Read and Pray through the Bible in a Year for Boys

Especially for From Date

Written and compiled by Jean Fischer; editorial assistance by Andy Rogers

ISBN 978-1-63609-730-5

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Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible.

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001834 1223 HA

Welcome to the Bible— GOD’S WORD!

The Bible is the best guidebook for your life (Matthew 4:4). Its words are always true (Psalm 33:4) and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible is God’s gift to you (2 Timothy 3:16). It will teach you how to live (2 Timothy 3:16–17), lead you in God’s way (Psalm 119:105), and help you to live a pure life (Psalm 119:9). The Bible is forever (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35). It gives you wisdom (Proverbs 2:6), truth (John 8:32; 17:17), strength (Deuteronomy 8:3), and hope (Psalms 119:114; 130:5). It can even help save your soul (James 1:21) with the promise that you can enjoy forever life in heaven someday (John 3:16). God wants you to think about His Word all the time so you can become successful and wise (Joshua 1:8). The more you read the Bible, the more you will grow in knowing God and loving Him. Are you ready to begin a year-long Bible-reading adventure? Let’s get started!

God’s Perfect Creation

(Genesis 1)

Morning Prayer

Dear God, I see Your power in mountains. I hear Your peace in the sound of waves. I feel Your love as I run through the grass. When I think about all the amazing things You made, I want to know more about You. I want everyone to know You. Please open their eyes to see You, not only in the beauty of Your creation, but everywhere! Amen.

Evening Devotion

God saw all that He had made and it was very good. G enesis 1:31

In the beginning, God created a perfect world. But the world didn’t stay perfect. People did things to displease God. This was called sin. God knew that people on their own could never be perfect, so He sent His Son, Jesus, with a plan to save them from sin. God loves us all so much that His goal is to make us good and pure. He wants to use us to help make His world a better place.

GENESIS

MATTHEW

PSALM

Day 1

1-2

1

Day 2

GENESIS 3-4

MATTHEW 2

PSALM 2

Morning Prayer

Listen Up

(Matthew 2)

God, I have a lot to learn about staying still and quieting my mind so I can be ready to listen. I thank You that I hear Your voice as I read and think about the Bible. I’m thankful that You know the path my life will take and You are already preparing me. Please help me to keep my mind on You. I want to hear all You have to say. Amen.

Evening Devotion

“But as for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” I will make known the words of the Lord. He said to Me, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father. Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for you to own. The ends of the earth will belong to You.”

P salm 2:6–8

God saw the world filling with sin, but He had a plan. He sent Jesus and made Him King and Ruler over all the earth. After Jesus was born and the wise men came bringing Him gifts, they knew He was the King who would rule over all nations. His birth was just the beginning of God’s plan to save us from sin. You’ll learn more about God’s plan as you read through the Bible this year. It’s a powerful and amazing story!

Today’s Gift

(Psalm 3)

Morning Prayer

3 PSALM 3

Oh God, You never sleep. Every night You stay with me. Each day is Your gift to me. I will thank You for every minute. I’ll give today my best. If problems get in my way, I trust You will show me what to do. You will keep me strong and protect me if trouble comes. Because You are always with me, tonight I will lie down and rest knowing that You will watch over me. Amen.

Evening Devotion

He said, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them! The holy nation of heaven is near.”

m atthew 3:2

People turned away from God and lived in ways that displeased Him, so God sent a great flood. He saved only Noah, his family, and pairs of every kind of animal. But people kept sinning. God hates sin; still, He wants us to be saved from His punishment. That’s why He sent Jesus to die on the cross and take the punishment we deserve. If you are sorry for your sins and turn to Jesus, you can be sure God will forgive you. Day 3 GENESIS 5-7

MATTHEW

Day 4

GENESIS 8-10

MATTHEW 4

PSALM 4

Peaceful Sleep

(Genesis 8:21–22)

Morning Prayer

Dear God, after the flood, Noah prayed and You gave him everything he needed. I’m thankful You understand me and give me what I need. You know my every thought, good and bad. You know the things that make me afraid. You provide for me even when I am weak and unsure of myself, sometimes even before I ask. Oh God, how could I not want to follow You? Amen.

Evening Devotion

I will lie down and sleep in peace.

O Lord, You alone keep me safe.

P salm 4:8

Nothing on earth can make you truly safe. But when you trust in Jesus, you can rest feeling comfortable and safe because you know that He, the Ruler of the universe, cares for and loves you. Someday when you die, you will be safe forever living with God in heaven. So sleep peacefully tonight, knowing that nothing can touch you outside of God’s will. He is faithful and He dearly loves you. You are His son.

God Listens

(Psalm 5)

Morning Prayer

Day 5

GENESIS 11-13

MATTHEW 5:1-20

PSALM 5

Father God, I look forward to praying every morning. I pray feeling sure that You will protect me. Teach me today to love You first and most, and then to love others as I want to be loved. And when I’m not sure what to do, show me. Lead me on the right path. Guide me to follow Your way even when the eyes of my heart can’t see it. Amen.

Evening Devotion

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my prayers before You and will look up.

P salm 5:3

Pray feeling sure that God will hear you. Then listen and watch for His answer. Get in the habit of starting each day talking with God. When you talk with Him in the morning, you will be more aware of Him all through your day. Pray for the small things and the big things, knowing not only that God will listen to you but that He will always act to give you exactly what you need.

Day 6

GENESIS 14-16

MATTHEW 5:21-48

PSALM 6

Pray and Love

(Matthew 5:44)

Morning Prayer

Dear Lord, I don’t always feel like loving my enemies, but pray and love are actions You want me to take no matter what I’m feeling. And You know what happens when I pray for my enemies. My feelings toward them change. So as I pray for them, I ask for eyes to see them as You see them. Let me pray in a loving way, trusting You with the outcome. Amen.

Evening Devotion

He took him outside and said, “Now look up into the heavens and add up the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then He said to him, “Your children and your children’s children will be as many as the stars.” Then Abram believed in the Lord, and that made him right with God.

G enesis 15:5–6

Abraham had no children. His wife was too old to have a baby, and they certainly would have been past the point of hoping for such a miracle. Nothing would have made Abraham think he could have a never-ending line of descendants. But God promised Abraham as many descendants as there are stars. Abraham’s faith in God made him set aside what he believed and instead trust in God’s promise. Do you have faith as strong as Abraham’s?

What If?

(Genesis 18:22–32)

Morning Prayer

Day 7

GENESIS 17-18

MATTHEW 6:1-18

PSALM 7

God, Abraham begged You to spare the sinful city of Sodom even if You could find only ten good people there. First, he asked for a little. Then he kept asking You for more. And You answered yes. You have done the same for me. When I’ve asked for a little, You were ready to give more. When I pray, remind me of that. Prepare me to see even bigger blessings than what I expect. Amen.

Evening Devotion

So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Will I have this joy after my husband and I have grown old?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

G enesis 18:12–14

Do you take God’s promises seriously? Maybe you feel you’re not worthy of what He offers. Maybe deep down you just don’t think that God cares enough to keep His promises to you. Or maybe you think He isn’t powerful enough to actually do what He says. God will always keep His promises, whether or not you believe it. He will prove Himself to you just as He did to Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

Day 8

GENESIS 19-20

MATTHEW 6:19-34

PSALM 8

Important to God

(Psalm 8)

Morning Prayer

Dear God, if I were standing at the foot of the tallest mountain, at the edge of the ocean, or on the rim of a volcano, I would feel so small and unimportant. But the truth is, You made me only a little lower than the angels—I am important! That truth makes me want to praise and honor You all the days of my life. Amen.

Evening Devotion

When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him?

P salm 8:3–4

How would your life change if you truly understood how important you are to God? God perfectly cares for everything He has created, including sparrows and wildflowers (Matthew 6:26–30). As His son, you are much more important to Him than flowers and birds. He, the Creator of every star in the sky, is mindful of you! You can trust that you have, and always will have, all that you need under His protection.

What’s Best for You

(Matthew 7:7–11)

Morning Prayer

Day 9

GENESIS 21-23 MATTHEW 7:1-11

PSALM 9:1-8

Heavenly Father, You give good gifts to Your children when we ask. Asking You for help is a little like asking my parent here on earth. You may not give me what I ask for, but You will give me what’s best. You know better than I do the answer that fits perfectly into Your plan for me. I thank You that You always know what I need. Amen!

Evening Devotion

Abraham said, “God will have for Himself a lamb ready for the burnt gift, my son.”

So the two of them walked on together.

G enesis 22:8

Imagine God asking Abraham something so painful as to give up his son. God let Abraham keep Isaac, and He blessed Abraham for having enough faith to trust Him even when He asked Abraham to do something hard. God gave up His own Son, Jesus, in exchange for our sins. We didn’t deserve His gift. God loved us so much He gave us Jesus so our sins would be forgiven forever. That’s why we have every reason to trust God just as Abraham did.

Day 10

GENESIS 24

MATTHEW 7:12-29

PSALM 9:9-20

He’s with You. . .Always

(Psalm 9:10)

Morning Prayer

Jesus—that’s just one of Your names. Emmanuel—that means You are with me always. Prince of Peace—You are my comforter. Wonderful Counselor—I seek You when I don’t know which way to go. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You supply all my needs. You will never give up on me, and no one is more powerful than You. Jesus, I put my trust in You. Amen.

Evening Devotion

Those who know Your name will put their trust in You. For You, O Lord, have never left alone those who look for You.

P salm 9:10

Take time to think about all the ways God helps you. Remember those times when even in the middle of your doubt or fear You felt Him right there with you. The more you get to know God, the more you will be ready to trust Him because you will understand He has never, and will never, let you down.

Answered Prayers

(Genesis 25:21–23)

Morning Prayer

Day 11

GENESIS 25-26

MATTHEW 8:1-17

PSALM 10:1-11

Lord, from the day when the first boy, Cain, was born to Adam and Eve, You have heard parents praying. You heard Isaac ask You to give his wife, Rebekah, a baby. And then when she was pregnant, Rebekah prayed for her twin boys before they were born. You still hear when parents—all parents and my parents—pray, and You will answer them just as You answered Adam, Eve, Isaac, and Rebekah. Amen.

Evening Devotion

A man with a bad skin disease came and got down before Him and worshiped Him. He said, “Lord, if You will, You can heal me!”

m atthew 8:2

The man with the skin disease understood that his healing depended completely on God’s kindness. Knowing that God could heal him, he didn’t place demands on God, beg Him, or even argue with God about why he should be healed. Instead, he worshiped God for His power both to heal and to decide whether to heal. We should have the same attitude, understanding that God is powerful enough to give us strength and make us well.

Day 12

GENESIS 27:1-28:9

MATTHEW 8:18-34

PSALM 10:12-18

Morning Prayer

Surprises

(Matthew 8:23–27)

God, like those disciples crossing Galilee in their boat, I expect clear sailing with You at my side. But if trouble comes, I might think You’re not paying attention. But that’s not true! You want me to have faith that You will protect me. You are with me always, so I never need to be afraid. Even the winds and waves obey You. Sunshine or rain, You will keep me safe. Amen.

Evening Devotion

In this way, You will do the right thing for those without a father and those who suffer, so that man who is of the earth will no longer make them afraid.

P salm 10:18

When the world’s troubles seem so great, it’s important to remember that the God who calmed the wind and the waves is still the Ruler of this earth. One day He will get rid of everything that is evil—forever. God will judge the earth so that people will no longer do bad things and turn against Him. He will make all things right. So you won’t lose hope, you should always remember that God rules the earth.

God Cares

(Matthew 9:27–29)

Morning Prayer

Day 13

GENESIS 28:10-29:35

MATTHEW 9

PSALM 11

Lord, like the religious ruler who worried about his daughter, I’ve prayed to You about those I love. Like the two blind men, I’ve asked You to take pity on me. I know You care about me no matter how I feel. I’m grateful that You promise to hear my prayers and that You care. Thank You for loving me, God. Amen.

Evening Devotion

The blind men came to Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Sir!” Then Jesus put His hands on their eyes and said, “You will have what you want because you have faith.”

m atthew 9:28–29

The Bible is filled with stories of God’s caring. In today’s reading we discover He loves the unloved (Leah), He sees those who feel helpless (the two blind men), He invites the outcasts (sinners and tax collectors), and He heals the sick and needy (the religious ruler’s daughter and the woman with the blood disease). You serve a caring and loving God who does not overlook any of His children. He cares deeply for you.

Day 14

GENESIS 30:1-31:21

MATTHEW 10:1-15

PSALM 12

More Like Jesus

(Psalm 12:5)

Morning Prayer

Lord, I ask that You will make me more like You. Help me to see and hear as if through Your eyes and ears. Make me more like You in the ways I care for and show love to the poor and needy. Your words to me are more valuable than silver. Change my priorities from things to people. Teach me through Your Word so I will know better how to pray. Amen.

Evening Devotion

“Because of the suffering of the weak, and because of the cries of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord. “I will keep him safe as he has wanted to be.”

P salm 12:5

The Lord sees your troubles, and He knows when you are hurt. He hears all your prayers, and He will act in His own perfect timing. God knows when people treat you unfairly. No matter what they say about you or how they try to hurt you, remember that God is the supreme judge who rules over everything. He loves you forever, and that should matter much more than the way people here on earth treat you.

Words

(Matthew 10:18–20)

Morning Prayer

Day 15

GENESIS 31:22-32:21

MATTHEW 10:16-36

PSALM 13

Jesus, I want to tell others about You, but sometimes I can’t find the words. If a friend asks me about my faith, please give me the words. If someone talks badly about me, give me the right words to respond. I know if I read and study the Bible and live by its truth, I will be ready to honor You with all the words I need. Amen.

Evening Devotion

But I have trusted in Your loving-kindness. My heart will be full of joy because You will save me. I will sing to the Lord, because He has been good to me.

P salm 13:5–6

You can be like Jacob in Genesis 32 and remind God of His promises when you pray. The Bible is filled with God’s promises. Look for them as you read. When you’re faced with a scary situation, remember the promises God has made to you and pray them back to Him like Jacob did. Although God certainly doesn’t need to be reminded of the promises He has made, you will be blessed when you are reminded of them.

Day 16

GENESIS 32:22-34:31

MATTHEW 10:37-11:6

PSALM 14

Morning Prayer

(Genesis 32:22–30)

Lord, sometimes I wrestle with my problems. When I pray, I feel like I’m wrestling with You too! I know You are trying to help me, just like You did Jacob in Genesis 32. When I pray long and hard about something, I need to remember that You don’t always lead me in the easiest way, but You change me and strengthen me for what’s ahead. I need You, God. Please bless me. Amen.

Evening Devotion

So Jacob gave the place the name of Peniel. For he said, “I have seen God face to face, and yet I am still alive.”

G enesis 32:30

Think about the times when God has shown Himself to you in special or important ways. Unlike Jacob, you probably don’t have a permanent limp to always remind you of your meeting with God. But it is still important to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness so that in times of trouble, when you might be tempted to doubt God, you have something solid to look back on to remind you of how He always cares for you.

Wrestling

God, Your Rock

(Psalm 15)

Morning Prayer

Day 17

GENESIS 35-36

MATTHEW 11:7-24

PSALM 15

Dear God, I want to be worthy of living with You in Your kingdom, but I’m not able to follow all the rules. Oh, how grateful I am that I don’t have to be perfect. You sent Jesus to make a way for me to be blameless in Your sight. Through Him, I am a work in progress. I promise to do my best to honor You by doing what is right and good. Amen.

Evening Devotion

O Lord, who may live in Your tent? Who may live on Your holy hill? . . . He who does these things will never be shaken.

P salm 15:1, 5

Psalm 15 describes how a person would have to behave to be worthy to live with God. It ends by saying a person who behaves in these ways will always stand strong. When you welcome God into your heart, He lives within you and you live with Him! He becomes more important to you than any trouble you face. You live your life like you are anchored safe and sound to a big, solid Rock.

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