Day 353 Bible Readings for December 20 – Proverbs 27:20 (ESV)

Ezra 4-5, Revelation 11, Proverbs 27: 15-22

Proverbs 27:20 (ESV)
“Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.”

In Proverbs 27:20, Solomon reminds believers about the nature of true contentment. In biblical literature, Sheol is often understood as the realm of the dead—not hell, but a place of waiting. Abaddon, which is translated as “destruction,” is associated with death and the grave. Together, Sheol and Abaddon symbolize an unending cycle of loss and decay that is never satisfied. Solomon compares this restless nature to the human heart, which is continually seeking more and rarely content. True satisfaction, he teaches, cannot be found in endless desire but only in a relationship with the Lord. Believers are called to find contentment in Christ rather than in the temporary pleasures of the world.

True contentment is something I often struggle with in my own life. I know that the pursuit of material wealth and possessions has led me into a never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction in the past, yet that knowledge alone has not always stopped my desires for more. To combat this discontentment, I am learning to cultivate a desire for what Father-God wants rather than what I want. I am also choosing to grow in generosity and gratitude. Instead of striving for temporary pleasures, I want to be dissatisfied only with how generously I give to the poor and how faithfully I please the Lord. I know my true satisfaction comes from obedience to Father-God and living in a way that honors Him.

If this verse resonates with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives true satisfaction—this could be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in the following prayer and express your trust in Him. Share your desire to walk with Him and welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you wherever 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. Right now, 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 352 Bible Readings - Ezra 3:12-13 (ESV)

Ezra 3, Revelation 9:13-21, Revelation 10, Proverbs 27:5-14

Ezra 3:12-13 (ESV)

“But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.”

In Ezra 3:12–13, the Old Testament scribe Ezra describes the varied reactions of the Israelites as they laid the foundation of the new temple. The older priests, Levites, and heads of families wept as they remembered Solomon’s temple. At the same time, the younger generation shouted with joy, having no memory of the first temple and feeling filled with hope and renewal. Ezra presents these mixed emotions as natural, because restoration often brings both grief and joy.

These verses remind us that any significant change in a believer’s life can stir mixed emotions. Earlier this year, changing churches filled me with many of those same feelings. I felt sadness leaving my old church because of the friendships I had formed and the memories I cherished there. At the same time, I felt joy knowing I had found a church that would help deepen my faith and strengthen my relationship with the Lord and the Holy Spirit. Like the Israelites returning from the Babylonian exile, I was laying a new foundation in my life.

The church I previously attended was quite large and offered many programs. My new church, though smaller, continues to grow each week and feels much like an early church from the book of Acts—alive with faith and marked by regular testimonies of God’s work. Ezra reminds believers that even amid change, Father-God’s faithfulness remains constant. In both past and future, God is with us. We are called to trust in His promises, because they bring hope and encouragement through every season of change.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who walks with us through every change in life—this could be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him through the following prayer and express your trust in Him. Share your desire to walk with Him and welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you wherever 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. Right now, 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 351 Bible Readings - Proverbs 26:24-26 (ESV)

Ezra 1-2, Revelation 8, Revelation 9:1-12, Proverbs 26:23-28, Proverbs 27:1-4

Proverbs 26:24-26 (ESV)

“Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”

In Proverbs 26:24–26, Solomon warns believers about people who harbor hidden hatred. He explains that those who hate others rarely want their true feelings to be known, so they disguise their intentions through their words. Such people deceive with charm, gracious behavior, and flattering speech. Solomon reassures believers that, no matter how carefully hidden, hatred will eventually be exposed and brought to light.

Before I developed a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, I was sometimes deceived by people’s charm. I assumed they genuinely liked me, only to discover later that they had ulterior motives. A woman at work once made friendly overtures toward me, but I later realized she was interested in befriending me only because I worked directly for the vice president of our group. I also once dated a man who claimed we shared the same faith. After avoiding church for a month, he eventually admitted that he had pretended to share my beliefs simply so I would go out with him.

Now, I seek Father-God’s wisdom in my relationships and ask the Holy Spirit for discernment, so I can see beyond outward appearances and flattering words. I also trust God the Father to reveal what is hidden and to judge the intentions of people’s hearts in His time.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives discernment and reveals truth—this could be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him through the following prayer and express your trust in Him. Share your desire to walk with Him and welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you wherever 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. Right now, 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 350 Bible Readings - Malachi 3:1 (ESV)

Malachi 3-4, Revelation 7 Proverbs 26:13-22

Malachi 3:1 (ESV)

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

In Malachi 3:1, the Lord tells the prophet Malachi that He will send two messengers. Biblical scholars identify John the Baptist as the first messenger, the one who prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of Jesus Christ. Christ is the second messenger—the One who comes to the temple and establishes the new covenant, inviting humanity into a personal relationship with God the Father.

These verses from Malachi give believers confidence to trust in the Lord’s plans and the reliability of His promises. They remind us that Father-God has authority and power over all creation and that His purposes unfold exactly as He intends. I love these prophecies concerning the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ because they assure me that the Lord has a plan for all His children. They remind me that I can trust God the Father with my own life as well. At times, I may feel insignificant or wonder whether my life truly matters in God’s plan for the world—but Father-God does not see me that way. The Lord loves me, created me uniquely, and has given me a role to play in His purposes for the world.

If this verse resonates with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who has a plan for your life—this could be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him through the following prayer and express your trust in Him. Share your desire to walk with Him and welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you wherever 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. Right now, 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.