The Daily Dose

From the Daily Dose Journal Series

Don’t do it alone

These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. Acts 20:5

If you have ever served in ministry, you know how easy it is to feel the weight of responsibility. Whether you greet at the doors, sing on the worship team, pray with people, or work behind the scenes, ministry can feel heavy when it is carried alone. In many churches, teams are formed so that no one person carries the load every week. Each person brings their own gifts and abilities, and together, the team makes a greater impact than one person ever could on their own.

For a long time, I imagined the apostle Paul as a lone missionary, traveling city to city without help, standing in faith by himself in the face of every trial. But reading through Acts changed that perspective. Paul often listed those who traveled and ministered with him, and in this passage, he names five men who went ahead to Troas to prepare for his arrival. Paul didn’t say they waited for “me,” he said they waited for “us.” He understood that ministry was never meant to be carried by one person.

In my own life, I have experienced the strength of having others walk with me in ministry. There have been times when I tried to take on too much by myself and quickly found myself worn down and discouraged. But when I invited others to serve alongside me, not only did the work become lighter, but I also saw how God used their unique gifts in ways I never could have on my own. The joy of serving together, encouraging one another, and seeing God move through a team taught me the importance of not doing it alone.

For you today, this passage is a reminder that you do not have to carry ministry or life’s responsibilities by yourself. God designed you to live and serve in community. He will send people to walk with you, to strengthen you, and to help prepare the way for the work He has called you to do.

Here are some ways you can get started:

Pray and ask God to place the right people in your life to serve alongside you.
If you are already part of a team, use your gifts intentionally to build up the group and celebrate the strengths of others.
Be willing to release control and share responsibilities so others can grow in their calling.
Encourage someone on your team this week with a word of gratitude or prayer.
If you are serving alone, begin praying for one person to join you and share the journey.

Today I want to encourage you to join with others in the work God has called you to. You were not created to carry the load by yourself. When you open the door for others to serve alongside you, your impact multiplies, and your strength is renewed. Trust that God has already prepared people to walk with you, and take the step to invite them in.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 20:1-6

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.

2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece

3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas.

6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Journal:

In what area of life or ministry have you been trying to carry the weight alone?
Who are the people God has placed around you that can support and strengthen you?
What step can you take this week to share the load and invite others into your jour

From the Daily Dose Journal Series

Don’t do it alone

These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. Acts 20:5

Here are some ways you can get started:

Pray and ask God to place the right people in your life to serve alongside you.
If you are already part of a team, use your gifts intentionally to build up the group and celebrate the strengths of others.
Be willing to release control and share responsibilities so others can grow in their calling.
Encourage someone on your team this week with a word of gratitude or prayer.
If you are serving alone, begin praying for one person to join you and share the journey.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 20:1-6

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.

2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece

3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas.

6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Journal:

In what area of life or ministry have you been trying to carry the weight alone?
Who are the people God has placed around you that can support and strengthen you?

What step can you take this week to share the load and invite others into your journey?

Exodus 14

The God Who makes a way

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” ~ Exodus 14:14

Have you ever felt trapped with no way out? Maybe you have faced a situation where every option seemed closed and fear whispered that you would not make it through. What do you do when the problem in front of you looks too big and the pressure behind you feels too strong? How do you respond when your heart wrestles between faith and fear, and you wonder if God has truly led you to this place? Could it be that what looks like an ending is really the place where God wants to reveal His power in a new way?

This was exactly where the Israelites found themselves at the Red Sea. With the Egyptian army pressing in from behind and the water blocking their path ahead, fear gripped their hearts. They cried out and complained to Moses, convinced they would die in the wilderness. But Moses chose faith instead of fear. He reminded the people, “The Lord will fight for you, as you hold on to your peace.” While the people saw death, Moses saw the God who delivers. While they felt abandoned, Moses trusted that God had a plan.

What made the difference is that Moses not only believed God but also followed the direction God gave him. The Lord told Moses to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea. It was only after Moses did what God said that the waters parted, and the way of escape was revealed. His breakthrough came on the other side of obedience. Moses didn’t ask question or argue with God that it wouldn’t do any good. Instead, He trusted that God knew what He was doing and choose to be the person God would work through to get the job done. The same is true for us. Faith is not just believing in our hearts but also trusting God enough to follow His leading and having peace while we wait, even when we do not yet see the outcome.

In my own life, I face the decision of fear or faith every day. As I have shared recently about a family struggle I have been dealing with, I often feel the temptation to give up. Each time the situation comes to mind, I have a choice. I can go down the path of fear, imagining what could go wrong, or I can thank the Lord for what I know He is doing, even when I cannot see it yet. I also take time to listen for any direction He may be giving me that will help in this season of waiting. God is working all things together for a good outcome because we love and follow Him. Even though I cannot see the results with my physical eyes, I know that something good is coming and the victory is already ours.

Sure, there have been days when I have wanted to give up. But I keep my mind and heart focused by holding on to God’s promises in His Word that never fails. As I choose to believe His promises, He opens doors I could never open myself. What once looked like a dead end is turning into a testimony of His great faithfulness.

This passage shows us that every Red Sea moment comes with a choice. Will we be like the Israelites, who let fear control their hearts and words, or will we be like Moses, who trusted God and acted on His direction? If Moses had not been willing to do what God told him, the entire nation of Israel would have been crushed by their enemy. The same principle is true in your life. What if the obstacle you see today is actually the stage God has chosen to show His greatest power? What if the trial pressing in on every side is the very place where you will see His deliverance? What if the Red Sea in front of you is not a dead end, but a pathway ready to open as you follow His leading step by step?

Here is how you can get started living in His peace today:

Pray daily for God to lead you in life’s battles and ask Him to give you peace while you follow.
- Write down the obstacles that feel impossible and ask, “Am I responding with fear like the Israelites, or with faith like Moses?”
- Speak God’s promises over your situation, such as Exodus 14:14, reminding your heart that He is your defender.
- Share your testimony of how God has brought you through past situations to encourage others.
- Take a step of obedience in faith, even if it feels small, and trust God to open the way before you.

Today I want to encourage you to choose faith over fear and to walk in peace as you follow God’s direction in your Red Sea moments. The same God who fought for Israel is fighting for you today. He has not abandoned you, He has not left you trapped, and He is able to make a way where there is no way. Stand firm, hold your peace, follow His leading, and watch the Lord reveal His power in your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 14

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’

4 Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

6 So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him.

7 Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them.

8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.

9 So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?

12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.

16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

17 And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen.

18 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.

20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.

25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”

27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28 Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained.

29 But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

31 Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.

Journal:

Where in your life do you feel surrounded or trapped right now?
Am I responding more like the fearful Israelites or like Moses who trusted God?
What is one step of faith I can take today to show that I believe God will fight for me?

Exodus 13

Led by His presence

_{The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. ~ Exodus 13:21}

Today’s scripture reading is about God’s people leaving Egypt after the first Passover. They were stepping into the unknown, leaving behind what was familiar, even though it had been a place of slavery. God did not leave them to wander aimlessly. He personally went before them, showing His presence by day in the cloud and by night in the fire. His presence was their direction, their assurance, and their constant reminder that they were not alone.

If you are anything like me, there have been many times in life when you felt uncertain about where God was leading. The path ahead seemed unclear, and you carried the weight of not knowing what the next step should be. In those moments, God reminds us that He does not always show the whole picture at once, but He always gives enough light for the next step we need to take. His presence becomes our peace. Even in uncertainty, we experience Him guiding us in ways that only He can orchestrate.

This passage can speak to you today because God has not changed. He still goes before His people. You may not see every detail of your journey right now, but He is the One who leads you by His Spirit, who lights your path with His Word, and who gives you peace when the way seems unclear. Just as the Israelites were led step by step, you can trust that God is guiding you in your own life.

Here are some ways to apply this passage and how to get started:

Begin each day by asking God to lead you through His Spirit and His Word.
When faced with uncertainty, pray for His peace and then take the next right step with confidence.
Read Scripture daily, even a small portion, and ask God to use it as light for your path.
Look back on times in your life when God guided you and write them down as reminders of His faithfulness.
Share with someone else how God has been leading you, so both of you can be encouraged.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that the same God who led Israel with a cloud by day and fire by night is leading you right now. He doesn’t expect or want you to find your way on your own. His presence goes before you, His Spirit lives within you, and His Word lights your path. Whatever uncertainty you are facing, you can move forward with peace knowing that God Himself is guiding you every step of the way.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 13

1 Then the Lord said to Moses,

2 “Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me.”

3 So Moses said to the people, “This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand. (Remember, eat no food containing yeast.)

4 On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib, you have been set free.

5 You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (He swore to your ancestors that he would give you this land—a land flowing with milk and honey.)

6 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. Then on the seventh day, celebrate a feast to the Lord.

7 Eat bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must be no yeast bread or any yeast at all found within the borders of your land during this time.

8 “On the seventh day you must explain to your children, ‘I am celebrating what the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.’

9 This annual festival will be a visible sign to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the Lord: ‘With a strong hand, the Lord rescued you from Egypt.’

10 So observe the decree of this festival at the appointed time each year.

11 “This is what you must do when the Lord fulfills the promise he swore to you and to your ancestors. When he gives you the land where the Canaanites now live,

12 you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the Lord, for they belong to him.

13 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the Lord by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.

14 “And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery.

15 Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the Lord killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the Lord—except that the firstborn sons are always bought back.’

16 This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.”

17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”

20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.

21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.

22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

Journal:

Write about an area in your life where you need God’s direction right now.
How can you choose to trust His presence and His leading in that situation?

Exodus 12

Marked for Freedom

But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. ~ Exodus 12:13

In Exodus 12 we see the Lord’s instructions for the first Passover. The blood of the lamb placed on the doorframes of their homes became the people’s covering, their protection, and their promise of deliverance. That night was not only about escaping death, it was about being set apart, marked for freedom, and beginning a new journey out of slavery. But this powerful moment was also pointing ahead to the greater Passover Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood would not just cover sin temporarily but wash it away completely and permanently.

The blood of that lamb in Egypt carried great benefits for God’s people. Everyone under the blood was promised:

Escape from God’s judgment
Protection from death
Deliverance from bondage
Provision from their enemies (they left Egypt with silver, gold, and clothing)
A new beginning, stepping into a new calendar year and season
God’s presence and leadership into a land of promise

Yet as powerful as that moment was, it cannot compare with the salvation we have in Jesus, the true Lamb of God. His blood has given us even greater promises:

Forgiveness of every sin and freedom from guilt
Eternal life and deliverance from spiritual death
Freedom from the bondage of sin and the power of the enemy
Access to God’s unlimited provision, both spiritual and physical
A brand-new life, being born again and made new in Him
The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit guiding us daily
Adoption as sons and daughters of God with an eternal inheritance
A secure future and living hope that cannot be taken away

Many times in my life I have felt trapped and unable to see how things would turn out. I remember moments of financial pressure when the weight of not knowing how I would move forward kept me awake at night. Yet even in that place, God reminded me that I was covered under the blood of Jesus. I experienced His provision in ways I did not expect. Doors opened that I could not have opened myself. What seemed impossible suddenly shifted because His blood was already my assurance. Just as the Israelites walked out of Egypt covered and provided for, I walked forward in peace knowing I was already marked for freedom through my Savior.

This passage can speak to your life today because no matter what you are facing, the blood of Jesus is greater. What covers you is stronger than what comes against you. His sacrifice has made a way for you not just to survive a season of hardship but to walk in lasting victory, peace, and freedom.

Here are some ways to get started:

Begin each morning by thanking Jesus out loud for His blood that covers you and secures your salvation.
When fear or pressure rises, declare Scriptures about His blood and His promises over your situation.
Share your testimony with someone else, reminding them of the power of Christ’s blood in your life.
Write out reminders of God’s promises and keep them where you will see them often.
Live ready for God’s leading, just as the Israelites were dressed and ready to move forward.

Today I want to encourage you that you are marked by the blood of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb. His sacrifice is greater than your sin, greater than your fear, and greater than your circumstances. Just as God led His people out of slavery into freedom, He is leading you into new beginnings. His blood has sealed your victory, and His promises are unshakable.

If you have never received God’s freedom in salvation, you can do that right now by praying this prayer from your heart:

Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today. I know Your Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be the Lord of my life from this day forward. I now have a right relationship with God my Father through Your salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for the rest my life here in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 12

1 While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron:

2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you.

3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household.

4 If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat.

5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.

6 “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight.

7 They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.

8 That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast.

9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs—must be roasted over a fire.

10 Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.

11 “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover.

12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!

13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.

15 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel.

16 On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.

17 “Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation.

18 The bread you eat must be made without yeast from the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day of that month.

19 During those seven days, there must be no trace of yeast in your homes. Anyone who eats anything made with yeast during this week will be cut off from the community of Israel. These regulations apply both to the foreigners living among you and to the native-born Israelites.

20 During those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread made without yeast.”

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal.

22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning.

23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.

24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever.

25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony.

26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’

27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.

28 So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron.

29 And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.

30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.

31 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested.

32 Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.”

33 All the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to get out of the land as quickly as possible, for they thought, “We will all die!”

34 The Israelites took their bread dough before yeast was added. They wrapped their kneading boards in their cloaks and carried them on their shoulders.

35 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold.

36 The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!

37 That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children.

38 A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.

39 For bread they baked flat cakes from the dough without yeast they had brought from Egypt. It was made without yeast because the people were driven out of Egypt in such a hurry that they had no time to prepare the bread or other food.

40 The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.

41 In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the Lord’s forces left the land.

42 On this night the Lord kept his promise to bring his people out of the land of Egypt. So this night belongs to him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation.

43 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the instructions for the festival of Passover. No outsiders are allowed to eat the Passover meal.

44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat it if he has been circumcised.

45 Temporary residents and hired servants may not eat it.

46 Each Passover lamb must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of its meat outside, and do not break any of its bones.

47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate this Passover festival.

48 “If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite. But no uncircumcised male may ever eat the Passover meal.

49 This instruction applies to everyone, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner living among you.”

50 So all the people of Israel followed all the Lord’s commands to Moses and Aaron.

51 On that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.

Journal:

Write about a time when God covered and protected you even when you could not see a way forward.
How does knowing you are marked by the blood of Jesus change the way you face today’s challenges?
What steps can you take this week to live more confidently in the freedom Jesus has already given you?

Exodus 11

God’s final word

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave. ~ Exodus 11:1

Exodus 11 is a turning point in the story of God’s delivering His people from bondage. Plague after plague, Pharaoh continued to harden his heart and refused to let the Israelites go. But in this chapter, God said that one more act of His power would cause Pharaoh to release His people. This moment was not about Pharaoh’s authority but about God’s final word. No matter how stubborn the opposition seemed, nothing could stop the plan of God from being fulfilled.

In my own life, there have been times when it seemed like the breakthrough would never come. I prayed, I waited, and yet the circumstances did not seem to change. One specific instance was during a time of family conflict. It felt like no matter how much I prayed or tried to work toward peace, the heart of the situation stayed hardened. I began to wonder if things would ever move forward. Yet, in God’s perfect timing, He shifted the atmosphere. It was not through my strength or persistence alone, but by His power that change came. That experience showed me that God’s word always stands, and His timing is never late.

For you today, this passage is a reminder that even when it feels like the opposition is unending, God has a final word over your circumstances. He knows the exact moment when the breakthrough will come, and He is not delayed. The Israelites had to endure long nights of waiting, but freedom was already written in God’s plan. In the same way, your story is not defined by the resistance you face but by the promises of God that cannot be stopped.

Here are some things to do at you wait for God’s promise in your life:

• Pray daily for God’s timing and trust Him with the outcome.
• Write down the promises of God you are holding onto so you can see them before you every day.
• Share with a trusted friend or prayer partner what you are waiting on so you can agree in faith together.
• Choose gratitude even while waiting by thanking God for what He has already done.
• Surrender the outcome to God by reminding yourself that His plan is better than your own.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that God always has the final word. No opposition, no delay, and no stubborn heart can stop His plan from moving forward. What He has spoken over your life will come to pass in His perfect timing. Trust Him in the waiting, because your breakthrough may be closer than you think.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 11

1Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.

2Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”

3(Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.)

4Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt.

5All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die.

6Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again.

7But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

8All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh.

9Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.”

10Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave the country.

Journal:

What situation in your life feels like it will never change?
How has God shown His power in the past when you thought the opposition was too strong?
What promise from God are you holding onto right now, and how can you remind yourself of it daily?

Exodus 10

God’s Light Shines in the Darkness

“No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.” ~ Exodus 10:23

When I read this chapter, I was amazed by the sharp contrast between Egypt and Israel. Egypt was swallowed in complete darkness for three days, yet God’s people had light where they lived. This was not light they created or controlled. It was a supernatural reminder that God makes a difference between His people and the world. His light is not limited by circumstances, location, or human effort.

Even today, we see terrible things happening in the world around us. Confusion, fear, and chaos seem to be everywhere. But just like the Israelites in Egypt, God makes a distinction for His children. His promise is that even when the world is shaken by trouble, His light will shine in the lives of those who belong to Him. His Word becomes our lamp, and His presence is our covering.

In my own life, there have been many times when everything around me felt heavy and uncertain. Last week I wrote about some challenges I am going through right now in my life and how the pressure sometimes feels overwhelming. Yet through these moments, God has given me peace and clarity. Each day He reminds me through His Word and His presence that He is my light and my salvation. Even though the problems are always going to come, I walk out each day in a calmness that could only come from Him. His presence lights life’s path before me, just like He gave light to the Israelites in their homes, when the rest of the world around them was in darkness.

For you today, this passage is God’s promise that no matter how dark the world becomes, His light is your portion. The destruction, fear, and heaviness that surround others will not overtake you. Just as the Israelites were secure in God’s covering, you can live confident that His light will guard your heart, guide your steps, and keep you safe in His care. When the darkness feels like it will overtake your life, remember that it is not for you. God has something better, His light and His salvation!

Here are some ways you can start walking in His light today:

• Spend time daily in God’s Word and allow it to be the light that directs your steps.
• Pray for His peace and protection, trusting that His presence will surround your home and life.
• Keep scripture or worship playing in your environment to remind you of His light in every season.
• Write down one area in your life where you need God’s light to shine and invite Him into it through prayer.
• Encourage someone who feels surrounded by fear or chaos, reminding them that God makes a distinction for His people.

Today I want to encourage you to rest in the promise that even though darkness surrounds the world, it will not come near you as you live in the light of God’s Word and presence. The same God who covered His people with light in Egypt is the same God who covers you today. Trust Him to protect you, strengthen you, and shine His light so brightly in your life that no darkness can overcome it.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 10

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them.

2 I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them and so you will know that I am the Lord.”

3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me.

4 If you refuse, watch out! For tomorrow I will bring a swarm of locusts on your country.

5 They will cover the land so that you won’t be able to see the ground. They will devour what little is left of your crops after the hailstorm, including all the trees growing in the fields.

6 They will overrun your palaces and the homes of your officials and all the houses in Egypt. Never in the history of Egypt have your ancestors seen a plague like this one!” And with that, Moses turned and left Pharaoh.

7 Pharaoh’s officials now came to Pharaoh and appealed to him. “How long will you let this man hold us hostage? Let the men go to worship the Lord their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “All right,” he told them, “go and worship the Lord your God. But who exactly will be going with you?”

9 Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.”

10 Pharaoh retorted, “The Lord will certainly need to be with you if I let you take your little ones! I can see through your evil plan.

11 Never! Only the men may go and worship the Lord, since that is what you requested.” And Pharaoh threw them out of the palace.

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the land of Egypt to bring on the locusts. Let them cover the land and devour every plant that survived the hailstorm.”

13 So Moses raised his staff over Egypt, and the Lord caused an east wind to blow over the land all that day and through the night. When morning arrived, the east wind had brought the locusts.

14 And the locusts swarmed over the whole land of Egypt, settling in dense swarms from one end of the country to the other. It was the worst locust plague in Egyptian history, and there has never been another one like it.

15 For the locusts covered the whole country and darkened the land. They devoured every plant in the fields and all the fruit on the trees that had survived the hailstorm. Not a single leaf was left on the trees and plants throughout the land of Egypt.

16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you,” he confessed.

17 “Forgive my sin, just this once, and plead with the Lord your God to take away this death from me.”

18 So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and pleaded with the Lord.

19 The Lord responded by shifting the wind, and the strong west wind blew the locusts into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained in all the land of Egypt.

20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart again, so he refused to let the people go.

21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.”

22 So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days.

23 During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.

24 Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. “Go and worship the Lord,” he said. “But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.”

25 “No,” Moses said, “you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God.

26 All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.”

27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go.

28 “Get out of here!” Pharaoh shouted at Moses. “I’m warning you. Never come back to see me again! The day you see my face, you will die!”

29 “Very well,” Moses replied. “I will never see your face again.”

Journal:

Where in my life do I need God’s light to shine right now?
How have I seen His light protect and guide me in past seasons?
What step can I take today to stay in His presence and let His light lead me?

From the Daily Dose Journal Series

Rearrange your whole life

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. Acts 19:24

Recently, I heard a conversation where two people were having an argument about tithing and giving to God. The person that was debating had the usual objections like: “It’s an Old Testament practice” and “God doesn’t need my money” even “If I gave God ten percent, I would not have enough left to pay my bills.” Finally, this person said a statement that really exposed the heart of the issue. They said, “If I gave God ten percent of my income, I would have to totally rearrange my life around Him.” Finally, the bottom line. That is exactly right.

Many Christians are facing so many struggles today all the while telling God what they are doing right and asking why things aren’t going better. They say things like “I go to church, I read my bible, and I pray.” But the real issue is a matter of the heart. Who are you living your life for and what is the center and main focus of all your days. Is it God and His plan or you and doing things your way and including Him when it is convenient.

In today’s passage, Demetrius the silversmith had built his entire life around making idols for profit. His heart was not devoted to Diana herself but to the money that came from idol worship. When Paul’s message of salvation threatened his business, he stirred up others who also profited from the same trade, leading to confusion, chaos, and rebellion. His devotion to wealth dictated his actions, and the results brought destruction.

This story is not just about idols of silver. It is about what we choose to rearrange our lives around. If our focus is money, status, or self-interest, we will always find ourselves empty, frustrated, and afraid of losing what we have. But when we choose to rearrange our entire lives around God’s plan, placing Him at the very center, everything changes. True joy, peace, and contentment come only when His will becomes our priority.

Here are some ways you can begin to live this out in your life:

Start your day by giving God the first moments in prayer and His Word.
Invite Him to reorder your daily schedule so that His priorities come before your own.
Evaluate what currently takes the majority of your time, energy, and resources, and ask if it is serving His purposes or your own.
Practice putting others before yourself in small ways each day, such as serving, encouraging, or showing kindness.
Make intentional choices to honor God with your money, time, and talents by dedicating them to His purposes.

Begin by surrendering one area of your life where God is not yet first place. This may be your time, your finances, or your plans. Start with small steps, like reading Scripture before reaching for your phone in the morning or dedicating the first portion of your income to God. As you build these habits, you will see your life slowly rearranging itself around His will.

Today I want to encourage you to rearrange your whole life around your heavenly Father and His plan. When He is first, everything else finds its proper place. This does not mean everything will become perfect, but it does mean that you will live with peace, purpose, and the confidence that your life is being used for eternal impact. Choose today to place God at the very center of your heart, and you will find the missing pieces of your life beginning to fit together.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 19:21-41

21 When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.

25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.

27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?

36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.

37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.

38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.

39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.

40 For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”

41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Journal:

What areas of my life are currently arranged around my own desires instead of God’s will?
How can I practically give God first place in my time, money, and decisions today?
What steps can I take this week to serve others instead of myself?
Where have I seen God bring peace and order when I put Him first in the past?

From the Daily Dose Journal Series

An imitation

_{Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. Acts 19:19}

It is always surprising when people turn to sorcery and spiritism, but in truth, God placed a deep longing in every human heart that only He can fill. Because of this void, people are drawn to the spiritual realm, often looking for supernatural power or insight. Sadly, many, even some Christians, dabble in fortune telling, horoscopes, or other practices, thinking it is harmless. But these counterfeit sources of power only open doors to the enemy and keep people from trusting God and His perfect timing.

In today’s reading, God was performing extraordinary miracles through Paul. The power of God drew large crowds, but when some of the Jewish chief priests tried to copy Paul’s works without knowing Christ personally, they were overpowered by an evil spirit and left beaten. They had no authority because they did not have a true relationship with Jesus. As a result of this event, many who practiced magic were convicted, and they burned their books publicly, choosing to turn from darkness to God. The Word of the Lord spread with power, and people found freedom in Christ.

Even today, we see evidence of spiritual darkness in our world, though it is often subtle and hidden. The oppression of the enemy can be seen in depression, anger, brokenness, and torment. But the power of Jesus is greater, and He calls us to pray for our communities, to stand in His authority, and to believe for His Word to prevail in our families, neighborhoods, and cities.

Here are some ways you can begin applying this truth in your life:

Examine your own life for areas where you may have given room to counterfeit sources of power, such as superstition, horoscopes, or ungodly influences, and choose to turn away from them.
Pray regularly for your neighborhood, school, workplace, and city to be free from spiritual oppression and open to the light of Christ.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment to recognize spiritual counterfeits and respond with truth.
Share God’s love with those who are searching for supernatural answers so they can encounter the true power of Jesus.
Declare God’s Word over your life and home as your source of authority, hope, and protection.

Start by committing your heart fully to Jesus, the true source of power and freedom. Spend time in prayer asking the Lord to reveal areas where you may have unknowingly trusted imitations. Speak God’s Word over your life daily to fill your heart with His truth. As you pray for your city, call on Jesus’ name to break strongholds and bring His peace. Begin small by setting aside just a few minutes each day to intercede for those around you who are bound by darkness.

Today I want to encourage you to trust only in the true power of Jesus and not in the imitation offered by the enemy. If you or someone you know has been caught in darkness, God’s grace is more than enough to set you free. Pray, declare His Word, and stand firm in His authority. As you walk in His truth and power, His light will shine through you, and the Word of the Lord will grow mightily and prevail in your life and in your community.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 19:1-20

1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples

2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.

19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

Journal:

Are there any areas in my life where I have unknowingly trusted counterfeit sources of guidance instead of God?
How can I pray specifically for my family, neighborhood, or city to be freed from spiritual darkness?
Who in my life needs me to intercede for them to experience the true power of God?
What scriptures can I begin declaring daily to remind myself of God’s authority and strength?

Exodus 9

God’s Power Revealed in the storms

But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth. ~ Exodus 9:16

I used to wonder why God waited so long to move His people out of Egypt. I have even questioned why He used the plagues and waited for Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Why didn’t He just remove Pharaoh and whatever obstacles were in the way. But now it is clear to me that God’s purpose will be done despite the opposition, and I also know that He rarely does things the way we think they should be accomplished. Today’s reading makes it evident that even in the middle of judgment and hardship, God’s purpose will get through. Pharaoh hardened his heart again and again, yet God used the very resistance of Pharaoh to display His unmatched power. The plagues were not random acts but intentional demonstrations that no one could stand against the Lord.

Right now, I am walking through a difficult family situation. I continue to bring it before the Lord in prayer, yet waiting for breakthrough is still hard. I know He is working all things together for good, and that takes time. It is not only about solving the problem, but also about the lives being shaped and changed in the process. God’s plan will be fulfilled, and my part is to trust Him and move when He directs.

There are days when it feels like the problems are piling up and the pressure is closing in from every side. It is hard to imagine how anything good could come from it. Yet, in this storm, God has revealed His power in ways I never would have seen otherwise. My faith has deepened, my prayer life has grown stronger, and I have learned to trust Him more even when nothing around me made sense. I have also had many opportunities to encourage my family and other moms going through similar struggles. This year has helped me experience God’s love and care on a deeper level and has given me a clearer vision of the future He is preparing, not only for my family but for generations to come. Now I understand that when the winds of life blow, they often signal that a shift is coming, turning us in a new direction.

For you today, Exodus 9 is a reminder that God’s power is not limited by storms, hardships, or opposition. He is working in the hardest seasons to show His glory, strengthen your faith, and move you toward His purpose. What feels like destruction may actually be the very place where His hand is revealed most clearly. Just as God worked through Pharaoh’s hardness to display His greatness, He is working in your challenges to demonstrate His faithfulness. The plagues were not only a judgment on Pharaoh but also a preparation time for God’s people, shaping their hearts and homes for the journey ahead. His plan is sure, and His purpose will stand. Knowing it can be the lifeline we cling to as we wait for breakthrough.

Here are some ways to put this truth into action:

• Pray for God to open your eyes to see His hand at work in your current situation.
• Keep a journal of answered prayers to remember how He has shown His power before.
• Share your testimony with someone who is walking through a storm to encourage their faith.
• Choose one scripture to declare daily when you feel overwhelmed.
• Thank God not only for the victories but also for the places where He is still working.

Today I want to encourage you to stand strong in the middle of your storms. God has not forgotten you, and His power is still greater than anything you are facing. He can take what feels heavy and hopeless and turn it into a testimony of His greatness. Do not lose heart, because what the enemy means for harm, God can use to show His power and make His name known through your life. He is working all these things together for good, not only in your life but in all the lives of those involved.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 9

1 “Go back to Pharaoh,” the Lord commanded Moses. “Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

2 If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go,

3 the hand of the Lord will strike all your livestock—your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats—with a deadly plague.

4 But the Lord will again make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. Not a single one of Israel’s animals will die!

5 The Lord has already set the time for the plague to begin. He has declared that he will strike the land tomorrow.’”

6 And the Lord did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites didn’t lose a single animal.

7 Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal! But even so, Pharaoh’s heart remained stubborn, and he still refused to let the people go.

8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches.

9 The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering boils to break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

10 So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike.

11 Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians.

12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.

14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.

15 By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth.

16 But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.

17 But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go.

18 So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt.

19 Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.’”

20 Some of Pharaoh’s officials were afraid because of what the Lord had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields.

21 But those who paid no attention to the word of the Lord left theirs out in the open.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt.”

23 So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The Lord sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt.

24 Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning.

25 It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field—people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed.

26 The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived.

27 Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong.

28 Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”

29 “All right,” Moses replied. “As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the Lord. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the Lord.

30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God.”

31 (All the flax and barley were ruined by the hail, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding.

32 But the wheat and the emmer wheat were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.)

33 So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the Lord, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased.

34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn.

35 Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the Lord had predicted through Moses.

Journal:

What storm or hardship are you facing right now?
How can you invite God to display His power in that situation?
What past storms has God already carried you through that you can remember today?