May 1 Romans 1:4
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit.
JESUS
Jesus is adequate to meet whatever need we have. He is always able. His power is not limited and His concern for us is always great. Jesus is Lord.
May 2 Romans 1:8
Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you.
YOU
Jesus knows you. He has not forgotten where you are and what you are going through. Remember that His power is most effective in our submission and obedience. Treat the people you meet every day as if they are important and you will become important. Trust and obey and Jesus will use you.
May 3 Ephesians 1:3-5
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
PARTNERS
We are participating together with Jesus Christ as ministers of the mystery of God: God loves you and has provided a way for you to be a member of His family. He has a plan for your life that is important. We are co-workers spreading the Good News. Jesus has come that we might be free.
May 4 Ephesians 1:6
And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.
WORK
Obey Jesus. It may seem that what you are doing isn’t changing the world but it is. We are world changers when we let Jesus lead us. Daily equip yourself by His Word and His presence and go change the world.
May 5 Ephesians 1:7
It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News.
HEAR
We are never more than one generation away from paganism. It is so critical that as we partner with Jesus we tell others about Him. We must share the Gospel by Word and we must share the Gospel by what we do. It is always a balance. When people know we care they will care about what we know.
May 6 Ephesians 1:8-9
God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.
LOVE
Love is evidenced by what we do. It is an action. When I treat people like I would like to be treated I am expressing human love. When I treat people like Jesus treats me it is a Christ like love. Jesus loves me. I need to love people. It is a very simple process-when I am a Christian I will care for others especially those that are hard to love.
May 7 Ephesians 1:10
For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns.
LIFESTYLE
Jesus is Lord. When we surrender to Him we will change. Change is fundamental in the Christian life. Our lifestyle is always being drawn by the world. His Word guides us to live like Him. When I live like Jesus I will change the way I live.
May 8 Ephesians 1:11
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
LIFESTYLE
Do the next right thing. I cannot focus on the future. Life is lived in the now. I am charged with the opportunity to connect with our Lord Jesus on a moment by moment basis and live as He would have me live. Guidance and direction come from Jesus. If I spend time with Him and listen to Him I will do the right things.
May 9 Ephesians 1:12-13
And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.
LIFESTYLE
I do not look to the world to know how to live. How I live is not dictated by my circumstances. Wealth or poverty do not define me. If I live in a close relationship with Jesus I will become more like Christ. If I focus on the world and the things of the world I will be tossed about like a rowboat in heavy seas. Jesus is Lord.
May 10 Ephesians 1:14
And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ.
PROCLAMATION
By truth and word and deed we share the Gospel. When I am weak He is strong. When I am yielded He is active. Telling the Gospel story is simply speaking about my relationship with Jesus. I will always share what is Lord of my life.
May 11 Ephesians 1:15-18
Some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know the Lord brought me here to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
GOSPEL
The Gospel is for all. Jesus died that all might have forgiveness. It is not a private event nor is it an event that is limited in scope. I do not decide how the Lord will work in the world. I only participate in His activity of telling the world of His salvation and love.
May 12 Ephesians 1:19-20
For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will all turn out for my deliverance. For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die.
FINALLY
Lord don’t let me mess up now. Even in Paul there was an awareness of the devastating impact of sin in the life of a believer. I am to be on the alert. I am to constantly be striving to grow into Christ likeness. The Lordship of Jesus in my life is a daily activity. I let Him have control. I am the one that must obey. The Christian life is not an end, it is a reflection of the Lord in my life.
May 13 Mark 16:8
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk. Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.
MESSAGE
We can have a relationship with Jesus. He is alive. He offers us the free gift of salvation. This gift equips us to live now and forever. I rejoice in Jesus because He paid a price I couldn’t pay and gave me a relationship I couldn’t earn. Jesus is Lord.
May 14 Romans 4:25
He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
MESSAGE
Jesus did it all. My life has value and worth because as a child of God I am in partnership with the Lord of the universe seeking to do His will and follow His guidance. Peace and joy are a part of this partnership. Significance and usefulness are a result of this partnership. Jesus provides all of this for each one of us. Christ is our salvation.
May 15 Romans 10:9
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
SALVATION
Salvation is gift from the Father. It is offered to each one of us as if there were no other of us. It is a free gift that once accepted is eternal. I don’t earn salvation. I don’t lose salvation. This gift is literally the presence of the Lord in an eternal relationship with each on of us that accept His free gift forgiveness of sin and eternal relationship.
May 16 Acts 3:15
You killed the author of life, but God raised him to life. And we are witnesses of this fact!
PURPOSE
The purpose of God will not be thwarted. What man means for evil the Lord can use for good. Be alert, be grateful and serve willingly. Our lives count in Jesus.
May 17 Acts 2:23-24
But you followed God’s prearranged plan. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to the cross and murdered him. However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip.
LIFE
Very often we face the fear of the unknown. What will happen if and what if and on and on. Jesus changes that for us. He has faced the final conflict and by the power of the Father defeated death and the unknown. In Christ we find confidence for our life. In Christ we live in victory.
May 18 John 11:25
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.
VICTORY
My life counts. What I do and say is important to Christ. He uses each one of us in His plan to share life with every person. We are messengers and members of His family. Eternal life although difficult to imagine is ours. Jesus would that all find Him. That is my goal.
May 19 1 Corinthians 1:14-15
I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, for now no one can say they were baptized in my name.
JESUS
Jesus is our everything. I live in Him. In Christ we have access to the Father and power for living. In Christ I find my service and the fulfillment of my life. In Christ I live in victory and will not succumb to defeat. Jesus is Lord.
May 20 John 2:19
“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
LIFE
This life is a mirage that is always seeking to seduce man. This world condemns, destroys and defeats us. Life in Christ gives us truth. We are somebody. The Father does hear our prayers. Our life has value and worth and the Father is patiently using us as His messengers. Life in Christ is victory. Life in Christ is eternal.
May 21 John 20:18
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
POWER
The Lord gives us the power to be ourselves. He makes our pathways safe and this world cannot destroy us. The Lord Jesus gives us the strength we need and the wisdom to deal with crisis now. His strength is always a present strength that equips us to obey Him.
May 22 Mark 14:3
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head.
VALUE
People count. All people count. Jesus makes us whole. His love forgives us and brings us into the family of God. Life lived in Christ is a life that is worthwhile. Obedience is the foundation for this life in Christ and produces joy and confidence in our hearts. Peace becomes a reality in our lives each day.
May 23 Psalm 23:3
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
GUIDANCE
It is all about Jesus and His love for each one of us. As I grow in Christ I discover that I am better equipped to deal with those that spitefully abuse me. People count with Jesus and as I become more like Christ they count with me. Not so that I can achieve my goals but so that they can know Him and the power of His resurrection in their life.
May 24 Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
DISCIPLINE
Just as the soldier must learn discipline I too must at times be disciplined. His discipline creates strength and wisdom. His discipline is all about my best good. When I bend the knee quickly to His discipline I find strength, peace and joy that much quicker.
May 25 Psalm 23:5
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
LIFE
Life is difficult. It demands that we learn to live with the unknown. Faith is responding to life with the realization that Jesus loves me. His love underscores my value and my life. Christ is my hope of glory and serving Him is my response.
May 26 Psalm 23:6
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
PURSUIT
Jesus is always looking for you and for me. I am always on His heart. Every thought He has for me is a thought for good. Good or bad, rich or poor, the Lord is with me and is working out His good plan for my life.
May 27 Ephesians 1:21
For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.
ETERNAL
We cannot control the world. We can control our life. In Christ we have everything we need for real life. Worth, value, joy and peace are products of our eternal relationship with Jesus. Think with me today how truly wonderful it is that Jesus loves us.
May 28 Ephesians 1:22-24
Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.
RELATIONSHIP
The more I know Jesus, the more I want to see Him. Time passes so quickly and it is so difficult for us to see the good we do that at times my yearning is to finish my course and be with Him. Yet I know that He has a perfect time for me and by faith I know that His plan for me is much better than any emotion I feel or plan I could work up. Life is Christ and in Him I live and move and breathe.
May 29 Ephesians 1:25-26
I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith. Then when I return to you, you will have even more reason to boast about what Christ Jesus has done for me.
JESUS
Each one of our lives is so personal and unique. And yet in our very uniqueness we find a common thread, Jesus is our Lord. Your victory in Christ brings me joy. Your love for Jesus encourages me to love Him more.
May 30 Ephesians 1:27-28
But whatever happens to me, you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing side by side, fighting together for the Good News. Don’t be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.
VICTORY
We belong. We count. Our master is the creator and ruler of all things and we know Him as Lord and Father. His spirit resides in us and as we voice our prayers we know that He is with us to encourage us and direct us how to pray. There is sweet joy in knowing that He is the giver of life and the sustainer of our life. Jesus is Lord and in Him we have eternal victory.
May 31 Ephesians 1:29-30
For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle.
SUFFERING
You will suffer for your faith. So often it seems like bad luck or so unfair that we experience difficult times. Sometimes this is just life but often it is the spirit of the evil one seeking whom he might devour. As committed servants we are sometimes in the line of fire. The powers and principalities of this world do not like us prevailing against them and they will strike out against us. Do not worry. If you are suffering for your faith you are in good company. Jesus loves you.
