November 1

Romans 8:33-34
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

NLT:  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own?  No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.  Who then will condemn us?  No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

NLT: So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  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.

October 31

Exodus 3:5

“Do not come any closer” God said.  “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

NLT:  “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned.  “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

1 Corinthians 6:19

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own.

NTL:  Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself.

John 7:38-39

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

NLT:  “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!  For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”  (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.  But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

October 30

Isaiah 41:10 (NJKV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

NLT:  “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

NLT:  In those days when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

John 10:14, 27-28

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

NLT:  “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one can snatch them away from me.”

October 29

Zechariah 2:13

“Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

NLT:  Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

NLT:  For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Hebrews 12:3

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

NLT:  Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

October 28

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

NLT:  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

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.

Ephesians 1:7-8

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

NLT:  He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.  He showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Romans 5:5

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

NLT:  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

October 27

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

NLT:  The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.”

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

NLT:  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 58:11 (NKJV)

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

NLT:  The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

October 26

Isaiah 49:13

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains!  For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

NLT:  Sing for joy, O heavens!  Rejoice, O earth!  Burst into song, O mountains!  For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

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.”

James 1:4

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

NLT:  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

October 25

Matthew 1:21, 23

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

NLT:  “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

John 10:10 (NKJV)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

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

Acts 2:28

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

NLT:  You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.

October 24

Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

NLT:  The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Genesis 2:2-3

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

NLT:  On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Luke 1:79

To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

NLT:  “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace.”

October 23

Numbers 6:26 (AMP)

The Lord lift up His (approving) countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

NLT:  ‘May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

John 17:20-23

“My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

NLT:  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.  And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.  I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in me.  May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

NLT:  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

October 22

Psalm 21:6

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

NLT:  You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.

Proverbs 2:4

And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.

NLT:  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.

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.

October 21

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

NLT:  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand.

NLT:  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Job 1:21 (NKJV)

And he said: ….”The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

NLT:  He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.  The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.  Praise the name of the Lord!”

October 20

Revelation 1:18

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

NLT:  “I am the living one.  I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”

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.

Colossians 1:29

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

NLT:  That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Isaiah 2:5

Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

NLT:  Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

October 19

1 John 1:5-7

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:  God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  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.

NLT:  This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you:  God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.  So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.  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.

Exodus 33:14

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

NLT:  The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable…think about such things.

NLT:  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

October 18

John 10:14-15

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

NLT:  “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father.  So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. “

Isaiah 26:7

The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

NLT:  But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.  You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.

Proverbs 3:25-26

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

NLT:  You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security.  He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

October 17

Luke 12:22-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens:  They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

NLT:  Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.  For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.  Look at the ravens.  They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them.  And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.

NLT:  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!  Amen.

October 16

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.

Psalm 105:4

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

NLT:  Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

NLT:  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

October 15

Matthew 28:20

“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:  “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.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

NLT:  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

October 14

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking.

NLT:  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Psalm 107:21-22

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.  Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

NLT:  Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.  Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

Psalm 33:21

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

NLT:  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

October 13

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.”

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 smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

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.”

October 12

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

NLT:  And it is impossible to please God without faith.  Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Romans 5:5

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

NLT:  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

John 4:23-24

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

NLT: “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

October 11

Psalm 62:5-8

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

NLT:  Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.  My victory and honor come from God alone.  He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.  O my people trust in him at all times.  Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Revelation 1:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

NLT:  “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God.  “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

NLT: But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

NLT:  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

October 10

Psalm 37:3-6

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

NLT:  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.  Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.  He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

NLT:  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

October 9

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.”

Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

NLT:  Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.  Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Psalm 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

NLT:  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see what he has done and be amazed.  They will put their trust in the Lord.

October 8

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

NLT:  Long ago the Lord said to Israel:  “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

Exodus 15:13

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.  In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

NLT:  “With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed.  In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.”

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

NLT:  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

October 7

1 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.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

NLT:  This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

NLT:   Thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

October 6

2 Corinthians 5:7

We live by faith, not by sight.

NLT:  For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Psalm 96:6

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

NLT:  Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

NLT:  Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Psalm 36:9

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.

October 5

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

NLT:  Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  The Sovereign Lord is my strength!  He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

1 Chronicles 16:27

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.

NLT:  Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.

October 4

John 14:16-17 (NKJV)

“And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be with you.”

NLT: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

John 16:7

“But I tell you the truth:  It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

NLT:  “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come.  If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

Zechariah 4:6

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:  ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

NLT: Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel:  ‘It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

October 3

Psalm 13:5

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

NLT:  But I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

Ephesians 5:20

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT:  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 34:10

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

NLT:  Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

October 2

Psalm 145:18 (NKJV)

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

NLT:  The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

Luke 12:7

“Indeed, the very hairs of your heard are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

NLT:  “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

John 1:12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

NLT:  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 10:13

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

NLT:  For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”