FEBRUARY 1
What Are God’s Promises for Me When I Have Failed? In everything God works for the good of those who love him. —R omans 8:28 No matter how hard we try, we all sometimes fail. When we fail, we can experience crushing feelings of disappointment and discouragement. But nothing in life goes to waste. God can use our failures to teach us important, unexpected lessons. He can even turn them into something beautiful and good! Here are some of God’s Bible promises for when you have tried very hard and failed: • “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14 niv) • “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” (Proverbs 24:16 nlt) • “We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)
Thank You, God, that You can turn my failure into something beautiful and good! Want to know more? See December 7, “How Can Anything Good Come Out of Pain and Suffering?” and December 31, “What Does Jesus Mean When He Tells Us to Be Perfect?”
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FEBRUARY 2
What Are God’s Promises for Me When I Need Hope? “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” —P roverbs 23:18 niv Everyone feels a lack of hope sometimes. When you feel hopeless, it can be helpful to look back and remember an example of when God helped you through a difficult time. You can count on God to help you again (and again!) because the Bible says He is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be forever and ever (Hebrews 13:8). Here are some of God’s Bible promises for when you need more hope: • “All you who put your hope in the Lord be strong and brave.” (Psalm 31:24) • “I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) • “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)
You can pray to God when you have feelings of hopelessness. You can also talk to people you love. Thank You, God, for filling my heart with hope and for being the same loving God yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Want to know more? See August 3, “What Is Christian Hope?”
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FEBRUARY 3
What Are God’s Promises for Me When I Feel Left Out by Others? If God is for us, who can be against us? —R omans 8:31 niv No doubt about it, one of our most painful feelings is rejection, or “being left out.” It is helpful to remember that everyone experiences rejection sometimes. Even so, rejection can hurt so badly that it often takes time to get over. Here are some of God’s Bible promises for when you feel left out: • “He heals the brokenhearted. He bandages their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) • “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5) • “The Lord loves justice. He will not leave those who worship him.” (Psalm 37:28) • “God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many birds.” (Matthew 10:30–31)
When you are feeling left out, talk to God in prayer. He always listens. Thank You, God, for how You do not reject me but always include me in Your loving thoughts and plans. Help me feel compassion and be kind to others who are left out!
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FEBRUARY 4
What Are God’s Promises for Me When Someone I Love Has Died? Jesus cried. —John 11:35
When someone we love has died, this combination of sorrow and loss is called grief. Sadly, everyone eventually experiences grief. We feel grief when a beloved pet dies too. God understands, and He feels your pain and wants to comfort you. Here are three of God’s Bible promises: • “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17) • “The Lord comforts his people. He will comfort those who suffer.” (Isaiah 49:13) • “There will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain. All the old ways are gone.” (Revelation 21:4)
When you are feeling the pain and sorrow of grief, it can also be helpful to talk to and pray with others. God, day by day, please heal and comfort my broken heart. Thank You for Your promise of eternal life in heaven. Want to know more? See November 17, “What Will Happen to Me When I Die?”; December 1 and December 2, “What Is Heaven Like? (Parts 1 and 2)”; and September 10, “What Is a Good Prayer for When My Pet Is Close to Death?”
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FEBRUARY 5
Who Is Jesus? The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed God?” Jesus answered, “I am.” —M ark 14:61–62 Jesus is God’s only Son. He’s the most important person who ever lived. Know this: the story of Jesus is not a legend, myth, or fairy tale. It is true. Jesus was a real person. Just like us, Jesus was born, lived, and finally died during His time here on Earth. But unlike anyone else ever, three days after He died, He came back to life with a brand-new body designed to live forever. Why? So that one day after we die, we will get brand-new bodies and live forever with Jesus and God in heaven too! One of Jesus’ best friends, a man named John, wrote: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son . . . so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). There is so much more to learn about Jesus! But this is a great start. Thank You, God, for sending Your only Son, Jesus, to die for my sins so that I can live forever with You and Jesus in heaven! Want to know more? See July 23, “Why Do Some Christians Carry Signs That Say ‘John 3:16’ at Sporting Events?”
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FEBRUARY 6
When Was Jesus Born? While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. —Luke 2:6 You might expect this question to be asked on December 25 because that is the day we celebrate Christmas. But December 25 is not the actual date of Jesus’ birth. Jesus was born a little more than two thousand years ago in the tiny town of Bethlehem, in the country of Israel. We know this is true. It is not a legend, myth, or fairy tale (Luke 2:1–7). But because Jesus was born so many years ago, we don’t know for sure exactly what year it was. Many scholars, or people who study the Bible, think it was between 8 BC and 4 BC. We also don’t know the exact address in Bethlehem. Scholars believe that Jesus was probably born in a stable, which is like a small barn where farm animals are kept. That’s because after Jesus was born, His mother, Mary, placed the baby Jesus in a manger, or wooden feeding box for animals (Luke 2:7). Thank You, God, that Your only Son, Jesus, is not a myth, legend, or fairy tale. I’m so glad that Jesus really came to Earth and that He is alive today! Want to know more? See December 16, “Was There Really a Star of Bethlehem?”; December 17, “What Is a Christmas Crèche?”; and December 25, “Is December 25 Really Jesus’ Birthday?”
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FEBRUARY 7
Why Was Jesus Born in a Stable? There were no rooms left in the inn. So [Mary] wrapped the baby with cloths and laid him in a box where animals are fed. —Luke 2:7 At the time of Jesus’ birth, a Roman emperor named Caesar Augustus ordered that all his people be officially counted in a census. To be counted, Mary and Joseph had to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. We don’t know for certain how Mary and Joseph traveled, but it probably took them about one week by foot. Because Mary was expecting a baby, and was probably tired, she might have ridden on a donkey. When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the town was very crowded. There was no room at the village inn. Hospitals hadn’t been invented yet. So Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable. When Jesus was born, Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, or strips of soft cloth, to keep Him snug and warm. Then she gently placed Him in a manger (Luke 2:7). How happy Mary and Joseph must have been! Welcoming a new baby can be such a joyful time. Thank You, God, for the birth of baby Jesus. Thank You, also, that Mary and Joseph were such good and loving parents. Want to know more? See December 17, “What Is a Christmas Crèche?”
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