A devotional, Reference Point, is written by ACL members and distributed monthly as a way to spiritually uplift fellow members.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so, through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV)

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV)

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works… (Titus 2:7 ESV)

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3, NIV).

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  (1 Peter 4:12, NIV)

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:18-19a NIV)

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25:40 NIV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. (Luke 2:25 NIV)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 NASB)

“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up … But I quieted and calmed my soul.” (Psalm 131:1-2 ESV)

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!…” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

“Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.” (Leviticus 6:13 ESV)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

“Be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16 NASB)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

“All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.” (Matthew 13:34 ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”(Ecclesiastes 3:14 ESV)

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV)

“Then Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: Keep silence and hear, O Israel! This very day you have become the people of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 27:9 NSRV)

The lord of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways.” (Haggai 1:7 CSB)

“Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!” (Psalm 99:3 ESV)

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV)

“They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.” (Acts 27:36 NIV)

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

“From Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.” (I Chronicles 12:32 NIV)

“I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.” (Psalm 146:2 NLT)

“And God blesseth them, and God saith to them, `Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the heavens, and over every living thing that is creeping upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 YLT)

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men…” (2 Corinthians 3:2 NASU)

“ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13 KJV)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, and His mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

“My times are in your hand.” (Psalm 31:15 ESV)

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” (Psalm 121:1 KJV)

“For with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9 KJV)

“God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared. God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness. God named the light Day and the darkness Night.” (Genesis 1:3-5 CEB)

“. . .To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: . . .” (Jude 1 ESV)

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:4-5 NIV)

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2 CSB)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you..” (John 15:16 ESV)

“Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12b ESV)

“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13 NIV)

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

“And though you started with little, you will end with much.” (Job 8:7 NLT)

“Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.” (Luke 1:29 NLT)

“Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3 NIV) 

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 RSV).

“Let us love one another, for love is of God.” (I John 4:7 NKJV)

“Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1 NIV)

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Luke 17:10 NIV)

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. . . Your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:27-31 NKJV)

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14 ESV)

“But only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42 NASB)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?…Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” (Matthew 6:25-34 RSV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (I Peter 2:12, NIV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 ESV)

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52 NIV)

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9 NKJV)

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

“Then he [Joseph] sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” (Genesis 45:24 NIV)

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26 NIV)

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation,  just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:15-16 NIV)

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV)

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5 KJV)

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10 ESV)

“The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places.” (Psalm 16:6 KJV)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 ESV)

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2 ESV)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.” (Hebrews 11:1-2 ESV)

“And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV)

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 ESV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

“O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me. You alone know when I sit down and when I get up. You read my thoughts from far away. You watch me when I travel and when I rest. You are familiar with all my ways. Even before there is a single word on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me. You lay your hand on me. Such knowledge is beyond my grasp. It is so high I cannot reach it.” (Psalm 139:1-6 GW)

“Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle! Harness the horses, mount the steeds! Take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears, put on your armor!” (Jeremiah 46:3-4 NIV)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us.” (Romans 12:4–6 NIV)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15 ESV)