The Daily Dose

Exodus 19

Set apart for His purpose

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ~ Exodus 19:5

Have you ever thought about what it means to be set apart for God? In a world that constantly pushes you to fit in, chase trends, and follow the crowd, the idea of being set apart can feel uncomfortable. Yet, it is one of the most beautiful truths of belonging to God. He does not call you to blend in with the world, He calls you to stand out for His glory.

In Exodus 19, the Israelites reached Mount Sinai after being delivered from Egypt. God told Moses to tell the people that if they would listen to His voice and keep His covenant, they would become His special treasure. He wanted to make them a holy nation and a kingdom of priests, people who would carry His presence and represent His character to the world. But before they could receive His commands or enter His promises, they needed to prepare themselves. God told them to consecrate their hearts, to wash their garments, and to stay ready because on the third day, He would come down upon the mountain to meet with them.

When I finally surrendered my life back to the Lord after years of doing things my own way, I realized there were some things I needed to step away from. God began to show me areas of my life that no longer fit the person He was shaping me to become. During that time, I prayed for direction about what He wanted me to do next, but instead of giving me a quick answer, I sensed He was leading me to focus on preparing my heart.” It felt like everything slowed down. I wanted to move forward, but He was giving me direction to pause and listen. In that quiet time, I discovered the power of preparation. It was not about trying to be perfect, but about letting God cleanse my heart, renew my mind, and strengthen my faith. Looking back, I can see that the time I took to slow down was essential for the growth and purpose He had waiting on the other side.

This chapter reminds me that obedience and preparation open the door to encounter God in deeper ways. He wants to meet with you, speak to you, and shape you into someone who carries His presence into every situation. Just as the Israelites were called to be set apart, you are also called to live differently, to walk in purity, and to trust that His instructions lead to blessing.

Here are some ways to get started:

Spend quiet time in prayer each day asking God to prepare your heart for what He is calling you to do.
Be intentional about obeying His voice, even in small things, because obedience builds faith.
Remove distractions that draw your attention away from spending time with God.
Keep your heart pure by staying in His Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts.
Practice gratitude and humility, knowing that being set apart is not about pride but purpose.

Today I want to encourage you to embrace your calling to be set apart. God has chosen you as His treasure, not to hide you away, but to display His goodness through your life. When you choose obedience over convenience and preparation over rushing ahead, you make space for His glory to rest on you. The same God who came down on Mount Sinai desires to meet with you today. Be ready for His presence and let Him strengthen you for the purpose He has prepared.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 19

1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him.

8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.

9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.

11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”

14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.”

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.

20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish.

22 Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”

23 But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

24 Then the Lord said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Journal:

What area of my life is God asking me to prepare or purify right now?

How can I make more room for His presence in my daily routine?
What distractions or habits do I need to surrender so I can hear His voice more clearly?
How does knowing I am God’s special treasure change the way I see myself and my purpose?

Exodus 18

Shared Strength

So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” ~ Exodus 18:14

Have you ever tried to do everything on your own, thinking it was the only way to make sure things were done right? It can feel easier in the moment to take on more than you should, but eventually, the weight becomes too heavy to carry alone and it won’t be long before you crash and burn.

In Exodus 18, Moses found himself in that very situation. He was leading the Israelites through the wilderness, and the people came to him from morning until evening with their questions, disputes, and problems. When his father-in-law Jethro saw this, he respectfully questioned Moses’ method and offered wisdom that would change everything. Jethro told Moses that what he was doing was “not good” because it would wear him out and exhaust the people. Instead, he encouraged Moses to choose capable, trustworthy people to help share the load. Moses listened, and the results were peace, order, and renewed strength.

This is something I struggle with on an ongoing basis. It feels like I am always slipping back into the mentality that it takes less time to do things myself than to show others how and get some help. But it doesn’t take long before I am in over my head again and frantically looking for someone who can pitch in. Whether it’s in ministry, work, or personal life, I keep thinking that being responsible means carrying it all myself. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit continues to remind me, just like He did Moses, that sharing responsibility is not a sign of weakness, it is wisdom. When I finally allow others to help, I experience more peace, better results, and greater joy.

This chapter reminds me that God never intended for me to carry everything alone. He places people in my life for a reason. Some are there to support, some to advise, and others to serve alongside me. When I learn to trust others and share the responsibility, I make room for God to multiply the results and strengthen the entire team.

He has the same wisdom for you in whatever you are carrying alone today. There are people around you who want to help and are just waiting for the opportunity to step in and use their gifts to be a blessing. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Bring others along and watch their talents shine as they bless you with their abilities.

Here are some ways you can get started today:

Take time to pray about the areas of your life where you are doing too much alone. Ask God to show you where you can share the load.
Identify trustworthy people who can help, whether at work, in ministry, or at home. Start by delegating one small task and build from there.
Be willing to accept advice from those who care about you, even if it challenges your routine or pride.
Remember that letting others help creates opportunities for them to grow in their gifts.
Rest in knowing that shared responsibility allows you to focus on what God has specifically called you to do.

Today I want to encourage you to let go of the mindset that you must handle everything on your own. God designed you to live in community and partnership. When you allow others to carry part of the weight, you make room for God to strengthen both you and those around you. You will find greater peace, balance, and joy when you let His wisdom guide you to share the load.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 18:1–27

1 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

3 with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”)

4 and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”);

5 and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

6 Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent.

8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.

9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”

12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.

14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.

19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.

20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.

21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.

23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26 So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.

Journal:

What areas of my life am I trying to handle alone that I need to release to God or share with others?
Who has God placed in my life that I can trust to help carry the load?
How can I create space for others to use their gifts while I focus on what God has called me to do?

Exodus 17

The Lord is my banner

Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; ~ Exodus 17:15

Have you ever felt like you were in a battle you couldn’t win? Maybe it wasn’t a physical fight, but an ongoing struggle that left you weary and questioning how much longer you could keep going. Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard you pray or how faithfully you serve, the pressure just will not let up. You are doing everything you know to do, yet victory still feels out of reach.

In Exodus 17, Israel faced a real battle with the Amalekites. While Joshua led the army in the valley, Moses stood on the hill with the rod of God in his hand. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, Israel prevailed. But when his hands grew heavy and began to lower, the enemy gained ground. So, Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses, supporting his hands until sunset, and Israel won the battle. Moses then built an altar and called it The Lord Is My Banner, saying that God Himself was the reason for their victory.

What a great picture this account shows us to not give up in the battle. There have been many times in my life when I felt just like Moses, standing in the middle of a battle, holding my circumstances up before my Lord in prayer and growing weary. If I am being honest, I always try to do it alone. I know God’s grace is enough, so I tend to believe I can handle whatever comes my way by myself. But then the days come when I feel like giving up because the weight of the situation feels too heavy to carry alone. Those are the moments that I realize I need help. Thankfully, God sends friends to come along side me in prayer, holding the situations up with me. People who lift me up in my weariness, encourage me and remind me that I am not fighting by myself. Just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses, God provides strength through others when I run out of my own ability to stand.

You may be facing a situation that feels like an uphill battle. Maybe it is a health challenge, a financial strain, or a relationship that feels stuck. It can be exhausting to keep your faith lifted when circumstances seem unchanging. But the truth is, God is still your banner. He fights for you even when you feel too tired to fight. The victory does not depend on your strength alone but on His power working through you and around you.

Here are some steps you can take today when you need a breakthrough:

Take time each day to pray and acknowledge that God is your banner. Declare that the battle belongs to Him.
Allow others to help you. Let trusted friends, family, or church leaders know when you are weary and need prayer support.
Keep your hands lifted in faith through worship, even when you do not see results immediately. Worship shifts your focus from the battle to the One who brings victory.
Remember past victories. Write down moments when God has come through for you. They will remind you that He is faithful.
Build your own “altar of remembrance.” Create a physical or written reminder of how God has provided or strengthened you during tough times.

Today I want to encourage you to let the Lord be your banner in whatever battle you are facing. You may feel tired, but you are not alone. He is fighting for you, surrounding you with people who can hold up your arms, and covering you with His strength. Keep your faith lifted and your heart steady. The same God who brought Israel through will bring you through as well.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 17

1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”

So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?”

3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”

5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”

10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;

16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Journal:

What current battle am I facing where I need to acknowledge that God is my banner?
Who has God placed in my life to help hold up my arms when I grow weary?
How can I intentionally remember and celebrate the victories He has already given me?

Exodus 16

Daily Bread

_{Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people will go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. ~ Exodus 16:4}

Have you ever had times in your life when it seemed like you had just enough to get by but never more than that? A time when you wished for a little extra comfort, stability, or security, but God only gave you what you needed for the day? Those moments can feel frustrating, yet they are often the places where faith grows the most.

In Exodus 16, the Israelites had just come out of Egypt and were traveling through the wilderness. They were tired, hungry, and uncertain about what would come next. Instead of trusting the God who had delivered them, they began to complain. But even in their grumbling, God responded with mercy. He sent manna from heaven. It was bread that appeared every morning, just enough for each day. God provided what they needed when they needed it, teaching them to depend on Him daily rather than on their own efforts.

I remember a time when I was going through a difficult season financially. Every day felt like a test of faith, and I often worried about how things would work out. But each time a need arose, God made a way. Sometimes it was an unexpected gift, a new opportunity, or even just the peace that carried me through another day. I realized later that God was showing me how to trust Him in the same way He showed the Israelites. He wanted me to stop worrying about tomorrow and see that He is faithful to provide for today.

This passage is an encouragement in moments when life feels uncertain. God knows exactly what you need, and He provides it with perfect timing. The manna is an example that provision from God isn’t about abundance or excess but about daily dependence. When you stop trying to control everything and start trusting Him one day at a time, peace replaces worry and gratitude replaces fear.

Here are some practical ways to apply this message in your life:

Start each morning by asking God to give you what you need for today.
Keep a list of daily blessings to remind yourself that God’s provision is ongoing.
When you start to worry about the future, pause and thank God for what He has already supplied today.
Read Matthew 6:25–34 to strengthen your trust that God cares for your daily needs.
Share with someone how God has provided for you recently and use it to encourage their faith.

Take a few moments today to pray, asking God to help you rest in His provision. Surrender your worries about tomorrow and focus on His goodness right now. If you find yourself in need, look for the “manna” He is providing. It might not look like what you expected, but it will be exactly what you need.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God for your daily bread. He is faithful to meet every need in His perfect timing. Whether you are waiting for breakthrough or walking through a wilderness season, know that God is not late, and He has not forgotten you. Just as He provided manna for the Israelites each morning, He will provide for you. Let your heart rest in His faithfulness and let today’s portion remind you that He is more than enough.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 16

1 And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt.

2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

3 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.

5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening you shall know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt.

7 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord. But what are we, that you complain against us?”

8 Also Moses said, “This shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses spoke to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for He has heard your complaints.’ ”

10 Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

12 “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp.

14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.

15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. and Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.

16 This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.

18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.

19 And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.”

20 Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

22 And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.

23 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ”

24 So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it.

25 Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.

26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none.

28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?

29 See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

32 Then Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.”

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

35 And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

36 Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah.

Journal:

In what area of my life am I struggling to trust God’s daily provision?
How has God already shown His faithfulness in meeting my needs?
What worries about tomorrow do I need to release to Him today?
How can I show gratitude for the “manna” God has provided in this season?

Exodus 15

The song of Victory

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. ~ Exodus 15:2

Have you ever had a moment when you realized that only God could have brought you through what you just faced? A time when you stood on the other side of what once seemed impossible and all you could do was give Him praise? That is exactly what happened in Exodus 15. After God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and brought them safely through the Red Sea, Moses and the people sang a song of praise to the Lord. Their hearts overflowed with gratitude and joy because they had witnessed God’s power and faithfulness firsthand.

There have been moments in my life when I have seen God move in ways that could only be described as miraculous. I remember facing a situation that looked completely hopeless. I prayed, cried, and everything else I could think of to find a solution, but nothing changed. Just when I was about to give up, God stepped in and turned everything around. It wasn’t immediate, but in His timing, He made a way where there was none. Standing on the other side of that situation, I couldn’t help but worship Him. Just like the Israelites, my heart sang a song of victory because I had seen His hand move for me.

Let this chapter be a reminder to you that praise is powerful. God doesn’t just deliver you from something; He also delivers you into something better. Praise declares that He is your strength when you are weak, your song when you feel discouraged, and your salvation when you have no other way out. Even when life feels uncertain, praise keeps your heart focused on who God is instead of what you are going through.

Here are some ways you can get started:

Start each day by thanking God for one thing He has already done in your life.
Keep a journal of answered prayers and victories, no matter how small they seem.
When you face a challenge, take a moment to sing or speak words of praise before you pray.
Read Exodus 15 out loud as your own declaration of faith and victory.
Share your story with someone else who needs encouragement to remind them that God is faithful.

Begin today by creating your own “song of victory.” Write out a few sentences that describe how God has helped you, provided for you, or comforted you. You don’t have to be a songwriter to worship Him with your words. As you do, your heart will strengthen, and your faith will grow.

Today I want to encourage you to lift up a song of praise to God for who He is and for what He has already done in your life. Even if you are still waiting for your breakthrough, begin to praise Him now. Your song of praise is a declaration that the same God who parted the sea for Moses is working in your life today. Let praise fill your heart and watch how it changes your perspective and strengthens your hope. God is your strength, your song, and your salvation, and He will finish what He started in you.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 15:1–21

1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

2 The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

3 The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone.

6 “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.

8 And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’

10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.

13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.

14 “The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, Trembling will take hold of them; All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.

16 Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm, They will be as still as a stone, till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased.

17 You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which You have made for Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

18 “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

21 And Miriam answered them:

“Sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them,

26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

Journal:

What has God brought me through that deserves a song of praise?
How can I use my words or actions today to thank God for His faithfulness?
What area of my life needs a new song of faith and gratitude?
How can I share my story of victory to encourage someone else?

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?