October 1

1 Timothy 6:15-16

Which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.  To him be honor and might forever.  Amen.

NLT:  For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.  He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him.  No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will.  All honor and power to him forever!  Amen.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

NLT:  “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Revelation 2:4

“Yet I hold this against you:  You have forsaken your first love.”

NLT:  “But I have this complaint against you.  You don’t love me or each other as you did at first.”

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

NLT:  Then Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

September 30

 Matthew 6:34

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

NLT:  “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

 

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

NLT:  “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

 

James 4:13-15

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

NLT:   Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year.  We will do business there and make a profit.”  How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.  What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

September 29

Psalm 34:4-6

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

NLT: I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears.  Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.  In my desperation I prayed and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

2 Peter 1:16-17

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

NLT:  For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father.  The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

John 17:3

“Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

NLT:  “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

NLT:  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

September 28

Ephesians 3:16-18

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

NLT:  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.

NLT: So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

John 8:44

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

NLT:  For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does.  He was a murderer from the beginning.  He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

James 4:7-8 (NKJV)

Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you doubleminded.

NLT:  So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

September 27

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, “Destroy him!”

NTL:  The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.  He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out: ‘Destroy them!’

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

NLT:  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Psalm 27:13-14

I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

NLT:  Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.  Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

September 26

Isaiah 50:4

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

NLT:  The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary.  Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.

Isaiah 55:2-3

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.  Give ear and come to me; hear me,that your soul may live.  I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”

NLT: “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?  Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.  You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open.  Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting cove-nant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”

John 19:30

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

NLT:  When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!”  Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Matthew 27:50-51

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth shook and the rocks split.

NLT:  Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  The earth shook, rocks split apart.

September 25

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

NLT:  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Matthew 7:1-2

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

NLT:  “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

NLT:  Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

September 24

Psalm 89:15-16

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.

NLT:  Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.  They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.  They exult in your righteousness.

Psalm 16:8

I have set the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

NLT:  I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

NLT:  May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28 (NKJV)

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

NLT:  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one can snatch them away from me.

September 23

Psalm 68:19

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

NLT:  Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!  For each day he carries us in his arms.

1 John 1:7-9

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

NLT:  But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

NLT:  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.  If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

September 22

Exodus 15:2

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

NLT:  The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.  This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

NLT:  We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.  We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

NLT:  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promises.

September 21

Colossians 1:16 (NKJV)

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.

NLT:  For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.  Everything was created through him and for him.

1 Kings 19:12 (NKJV)

And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

NLT:  And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire there was the sound of gentle whisper.

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

NLT:  Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.  Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

September 20

Psalm 36:9 (NKJV)

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

NLT:  For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Proverbs 20:24

A man’s steps are directed by the Lord.  How then can anyone understand his own way?

NLT:  The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

NLT:  For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

September 19

Ephesians 2:6

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

NLT: For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:6

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

NLT:  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

1 John 2:15, 17

Do not love the world or anything in the world….The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

NLT:  Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.  But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

September 18

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

NLT:  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

John 8:29

“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

NLT:  “And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me.  For I always do what pleases him. “

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

NLT:   Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

September 17

Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

NLT:   So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Proverbs 16:9

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

NLT:  We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

NLT:  Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.

September 16

Mark 8:36

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

NLT:  “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”

Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depts. Of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

NLT:  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

NLT:  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.  And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

September 15

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

NLT:  “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

NLT:  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

NLT:  For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Numbers 6:25-26

“The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

NLT:  “May the Lord bless you and protect you.  May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. (Includes vs 24)

September 14

Genesis 2:7

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

NLT:  Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground.  He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Psalm 89:15

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.

NLT:  Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

NLT:  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

September 13

Matthew 7:1

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

NLT:  “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”

John 17:3

“Now this is eternal life:  that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

NLT:  For you have given him authority over everyone.  He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.

Romans 9:20-21

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?  “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you made me like this?’  “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

NLT:  No, don’t say that.  Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God?  Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”  When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 

1 Timothy 6:15

Which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

NLT: For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of all lords.

September 12

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

NLT:  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Isaiah 30:15

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

NLT:  This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.  In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

2 Corinthians 10:4

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

NLT:   We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

September 11

Philippians 4:4, 12

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice! ... I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

NLT:  Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 

Psalm 102:27

But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

NLT:  But you are always the same; you will live forever.

1 Peter 1:8

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

NLT:  You love him even though you have never seen him.  Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy.   

September 10

Isaiah 54:10

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

NLT:  “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain.  My covenant of blessing will never be broken.”

Genesis 28:15

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

NLT:  “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go.  One day I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Matthew 28:19-20

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

NLT:  “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

September 9

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

NLT:  Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Psalm 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

NLT:  Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 25:4-5

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

NLT:  Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

NLT:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

September 8

Psalm 42:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior.

NLT:  Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

2 Corinthians 13:4

For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power.  Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.

NLT:  Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God.  We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have Gods power.

Jeremiah 31:25

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

NLT:  “For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”

September 7

Isaiah 61:10

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

NLT:  I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!  For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.  I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.

Romans 8:1-2

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

NLT:  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

September 6

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

NLT:  “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

NLT:  A final word:  Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

NLT:   Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.  They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”  So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

September 5

John 15:13-15

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

NLT: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.  Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Isaiah 61:3

And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

NLT:  To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

2 Corinthians 6:10

Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

NLT:  Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.  We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.  We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

September 3

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

NLT:  “Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.”

Luke 10:39-42

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

NLT:  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.  She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?  Tell her to come and help me.”  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about.  Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

NLT:  For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

September 2

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NLT:  Each time he said to me, “My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness.”  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Acts 17:28

For in him we live and move and have our being.

NLT:  For in him we live and move and exist.  As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and over-flowing with thankfulness.

NLT:  And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

John 14:20

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

NLT:  “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

September 1

Deuteronomy 4:29

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

NLT:  But from there you will search again for the Lord your God.  And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

NLT:  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Psalm 145:20

The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

NLT:  The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

Psalm 121:7-8

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

NLT:  The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.  The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.