January 1st, 26:Embark on a Year-Long Journey Through the Bible's Rich Stories

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1-2; Luke 1 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In this very first episode of 2026, Hunter invites us to embark on a year-long journey through the Scriptures, reading the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. Whether you're here for the first time or returning as part of this global community, you'll find encouragement and reflection as we dive into Genesis 1–2 and Luke 1. Together, we explore the story's beginnings—from creation, the beauty of living without shame, and God's promise of redemption, to the miraculous births of John and Jesus. Through Scripture, short devotionals, and heartfelt prayer, Hunter reminds us that this year is full of fresh hope. No matter where you're starting from, you're invited to approach God with honesty, open your heart to Christ's presence, and say "yes" to a life free from shame—a life transformed by God's love. So, settle in for today's reading and reflection, and let's begin this new year seeking Jesus and experiencing the power of God's Word together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Shame-free living. That's how the story begins. God created man and woman, and they were without shame. But in the chapters ahead, we are going to see that they have been robbed of a life without shame. We'll soon read all about it. We'll also read about the devastation that ensues. But as we read through the whole story of God, we're going to find that it doesn't end there. No, that would be bad news. But this is good news. And the good news is that God has sent his one and only Son. The second Adam. He's going to do everything necessary for us to get back to a life without shame, a life lived with God. That's the whole point of this amazing story of the Bible—that this has been given to us. God has come to us at our lowest, the most shame-filled places of our lives. Christ has come to meet us there. And he offers us there a real, abundant, shame-free life. Some of you went through this last year carrying a lot of shame. But this year can be different. This year you can come to him—not just pages in a book, but to Christ himself, who is present with you and in you. And you can begin to open up your heart to him so that he might set you free from all the ways that shame has crippled your life. The prayer that I have for my own soul today is that you and I would have the same spirit and heart that Mary had when she heard the good news. She said yes to it. She said yes. May it be unto me as you have just said. Maybe she didn't understand all of it—no doubt she didn't. But she was ready to say yes to God. And maybe that's something that you can do today, even though you don't understand all things. You can say yes to him who does. You can say yes. If you've heard, like I heard today in the reading, that God intends for us to live without shame, then say yes to that. If you have heard, as I have heard today, that Jesus has come to take that shame away, to take away any barrier that would keep us from a life with him, then maybe you and I can both say yes to that. Let me encourage you to say it even in your unbelief. Go ahead and say it now. Yes, God, I believe. Help me in my unbelief. I say yes to your presence in my life. I say yes to your forgiveness. I say yes to the hope that I can live without shame and in your strength. Maybe you just need to whisper it to yourself. Maybe you need to shout it out loud. It's important that we begin wherever we can. And maybe today that beginning is simply a whisper, a faint hope that maybe it's true, that maybe we can be free. Maybe God really is with us. Maybe Christ really does live in you. Maybe you really are loved by God. Maybe there's a way to live without shame. And to that I say yes. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL