The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading PlanCampione

Stand

Sara made a habit of reading a portion of Psalms every day. She found that if she read five chapters a day, she could go through the entire book of Psalms each month. The theme that stuck in her mind the most was that a child of God should be calm and peaceful, strong and courageous.

Then why am I always so afraid and nervous and anxious? she asked herself as she finished her reading for the day. I know God is my Father, and I’m his child.

Sara knew she had a history of letting others have their way. She seldom stuck up for her ideas or beliefs for fear of ridicule or rejection.

Time for a change, she decided, and she set out to study the word strength. That word led to a search of other words: power, courage, success. Sara’s research resulted in an amazing epiphany. The source of each of those characteristics was God’s incredible love and his pleasure in giving those attributes to his spiritual children.

Sara had never thought about her heavenly Father delighting in giving gifts just as an earthly father or mother loves giving gifts to sons and daughters. Then the problem is me, Sara thought. I’ve been carrying those presents around in my head, but I’ve never taken them out and opened them.

Sara was thrilled with her new concept of who she was in Christ Jesus. She had more confidence in sharing her spiritual opinions when conversing with friends and standing up for Biblical beliefs when others spoke against them. Best of all, she found she liked the new and interesting Sara, and, wonder of wonders, her friends seemed to enjoy and respect her more too.

Vicki P. Graham

Taken from Fulfilled