August 31

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.”

Proverbs 3:5 (AMP)

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

NLT:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

NLT:  Have you never heard?  Have you never understood?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth.  He never grows weak or weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.

August 30

Genesis 16:13-14 (AMP)

So she called the name of the Lord Who spoke to her, You are a God of seeing, for she said, “Have I (not) even here (in the wilderness) looked upon Him Who sees me (and lived)?  Or have I here also seen (the future purposes or designs of) Him Who sees me?  Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (A well to the Living One Who sees me).

NLT:  Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her.  She said, “You are the God who sees me.”  She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”  So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means “well of the Living One who sees me”).  It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered.

Psalm 139:7-10

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

NLT:  I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

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.”

August 29

Luke 12:22-25

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…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?”

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!”

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

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 the heavenly places.

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.

August 28

Psalm 4:6-8

Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?”  Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

NLT:  Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”  Let your face smile on us, Lord.  You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.  In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Revelation 21:23

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

NLT:  And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.

2 Peter 3:13

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

NLT:  But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

August 27

Psalm 43:4

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.  I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

NLT:  There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy.  I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!

Psalm 63:7-8

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

NLT:  Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.  I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

NLT:  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

August 26

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

NLT:  “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

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.

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to 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.”

August 25

Exodus 3:14

“I Am Who I Am.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

NLT:  “God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.  Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”

1 Corinthians 3:16

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

NLT:  Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Psalm 25:14-15

The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.  My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

NLT:  The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.  He teaches them his covenant.  My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

August 24

Psalm 139:1-4

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.

NLT:  O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it Lord.

Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

NLT:  But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.  Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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.

August 23

Genesis 37:3-4

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.  When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

NLT:  Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age.  So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.  But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them.  They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

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.

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.”

August 22

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

NLT:  So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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.

Isaiah 12:2

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

NLT: “See, God has come to save me.  I will trust in him and not be afraid.  The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”

August 21

Isaiah 30:18

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!

NLT:  So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion.  For the Lord is a faithful God.  Blessed are those who wait for his help.

1 Kings 8:23

O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.

NLT: and he prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below.  You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.”

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

NLT:  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against these things!

August 20

James 4:2 (KJV)

Ye have not, because ye ask not.

NLT:  You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it.  You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.  Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

NLT:  even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God.  So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.  Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time he said, “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.

Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.”

NLT:  “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

August 19

Psalm 131:2

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

NLT:  Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.  Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

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.

Psalm 37:7

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

NLT:  Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”

NLT:  “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”

August 18

Job 5:7

Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

NLT:  People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.

Revelation 19:1

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:  “Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.”

NLT:  After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the Lord!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.”

Psalm 91:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

NLT:  Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

August 17

Philippians 2:9-11

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, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 29:11

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. 

NLT:  the Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.

Isaiah 43:1

But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

NLT:  But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.  O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.”

August 16

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

NLT:  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.

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.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—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.

August 15

Psalm 105:3

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

NLT:  Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

Psalm 55:17

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

NLT:  Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.

Psalm 32:6

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

NLT:  Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

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.

August 14

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.”

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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

Psalm 102:25-27

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.  But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

NLT:  Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.  They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing.  You will change them like a garment and discard them.  But you are always the same; you will live forever.

Psalm 48:14

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

NLT:  For that is what God is like.  He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.

August 13

Matthew 1:23

“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:  “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 10:10-11

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

NLT:  “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”

Jude vv. 24-25

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.

NLT:  Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.  All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!  Amen.

August 12

Isaiah 42:3

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.  In faithfulness he will bring forth justice,”

NLT:  He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.  He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.

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,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

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 groaning that cannot be expressed in words.