Seeking God every day.
Take a moment to reflect on all the special moms you know… Your friend who’s always there when you need her. That neighbor who takes such great care of her family. The woman at work who inspires you to be the best version of yourself. And, of course, there’s your own mom.
Today is a great day to tell all your favorite moms how much you appreciate them. Say “thank you” with this special Verse Image. (Most moms we know really appreciate phone calls, too.)
What stops you from talking to God regularly?
Becoming comfortable with prayer takes practice. And yet—if we want to grow in our faith, it’s important that we’re able to have honest conversations with our relational God.
Example:
God, we know that You are above all things and that by You all things are held together. Today, please be glorified in our world. Would people who have never met You, find You. Amen.
“Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Example:
God, please set the world right. Do what’s best for Your kingdom, and fill Your people with mercy, strength, and bright ideas so that we can spiritually contribute to our world. Amen.
Example:
God, You know what I need before I do. So please give me what I need today so that I can focus on You, and not on my problems. And, when it comes to tomorrow’s needs, I trust that You will provide. Amen.
Example:
God, You alone know our intentions. Please forgive the people who have wronged me because I have forgiven them. And Lord, forgive me because I’ve also messed up. Please don’t hold our mistakes against us. Amen.
Example:
God, there is so much suffering in our world. Please heal the sick and restore peace and life to our weary souls. Protect our bodies and our minds, and give us Your strength to endure temptation and trials. Amen.
These ideas aren’t new—Jesus used them to teach His disciples how to pray 2,000 years ago:
To help you create a regular prayer rhythm, try creating a Prayer List inside your Bible App. Every day, pick a few things from that list to focus on. (You can also invite friends into your conversations with God by sharing your Prayers with them.)
As time goes by, you’ll be able to look back at that list and reflect on what God was doing in your life during that time.
If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15
You know that buzz you get when something sparks hope in you? Or fills your heart with peace? Or really encourages you? People tell us all the time about great insights they find in Bible Plans. And about how often the Verse of the Day seems to line up exactly with something happening in their lives.
You can share all kinds of things from the Bible App: Bible verses, Verse Images, Plans, Prayers, Badges, devotional content from Plan days. (You can even share the Bible App.) And it’s easy! Anywhere you see one of these Share icons, just tap it… and give someone else that same great feeling.
Even before COVID-19, more than one in five adults in the U.S. said they felt lonely or isolated.1 Research shows that chronic loneliness even has negative effects on our physical health.2 We all need meaningful connections with people we care about, who care about us. How do we do that?
Do you want friends who will encourage you? Then become an encourager. Want friends who will help you grow as a person? Then practice listening, and show that you’re willing to change when you learn new things. Whatever you want to see in others, work towards becoming that friend yourself.
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Ask someone you know, “How can I pray for you?” Write down what they tell you, then pray for them regularly. Our Prayer feature makes it easy to keep track of everything you’re praying for. Not sure what to pray? Try Verse of the Day Stories. Every day has a Prayer you can pray for yourself—and for friends. When you pray regularly for other people, your empathy and concern for them grows.
Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
Relationships are built on trust. Trust goes in both directions. Don’t just talk about yourself. Ask a lot of questions, actively listen, and don’t judge. Not sure what to talk about? Do a Bible Plan together, and schedule a regular time to video chat about what God is showing each of you. (Verse of the Day is great for this, too.) The more you invest in each other, the more you’ll enjoy your times together.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Serving other people helps you beat loneliness, by taking your focus off yourself and giving you a sense of purpose. Millions of people have lost jobs during the pandemic.3 (If you’re one of them, we’re so sorry.) In most communities, food banks and other charities are busier than ever. Find services with social distancing and sanitizing policies that you’re comfortable with. Or, if you’d rather not leave your house, look for places where you can serve online.
Love one another deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.
Look for Suggested Friends in your Bible App Home feed. You can also tap the Friends icon (
) at the top of your app, or go to More, Friends and add people from your contacts. Also, be sure you check your Friend Requests in the app. However you choose to add friends, we recommend that you ask only people you actually know, so you’ll be able to have honest exchanges with people you trust.
A Prayer for the Lonely
Father, please meet me where I am. Lord, send people who will reach out to me, and give me ideas of people I can reach out to. Give me courage and strength, and please rescue me from my loneliness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
1 Loneliness and Social Isolation: An International Survey.
400 years. That’s how long the Israelites waited for God to deliver them from slavery. But after they left Egypt, God didn’t take them directly to their promised land.
Instead, they camped out at the base of a mountain while God instructed Moses. During that time, God’s glory rested on the mountain.
But after 40 days, the Israelites grew frustrated by the delay…so they rejected God and pursued whatever pleased them.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by an uncertain season that lasts longer than you anticipated, you’re not alone.
Waiting can lead to disappointment and frustration. In those moments, we can become so focused on our circumstances that we forget God is still in control. If God’s in control, we might ask, then where is He? Why hasn’t anything changed?
When the Israelites’ plans were delayed, they pursued instant gratification because that’s what they actually valued.
When you find yourself dissatisfied with your situation, what do you turn to? What you focus on reveals what you value, and what you value determines what you worship.
God wasn’t withholding His promise from the Israelites—He was preparing them for it.
God’s timeline is different than ours, but your waiting might actually be preparing you for the plans and purposes God has for you.
God’s faithfulness hasn’t changed. The God who patiently protected and provided for the Israelites also conquered death so that you could experience eternal life.
If you find yourself growing weary from waiting, look up and look back. Look for evidence of God’s presence, and look back on what He’s done for you. This will help you hold onto hope.
Hoping in God is never wasted because the One who conquered death is still in control, and He’s always at work in your waiting.
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