We begin the year with prayer, and the Scripture has much to say about prayer. In the first 21 days of January, you will read prayers recorded in Scripture. For the remainder of the month, the selected passages will focus on prayer's importance, discipline, and power. Perhaps you've struggled with a consistent prayer ritual in the past or find that you are easily derailed when you try to be faithful in your daily prayers. Be encouraged that you are not alone in the struggle! Commit to being intentional in this first month of the year to get back on track, no matter how short or long your prayers might be; and don't forget to ask the Lord to help you!

1. Genesis 24:1-20
2. Genesis 32:22-32
3. Exodus 33:7-23
4. Judges 6:1-24
5. 1 Samuel 1:1-20
6. 2 Samuel 12:1-1
7. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10; James 4:10-12
8. 2 Chronicles 1:1-12
9. 1 Kings 18:1-40
10. 2 Kings 19:1-19
11. 2 Chronicles 14:1-13
12. Nehemiah 1:1-11
13. Nehemiah 6:1-16
14. Isaiah 6:1-8
15. Matthew 8:23-27
16. Matthew 9:27-31
17. Luke 11:1-13
18. Matthew 15:21-28
19. Luke 17:1-10
20. Luke 18:9-14
21. Luke 23:26-34
22. Psalm 51:1-19
23. Daniel 6:1-12
24. John 17:20-26
25. Acts 12:1-17
26. Romans 8:26-30
27. Ephesians 1:15-23
28. Philippians 1:3-11
29. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
30. James 5:13-18
31. Revelation 8:1-5

Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." God as our refuge is the theme for this month, and I can think of no better place to read about this than the Psalms, but there are also some other significant passages that teach this comforting truth. David is the writer of many of these refuge Psalms. May we find the same strength, help, and safety that he experienced in both the chaotic and peaceful times. Enjoy immersing yourself in the comforting words that God is your refuge: He is your safe place, He is your comfort, He is your strong tower, and He will not turn you away!

The last Sunday of the month is Resurrection Day! As you think about that most important event and the hope it holds for all believers worldwide, who can you invite to come with you on Easter Sunday? The readings for this month will give you a sampling of the life and ministry of the most important man to walk the face of the earth, beginning before His incarnation to His ascension to heaven. He has many significant names, but the simplicity of His most familiar name, Jesus, resonates with all humanity.

The readings selected from the Old and New Testaments will focus on the path to wisdom. Charles Spurgeon has said it well: "Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom." The path to wisdom is littered with intelligent men and women who fail to apply the principles and teachings of God's Word to their own lives. Let's not be foolish with God's Word; what we learn from time with Him and His Word must be lived out daily.

The shepherd and sheep motif is possibly the most memorable in all of Scripture, found in both the Old and New Testaments. The imagery's directness seems to resonate with all people: sheep need a shepherd. The essential nature of the shepherd is to guide and protect the sheep, and in a world with wolves around every corner, we desperately need a shepherd. The most enriching part of the imagery is the simplicity of the truth, "the Lord is MY Shepherd." No other person can lead, guide, and protect us like the Great Shepherd!

The New Testament is filled with many great chapters which have been life-changing to believers and non-believers alike. However, if a person has only 30 days of readings, which New Testament chapters would be the most meaningful? With so many famous and celebrated chapters, ones that have been memorized and quoted, ones that have been dramatized in church productions, how can we limit the number to only 30? Of course, a list of this nature is subjective, and my apologies in advance, as I'm sure you will find a specific chapter missing that you believe with all your heart should have been included.

Deuteronomy is a collection of sermons Moses delivered to the new generation of Israelites about to enter the Promised Land. This new, wilderness generation had not eye-witnessed God's mighty miracles in the past, nor were they present at the giving of the law. Amazingly, Moses delivered all of Deuteronomy in only 40 days, and 30 days later, the people crossed over the Jordan River. This book is unique because Jesus quoted from and alluded to this book more than any other Old Testament book.

The Apostle John is the author of five New Testament books: the Gospel of John, First John, Second John, Third John, and the Book of Revelation. John's writings were composed late in his life after he had time to reflect on his life as one of those in Jesus' inner circle. Except for Jesus, no person in Scripture had more to say about the concept of truth than John, and he loved those who were faithfully walking in truth (3 John 4). He was also quick to condemn those who perverted the truth like a shepherd protecting his sheep.

Contrary to what one might think, the Apostle Paul was not a one-man show; his life was filled with both friends and foes. Foes tried to stop him countless times, trying their best to prevent the Gospel from moving to new parts of the Empire. However, he was relationally wealthy, with friends willing to minister alongside him in the harshest conditions. Without a mission-aligned team, Paul could not have carried the Gospel message to the furthest recesses of the Empire.

The books of Hebrews and James are not written to a specific church or person as is customary with Paul's epistles; for this reason, they fall into the category called General Epistles. One might think that Hebrews is a book heavy in theology and light on practical issues, while James is the opposite, but don't be deceived. Each book has its share of theology and practicality, but both are built squarely on the foundation of Jesus. In Hebrews, you will discover that Jesus is better than everything, and in James, you will feel echoes of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

In June, we discovered that the New Testament is filled with some of the most essential chapters of the Christian faith, but let's not forget about the Old Testament; after all, three-quarters of the Bible is the Old Testament. Like the New, the Old Testament also has many famous chapters that are in a class of their own. Once again, you might find a chapter missing that you would expect to be present in the reading; apologies if it's not there; better yet, take time to read that particular chapter at the end of the month.

You might not expect the readings for December to be on the Trinity, but take a minute and consider how the historical event of the incarnation (and all of Christ's life and ministry) is intricately tied to all the members of the Godhead. Here is a simple summary: God, the Holy Spirit, gave God the Son the strength and enablement to carry out the plan of redemption, which was authored by God the Father from the very moment that sin entered the human race.