December 31

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

NLT:  For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

NLT:  We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

John 14:26-27

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  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:  “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.  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.”

December 30

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

NLT:  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

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.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

NLT:  Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.

John 15:4

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

NLT:  Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

December 29

Psalm 40:4

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

NLT:  Oh, the joys of those who trust in the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.

Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?

NLT:  But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.  I praise God for what he has promised.  I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?  What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

NLT:  O my people, trust in him at all times.  Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

NLT:  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal. Rock.

December 28

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

NLT:  God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam.  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge.

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.

December 27

Isaiah 64:4

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

NLT:  For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!

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.”

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.

December 26

1 John 4:15-16, 18

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him … 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:  Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.   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.

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

NLT:  “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!’”

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.

December 25

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 

NLT:  For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:6-7

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

NLT:  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. 

Luke 2:13-14

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest.”

NLT:  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty might become rich.

NLT:  You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

December 24

Psalm 90:2 (AMP)

Before the mountains were brought forth or ever You had formed and given birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

NLT:  Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.

Colossians 1:27

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

NLT:  For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of

 Christ are for you Gentiles, too.  And this is the secret:  Christ lives in you.  This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

John 3:3

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

NLT:  Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.

NLT:  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.

December 23

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 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

Psalm 95:6-7

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

NLT: Come let us worship and bow down.  Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God.  We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.  If only you would listen to his voice today!

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

NLT:  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

2 Peter 1:19

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

NLT:  Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets.  You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning star shines in your hearts.

December 22

Luke 1:35

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

NLT:  The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

NLT:  So the Word became human and made his home among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Matthew 2:10-11 (NKJV)

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.

NLT:  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!  They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Luke 1:78-79 (AMP)

A Light from on high will dawn upon (us) … To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet … into the way of peace.

NLT:  “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

December 21

Psalm 63:2-5

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

NLT:  I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.  Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!  I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.  You satisfy me more than the richest feast.  I will praise you with songs of joy.

2 Corinthians 5:7

We live by faith, not by sight.

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

John 11:40

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 

NLT:  Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 

December 20

John 2:11

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee.  He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

NLT:  This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory.  And his disciples believed in him.

Luke 23:35-36

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.  They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”  The soldiers also came up and mocked him.  They offered him wine vinegar.

NLT:  The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed.  “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”  The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.

Psalm 92:1-5

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.  For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!

NLT:  It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.  It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.  You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!  I sing for joy because of what you have done.  O Lord, what great works you do!  And how deep are your thoughts.

December 19

Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

NLT:  Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

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.

Psalm 27:8 (NKJV)

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

NLT:  My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”  And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

NLT:  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

December 18

Isaiah 30:20-21

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

NLT: Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you.  You will see your teacher with your own eyes.  Your own ears will hear him.  Right behind you a voice will say,”This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

Ephesians 5:19-20

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT:  Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.  Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (AMP)

For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of  glory (Beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!).

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!

December 17

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

NLT:  For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:3, 6

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

NLT:  “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

Colossians 2:9-10

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

NLT:  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.  So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Psalm 150:6

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord.

NLT:  Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!  Praise the Lord!

December 16

Psalm 119:64

The earth is filled with your love, O Lord’ teach me your decrees.

NLT:  O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.

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.

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!”

Isaiah 60:2

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

NLT:  Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.

December 15

Romans 8:23-25

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

NLT:  And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.  We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.  We were given this hope when we were saved.  (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.  But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

Hebrews 6:18-19

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

NLT:  So God has given both his promise and his oath.  These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.  Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

NLT:  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.  Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

December 14

Matthew 1:22-23

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.”  --which mean, “God with us.”

NLT:  All this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:  “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.’”

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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

Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Meaningless!  Meaningless!” says the Teacher.  “Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless.”

NLT:  “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

NLT:  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

December 13

2 Thessalonians 1:10

On the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.  This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

NLT:  When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe.  And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

NLT:  The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. 

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.

NLT:  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.

Ephesians 3:20

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.

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.

December 12

Romans 8:28 (AMP)

We are assured and know that (God being a partner in their labor) all things work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to and for those who love God and are called according to (His) design and purpose.

NLT:  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Job 42:1-3

Then Job replied to the Lord:  “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.  You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’  Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”

NLT:  Then Job replied to the Lord:  “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.  You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’  It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.”

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

NTL:  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

2 Corinthians 5:7

We live by faith, not by sight.

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

December 11

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.

Genesis 21:1-7

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.  Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.  Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.  When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him.  Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.  Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”  And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children?  Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

NLT:  The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.  She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age.  This happened at just the time God had said it would.  And Abraham named their son Isaac.  Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.  Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  All who hear about this will laugh with me.  Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby?  Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for, being the proof of things (we) do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses).

NLT:  Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 

December 10

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and 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.”

Psalm 139:10

Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

NLT:  Even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

James 1:2 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

NLT:  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

December 9

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.

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.

John 12:26

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

NLT:  Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am.  And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

December 8

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in 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.

Colossians 2:2-3

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

NLT:  I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.  I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.  In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Psalm 84:11-12 (NKJV)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

NLT:  For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.  He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.  O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

December 7

 Matthew 10:29-31

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

NLT:  “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin?  But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your heard are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

 

Hebrews 11:27

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

NLT:  It is by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger.  He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

2 Corinthians 4:18

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:  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.

December 6

Deuteronomy 6:5

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

NLT:  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

NLT:  Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Psalm 86:12 (NKJV)

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.

NLT:  With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.  I will give glory to your name forever.

December 5

Psalm 31:20

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.

NLT:  You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them.  You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Genesis 28:11-16

When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set.  Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.  He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  There above it stood the Lord, and he said:  “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.  I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.  All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  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.”  When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

NLT:  At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night.  Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep.  As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven.  And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.  At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac.  The ground you are lying on belongs to you.  I am giving it to you and your descendants.  Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!  They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south.  And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  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.”  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

December 4

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”

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

NLT:  Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Psalm 116:17

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

NLT:  I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.

December 3

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

NLT:  For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places.

Philippians 2:9-10

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

NLT:  Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

1 Peter 1:8-9

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, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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.  The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

December 2

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

NLT:  For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 20:19-21

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

NLT:  That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.  Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!  Peace be with you, he said.  As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side.  They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!  Again he said, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

  

Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.

NLT:  Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.