The Daily Dose

Who can stand

_{No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? ~ Job 41:10}

This verse stops me in my tracks every time I read it. It’s a reminder that no matter how powerful the enemy seems, no matter how strong the opposition looks, nothing compares to the might and majesty of our God. Job 41 describes the Leviathan, a creature so fearsome, no man dares to challenge it. Yet God uses this terrifying beast to highlight a powerful truth: If no one can stand against a created creature, who could ever stand against the One who created it?

I remember once in my life when I felt like I was wrestling something too big to overcome. Waves of fear, confusion, and stress rolled over me, and I couldn’t stop worrying about it.  I felt small. I didn’t even know how to pray about it.  It felt like I was standing before a beast I couldn’t fight. But one morning during my quiet time with the Lord, I read this chapter in Job. Verse 10 rang out like a bell: “Who then is able to stand against Me?” It wasn’t just a question, it was an invitation to let go. He was reminding me, This battle is Mine. I didn’t need to overpower the storm. I only needed to trust the One who spoke the sea into existence.  I turned over the anxiety I was feeling and almost instantly, I felt His peace as He calmed the raging storm within. 

Maybe you are up against something today that seems to big to get around?  Maybe you are the one that is feeling the pressure of a weight too heavy to lift. If so, be encouraged by this scripture and trust the One who made it all.  Take courage from this passage and remember the God who formed Leviathan holds you firmly in His hand. His power far outweighs anything you will face, and He stands ready to calm the winds around you as you trust Him every step of the way.

Here are some practical ways you can hold onto this truth and start walking in peace today:

1. Acknowledge God’s unmatched power.
When the problem looks too big, speak this truth out loud: “Nothing stands against my God.” You may not feel strong, but you serve the One who cannot be shaken.

2. Stop trying to fight spiritual battles in your own strength.
Are you exhausted from trying to fix everything on your own? Step back. Take the pressure off yourself. Pray, “God, I surrender this to You. I trust Your power more than my plans.”

3. Meditate on God’s majesty.
Reread Job 41 slowly. Let it build your view of God. You don’t have to understand everything, but you can be sure of this: The One who rules over Leviathan holds you close.

4. Remember who fights for you.
God doesn’t ask you to face the Leviathan, He simply asks you to stand firm in Him. Keep your eyes on the One who is more than able.

Today, I want to encourage you to stop shrinking back in fear of what looks overwhelming and start standing in awe of the One who is over it all. There is no situation, no enemy, no system, no storm, and no power that can stand against your God. When you’re tempted to wrestle or worry, stop and remember: “Who then is able to stand against Me?” Not one.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 41

1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?

2 Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?

3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?

4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?

5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens?

6 Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?

7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?

8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle—never do it again!

9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?

10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?

11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

12 “I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions.

13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?

14 Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around?

15 His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal;

16 One is so near another that no air can come between them;

17 They are joined one to another, they stick together and cannot be parted.

18 His sneezing’s flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.

20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.

22 Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him.

23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.

24 His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone.

25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashing’s they are beside themselves.

26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.

27 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.

29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.

30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.

31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.

33 On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.

34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”

Journal:

• What situation in your life feels like a “Leviathan” that is something too big to handle?
• Write it down, then under it, write God’s question: “Who then is able to stand against Me?”
• Spend a few moments inviting His strength into that very place.

Constant in Prayer

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.  Acts 12:5

Have you ever been involved in an all-night prayer meeting? How about one that went on for days? I can honestly say I have not, though we do have twenty-one days of prayer twice a year, as well as weekly opportunities to gather for prayer at church. But I’ve never participated in something where we come together in constant prayer for a specific situation, staying with it until the breakthrough comes, no matter how long it takes.

The truth is prayer is how we open the door for God to intervene in our circumstances. I would go as far as to say that many of us haven’t experienced that kind of extended prayer simply because we’ve never had a loved one scheduled to be executed the next day. A life-or-death situation changes everything. It shifts our urgency, our attention, and our faith.

I’m so thankful that I’ve never been in a situation that extreme. I know I would pray, but I can’t say how long I could stay in that place. In today’s reading, the Apostle James had already been publicly executed, and now Peter had been arrested and was scheduled to die the next day. The situation seemed hopeless. He was heavily guarded, and escape was impossible by human means. But the people of God gathered and prayed constantly and fervently and God did what only He could do. Peter was miraculously delivered. Prayer made the impossible possible.

I’ve seen the power of prayer many times in my life. Ideally, we’re living in such a close relationship with the Lord that we walk each day in constant communion with Him, seeking His guidance and wisdom in every decision. That kind of daily conversation keeps us on the path of His provision and protection. It helps us recognize divine opportunities, say the right words, and make a difference in someone else’s life.

This is the calling on us as believers. We help open the door between heaven and earth by lifting our world to Him. When we pray, we invite God’s will into impossible places. Others experience the goodness of God when we lead them to that place of prayer and invite Him into their circumstances.

Here are some ways you can begin opening the doors in your circumstances so heaven can reach through and make the impossible possible:

1. Set aside time daily to be alone with God. Not out of duty, but out of desire to know Him and hear His voice.
2. Bring specific issues before Him both personal and for others. Write them down. Keep track of what you’re asking God for.
3. Pray with others. Find a group of believers or even one friend and start praying regularly for your church, your city, and the world.
4. Pray spontaneously. When someone shares a need with you, don’t say “I’ll pray for you.” Do it right then and there.
5. Stay in a continual conversation with God throughout the day. Talk to Him about everything. Ask for wisdom, strength, and direction in the moment.

Today, I want to encourage you to pray without ceasing. Don’t wait for a crisis to stir up passion in your prayers. Press in now, while the path is clear and your heart is soft. There is power in your prayer, and there is a breakthrough on the other side of your persistence. You carry the ability to help bring heaven to earth. Don’t give up. Stay in the conversation. The same God who freed Peter in Acts 12 is the same God who hears you today.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 12:1-5

1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Journal:

• What situation in your life or in someone else’s life needs “constant prayer” right now?
• How can you set time aside this week to pray intentionally and invite others to join you?

Be quiet and listen

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.” ~ Job 40:3–4

I have often wondered why it took so long for God to be heard in Job’s life. There were thirty-seven chapters of silence from heaven, while Job wrestled through pain, his friends argued their perspectives, and human logic tried to explain what only God fully understood. But when I read the key verse today, I realized something important: it wasn’t that God wasn’t speaking. It’s that Job wasn’t ready to listen.

If I’m honest, I’ve been in that place, too. Most days I get down on the floor to thank God for the day, layout my list of requests and what I am thankful for. Then finish quickly with “Got to go because it is time to start getting ready, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”  Even if He did want to speak something, I didn’t make the time or space for it. Then there are the times when I cry out for answers, beg for clarity, and get frustrated when it seems like heaven is quiet. But deep down, I didn’t really want direction or wasn’t ready for it. In those moments, I am mostly looking for affirmation of my own conclusions. I am not seeking the truth, but comfort on my own terms. It isn’t until I quiet my own reasoning, silence the noise of advice or opinions, and surrendered my need to understand that I can begin to hear what God is saying.

Job 40 is a turning point. After God’s powerful declaration in chapter 38 and 39 about His authority over creation, Job finally breaks. Not in defeat, but in holy realization. He sees God for who He is, and suddenly, all his arguments fall silent. He doesn’t argue, explain, or even cry. He puts his hand over his mouth. And that’s when everything starts to shift and opens the way for God’s truth to get through.

Here are some practical ways you can intentionally silence the questions and need for knowing when you are in crisis:

1. Learn the power of silence.
Sometimes our prayers are full of requests and complaints, but we miss the most important part, that is listening.
Begin your prayer time with five minutes of silence. No requests. Just stillness before God.

2. Question your motives for wanting to hear from God.
Are you asking to obey or are you asking to be validated or to argue?
Write down one area of your life you’re seeking answers in. Then ask, “God, if You tell me something I don’t want to hear, will I still say yes?”  Then pray for His empowering grace to help you to receive His truth.

3. Let the greatness of God reset your heart.
Read Job 38–40 out loud. Let the majesty of God reframe your perspective.
Instead of asking, “Why me?” begin to say, “Who are You, Lord, and what do You want me to see about You in this situation?”

Job’s restoration didn’t begin with answers, it began with surrender. It came when he stopped talking and started truly listening. Maybe you’ve been begging God to speak, but He’s just waiting for you to pause, to get quiet, and to trust His voice above your own. His ways are higher. His thoughts are deeper. His timing is perfect. You may not get the explanation you want, but you will get the peace that comes from knowing who He is.

So today, I want to encourage you to shut off the noise. Step back from all the advice, the overthinking, and the constant commentary in your mind. Lay your hand over your mouth like Job did, and let God do the talking. You don’t need to have all the answers, you just need to be still enough to hear the One who does.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 40

1 Then the Lord said to Job,

2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

3 Then Job replied to the Lord,

4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.

5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”

6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

7 “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

8 “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?

9 Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty.

11 Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud.

12 Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand.

13 Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead.

14 Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.

15 “Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.

16 See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.

17 Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.

18 Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron.

19 It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it.

20 The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play.

21 It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh.

22 The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream.

23 It is not disturbed by the raging river,  not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it.

24 No one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.

Journal:

• What is one area where you’ve been doing all the talking and not listening to God?
• What does surrender look like for you today in that situation?

Trust the Wonder You Don’t Understand

“Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?” ~ Job 39:19

There are parts of life that just don’t make sense with timing, delays, sudden changes, or unanswered questions. Sometimes, our human need to understand everything can keep us from trusting the One who made everything.

Job 39 is filled with questions God asked Job about creation. One by one, God pointed out the strength of the horse, the wildness of the ox, the independence of the mountain goat, and the flight of the hawk. These are not random examples. Each one is a reminder that God designed the world with intricate detail and deep intention, all without needing Job’s or anyone’s help. He doesn’t just move in what we can explain, He also has His hand in what we can’t even grasp.

When I was young I thought I had life all figured out, but in one sudden decision, everything seemed to be falling apart. I had prayed, prepared, and though I moved forward in faith, only to feel like I was met with a closed door. I questioned God’s timing. Why now? Why like this? Then one day, as I sat on the edge of my porch staring off into the distance, I watched a bird soar across the sky. It seemed to fly looked effortless.  That’s when I remembered how God mentioned the hawk in this scripture. “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom?” No!  It flies by God’s design. That day, the Holy Spirit reminded me: “You don’t have to understand everything. You just have to trust Me.”

Here are a few practical ways you can trust God when you don’t understand:

1. Acknowledge what is out of your control.

Make a short list of the things you’re trying to figure out right now. Next to each one, write: “God understands.” Let go of the pressure to explain what only God can see.  Remember that as you commit these things to Him, He is working on them until they are turned for good.

Pray, “Lord, I give You the parts of my life I can’t control. Show me how to trust Your design over my own understanding.”

2. Celebrate the wonder of His creation.

God used nature in this chapter to show His strength and wisdom. Sometimes, remembering how great He is, reminds us of how small our worries really are.

Step outside today and take in the details of God’s creation. Watch a bird fly, feel the breeze, notice the rhythm of nature. Let it be a personal reminder that God holds it all together.

3. Surrender the need for all the answers.

Job wasn’t given an explanation, he was given a revelation of God’s design and power. God didn’t answer all his “why” questions, but He reminded him who is holding all things together.

Write out your own prayer that begins, “God, I don’t know why… but I trust that You do.” Let that become your daily confession.

Today I want to encourage you to recognize that Job 39 doesn’t solve the mystery of suffering, but it does shift the perspective. It reminds us that the God who gives the horse its strength and teaches the eagle to soar is also the One who is guiding your life. If He can direct creation without your help, He can certainly guide your steps with His wisdom. Even when you don’t understand what’s ahead, you can trust that He is working all things together for your good.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 39

1 “Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?

2 Do you know how many months they carry their young? Are you aware of the time of their delivery?

3 They crouch down to give birth to their young and deliver their offspring.

4 Their young grow up in the open fields, then leave home and never return.

5 “Who gives the wild donkey its freedom? Who untied its ropes?

6 I have placed it in the wilderness; its home is the wasteland.

7 It hates the noise of the city and has no driver to shout at it.

8 The mountains are its pastureland, where it searches for every blade of grass.

9 “Will the wild ox consent to being tamed? Will it spend the night in your stall?

10 Can you hitch a wild ox to a plow? Will it plow a field for you?

11 Given its strength, can you trust it? Can you leave and trust the ox to do your work?

12 Can you rely on it to bring home your grain and deliver it to your threshing floor?

13 “The ostrich flaps her wings grandly, but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.

14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust.

15 She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them or a wild animal might destroy them.

16 She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She doesn’t care if they die.

17 For God has deprived her of wisdom. He has given her no understanding.

18 But whenever she jumps up to run, she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.

19 “Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is terrifying!

21 It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength when it charges out to battle.

22 It laughs at fear and is unafraid. It does not run from the sword.

23 The arrows rattle against it, and the spear and javelin flash.

24 It paws the ground fiercely and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.

25 It snorts at the sound of the horn. It senses the battle in the distance. It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.

26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south?

27 Is it at your command that the eagle rises to the heights to make its nest?

28 It lives on the cliffs, making its home on a distant, rocky crag.

29 From there it hunts its prey, keeping watch with piercing eyes.

30 Its young gulp down blood. Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find it.”

Journal:

• What is one situation in your life right now that doesn’t make sense?
• How can you release it into the hands of the God who made the wild things and directs them with perfect wisdom?

When His presence is known

“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?’” ~ Job 38:1–2

After chapter upon chapter of sorrow, questions, and speculation, something powerful happens in Job 38: God speaks. Out of the whirlwind, the Lord responds to Job, not with explanations, but with questions that forces Job to take his focus off his pain and onto God’s majesty.

This passage makes me think about a time when I was going through a struggle.  I wasn’t angry with God, I just didn’t know the right way to deal with or process what I was feeling. I cried out to my heavenly Father for wisdom.  In that moment, I sensed Him pulling me close to Him and then turning me around so that I could see things from His perspective.  Suddenly, I felt small, but not abandoned. I could see the whole earth as though I was looking at it from space. It seemed like He started pointing to other things that were happening in the world around mine.  Things that He was working all together for a good purpose. Nothing had changed in my circumstances, but my entire perspective shifted. I felt the closeness of my loving Father and I could see that He had His hand on my life and the situation that I was so anxious about.  I felt His peace and assurance that He was still the Creator of all things and nothing that I faced was out of His reach. That precious time with Him didn’t fix everything I was dealing with that day, but it gave me a place to focus in the stressful times to come in life.  I had a knowing in my heart that He was going to bring a blessed result and all the anxiety of the problem I was currently in faded away.

You can draw strength from Him too when your life feels out of control.  Below is a list of steps to follow:

1. Shift your focus to God’s greatness.
   Instead of rehearsing what’s wrong or what’s missing, turn your attention to Who God is. Read Job 38 slowly. Let each question remind you of God’s limitless wisdom and power. When your world feels unstable, remember He laid the foundation of the earth (Job 38:4).

Start by setting aside 10 minutes to read Job 38 aloud today. Write down 3 truths about God’s power that stand out to you.

2. Surrender what you can’t explain.
   Job didn’t get all his questions answered. But in God’s response, he realized that understanding everything isn’t necessary to trust fully. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is: “God, I don’t understand, but I trust You anyway.”

Write out the questions that are weighing on you.

Pray: “Lord, I surrender these questions to You. Show me how to rest in Your greatness.”

3. Stand in awe of the One who speaks.
   Job’s encounter wasn’t casual, it was holy. God didn’t have to answer, but He did. He spoke not to shame Job, but to shift his heart back to reverence. When God speaks, even through the storms of life, it’s a gift that changes us.

Create a “God is…” list. Begin every sentence with that phrase and finish with a truth you know about His character.   Hang it where you’ll see it each morning.

Today I want to encourage you when life feels like a storm and the silence of heaven is deafening, remember that your Father in heaven does speak. When He does, everything shifts. Not always the physical world, but in your heart and soul. Let His voice echo louder than your doubts. Let His greatness draw you into deeper trust. When you look up and see the One who laid the earth’s foundations, you can stand firm, even when everything else feels shaken to its core.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 38

1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?

3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?

6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone

7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb,

9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?

10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.

11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?

13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?

14 As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors.

15 The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.

16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?

17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?

18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

19 “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?

20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?

21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!

22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?

23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)

24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?

25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?

26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives?

27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?

28 “Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew?

29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?

30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.

31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion?

32 Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?

33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?

34 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?

35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?

36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind?

37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven

38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?

39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites

40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket?

41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?

Journal:

• What questions am I holding onto that God is inviting me to surrender?
• How is He calling me to trust Him more deeply today?

The Power that still speaks

^{“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” ~ Job 37:5}

Have you ever stood outside during a summer thunderstorm and just listened? I mean really listened. The booming thunder, the crack of lightning, the wind that seems to come out of nowhere. It’s a moment where creation demands attention and reminds us that we are small and He is big. This is what today’s reading describes: the voice of God roaring through nature, doing wonders we can’t even comprehend.

I remember when I was a young girl, I used to love sitting outside on the porch when a thunderstorm rolled in.  It was usually a gentle rainfall with a spectacular light show and loud thunder crashes.  I would count the seconds between the thunder and the lightning to determine how far away the storm actually was. One specific storm stands out, though.  I was hurting because of a betrayed friendship, I couldn’t help but think about the One who sits in heaven. Watching that spectacular show in the evening sky reminded me Who He is and that He’s still speaking. That He was still working in my life even when it didn’t feel like it. That was enough to keep going. It felt like everything in me was crashing just as loudly as the thunder above but in that moment of focusing in, my heavenly Father showed me how great His power is and always will be. That He is walking through this life with me, especially in those painful moments.

Today’s reading is spoken again by Elihu, and gets us ready the voice of God in the next chapter. The passage encourages us that even when we don’t have all the answers, and even when we can’t trace His hand, we can still trust His voice. He speaks through the storm, and sometimes the storm is what makes us quiet enough to hear Him.

Here are some ways you can start tuning in to Him in your life right now:

1. Get quiet on purpose.
   Turn off the noise in life such as: your phone, the TV, the rush of constant tasks and sit with God. Ask Him to speak and wait to hear His answer. He doesn’t shout to compete with chaos. He often whispers when we choose to intentionally press into Him.
   Choose a 10-minute window each day to sit quietly before God with no agenda.
2. Let creation remind you.
   Take a walk, look at the sky, listen to the rain. God’s power is on display every day through His creation. When you take time to notice it, it stirs up awe and reminds you of His greatness.
   Go outside once this week just to be with God. Leave your phone inside and pray as you walk.
3. Trust His greatness when you don’t understand His plans.
   We don’t always get clarity right away. But we do get His presence. He is doing great things, even when they don’t make sense in the moment.
   Write down one area of your life that feels confusing or painful. Under it, write Job 37:5 and say out loud: “God, You are still doing great things here.”

Today I want to encourage you that even though you may not get an answer right now, your Father in heaven is still speaking. You may not understand the storm, but He is in it. You may not see what’s next, but His voice is preparing the way. Pay attention to God’s power on display around you and know that it is never absent and His voice never silenced. The same God who thunders through the heavens is the One who holds your life in His hands.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 37

1 “My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me.

2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth.

3 It rolls across the heavens, and His lightning flashes in every direction.

4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder, the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks.

5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

6 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.

7 Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.

8 The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens.

9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold.

10 God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water.

11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning.

12 The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.

13 He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.

14 “Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!

15 Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?

16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill?

17 When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still,

18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that?

19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God. We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.

20 Should God be notified that I want to speak? Can people even speak when they are confused?

21 We cannot look at the sun, for it shines brightly in the sky when the wind clears away the clouds.

22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor.

23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, He does not destroy us.

24 No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.”

Journal:

• What area of your life feels uncertain or stormy right now?
• Where can you intentionally pause and listen for God’s voice this week?

Help

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ~ Acts 11:29

When a severe famine swept the Roman world, the believers in Antioch didn’t hesitate, they gathered what they could and sent relief to those suffering in Judea. This snapshot of the early church shows how God’s people respond when crisis strikes: they give, they serve, and they do it together.

I saw a modern-day example of this during the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020. While much of the country closed its doors, many churches opened their parking lots as drive-through pantries, offered prayer hotlines, and delivered meals to seniors and the sick. Big companies like Walmart, Costco, and Sysco donated truckloads of groceries and supplies so local congregations could distribute them. Even today, disaster-response teams from churches continue to show up after hurricanes, floods, and fires. It’s a living picture of Acts 11: the body of Christ meeting needs with whatever resources God has placed in their hands.

Here are some practical ways you can be a part of the body:

1. Give regularly to relief funds.

Set up a monthly gift to your church’s benevolence fund or to a trusted relief ministry (Convoy of Hope, Samaritan’s Purse, Team Rubicon).

Even small, consistent giving builds a reserve that can be deployed quickly when crisis comes.

2. Join or start a community network.

If your town has a food-distribution hub or disaster-prep group, volunteer your skills by packing boxes, driving or making calls.

If you don’t have a network close by, you can gather neighbors to share emergency contacts, tool lists, or bulk-purchased supplies.

3. Prepare personally and spiritually.

Keep basic emergency items on hand (water, non-perishable food, first-aid kits) so you’re able to help others, not just yourself.

Daily ask the Holy Spirit for discernment: “Show me where I can be a source of relief today.”

4. Mobilize your church.

If your congregation doesn’t yet have a plan, propose forming a relief team. Draft simple steps: designate storage space, build a volunteer list, and connect with local agencies now, before a disaster hits.

Here is how you can get started right away:

• Choose one: set up a recurring gift, sign up to serve at a food bank, or stock a small emergency kit.
• Invite a friend: caring multiplies when done with others.

Today I want to encourage you that the same Spirit who stirred the believers in Antioch is stirring us today. Whether famine, pandemic, or natural disaster, God positions His people to be first responders of hope. Your contribution whether large or small, matters. When each of us gives “according to our ability,” needs are met, hearts are encouraged, and Jesus is seen.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 11:27-30

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Journal:

• Where can I offer practical help right now such as: time, resources, or skills?
• Ask God to highlight one concrete step and write it down along with a date to act on it.

Purpose of heart

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ~ Acts 11:23

If I could give just one message today, it would be that each person reading this Dose would decide, deep in your heart, to keep walking closely with the Lord. I write the Daily Dose for that very reason. I’ve lived far from God, and I can say with absolute certainty that life is the best it can be when it’s lived close Him, walking day by day in His plan and with His presence.  It’s more than Sunday services, more than occasional prayers, it’s pressing in to His love and purpose every day to follow His lead.

That’s exactly what Barnabas told the believers in Antioch. He saw God’s grace at work and urged them, “Keep going, don’t let go of Him.” They needed that encouragement during the constant pressure and persecution they faced each day. We need it, too. Our world today feels full of anger, envy, and  conflicts with attacks dominate the headlines. As God’s people, we’re called to step away from the sticky grips of the world such as debt, destructive habits, binges, addictions and fill those empty spaces with God’s Word, love, and Holy Spirit presence.

John writes, “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). The hope of seeing Jesus should shape how we live now. We purify our hearts not to earn heaven but because heaven is our home, and we want His will on earth as it is in heaven. (see Matthew 6:10)

Below are some practical ways to live your life everyday with purpose:

1. Schedule daily time with God.
   Block out a non-negotiable slot each day.  You can start with just ten minutes. Read a Psalm, pray, and sit quietly before Him.
2. Replace, don’t just remove.
   Identify one unhealthy habit (excess scrolling, late-night junk TV, impulse shopping). Swap that time for worship music, a walk while praying, or reading a chapter of Scripture.
3. Use Scripture to steer your thoughts.
   Memorize a short verse that reminds you of your identity. Repeat it when frustration or temptation hits.
4. Find an accountability partner.
   Share your goal of pursuing God daily with a trusted friend who will pray and check in with you.

Use these suggestions to get started right now:

• Set tomorrow’s alarm ten minutes earlier and prepare your Bible or devotional tonight.
• Choose one “swap.” If evenings are your weak spot, replace 30 minutes of scrolling with a worship playlist.
• Text a friend and ask them to join you in a weekly check-in about your quiet time.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that Barnabas’ words still ring true: stay close to Jesus with purpose of heart. He sees every small step you take. As you lean into daily fellowship, His grace will root you, purify you, and empower you to live victoriously, even in unstable times. Remember, Jesus is coming back soon, and that hope inspires a life set apart for Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 11:19-26

19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.

20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when  Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Journal:

• Where do you feel the world’s pull most strongly—time, habits, attitudes?
• Write one step you’ll take this week to replace that pull with purposeful time in God’s presence.
• Invite Him to strengthen your heart as you keep walking with Him.

He’s got His eyes on you

“He does not take His eyes off the righteous; He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.” ~ Job 36:7

There’s something especially comforting about knowing that someone sees you, not just your presence in a room, but your heart, your effort, your faithfulness in everyday things. This verse in Job 36 reminds me that God never takes His eyes off the righteous. He watches over not in judgment, but with loving care and unwavering attention. That kind of nearness brings courage when I’m feeling small, overlooked, or weary.

There have been times when I felt overlooked.  Times when I was doing what I thought God had called me to do, but everything around me felt slow, unnoticed, and insignificant. There was no visible fruit, and it seemed like I was being passed over while others moved ahead. But one morning during prayer, I came across this very passage. “He does not take His eyes off the righteous…” It stopped me because it was like God was whispering, “I see you. I see your heart. I see your obedience. Keep going, I’m not done.” That reminder didn’t change my visibility, but it revived my strength to keep me going, even without any recognition.

Elihu, in Job 36, is speaking a deep truth about God’s justice and faithfulness. He exalts the humble. He restores the righteous. He teaches through hardship, not to punish but to grow us. God doesn’t look away when things are hard, instead He’s working in the process, setting us up for something greater than we can see in the moment.

Here are some practical ways to stay encouraged when you feel unseen:

1. Keep showing up in the small things.
   God sees what no one else sees. Faithfulness in the private places is still faithfulness.
   Choose one area where you’ve felt unnoticed and speak this truth over it: “God sees me here.” Then keep showing up with excellence and heart.
2. Let hardship be a teacher, not a discouragement.
   Job 36:15 says, “But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction.”
   Ask God, “What are You teaching me through this?” Write down one lesson or truth you’ve gained in your current season.
3. Fix your eyes on the One who has His eyes on you.
   It’s easy to look at everyone else’s progress and miss your own. But your path is handcrafted by God. Stay focused on your lane.
   Write Job 36:7 on a card or sticky note where you’ll see it daily. Let it remind you that you’re not forgotten.

Today I want to encourage you if you’re walking through a slow season, a quiet one, or even a painful one, know this: God has not taken His eyes off of you. Not for a moment. He sees every step of faith, every act of obedience, and every tear you’ve shed. He’s not just watching, He’s working. He exalts the righteous in His time. Hold fast to that truth, because His eyes are full of love, purpose, and plans for you that go beyond what you can imagine.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 36

1 Elihu continued speaking:

2 “Let me go on, and I will show you the truth. For I have not finished defending God!

3 I will present profound arguments for the righteousness of my Creator.

4 I am telling you nothing but the truth, for I am a man of great knowledge.

5 “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.

6 He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.

7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever.

8 If they are bound in chains and caught up in a web of trouble,

9 he shows them the reason. He shows them their sins of pride.

10 He gets their attention and commands that they turn from evil.

11 “If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.

12 But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death, dying from lack of understanding.

13 For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.

14 They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living.

15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.

16 “God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.

17 But you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.

18 But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.

19 Could all your wealth or all your mighty efforts keep you from distress?

20 Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed.

21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil.

22 “Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?

23 No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’

24 Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise.

25 Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance.

26 “Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.

27 He draws up the water vapor and then distills it into rain.

28 The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits.

29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?

30 See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.

31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.

32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target.

33 The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.

Journal:

• Where do you feel unseen right now?
• In what area of your life do you need to be reminded that God has not taken His eyes off you?
• Write it down and invite Him into it today.

Does it even matter?

_{“If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does He receive from your hand?” ~ Job 35:7}

There have been moments in my journey where I wondered, “Is any of this making a difference?” Times when I’ve served faithfully, prayed earnestly, and lived honestly and yet didn’t feel seen or rewarded. I wasn’t expecting applause, but I did long for assurance that God noticed.

In Job 35, Elihu reminds Job that God doesn’t need anything from us because He is completely self-sufficient. Yet our lives still matter profoundly, because God has chosen to work through His people to reach the world. Our righteousness in Christ Jesus doesn’t add something God lacks, but it does become part of how His purposes unfold on earth. He set it up so that you and I actually share in accomplishing His plan right where we are.

Now I know that when I obey God and follow His direction, it’s not just about pleasing Him, though it certainly delights His heart. It’s also about participating in a bigger story. Every unseen act of faithfulness is a God-ordained link in a chain that touches lives I may never meet.

Here are three ways to live confidently when it feels like your efforts aren’t making a difference:

1. Remember that your righteousness is a response, not a requirement.

We don’t serve God to make Him love us, we serve because He already does.
Each morning, ask, “How can I respond to God’s love today?”
Trying to earn His approval leads to frustration and exhaustion.

2. Live by faith, not by feelings.

Some days, doing what’s right feels unnoticed, but God doesn’t miss a thing.
Jot down one quiet act of obedience this week, something only God saw. Offer it to Him with gratitude.
Letting emotions drive your commitment causes your faith to waver.

3. Trust that God multiplies the unseen.

Obedience often grows underground before it’s visible.
Pray, “Lord, I trust that nothing I do for You is wasted. Please use it to reach others.”
Quitting because you can’t see results may cause you to miss the harvest God is preparing.

Today I want to encourage you because your life matters to God, not because He lacks anything, but because He lovingly chose to weave your obedience into His rescue plan for others. Job 35 reminds us that righteousness isn’t transactional; it’s transformational. Keep walking in faith. Your unseen steps are threads in a tapestry God is stitching together for His glory and the good of many.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 35

1 Then Elihu said:

2 “Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’?

3 For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’

4 “I will answer you and all your friends, too.

5 Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you.

6 If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him?

7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him?

8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.

9 “People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty.

10 Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?

11 Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?’

12 And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride.

13 But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.

14 You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait.

15 You say he does not respond to sinners with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness.

16 But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.”

Journal:

• Where have you wondered if your faithfulness matters?
• Write it down, then pray: “Father, use my obedience as part of Your plan. Help me trust that every small step counts in reaching others for You.”