CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zechariah 1:1-21

Revelation 12:1-17

Psalm 140:1-13

Proverbs 30:17

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

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev 12:9). Heaven prevailed over Satan. Michael and his angels cast Satan out of heaven, and then Jesus Christ defeated him once and for all! Satan knows he only has a short time left to tempt us – to entice us to forsake heaven and join him in hell. We should, therefore, not be surprised when his attacks come. However, expectation and fear are markedly different ideas. We need not fear Satan’s attacks, because Jesus Christ has already won the victory. We are not fighting for victory; we are walking forward and boldly claiming territory already won by Jesus Christ, in His name.

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Cor 15:54-55).

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your Son Jesus Christ won a definitive victory. There is no battle left to fight; I am simply called to go out and claim territory for You! Help me to rely on the blood of Jesus, and the use of His name.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Haggai 1:1-2:23

Revelation 11:1-19

Psalm 139:1-24

Proverbs 30:15-16

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1w650zr

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit” (Hag 1:10). All of Israel wondered why they suffered in poverty. I would argue they felt exactly the same way many of us feel almost every day: they sowed much, but brought in little, they ate but did not have enough, they drank but were not filled, they clothed themselves but were not warm, and they earned wages only to see their money slip away as if their pockets had holes. Does this ring a bell? Especially living in New York City, do you feel like you can barely even make ends meet?

Haggai gave an answer to this problem that still applies to us today. We must consider our ways. God will not bless our personal finances if we leave His house in ruins! The people of Israel were required to rebuild the temple, and restore God’s house to its former glory, before their personal finances were blessed. Does the same ring true in your own life? Give to God, and He will open up heavenly resources for you!

Prayer:

Father, help me to always remember to honor You with my giving. If I don’t give to You, I have no right to expect blessing and increase; but when I give freely, I have the legal right to receive freely. Thank You for Your financial covenant with me!!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Zephaniah 1:1-3:20

Revelation 10:1-11

Psalm 138:1-8

Proverbs 30:11-14

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1x3QWxv

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord…For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid” (Zeph 3:12-13). We are God’s remnant: His faithful people. When we ask Jesus Christ to forgive all our sins, we 1) receive forgiveness, and 2) are grafted into God’s holy family. God speaks to us, through the Prophet Zephaniah, about what He wants His remnant to look like. We are to be meek and humble: never arrogant or proud. We are never to act with aggression, but rather humble urgency. We are to trust in His name at all times; and when we do, God promises that no one will make us afraid. Trust in the Lord, and fear will evaporate.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your perfect love casts out fear! Your love is so overwhelming that it leaves no room for fear. I trust in You fully and completely. Mold and shape me into the child You want me to be, in Jesus’ name!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Habakkuk 1:1-3:19

Revelation 9:1-21

Psalm 137:1-9

Proverbs 30:10

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

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab 3:17-18). Many Old Testament prophets did not have what we would consider to be “desirable” lives. They spoke out God’s word in obedience, and in return they were often mocked and ridiculed – or even beaten and abused – by the communities into which God sent them. Yet men like Habakkuk learned to love God through it all. Their joy did not depend on their circumstances, but the fact that God chose to speak to them. They didn’t wait to rejoice until they saw the fruit of God’s promise; they rejoiced as soon as He made promises to them.

So what has God promised you? Rejoice, knowing that He is sure to perform everything He has promised!

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your word is true, and Your promises are sure! I know I can depend on You in every situation, regardless of my circumstances. Thank You for Your faithfulness!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Nahum 1:1-3:19

Revelation 8:1-13

Psalm 136:1-26

Proverbs 30:7-9

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1uUsZ4o

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“For His mercy endures forever” (Ps 136:1). Today’s reading conveys mercy when we need it most. First, Nahum reveals the destruction God intends for Nineveh as a result of their wickedness. Then, the angles in Revelation 8 proclaim judgment over the whole earth. But the Psalmist reminds us that, no matter how far we slide into wickedness, and no matter how much we deserve destruction, God’s mercy never fails. Mercy is not mandatory compassion: mercy is compassion and forgiveness towards someone who does not deserve it. God chose to offer us mercy: forgiveness when we need it most. His mercy endures forever.

Prayer:

Father, remind me to turn to You when I need mercy most! Thank You for finding it in Your heart to forgive me. Thank You for never losing patience, and for always loving me through every tribulation and trial!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Micah 5:1-7:20

Revelation 7:1-17

Psalm 135:1-21

Proverbs 30:5-6

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1uQO3cN

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel…” (Mic 5:2). Over 700 years before Jesus Christ was born, Micah prophesied of His birth in the town of Bethlehem. As we read the Christmas Story, it’s easy to gloss over supernatural occurrences because we’ve heard the story so many times. Yet God orchestrated an entire census to take place so that Mary and Joseph would be drawn up into Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.” Jesus was born in Bethlehem because he would become the bread of life (Jn 6:35)! God reordered history so that the words of every single Old Testament prophet would be fulfilled. God’s word is perfect; nothing is included by accident. Jesus Christ came to fulfill all things.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your word is error-free. Help me to love reading Your word, and to treasure every single sentence and phrase. Thank You for the miracle of the birth of Your Only Son, Jesus Christ!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Micah 1:1-4:13

Revelation 6:1-17

Psalm 134:1-3

Proverbs 30:1-4

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

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains…” (Rev 6:15). We will all face judgment at the end of our lives. The choice we have to make is this: do we want to face judgment clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, or naked with our faults and failures exposed? John is describing the end of time, when all men on the earth will be judged. Those who glory in earthly things will be forced to hide from God, to no avail; but those who are hidden in Jesus Christ will have nothing to hide!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the forgiveness that comes when we place our faith in the finished work of the Cross! Thank You that we – Your people – have nothing to fear in judgment. Thank You that we are clothed in the righteousness of Your Perfect Son, Jesus Christ!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Jonah 1:1-4-11

Revelation 5:1-14

Psalm 133:1-3

Proverbs 29:26-27

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/134y0Rc

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 2:10). Jonah fled from the Lord because he wanted to avoid God’s call on his life. God told him to go to Nineveh and preach repentance to the people there, but Jonah ran away. God quickly proved that it is impossible to flee from Him. In Jonah’s own words: “…I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jonah 1:9). God sent stormy seas to force Jonah out of his boat (his comfort zone); then he sent a fish to take Jonah from his state of flight and deliver him to Nineveh: the place where God wanted him to be in the first place.

Jonah could have avoided stormy seas altogether if he simply said yes to God. If you’re experiencing stormy seas in your life, could it be that God has called you somewhere, but you have said no? The seas in life will stop raging as soon as we say yes to His will. Jonah learned that lesson the hard way; we have the benefit of learning that lesson through God’s Word so that we don’t have to live through it ourselves!

Prayer:

Father, spit me out on dry land. I say YES to Your will for my life! There is nowhere I can go to flee from Your presence, so I’m not even going to try.

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Obadiah 1:1-21

Revelation 4:1-11

Psalm 132:1-18

Proverbs 29:24-25

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

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven” (Rev 4:1). Have you ever wondered what heaven is going to be like? John gives us a glimpse in the Book of Revelation. Everywhere he looked, John saw people worshipping and praising God! We are designed to praise God; that’s why it feels so good to go to church and honor Him with our praise. What John makes clear is that, after we die, worship will no longer be voluntary. We will all see God, face to face in all His glory, and be forced to worship Him because of His greatness. What separates true disciples is our desire to worship Him here on earth, while we still have a choice. God promises that when we honor Him with our worship, He will honor us.

Prayer:

Father, I want to worship You with reckless abandon! Help me to start getting ready for heaven now! I want to practice worshipping You all the time, in Jesus’ name!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan

Amos 7:1-9:15

Revelation 3:7-22

Psalm 131:1-3

Proverbs 29:23

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/13eG7LK

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

“Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, the Lord God called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. Then I said: ‘O Lord God, cease, I pray!’…So the Lord relented concerning this” (Amos 7:4-6). Amos received terrifying visions from God. First, God gave Amos a vision that the land was ravaged by locusts; but Amos prayed that God would spare the land, and He relented. Second, God gave Amos a vision that the land was taken over by conflict and inferno; but Amos prayed that God would spare the land, and He relented.

I believe God’s message to us is this: God will give us warnings in dreams and visions so that we might pray for a better outcome. He will show us what can happen if we do not pray, so that we can pray to avert that devastation. I have received many dreams and visions where horrible, unspeakable things happen. I do not take them as messages of inevitable, impending doom. Instead, I take them as heart-breaking reminders that we, as God’s people, must pray for His kingdom to overtake evil on this earth: because if we don’t, then no one will.

Prayer:

Father, help me to remember to pray! I know that my prayers are powerful. You can move mountains through me when I pray. Please don’t ever let me forget that, in Jesus’ name!