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 © 2015 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
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Compiled by Kathy Shutt.
Daily devotional entries written by Debra M. Coty, Pamela L. McQuade, and Patricia Mitchell.
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 Everyday
Encouragement
& Hope

I pray that God, the source of hope,

will fill you completely with joy and
peace because you trust in him.
Romans 15:13 nlt

This lovely daily devotional offers just-right-

sized readings that are a perfect fit for your
busy lifestyle. These 365 devotional readings
feature themes that are important to your
heart—including faith, friendship, joy, love,
rest, trust, peace, security, and dozens more.
As you move through the pages of Everyday
Encouragement and Hope, you’ll be comforted
and inspired every day of the year as you
experience the refreshing peace and assurance
that can only be found through an intimate
relationship with the Master Creator.

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 DAY 1

Dancing in the Puddles

And so, Lord,

where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7 nlt

They say you can tell a lot about a person’s

foundation of hope by the way she handles a
rainy day. Does she turn into a Gloomy Gussy,
wailing, “Oh, woe is me. . .” or does she make
the best of a bad situation? A hope-filled
person will realize that abundant life in Christ
isn’t about simply enduring the storm but also
about learning to dance in the puddles. So
grab your galoshes, and let’s boogie!

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 D AY 2

God’s P  lan

My dear brothers, take note of this:

Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become angry.
James 1:19 niv

God gives good advice on anger. Often, if

we listen carefully and hold our tongues, we
don’t become angry in the first place. Good
communication forestalls a lot of emotional
trauma. Hurt emotions often cause us to
speak words we regret, simply making the
problem worse. So when we feel tempted to
anger, let’s stop, listen, and hold our tongues
for a while. That’s God’s plan for more
peaceful relationships.

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 DAY 3

Walking Faith

“Be strong and courageous, and act;

do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord
God, my God, is with you. He will not
fail you nor forsake you.”
1 Chronicles 28:20 nasb

What a life verse! What a creed to live by! We

are assured that our God will never leave us
or forsake us. We draw strength and courage
from this assurance and are then able to act; to
share our faith boldly—without fear—because
we are never alone. The Lord God—our God—
is with us.

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 D AY 4

In His Hands

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 niv

Need a sure cure for anxiety? Start praying.

As you trust that God has your best interests
at heart, no matter what situation you face,
His peace can replace concern. God says
there’s nothing you need to worry about. Just
put all your troubles in His hands, and He
who rules the universe yet knows each hair
on your head will see that everything works
out right. Are you ready to trust now?

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 DAY 5

Interior Decorator

You, O Lord, are a shield

about me, my glory,
and the One who lifts my head.
Psalm 3:3 nasb

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself

reflected in a window and were shocked at the
hangdog image you unwittingly portrayed?
Slumped shoulders, drooping head, defeated
expression? You can straighten your posture
and adjust your face, but if the change doesn’t
come from the inside out, it won’t stick. God
is our Interior Decorator. Only He can provide
that inner joy that projects outward and lifts
our heads. Invite Him in to work on your
place.

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 D AY 6

God Is in Control

“Who of you by being worried can

add a single hour to his life?”
Matthew 6:27 nasb

What does worry gain us? It can’t change the

length of our days, except to decrease the
health of our bodies. Ultimately, worry is the
most self-defeating thing we can engage in.
Besides, why should we give in to concern
when God controls our lives? He will always
set us on the right path, so we don’t have to
agonize over life’s details.

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 DAY 7

Designer Label

We wish that each of you would

always be eager to show how strong
and lasting your hope really is.
Hebrews 6:11 cev

Our behavior is always on display and, like it

or not, we are judged by our actions. . .and
inactions. Without an explanation for our
behavior—that we’re motivated by faith to
be Christlike—people will make up their own
ideas: Her mama taught her right; she was
just born nice; she acts sweet so everyone will
like her. Isn’t it better to be up-front and give
credit to the One we’re emulating? Wear the
label of your Designer proudly.

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 D AY 8

Blessing Others

We work hard with our own hands.

When we are cursed, we bless;
when we are persecuted, we endure it.
1 Corinthians 4:12 niv

God gave Paul many blessings, and the

apostle passed them on, even if the recipients
didn’t seem to really deserve them. Those
who cursed him (and they were, no doubt,
many) did not receive a cursing in return.
Instead, Paul tried to bless them. Do we
follow the apostle’s example? When we are
cursed by the words of others, what is our
response?

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 DAY 9

Inside-Out Love

God has made everything

beautiful for its own time.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 nlt

Beauty is a concern of every woman to some

degree. We worry about hair, makeup, weight,
fashions. But real beauty can only come
from God’s inside-out love. Once we are
able to finally comprehend His infinite and
extravagant love for us—despite our flat feet
and split ends—our heart glow will reflect
radiant beauty from the inside out. Only when
we feel truly loved are we free to be truly
lovely.

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 D AY 10

Hold on to Hope

The prospect of the righteous is joy,

but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
Proverbs 10:28 niv

Trusting in Jesus gave you new life and hope

for eternity. So how do you respond when life
becomes dark and dull? Does hope slip away?
When no obviously great spiritual works are
going on, do not assume God has deserted
you. Hold on to Him even more firmly and
trust. He will keep His promises. Truly, what
other option do you have? Without Him,
hope disappears.

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