Kristi Burchfiel

VERSE: Gen 3:23–therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. TRUTH: Adam and Eve sinned and God punished them. Then as a result of their sin, they had to leave the garden. However, God did not give up on Adam and Eve or forget about them. God sent them out of the garden, but He gave them purpose and responsibility. Even when we sin and receive God’s punishment, He still loves us and through our repentance and return to Him, He still has purpose for us. RESPONSE: Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness when we mess up.…

VERSE: Genesis 2:24–For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. TRUTH: Marriage is such a special creation of God between the man and woman that God created. But marriage is work and requires that we place our spouse above all others except God. RESPONSE: Lord, thank You for a wonderful husband. Help me to show him the love and respect that he deserves because You love Him too.

VERSE: Gen 1:31–God saw all that He made and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. TRUTH: God’s created everything and on this day He created people. As He looked at His creation, He indicated that He was pleased and proud of what He had created. When we look at other people, do we see them as God’s valued creation? RESPONSE: Lord, help me see people the way You see people, as Your valued creations.

VERSE: John 21:22–Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’ TRUTH: It can be easy to get focused on other people and what God has planned for their lives. However, we should not allow that to distract from what God has planned in our own lives. Will we follow God regardless of what other people are called to do? RESPONSE: Lord, help me to focus on You and follow You regardless of Your plans for the others I’m around.

VERSE: John 20:21–So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” TRUTH: The idea of being sent out like Jesus was sent out can cause some anxiety and yet Jesus tells us to have peace. In truth, we only find peace in being exactly where God has for us to be, doing what God has for us to do. RESPONSE: Father, I pray that I go when and where You send me and that I will rest in Your peace.

VERSE: John 19:30b–He said, ‘It it finished!’ and he bowed his head and gave up His spirit. TRUTH: The Lord Jesus Christ finished everything here that the Father had for Him to do. That is when He was able to give up His spirit and complete the sacrifice that He made on our behalf. RESPONSE: Lord, thank You for the sacrifice that made it possible for me to be in a relationship with You.

VERSE: John 18:11–So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?’ TRUTH: God shares with us plans He has for us and we have the option to fight against those plans or to allow those plans to become part of us. Will we ‘drink the cup’ of plans that God has for us or try to fight against God’s plan? RESPONSE: Jesus, since You can drink Your cup, help me to drink the cups that You have for me so that I may always follow Your will for my life.

VERSE: John 17:15–I do not ask to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. TRUTH: Jesus prayed for his disciples. He doesn’t ask that they avoid problems all together, but that they avoid the evil one. We are going to have difficulties in this world, Jesus is not taking us away from the hard times. But He will help us avoid the temptation to sin while in the midst of them. RESPONSE: Lord, help me to seek You through the tough times, knowing that You are there are will help me go through them without listening to the evil one.

VERSE: John 16:33–These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world. TRUTH: What encouragement! Jesus Christ has overcome the world and he reminds us of the peace, courage, and hope that we have through Him. Whatever we are going through now, Jesus has overcome! RESPONSE: Lord, thank You for overcoming and giving peace and hope through You!