who fulfilled humanity’s role to be an image bearer of God, sinless and righteous before His Heavenly Father. He then willingly accepted the burden of the sin of the world and its consequences leading to his sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to forgive all sin, and His resurrection testifies to His victory over sin and death. 

All who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins partake in His victory over sin and death and live with Him in that victory now and forever more in eternal life. 

We do not earn our forgiveness, we do not even deserve our forgiveness. But God because of His great love for you and desire to walk with you has made a way to forgive your sins and reconcile you to Himself once more. As we are reconciled to God, we are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory and begin to fulfil His mandate for our lives as image bearers of God. 

The more aware you are of how gracious that gift is towards you, the greater your love and gratitude for Jesus will be. 

I can identify with the woman in this story who is very aware of her failures and shortcomings. I know that I have not lived perfectly in the image of God. That is why I am personally so grateful to Jesus for His sacrifice. I am aware that I have been forgiven so much and my deep love and worship are the overflow of my gratitude. 

Prayer | Lord, thank You for Your great love towards me. Thank You for the gift of forgiveness that You have so generously poured out on me. I haven’t earned it, or even deserve it, but You have willingly given it to me. I receive Your forgiveness today, I believe that You have taken away my sin and reconciled me to Yourself. I love You. As we walk together today, help me to reflect You in my world, that the world may see Your image in me and be drawn to You.

Theme | I Will Set You Free From Sin 

From | Aziza Green 

Verses | John 8:34-36, Romans 6, Psalm 51:15-17, Ephesians 2:1-10 

In 1960 Edith Piaf released her last great song, titled Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien, “No, I don’t regret anything”. That popular song remains one of the most recognisable tunes today, the strains of which you may recall from Hollywood movies. 

Somehow, this sense of living with “no regrets” has taken hold in modern culture. Unredeemed regret burdens the heart with guilt and can immobilise a person in shame. In a culture that affirms every whim of human desire, any thought of regret or sin is relegated to the junk pile. 

The reality is, we all have regrets. Choices that we’ve made out of our own pain, longing or foolishness that have hurt others and ourselves. Romans 3:23 says,“ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Despite voicing the anthem of “no regrets,” even Piaf’s life was devastated by many regrettable choices, which led to alcoholism, failed relationships, drug abuse, financial ruin, and her untimely death. 

Each and every human on the planet, even the greatest heroes in the Bible were sinners. This sin in our lives harms us, damages our relationships and, worst of all, separates us from God. 

So what can we do about the problem of sin in our lives? What does God want from us? 

• To fast and pray until we feel free of sin? 
• To make a sacred vow to never ever sin in that way again? 
• To make an impressive sacrifice to atone for our failings? 

No, none of that will do. 

The kindness and the beauty of God is that He has made a way for us back to Him. That ‘way’ is a person called Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a sacrifice, a finished work, for our salvation. All God wants is Your heart, my heart, open and honest before Him. Psalm 51:17 calls it “a broken and contrite heart.” One that says “God, I’m a sinner. I am sorry. I need Your mercy and grace. I humbly receive Jesus as my Saviour.” 

When we repent and turn from our sin to God, He receives us with open arms. My mess, my sin is no longer a heavy yoke on my shoulders. It is cancelled. My sin is transformed into a croak of praise, a testimony of God’s love. I once was blind but now I see. I was sick and you made me whole. I was dead in sin, but You made me alive in Christ! 

Prayer | God, Your love for me is immeasurable! Though I was a sinner, You made a way for me back to You. You call me Your beloved, Your child. Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for Your rest. Amen.

Theme | I Will Adopt You Into My Family 

From | Mona Hanna 

Verses | John 1:12, Galatians 4:1-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:1-10

It is so important to feel that you belong. Belonging is defined as a unique experience that yearns for connection. This is a natural need from within each one of us. Studies say that a feeling of belonging fosters a positive attitude, and improves well-being and confidence, just to name a few. 

The greatest news and gift given to us is that God brings us into His family, with all the rights and privileges that come with being a child of the King (Galatians 4:7). Before God created this world, you and I were in the heart and mind of God, and we were chosen to be a part of God’s family, to be like Him – holy and blameless in His sight. Because of God’s extravagant love for us, He chose to adopt us into His family (Ephesians 1:4-6). 

Galatians 4:3-7 says, “So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.” This is too great to fathom, but it is available to us because we have received God and believed in His name, we have become children of God (John 1:12). 

Prayer | Father, I thank You for personally choosing me – picking me out to be Your very own. Thank You for adopting me into Your family. I am forever grateful for the sacrifice You made for me so that I can be Yours. Amen.

Theme | My Grace Will Always Be Sufficient For You 

From | Tamara Henry 

Verses | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:2, Titus 2:11 

God’s grace is a beautiful thing. It reflects the very nature of who He is! 

Paul demonstrates in 2 Corinthians 12:1 why a person should not place their identity and confidence in their own accomplishments since God’s grace is enough. It’s all we need! Paul’s capacity to persevere in his ministry and walk through difficult and challenging times was made possible by God’s grace. 

The definition of grace is – the free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

The word sufficient means – enough to meet the needs of a situation. The Greek word for “sufficient” here is ‘arkei’, which implies endurance, strength, or satisfaction.

So God’s free and unmerited favour is enough to strengthen us, to help us endure and meet the needs of any situation we may face. 

Wow!! What a God!

God knows that our self-reliance won’t sustain us. It causes us to be independent of Him, not dependent on Him. His desire is for us to lean on Him and not ourselves in all situations at all times. God chooses to display His power in us by sustaining us in our weakness. His nature and character are displayed through us when we lean into His gift of grace. 

Prayer | Father, help us to acknowledge this wonderful, free, no-strings-attached gift of grace that is available to us. It’s the gift that sustains us. Show us how to extend this gift of grace to others as You have so freely given to us. Reveal to us where we have become self-reliant and we thank You for Your power that is at work in us in our times of weakness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Always Love You 

From | Jim Peters

Verses | 1 Corinthians 13:8, Psalm 103:17, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:38-39 

I will always love you… Sounds like a good name for a song… 

Our love is somewhat frail and faulty, even with the best intentions and from the most loving people. However, our Heavenly Father’s love never fails. He’s always there. He always loves you. 

His mercy has no beginning and no ending, and, if you fear Him, His mercy will extend to your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Oh, how I’m standing on that promise! 

There’s no love like a parent’s love and the gold standard is the love of Jesus who is called: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) and He calls you, yes, you, His own child. His protection and provision are all over you. His love is lavished… don’t you love that word?… lavished upon you. 

In addition to that, nothing – nothing – not even death, demons or destiny can take God’s love away from you. Yahweh, our God, loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you and give you freedom, and His love is there for you right now, whatever you may be facing. 

Prayer | Father, thank You for Your indescribable and great love for us. Thank You that You call me Your child and that You will never take Your love from me, not even for an instant. Thank You for Your mercy and Your presence in my life throughout today, and in everything that I think, say and do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9

Scripture is God-breathed and true. When we memorise it, we carry the Word of God with us wherever we go. 

Over the course of this bible study, we’ll memorise five different scriptures. Today we will be memorising 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Theme | I Hear Your Prayers 

From | Tony Peak 

Verses | Psalm 10:17, 1 John 5:14-15, Matthew 21:22 

Congratulations on being seven days in so far! Over this next week, we are going to read through promises of hope in tough times. Unfortunately, one of the promises of God is that we will go through trial seasons (James 1:2), however, the blessing of being in a relationship with Jesus is that we can have hope as we face them. If you are going through a trial, pray the Word and declare these promises into your situation. If you are currently walking in a season of blessing, hold onto these scriptures for the next time you need them, or consider sending them to a friend who may need this encouragement.

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Does God hear me when I pray? 

Many times we can wonder this, especially when we are facing tough times or have a difficult decision to make. But to know that God is aware of your life, needs and situation is perhaps one of the most reassuring things you can know. This week we are looking at how God brings hope in tough times, and how you can rest on His Word for that assurance. 

The Bible tells us of numerous occasions when people sought God in prayer, and God faithfully answered. From young children and housewives to prophets and kings, many people in the Bible saw God do amazing things in answer to prayer. Hannah, a lady from the Old Testament, prayed for a child and then true to the word of the prophet, God enabled her to have a son whom she named Samuel. 

God sees everything that goes on in your life. When you feel the pain of a friend who has betrayed you, or when someone dear passes away, God is fully aware of it and cares deeply for you. He is a good Father who will never change and withholds no good thing from those who trust in Him. He is the true source of hope. 

Many people notice that their hearing tends to fade as they get older, but God’s ears are always open and finely tuned to the sound of your voice. He doesn’t have selective hearing as some do, rather He hears the faintest whisper. The apostle John reminds us that we can have such a confidence that not only does God hear our prayers, but when aligned to His will we can have the absolute assurance that He answers and will bring it to pass in His time. And because He has given us His Word, and His Spirit, we can know His will, and even pray when we don’t know how to pray. 

God is calling you today to trust Him through prayer. He has made the way possible for you to come boldly into His presence through the death of His Son Jesus on the cross. Respond to Him today and believe He has heard you. 

Prayer | Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that You know all about my life, and that You love me and care for me. Thank You that You promise in Your Word that I can confidently approach You about every part of my life. I surrender my heart and will to You again, and trust You, knowing that all things will work together for my good. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Bring Good Out Of Suffering 

From | Deb Lenzo 

Verses | 2 Corinthians 4:17, James 1:2-3, Galatians 6:9 

Life comes with challenges. 

Jesus says in John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation… “ though the conversation doesn’t end there. He continues, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Today’s scriptures promise that good can come out of our suffering, trials can produce treasure. How is that even possible?? 

Have you ever taken on a really tough physical challenge? Like mountain climbing or a marathon perhaps? We understand the value of skilled support when facing a significant physical challenge. We also recognise the joy (and relief) when we finish, even if the journey wasn’t one we revelled in. That sense of accomplishment can breed confidence in us for future endeavours. This helps us begin to appreciate how God is at work in us, amidst suffering. 

Negotiating difficulty and suffering has been part of my life experience. It wasn’t fun, but I discovered that the Lord is the only genuinely unwavering source of comfort, guidance and encouragement I can rely on. When all else fails, He still stands. He has helped me to see His inexhaustible capacity, but also the capacity I have in Him. He who has overcome equips me to be an overcomer. I don’t need to live as a victim of circumstance. Rather, God helps me find the place of victory despite my circumstances! As I have chosen to become more teachable and malleable in His hands, my character has been reshaped, my priorities realigned, and my focus sharpened. The enemy may have desired suffering to break me. Instead, it has fostered growth in who I am and deepened my faith. What an unanticipated treasure! 

I can’t say I rejoice when new challenges come my way, but I have an ever-deepening confidence that I will find a place of confidence in God in the midst of them. I am a better person and enjoy a stronger relationship with the Lord because of the suffering I have experienced. If your journey is tough right now, don’t give up! Draw close to Him and find what you need. We stand with you in prayer for a positive resolution to your circumstances, but along the way, you can trust that God will help you find true treasure amidst the trial. 

Prayer | Lord, I am so glad you know exactly what I am going through right now. I pray in the midst of my difficulties, I choose to trust in You, to listen for Your guidance and receive Your love and comfort. I believe as we walk through this together You have treasures for me to discover even during my trial. Thank You that Your love for me is stronger than any challenge I might face. Amen.

Theme | I Have Compassion For You 

From | Mathew Green 

Verses | Psalm 116:5-6, 1 Peter 5:7, Lamentations 3:22-23 

Our God is compassionate. In today’s Scriptures, we see the breadth and depth of God’s compassion towards us and His longing to protect His children. Theologian W.L. Walker defines compassion as follows: 

“The God of the New Testament, the Father of men, is most clearly revealed as ‘a God full of compassion.’ It extends to the whole human race, for which He effected not merely a temporal, but a spiritual and eternal, deliverance, giving up His own Son to the death of the cross in order to save us from the worst bondage of sin…Therefore all who know the God and Father of Christ, and who call themselves His children, must necessarily cultivate compassion and show mercy, ‘even as He is merciful.’ Christianity may be said to be distinctively the religion of Compassion.”

I remember that it wasn’t clever arguments or reason that led me to Jesus, it was when I experienced His love and His compassion. I wasn’t born into a Christian family and neither was my wife – we are first-generation Christians. I encountered the kindness and compassion of Jesus in high school when someone invited me to a Bible study. To be honest, I had resisted anything to do with faith for many years and I didn’t want anything to do with God, as I believed He was judgemental – I was so wrong. 

We serve a God who “…is gracious and righteous; full of compassion and who protects the unwary” Psalm 116:5-6 (NIV). In this powerful verse in Psalms, we see gratitude for the Lord’s grace, righteousness, and compassion. It acknowledges God’s protection, especially in times of vulnerability and distress, giving thanks. We also see the compassion of God again in 1 Peter 5:7 in which Peter encourages believers to entrust their worries and anxieties to God, emphasising that God cares for them. It reflects the idea of finding comfort and solace in God’s care, knowing that believers can rely on Him in times of distress. I have felt the presence of God countless times in my life. Once again, in Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) we see the steadfast love and compassion of the Lord. Despite challenges and hardships, we can find hope and reassurance in His unfailing love. The imagery of God’s compassion being new every morning emphasises the continual and reliable nature of God’s faithfulness. 

Prayer | Dear God, thank You for the compassion that You showed me when You sent Your Son to die for my sins. Thank You for the kindness, compassion and grace that You demonstrate to me each day. I am so grateful. I pray that You will help me show Your compassion and kindness to others today. Amen.

Theme | I Will Be Your Comfort 

From | Jas Arnold 

Verses | John 14:16, 2 Corinthians 1:1-4, Psalm 23:4 

We all have our creature comforts – our favourite foods, a nostalgic movie or TV show, sad music for a good therapeutic cry, or that friend who makes the world feel lighter. These things can provide some temporary comfort, but we have all been there when these comforts just don’t cut it. 

In these moments we find out that there is only one person who can provide us with full and sustaining comfort – God. Paul calls Him, “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles.” Even in the hardest times, we can find comfort in the fact that God is always with us, in every situation, in the good and the bad. When John says, “[the Father] will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever,” he is speaking about the Holy Spirit who lives in all believers and is always with us. 

David says in Psalm 23 that he finds comfort in God’s rod and staff. But what does that mean? In this Psalm, the rod and the staff are symbols of a Shepherd. They speak to God’s guidance, His support and His protection. He is always steering our paths to protect us, grow us and ultimately lead to His glory. Like a Shepherd caring for His sheep, we can be confident that God cares for us. How much comfort we can experience from that! 

As always, what God does in and through our lives isn’t just for us, but for the people around us as well. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God comforts us, “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” We have the blessing of being comforted by God and we get to share that blessing with those who are hurting around us by offering them that same comfort. 

Prayer | God, thank You that You are always with me, that You care for me, and that You are my ultimate comfort. Would You comfort me now or when I need it the most? And would You use my life to impact others and see them find comfort in You and Your care? In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Be Your Refuge 

From | Lee Stenhouse 

Verses | Psalm 9:9, Deuteronomy 33:27, Isaiah 41:9-10 

I’m a bit of a storm chaser – I love hearing the thunder rolling in, the winds blowing with force and watching the sky illuminated with lightning. Sometimes I head to the beach to watch the giant waves crashing on the shore, however, I do not like being caught unprepared by a storm where you end up trudging home from work, soggy and cold! 

A few years ago, I was at the seaside markets with my son and we were enjoying a walk along the beach with our smoothies. From the east, the morning sun was shining, and warming our backs as we gazed toward the Indian Ocean. We both noticed an extremely dark storm front moving in quickly across the water, and it did not look safe to be out and about at all! We ran to our car with thunder roaring behind us, and as soon as we were inside, the heavens opened with a huge deluge of rain and bolts of lightning. We breathed a sigh of relief to be safe from the storm and remained in the car park until the storm front had passed. 

For the past four years our world, as we knew it, has been turned upside down. Not only was there a worldwide pandemic, but since then, its repercussions have brought storm after storm to many. These Scriptures are a blessed reminder to us all, that we cannot weather the storms alone – that we should not weather the storms alone – and that our God should be our dwelling place. His presence is the place we run to when everything around us is shaken. If you are feeling like you’re weathering a storm alone, please know that you’re not alone – God is there and ready to take you under His wings to create a safe place for you to rest. 

”I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said to you: You are my servant; I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:9-10 (CSB) 

Prayer | Father, we thank You that we can run to You, and not from You, when our world is shaken. We pray for anyone who is feeling like they’re being tossed about in a storm, and that they will find refuge in You. We pray they will be healed and strengthened, and find joy whilst abiding in Your presence. Amen.

Theme | I Will Not Leave You Or Abandon You 

From | Andrew Hanna 

Verses | Joshua 1:1-9, Joshua 3, Psalm 73:21-28, Hebrews 13:1-6 

The first time we hear of the promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” was when it was first given to the people of God, and Joshua, before entering the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 31:6). Encouragingly, Moses reminded Joshua that, as the succeeding leader, “the Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”(Deuteronomy 31:8). Joshua’s task of leading his people and conquering the Promised Land seemed impossible to him, but with the Lord the task was possible, for He would not forsake Joshua. 

We are reminded by a similar statement in Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God puts it in the form of a command, making it a sure promise for Joshua to move forward in the purposes of God. 

Many other verses in the Old Testament include similar statements from God to individuals where He promises to never leave them. 

In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews restates the promise of God’s eternal presence with believers (Hebrews 13:5). The promise is preceded by a command: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”Instead of trusting in riches or material goods, which will ultimately fail, as believers we should place our hope in God, who promises, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you”. Riches and other resources can depart in a moment, but the Lord is with His children forever. Our faith and trust, therefore, should be in Him alone. 

Prayer | Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your sure promise that You will never leave us nor abandon us – what a God of promise that we have on our side. I thank You for always keeping Your promises and that You are a God who has a proven track record. I ask that Your presence would continue to be evident in my life today. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Scripture is God-breathed and true. When we memorise it, we carry the Word of God with us wherever we go. 

Today we will be memorising 1 Peter 5:7.

Theme | I Am Faithful 

From | Tim Biasetto 

Verses | Numbers 23:19, Psalm 9:10, Isaiah 25:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:24 

Another week done and so far you have learnt 12 promises from the Word of God! Over this next week, we are going to read through the promises of God to restore us.

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You can trust God. 

Often in life our ability to trust has been impacted by bad experiences with people. Those we have chosen to trust, or those we should have been able to trust, sometimes break our trust and out of self-protection, we are hesitant to trust again. If broken trust has been experienced repeatedly, the idea of trust can seem overwhelmingly risky. 

Today we read the scripture in Numbers 23:19, “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfil?”

Regardless of your experience with people, God is trustworthy. 

If I were to ask you, “is God trustworthy?” your answer would likely be yes, He is trustworthy. But I have discovered it is far easier to say you trust God than to believe it in your heart. The challenge is that we act on our beliefs, not just our words. Of course we all want to trust Jesus, the difficulty we face is that that trust is terrifying! 

To trust is to relinquish control. When you trust, you become dependent on someone else and completely subject to their decisions. Your well-being, your life, and your future is in someone else’s hands – that is trust. It is easy to trust someone with the small things, the train driver to drive the train we are on, the chair to hold my weight, etc. But to trust someone with the big things like your heart, your future, your relationships, and your finances is much harder. 

The greater the risk, the harder the trust. 

And God asks us to trust Him with IT ALL. Our whole life, every last part of who we are, He calls us to place in His hands and to trust Him. Ultimately our ability to trust God comes from our revelation of His faithfulness. And I have discovered that God, in His kindness, proves His faithfulness to us again and again as we courageously take the risk to place our trust in Him. 

Faithfulness is part of God’s nature, which is why those who “know Your name trust in You”. If you find it hard to trust God, or your propensity to trust has been affected by your life experiences, your first step towards trusting God is a deeper knowledge of who God is. Read your Bible and see His faithfulness, speak with friends who have walked with God over a long time and hear their testimonies, pray to God and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. What you will discover is that God will gently provide opportunities for you to place your trust in Him and you will see His faithfulness again and again. As you come to “know” His Name, you will become one who trusts in Him and sees His faithfulness in your life. 

Prayer | Jesus, You are faithful. Help me to trust You with all my heart. Reveal Your faithfulness to me as I place my trust in You today. Amen.

Theme | I Will Give You Hope 

From | Elba Broadhead 

Verses | 1 Peter 1:3-4, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 15:13, Proverbs 13:12 

Jesus – Our love, our peace, our joy and our living hope. 

I love those seasons in life when everything is going well, and I truly feel that I am experiencing the fullness of His joy and His peace. The days when I wake up with a smile and thank Him with great expectation of what He has in store for me that day. These are also the days that I don’t necessarily think about hope, because the knowledge of the hope that I have in Him is tucked into my heart as part of the assurance of His love for me. 

However, everyone also experiences seasons of illness, loss, pain and despair at some stage in life. Thankfully, I have always found that my faith remains firm during these times – a bit like the mast on a sailboat. When the storms come, the mast stays firm, but the lines that control the direction and stability of the sails and the rudder that steers the course come under threat and require navigation. Those lines are our joy, peace, patience and hope – all the things that make us so happy during the good times. If we lose joy we can usually still hold onto some measure of peace (and vice versa), but hopelessness is a very dark and dangerous place and from it, can stem a broken heart, or sickness such as depression and anxiety. 

The good news is that we can trust our loving Father to get us through these times because He has put everything in place to ensure our survival! He gave His Son so that we have the assurance of eternal life, and He promises in His Word that His plans for us are good to give us a future and a hope. Let us embrace this precious gift of hope to cling to during the tough times, and to celebrate during the good times. 

Prayer | Father, thank You that You are a loving Father giving only good gifts to Your children. Thank You for the gift of a living hope both now and for eternity. Help me to rest in Your goodness and in the knowledge of the hope I have in You. Amen.

Theme | I Will Restore Your Joy 

From | Chris Breen 

Verses | Psalm 30:5, Psalm 126:5-6, Psalm 94:19 

I love venting. I’m all about it. When life causes sorrow, anger, disappointment, and frustration, I love to get my feelings out in a healthy way via the great art of venting. One of the things I love most about our God is that He invites venting – it’s biblical, can you believe it?

God gave us the book of Psalms as a model that our God is not afraid of your real, raw emotions and reactions. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging pain and presenting it to God. We see David vent his heart out to God dozens and dozens of times. In Psalms 30 and 126, David shares about how this pain he experiences is accompanied by weeping – not crying, weeping (I’m all about a good weep too). So be validated in the fact that our God is not afraid of your venting, and He truly is the best listener. 

But the best part about all this? Our God does not call us to stay in our pain or to stay in our feelings. Yes, He says, vent away, I will listen, but our God promises us over and over again that He will restore our joy. 

See, our God is a God of restoration. And the joy He has for us is not temporary or ingenuine, but it is straight from the Holy Spirit. We don’t need to strive to achieve this joy or muster it up in our own strength, but we need only to lean on Him and His everlasting love, and He will replace our sorrow with joy. Psalm 94 says, ‘when anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy’. 

I wonder today, would you have the courage to vent, let Him console you, and wait for the joy that can come only from God Himself? It is just one prayer away. 

Prayer | God, I’m in pain right now. It sucks, a lot. I don’t understand it, I don’t know why I’m experiencing it, but right now I relinquish control over my life. I surrender afresh to Your plans and purposes for me. I let go, and I ask for the joy You promise in Psalms. The joy that replaces anger, sorrow, and anxiety. I will wait in Your presence until I receive what You have promised me as Your child. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Theme | I Will Sustain You 

From | Jasmine Delaney 

Verses | Psalm 94:18, Psalm 27:5, Psalm 3:5, Jeremiah 17:7-8 

Psalm 94:18 is a beautiful reminder of the unconditional, everlasting relationship we can have with our Heavenly Father. In circumstances that seem unexpected or out of my control, maintaining a posture of faith and trust in the Lord can often be challenging. 

In the past, I have falsely believed that taking control over situations would bring me comfort and peace. I thought I could shift the outcome when I had things in order, in my hands, and in my control. During those times, I fell short. Notice my language and posture: I, me, my. In reality, it’s not about me but all about Him, the great “I AM”. 

Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV) says, “But blessed is the one who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.”

Not in our strength but in Yours, Lord. 

Not in our understanding but in Yours, Lord. 

Not in our will but in Yours, Lord. 

Are you willing to surrender and put all your trust in Him, even if it means you’re not in control? I have learnt that the false security of control will not sustain you, but the Heavenly Father will. That’s the Lord’s promise. 

Prayer | Lord, I thank You for Your love that sustains me. Thank You for giving me the strength to endure. Help me to place my trust in You continually, through all circumstances. Thank You for shepherding me – I choose to follow You. I draw close to You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Shield You 

From | Michelle Peak 

Verses | Psalm 84:11, Genesis 15:1, Psalm 3:3 

You have possibly heard the saying, “God is in the business of restoring lives”. 

He takes what is broken and restores it. He doesn’t just patch us up, but He makes us new. I love His care for us. Today the verses we are going to read are centred around the thought that God will shield you. 

Many times in the Bible the authors use imagery for us to better understand, and grasp what God wants us to understand. In Bible times, a shield was a very common weapon used by fighting men. They would carry a shield with them, and it was designed to protect, guard, defend and shelter the person. A shield could save their lives. 

So what does this mean for us as followers of Jesus? 

This is His word to us today. He is our shield – He will protect, guard, defend and shelter us from all the attacks of the enemy. You can have full confidence today that when God says, ‘He is your shield’, He 100% means it. 

Prayer | Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me today that You are my shield. Thank You for protecting me from every attack of the enemy. I surrender myself under Your covering. You are my defender. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Restore You 

From | Heather Cartini 

Verses | Psalm 23:3, Joel 2:25, 1 Peter 5:7-11 

The heart of Father God is to restore us to His original blueprint at the time of creation. He accomplishes this both through the completed work of the cross and by our daily transformation into the likeness of Jesus. 

However, 1 Peter 5:8 teaches us that we need to take seriously the fact that we have an enemy who is working against our transformation. He is an adversary who is intent on limiting our progress and stealing from us, using any means available. This is why Peter urges us to stand firm and be strong in our faith while remembering that Jesus is our source, as we keep our eyes on Him and His Word. 

The prophet Joel adds another dimension by providing us with hope. In Joel 2:25 we are told that everything that we have lost in the past can be restored, and recompense is available through the reinstatement of what was stolen. God provides a new path for those with lost calls or dreams, whose previous education was limited, or those who’ve had negative experiences in their childhood that have then left a path of pain. Many of us have experienced deep failure of some kind. Joel tells us that we can draw a line in the sand and start asking God to replace our loss. 

The theme of restoration is one of Scripture’s most outstanding promises and we see it clearly reflected in Psalm 23:3. Here Jesus promises to draw alongside us and renovate our inner self. He wants to heal our broken hearts and renew our hope, as He is a trustworthy refresher of our souls. When we sit with Him and allow His restoring care of our inner self, no transformation is beyond Him. In fact, not only does He restore and refresh us, He also sets us on a path to reestablish what was stolen in His most perfect way. 

Prayer | Dear Jesus, thank You that You have made a way for me to experience restoration as I sit with You and unveil my inner being. Please help me in this process to cooperate with You, and provide me with healing and hope. Help me to stand firm in faith as I identify those things that have been stolen through past experiences. I ask that You will make a path for me to have them restored in Your most perfect way.

Scripture: Joel 2:25

Scripture is God-breathed and true. When we memorise it, we carry the Word of God with us wherever we go. 

Today we will be memorising Joel 2:25.

Theme | I Will Guide You 

From | Kon Tsardoulias 

Verses | Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 4:7-8, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 48:17 

Well, you have just passed the halfway mark of our 40 days In The Word! We pray that it has been a deep blessing to you. Hopefully you’ve been able to form a daily devotional habit – maybe it’s reading at the same time of day or in a specific place. If you’ve found it a challenge, pick yourself back up and try something different! Maybe it’s listening to the Scriptures (just press the sound button on the top right corner), or setting an alarm to remind you to get up a little earlier to spend time in the Word. Find what works for you! Over this next week, we are going to read through the promises of God for our future.

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In the first two verses of Psalm 32, the psalmist speaks of the believer’s complete forgiveness, which is the exact same Scripture that Paul quotes again in Romans 4:7-8 when he speaks of the eternal right standing, that every believer has with God, because of faith in Jesus Christ. 

As a Christian, you have been completely released from the penalty and are free from the power of sin. You are truly free to be conscious of Jesus. You may ask, what has this got to do with being guided by God? Everything. 

The very fact that you have been set free from sin consciousness means that you are truly free to be Christ-conscious all day long. Therefore you are free to outwork Proverbs 3:5-6, which commands us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, and promises that He will direct our paths. 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and leads us in the way that we should go. In Isaiah 48:17 we see the heart of our Heavenly Father who wants the best for His children, and not only leads us in the right direction but also teaches us to profit. 

Prayer | Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to remove my sins and clothe me in His righteousness. Thank You that I am Yours forever. Thank You that You have done everything that is needed for me to be conscious of You and acknowledge You in all of my ways. Thank You that as the Good Shepherd, You lead me on the right path and teach me how to profit. Thank You that You are for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Bless You 

From | Falon Moore 

Verses | Genesis 12:1-7, Galatians 3:15-29, Romans 4:13-25, Hebrews 11:8-16 

I’m sure I’m not the only one who bought a 2024 diary to scribble all of the significant, exciting, demanding, and sometimes dread-filled tasks, events, celebrations and reminders that are in the year ahead. Often when we look into the future we map out our movements and our responses, almost predicting a time that is yet to come. 

In Genesis 12:1-7 we see God call Abram to step out from his country and to follow where He leads. Imagine being in Abram’s shoes – no further instruction, plan or direction other than to leave everything behind, to trust that God will show the way, and then be given some incredible promises to hold onto while going on the journey. Something we can draw from Bible stories like this is that God WILL bless you, He will pour out His blessing upon you and your future, but what I also notice is God continuously calling us to remain faithful. 

I know when I have tried to unpack what the future looks like for my life or tried to sit in the driver’s seat, I apply all of the worldly obstacles and factors I could possibly predict, often leaving my future bound by ‘law’. I want to encourage you to take a second to read Genesis 12:1-7 and then Galatians 3:15-29. Consider verses 26 and 27 of Galatians chapter 3, “Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfilment of God’s original promise.’” (MSG) 

Without faith, our lives and our future can be dictated by law and worldly obstacles that don’t align with the promises of God. Remain clothed in Christ as you journey out your faith, and be certain that God will bless you as you do. 

Prayer | God, today I lay down my future with all of its struggles and worries, and hold onto the promises of blessing You spoke over Abram. If Your will is to interrupt my plans or shift my future focus, I pray that my faith carries me straight towards Your promises. Let Your will be done. Amen.

Theme | I Will Give You Abundant And Eternal Life 

From | Deb Lenzo 

Verses | John 3:1-17, Matthew 7:7-11, 1 John 2:24-25, Romans 6:23 

Our Scriptures today point to a key promise of our loving Heavenly Father – eternal Life. Have you ever wondered what that really is? 

Eternal life is often mistakenly relegated to the realm of the afterlife, something to look forward to when we die. The New Testament word aiónios (Greek) is commonly translated as ‘eternal’. It conveys the idea of both quality and quantity. It is no ordinary life. It is meant to be an exceptionally fulfilling life, with evidence of God’s presence, rule and reign in the believer’s experience. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” Eternal life could also be expressed as the Kingdom of God, manifested in your personal life. Moreover, that kingdom is accessible now AND in the future regardless of our physical state. The idea of eternal life as just something without end falls well short of the true intent of the promise. It is an expression that reflects being outside, inside and beyond time – all at the same time! Truly supernatural. Eternal life is not something we just wait and hope for, it is to be experienced now and ongoing. Heaven is here! 

So how can we access this incredible life? In John 3 Jesus says to Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus appears stuck, acknowledging that God was with Jesus but stopping short of recognising Jesus as Messiah or Lord. He was aware that something supernatural was happening but was perhaps sitting on the fence observing rather than experiencing the full reality of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is inviting him to step into a new spiritual reality – eternal life. Being born again in Christ gives us access to this amazing life, but crazily, many of us sit on the same fence as Nicodemus, hoping for a different life to eventuate or longing for eternity, perhaps never fully appreciating that the Kingdom of God is accessible now. 

Whatever your experience of the ‘God life’, there is more! Your eternal life commenced the minute you exercised faith in Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Let’s dive in, inviting the Holy Spirit to help us throw off doubt. Invite God to reveal His Kingdom by ruling and reigning in your life today. 

Prayer | Thank You, Lord, for the incredible promise of eternal life. I receive it and I want to experience its fullness. I choose to believe that Your Kingdom, Your power, and Your provision are at work in my life right now and in my future. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will continue to guide me and help me to live the abundant eternal life that You promise. Amen.

Theme | I Will Be With You Always 

From | Sarina Martin 

Verses | John 14:1-4, John 14:18-26, Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Silence …Ba boom… Ba Boom…Ba Boom… 

The beginning of new life has an audible sound like no other. 

One of the most amazing things I have ever heard was my baby’s heartbeat in utero. A rush of emotion floods your body when you first hear that sound. A healthy heartbeat brings relief and calm, especially to first-time parents. On the other hand, an irregular or troubled heartbeat can understandably bring worry or concern. In the early stages of my mother’s pregnancy with my little sister, it became apparent that she had a heartbeat that was irregular. My mother, a seasoned midwife and nurse, knew something was wrong. Instead of hearing a fast steady pace like a “galloping horse” she heard a slow and dull beat. Thankfully through heart surgery and a pacemaker many years down the track, my little sister’s heartbeat was no longer troubled but can beat at a healthy pace. 

When Jesus comforts the disciples in John 14:1 He tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me”. 

Jesus was sitting with the disciples sharing a meal with them and explaining that He would soon leave them. I am sure the disciples’ faces would have shown their despair and sorrow. Imagine chatting to a close friend or family member and they suddenly tell you at dinner that they will be leaving you soon. It would bring sadness, and I am sure many questions. Jesus reassures the disciples in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”. As Christians we can take encouragement from Jesus’ words that He will not leave us – He is always with us, and our hearts do not need to be troubled. We can take heart and know in every circumstance that Jesus is walking behind, beside and in front! Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19, “Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Prayer | Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your promise to always be with us, and that You will never leave us as orphans. We know that You walk us through life’s journey no matter how smooth or difficult the season is. We do not need to let our hearts be troubled, but can rest in Your peace and hope. Father, we thank You that our future is in Your hands, and You have good plans for us. 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Theme | I Will Give You Peace 

From | Kay Davidson 

Verses | John 20:19-23, Philippians 4:4-7, Colossians 3:12-17, Psalm 4:8 

I often try to put myself in the place of the disciples. I set my mind to Calvary, and I see Jesus on the cross. I see the wounds in His hands and His feet and I see the darkness drape the face of the earth as He breathed His last. He did it. He died. 

Death. We have been afraid of it for so long. Yet, Jesus boldly allowed death to take Him. He let its cold fingers pull Him to the grave, and it was final. His body lay in the tomb, and the stone rolled it closed. 

To the disciples, fear would have been the most overwhelming and understandable response. Jesus, their Master, the Teacher, their LORD, had been crucified and the image of His bruised body on the cross seared in their minds. It was truly finished. Every one of His twelve friends was overtaken by fear. 

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews…” (John 20:19)

The door was locked from the inside, but that didn’t stop fear being present. That is, until the only One greater than their fear entered the room; the presence of perfect love drives out all fear (1 John 4:18). The disciple’s fear was conquered by their faith. The first words from the Risen King were “peace be with you” (John 20:19). Jesus saw their fear, so He spoke the assurance of His peace. Words addressed from another world, where resurrection life will never end. He spoke peace to every fear, worry and frustration – for peace is the pathway into the Kingdom He has prepared. Our faith makes the way for us to walk this path as well. 

Prayer | Heavenly Father, in this moment we release to You our fear, worry, stress and frustration. We surrender every burden to Your cross. Thank You, precious Jesus, as we receive Your peace. Amen.

Theme | I Will Rescue You 

From | Matt Stenhouse 

Verses | Psalm 37:39-40, 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Psalm 18:2 

The promise of God for the future is a promise of salvation and deliverance. God delivers us from death; as Jesus was raised from the dead, so also shall we be raised. In Psalm 37, the psalmist also tells us that we shall be delivered from the wicked. 

Who are these wicked? At first, we may be inclined to think that the wicked are bad people, perhaps our enemies or those who have wronged us. Surely in the age to come, God will save us from horrendous evils that have gone before us and continue on the earth to this day. 

Whilst this is good news, it should never be far from our minds that Jesus came to save sinners – of whom we are the worst. Jesus delivers us from the wicked precisely by saving us from ourselves, all that is evil and sinful within us. As Psalm 37:38 tells us, “But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.”

Prayer | God of hope, shower us with Your mercy; Lord Jesus, purify us like silver with Your refiner’s fire; Holy Spirit, flow like a spring welling up to eternal life. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 4:8

Scripture is God-breathed and true. When we memorise it, we carry the Word of God with us wherever we go. 

Today we will be memorising Psalm 4:8.

Theme | I Have Given You Authority 

From | Thalia Colys 

Verses | Luke 10:18-19, Hebrews 4:12, Mark 16:15-18 

The theme of the week is ‘Life’. When Jesus talks about life, He isn’t talking about merely getting by or simple survival – He’s talking about vitality, a fullness of life that comes through a relationship with Him. A full life is not absent of trials, but rather a full life comes from the promised presence of God. 

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When we face trials of many kinds, and there is a reason I said ‘when’ and not ‘if’, we have the authority to overcome. Jesus overcame death, sin, and the grave! In Luke 10:18-19, Jesus says, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” This means, some situations appear like snakes and scorpions in our world – there are dangers that roam the ground. 

But here’s the caveat! 

The Word did not say, “so we must tiptoe around and dance our way through the dangers”. It simply reminds us of the truth of our authority in Christ. We need not be afraid, we can simply know every step we take in our walk of faith is a trampling step. 

What does that mean? Walk with confidence! As you walk into your workplace, your school, into the different spheres of your life, you have the authority and the power to overcome. You don’t just have the ability to overcome, you have the authority to take ground and speak into the atmospheres you find yourself in. You have the power because God gave you the authority. 

Prayer | Thank You for defeating the enemy on my behalf, and giving me the power and authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (metaphorically)! Holy Spirit, help me to walk with confidence as I step into the different environments in my world. Help me take ground for the Kingdom and see Your will be done! Amen.

Theme | I Will Guard Your Family 

From | Chaplain Te Vula 

Verses | Isaiah 49:25, Proverbs 22:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Psalm 121:7-8 

Over the years I have had to fully trust God that He is guarding and protecting my family. I was away for 3 months at the end of 2023, and this year I will be away more. I do not expect that nothing would happen to them, but I do ask God to watch over their comings and goings, to be there for them, and protect them in this crazy world we live in. 

What can we do to support our family? 

God calls us to a life of example and trust. When we live a life like Christ and submit to His ways, we lead our family to do the same. 

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” Proverbs 22:6 

We do our best to raise our children in “the way they should go” or influence our loved ones who we call family, but at some point, we must trust God. We must trust that He has our family in His hands, that He loves them more than we could, and that along with much prayer, His promise to watch over, strengthen and protect them is true. God is faithful. 

So today consider your loved ones and your family, as we pray that we would be a great influence and that God would guard and protect them so that they can be all that God has called them to be. 

Prayer | Lord God, thank You for the gift of family. We lift our families to You today and we pray blessing on each of them. We ask that You hold them in Your hands and that You watch over, strengthen and protect each of our loved ones. We put our trust in You, Lord. Help us to be a great example to our families, leading them in the way they should go, and reveal to us ways that we can show the love of Christ to them even more. Amen.

Theme | I Will Heal You 

From | Keren Batson 

Verses | Psalms 103:2-6, Matthew 4:23-24, 1 Peter 2:24, James 5:15 

“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits” Psalm 103:2

His benefits can be described as His “divine dealings” (Barnes’ Notes), which the psalmist lists as – 

All our sins forgiven

All our diseases healed

Our life redeemed from the pit

We are crowned with love and compassion

Our desires are satisfied with good things

Our youth is renewed

Righteousness and justice are given to all of us treated unfairly

When God says He will heal you, He means it. 

I’ve witnessed some really amazing miracles of healing. I was at a youth camp when someone’s broken arm was healed – so much so they ripped the cast off there and then! I’ve held (multiple) miracle babies that by all accounts shouldn’t have survived, or were the miracle result of what should have been an impossible conception. I have heard reports of tumours shrinking and cysts disappearing. I’ve seen marriages restored, prodigal children come home, broken hearts love and trust again, depression disappear, miracle salvations, freedom from addiction, freedom from anxiety, freedom from tormenting thoughts… If there’s one thing I know, it’s that God can heal. 

Forget not His benefits. 

Forget not that He is the only One who can forgive our sins and heal our diseases. Forget not the moment He stretched out His hand, lifted you from the pit, and saved your soul. Forget not how He crowns you, lavishes His love on you, renews you, strengthens you, and works on your behalf. Forget not that He desires us to be holy as He is holy (Hebrews 10:10) – and that holiness is what produces our wholeness – mind, body, soul and spirit. 

If you’re believing for a miracle healing, I want to encourage you to approach your healing in praise and remembrance. Praise aligns our whole self with the goodness and mercy of God and doesn’t allow our circumstances to rule our condition. Praise strengthens our spirit within, and brings our mind, soul and body in alignment with it. Remembrance is also important because it tells the testimony of who God is – the one who healed, saved, redeemed and restored before can do it again. Remembrance restores our faith. 

Prayer | Lord, as I spend this moment in Your presence, I bring my brokenness to You. I trust in You as the One who heals all our diseases, and I ask for Your help to remove any obstacle in my mind, heart or soul that would stop me from believing in Your Word and Your healing power. I praise You for all the good things You have done, and I remind my soul of Your faithfulness in my life. Amen.

Theme | I Will Give You Rest 

From | Ali Bonhomme 

Verses | Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 91:1 

These are three of my favourite Bible passages and over the years I have leaned into and held onto these verses. They all carry a common theme: an invitation for us to receive rest, strength and shelter from the Lord, with no strings attached.In Matthew 11:28, Jesus encourages us to come to Him for rest when we are weary and burdened. How easy is it for us to look in other places or to other things for rest?! A holiday, a weekend off, a sleep-in or even medication to ease our tired body and soul. Yet Jesus offers us a simple solution… ”come to me”.Interestingly verse 29 says that we are to “learn” from Him and it is in doing so that we will then find rest for our souls. If you’ve had your time learning the world’s ways of rest and found it ineffective, it’s time to learn from Jesus. 

So how do we learn His way of doing life? By taking His yoke upon us. He teaches us that His yoke is easy and His burden light. A yoke is a farming apparatus made from a single piece of wood designed to bring two farm animals together, so the load is shared and consequently, made lighter. Farmers yoke together animals so they go in the same direction, to the same place, at the same time and pace. When yoked together, one cannot go faster than the other or veer off track. A yoke works as a guidance mechanism and is a symbol of partnership between us and the Lord. In His gentle and humble way, Jesus is effectively saying “I never meant for you to carry all your problems by yourself, let Me help you, let Me guide you”. 

I pray that today you will learn a new way of life, a new pace, that is guided by the Lord, and in which you come to find in Him a rest like no other. 

Prayer | Lord, as I come to you today; open, vulnerable and honest, I lay my burdens, my weariness and fatigue at your feet. I pray that You would teach me Your ways. Teach me to live in Your rest, Your grace and at Your pace for my life. Show me the areas in my life that I need to adjust and the things I need to let go of. I pray that as I learn to walk alongside You, You will renew my strength. Amen.

Theme | I Will Provide For You 

From | Chris Alvaro 

Verses | Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:10-20 

Have you ever found yourself in a season of lack? When you didn’t know if your next paycheck would be enough to pay for the necessities such as food and bills? 

I’ve gone through many different seasons, ones of abundance and ones of lack. Some years ago I suffered asset loss, financial loss, and had no income. The situation was not pleasant but I had the choice to either worry and focus on the lack and how I could change the circumstance or, to live by faith and focus and believe in God‘s Word and promises. Planning and strategising is not a bad thing, it is wise to do so, but it is to be led by the Holy Spirit and Word of God; as Jesus states, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).

In a season that seemed to bury me, seeds of faith and hope were planted, watered, and sprouted into the seen realm through the cultivation of God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, which then changed my reality. 

Supernatural provision is acquired through obedience to His Word. We see this supernatural provision through the story of the fish and five loaves (Matthew 14:13-21, John 6:1-13); with Simon being directed by the Lord to cast his net out into the deep (Luke 5:1-11); and with Peter catching a fish and finding a silver coin after Jesus told him to do so (Matthew 17:24-27). 

Faith is the belief and expectation to obtain that which God has already provided. It is God’s desire to bless His children with supernatural provision. When we act upon the Word of God with faith and the power of the Holy Spirit, God will provide for us, for God is faithful. 

Prayer | Lord God, thank You for Your provision. In You alone, I am able to do all things through Your Son Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, lead me! In all seasons I thank You for Your Word which gives guidance, wisdom and hope, and overflows with joy and peace. In Your wonderful Name, amen.

Theme | I Will Meet Your Needs 

From | Stacey Tsardoulias 

Verses | Philippians 4:19-20, Psalm 23, Hebrews 4:16 

How many times in the last week has your mind been consumed by the need in your life? 

“I need more money.”

“I really need that new…”

“I need more time… I need more peace… I need better health…”

…and the list goes on. 

It is very easy – in the consumerist and self-focussed world that we live in, for us to be overwhelmed and overtaken with our needs and for our days to be devoted to attending to the relentless pursuit of fulfilling all of them. And that, my friend, is right where the enemy of your soul would have you. Looking inward, focussed on self, and consumed with what you don’t have and your own lack. 

Being focused on our needs and lacks – though some are valid and genuine – keeps us out of living in Godly contentment. We lose sight of the magnificence of our God – the One who created the universe and controls it all! We easily become need-conscious rather than supply-conscious – considering what a powerful, able and faithful God we serve! 

In Jesus, we not only have salvation and redemption (as if that isn’t enough) but He is our Good and faithful Shepherd who cares for our needs – big and small – pertaining to our spirit, soul and body. 

Perhaps what’s even more important than our ever-presenting needs in this life, is our reliance and dependence on our Good Shepherd. Perhaps when our life can be filled and focussed on His greatness and His supply, the needs that He is able to fulfil will become secondary when compared to the richness of who He is. 

Prayer | Lord Jesus, thank You for Your greatness, Your power and Your magnificence. Truly I am in awe of You. You indeed are my Good Shepherd and I need You every day of my life. Lord, help my reliance to be on You and Your richness and supply – not on my needs and lack. Thank You that there is no need, too big or too small, that You don’t care about in my life, or that I can’t talk to You about. Thank You that I can come near to You and partake in Your wonderful mercy and grace forever. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Scripture is God-breathed and true. When we memorise it, we carry the Word of God with us wherever we go. 

Today we will be memorising Hebrews 4:12.

Theme | I Will Give You A Future And A Hope 

From | Shane Martin 

Verses | Jeremiah 29:1-29, Ephesians 1:4-5, Colossians 1:27, 2 Peter 1:3-11 

You’ve made it to the final few days of our Bible Reading Plan. As we finish our reading plan, we are going to take hold of God’s promises of blessing and favour for our lives. 

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At first glance, many of us may look at Jeremiah 29 and gravitate straight to verse 11,“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

It truly is a powerful declaration from God to His people.However, if we look deeper, we see that God’s people at that point in time were not in a great place. They had been exiled, waiting on God’s deliverance once again. The answer: well… it was not tomorrow, the next day or even the next year!It was to be some 70 years later, exiled from their homeland, before God would bring them home. There have been many times in my family’s life, things have not gone to plan. Finances, relationships, health, career – the list can go on, and I’m sure if you are a human reading this you have your own lists as well. A little further in the chapter God actually gives insight as to what to do in a situation like this in verses 12 and 13,“Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”Have you ever been in a situation in your life where you felt abandoned or isolated…waiting on answers for longer than you planned to? God’s promise is found in verse 11 – You are not forgotten, you are not abandoned, God has plans (plural) for you, He is your hope. God’s leading is found in verse 12 – hold onto the word of who God is, pray and seek Him, and lay it all down at His feet. 

I have found it tends to be in the unplanned moments of life that we have a unique opportunity to hold onto the promises of God’s Word and, more importantly, the God of the promises. Be encouraged, Christ follower, that our inheritance and our promises are never disconnected from our relationship with Jesus. And in Jesus, we will always have a future and a hope! 

Prayer | Lord, we give You our unplanned situations, our not-yet-answered prayers and our unanswered questions. We thank You that Your plans for us are to prosper us, to heal us, and to give us hope and a future. We choose to seek You today and give You all our heart as we study Your word. Thank You for Your ever-present presence in our daily lives. Amen.

Theme | I Will Make You Glorious 

From | Tony Peak 

Verses | John 11:17-27, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Romans 8:12-17 

What does God have in mind for me? How does God see me, both now and into eternity? 

Many think of glory in natural terms – like a sporting champion taking home a trophy, or a sales rep getting the rep of the month award, or a student receiving the class award. However, the moment soon passes by, and the memory often fades very quickly. 

We live in a world that puts much emphasis on our natural life, our hobbies, our clothes, our phones, our achievements, and of course our aches and pains. God’s Word encourages us to shift our focus and attention from the temporary and natural to the eternal and spiritual. Our natural life is important, but it should never dominate our lives to the point where we forget God has an eternal and glorious plan for our lives. This week we are looking at how God desires to extend His blessing and favour to those who would look to Him. 

Jesus said that those who would believe in Him would never die, of course not in a physical sense, but in terms of the spirit, that inner person born of God. Positionally in Christ, we have been raised to Heavenly places, as heirs of the Father, and co-heirs with Christ. Ultimately our natural body will give way to a spiritual body. The perishable will become imperishable, and we shall resemble Jesus and share in His glory, not our own. The fullness of the glory is beyond our natural human capacity, but this is what God invites His children to enjoy. 

Romans 8:17 says. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”

Can I encourage you today to spend some time with God, asking Him to open your eyes to the way He sees you, His precious child, clothed in His righteousness, filled with His Spirit, surrounded by His glory? 

Prayer | Heavenly Father, I thank You that You extend Your kindness and blessings to me every day. You are a good Father, who has good plans for my life. Help me to see things from Your perspective, especially when I face troubles that don’t always feel light and momentary. Fill me afresh with Your Spirit, and help me to rest in the knowledge that I am a child of God, who not only shares in Your sufferings but also in Your glory. Amen.

Theme | I Promise Goodness 

From | Jessica Pedlow 

Verses | Psalm 27:13, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 119:68 

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:1, 10 

From the beginning of time, God affirmed and described what He created as good. I don’t know about you, but if I created light and darkness, waters and dry ground, vegetation and living creatures, I think I would affirm and describe my creations as more than good. Marvellous, wonderful, majestic, beautiful, and outstanding are a few that come to mind. When I make my bed in the morning, I often think about how amazing it looks; imagine if I created the universe, good – spectacular, more like it! 

The story of creation is the first time we see God’s promise and delivery of His goodness. The psalmist often talks about God’s goodness. 

“Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,” Psalm 23:6 (NIV) 

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”Psalm 27:13 (NIV) 

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You.” Psalm 86:5 (NIV) 

“You are good, and what You do is good;” Psalm 119:68 (NIV) 

I think good has been reduced to sub-par in our humanity and the highly sarcastic Western culture we live in. Good is okay; it is not amazing or bad but good. We now use good as an adjective for things that hold far less value than the value God emphasised when He saw what He created and said it was good. 

God’s goodness and what God deems as good is far greater than we could ever comprehend or imagine. It’s the promise of His goodness that kept David from fainting in his faith. It’s the promise of His goodness that led Jesus to the cross securing our eternity – the ultimate goodness of God. It’s the promise of His goodness that serves as a great encouragement to us in whatever we may be facing today. He’s a good God, Church, and His goodness is available and accessible for you today. 

Prayer | God, thank You for Your goodness. Thank You that You are good, in all things, all the time. Help me, Lord, lift my eyes, to see Your goodness in the land of the living around me. I declare Your goodness over my circumstances and thank You in advance for the promise and delivery of Your goodness in my life. Amen.

Theme | I Promise You Victory Over Death 

From | Tim Biasetto 

Verses | Revelation 1:18, 2 Samuel 14:14, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, John 11:25-26 

Death is not God’s intention for you and me. He created us for LIFE. 

Death is the result of sin, our turning away from God. In the story of the fall of man found in Genesis 3, we see humanity make the choice to reject God and to position themselves in the place of God. This decision leads to their separation from God who is life, to be separated from life is to encounter death. What flowed from that decision to live apart from God led to death and decay touching every part of creation. Relationships crumbled, murder and corruption abounded; there was depravity on earth. Godlessness. 

Jesus’ mission was to reconcile humanity back to God, restoring the flow of life between God and humanity. Humanity in turn who were created in the image of God would carry His life into all creation and the presence of God would abound overcoming the power of sin and restoring life into our world by the power of the Spirit. This is the outworking of the prayer taught by Jesus that, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. 

Eternal life is not just about going to Heaven when you leave Earth, but it is about heaven coming to Earth as you begin to walk out your life with the absence of death. In Jesus’ resurrection we witness the reality of this promise of eternal life, He rose again, victorious over death. This life has begun for us on earth as we embrace Jesus’ forgiveness and walk with God each day, allowing His Kingdom to be present in us and impact the world through us. This life is not only present while we are alive on earth, but as Jesus rose again after death never to die again, so too we rise with Christ after our time on earth, victorious with Him over death forevermore. 

Our eternal life is not just spiritual but is also physical in a mysterious way. God’s ultimate plan of redemption includes redeeming creation in a new heaven and a new earth where God and humanity dwell together in the fullness of life and the absence of sin and death. No wonder God’s final plan for creation through the return of Jesus and the culmination of history is referred to as Christian Hope. Life forevermore without the presence of sin and death… that will truly make you hopeful! 

Prayer | Jesus, I thank You that You are victorious over sin and death. You have invited me through faith to share in Your victory. As I trust in You for the forgiveness of my sin, I experience a reconciliation with God that is eternal. I am grateful that Your life flows through me while I am here on earth and I look forward to my life with You forever more when my time on earth is done.

Theme | I Promise You Favour 

From | Keren Batson 

Verses | Daniel 1:9, Psalm 5:12, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Proverbs 3:1-4 

This is the final day of our 40 Days In The Word! I hope these last 40 days have been ones of revelation, power and intimacy as we’ve intentionally sought the face of God together. 

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I promise you FAVOUR. 

When God steps into our situation and works things together for our good (Romans 8:28), He is showing us His favour. Favour can’t be earned, and it’s not a feeling that we get when things go our way – God’s favour is His blessing on us that is received simply because we are His children. His favour means we have His approval and complete acceptance, which includes the benefits of His Lordship and power. When we have His favour, we also have access to His grace – the empowering presence of God which enables us to be in, and do, His will. Why is it that some seem to experience God’s favour more than others? 

Firstly, those who found favour in God knew Him intimately. I think of those such as Noah, Daniel, Esther, Mary and Paul – all who knew God intimately and were willing to trust in Him regardless of the cost. While they didn’t earn the favour that God gave them, they trusted Him so deeply that they eliminated any obstacle from receiving His favour. 

Secondly, for us to fully receive from God, it requires faith. Faith to believe that He is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do. It’s very hard for a divided heart to receive from God. 

What I’m really trying to say is that a heart that knows God intimately and yields to His Word will be a heart that easily receives His favour. 

What we’ve been doing these last 40 days is profound. We’ve read, studied, applied and prayed the Word of God together. We’ve given room to allow the Scriptures to be living and active in power (Hebrews 4:12) just as they were intended. I’m certain that there are already testimonies of God’s goodness bringing breakthrough in many situations. 

Can I encourage you to continue this spiritual habit of being in the Word? Jump into our next Bible Reading Plan and allow the Scriptures to continue their transforming power within you, so you can see Christ as He truly is and be renewed into His image. 

Prayer | Lord, I can’t thank You enough for what You’ve done in and through me over these last 40 days. I invite You, Holy Spirit, to lead me in how to continue in the good work that You are doing. Help me to remain in Your Word and to abide in Your truth. Amen.