Verse to Remember: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1

Scripture.  Choose the passage.  (If using the Jesus Bible, page number given.  Or use Biblegateway.com or Biblehub app).

Observation.  What does the passage say?  What is difficult tounderstand?  What does it say to me?

Application.  How do I apply these verses?  Is there somethingto give God thanks for?  Is there is a sin to avoid?

Prayer.  Simply end your time with God talking with Him.

Day One

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-7.  Jesus Bible pg. 1855.

TAKE TIME TODAY TO READ SHADED AREA ON PAGE 1857 ABOUT FAITH.  IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES BUT OFFERS SOME GREAT INSIGHT.

Observation: “Faith is an intense form of trust, and people’s relationship with God has always operated on the basis of faith.”

Last Monday night, on Monday Night Football, the nation paused as Damar Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills player made a tackle, stood up and then dropped to the turf.  The trainers administered CPR to start his heart and he was loaded on an ambulance and taken to the hospital where he has remained for a week.  The game was canceled.  Sports broadcasters were left with little to say as this was a first in pro football history.  Social media was flooded with prayers.  The next day an ESPN analyst prayed on national t.v.  Both teams at the Jags-Titans game kneeled and prayed together before their game Saturday.

All of the sudden, God and prayer became okay again.  It had been pushed out of so many areas of life.  Faith in God was all we had.  There was nothing we could do, but run to God and have faith in Him.

“Faith is an intense form of trust.”

Application:  Faith is not just “I hope something happens, the way I want it to.”  Faith is believing God can and will work.  Faith is trusting God is who He says He is.  Faith is trusting God even when circumstances do not happen the way I want them to or even prayed for them to.

God wants us to have faith in Him all the time.  He even tells us that “without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”

Prayer.  God, 2023 will bring lots of great things and lots of really hard things.  Help me to trust You, to have faith in You, no matter the circumstances.  I have faith that You are God.  I have faith that You love me.  I have faith that Jesus is my Savior.