READ: 1 SAMUEL 1:9-20; MATTHEW 28:19-20; JOHN 16:33

Sun sets.

Moon rises.

Joy dies

Within me.

Silver stars

Cool and pure.

Pain inside

Black as night.

A prayer.

No answer.

I cry out

In the dark.

You still hear,

I will not fear.

Joy comes

In the morning. • Lorna Garlets

• Have you ever felt like there was no way anyone could understand the troubles you’re facing? We all feel like this at times, but the truth is, Jesus always understands us, and He always has compassion on us. God’s great love for us moved Him to endure the excruciatingly painful death of the cross and the cold darkness of the grave so that we could be with Him. Now, we can know that Jesus is truly able to empathize with us. He has entered into our pain, and when we are in distress, He sits beside us and weeps with us. (John 11:32-35; Hebrews 4:14-16)

• If we know Jesus, we can rest knowing that everything will be okay—perhaps in the near future, and certainly when He returns and makes all things new (Revelation 21:1-5). As we look forward to the glorious dawn of the new creation, how does Jesus’s promise to be with us give us the freedom to lament, to honestly cry out to God in all our pain and sorrow? Consider taking a moment to bring Him your lament.

Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (WEB)

READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; COLOSSIANS 3:17; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11

I grew up around gamers. I remember spending hours of my childhood curled up on the couch watching my older brothers, Tony and AJ, play Legend of Zelda. I admired their skill and problem-solving abilities, and I often wished I could play as well as they did.

Many people look down on video games, considering them a waste of time at best and a corrupting influence at worst. But is that always true? It’s true that we can sometimes spend too much time and money on video games, and it’s true that some games contain questionable content. But did you know video games are also one place we can reflect God’s image?

We are created to create because we are created in the Creator’s image (say that five times fast). This allows us to make incredible works of art using all kinds of different mediums. Since the beginning of time, we have been painting, sculpting, writing, singing, and directing plays. And now that artistic expression can be found in developing video games.

Video games can actually tap into our good, God-given desires and abilities to be creative and to solve problems. Many games require strategic planning skills— including resource management, cooperation, and persistence—and all of these skills are vital to the kingdom of God. And many games are played alongside other people, creating a wonderful opportunity for community and connection.

I’m not saying everyone should play video games. I’m just saying that God can be glorified in all our hobbies, including video games. Even though our world is broken by sin, Christ died and rose again to save us from sin and death. He redeems our creativity. So, if we’ve put our trust in Him, we are free to serve and glorify Him in our daily endeavors. As the Creator, God loves beautiful art, and He loves a problem well-solved. And He loves it when we have fun!

So, as Christians, we can think carefully about any art form we create or consume, including video games. And as we enjoy the creativity, strategy, and cooperation found in video games, we can give praise to the Originator of all creativity, strategy, and cooperation, who loves us more than we could ever imagine. • Taylor Eising

• Where do you see God’s creativity in video games or other things you enjoy doing? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this!

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

READ: JOHN 17; ROMANS 8:34; HEBREWS 7:25; 1 JOHN 2:1

All of John 17 is a prayer that Jesus prayed to the Father on the night before He was arrested. He prayed for several things, but the most prominent theme was His concern for His followers. In these 26 verses, Jesus uses the pronouns they, them, and those 47 times. Jesus was praying for the disciples. But the shocker comes in verse 20, when Jesus says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…”

Do you believe the old, old story of the good news of Jesus Christ? Then this verse is talking about you. Jesus prayed for you on that awful night, just before He was led away to die on the cross for your sins. All the things Jesus prayed for His followers are also for you:

• To be protected (verse 11, 15)

• To be unified (verse 11, 21-23)

• To have the full measure of His joy within us (verse 13)

• To be holy, or sanctified (verse 17, 19)

• To be with Jesus and see His glory (verse 24)

• To be filled with God’s love (verse 26)

Two thousand years ago Jesus prayed for you. And did you know that Jesus is also praying for you today? This wonderful truth is found in Romans 8—that Jesus rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is now at the Father’s right hand praying for you. Paul writes in verse 34, “Christ Jesus who died— more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Jesus prayed for you then. Jesus is praying for you now. How great is that? • Daniel Dore

• Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus prayed for you on the night before He died on the cross? How does this make you feel?

• Read Romans 8:31-39. What do you think Jesus is praying for you today?

[Jesus said,] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20 (NIV)