May 8

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 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.”

Isaiah 41:13

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

NLT:  For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God.  And I say to you; ‘Don’t be afraid.  I am here to help you.’” 

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

NLT:  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

May 7

Isaiah 26:4

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

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

Genesis 50:20 (NASB)

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

NLT:  You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.  He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

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.

May 6

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

NLT:  And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.

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!

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.

May 5

Psalm 95:2

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

NLT:  Let us come to him with thanksgiving.  Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

1 John 1:5

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:  God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

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.

Psalm 19:7

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

NLT:  The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.  The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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

May 4

Psalm 29:2 (NKJV)

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

NLT:  Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.  Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

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.

1 Peter 1:8

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

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

May 3

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money.”

NLT: “No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”

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!”

Ephesians 3:16-17

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…

NLT:  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me that path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

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

May 2

Psalm 18:1-2

I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

NLT – I love you, Lord; you are my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Proverbs 29:25

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

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

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.