Wednesday, March 9th – Matthew 1:1-17
These verses illustrate that God uses imperfect people to being himself into the world. Jacob was a crook. David committed adultery. Ruth was from a group of people who didn’t matter. But God used them all. Despite your imperfection and shortcomings, God is using you and will use you to make Him more real to others. Pray about how God can use you during this season of Lent.
Thursday, March 10th – Matthew 1:18-25
God asked Joseph to do something tough. Uncertainty existed. Public shame could most likely occur. Joseph could have said “no” to God and do the easy thing. Instead, Joseph said “yes” to God and did the tough thing. And he never looked back. What is God leading you to do in your life that requires faith and risk? Say “yes” to where God is leading you, especially during this season of Lent.
Friday, March 11th – Matthew 2
The three wise men traveled a great distance to worship Jesus. Nothing was going to stop them. Reread verses 10 and 11. What did you learn about worship? Be joyful, generous, authentic, and consistent during Lent.
Saturday, March 12th – Matthew 3
Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. John felt unworthy and he was right. God isn’t concerned with our worthiness. God cares about our availability. John was obedient and did what Jesus asked him to do. During Lent, one of our aims is to grow closer to God. What does it mean to you to know God isn’t concerned with our worthiness, but our availability? Pray to make yourself more available to God.
Sunday, March 13th – Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus was tempted. We all are. What are some of your temptations? Note how Jesus used God’s word to rebuke Satan. During Lent challenge yourself to be faithful to these readings and apply them to your life!
Monday, March 14th – Matthew 4:11-25
Jesus begins his public ministry. His first message is simple: “Repent from your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Repent means “to turn.” Turn from sin and turn to God. What sin(s) in your life do you need to turn from? God promises us the blessing of His Kingdom when we turn to Him.
Tuesday, March 15th – Matthew 5:1-12
The word blessed means more than happiness. It doesn’t imply laughter, pleasure, or prosperity—rather the experience of hope and joy independent of outward circumstances. Focus on verse 5 (humility) and verse 8 (purity). How can these attributes bring blessing to your life? Pray for humility and purity.
Wednesday, March 16th – Matthew 5:13-26
Jesus encourages us to be light to the world. Think about the darkness that exists in your immediate world. Be a light today! Encourage, smile, forgive, hug, write a note, help…do whatever it takes.
Thursday, March 17th – Matthew 5:27-48
The world teaches revenge. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Take Jesus up on this challenge. Reread verse 44. Think of a person you are in conflict with or a person you don’t understand. Pray for that person.
Friday, March 18th – Matthew 6:1-18
Jesus is teaching about prayer. Write down five principles you learned from this teaching? Spend some time in prayer and implement the principles you learned from this teaching.
Saturday, March 19th – Matthew 6:19-24
Jesus is teaching about money in this section. Write down two or three of the things you learned in this short passage. Make a plan to implement one of these teachings starting today.
Sunday, March 20th – Matthew 6:25-34
We all worry from time to time. What negative consequence is worry causing you? Pray about the things you are worried about. Spend some focused time with this prayer. Note how you feel before and after praying. Commit to give God your worries through prayer.
Monday, March 21st – Matthew 7:1-12
Jesus challenges us in this passage: examine ourselves and change ourselves before. Don’t neglect improving ourselves by focusing on the shortcomings of others. What is a “log in your eye” that needs to be removed? How can God and others help you with this?
Tuesday, March 22nd – Matthew 7:13-29
Jesus says the storms of life will come. It is not a matter of “if” but “when.” What is your foundation in life? Is the foundation you have built going to withstand the storms that are coming? Pray for the ability to listen and follow the teachings of Jesus (verse 24).
Wednesday, March 23rd – Matthew 8:1-17
Jesus healed, still heals and brings wholeness to our lives: Our bodies, our relationships, our emotions, our addictions, our finances, etc… In what areas of your life do you need healing and wholeness? Know that Jesus is interested in your well-being. Pray for healing in your life.
Thursday, March 24th – Matthew 8:18-34
Jesus calmed a storm (verse 26). Think about the storms in your life. Know that Jesus is with you in tough times. Pray for Jesus to calm your storms.
Friday, March 25th – Matthew 9:1-17
A paralyzed man was brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus forgave his sins. Jesus saw a greater need existed than physical health: his spiritual health. Pray for God’s forgiveness in your life. Pray for spiritual healing and wellness. Pray for the ability to forgive yourself so that you may be defined by God’s future instead of your past.
Saturday, March 26th – Matthew 9:18-38
Jesus saw the brokenness of the world and he asked his disciples to pray for more workers. This is where you come in. First, you can be the additional worker. Pray about how God can use you today in the life of another person. Second, pray for others to serve alongside you.
Sunday, March 27th – Matthew 10:1-15
Jesus sent out the twelve with no money, extra clothes, or even a walking stick. All they had was the blessing and power of Christ, which is just as well because that is the only thing they really needed. We have a danger of living our lives based on our resources which more likely aren’t going to get us too far. Challenge yourself to start living based on God’s resources.
Monday, March 28th – Matthew 10:16-42
A few times in this text Jesus said: “Don’t be afraid.” It is the most common command in the Bible. What are your fears? Spend time praying about things that scare you. Pray to be filled with the attribute that will help you overcome fear: Faith.
Tuesday, March 29th – Matthew 11:1-19
We all need friends. Jesus was a friend to John the Baptist. Jesus defended John and accepted him for who he was and who he was not. What kind of friend are you? Are you willing to look past people’s imperfections and love them for who they are? Do you stick with them in tough times? Pray for the ability and wisdom to be a better friend.
Wednesday, March 30th – Matthew 11:20-30
Are you tired, worn out, or overwhelmed? Jesus tells us to go to him and he will give us rest (verse 28). Do what you need to do to go to Jesus. Pray. Go for a walk. Turn off electronics. Whatever. Go to Jesus and let him give you rest.
Thursday, March 31st – Matthew 12:1-37
Legalism and love. The Pharisees saw religion as a set of rules that needed to be followed. Jesus saw it as a relationship with God and others. He notes that people are more important than rules and that it is never inappropriate to show agape toward another person, even on Sunday. Pray for your heart to be open to growing closer to others and serving the marginalized.
Friday, April 1st – Matthew 12:38-50
God’s will. We are in God’s family when we do it (verse 50). Spend some time writing down some practices and principles God wants you to implement in your life. Pray about making these practices and principles a habit of your heart.
Saturday, April 2nd – Matthew 13:1-23
We respond to God’s message differently. Some of us have hard hearts, some of us are shallow, some are distracted, and some are ready. Pray for the readiness to learn and apply God’s word to your life so that a rich harvest of blessing can happen.
Sunday, April 3rd – Matthew 13:24-58
Jesus is preaching in parables in this section. What did you find surprising? What did you find challenging? Reread verses 31 to 33. Know that everything great started small. Think about something great you want in life. Commit to taking the first or next step to make that dream a reality.
Monday, April 4th – Matthew 14:1-21
The man gave Jesus fives loaves and two fish. Jesus did the rest. If the man wouldn’t have given Jesus anything then Jesus wouldn’t have had anything to work with. What is something you can give God today so that He can do great things?
Tuesday, April 5th – Matthew 14:22-36
Peter walked on water. He took a risk. He had his setbacks and shortcomings, yet he was the one who walked on water and later led the early church. With risk come failures. With risk also come rewards. What kind of risk is God wanting you to take in your life? Get out of the boat!
Wednesday, April 6th – Matthew 15:1-20
Jesus challenged the Pharisees. They were concerned with the visible forms of religion. Jesus was concerned with the status of our heart because that leads to impure thoughts and actions. Pray for purity of your heart and for God’s heart to become your heart.
Thursday, April 7th – Matthew 15:21-39
This is a wonderful passage about the embrace of God to all people. Think about who you are, where you are from, what you have done, what you haven’t done. Jew or Gentile, sinner or saint, lost or found – God’s embrace and healing is for you. Pray to accept God’s acceptance of you.
Friday, April 8th – Matthew 16:1-28
Reread Peter’s confession in verse 16. Peter called Jesus the Messiah and the Son of the God. Is this your confession? Or is Jesus simply a wise person or a charismatic teacher and healer? What Jesus can do in you depends on who Jesus is to you. Make Peter’s confession your confession and accept the blessing of Jesus.
Saturday, April 9th – Matthew 17:1-13
Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in all his glory. He was fully God and fully human. What does it mean to you that Jesus is God? What does it mean that Jesus is human? Write down some things Jesus has done for you and is doing for you. Celebrate his divinity and humanity. Spend some time dreaming about what you hope he can do in your life.
Sunday, April 10th – Matthew 17:14-27
Jesus says that nothing is impossible. Small dreams and hopes lead to a small life. Big hopes and dreams can lead to a big life. Write down some of your biggest dreams. Don’t give up on them and don’t give up on God giving up on them. Nothing is impossible.
Monday, April 11th – Matthew 18:1-20
Jesus has four distinct teachings in this section. How did he speak to you? Write down an application you can apply to your life today.
Tuesday, April 12th – Matthew 18:21-35
This is a challenging parable about forgiveness. Forgiveness is as much for us as it is the offending party. God has forgiven us and wants us to forgive others. Think about people you can forgive. Ask God to help you in the process of forgiving these people.
Wednesday, April 13th – Matthew 19:1-30
Jesus was asked how to receive eternal life. His reply was to give up his possessions and follow him. Jesus was obviously speaking in a metaphor (read verse 24), but the challenge is compelling: we must follow him. Not lead him or advise him, but follow him wherever he leads us. Think about where God is leading you. Challenge yourself to follow Jesus wherever he leads you.
Thursday, April 14th – Matthew 20:1-34
The opening parable is a parable about grace. No more and nothing less. We read this parable from the perspective of the worker who worked all day and got paid last. It seems unfair. But we weren’t in the vineyard early in the morning and we weren’t the best worker when we got there. Reading it from this perspective teaches us about grace—getting more than we deserve. Give God thanks for accepting and loving you.
Friday, April 15th – Matthew 21:1-27
Jesus clears out the Temple when he sees the selling of animals. He restores the Temple by calling it a “house of prayer.” Prayer is God’s priority for God’s people. Prayer connects us with God and others. Pray for a prayer life that is growing and developing.
Saturday, April 16th – Matthew 21:28-46
Obedience is a word that scares some of us. God asks for our obedience and that can be scary. But think about this: God loves us, God wants what is best for us, God knows what is best for us, and God can do something about it. Knowing this makes obedience a good thing. Pray for the ability to obey.
Sunday, April 17th – Matthew 22:1-22
Jesus notes we are citizens of the world and citizens of the Kingdom of God. Both are important. We have a responsibility in the world, but our ultimate commitment is to God. Pray for the wisdom to live as a dual citizen of the world and of God.
Monday, April 18th – Matthew 22:23-46
Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was. He replied it was to love God and to love others. Christianity is a balance of a healthy and growing relationship with God and a healthy and growing relationship with others. Pray for perseverance in developing these vital relationships.
Tuesday, April 19th – Matthew 23:1-39
Jesus speaks about the seven sorrows in verses 13 to 36. How many of them can you find? What did you learn from looking for these seven sorrows? What application steps are you going to take in your life because of this challenging teaching from Jesus?
Wednesday, April 20th – Matthew 24:1-51
The Bible is clear that Christ will return at an hour that is unexpected. The call is to live a life of preparation and readiness. This has two implications. First, never take our time on earth for granted. Live each day to its fullest. Second, live a life of faith. Don’t wait to attend to spiritual matters.
Thursday, April 21st – Matthew 25:1-46
These three parables are perhaps the most prophetic teachings of Jesus. What did you learn from these parables? What challenged you? How are you going to apply one of these teachings to your life?
Friday, April 22nd – Matthew 26:1-75
As Jesus nears the end of his life, his character never changes. He remains graceful and loving despite being belittled and humiliated. How did Jesus speak to you in this chapter? What is something you found comforting? What is something you can take away from this chapter and apply to your life?
Saturday, April 23rd – Matthew 27:1-66
This is probably the most painful chapter in the Bible to read. How did you feel reading this chapter? Did this give you a deeper understanding of God’s love for you?
Sunday, April 24th – Matthew 28:1-20
Twice Jesus tells the people to go and tell (verses 9 and 19). Think of a person or people in your life who need resurrection in some way or another. Pray about ways to invite them to follow Jesus and experience resurrection.
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