Have you ever wondered why Revelation was in the Bible? I know I have. I mean, I understand that it tells us what will happen in the end times, but I’ve always struggled reading it. Maybe you’re the same. Perhaps Revelation has been a challenge for you. Maybe the idea of reading and understanding it makes you afraid. If so, you’re not alone. Let’s take a look at today’s Bible verse.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. – Revelation 1:3 (NIV)

I like this verse. Why? Because even though the book of Revelation can seem strange at times and overwhelming but let’s look at what this verse says. It says that if you read Revelation out loud, or if you hear it, you’re blessed. Isn’t that good news? Reading this book is to be a blessing to you.

So when you go to open up your Bible and you get to this book, instead of being overwhelmed, realize that it is there to bless you. And when you read it, you can expect to learn something by the Holy Spirit and be blessed. So even if you’ve avoided the book in the past, realize that it is there to bless you. So take time to think about it, and read it and you’ll be blessed.

Have you ever been freaked out by the book of Revelation? I know I sure have. I’ve not known what to do with it at times. I’ve wondered what in the world it had to do with me and my life. For the next couple of days, we’re going to look at some scriptures from Revelation. Hopefully, you’ll be like me, and as you read them realize that the book of Revelation is a great book to read!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, – Revelation 1:1 (NKJV)

You might think the book of Revelation only talks about the end times. Yes, there are lots of things in there about the end times. But here’s the great thing. This book in the first verse tells us that it’s a revelation of Jesus. So as followers of Jesus, we should read it with that in mind.

This book shows us a new picture of who Jesus is. We see the human side of Jesus in the gospels. We see Him walking the streets, healing the sick, and doing good works. After seeing that, what happened to Jesus and what will happen with Jesus in the future?

That’s where Revelation helps fill in some gaps. We see a different picture of who Jesus is in this book. And as a follower of Jesus, it’s really important to know about Him. The more you know about Him, the more you realize you love Him. So let’s keep that in mind, and take a look at a few verses of the first chapter over the next few days.

I remember never quite fitting in at school. No matter how hard I tried, no one ever seemed to want to be my friend. After awhile, I gave up, stopped talking and became a very quiet person. The whole time at school, I wanted nothing more than to be included.

The good news is that even if people don’t accept you, God always does. Take a look at today’s verse.

Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! – Ephesians 3:18-19 (TPT)

I love how this verse describes God’s love. That it is so big and far reaching. I also like how it describes it as being inclusive. God’s love includes you. So even if people haven’t treated you right or included you, God does. To Him, you’re so valuable. He’s after your heart, if you’ll let Him.

So today, don’t let your worth be based on human love. That love is fickle and can change. God’s love never changes, and it’s based on Him, not you. So you don’t have to perform, or earn it. Instead, He freely gives it because of His love for you.

Today’s Challenge: Take some time today to thank God for His love!

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever. – Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

I remember when I was in kindergarten, there was a boy who followed me around the playground. Everywhere I went, there he was. It was like he was my own little shadow. Sometimes, I’d try to run around to lose him, but no matter where I went, he was there too, right behind me.

That’s the picture I get when I read today’s verse. I see God’s goodness and love following you where ever you go. You can try to out run it, but it’s right there. Every time you turn around, there is God’s love ready to help you and give you what you need for each day.

What an awesome picture. There’s no where you can go to get rid of God’s goodness and love. It’s always following you, ready to bless you everywhere you go.

That should make you love God even more. He loves you so much that He wants nothing but the best for you. So determine to thank Him today for his love that follow you all the days of your life. There’s nothing better than being followed with the good things of God!

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

Have you experience a difficulty lately? It can sometimes feel like there’s no hope or that you’re all alone when life seems tough.

Today’s verse brings us some comfort, however. That no matter what you’re facing you’re not alone. God is right there with you, ready to comfort you. God knows how to comfort you, in ways that help you the most.

Also, we see from this verse that we don’t have to fear. It can be scary when life seems overwhelming. But the good news is that we don’t have to be afraid. God has our answer, so we can rest in Him.

So today, be encouraged. You’re not facing trouble alone. You have supernatural help, comfort, and peace. God has your answer, all you have to do is believe and trust in Him. He will see you through!

He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake. – Psalm 23:3 (AMP)

Have you ever been really weary? I remember a time when I went biking with friends on a really hot day in summer. We rode for a long time, and I did not drink enough water during the trip. When we got to the end, I collapsed. I felt weary, sick, and weak all because I failed to drink enough during the bike ride.

That reminds me a lot of today’s verse. When we’re weary in life, God tells us that He will refresh and restore our soul. That’s good news. Life and the troubles of life can sometimes take a lot out of us. But we don’t have to keep going on in our own strength. Rather we can rely on God. We can look to Him for refreshing and restoration when we’re weary.

So if life has bogged you down with worry, weariness, and stress know that there’s hope. God will not leave you without hope or help. He has promised refreshing.

Go to God. Spend time in His Prescence. Let Him be what you need to get through the tough times that you face. You’re not alone. It might feel like you are, but the truth is you’re not. God never leaves you. Be refreshed knowing He loves you and wants to restore your soul!

Are you having fun this summer vacation? Enjoying some time to rest, relax, and get a break from the stress of school? Let’s take a look at today’s verse.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters – Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

Doesn’t that sound great? God wants to help us rest and relax. He wants to give us peace in the storm.

It can feel sometimes like God is asking us to give up a lot to live for Him. But the reason He asks us to not live like the world is that He can give us peace unlike the world can. When we follow Him, He helps us lie down in green pastures. He helps us experience peace when it doesn’t make sense that we should have peace.

Following after God sometimes can seem like it’s not paying off. However, it always does. Following God brings you peace and quiet that you can’t get anywhere else. So today be encouraged. God wants to give you peace, bring you into good things, it’s just up to you to follow after Him. Get to know Him and you’ll experience peace a deeper way.

Have you ever wished that you could walk into a store and buy literally everything you wanted? I have had those thoughts quite a few times. I’ve wished that someone really wealthy would come along and buy me every single thing I wanted.

Even though it would be nice to have everything I could want, I know deep down that it wouldn’t fulfill me. I know that desiring material things isn’t all life is about, but it sure is fun to dream, isn’t it?

Let’s check out today’s verse.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. – Psalm 23:1

When you read this verse, you might think, well, there you go, I can get everything I desire. But I don’t think that’s what this Psalm is saying. I think it’s telling us several things.

First, it describes God as our shepherd. I don’t have shepherds where I live, so it’s kind of hard for me to imagine what a shepherd does. But from what I understand, they take care of the sheep. They make sure the sheep are safe, have enough to eat, drink, and protection from danger. What an awesome picture of what God can do for us. He wants to keep us safe, and provide for us the basic things we need.

Secondly, it says we lack nothing. That doesn’t mean that you have all the toys you want, or all the shoes you could ever dream of, or the best video games. Instead, it probably means more like in God, we have the fulfillment we need. Instead of looking to things to fulfill us, we can look to God. When we make knowing God our goal in life, we find that we have all the happiness and fulfillment we need.

So today, if you’ve looked to things or even people to satisfy you, know this. God is the only one who can help you lack nothing. Knowing Him fills you in a way stuff and people never can. Look to Him, and get to know Him, and you’ll find that you really do lack nothing.