Day 356 Bible Readings - Ezra 8:21-23 (ESV)

Ezra 8:15-36, Ezra 9:1-15, Revelation 14:1-13, Proverbs 28:18-28

Ezra 8:21-23 (ESV)

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”

In Ezra 8:21–23, the Old Testament scribe Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek the Lord’s direction for a safe journey for himself, his companions, and their possessions. Ezra chose not to ask the king for military protection because he had already testified to Father-God’s power and faithfulness. To request human protection would have contradicted his trust in the Lord. Instead, Ezra and the people humbled themselves through fasting, and God the Father heard their prayers and granted their request.

These verses remind believers of the power of fasting as a way to seek the Lord’s guidance and direction. My church believes in fasting as preparation for significant seasons and decisions. In January, our church will begin a 21-day fast to seek God’s guidance for the new year and to prepare for whatever 2026 may bring. During this fast, participants refrain from eating between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., using mealtimes instead to pray and seek the Lord.

I experienced the impact of fasting firsthand during a 21-day fast my church held from late June to early July. During that time, I asked Father-God to show me His plans for my life. I was prompted to revisit and rewrite a novel I had been editing. Although I finished the manuscript, I struggled to revise it for publication because the story lacked engagement. Through prayer and fasting, I was led to change the novel’s point of view and develop a new outline. While the process is still ongoing, the story has become significantly stronger.

As I continued seeking the Lord’s guidance, the Holy Spirit directed me to explore new AI tools writers are using for developmental editing. Through that exploration, I found ChatGPT, which has greatly strengthened my novel and clarified my direction as a writer. This season of fasting taught me that when we humble ourselves and seek the Lord, He faithfully responds with guidance, clarity, and provision.

Fasting trains the heart to release control, steward desire wisely, and rediscover contentment in trusting Father-God rather than consumption.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who guides us when we fast and seek Him—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 355 Bible Readings - Ezra 7:27-28 (ESV)

Ezra 7:11-28, Ezra 8:1-14, Revelation 13, Proverbs 28:7-17

Ezra 7:27-28 (ESV)

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.”

In Ezra 7:27–28, Ezra reminds believers that Father-God is sovereign over all things. The Lord moved the heart of King Artaxerxes I of Persia, who issued a decree allowing Ezra and other exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. The king also provided the resources needed to rebuild the temple. Ezra acknowledges that this favor came from the Lord and that he drew courage from Father-God’s hand upon him to gather the leaders of Israel.

I love how these verses demonstrate that Father-God can influence the hearts of kings. The Lord often works through unexpected people to accomplish His purposes in the world. Ezra’s testimony reminds believers to be grateful for their leaders and to pray for them, knowing they may play a role in God’s plans. He also teaches us to recognize and give thanks for the favor the Lord shows us. God the Father actively guides and empowers those He calls. Believers must remember that any success they experience comes not from their own strength, but from the Lord’s care and involvement in their lives. When a believer receives the Lord’s favor, they are called to move forward with courage and obedience to whatever Father-God asks of them.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have a Father-God who loves us and remains actively involved—not only in our individual lives, but in the world around us. The Lord’s favor is not given for comfort alone, but to be stewarded with obedience and trust, leading us into deeper contentment in Him.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who lovingly and actively guides our lives—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 354 Bible Readings for December 21 - Proverbs 27:23–24 (ESV)

Ezra 6, Ezra 7:1-10, Revelations 12, Proverbs 27:23-27, Proverbs 28:1-6

Proverbs 27:23–24 (ESV)
“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; nor does a crown endure to all generations.”

In Proverbs 27:23–24, Solomon reminds believers to be faithful stewards—not only because resources are temporary, but because stewardship trains the heart in contentment and trust in the Lord’s provision. Everything in this world is temporary, and a believer can lose it easily. The Lord calls His people to care wisely for what He has given them. Solomon teaches that even generational wealth does not last forever; the only wealth worth preserving is spiritual wealth and reliance on the Lord to provide for all our needs.

During this Christmas season, I have been asking myself whether I am consistently being a good steward of my finances. Am I giving from contentment or expectation? Am I spending too much on gifts? Does my tree really need more ornaments? Do I need a poinsettia in every room—or five versions of fruitcake? I’ve been asking the Holy Spirit to examine not just what I spend, but why—whether my giving flows from contentment or expectation. The Holy Spirit has gently asked me whether, if I spend more money on gifts and do not receive something equal in return, I might become resentful. The Lord gives without expecting anything in return because He loves His children. Am I able to give with the same heart?

Learning to steward my resources well helps me feel that I am pleasing the Lord. It is teaching me how to give as He gives and freeing my heart from the constant pull of needing more. This is the path to true spiritual wealth. True contentment is learned when we trust Father-God to provide and when we steward what He places in our hands.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives true spiritual wealth—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 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.