Mark 1-2, Psalm 95
Mark 2:13-14 (NLT)
“Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. 'Follow me and be my disciple,' Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.”
In Mark 2:13–14, we read the story of Jesus calling Levi, also identified as Matthew the tax collector. Jesus saw Levi sitting at the tax collector's booth and simply said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew's response was to get up and follow Him.
None of the Gospel accounts tells us that Matthew hesitated, questioned Jesus, or asked what following Him would require. Jesus called him, and Matthew got up and followed Him. Luke adds that Matthew left everything to follow Jesus. Matthew had a good livelihood as a tax collector, and the tax booth was where he worked. When Matthew left to follow Jesus, he was walking away from his livelihood. Unlike Peter, James, and John, who could return to their fishing boats, Matthew was leaving behind a position that may not have been waiting for him if he changed his mind.
Matthew's response makes me ask whether I respond readily when I believe the Holy Spirit is asking me to do something, or whether I hesitate because I want to understand where He is leading me first. This is an area of obedience that I know the Holy Spirit is helping me improve because I am not yet an automatic “yes” to His guidance. I have not yet said no, but my yes may take a long time to come. The guidance I've received from the Holy Spirit is that I need to learn to respond as readily as Matthew did. As I grow in trusting and obeying the Lord more readily, I know that kind of obedience will please Him.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls us to follow Him and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk with Him—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
Day 249 Bible Readings - Matthew 28:5-6 (NLT)
Matthew 27-28, Psalm 94
Matthew 28:5-6 (NLT)
“Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
In Matthew 28:5–6, an angel appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who had come to visit the tomb of Jesus Christ. The angel told the women not to be afraid. Then he told them that Jesus wasn't in the tomb because He had risen from the dead, just as He had said. The angel invited the women to see the place where Jesus had been laid.
Jesus told His disciples many times that He would be killed and raised again, but they struggled to understand and accept it. The disciples couldn't see how Jesus' death could fit with everything they believed about Him and all the miracles they had seen. But what looked like a catastrophic defeat on Friday with the crucifixion of Christ became something entirely different on Sunday when Jesus was resurrected.
These verses remind me that my inability to understand what Father-God is doing doesn't mean that He isn't working. Jesus told His disciples what would happen, but they couldn't fully understand it until after the resurrection. I need to trust the Lord even when I cannot yet see how the pieces of His plan fit together. Father-God remains faithful even when I don't understand what He's doing.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who remains faithful even when we don't understand what He's doing—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Matthew 28:5-6 (NLT)
“Then the angel spoke to the women. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
In Matthew 28:5–6, an angel appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who had come to visit the tomb of Jesus Christ. The angel told the women not to be afraid. Then he told them that Jesus wasn't in the tomb because He had risen from the dead, just as He had said. The angel invited the women to see the place where Jesus had been laid.
Jesus told His disciples many times that He would be killed and raised again, but they struggled to understand and accept it. The disciples couldn't see how Jesus' death could fit with everything they believed about Him and all the miracles they had seen. But what looked like a catastrophic defeat on Friday with the crucifixion of Christ became something entirely different on Sunday when Jesus was resurrected.
These verses remind me that my inability to understand what Father-God is doing doesn't mean that He isn't working. Jesus told His disciples what would happen, but they couldn't fully understand it until after the resurrection. I need to trust the Lord even when I cannot yet see how the pieces of His plan fit together. Father-God remains faithful even when I don't understand what He's doing.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who remains faithful even when we don't understand what He's doing—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Monday, September 07, 2026
Day 248 Bible Readings - Matthew 26:40-41 (NLT)
Matthew 25-26, Psalm 93
Matthew 26:40-41 (NLT)
“Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, ‘Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!’”
In Matthew 26:40–41, Jesus speaks to His three closest disciples after He finds them sleeping. Christ rebukes Peter for failing to keep watch with Him for even one hour while He prayed. Then Jesus tells the disciples to watch and pray so they will not fall into temptation. Christ acknowledges that their spirits may be willing, but their flesh is weak.
I've read these verses over the years, but today three things stood out to me. Jesus told Peter to watch and pray so he wouldn't give in to temptation. One Bible commentary I read noted that watching and praying means staying spiritually alert so we can guard against the subtle ways temptation can creep into our lives. The spiritual battle is often won or lost long before the crisis comes. Jesus also emphasized the need to recognize the weakness of our flesh and depend on the Lord's strength and help. Later, Christ promised that the Father would send another Helper to His disciples—the Holy Spirit.
These verses remind me why good intentions aren't enough. I recognize that wanting to follow Christ isn't the same as having enough strength to do it on my own. I need to rely on prayer and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in fighting temptation and facing other challenges in my life. And I know that it's not weakness if I need to pray and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance hourly or daily, depending on the kind of day I'm having. There is no shame in relying on Father-God 100% when I need His help.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives us the Holy Spirit to help us face the temptations and battles in our lives—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Matthew 26:40-41 (NLT)
“Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, ‘Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!’”
In Matthew 26:40–41, Jesus speaks to His three closest disciples after He finds them sleeping. Christ rebukes Peter for failing to keep watch with Him for even one hour while He prayed. Then Jesus tells the disciples to watch and pray so they will not fall into temptation. Christ acknowledges that their spirits may be willing, but their flesh is weak.
I've read these verses over the years, but today three things stood out to me. Jesus told Peter to watch and pray so he wouldn't give in to temptation. One Bible commentary I read noted that watching and praying means staying spiritually alert so we can guard against the subtle ways temptation can creep into our lives. The spiritual battle is often won or lost long before the crisis comes. Jesus also emphasized the need to recognize the weakness of our flesh and depend on the Lord's strength and help. Later, Christ promised that the Father would send another Helper to His disciples—the Holy Spirit.
These verses remind me why good intentions aren't enough. I recognize that wanting to follow Christ isn't the same as having enough strength to do it on my own. I need to rely on prayer and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in fighting temptation and facing other challenges in my life. And I know that it's not weakness if I need to pray and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance hourly or daily, depending on the kind of day I'm having. There is no shame in relying on Father-God 100% when I need His help.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives us the Holy Spirit to help us face the temptations and battles in our lives—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Sunday, September 06, 2026
Day 247 Bible Readings - Matthew 23:27-28 (NLT)
Matthew 23-24, Psalm 92
Matthew 23:27-28 (NLT)
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
In Matthew 23:27–28, Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites. They practiced strict observance of religious traditions, but Christ said they were like whitewashed tombs. They had visible acts of devotion, ritual observance, and public displays of righteousness, but Jesus said that inwardly they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They appeared righteous to other people, but the Lord knew what was hidden within them.
Jesus was judging religious leaders who had standing with the public but were inwardly corrupt. The scribes interpreted and taught the Law of Moses, and the Pharisees were known for their strict observance of religious traditions. Christ said that although they appeared righteous externally, their outward religious actions could not make their hearts righteous. They presented themselves one way on the outside while concealing what was really inside.
These verses remind me that Father-God isn't interested only in whether my behavior appears righteous to other people. He sees my heart. I need the Holy Spirit to help transform me from the inside so that my outward behavior genuinely reflects what Father-God is doing within me. Instead of asking only whether my actions look Christian to other people, I need to ask the Holy Spirit what is happening inside my heart that produces those actions. I need to allow Father-God to change me so deeply that, increasingly, my outward behavior becomes the natural fruit of what He has changed inside me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who wants to transform you from the inside out—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Matthew 23:27-28 (NLT)
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
In Matthew 23:27–28, Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites. They practiced strict observance of religious traditions, but Christ said they were like whitewashed tombs. They had visible acts of devotion, ritual observance, and public displays of righteousness, but Jesus said that inwardly they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They appeared righteous to other people, but the Lord knew what was hidden within them.
Jesus was judging religious leaders who had standing with the public but were inwardly corrupt. The scribes interpreted and taught the Law of Moses, and the Pharisees were known for their strict observance of religious traditions. Christ said that although they appeared righteous externally, their outward religious actions could not make their hearts righteous. They presented themselves one way on the outside while concealing what was really inside.
These verses remind me that Father-God isn't interested only in whether my behavior appears righteous to other people. He sees my heart. I need the Holy Spirit to help transform me from the inside so that my outward behavior genuinely reflects what Father-God is doing within me. Instead of asking only whether my actions look Christian to other people, I need to ask the Holy Spirit what is happening inside my heart that produces those actions. I need to allow Father-God to change me so deeply that, increasingly, my outward behavior becomes the natural fruit of what He has changed inside me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who wants to transform you from the inside out—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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