The Daily Dose

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

God is greater than any opposition

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. ~ Exodus 8:1

 When I read this passage, I am reminded that no matter how stubborn Pharaoh was, God’s word stood firm. Pharaoh’s magicians could copy some signs, but they could never match God’s power. Each time Pharaoh resisted, God proved again and again that His authority cannot be challenged. The purpose was not only to free His people but also to show the world that He alone is the Lord.

In my own life, I have encountered many situations where it seemed like every kind of obstacle stood in the way. Many times I have felt powerless to change anything. Yet, as I continued to pray and trust God, I watched Him move circumstances that were far beyond my control. People I never expected stepped in to help, and doors opened that I could not have opened myself. In those moments I realized that even when opposition looks overwhelming, God’s hand is stronger.

For you today, Exodus 8 speaks to the moments when you face resistance, whether from circumstances, people, or even the enemy trying to discourage you. Like Pharaoh, opposition may try to keep you stuck, but God’s power is greater. He fights for you, and He will prove Himself faithful in your life. What He begins, He will finish, no matter how many times resistance shows up.

Here are some ways to get started:

• Spend time in God’s Word daily, reminding yourself of His promises.
• Pray specifically over the areas of resistance in your life and ask God to show His supernatural power and wisdom there.
• Write down times God has already delivered you or answered prayer to strengthen your faith for today.
• Share your testimony with someone else who is feeling stuck or discouraged.
• Praise God in advance, trusting Him to work even when you cannot yet see the outcome.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that God’s power will always be greater than the opposition you face. What seems unmovable to you is not impossible for Him. Just as He proved Himself stronger than Pharaoh and his magicians, He will show Himself mighty in your life too. Stand firm, trust Him fully, and expect Him to move in ways that reveal His glory.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 8

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 

2 If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. 

3 The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. 

4 Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.’”

5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.’” 

6 So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! 

7 But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord.”

9 “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

10 “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.

“All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God. 

11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.”

12 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had inflicted on Pharaoh. 

13 And the Lord did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. 

14 The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. 

15 But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’” 

17 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. 

18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.

19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.

20 Then the Lord told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 

21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. 

22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. 

23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

24 And the Lord did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the flies.

25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. “All right! Go ahead and offer sacrifices to your God,” he said. “But do it here in this land.”

26 But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the Lord our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us. 

27 We must take a three-day trip into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, just as he has commanded us.”

28 “All right, go ahead,” Pharaoh replied. “I will let you go into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God. But don’t go too far away. Now hurry and pray for me.”

29 Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord, and tomorrow the swarms of flies will disappear from you and your officials and all your people. But I am warning you, Pharaoh, don’t lie to us again and refuse to let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

30 So Moses left Pharaoh’s palace and pleaded with the Lord to remove all the flies. 

31 And the Lord did as Moses asked and caused the swarms of flies to disappear from Pharaoh, his officials, and his people. Not a single fly remained. 

32 But Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.

Journal:

• Where do you see opposition in your life right now?
• How has God shown His strength in your past when you faced resistance?
• What is one area today where you can trust Him to demonstrate His power again?

God’s power through ordinary people

“See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the  Israelites go out of his country.” ~ Exodus 7:1-2

As God’s people, we have the unique and awesome honor to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today. When I read this passage, I am reminded that God does not wait until we feel fully ready before He calls us. Moses did not think he was qualified to stand before Pharaoh, yet God gave him the exact words and strength needed, and He placed Aaron beside him for support. God’s power was not limited by Moses’ weakness but displayed through his obedience.

In my own life, I have had times when I felt completely unqualified to do what God asked of me. One memory that stands out is when I first began leading a small group. I questioned whether I had the right words to help and encourage others, the right skills to organize and facilitate, or enough wisdom to lead. But as I stepped forward, I saw God move. People were encouraged, not because of what I had, but because of what God did through me. Through that time, I realized that His calling is always bigger than my own ability.

For you today, this passage can speak to situations where you feel unprepared, overwhelmed, or too small to make a difference. God wants you to know that He chooses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans. He provides the courage, the resources, and the right people to walk beside you. Just like Moses had Aaron, God will place others in your life to strengthen you.

Here are some ways to get started today:

• Spend time in prayer each day asking God to guide your words and actions.
• Be willing to step into opportunities that stretch you even if you feel unqualified.
• Invite someone to pray with you or walk with you as Aaron did with Moses.
• Write down specific ways God has shown His power in your past and keep them as reminders when you doubt.
• Encourage someone else who feels inadequate by sharing this story of Moses.

Today I want to encourage you to trust that God has chosen you for a reason. He does not see your weaknesses as disqualifications but as places where His strength will shine. If He called Moses, who doubted his own voice, then He can call you to do what seems impossible. Step out in faith, speak what He puts in your heart, and believe that His power is working through you.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 7

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. 

2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. 

3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 

4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 

5 When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”

6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. 

7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.

8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 

9 “Pharaoh will demand, ‘Show me a miracle.’ When he does this, say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.’”

10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent! 

11 Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic. 

12 They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 

13 Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted.

A Plague of Blood

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. 

15 So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. 

16 Then announce to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now, you have refused to listen to him. 

17 So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. 

18 The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”

19 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.’”

20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood! 

21 The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. 

22 But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted. 

23 Pharaoh returned to his palace and put the whole thing out of his mind. 

24 Then all the Egyptians dug along the riverbank to find drinking water, for they couldn’t drink the water from the Nile.

25 Seven days passed from the time the Lord struck the Nile.

Journal:

• What is one area of your life right now where you feel unqualified?
• How can you invite God’s strength into that situation?
• Who has God placed in your life to support you like Aaron supported Moses?

God’s covenant promise

 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. ~ Exodus 6:6-7

This chapter is one of the most powerful reminders of God’s faithfulness. The Israelites had just faced increased suffering under Pharaoh, and they were weary, discouraged, and doubting God’s promises. But God spoke clearly through Moses, repeating His covenant promise: He would deliver, redeem, and make them His people. Even in the middle of hardship, God reminded them of His power and His plan.

There have been times in my own life when discouragement almost made me give up on what God had promised. There were moments when it looked like doors had closed or life grew more difficult that I questioned whether I had misunderstood God’s plan. But in those moments, He reminded me of His promises in His Word. Just like the Israelites, I needed to hear His voice say, “I will bring you out, I will redeem you, I will be your God.” His promises didn’t change, even when my circumstances did.

This applies to all of us today because there will always be situations that we face that feel overwhelming. Problems like financial pressure, health struggles, or family conflict. It can feel like God has forgotten or that the waiting will never end. But today’s reading reminds us that God’s covenant is unshakable. His “I will” statements are still true today. He will bring you out, He will redeem you, He will be your God and He will breakthrough every barrier.

Here are some things you can do when you feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures:

• Write down the promises of God from scripture and read them out loud when discouragement comes.
• Pray specifically for the areas where you need deliverance and remind yourself that God is faithful.
• Share your testimony of God’s faithfulness with someone who needs encouragement.
• Practice gratitude daily by naming ways God has already redeemed or provided for you.
• Choose one area of your life where you feel bound, and surrender it to God in prayer, trusting Him to bring freedom.

Today I want to encourage you to hold tightly to God’s covenant promises. Even if life feels heavy and your heart feels weary, God is still faithful. His Word is true, and His promises are certain. You are His child, and He has not forgotten you. Let His “I will” be louder in your life than the “I can’t” that comes from discouragement. Trust Him to bring you out, redeem your story, and show you His power.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 6

1Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

2And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ 3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. 4And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. 5You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.

6“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. 8I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’”

9So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

10Then the Lord said to Moses, 11“Go back to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and tell him to let the people of Israel leave his country.”

12“But Lord!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!”

13But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them orders for the Israelites and for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.

The Ancestors of Moses and Aaron

14These are the ancestors of some of the clans of Israel:

The sons of Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Their descendants became the clans of Reuben.

15The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul. (Shaul’s mother was a Canaanite woman.) Their descendants became the clans of Simeon.

16These are the descendants of Levi, as listed in their family records: The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (Levi lived to be 137 years old.)

17The descendants of Gershon included Libni and Shimei, each of whom became the ancestor of a clan.

18The descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. (Kohath lived to be 133 years old.)

19The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites, as listed in their family records.

20Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to his sons, Aaron and Moses. (Amram lived to be 137 years old.)

21The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zicri.

22The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

23Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she gave birth to his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

24The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. Their descendants became the clans of Korah.

25Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to his son, Phinehas.

These are the ancestors of the Levite families, listed according to their clans.

26The Aaron and Moses named in this list are the same ones to whom the Lord said, “Lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt like an army.” 27It was Moses and Aaron who spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, about leading the people of Israel out of Egypt.

28When the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29he said to him, “I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.” 30But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?”

 Journal:

• What promise from God’s Word do I need to hold on to right now?
• Where do I need to trust God to bring me out of bondage or struggle?
• How has God shown His faithfulness to me in the past, and how can I use that memory to strengthen my faith today?

When obedience brings opposition

Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? ~ Exodus 5:22

When we read Exodus 5, it can be both inspiring and sobering. Moses and Aaron obeyed God by going to Pharaoh with the message to let His people go. But instead of deliverance, things got worse. Pharaoh increased the Israelites’ workload, making life unbearable. Obedience brought opposition.

I remember a time in my own life when I knew I was obeying God, yet the situation seemed to grow more difficult instead of easier. I thought if I followed the Lord’s leading, doors would open smoothly, and problems would disappear. But just like the Israelites, I found that sometimes obedience first stirs up resistance. In those seasons, I had to learn that God had not abandoned me but was positioning me to trust Him at a deeper level.

This passage speaks to our lives today. You may be doing your best to follow God, yet your circumstances feel like they are only getting harder. Maybe your obedience has led to criticism, loss, or unexpected struggles. The truth is, the enemy resists the work of God, and sometimes the hardest battles come right before the breakthrough. Just like the Israelites, you are not forgotten. God hears, God sees, and God is working even when the opposition increases.

Here are some things you can do when you sense opposition instead of breakthrough:

• Remember that your obedience to God is a step of faith  and not measured by immediate results but by faithfulness while you wait.
• Pray daily for strength to persevere when challenges rise.
• Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and remind you of God’s promises.
• Keep your eyes on the bigger picture, knowing that God’s deliverance may take time.
• Journal your prayers and struggles, and look back later to see how God was faithful in ways you could not see at first.

Today I want to encourage you to keep moving forward even when obedience feels costly. Just because the struggle has intensified does not mean God has left you. He is preparing you for greater freedom and greater faith. Stand firm in His Word, hold on to His promises, and trust that your labor is not in vain. Deliverance is coming, and God is faithful to finish what He has started in your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 5

1 After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”

2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”

3 But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”

4 Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! 

5 Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”

6 That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: 

7 “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! 

8 But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ 

9 Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”

10 So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you. 

11 Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!” 

12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.

13 Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded. 

14 Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews. “Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.

15 So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged. 

16 “We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, ‘Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”

17 But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’ 

18 Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”

19 The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.” 

20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 

21 The foremen said to them, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!”

22 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? 

23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”

 Journal:

• When have I obeyed God and faced greater opposition as a result?
• How can I remind myself that God is working even when things seem harder?
• Who can I encourage today that may be struggling in their obedience?

Can you relate?

A Jewish man by the name of Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was recognized as an educated and cultured man. He was powerful in the Scriptures.~  Acts 18:24

 I’ve always been a laborer my whole life where I worked in service and manual work. I didn’t go to college. Oh, I had some continuing education along the way when I spent time in management, but as far as formal education is concerned, I have been very limited. Even in the Scriptures, I grew up in a pastor’s home, so faith and God’s Word were always the number one priority. However, the only instruction and guidance since then has been through books, sermons, and the Holy Spirit.

This reality could be a restricting fact when it comes to encouraging and ministering to others. Because I write now, I sometimes find myself thinking about my lack of education and even considering that I am not qualified to write at all. I know this isn’t true, but it has been a barrier in the past that I have had to overcome more than once. I am always amazed at God’s goodness when I find myself in situations where I get to pray with and encourage others. My experiences, although many were through bad choices on my part, have given me wisdom to press into God in this season and to follow the leading of His Spirit. That is where I find peace and also where I know that no matter how limited my education is, He qualifies me for every good work and ministry He has planned for me.

In today’s reading, we meet Apollos. He was an educated man and full of culture. He was also trained in Scripture, which made him a very charismatic and convincing teacher. However, when Aquila and Priscilla met him, they took him aside and taught him about being filled with the Holy Spirit. As educated and intelligent as Apollos was, he still had more to learn, and he was wise enough to receive it with humility. He did not let the pride of his schooling stop him from learning from those who were tentmakers/laborers by trade.

Likewise, Aquila and Priscilla were gracious and loving as they helped Apollos understand what he was missing. They did not let his superior training intimidate them, and they did not let their own simple position hold them back from sharing the truth. They used their work and daily life as a tool to reach others, no matter their status. They understood that God’s love and salvation is the equal ground that everyone needs.

Chances are you can relate to someone in this passage. Maybe it is Apollos, the educated and gifted man, or perhaps it is Aquila and Priscilla, the ordinary laborers. Either way, the message is clear: we all have something to give, and we all have something to learn. The key is humility and grace.

Practical ways to apply this passage and get started:

• Ask the Lord to show you who in your life can teach you something new, even if they seem less qualified by the world’s standards
• Be willing to listen with humility when God places people in your path who speak truth into your life
• Use the opportunities in your daily work and relationships as a platform to encourage others with God’s Word
• Remember that your past, no matter how difficult, can be a bridge to minister to someone else who is struggling today
• Commit to being both a learner and a teacher, receiving from others and also giving freely what God has poured into you

Today I want to encourage you to see yourself in this passage and take courage that no matter your background or education, God has called and qualified you. Just as Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla each had a role in building the Kingdom, so do you. Do not let intimidation or comparison hold you back. God’s grace is enough to equip you, and He will use your story as a powerful testimony in the lives of others.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 18:24-28

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 

25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 

26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 

27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 

28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

 Journal:

• Who do I see myself most like in this passage: Apollos, Aquila, or Priscilla?
• What voices has God brought into my life that I need to listen to with humility?
• How can I use my own background and experiences to encourage someone God has placed in my path?