Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 1 John 3:18

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. – 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

This is a really challenging verse. It’s often easy to know the right thing to do. It’s easy to say the right things, and know what the right answers are to the questions they ask in your small group or Bible study. However, when it comes down to it, there is usually a disconnect between the thing we know to do and what we actually do.

That’s what today’s Bible verse is talking about. It’s saying that we shouldn’t just say that we love others. We shouldn’t just give the right answer at youth group or Sunday school, but rather we should let our lives live out the answer. Our lives should be reflecting the love of God towards others.

Today’s Truth: Our lives should be a reflection of God’s love to others.

So challenge yourself today. Don’t just say the right things at church and youth group, but rather live out God’s love in a big way. It might be talking to the girl who sits alone at lunch. Maybe you can buy your friend that is having a rough day a candy bar. Whatever it is, let yourself be used by God today to demonstrate love to those around you. Be bold, be strong, and be a light for Jesus in your world today.

Daily Devotion and Bible Verse – Proverbs 22:1

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. – Prov 22:1 (NIV)

This wisdom from the Bible just works. It worked thousands of years ago and it works today. People are remembered for what kind of person they are. If you treated people fairly or poorly, it will get around. Each decision to be honest with your money and honest with people adds up to eventually make a name for yourself.

Having a good name goes along way. That’s why it really is more desirable than riches. A great name comes from a great reputation of how you treated things and people. Your reputation either opens or closes doors for you. Why? Because people people use it to know if they can trust you or not. Your reputation over time speaks volumes about you that resounds for years and years to come.

When people are watching and when they are not, take the high road. Choose to be honest with your money. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated. Little by little, these good decisions will create a positive name for yourself. People will trust you and want to participate with you in opportunities that might not come to you otherwise.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Phil 4:13

I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. – Phil 4:13 (Good News)

Have you ever faced something really difficult? Maybe you feel like you can’t keep going after your girlfriend broke up with you. Perhaps your best friend just moved away and you just don’t want to keep going to school and not see him. How do you deal with life’s difficult situations? How do you keep going when you just want to curl up in your bed, pull the covers over your head, and never come out?

The good news is in the moments where you feel the most helpless Jesus is there to give you strength. If you will spend time with Him, and get close to Him, He will give you the strength you need to keep going in difficult circumstances.

Today’s Truth: In the moments you feel the most helpless, Jesus gives you strength.

Regardless of what you’re going through, don’t give up. You can make it. Jesus is the one who will stand by you and help you in the midst of difficulty.

Read: Tips for Dealing With Tough Times

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 131:2

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
    like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
    Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. – Psalm 131:2 (NLT)

I was reading my Bible this morning and this verse just jumped out at me. I don’t know about you, but when things aren’t going well, I get worked up. My stress level rises, I have a hard time sleeping and my mind begins to run a mile a minute.

Yet today’s verse talks about calming and quieting ourselves. Wow. What a great idea. When things get really tough in life, what would it look like if we just took some time to get quiet. To calm ourselves and just see what it is that God is speaking to us.

What if instead of stressing out about our problems, we just went to God in prayer about them? What would things look like? How would our situations change?

I feel like there’s so much that God wants to do for us if we’d just stop freaking out and rest instead in Him. He’s there to lead us, guide us, and really just do life with us. Jesus is there to walk with us in those stressful moments when things aren’t going well, and He wants to be there when things are going well.

So today, take some time to spend in prayer, Bible study and worship. Be still and calm and realize that God has a way out and will help you through everything you face.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 63:1

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

This verse is great! I love how it talks about desiring God. I’ve been thirsty and hungry before and when you’re really thirsty all you can think about is where you’re going to find that next drink.

That’s what this verse is saying. We should be excited to know God that way. We should be thirsting and longing to know Him more.

So today, if you’ve been guilty of not making much time for God in your life, make any adjustments. Choose to put God at the forefront of all relationships. Making knowing Him your priority. As you do, all the other things in your life will fall into place.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Lamentations 3:22

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. – Lamentations 3:22 (NLT)

Sometimes, it’s hard to comprehend God’s love for us. We often let the circumstances in our life determine how loved we feel. However, God’s love for us never ends. It’s not dependent on circumstances being good or bad. It’s not determined by how good we are. God’s love for us started long, long ago.

When God created humankind, God already knew us and loved us. His love for us doesn’t change with time or with circumstances. Throughout history, God has been loving us. Even when we were sinners, He sent Christ to die for us. (Romans 5:8)

So today, if you’ve gone through a tough season in your life that’s caused you to question God’s love for you, know this. God loves you. Nothing changes that. Nothing can stop that. God has worked throughout history to provide a solution for your sin in Jesus. (Romans 5:19)

So today, choose to believe that love. Choose to walk in that love. Let God’s love not your circumstances determine your worth. Walk free today, knowing you’re loved and that love never ends.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Genesis 50:20

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

In today’s Bible verse, we see Joseph talking to his brothers. The very same brothers had sold him into slavery. Through the years, he had been misunderstood, mistreated at times and even had lies told about him. Even through all of his bad experiences, Joseph put his trust in God. Joseph knew that God’s character was good. So in the middle of all the hardships he had faced, Joseph knew that God was going to bring him through on top.

In today’s verse, we see Joseph in a place of power. He had the power to have his brothers killed or thrown in prison. Most of us wouldn’t really think any less of him for doing that. After all, his brothers did the same to him. However, Joseph does something amazing. Instead of anger and revenge, he uses his bad situation for good.

Joseph realizes that all that he went through brought him to this place. And now he has the ability to save his family. What an amazing store of God’s provision and love for his people. God knew ahead of time and set up someone to save his people.

Today’s Truth: Jesus is ready to turn your situation around.

You might feel like life is really tough right now. We all face times when we’re discouraged, upset, and feel like there’s no hope. However, in Jesus there is always hope.

Jesus is always loving you, ready to turn your situation around. So today, trust in Him. Put faith in His character and His goodness. Know that He is working in your life. Keep your faith and focus on Him, and like Joseph, you’ll see God’s provision in your life!


Want more encouragement? Check out this devotion too!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Psalm 18:19

He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. – Psalm 18:19 (NLT)

It’s not hard to find ways to dislike yourself. Maybe you have a bad habit and feel like it’s holding you back. Perhaps your family doesn’t come from a lot of money and you struggle with feelings of unworthiness. Without trying, most of us can find faults in ourselves.

It’s more difficult to begin to believe God’s love for you regardless of your faults. When God looks at you, He sees someone who is worthy. He sees someone He loves in a big way. In fact, in today’s verse, it tells us that He delights in us.

You bring God joy. When you’re blessed, it blessed God. God loves to watch you succeed and be all He has called you to be. So regardless of your faults and shortcomings, God sees your potential in Him.

Today, no matter where you’ve come from or what you’ve done, begin to focus on God’s love for you. Realize that He delights in you. Instead of seeing all your faults and failures, choose instead to see yourself from God’s perspective as being someone that God loves and delights in.

Today’s Bible Verse – Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. – Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

I remember a time not too long ago when I lost a sweater. It was one I really wanted to wear, and I looked everywhere for it. I had taken all the clothes out of my dresser and closet and still couldn’t find where it was. Finally, when all hope was lost, I grabbed a flashlight and looked under my bed.

When I stuck my head under my bed with my flashlight, and all of a sudden I could see what I had been missing. The flashlight brought light to the situation and I was able to find my missing sweater.

That’s a lot like what God’s word does in our lives. God’s word helps us see things we are missing. We might not know what to do about a relationship, God’s word helps us see it clearly. If we don’t know what to do in a difficult situation, God’s word provides the light we need to make good decisions. God’s word is useful in every situation we face.

Today’s Truth: God’s Word Helps Us See What We’re Missing

Today, choose to be thankful for God’s word. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, spend a few minutes before you go to bed tonight thinking about scripture and asking God to help show you areas in your life that you might need some spiritual illumination.

Daily Devotions and Bible Verse – Genesis 45:9

Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.

– Genesis 45:9 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like everyone is up against you?

That’s a lot like how Joseph probably felt in today’s Bible verse. When he was a teenager, he had a dream that one day his older brothers would bow down to him. His brothers got jealous and threw him in a pit. They then changed their minds and sold him into slavery. Can you imagine how that would make you feel? Your own family selling you to be a slave!

As a slave, he served his master and was eventually promoted. Then the master’s wife wanted him to sleep with her. Joseph refused, so she eventually lied and accused him of raping her. He then was thrown in prison.

While in prison, he was faithful and got promoted so he was running the prison. During this season, God helped Joseph interpret dreams. When the king of Egypt had a series of troubling dreams he asked if there was anyone who could interpret them. All his people could not. Then an ex-prisoner remembered about Joseph and that he could interpret dreams. Joseph was asked to come out of prison to interpret the king’s dream and he successfully did, the king promoted him to be the second in command of all of Egypt.

After many bad situations, Joseph was finally in the place that he had seen so many years before in his dream.

Throughout his life, Joseph showed faithfulness. Joseph could have had a bad attitude and given up on God and his dream. However, he didn’t give up on God or on his dream. Joseph stayed faithful and worked hard, regardless of his circumstances.

Joseph’s example teaches us faithfulness and consistency. God has probably spoken to you about your future and your dreams. They might seem like they are never going to come to pass.

However, instead of complaining and not giving your best today, decide like Joseph you’re going to stay faithful to God and to the dream, He’s put in your heart. Whether you see your dreams coming to pass soon or not, choose to serve God and work your best knowing that eventually, faithfulness will pay off.