VERSE: John 4:42–and they were saying to the woman, ‘it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.’ TRUTH Each person, regardless of how they first heard of Jesus Christ, must eventually have a personal encounter with Him and see Christ for who He is. The testimony of others is important, for it draws us to God in the first place. However, the decision to follow Him is ours alone. Have we made a personal decision to follow Christ? RESPONSE: Lord, thank you for amazing people who told me…

VERSE: John 3:36–He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. TRUTH: God’s Son Jesus makes the way for us to receive the gift of eternal life. The Lord is very clear that this is the only way to receive this gift. If someone does not believe and obey, then they have God’s wrath. Have we received this gift? Have we shared it with others? RESPONSE: Lord, thank You for Your amazing gift! Help me to share this amazing gift with everyone I meet.

VERSE: John 2:5–His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” TRUTH: In this circumstance, Mary knew that Jesus would have the answer, but it might not make sense to the servants. Jesus has the answer to every one of our circumstances, but the answers don’t always make sense to us at first. Do we trust Him enough to do whatever He says to do? RESPONSE: Lord, I don’t need to have all the answers. Help me trust and do all that You have for me to do.

VERSE: John 1:17–For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. TRUTH: Moses was given the Law to allow us to see God’s standard of perfection. If we compare ourselves to the law, none of us measure up. Jesus Christ came in Truth, the Truth that allowed Him to fulfill God’s standard of perfection. He also came in Grace, the Grace that offers to share that Truth with us who would submit our lives to Him. RESPONSE: Lord, Your grace is amazing and Your truth is perfection. Thank You for taking my imperfection and giving me Your grace!

VERSE: Lamentations 5:19–You, O Lord, rule forever, Your throne is from generation to generation. TRUTH: The same God who was over all in the past, is over all now, and will be over all in the future. He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory. Do we trust Him with our past, present, and future? Do we submit it all to Him? RESPONSE: Lord, help me to submit everything to You for You are over all: my past, my present, and my future.

VERSE: Lam 4:5–Those who are delicacies are desloate in the streets; those reared in purple embrace the ash pit TRUTH: Just because we start out life with riches or the fine things in life does not mean that we will stay there. We cannot trust in the circumstances around us as those can change quickly. Do we trust what we see around us or the One who gave us what we see around us? RESPONSE: Lord, You are the giver of and sustainer of all. Help me to put my trust in You and not in my circumstances.

VERSE: Lamentations 3:39–Why should any living mortal or any man offer complaint in view of his sins? TRUTH: Some days I can really complain. It easy to do when I focus on all the things I think I should be entitled to. If I focus on the sins in my life instead, as this verse suggests, I realize how gracious and loving and patient God has been with me, even when I don’t deserve any of it. What are we focused on today? RESPONSE: Lord, help me to focus on You, Your grace, Your mercy and Your goodness, even when I don’t deserve any of it. Thank You for Your blessings…

VERSE: Lamentations 2:19a–Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning of the watches; pour our your heart like water before the presence of the Lord. TRUTH: When we are confronted with our sin, like the people of Israel had been, how do we respond? Do we deny it or try to hide it? Or do we cry out and turn to God immediately at the beginning and seek His forgiveness? RESPONSE: Lord, please forgive me for not always seeking Your forgiveness immediately, at the beginning of the watch. Allow nothing to stand in the way of being in a right relationship with You.

VERSE: Lamentations 1:20a–See O Lord for I am in distress; my spirit is greatly troubled, my heart is overturned within me for I have been very rebellious. TRUTH: Disobedience to the Lord results in our distress. Even when we are troubled, the only place to turn is back to the Lord. He is ready to comfort and forgive us, but only when we turn back to Him. RESPONSE: Lord, help me to not just sit in my distress when I have rebeled against You, but to repent and return to You!

VERSE: 2 Peter 3:14–Therefore beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless, and blameless TRUTH: As believers we are all looking forward to the return of Christ. When He comes, we want to be found to be like Christ: peaceful, spotless and blameless. Do we focus on becoming more like Christ everyday? Do we allow Him to perfect His peace in us? RESPONSE: Lord, use this time waiting for Your return to perfect in me Your peace.