Day 1
PREP: Before you read this, what is the common view of divorce in the world these days?! !
READ: Matthew 5:31-32
SO WHAT: Jesus says it all goes so much deeper and the results of divorce are more
devastating than we can calculate. How does Jesus see marriage and how can you honor and
protect it the way He does - not just yours, but all the marriages around you?
PRAY: Ask the Lord to help you value and protect the health of the relationships you’re in today.
Day 2
PREP: As you read this, why does Jesus say not to swear oaths? What’s this really about?
READ: Matthew 5:33-37
SO WHAT: You don’t own stuff and you can’t change stuff. Read this again and ask yourself what Jesus is saying to you about how much control you have over specific things in your life.
PRAY: Ask Jesus to help you trust Him totally with something you wish you were in control of.
Day 3
PREP: As you read this, what are the action words? What specifically is He asking you to do?
READ: Matthew 5:38-42
SO WHAT: Why do we resist, fight back, insist on our rights and protect our stuff? Think about that. Why are these things hard to do? What are we trying to prove? Does being God’s kid change your view on your worth, rights, respect and possessions? Do His promises change the
way you see all these things?
PRAY: Ask Jesus to tell you how He feels about you and help you to feel the truth of His opinion.
Day 4
PREP: What is the relationship you have with God that Jesus is emphasizing in these verses?
READ: Matthew 5:43-48
SO WHAT: When you believe in Jesus, you are automatically a child of God, but when you do things like this that are so different, you prove you are one. You start to look like Him. This is family resemblance. Why does God love enemies? What if the reward is the person’s heart?
PRAY: Ask Jesus for the supernatural strength to love people that are hard to love today.
Day 5
PREP: Some folks have a Christianity that is a lot of showing off. It’s not really about Jesus but lots of other flashy stuff that makes them look good. What are you supposed to do about that?
READ: Colossians 2:16-23
SO WHAT: Are there things people want you to do as part of your Christianity that don’t really fit in it? Are there rules and standards they want you to meet that aren’t Jesus’ rules? If Jesus is all you need, then you don’t have to impress anyone else. How does that set you free?
PRAY: Ask the Lord to be close to you today so that you can feel His full acceptance of you.
Day 6
PREP: Read this a few times to answer: what happened to you and what do you do about it?
READ: Colossians 3:1-4
SO WHAT: What does it mean to set your heart and mind on the above things where Jesus is? The heart is for feeling and the mind for thinking and deciding. How can you go about setting your emotions and decisions on the Jesus-y, Heavenly things and not earthly things?
PRAY: Ask Jesus to show you what’s important and help you recognize what’s not all day today.
Day 7
PREP: This is a happy and victorious song. What is the songwriter so happy about?
READ: Psalm 118
SO WHAT: This is a glad song of thanksgiving. These people are intentionally looking back on what God has done in their lives and thanking Him for all of it, line-by-line. What has God done for you in the last week, month and year that you’re grateful for? Thank Him on purpose.
PRAY: Ask Jesus to show you ways that He has helped and preserved you. Ask Him to remind you of reasons you have to thank Him.