CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Lamentations 4:1-5:22

Hebrews 2:1-18

Psalm 103:1-22

Proverbs 26:23

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1wKLUkQ

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15). Jesus Christ conquered the grave. Satan had the ability to cause death, but Jesus Christ destroyed him. All of us will die someday; but those of us who give our lives to God’s Son Jesus Christ will be redeemed! In other words, Jesus Christ has conquered the one obstacle none of us could have avoided at the end of our life: that one looming event which all of us innately fear. Now that Jesus Christ has destroyed the power of death, what do we have left to fear?

Prayer:

Father, thank You that I don’t have to be afraid of death! I know that when I die, I get to spend eternity in heaven with You. I will not fear death!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Lamentations 3:1-66

Hebrews 1:1-14

Psalm 102:1-28

Proverbs 26:21-22

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1nRK6qr

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men” (Lam 3:33). God desires good things for your life. He wants to bless you and show you the meaning behind everything you do. God never afflicts His children willingly, and His intent is never to grieve them. Whenever the Israelites find themselves afflicted and grieved, it is the result of disobedience. Yet God offers us a better way. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will be free of affliction and grief. Our decision to follow Jesus does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen in our lives; it does mean, however, that we can always turn to God for consolation and restoration.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that in the middle of every storm I can turn to You. I love that Your Son, Jesus Christ, is always the answer to every problem and every question. Without Him I am lost, but in Him I am found.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Lamentations 1:1-2:22

Philemon 1:1-25

Psalm 101:1-8

Proverbs 26:20

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1xCte76

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“She did not consider her destiny; therefore her collapse was awesome; she had no comforter” (Lam 1:9). In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah reflects on Jerusalem’s fall from grace. The city’s leaders did not take God’s plans into account, so the city collapsed; and when it collapsed, the people had no comforter. Thank God that as New Testament Christians living under God’s New Covenant, we have a Comforter! Sometimes we miss God’s plan for our lives because of spiritual blindness. Yet God promises that even when we miss it and fail, His Holy Spirit will be our Comforter. God’s perfect Holy Spirit stewards us through our own failures and imperfections when we rely on Him.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit! Thank You that even when I stumble and fall, You are here for me: to lift me back up on my feet and set me off in a better direction.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 51:54-52:34

Titus 3:1-15

Psalm 100:1-5

Proverbs 26:18-19

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1teBMSB

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared…[we became] heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4,7). Think back to the moment you decided to give your life to Christ. Were you convicted into salvation because you lived such a sinful life? Were you threatened into salvation by someone on the subway platform preaching fire and brimstone? Probably not. My guess is that God’s kindness drew you to repentance. He made Himself known to you, and you were so overwhelmed by His goodness and His mercy that a life without Him no longer made any sense. God’s kindness draws men to repentance (Rom 2:4). Show other men and women the kindness of God, and they will be drawn into His kingdom.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your kindness! Thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for drawing me into salvation: eternity with You!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 51:1-53

Titus 2:1-15

Psalm 99:1-9

Proverbs 26:17

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/10uspmT

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds” (Ps 99:8).  God has many Hebrew names in the Old Testament. His names are important because they demonstrate Who He Is: attributes of His character that are entirely inseparable from His nature. God is the God Who Forgives. The psalmist knew something that we should all embrace: God hates sin, but loves sinners. He differentiates between us, as people, and our actions. He takes vengeance on our deeds, but forgives us, as His people, when we repent and rely on His Son Jesus Christ. God never changes: He is just as willing to forgive you today as He was the psalmist. Have faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ for redemption and salvation.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for forgiving me! I certainly don’t deserve it, but You have found it in Your heart to forgive me nonetheless. Thank You.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

Titus 1:1-16

Psalm 97:1-98:9

Proverbs 26:13-16

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/ZRXe3o

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord…” (Ps 97:5). God gives us various options when we face problems in our lives, which the Bible often calls “mountains.” First, we can speak to them, as outlined by Jesus in Mark 11:23:

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

But today’s reading gives us another option. The psalmist reveals that mountains simply melt – they lose their shape and recede into nothingness – when God is present. So, whatever you’re facing in life, invite God’s Holy Spirit into the situation and welcome more of His presence into your life. You just may find that by the time you turn to your mountain to speak to it, it’s gone.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that mountains cannot retain their looming shape and size when You are present. Help me to welcome You into everything I do, and to cultivate Your presence in every area of my life!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 48:1-49:22

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Psalm 95:1-96:13

Proverbs 26:9-12

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1z9sla4

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (Ps 96:6). True strength, and true beauty, are in God’s sanctuary. If we look for these attributes in other people, we will end up disappointed. But if we look for those characteristics by seeking God, we will be satisfied. God displayed true strength, and true beauty, through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus had the strength to resist His accusers, yet he freely laid down His life for us. He had all of heaven’s beauty spread out before Him, yet He descended to earth to suffer for all mankind. As God’s people, we are His sanctuary because His Holy Spirit resides in us. When we cede control of our lives to God, He will show His strength and beauty through us!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your strength and beauty. Thank you for the man you have called me to be. I want Your divine attributes to shine through me, so I willingly step aside and ask You to work through me, in Jesus’ Name!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 44:24-47:7

2 Timothy 2:22-3:17

Psalm 94:1-23

Proverbs 26:6-8

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1uSJ2Qp

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“…always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 3:7). Learning and acquiring truth are two different things. There are men and women who devote their whole lives to religion, philosophy and theology. Yet the pursuit and attainment of knowledge does not mean you know the truth. The Truth is not a concept; He is a person. He is our reason for being, and the answer to our prayers. Jesus Christ is Truth. Make a decision not to settle for simply acquiring knowledge. Know the Truth.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your Son! He gives me purpose. I want to live my life for Him and Him alone.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 42:1-44:23

2 Timothy 2:1-21

Psalm 92:1-93:5

Proverbs 26:3-5

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1yn205t

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah” (Jer 42:7). The leaders of the Jewish people really needed to hear from God. Should they flee from the Babylonians and go down into Egypt? Should they escape somewhere else? Should they stay put? They had no idea what to do. So they sought the Lord through His prophet Jeremiah. Despite the fact that Jeremiah really could have used a speedy answer, God waited ten days to speak to him. Sometimes, God takes His sweet time; and that’s just fine, because His timing is always better than ours: 100% of the time. So if you’re waiting to hear from God, have patience. He will speak to you exactly when you need to hear Him.

Prayer:

Father, help me to have patience when I’m waiting to hear from You. Sometimes You’ll ask me to wait ten days: sometimes more, and sometimes less. I know Your timing is perfect, and I trust in you completely.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jeremiah 39:1-41:18

2 Timothy 1:1-18

Psalm 90:1-91:16

Proverbs 26:1-2

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1s5jddU

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“I thank God… when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Tim 1:3-5). In his second letter to Timothy, Paul made a point of acknowledging those who paved the way for Timothy in ministry. Timothy’s faith was helped by his family: first his grandmother, and then his mother. They both set the spiritual foundation upon which he could build through prayer and devotion. So who laid the spiritual foundation for you? If you were born into a Christian home, take a moment to thank your parents, and their parents if you can. If you were born again at church, take a moment to thank your pastor and the men and women of God who led you to the Lord. Then honor them, just as Paul instructs Timothy to remember and honor his lineage.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the strong men and women of God You put in my life to clear a path before me! Thank You for their prayers. Help me to let them know just how grateful I am!