July 16
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Today's Bible Verse

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

Memorize this Verse:
Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.
1. M L C T T W I U Y T Y S N A I A M S W H A A W T F J C T R

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Today's Bible Reading

July 16
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:

Old Testament
2 Chronicles 8-9  —  8.0 minutes
Psalms 141  —  2.5 minutes

New Testament
Luke 10:38-42  —  1.5 minutes
1 Thessalonians 4:11-18  —  2.0 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 14.0 minutes

This reading plan will make it easy and fun for you to read through the entire Bible this year. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Although the plan begins with January, you can begin at any time during the year.
• Each month’s readings are based on 25 days worth of readings, which means you get several free days if you ever fall behind. This makes reaching your goal a lot more possible!
• Each day’s readings will include selections from both the Old and New Testament, reinforcing the incredible unity of the Scriptures. Perhaps most important, you will focus daily on the life of Jesus by reading a portion of one of the Gospels every single day of the year.

May God bless you as you open His precious Word each day, and remember to pray for His guidance in your study. It is our desire that you will become increasingly changed into His likeness by beholding the Lord through His Word.

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Today's Meditation - Psalms

Read Psalm 87:1-7
The agony of one who is experiencing great difficulty and pain in life is being portrayed. His prayers have not brought the results he desires, and his soul is crying out to God in the midst of his trouble. This passage can often represent what the believer goes through from time to time. Where is God when you are hurting so much? The Lord has not departed, but is simply working out His plan in our lives, a plan that we do not see or understand. Our task is to trust Him with all our hearts!

1. The prayer of a burdened heart – verses 1-2
2. The pain of many troubles – verse 3
3. The pit which was facing him – verses 4-5
4. The problem was coming from the hand of the Lord – verses 6-7

We often do not see that the trouble we are facing is coming from the Lord. The psalmist said “Thy wrath lieth hard upon me” and “Thou hast afflicted me.” God chastens us, not because He wants to hurt us, but because He loves us, and doesn’t want us to ruin our lives!
Verse for Meditation: ​Verse 2 – “Let my prayer come before Thee: incline Thine ear unto my cry.”

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Today's Prayer

“Lord, help me to remember that my troubles are coming from You, and that You want me to trust completely in You.”