READ John 3
Jesus explains the spiritual nature of salvation.

INSIGHT
Faith, or belief, is often misunderstood. Faith has been defined as “believing in spite of there being nothing to believe”or “believing in spite of the evidence to the contrary.” It is often viewed as identical with wishful thinking. If we believe hard enough, we can make something come true (regardless of whether or not God may approve). None of these concepts is Biblical. Faith is belief based on sufficient evidence. In other words, faith is trusting what God has revealed in His Word and in the world, both of which give ample testimony to the truth.

PRAYER
The sensitive and believing heart looks for opportunities to praise the Lord for His goodness:
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.  
I will boast in the Lord;  
the humble will hear and be glad.  
Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;  
let us exalt his name together.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.  
how happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
(Psalm 34:1-3, 8).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Sing to the Lord, you his faithful ones,
and praise his holy name.  
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor, a lifetime.
Weeping may stay overnight,
but there is joy in the morning
(Psalm 30:4-5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I will instruct you and show you the way to go;  
with my eye on you, I will give counsel
(Psalm 32:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Spiritual victory over temptation
• Opportunities to serve the Lord
• Your activities for the day
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).