I came up with the idea to create a Daily Devotional to be a companion for the Common Sense Reborn book, but I didn’t start working on the devotional until after December of 2019. And just a week after I began that project I went back to work full-time, so the result of that is this: posting each day’s message here while I wrap up February’s entries. I will try my best to stay two months ahead, so a print version will be available at a low cost. The CSR DD includes a reading plan to get you through the entire Holy Bible in one year. We will be reading both the New Testament and the Old each day. My focus is on the New Testament, and all scripture for each day is taken from that source material only. To give you an idea, here is the entry for January 2:

January 2

¹¹I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worth to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

John the Baptist knew his own worth and the importance of the one who came after him:  Jesus the Christ.  Despite being a man worthy of changing the world in his time, John knew that he was second to Jesus, even before he had ever laid eyes on him.  John had extreme clarity and wisdom in his purpose on this earth.  If only we all had that same level of understanding of our role in this life!  But maybe you do know exactly who you were meant to be.  If you do, thank God for people like you.  But for those of us that don’t know our role, today is a great day to pray for clarity like John the Baptist.  Ask God to speak to you to direct you in His greater purpose.  This may be a prayer that could take months to hear an answer to, but it is an important prayer to seek guidance for.

If you are clear on your God given purpose in this world, today’s passage is also important because it brings up water baptisms.  When were you baptized?  If never, make this the year to be baptized.  If it has been years, perhaps you were baptized as a young child, or you have lived a life away from Christ since you were baptized, make this year a time to recommit to Christ and wash your body and soul clean. 

With baptism comes a new commitment to living a Christ-centered life.  We don’t want to waste any time this year in our quest to live a truly Christian life, so on our second day of the year, begin to look for new outreach and volunteer opportunities.  This will be a year away from distractions and fully committed to the Common Sense Challenge.

Reading plan:  Matthew Chapter 3

Deeper reading plan:  add on Genesis Chapters 1-4

Prayer and meditation:  continue to pray for your request from day 1 and ask for clarity and wisdom like John the Baptist.

Fitness challenge:  walk/jog/run for fourteen minutes