Day 266 Bible Readings - John 20:27-29 (NLT)

John 19-21, Psalm 111

John 20:27-29 (NLT)

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ ‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.’”

In John 20:27–29, Jesus appeared to Thomas, who had been absent when He first appeared to the other disciples. Thomas had said he would not believe Jesus had risen until he saw Him and put his finger and hand into the wounds Jesus received at the crucifixion. Jesus knew what Thomas had said and offered him the evidence he had demanded. Thomas believed and acknowledged Jesus, saying, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus said that those who believe in Him without seeing Him are blessed.

I've always loved the story of “doubting Thomas.” He needed physical evidence to believe that Jesus had risen and was alive. Jesus was so gentle and merciful with Thomas in his disbelief. He didn't condemn Thomas. Instead, Christ encouraged Thomas to believe, and Thomas responded by addressing Jesus as “my Lord and my God.” One Bible commentary I read noted that the story of Thomas shows that Father-God will meet us where we are in our faith journey. The same commentary noted that Thomas's story shows how doubt can lead to deeper faith when it is brought before the Lord and answered through revelation.

I used to see myself as “doubting Thomas” in my faith journey. I constantly needed evidence to believe that the Lord was real. But I know I've moved beyond that stage of my faith now. I've acknowledged how Father-God has blessed me throughout my life, and I've witnessed too many things that I believe were supernatural healings and miracles to continue doubting that the Lord is alive and at work. Now I feel the desire to understand what it means to “hunger for the Lord's presence” in my life. I want to wake up every morning hungry to know more of Father-God and to experience more of His presence in my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who meets us wherever we are in our journey of faith—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.

Day 265 Bible Readings - John 17:18-20 (NLT)

John 16-18, Psalm 110

John 17:18-20 (NLT)

“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”

In John 17:18–20, Jesus said that just as Father-God had sent Him into the world, He was sending His disciples into the world to continue His work and be faithful witnesses to Him. Then Jesus said He gave Himself as a holy sacrifice so that His disciples could be made holy by the truth. Jesus then said He was praying not only for His disciples, but also for every future believer who would come to believe in Him through their message.

These verses remind believers that Christ knew there would be many future believers who would come to believe in Him through the work of His disciples. One Bible commentary I read noted that Jesus knew His work would endure. He didn't have a vague hope about what the Holy Spirit would do through His disciples and future believers. Another Bible commentary noted that Jesus models for believers the importance of intercessory prayer. Christ prayed for and interceded on behalf of His future followers.

These verses show me the personal care and concern Christ had for His disciples and all His future believers. Jesus knew that Father-God had sent Him into the world and that He would give Himself as a sacrifice so that those who believed in Him could receive salvation. Christ also displayed complete faith and confidence that Father-God's plan would continue through His death and resurrection and through the work of His disciples as they spread His message. When I read these verses, I know that Jesus cares for me just as He cared for His first disciples. I am one of those future believers He was praying for, and that makes His prayer feel deeply personal to me.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who cares for all believers just as He cared for His first disciples—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.

Day 264 Bible Readings - John 14:16-17 (NLT)

John 13-15, Psalm 109

John 14:16-17 (NLT)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

In John 14:16–17, Jesus knew His disciples were troubled because He had told them He was leaving. Christ reassured them and said He would ask Father-God to send them another “Helper” who would never leave them. The Helper is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called the Spirit of truth. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit lived with them and would later be in them.

The ancient Greek word translated as “Helper” is paraklētos, which can describe someone called alongside to help, such as an advocate, counselor, or intercessor. One Bible commentary I read noted that Jesus understood His followers would need Father-God's presence and power to keep His commandments; they would need more help when He was gone, not less. Jesus promised that through the Holy Spirit, His followers would not be left alone as they lived the Christian life. The Holy Spirit would remain with them permanently, not temporarily.

I heard Evangelist Jonathan Shuttlesworth declare that you cannot believe in what you are not taught. Until I joined my new church, there wasn't much emphasis on the Holy Spirit and His potential role in the life of a Christian believer. The other churches I attended mentioned the Holy Spirit, but mostly in passing when He appeared in the Scriptures being taught. I believe the Holy Spirit has always been in my life, but I didn't recognize Him. I only knew that every so often I seemed to receive guidance from the Lord. But now I know more about the Holy Spirit, and at every church service, my pastor expands my knowledge of this Helper whom Jesus promised in these verses. Because of what I am learning, my awareness of the Holy Spirit's role in my life has expanded as well, and it does feel like I have Jesus beside me every day, helping me live my Christian life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who promised us the Helper, the Holy Spirit, so that we would not have to live the Christian life alone—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.

Day 263 Bible Readings - John 12:35-36 (NLT)

John 11-12, Psalm 108

John 12:35-36 (NLT)

“Jesus replied, ‘My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.’”

In John 12:35–36, Jesus replied to the crowd after they questioned Him about how the Messiah could live forever when He had told them about His coming death. Christ told the crowd to believe in the light while they still had the opportunity. If they continued walking in darkness, they would not know where they were going. Jesus told the crowd to put their trust in the light so they could become children of light.

These verses remind believers of the urgency of following Christ. When we believe in the Lord, we no longer have to walk in spiritual darkness without direction. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Father-God provides direction and helps us discern the path He wants us to follow. Believing in Christ also gives us a new identity as children of light, whose lives should increasingly reflect the character of the Lord.

What I like about these verses is that they reinforce my belief that the Lord has always been the light in my life. The guidance of the Holy Spirit has helped me overcome the darkness that I sometimes feel in my life. The Holy Spirit has also provided me with direction in my decisions and actions when I prayed for guidance, and sometimes even when I didn't ask for the Lord's help. The light of the Lord has also helped me develop what Paul describes in Ephesians 5 as the fruit of light: goodness, righteousness, and truth. These verses also remind me of one of my favorite verses in the Bible: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5).

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who brings light to the world so we no longer have to walk in darkness—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.

Day 262 Bible Readings - John 10:25-27 (NLT)

John 9-10, Psalm 107

John 10:25-27 (NLT)

“Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

In John 10:25–27, Jesus was surrounded by people asking Him questions as He walked through a section of the Temple called Solomon's Colonnade during Hanukkah. They asked Him to tell them plainly whether He was the Messiah. Jesus told them that He had already answered them, but they did not believe Him even though the works He performed in His Father's name testified about who He was. Then Christ said they did not believe because they were not His sheep. His sheep listen to His voice; He knows them, and they follow Him.

These verses remind believers that the people questioning Jesus had been given abundant evidence of who He was through His teachings and His works, yet they still did not believe. One Bible commentary I read noted that their unbelief was a rejection of the testimony given through the teachings and works of Jesus. Following Jesus requires an open heart and a willingness to accept the truth that Jesus is the Son of Father-God. Believing in Christ also means listening to His teachings and learning to discern the voice of the Lord. Jesus knows those who belong to Him, and His sheep listen to His voice and follow Him.

What stood out to me in these verses is that I cannot claim devotion to the Lord without also seeing Christ as the Good Shepherd who knows me and calls me by name. I need to be a “good sheep” who listens to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and receives His revelation of truth concerning Father-God. A good sheep depends upon the Lord for direction, protection, and provision. I need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, obey the Lord's commands, and regularly engage with Scripture and prayer so that I can increasingly recognize His guidance.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and cares for them—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.

Day 261 Bible Readings - John 7:38-39 (NLT)

John 7-8, Psalm 106

John 7:38-39 (NLT)

“‘Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’’ (When he said ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”

In John 7:38–39, Jesus spoke to the crowd on the last day of the Festival of Shelters, also called the Feast of Tabernacles, and invited anyone who was thirsty to come to Him and drink. The festival commemorated how Father-God cared for Israel during their journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, and by the time of Jesus, water had become an important part of the festival ceremonies. Christ was identifying Himself as the One who could fully satisfy the spiritual thirst of the people. Then Christ said that for those who believed in Him, rivers of living water would flow from within them. John identified this “living water” as the Holy Spirit, who would be given after Jesus was glorified.

These verses remind believers that Jesus promised those who have faith in Him that they would receive the Holy Spirit, the source of the living water flowing from within them. The Holy Spirit would satisfy the spiritual thirst of believers. These verses also remind me of what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well when Christ told her, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life” (John 4:14).

When I read these verses, I realize how important it is for a believer to know and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised that those who believed in Him would receive the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance, my faith in the Lord is continually renewed. As I listen to His guidance, I trust that He will lead me in ways that please Father-God and satisfy my desire and hunger to know the Lord more deeply.

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 satisfy our deepest spiritual thirst—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.

 

Day 260 Bible Readings for September 19 - John 6:67-69 (NLT)

John 5-6, Psalm 105

John 6:67-69 (NLT)

“Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Are you also going to leave?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.’”

In John 6:67–69, Jesus turned to His twelve disciples and asked them if they were going to leave Him as well. Jesus had finished explaining to His followers that He was the Bread of Life. Earlier, He had challenged those who followed Him because they had eaten the bread He miraculously provided, rather than because they understood the significance of the miracle. As His teaching became more difficult, many of His disciples turned away and stopped following Him. Peter answered that they had no one else to follow because Jesus had the words of eternal life. Peter said they believed and knew that Christ was the “Holy One of God.”

These verses remind believers that they may experience confusion or doubt in their faith when the Lord's words or teachings are difficult to understand or accept. But if they love, trust, and believe in Jesus Christ, they need to remain committed to Him, just as His disciples did. There is no substitute for Christ or for His words, which give eternal life. A Bible commentary I read stated that following Christ cannot be based simply on curiosity. Following Jesus means making a personal, informed decision and commitment to remain with Father-God, who holds the key to eternal life.

When I read these verses, I began to wonder about my own commitment to the Lord. Was I following Jesus Christ for material or earthly motivations? Did I make an informed decision and commitment to follow Father-God? Since joining my new church over the past year and a half, I've witnessed things I cannot explain naturally, including what I believe were supernatural healings where people presented before-and-after evidence of changes in their bodies. I've seen people who were addicted to drugs or smoking give them up without having to wean themselves off and without the side effects they expected. I also experience feelings of peace and gratitude for my life that don't go away and still leave me in awe daily. Like Peter, I know why I remain: I have come to believe and trust in the Lord and in His words of eternal life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose words offer eternal life—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.

Day 259 Bible Readings - John 4:39-41 (NLT)

John 3-4, Psalm 104

John 4:39-41 (NLT)

“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’ When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.”

In John 4:39–41, we read about what happened after Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Jesus' knowledge of the woman's life revealed more than human insight, yet He still treated her with respect and told her that He was the Messiah. The Samaritan woman was so amazed that she went back to her town and told the people about her encounter with Christ. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony, and they went to see Him for themselves. They asked Jesus to stay with them, and He remained there for two days so they could hear His message. During this time in history, Jews and Samaritans generally avoided each other, so it was significant that the Samaritans welcomed Christ and asked Him to stay.

These verses show believers that sharing personal experiences with the Lord can be a powerful way to evangelize. The Samaritan woman told people who knew her, and they knew her history and her personality, so her story made them want to see Jesus for themselves. Her story also shows that one person sharing their testimony can make others interested in knowing Father-God. When the people went to see Jesus for themselves, we see the power of Jesus and His teachings as many more came to believe in Him because of His words.

These verses inspire me to share my story about the Lord more often with people I know and then leave it up to them whether they want to hear more about Father-God. I need to have faith that the power of Jesus' words can transform people and lead them to believe in Him. The story of the Samaritan woman at the well shows what can happen when people hear someone's testimony and then encounter the living Word, Jesus Christ, for themselves.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose words have the power to transform people's 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.

Day 258 Bible Readings - John 1:47-49 (NLT)

John 1-2, Psalm 103

John 1:47-49 (NLT)

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’ ‘How do you know about me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, ‘I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.’ Then Nathanael exclaimed, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!’”

In John 1:48–49, Nathanael, a friend of Philip, meets Jesus for the first time. Jesus tells Nathanael that there is no deceit in him. Nathanael, who had never met Jesus before, asks how Jesus knows him. Christ then says that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him. Nathanael then exclaims that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel.

These verses reminded me of what the Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (Jeremiah 1:5). Jesus knew things supernaturally about Nathanael before they were introduced. Christ knew that there was no deceit in Nathanael, and He knew that Nathanael had been under a fig tree before Philip called him. Jesus also demonstrated supernatural knowledge of people in Matthew 9 and Mark 2, where Christ knew what the teachers of the law were thinking in their hearts.

When I feel or hear the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the guidance is sometimes so personal to me that it reminds me that the Lord knows me inside and out, and sometimes better than I even know myself. It makes me chuckle with delight that the Lord knows me so well. Whenever those moments happen, I am reminded that I am in covenant with a God who truly knows me and who still works through signs, wonders, and miracles. My trust in Father-God deepens, and that increasing trust helps me surrender more of my life to Him each day.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who knows you completely and continues to love you—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.

Day 257 Bible Readings - Mark 15:37-39 (NLT)

Mark 15-16, Psalm 102

Mark 15:37-39 (NLT)

“Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’”

In Mark 15:37–39, we read what happened when Jesus died. At the moment of Christ's death, the massive inner curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Then a Roman centurion who was standing in front of Jesus and saw how He died exclaimed, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

These verses show believers that even in His death, extraordinary signs accompanied Jesus. The inner veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and was passed beyond only by the high priest once each year on the Day of Atonement, when he entered bearing sacrificial blood. But when Jesus died, the veil was torn from top to bottom. The direction of the tear emphasizes that this was not presented as an ordinary human act. The Roman centurion was there as part of his duty overseeing the execution. He was not one of Jesus' followers, yet when he saw how Jesus died, he declared that Christ was the Son of God. Whatever the centurion witnessed in Jesus' death moved him to make this remarkable declaration.

What I like about these verses is that Christ's life and death were characterized by signs and wonders. Wherever He went, Christ miraculously healed people, and many witnessed His miracles. When Jesus died, the Temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom. And a pagan Roman officer, who witnessed Jesus dying on an instrument of death and torture, declared that Jesus was the Son of God. I pray daily that I never forget that I serve a God of signs, wonders, and miracles and worship in a church where I believe He is still working through signs, wonders, and miracles today.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose power and identity were revealed even through His death and who is still at work today—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.

Day 256 Bible Readings - Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)

Mark 13-14, Psalm 101

Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)

“He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”

In Mark 14:35–36, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane with His disciples and then took Peter, James, and John farther with Him. He left the three nearby, fell to the ground, and prayed that, if possible, He might not have to endure what was coming. Christ knew Father-God's will, but what He faced still caused Him great distress. At the end of His prayer, Jesus did not resist Father-God's will but willingly submitted His own will to the Father.

In these verses, Jesus doesn't pretend He wants the suffering that He knows is coming. Christ's surrender means that although He wanted to avoid the suffering of the cross, He was willing to accept Father-God's will even when it was different from what He wanted. Jesus' surrender in Gethsemane isn't abstract. His obedience will cost Him physically. Christ modeled for believers what surrender can look like when what we want isn't what the Lord wants for us.

Could I tell Father-God honestly what I want while still being able to say, “Not what I will, but what You will”? This kind of surrender is more profound than simply giving up things or actions that I know are wrong or sinful. Can I surrender my will to the Lord even when I desperately want something different? In this kind of surrender, honesty and surrender coexist. I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me daily understand what it actually means for me to give Father-God all of me.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who models for us what true surrender means—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.

Day 255 Bible Readings - Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)

Mark 11-12, Psalm 100

Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’’”

In Mark 12:29–30, a teacher of religious law asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Christ told him that the most important commandment was to love the Lord with everything you have and are—with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love for the Lord is the foundation from which obedience to His other commandments flows.

When I read these verses, what stood out to me was the phrase “love the Lord with all your strength.” One Bible commentary I read noted that Jesus perfectly fulfilled this commandment through His obedient life and His willingness to accept death on the cross. I know I love Father-God with all my heart, soul, and mind. But I had never really thought about what it means to love Father-God with all my strength, which can include how I use my physical energy, abilities, and resources.

I always thought of most of my actions as my own, with the Lord being given the actions that related specifically to church. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning that loving Father-God also means that what I do with my body and my strength should glorify Him. When I serve others, I need to think of myself as working for the Lord. And I need to use my strength to persevere when I am tired or face opposition. When I do these things, I am learning what it means to love the Lord with all my strength and to give Him the energy and abilities He has given me.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who teaches us what it means to love Father-God with all that we are—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.

Day 254 Bible Readings for September 13 - Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)

Mark 9-10, Psalm 99

Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)

“‘What do you mean, ‘If I can?’’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes. The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”

In Mark 9:23–24, a man brought his son to see Jesus so He could heal him from an evil spirit because the disciples had been unable to do it. The man asked Jesus to help his son if He could. Christ responded that everything is possible for one who believes. The man immediately said that he did believe, but he also acknowledged his struggle to believe and asked Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief.

In these verses, the man who wanted Jesus to perform a miracle confessed his unbelief and wasn't ashamed to ask Jesus for help with it. When I read these verses, I thought about all the times I was ashamed to admit to myself and to the Lord that I had unbelief in my heart and mind. I wanted to hold on to the belief that my faith was stronger than it actually was.

The Holy Spirit is now teaching and guiding me to ask the Lord for help and to give up the belief and illusion that I still have strength in myself—that I don't have to be one hundred percent dependent on Father-God. These verses remind me that I don't have to hide the areas where my faith is still developing. I can believe in Father-God and still ask Him to help me with the places where I struggle to believe. I have surrendered, but the Holy Spirit keeps showing me that there is more to surrender. I believe, but there is still unbelief that I need Jesus to help me overcome. My daily prayer is now: Father-God, I believe You. Now help me with the parts of me that still struggle to believe.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who meets us even in our struggle to believe and helps our faith grow—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.

Day 253 Bible Readings for September 12 - Mark 8:34-35 (NLT)

Mark 7-8, Psalm 98

Mark 8:34-35 (NLT)

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.’”

In Mark 8:34–35, after Jesus told His disciples about His death and resurrection, He said that if anyone wants to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Following Christ means renouncing self-rule and surrendering personal desires and ambitions when they conflict with the Lord's will. Then Christ said that whoever tries to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Him and for the gospel will save it. Loyalty to Jesus may require surrender and sacrifice, but through Him we ultimately find true and eternal life with Father-God.

When I read these verses, I thought about how much of my life I am willing to surrender to the Lord. I thought I had surrendered everything, but the guidance of the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me that surrender to Father-God is like peeling back the layers of an onion. There is always more to surrender to the Lord. There are surface things, like giving up alcohol, but there are also deeper things, like giving up family traditions and beliefs and even society's beliefs and traditions when they conflict with the Lord's will.

While I love the image of Jesus as the shepherd, I still have a hard time thinking of myself as a sheep because society has given sheep such a negative image of blind obedience, low intelligence, and lack of individuality. But when I researched sheep and their behavior, I learned that they are remarkably intelligent animals. Studies have shown that they can recognize human faces, remember paths, and navigate complex social relationships. They also flock together as a strategy for survival because there is greater protection in staying together. I pray daily and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance to help me surrender more to the Lord so I can follow His will for my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls us to surrender our lives to Him so that we may find true life in 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.

Day 252 Bible Readings - Mark 5:35-36 (NLT)

Mark 5-6, Psalm 97

Mark 5:35-36 (NLT)

“While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, ‘Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.’ But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.’”

In Mark 5:35–36, while Jairus was listening to Jesus speak to the woman He had healed, messengers arrived and told him that his daughter was dead. Jesus overheard them and told Jairus not to be afraid, but to have faith.

These verses show what can happen when you've prayed or believed Father-God for something and circumstances appear to get worse rather than better. Jairus had already demonstrated his faith by coming to Jesus and falling at His feet, despite being a leader of the synagogue. But then he heard the news that his daughter had died, and Jesus told him not to be afraid. Christ told Jairus to have faith instead of giving in to fear. Jairus kept walking with Christ to see his daughter, demonstrating that he continued to trust Him even after receiving devastating news.

When I read these verses, I asked myself, what would my trust look like if the news I received told me there was no longer any reason to hope? Could I continue trusting Father-God when what I see seems to contradict what I'm believing? Would I have the faith of Jairus and keep walking with and believing in the Lord? I know my faith has increased with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and I continue to pray that my trust in Father-God will increase over the years.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who encourages us to trust Him rather than give in to fear—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.

Day 251 Bible Readings - Mark 4:24-25 (NLT)

Mark 3-4, Psalm 96

Mark 4:24-25 (NLT)

“Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’”

In Mark 4:24–25, Jesus instructed His disciples and the crowd further about listening to His teaching. Christ told them to pay close attention to what they heard because the measure they used would be measured to them—and even more would be given to them. Those who receive and respond to the Lord's truth will be given greater understanding, while those who do not truly receive what they hear can lose even the limited understanding they have.

When I first read these verses, I thought about the Holy Spirit's guidance for me in 2022 to start reading the Bible through a yearly program. I was sporadically attending a faith-filled, full-Gospel church, but not regularly. At the end of 2022, I decided to join the church I was attending. I went to the New Members class and was water baptized in February 2023. Although I know the Lord had been in my life since I was six years old and I was baptized as an infant, I consider this water baptism my born-again date because it was my first public declaration of faith as an adult.

But reading wasn't enough, even though I joined another year-long Bible reading program. I was reading the words, but I wasn't learning more about Father-God. I was again guided in November 2023 to start writing about what I was learning and how it might apply to my life, since that's the way I learn things best. Now that I'm in the fifth year of a Bible reading program, these verses ring so true for me. The more I read the Lord's words, the more I understand them and the more peace and happiness I experience in my life. I learn new things every year, and I know that reading the Bible through a year-long program is something I will continue to do for the rest of my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose words help us know and understand Him more deeply—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.

Day 250 Bible Readings - Mark 2:13-14 (NLT)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Day 246 Bible Readings for September 6 - Matthew 22:12-14 (NLT)

Matthew 21-22, Psalm 91

Matthew 22:12-14 (NLT)

“And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

In Matthew 22:12–14, Jesus speaks about how the kingdom of heaven can be compared to the king in the parable of the wedding feast. The king noticed that there was a man at the wedding feast who was not wearing wedding clothes. Some Bible commentators note that appropriate garments were expected at a wedding feast, and some suggest that the host may have provided garments for the guests. When the king asked the man why he had entered without wedding clothes, the man had no answer. The king then told his attendants to remove the man from the feast. Jesus concluded the parable by saying, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

These verses have always puzzled me because, in the earlier verses, the king asked his servants to go into the streets and invite everyone they could find to the wedding feast. I used to think it wasn't the man's fault that he wasn't properly dressed and that the king treated him harshly. But after reading several Bible commentaries, I understand the man's clothing as representing his response to the king's invitation. He accepted the invitation to attend the feast but was unwilling to honor the king and his son appropriately.

These verses remind me that while the Lord offers the gift of salvation, responding to His invitation involves more than simply identifying myself as a believer. I need to come to Father-God with a repentant heart and allow the Holy Spirit to transform and guide me. The Bible tells us that the Lord searches everyone's heart, and our outward appearance cannot hide the true condition of our hearts from Him. I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me that I must continually examine my actions and ask whether they glorify the Lord.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who invites us into a genuine relationship with Him and transforms our lives 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.

Day 245 Bible Readings - Matthew 20:14-16 (NLT)

Matthew 19-20, Psalm 90

Matthew 20:14-16 (NLT)

“‘Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ ‘So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.’”

In Matthew 20:14–16, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The landowner hired people to work in his vineyard at different times during the day, and when they were all being paid, the workers hired first were offended that the same wage was given to the workers who were hired last. The vineyard owner reminded them that they had agreed to work for the wage they received. He rebuked them for being envious of his generosity and reminded them that he had the right to do what he wanted with his own money. Christ then says, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

I've always found these verses hard to understand because it never seemed fair that the workers hired first didn't receive more money. But the landowner never promised to pay them anything more than the normal wage for their work. They received exactly what they had agreed upon. The workers who complained were envious because the landowner chose to be generous to those who came later. The parable shows me something about the character of Father-God: His generosity is not limited by my human ideas about who deserves more. The Lord desires to save everyone and will not deny salvation to someone simply because that person comes to faith later in life.

These verses also remind me that grace and salvation are gifts from the Lord and cannot be earned by merit or effort. The Old and New Testaments are filled with examples of Father-God elevating those who were considered last or humble and using them to accomplish His plans. I cannot determine with my human understanding what plans the Lord has for other people or how He will use them. I know that I need to trust the Lord and align myself with His plan for my life because of the faithfulness I have seen throughout the Bible.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose grace and gift of salvation are available to all who come to Him in faith—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.

Day 244 Bible Readings - Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)

Matthew 17-18, Psalm 89

Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”

In Matthew 18:12–14, we read the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus tells His disciples about a man who goes after one sheep that has wandered away from his flock of one hundred sheep. The parable shows the value that Father-God places on each individual and the great lengths He will go to seek those who have strayed. Like the man who rejoices when he finds the wandering sheep, Father-God does not want even one of His little ones to perish.

I've always loved the parable of the lost sheep, but these verses have become some of my favorites since I became born again. It took me a long time to fully accept the Lord and His teachings and to make my relationship with Father-God a priority in my life. I have an image of the Lord knocking on the door to my heart for a long time. I would partially open the door, but I didn't let Father-God fully into my life.

But that's all changed now. I ask the Holy Spirit for guidance daily, and in the last week, I've begun to ask myself whether my life glorifies the Lord. Does my life—my behavior, my actions, and my thoughts—glorify Father-God? If the Lord were to look my way, would He be pleased by what He saw and what He found in my heart? I know it will be an ongoing process to align my life with the Lord and live in a way that glorifies Him, but I know that this process will bring me peace because pleasing the Lord makes me happy.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who seeks those who have wandered because He loves them and desires to bring them back to Father-God—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.

Day 243 Bible Readings - Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT)

Matthew 15-16, Psalm 88

Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT)

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.'”

In Matthew 16:24–25, Jesus outlines His expectations for His disciples. Christ expected His disciples to deny themselves and surrender their own way, understand that there was a cost to following Him that could include shame, suffering, and even death, take up their cross, and follow Him. Jesus then said that if a person tries to hold on to their old life, values, and priorities instead of following Him, that person will ultimately lose their life. But whoever is willing to lose their life for Christ's sake will find true life in Him.

Following Christ isn't simply believing that Jesus exists or agreeing with His teachings. Discipleship involves surrendering our own desires and following Him even when obedience costs something. To help us in our discipleship, Father-God sent the Holy Spirit to guide believers and help us surrender our lives to Him.

I know that giving up my own way of understanding and asking the Holy Spirit daily for guidance felt like such a step backwards at first. But as a new believer in my covenant with the Lord, I've come to realize that I need to ask the Holy Spirit for help every day. I feel like sometimes I know so little about why Father-God does things and why certain things happen. I don't always understand what I see at church and in the lives of people who love Father-God. But I've learned that I don't need to look to other people to determine how I should follow the Lord. I need to look to His Word and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. With the Holy Spirit's counsel, I know that my understanding will grow, and so will my knowledge of the Lord.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who sends us the Holy Spirit to help us surrender our lives to Him and follow 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.

Day 242 Bible Readings - Matthew 14:22-23 (NLT)

Matthew 13-14, Psalm 87

Matthew 14:22-23 (NLT)

“Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.”

In Matthew 14:22–23, after Jesus fed the five thousand, He told the disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake while He sent the people home. Then Jesus went up into the hills by Himself to pray, and He remained there alone until night fell.

A Bible commentary I read noted that Jesus was demonstrating the need for prayer amid His demanding ministry. Christ's example shows us that prayer is vital for spiritual strength and guidance and that believers need to set aside dedicated time to pray. Having time in solitude gives us an opportunity to deepen our relationship with the Lord and seek His will in all aspects of our lives.

Recently, I started setting aside time every morning to speak in tongues and pray before I get out of bed and again before I go to sleep. Sometimes I stop and ask the Lord for guidance about anything I am going through, pray for people I know, and talk to Him about anything else that crosses my mind. Sometimes I start praying, and crying takes over for the rest of the time. Whatever happens, I know that this time is set aside for prayer to the Lord. I know that He hears and listens to me, and I often experience a sense of peace and calmness during this time with Him.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who invites us to deepen our relationship with Him through prayer—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.

Day 241 Bible Readings - Matthew 11:25-26 (NLT)

Matthew 11-12, Psalm 86

Matthew 11:25-26 (NLT)

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!’”

In Matthew 11:25–26, after Jesus denounced the cities that did not repent despite the many miracles He performed among them, He prayed to the Lord about what had been revealed and what remained hidden. Jesus praised Father-God for revealing His truth to those who received it with humility. The truth of the Lord was hidden from those Jesus called the “wise and learned” but revealed to “little children.” The contrast is not between intelligence and ignorance, but between self-sufficiency and humble dependence on the Lord. Father-God's truth is revealed to those who are humble, receptive, and willing to trust Him rather than relying solely on their own wisdom.

These verses stood out to me because I never fully understood what it meant to have childlike faith. One Bible commentary I read noted that having childlike faith doesn't mean you are ignorant. It means that, as a believer, you are willing to put your trust in the Lord like a child would instead of relying solely on your own human wisdom and understanding or taking pride in your religious knowledge or position. It means a believer is open, humble, and receptive to the Lord's revelation.

I know for myself that I have always struggled with fully trusting the Lord because my mind would constantly fight against surrendering to Father-God rather than relying on the wisdom and understanding He gave me. I couldn't learn or think my way into the Lord's revelation. I had to surrender and be open to receiving what Father-God wanted to reveal to me so that I could learn to apply it to my own life. Surrender is not an easy process for me, but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning to do it daily, bit by bit.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls us to humbly trust Him and receive what Father-God reveals to us—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.

Day 240 Bible Readings - Matthew 10:14-15 (NLT)

Matthew 9-10, Psalm 85

Matthew 10:14-15 (NLT)

“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”

In Matthew 10:14–15, Jesus gives specific instructions to His disciples when He sends them out to spread His teachings. If they are not welcomed by a household or town and their message is not received, the disciples are to leave and move on. Christ then tells them that there will be severe consequences for rejecting His message, even greater than the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.

What I like about these verses is that they remind me that, as a follower of Christ, my responsibility is to faithfully share the message of the Lord. I am not responsible for making another person accept it. The Holy Spirit works in people's hearts and draws them toward Father-God. For a long time, I felt that it was my responsibility not only to share the teachings of the Lord but also to save people. When my attempts at sharing didn't go well or were rejected, I blamed myself for not being good enough or strong enough in my faith in Father-God to save anyone, and I stopped sharing.

It wasn't until I became born again that I came to understand that it is the Holy Spirit who draws a person to the Lord. I can share my faith and testimony, but I also need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern when and how to share with others. And if I share in obedience to His guidance and nothing appears to happen, I can still know that I was obedient to what the Lord asked me to do. The response belongs to the person hearing the message; my responsibility is to be faithful in sharing it.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who teaches us that sharing our faith is part of our obedience to 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.

Day 239 Bible Readings for August 29 - Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT)

Matthew 7-8, Psalm 84

Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT)

“A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

During the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:17–20, Jesus tells us that, like a tree, false prophets are known by their fruit, their actions and character. A Bible commentary I read noted that believers need to pay attention to the manner of living, the content of the teaching, and the effect of the teaching of anyone who claims to speak for the Lord.

Believers need to consider whether a person's actions, attitudes, and character are aligned with the Lord's will and the teachings and commandments found in the Bible. A person's actions should consistently reflect their identity in Christ. Although Jesus is specifically speaking about false prophets in these verses, the principle of examining the fruit of our lives can also be applied to every believer in Christ. Earlier in the chapter, Christ warned against judging other people without first examining ourselves.

When I read these verses, I am reminded that I need to constantly ask myself: Do I bear good fruit for the Lord? Do my actions and attitudes reflect my identity in Christ? Since I became born again, I find myself looking at people to see whether they reflect the Lord in their actions, especially if they've been born again for a long time. I look for role models to emulate in church. Who produces good fruit? Who reflects Father-God in their actions and behavior? And I ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help me discern what to incorporate into my own behavior so that I can bear good fruit for the Lord.

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 guide us in bearing good fruit for the Lord's glory—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.

Day 238 Bible Readings - Matthew 5:15-16 (NLT)

Matthew 5-6, Psalm 83

Matthew 5:15-16 (NLT)

“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

In Matthew 5:15–16, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers that they are the light of the world. Like a lamp that is placed on a stand to give light to everyone around it, believers need to reflect Father-God through the way they live. Jesus says that when people see our good deeds, they should glorify Father-God in heaven.

One Bible commentary I read noted that Christ never challenged His followers to become light. Jesus said they already are light, and it is our responsibility to let that light shine before people in darkness. Christ wants our light to be intentional, like a lamp placed where it can be seen, so that through our good deeds other people will glorify the Lord we serve.

F. F. Bruce wrote in his book The Book of Acts that Jesus knew there would be a strong temptation for a person with light to hide it, so as not to draw the world's attention and expose themselves to people who hate the light. I know that for a long time in my life, I did hide my Christian faith because of criticism. But now that I've recognized the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life, I feel much more confident about sharing my faith. I have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me discern when it is appropriate to share and what to share with people. And I know that when I am obedient to the Holy Spirit's guidance, I am following the Lord's direction for my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls His followers to shine His light before the world—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.

Day 237 Bible Readings - Matthew 3:16-17 (NLT)

Matthew 3-4, Psalm 82

Matthew 3:16-17 (NLT)

“After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.’”

In Matthew 3:16–17, we read about the Spirit of Father-God descending like a dove upon Jesus Christ after He was baptized by John the Baptist. Then a voice from heaven identified Jesus as His Son.

I've read these verses many times over the years, but what stood out to me today was the similarity between what happened at Jesus' baptism and what happened in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. At Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descended like a dove, while at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came with the sound of a mighty wind and what appeared to be tongues of fire. When Jesus was baptized in water, Father-God spoke from heaven. At Pentecost, the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit enabled them to speak in other languages.

These verses remind me that the Lord sometimes reveals His power in similar ways throughout Scripture, showing believers that His purposes are unfolding across time. These events also remind me of the faithfulness and unchanging nature of Father-God. I can trust that when I read the Bible, I am seeing examples of the Lord's faithfulness and power, and that the same God who worked powerfully in the lives of His people then is still at work in my life today.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever—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.

Day 236 Bible Readings - Matthew 2:5-6 (NLT)

Matthew 1-2, Psalm 81

Matthew 2:5-6 (NLT)

“‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they said, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

n Matthew 2:5–6, King Herod was told by the chief priests and teachers of the law that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem in Judea. Years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Micah prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2).

These verses show believers that the Lord is faithful and reliable in fulfilling His promises. Father-God promised David that his descendants would rule over the kingdom. Jesus Christ was descended from David and was born in the town associated with David, because David was born there and was later anointed as king by the prophet Samuel.

The Messiah being born in Bethlehem also shows that the Lord often uses the humble and seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes. Bethlehem was a small town in Judea and was insignificant compared with the great city of Jerusalem.

When I read these verses, I am reminded that the Lord is faithful to the promises He makes to His people and that Father-God will often use people and places that seem humble and insignificant to accomplish His plans. David was a shepherd who became Israel's greatest king. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come from the line of David and be born in the small town that had been David's birthplace. These verses also remind me that I have a role to play in the Lord's plans when I listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and faithfully fulfill what Father-God has called me to do.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls each of His believers to participate in His purposes—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.

Day 235 Bible Readings - 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 (NLT)

2 Chronicles 35-36, Psalm 80

2 Chronicles 36:20-21 (NLT)

“The few who survived were taken as exiles to Babylon, and they became servants to the king and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.”

In 2 Chronicles 36:20–22, the Chronicler tells us that Jeremiah's prophecy came true. Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would serve the kingdom of Babylon for seventy years and that the Lord would bring His people home after their exile. Babylon conquered Jerusalem, looted the Temple, and took the people who survived into exile, where they became servants. When Cyrus became king of Persia, the Lord moved his heart to allow the exiled people of Judah to return to Jerusalem.

These verses remind believers that the Lord is faithful to the promises delivered through His prophets. Everything the prophet Jeremiah warned about came true, including the consequences for disobedience outlined in Deuteronomy 28. Judah turned away from Father-God, and the people experienced the consequences of their actions. But Father-God also promised restoration to His people and preserved a remnant during their exile in Babylon.

When I read these verses, I can see the Lord's plan at work. Father-God gave His people promises and warned them what would happen if they turned away from Him and disobeyed His laws. But the Lord also promised that He would remain faithful to His covenant and restore His people. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I have been brought into the family of faith and can trust in the same unchanging character of Father-God: He is faithful to His promises, merciful toward those who repent, and offers restoration to those who turn back to Him.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One through whom we receive the blessings of salvation, forgiveness, and restoration—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.

Day 234 Bible Readings - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (NLT)

2 Chronicles 32-34, Psalm 79

2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (NLT)

“But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!”

In 2 Chronicles 33:12–13, Manasseh learned about the power of the Lord, the God of his ancestors. Manasseh was one of Judah's worst kings. He worshiped idols, sacrificed his children, practiced sorcery and witchcraft, and led the kingdom away from Father-God. But after Manasseh was taken captive by the Assyrians, he prayed to the Lord and humbled himself. Father-God heard the king's prayer and restored him to Jerusalem. Manasseh repented and experienced for himself the Lord's power and mercy. Afterwards, Manasseh destroyed the idols and promoted the worship of the God of Israel.

These verses show believers that no matter how far they have strayed from the Lord and His commandments, Father-God is ready to hear the prayers of those who sincerely seek Him and repent. Manasseh humbled himself and repented of his sinful behavior. Manasseh had rejected the God of his father Hezekiah, but he prayed to the Lord when he was taken captive. The Lord did not reject Manasseh but showed mercy to the king by restoring him to Jerusalem.

These verses remind me that no one is beyond Father-God's mercy when they genuinely humble themselves, repent, and return to Him. Manasseh had spent years rebelling against the Lord, yet Father-God still heard his prayer. His story teaches me that my past does not prevent me from turning back to God, but genuine repentance should also lead to a change in the direction of my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who is merciful to those who cry out to Him with a repentant heart—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.

Day 233 Bible Readings - 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (NLT)

2 Chronicles 28-31, Psalm 78

2 Chronicles 31:20-21 (NLT)

“In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.”

In 2 Chronicles 31:20–21, we read a summary of the reign of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah saw the end of the northern kingdom of Israel when it was conquered by the Assyrian armies, so he saw what could happen when the people rejected the Lord and His Word. Hezekiah instituted several reforms in the kingdom after the disastrous reign of his father, King Ahaz. He removed idols and their places of worship, restored the Temple service, and called the kingdom of Judah back to the worship commanded by Father-God. Hezekiah acted to please the Lord rather than seek the approval of the people or preserve traditions that were not in keeping with the Law of Moses. He faithfully sought Father-God and carried out the work before him wholeheartedly.

These verses remind believers that renewal of faith is possible when we seek the Lord with our whole heart and take the actions needed for spiritual renewal. Hezekiah did not continue the behavior of his father Ahaz. Instead, he opened the Temple, restored worship and the priesthood, invited the people to celebrate Passover, and made provisions for the continued care of the Temple. Hezekiah's story shows us that the Lord is merciful and responds to those who sincerely seek Him and take action to renew their faith. Hezekiah sought Father-God wholeheartedly, and the Chronicler tells us that he prospered.

These verses remind me that serving Father-God requires more than good intentions. When He gives me work to do, I need to seek Him and carry out that work wholeheartedly. My faith should be reflected not only in what I believe but also in the effort and care I put into what the Lord has entrusted to me.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who welcomes those who sincerely seek Him and desire spiritual renewal—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.