MONDAY

Reading for Today:
Mark 12:35-44
2 Corinthians 10
Psalm 105
1 Samuel 24–25

2 Corinthians 10
When you take something captive, three things happen. First, you capture it. This takes both time and energy. It doesn’t happen by chance. Once you capture it, you must contain it. A captured mouse is not able to go where it wants to go. Rather it is contained to an area chosen by the capturer. Finally, when you take something captive, you control it. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul challenges us to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. This week, capture, contain, and control your thoughts by the power of Christ. 

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:
Mark 13:1-13
2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Psalm 106:1-23
1 Samuel 26–28

1 Samuel 26–28
How do you treat someone after he or she has been unkind to you? Do you return the favor? Do you talk unkindly about her? Do you plot in your mind what you would say to him if you weren’t afraid of the repercussions? If you hear of their misfortune, are you secretly happy because they finally got what they deserved? Or, are you more like David? When David found Saul sleeping and had the opportunity to bring him harm, he refused. He showed kindness when revenge would have been understandable, because kindness—even when it’s hard—is always the right thing to do.

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:
Mark 13:14-31
2 Corinthians 11:16-33
Psalm 106:24-48
1 Samuel 29–31

Psalm 106:24-48
The Israelites didn’t believe God’s promises (Psalm 106:24). Are there ever times you too struggle to believe his promises? He promises never to leave or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8). He promises that if you confess your sins, he will forgive them (1 John 1:9). He promises to meet all of your needs (Philippians 4:19). He promises to work out all things for your good (Romans 8:28). Sometimes we struggle to believe these promises are for us. We can believe he promises these things to other people, but to us . . . . we’re not as convinced. Today, choose to believe they are true about you.

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:
Mark 13:32-37
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Psalm 107
2 Samuel 1–2

2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Paul begged God to remove the thorn in his flesh, but God didn’t. Instead, he reminded Paul that his power is made perfect in our weaknesses. When we are weak, he is strong. We sometimes have our own thorns in the flesh that we beg God to remove. These thorns are painful. They might even seem to hinder our ministries. Sometimes God answers our prayers and removes them. Other times, he answers our prayers and doesn’t. No matter what, we can, like Paul, rest in the knowledge that when we are weak, God’s strength carries us.

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:
Mark 14:1-11
2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Psalm 108
2 Samuel 3–4

Psalm 108
David knew the only way he would be successful was if God helped him. He wanted God’s help more than the help of people. We sometimes do the opposite. We look to people first—before we turn to God. We look to doctors, lawyers, teachers, counselors, friends, and so on before we seek the Lord. There’s great wisdom in looking to professionals and godly mentors for advice and assistance in tough situations. These people can be very helpful, but they can never replace God. Don’t lean on them so much that you forget who your greatest ally is.

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:
Mark 14:12-31
2 Corinthians 13
Psalm 109
2 Samuel 5–7

Mark 14:12-31
“I could never do that.” Many of us have thought or even said something similar about a certain sin. We mistakenly assume there are certain sins we could never fall prey to. The disciples thought the same thing. When Jesus told them that one of them would betray him and that they would disown him, they all emphatically denied the charges. There was no way, they thought, that they could ever betray or disown Jesus. Shortly thereafter, though, that’s exactly what happened. One of the quickest ways to fall into sin is to think it could never happen to you.