Daily Devotions · December 26
Reading for December 26
Read the whole Bible in a year, a few chapters a day.
Psalm 117, 119:81–176 · 2 John 1 · 3 John 1
Psalm 117, 119:81–176 · 2 John 1 · 3 John 1, Berean Standard Bible
Psalm 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol Him, all you peoples! 2 For great is His loving devotion toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Hallelujah!
Psalm 119:81–176
81 My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. 82 My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?” 83 Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes. 84 How many days must Your servant wait? When will You execute judgment on my persecutors? 85 The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law. 86 All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me! 87 They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts. 88 Revive me according to Your loving devotion, that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth. 89 Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures. 91 Your ordinances stand to this day, for all things are servants to You. 92 If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. 94 I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts. 95 The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies. 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your commandment is without limit. 97 Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments. 107 I am severely afflicted, O LORD; revive me through Your word. 108 Accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments. 109 I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law. 110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from Your precepts. 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, even to the very end. 113 The double-minded I despise, but Your law I love. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God. 116 Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Uphold me, and I will be saved, that I may always regard Your statutes. 118 You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceitfulness is in vain. 119 All the wicked on earth You discard like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments. 121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. 123 My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, and for Your righteous promise. 124 Deal with Your servant according to Your loving devotion, and teach me Your statutes. 125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. 126 It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law. 127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold. 128 Therefore I admire all Your precepts and hate every false way. 129 Wonderful are Your testimonies; therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments. 132 Turn to me and show me mercy, as You do to those who love Your name. 133 Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts. 135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. 136 My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed. 137 Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments. 138 The testimonies You have laid down are righteous and altogether faithful. 139 My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words. 140 Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it. 141 I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is everlasting and Your law is true. 143 Trouble and distress have found me, but Your commandments are my delight. 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live. 145 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes. 146 I call to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; in Your word I have put my hope. 148 My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word. 149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to Your loving devotion; give me life according to Your justice. 150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law. 151 You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true. 152 Long ago I learned from Your testimonies that You have established them forever. 153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your law. 154 Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes. 156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances. 157 Though my persecutors and foes are many, I have not turned from Your testimonies. 158 I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word. 159 Consider how I love Your precepts, O LORD; give me life according to Your loving devotion. 160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever. 161 Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word. 162 I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law I love. 164 Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous judgments. 165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. 166 I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments. 167 I obey Your testimonies and love them greatly. 168 I obey Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. 169 May my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word. 170 May my plea come before You; rescue me according to Your promise. 171 My lips pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes. 172 My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous. 173 May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts. 174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight. 175 Let me live to praise You; may Your judgments sustain me. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
2 John 1
The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love. 4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. 5 And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded. 9 Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. 11 Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds. 12 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.
3 John 1
The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. 3 For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you. 6 They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. 14 Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain.
How to SOAP
Grab a journal and a pen. Read the chapters above and watch for the verse that stops you. Then take it through four steps.
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Scripture
Write out the verse that stood out to you.
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Observation
What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?
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Application
What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.
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Prayer
Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.
Your SOAP journal
Write your SOAP here. Tap any verse in the reading to add it to Scripture. Your journal saves on this device only, so no one else sees it.
Added to your journal. Go to journal
Why daily devotions?
Devotions are time set aside each day to read God's Word and let Him speak. The point isn't checking off chapters. It's meeting with Him.
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Pick a time and a place and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.
Missed a day? Don't start over. Read today's chapters and keep going.