The Daily Dose

Remember and live

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Have you ever found yourself moving through life on autopilot, busy with responsibilities, decisions, and expectations, yet sensing something deeper calling for your attention? In today’s scripture reading, Moses reminded God’s people that faith is not just about where they were going, but about remembering who God is and how He has faithfully led them this far. This message is still relevant for God’s people today who are navigating a fast-paced world that constantly pulls our focus in every direction.

Below are three points to help you stay in faith each day:

1. Remember What God Has Done

Moses urges the people not to forget what their eyes have seen. Remembering God’s works keeps faith alive and prevents hearts from growing dull. When you intentionally recall how God has shown up in your life, it strengthens trust for what lies ahead.

Take time to write down moments when God answered prayers, opened doors, or carried you through hard seasons. When doubt or fear creeps in, revisit those reminders and let them renew your confidence in His faithfulness.

2.Guard Your Heart and Stay Close to God

Deuteronomy 4 warns against drifting into distractions that pull hearts away from God. Staying close to Him requires intentional choices, especially in a culture full of noise and competing voices. God desires a relationship with you that is close and intimate, not cold and distance.

Set aside daily time for God that is protected and consistent. Choose moments to turn off distractions, open His Word, and talk with Him honestly. Staying close to God helps you recognize when something is pulling you away from what matters most.

3. Seek God With Your Whole Heart

God promises that when His people seek Him with their whole heart, they will find Him. This is not a halfhearted pursuit, but a sincere desire to know Him and walk in His ways. Wholehearted seeking brings clarity, peace, and renewed purpose.  Remember that He is not trying to control your choices, but that He is actually trying to get you to His greatest blessings that He has already set in place for you.

Bring your real questions, struggles, and decisions to God instead of trying to figure them out alone. Pray honestly, invite Him into every area of your life, and trust that He will meet you with guidance and grace.

There was a time in my life when I felt stuck and unsure of my next steps. I knew God had been faithful in the past, but fear of making the wrong decision kept me from moving forward. As I intentionally remembered how He had directed my steps before as I chose to seek Him with my whole heart, peace began to replace fear. My heavenly Father gently reminded me that He is still near, still speaking, and still trustworthy. Taking that step toward Him changed everything, and I saw His faithfulness unfold in ways I could not have planned on my own.

Today I want to encourage you to remember what God has done in your life, stay close to Him, and seek Him with your whole heart. He is not distant or silent. He is faithful, present, and ready to guide you as you walk forward in obedience and trust.  Seek His direction today and He will lead you into the greatest life you never dreamed you could have.

Today’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy 4

1 “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you. 

2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. 

3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor; for the Lord your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. 

4 But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you.

5 “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. 

6 Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

7 “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? 

8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? 

9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, 

10 especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

11 “Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 

12 And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. 

13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. 

14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.

Beware of Idolatry

15 “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 

16 lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, 

17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 

18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. 

19 And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. 

20 But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. 

21 Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I would not cross over the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. 

22 But I must die in this land, I must not cross over the Jordan; but you shall cross over and possess that good land. 

23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. 

24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

25 “When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the Lord your God to provoke Him to anger, 

26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 

27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. 

28 And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. 

29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 

30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice 

31 (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

32 “For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard. 

33 Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 

34 Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 

35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. 

36 Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. 

37 And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, 

38 driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day. 

39 Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. 

40 You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

41 Then Moses set apart three cities on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun, 

42 that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without having hated him in time past, and that by fleeing to one of these cities he might live: 

43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.

Introduction to God’s Law

44 Now this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel. 

45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which Moses spoke to the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt, 

46 on this side of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel defeated after they came out of Egypt. 

47 And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, who were on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun, 

48 from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon), 

49 and all the plain on the east side of the Jordan as far as the Sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah.

Journal:

• Where have I seen God’s faithfulness in my life that I need to remember today
• What distractions may be pulling my heart away from staying close to God
• What area of my life is God inviting me to seek Him more fully right now

New Wine

_{“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” ~ Mark 2:22}

In today’s passage, Jesus is questioned about fasting, and He explains that there will be a time for His disciples to fast, but that time has not yet come. He then uses the analogy of new wine and old wineskins to describe how to handle new things in life. The new wine, which represents the gospel message, must be poured into new wineskins, which are flexible and able to contain the expanding wine without bursting.

In our world today, we may not use wineskins, but the concept still applies. The message of the gospel has not changed, but the ways we share it have. We must pour the new wine into the new vessels of church today, whether that be social media, blogs, podcasts, or other modern platforms that can carry the message far and wide. Jesus’ comparison also extends to the next generation of leaders. We are called to invest in those who will continue the work we’ve started, passing on the gospel to them and empowering them to carry it forward.

This is also a reminder that the ministries of the next generation may look different from what we are used to, and that is okay. The message is timeless, but the carriers of the message will evolve with the times. Our part is to remain faithful in continuing the work of making disciples, adapting to new ways of reaching people, and always pointing others to the good news of salvation.

Here are some ways to get started:

1. Seek out new ways to share the gospel, whether that be through social media, writing, or speaking. Be open to using tools and platforms that may not have existed in the past but are effective today.
2. Invest in the next generation. Look for ways to mentor and disciple younger leaders who will carry the message of Jesus forward long after you’re gone.
3. Be open to change. Recognize that the ministries and outreach methods may change with time, but the message remains the same. Embrace the new ways God is moving, and remain adaptable to His leading.

I’ve had to remind myself at times that the gospel message, while unchanged, requires me to be adaptable in how I share it. I’ve seen how new platforms have helped me reach others in ways I never could have imagined. Whether through writing or simply sending a text message with an encouraging word, I’ve witnessed how God can use modern tools to spread His love. This is a privilege and a responsibility. Each time I feel uncertain about stepping into new methods of sharing the good news, I remember that the power is not in the vessel, but in the “wine” that is being poured out.

Today I want to encourage you to pour the “wine” of the good news into the vessels that you are called to. Whether it is people of the next generation or new platforms of video, social media or even text messages, trust that God will lead you to the right places and the right people. Seek out the platform He has set before you, but also pray for those coming after you, that they may be equipped with the right vessels to carry the message even further.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 2:18-22

18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 

20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 

21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 

22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Journal:

• What new methods or platforms is God calling you to use to share the gospel?
• How can you invest in the next generation of leaders?
• What changes in your ministry approach have you seen recently, and how can you embrace them while staying true to the message of Jesus?

He came for the hurting ones

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.  ~ Mark 2:15

Jesus intentionally went after the hurting and lost people of the world. Those were the ones who came to Him for help, even when others had rejected them. Many of these people were overlooked, judged, or pushed aside by religious leaders. Jesus did teach in synagogues, but His heart was always set on reaching people, not gaining position, approval, or recognition.

In today’s scripture reading, Jesus called Levi, also known as Matthew, a tax collector. On the surface, Levi did not appear to be hurting. Tax collectors were often wealthy because they worked for the Romans and collected money from their own people. They were disliked, mistrusted, and labeled as traitors. Yet Jesus saw something deeper. He saw the ache in Matthew’s heart, the loneliness that came with being rejected, and the emptiness that wealth could not fill. Jesus saw a man who needed love, purpose, and restoration.

When Jesus went to Matthew’s home and ate with him and others like him, the Pharisees were offended. They questioned why Jesus would associate with sinners. Jesus responded plainly and powerfully, saying He came for those who knew they needed help, not for those who believed they had everything figured out.

This truth still matters today. The reason Jesus came two thousand years ago is the same reason He still calls people today. He came to save the lost, heal the hurting, and restore broken lives. Maybe there is a place in your life where you feel weary, unseen, or in need of healing. Jesus meets you there. He does not wait for you to clean yourself up. He steps into your space and offers grace, hope, and a new beginning.

Here are practical ways to get started today:

1. Acknowledge your need for Jesus, come to Him honestly with your pain, questions, and struggles.
2. Spend time with Jesus daily through prayer and Scripture, even if it feels simple or quiet.
3. Invite Jesus into the places you feel ashamed of, trusting that His grace brings healing, not condemnation.
4. Look for opportunities to extend the same compassion Jesus showed, reach out to someone who feels overlooked or alone.
5. Take one step away from an old pattern or habit that keeps you stuck, and replace it with obedience and trust.

Today I want to encourage you to answer the call Jesus is giving you right now. He sees your life, He knows your heart, and He understands your pain. Turn everything over to Him and begin walking in the plans He created you for. This is the best life, one filled with purpose, healing, and transformation. Come to Him today and leave your old ways behind, trusting that He came for you and will make your life count for eternity.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 2:13-17

13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. 

14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Journal:

• Where do I see areas of hurt or emptiness in my life that I need to bring to Jesus
• What might Jesus be inviting me to leave behind so I can follow Him more fully
• Who in my life might need the same compassion and grace that Jesus has shown me

Do not be afraid of giants

And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’ ~ Deuteronomy 3:2

Have you ever known God was leading you forward, yet felt intimidated by what stood in front of you? Sometimes the next step in obedience brings you face to face with obstacles that feel bigger than your faith, stronger than your experience, or beyond your ability. Today’s scripture reading reminds us that moving forward with God often includes confronting giants, but it also shows us that God never sends us into a battle He has not already planned to win with those who follow His directions.

The three truths below reveal how God strengthens His people to move forward courageously and how that same kingdom principle applies to your life today:

1. God goes before you into every battle.

The Israelites faced Og king of Bashan, a powerful enemy with a reputation that was greatly feared by all people. Yet God spoke before the battle ever began and declared the victory. The outcome was settled before the fight started.

This can be an inspiration to you when a challenge feels overwhelming. Start by listening for God’s truth instead of rehearsing your fears. Pray and ask God what He says about the situation you are facing. Write down His promises and choose to move forward based on His word rather than what looks intimidating.

2. Victory builds confidence for the next step.

Each battle the Israelites won strengthened their trust in God for what was still ahead. God used those victories to prepare them for future territory and responsibility.

Take time to remember what God has already brought you through. When fear rises about a new assignment, remind yourself that the same God who helped you before will help you again. Use past victories as fuel for present obedience.

3. God’s promises are meant to be possessed, not just admired.

The land was given to the Israelites, but they still had to step into it. God’s promise required action and courage. Standing still would have meant missing what God had already provided.

Ask God where He is calling you to move forward instead of staying safe. Take one obedient step even if it feels uncomfortable. Growth often happens on the other side of fear, not before it disappears.

I have just come through a victory after facing a giant in my life. God clearly showed opened up a door for me to take a next step, yet the obstacles in front of me felt far bigger than my confidence and experience for the opportunity. There were moments when fear whispered that I was not ready or capable. Each time I chose to trust God, rely on His empowering grace and move forward anyway, I saw Him show up with strength I did not have on my own. What once felt impossible became a testimony of His faithfulness. God used those moments to show me that courage grows through obedience and taking the next step, not before it.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God when He calls you to face what feels bigger than you. Do not let fear stop you from stepping into what He has already placed in your hands. The same God who defeated the giants before you is still fighting for you today. Move forward with confidence, knowing that obedience releases victory and prepares you for even greater things ahead.

Today’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy 3

1 “Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan; and Og king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 

2 And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’

3 “So the Lord our God also delivered into our hands Og king of Bashan, with all his people, and we attacked him until he had no survivors remaining. 

4 And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 

5 All these cities were fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides a great many rural towns. 

6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city. 

7 But all the livestock and the spoil of the cities we took as booty for ourselves.

8 “And at that time we took the land from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were on this side of the Jordan, from the River Arnon to Mount Hermon 

9 (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir), 

10 all the cities of the plain, all Gilead, and all Bashan, as far as Salcah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

11 “For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants. Indeed his bedstead was an iron bedstead. (Is it not in Rabbah of the people of Ammon?) Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit.

The Land East of the Jordan Divided

12 “And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, and half the mountains of Gilead and its cities, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites. 

13 The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to half the tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob, with all Bashan, was called the land of the giants. 

14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and called Bashan after his own name, Havoth Jair, to this day.)

15 “Also I gave Gilead to Machir. 

16 And to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave from Gilead as far as the River Arnon, the middle of the river as the border, as far as the River Jabbok, the border of the people of Ammon; 

17 the plain also, with the Jordan as the border, from Chinnereth as far as the east side of the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah.

18 “Then I commanded you at that time, saying: ‘The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All you men of valor shall cross over armed before your brethren, the children of Israel. 

19 But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall stay in your cities which I have given you, 

20 until the Lord has given rest to your brethren as to you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given you.’

21 “And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. 

22 You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.’

23 “Then I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying: 

24 ‘O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? 

25 I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.’

26 “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord said to me: ‘Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. 

27 Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 

28 But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.’

29 “So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor.

Journal:

• What challenge in my life feels like a giant right now
• Where might God be asking me to trust Him and move forward despite fear
• How can I remind myself of God’s past faithfulness when I face new obstacles

Trusting God’s Timing and Direction

You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward. ~ Deuteronomy 2:3

Have you ever felt like you’re in a season where you’re just going around in circles, not really moving forward? It can feel frustrating when progress seems slow or when the next step isn’t clear. But what if God is asking you to trust His timing and direction, even in seasons where it feels like you’re stuck? In today’s passage from Deuteronomy, the Israelites were told to stop wandering and head in a new direction. This instruction came after a long period of waiting and uncertainty. God had a specific plan for them, and when it was time, He led them forward with a clear purpose.

Here are three lessons we can take from this passage:

1. Trust God’s Timing

God told the Israelites that they had been going around the same mountain long enough. Sometimes in our lives, it can feel like we’re stuck in a cycle, waiting for something to change. But God is faithful, and when His timing is right, He leads us into new opportunities. Trust that your waiting is not in vain and that God will open doors at just the right time.

If you find yourself feeling stuck, take a moment to pause and ask God for clarity about the next step. Be patient with the process, trusting that God is preparing you for what’s ahead, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. Prayerfully consider the areas where you feel God might be calling you to move forward.

2. Follow God’s Clear Direction

The Israelites were given clear instructions to go north. Sometimes we are waiting for God’s direction but are unsure of where He wants us to go next. When God speaks, His direction is clear, even if it challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. Following God’s direction requires faith, even when we don’t fully understand the journey ahead.

Spend time in prayer asking God to guide you. If you feel like you’ve been going around in circles, be open to His voice, whether through Scripture, prayer, or wise counsel. When God gives you direction, take that first step in faith. It might feel daunting, but His plans for you are always good.

3. Remember God’s Faithfulness

As the Israelites made their way to the promised land, they had seen God’s faithfulness to them over and over again. Even when they faced challenges, God was with them, providing and leading them every step of the way. Remembering how God has been faithful in the past strengthens our faith and helps us trust Him for the future.

Look back on your own life and reflect on the ways God has been faithful to you. Write down moments where you’ve seen His provision, guidance, and love. This will remind you that, even in seasons of waiting or uncertainty, God is always working behind the scenes for your good.

I’ve had times in my life where I felt like I was going in circles, unsure of my next step. I knew I was supposed to be growing, but I didn’t know exactly how. It wasn’t until I slowed down, focused on God’s faithfulness, and waited for His direction that things began to shift. The moment I took that step of faith in response to His clear leading, things started to fall into place. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. God had been preparing me all along, even in seasons where I felt like nothing was happening. Looking back, I can see that God was guiding me with purpose all along, even when I couldn’t see it in the moment.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God’s timing and direction in your life. If you’re feeling like you’ve been wandering or stuck, remember that God is never wasting your time. Trust that He is preparing you for something greater and is always with you, leading you step by step. Don’t be afraid to take that next step, even if it feels uncertain. God has a clear direction for your life, and His faithfulness will see you through.

Today’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy 2

1 “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the Lord spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days.

2 “And the Lord spoke to me, saying: 

3‘You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward. 

4 And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. 

5 Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 

6 You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.

7 “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.” ’

8 “And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the plain, away from Elath and Ezion Geber, we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab. 

9 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ ”

10 (The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. 

11 They were also regarded as giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim. 

12 The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the Lord gave them.)

13 “ ‘Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.’ So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered. 

14 And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the Lord had sworn to them. 

15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they were consumed.

16 “So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, 

17 that the Lord spoke to me, saying: 

18 ‘This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab. 

19 And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ ”

20 (That was also regarded as a land of giants; giants formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 

21 a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the Lord destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, 

22 just as He had done for the descendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, even to this day. 

23 And the Avim, who dwelt in villages as far as Gaza—the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their place.)

24 “ ‘Rise, take your journey, and cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and engage him in battle. 

25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’

King Sihon Defeated

26 “And I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, 

27 ‘Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will turn neither to the right nor to the left. 

28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink; only let me pass through on foot, 

29 just as the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord our God is giving us.’

30 “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.

31 “And the Lord said to me, ‘See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.’ 

32 Then Sihon and all his people came out against us to fight at Jahaz. 

33 And the Lord our God delivered him over to us; so we defeated him, his sons, and all his people. 

34 We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining. 

35 We took only the livestock as plunder for ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we took. 

36 From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the Lord our God delivered all to us. 

37 Only you did not go near the land of the people of Ammon—anywhere along the River Jabbok, or to the cities of the mountains, or wherever the Lord our God had forbidden us.

Journal:

• In what areas of my life do I feel like I am going around in circles?
• How can I trust God’s timing in my current season?
• When have I seen God’s faithfulness in my life before? How can I use that as encouragement to move forward?

Moving Forward with God’s promises

“The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. ~ Deuteronomy 1:6-7   

Have you ever found yourself stuck in one place for far too long, unsure if it’s time to move forward or take the next step? Sometimes, we grow comfortable with where we are and wonder if there’s more ahead, or if it’s just too hard to move past what feels safe. The Israelites found themselves at the foot of Mount Horeb for a long time, and God had to remind them that it was time to move forward, step into the next chapter, and claim the promises ahead.

In the same way, God calls us to step out of our comfort zones, to trust His timing, and to move forward into the promises He has for our lives. He doesn’t want us to stay stuck in one place forever. He wants to lead us into greater things and all that He designed our lives for.

Here are three powerful points to consider as you think about how to move forward in faith:

1. There’s a time to stay and a time to move forward.

God called the Israelites to move forward from Mount Horeb, but they had to be willing to hear His voice and obey His direction. Sometimes, we may feel stuck, but it is important to remember that God knows the right time for us to move. Whether it’s a career change, a relationship, or a new season of growth, we need to be sensitive to God’s timing.

When you feel uncertain about a decision, take time to pray and ask God for clarity. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a promise from His Word and seek counsel from wise and godly people in your life. Then, take a step of faith and trust that God will guide you as you move forward.

2. Moving forward requires courage.

The Israelites were hesitant to enter the land of Canaan because of the challenges they would face. It took courage to step out in faith and trust God’s promises. In your life, moving forward might mean facing fears, doubts, or unfamiliar situations.

Identify an area in your life where God is calling you to move forward. It might seem overwhelming, but remember that God is with you. Ask Him to show you just the next step so you can begin heading in that direction. Choose to step out of your comfort zone and face your fears with the courage He provides. Start small, but keep moving.

3. The promise is greater than the current comfort.

God had a promised land full of blessings for the Israelites, but they had to take that first step into the unknown. Sometimes, we resist moving forward because the unknown feels uncomfortable. However, God promises that what lies ahead is greater than where we are now.

Ask yourself if you’re holding back from something God is calling you to because it feels too risky or uncertain. Trust that God’s plans are always good, and His promises are worth the step of faith. Even if the road seems difficult, God’s provision is with you every step of the way.

There have been many times in my life when I felt stuck, like I wasn’t moving forward in my calling. I wasn’t necessarily comfortable where I was, but I was afraid to take the next step because I didn’t want to step out of God’s plan for my life. I had spent so many years making my own decisions and living with the weight of regret that I didn’t want to make another wrong choice. As a result, I became paralyzed with fear, afraid of making the wrong decision. I knew God was calling me to take a bold step of faith, but there was fear, doubt, and so much uncertainty about what would come after that step. Despite all of that, I chose to trust God. As I took that first step, He began to move in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The blessings on the other side were far greater than anything I had imagined when I hesitated to move forward. God’s promises were more than worth the risk.

Today I want to encourage you to trust that God is calling you to move forward. He has amazing promises ahead for you, and though the journey may not always be easy, it will always be worth it. Don’t let fear or comfort hold you back. Step into the unknown with faith and confidence, knowing that God has already gone before you. He is leading you to something far greater than what you have now.

Today’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy 1

1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 

2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. 

3 Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them, 

4 after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.

5 On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying, 

6 “The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. 

7 Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. 

8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.’

9 “And I spoke to you at that time, saying: ‘I alone am not able to bear you. 

10 The Lord your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. 

11 May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you! 

12 How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints? 

13 Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’ 

14 And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have told us to do is good.’ 

15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him. 

17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 

18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.

19 “So we departed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as the Lord our God had commanded us. Then we came to Kadesh Barnea. 

20 And I said to you, ‘You have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. 

21 Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’

22 “And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.’

23 “The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. 

24 And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 

25 They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the Lord our God is giving us.’

26 “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God; 

27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 

28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’

29 “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 

30 The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 

31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ 

32 Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God, 

33 who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.

34 “And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, 

35 ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers, 

36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the Lord.’ 

37 The Lord was also angry with me for your sakes, saying, ‘Even you shall not go in there. 

38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

39 ‘Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. 

40 But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.’

41 “Then you answered and said to me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord; we will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And when everyone of you had girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to go up into the mountain.

42 “And the Lord said to me, ‘Tell them, “Do not go up nor fight, for I am not among you; lest you be defeated before your enemies.” 

43 So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the Lord, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. 

44 And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. 

45 Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you.

46 “So you remained in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you spent there.

Journal:

• Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to move forward?
• What fears or doubts are holding you back from stepping into God’s promises?
• How can you take a small step of faith today to move closer to where God is leading you?

God honors order and faithful choices

_{This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father’s tribe.’ ~ Numbers 36:6}

Have you ever wondered if the choices you make today truly matter in the long run, or if God is really involved in the details of your decisions? Maybe you even think that what you do today only counts for today. Today’s scripture reading closes the book of Numbers with a powerful reminder that God cares deeply about order, legacy, and obedience, even in matters that may seem ordinary or personal. This chapter shows that God’s instructions were not meant to restrict His people, but to protect His promises. As believers today, this is still true today. God is watching over how you live, choose, and steward what He has placed in your hands.

The three truths below show how obedience, wisdom, and trust work together in God’s plan and how you can live them out in today’s world as a citizen of heaven:

1. God’s instructions protect what He has promised.

In this chapter the boundaries God set were designed to preserve the inheritance He had already given. His guidance was not about control, but about safeguarding what mattered most for future generations.

Ask God to show you where His instructions are meant to protect you rather than limit you. When making decisions about relationships, commitments, or direction, pause and seek His wisdom before moving forward. Trust that His boundaries are an act of care, not restriction.

2. Obedience today shapes blessing tomorrow.

The daughters of Zelophehad chose to honor God’s command, and their obedience ensured that the inheritance remained intact. Their willingness to follow God’s direction impacted more than just their own lives.

Choose to seek God’s wisdom in the small decisions you face right now. Whether it is integrity at work, faithfulness in relationships, or consistency in prayer, honor God in what feels ordinary, knowing He leads you through present obedience to shape future blessing.

3. God values order because He values people.

This chapter shows God’s concern for fairness, structure, and consistency. His order brought clarity and peace, not confusion. God’s heart was always for His people to thrive within His design.

Invite God into the details of your life instead of only the major decisions. Ask Him how to manage your time, responsibilities, and relationships in a way that honors Him and serves others well.

I have seen this truth lived out in my own life. There was a time in my life when I wanted to rush decisions or choose what felt like in the moment, trusting my instincts more than God’s direction. Each time I slowed down and chose obedience, even when it required patience or surrender, God protected me from outcomes I could not see coming. Looking back, I can clearly see how His guidance preserved relationships, opportunities, and peace that would have been lost if I had continued to go my own way. What felt like restraint in the moment was actually my loving heavenly Father guarding the future He had prepared for me.

Today I want to encourage you to trust that God cares about the details of your life and that His instructions are always rooted in love and purpose. Choose obedience even when it requires patience or humility, knowing that God is protecting what He has promised you. Honor Him in your decisions today, and trust that He is building a future filled with stability, blessing, and peace as you walk faithfully with Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Numbers 36

1 Now the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the chief fathers of the children of Israel. 

2 And they said: “The Lord commanded my lord Moses to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 

3 Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 

4 And when the Jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.”

5 Then Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying: “What the tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks is right. 

6 This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father’s tribe.’ 

7 So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 

8 And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be the wife of one of the family of her father’s tribe, so that the children of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. 

9 Thus no inheritance shall change hands from one tribe to another, but every tribe of the children of Israel shall keep its own inheritance.”

10 Just as the Lord commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad; 

11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to the sons of their father’s brothers. 

12 They were married into the families of the children of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father’s family.

13 These are the commandments and the judgments which the Lord commanded the children of Israel by the hand of Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.

Journal:

• What area of my life might God be asking me to trust His instruction more fully
• Are there decisions I am rushing that need prayer and patience instead
• How can I honor God in the small choices I make this week

There is always more

Then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there. ~ Numbers 35:11

Have you ever wondered if where you are right now is truly all God has for you, or if there is more ahead that you have not stepped into yet? Today’s scripture reading reminds us that God never leads His people without provision, protection, and purpose. Even before Israel fully settled the Promised land, God prepared cities of refuge, places of safety and order, showing that His plan always reaches further than what is immediately visible. The kingdom of heaven still operates this way today. God always has more prepared, and He invites each one of His people to keep moving forward instead of settling too soon.

The three truths below show how God’s plan continues to unfold and how you can live from a kingdom of heaven perspective without stopping short or settling for less:

1. God prepares what you need before you realize you need it.

The cities of refuge were established before the people faced the situations that required them. God anticipated their future and made provision ahead of time. Showing that His plan does not react to circumstances, it leads them.

Trust that your heavenly Father has already prepared answers, strength, and provision for what lies ahead. When uncertainty arises, choose prayer over panic and obedience over fear, knowing that God has gone before you and His provision is waiting for you.

2. God provides safety without calling you to settle there permanently.

The cities of refuge were places of protection, not final destinations. They served a purpose for a season, but they were never meant to replace the inheritance God promised. Settling there would have meant stopping short of the blessings that came next.

Thank God for the seasons that bring rest, healing, or protection, but stay open to His leading forward. Ask God if there is a next step you are hesitating to take because comfort feels safer than growth.

3. God’s justice and mercy work together to move you forward.

This passage also shows both boundaries and grace. God made room for mercy while still establishing order and responsibility. His plan was not limited to survival but pointed toward restoration and forward movement.

Allow God’s mercy to lift you out of past mistakes without using His grace as a reason to stay stuck. Choose obedience today as a way to move toward the more your Father in heaven has prepared for your future.

I have seen this truth unfold in my own life. There have been many occasions when God gave me safety, provision, and stability, and I was tempted to stay there because it felt manageable and familiar. Over time, I began to realize that what once felt comfortable was no longer where He was leading me. A restlessness grew in my heart, not from dissatisfaction, but from His gentle invitation to take the next step. Each time I chose to trust Him beyond my comfort zone, God revealed that He had more prepared than I could see in the moment. What looked like risk became growth, and what felt uncertain became purpose. My heavenly Father never asked me to abandon the safety He provided, He simply asked me not to confuse a time of refuge with the full purpose and plan He had designed for my life.

The truth is, there is always more when you continue to grow and take the next step God places before you. Growth is not optional in the kingdom of heaven, it is part of staying on course with your purpose. When you settle into the status quo and choose comfort over obedience, stagnation slowly sets in, and drift follows not because God moved, but because you stopped. God is always calling His people forward, inviting them into deeper trust, greater impact, and fuller purpose. When that invitation is ignored long enough, it can lead to a quiet disconnection where one day you wake up asking, “How did I get here?” Not because your heavenly Father withheld direction, but because there was always more available and the next step was left untaken. Staying responsive to His leading keeps your life moving in step with His purpose and opens the door to the greatest fulfilment, joy and satisfaction in life.

Today I want to encourage you to trust that God always has more ahead for you. Do not stop in a place that was meant to sustain you for a season when God is calling you forward into deeper purpose. The kingdom of heaven is active, advancing, and full of provision for every step of obedience. Keep moving, keep trusting, and believe that what God has prepared is greater than what you have already known.

Today’s scripture reading: Numbers 35

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying: 

2 “Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession, and you shall also give the Levites common-land around the cities. 

3 They shall have the cities to dwell in; and their common-land shall be for their cattle, for their herds, and for all their animals. 

4 The common-land of the cities which you will give the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits all around. 

5 And you shall measure outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, on the south side two thousand cubits, on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits. The city shall be in the middle. This shall belong to them as common-land for the cities.

6 “Now among the cities which you will give to the Levites you shall appoint six cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. And to these you shall add forty-two cities. 

7 So all the cities you will give to the Levites shall be forty-eight; these you shall give with their common-land. 

8 And the cities which you will give shall be from the possession of the children of Israel; from the larger tribe you shall give many, from the smaller you shall give few. Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites, in proportion to the inheritance that each receives.”

9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 

10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 

11 then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there. 

12 They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment. 

13 And of the cities which you give, you shall have six cities of refuge. 

14 You shall appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall appoint in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge. 

15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.

16 ‘But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 

17 And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 

18 Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. 

19 The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 

20 If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies, 

21 or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

22 ‘However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait, 

23 or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm, 

24 then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments. 

25 So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 

26 But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled, 

27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, 

28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.

29 ‘And these things shall be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 

30 Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty. 

31 Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. 

32 And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest. 

33 So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. 

34 Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.’ ”

Journal:

• Where might I be settling because it feels safe rather than stepping forward in faith
• What past provision has God given me that now invites gratitude instead of staying
• What is one next step God may be asking me to take toward the more He has prepared

Bring others too

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ~ Mark 2:3

Do you have friends, loved ones, or neighbors who do not have Jesus in their life? Maybe you have tried to share God’s love but felt like it never landed like you thought it would? Maybe fear or intimidation has kept you quiet. If you have or if you haven’t, I have good news for you today. Sharing Jesus does not always start with words. Sometimes it simply starts with bringing people along.

Your influence as a believer grows through genuine relationship. When you bring others into your everyday life, your faith becomes visible and tangible. This is not about forcing someone to listen or convincing them to believe. It is about loving them where they are and trusting God to work through that love and kindness that is flowing out of your life. Inviting someone to run errands, sharing a meal, or spending intentional time together can open hearts far more than a polished speech or forceful words ever could.

In today’s passage, four friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. When the crowd blocked the way, they did not quit. They cared too much to settle for obstacles. Their persistence and love created a path for healing and salvation. Their faith moved them to action, and Jesus met them there.

Here are a few practical ways to live this out in your life today:

• Intentionally include others in your everyday rhythms. Invite a coworker to lunch, ask a neighbor to join you for coffee, or include a friend in a family activity. Start by choosing one person and one simple invitation this week.
• Let love lead instead of pressure. Focus on listening, serving, and caring without an agenda. Begin by praying daily for God to show you how to love them well right where they are.
• Stay persistent even when it feels inconvenient. Do not give up when schedules clash or progress seems slow. Decide ahead of time that people are worth the effort and ask God for strength to keep showing up.

I have seen this play out in my own life. There have been many times when I wanted the people I cared about to encounter God so deeply, but I felt unsure how to help them get there. When I stopped trying to say the perfect words and simply started inviting them into my life, everything changed. Shared meals, long conversations, ordinary moments, and consistent presence opened doors I never could have forced open. Over time, I watched God use simple togetherness to soften hearts and draw people closer to Him. It reminded me that my role was not to save anyone, but to love them faithfully and bring them as close to Jesus as I could, trusting Him to do the rest.

Today I want to encourage you to bring others along as you follow Jesus, just as the four friends did in Mark 2. Consider reaching across generations, pouring your wisdom into someone younger or honoring someone older by listening to what they have learned through life. Either way, your time, care, and commitment will communicate God’s love and draw hearts closer to the day of salvation. Let your love create a pathway for God’s power to move, trusting that when people matter to you, they matter deeply to Him. As you live this out, you will fulfill the mission God has given you and help others encounter the Savior who changes everything.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 2:1-12

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 

2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 

3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 

4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 

7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 

11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Journal:

• Who is one person God may be asking me to bring along in my daily life right now?
• What fear or hesitation has kept me from inviting others into my world?
• What is one simple step I can take this week to show someone they are seen, valued, and loved by God?

None too great or small

But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” ~ Mark 1:38

There are moments when life feels steady and then suddenly everything shifts. Problems appear without warning and it can feel like a storm has settled in with no clear end in sight. In those moments, confusion, exhaustion, and discouragement can come on very quickly. That’s when we need to remember to cry out for peace, for comfort, and for restoration to be reminded that our Lord Jesus is still the source of triumph and deliverance.

The remainder of Mark chapter one is filled with real life encounters. Jesus cast out demons, healed the sick, restored those suffering with disease, and cleansed a leper. People came to Him carrying burdens of every kind and He met them with compassion and power. Nothing brought to Jesus was ever too big to overwhelm Him or too small to matter to Him. Every need received His attention and care.
That truth still stands today. When pressure builds and answers feel far away, every concern can be brought to Jesus. Whether the weight is emotional, physical, relational, or spiritual, He remains willing and able to meet you where you are. He does not rank problems by importance. What weighs on your heart matters to Him.

Here are some practical ways to apply this passage:

• Bring every concern to Jesus, begin by naming the situation honestly in prayer instead of minimizing it or carrying it alone.
• Ask Jesus for His peace before answers appear, take a moment each day to pause, breathe, and invite His presence to calm your thoughts and emotions.
• Trust His compassion in the waiting, remind yourself daily that Jesus sees your need and is already working even when answers feel slow in coming.

In my own life, I realized that when I carry struggles silently, they grow heavier. When I bring them openly to Jesus, peace begins to settle even before circumstances change. Time and again, He has met me with strength when I felt weak and clarity when confusion tried to take over. His faithfulness has proven that nothing I place in His hands is ever ignored.

Today I want to encourage you to bring every burden, worry, and need to Jesus without hesitation. Trust that nothing in your life is too great for His power or too small for His reach. Let His presence be your peace, His compassion be your comfort, and His power carry you through to victory.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 1:21-45

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 

22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 

24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 

26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 

27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 

28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 

30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 

31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 

34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 

36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 

37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 

42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 

43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 

44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

Journal:

• What situation am I carrying that I need to place fully in Jesus’ hands
• Where do I need to invite His peace instead of striving for control
• How has Jesus shown His faithfulness to me in past struggles