Day 358 Bible Readings for December 25 - Nehemiah 2:19-20 (ESV)

Nehemiah 1-2, Revelation 16, Proverbs 29:10-18

Nehemiah 2:19-20 (ESV)

“But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

In Nehemiah 2:19–20, Nehemiah shows believers what to expect when undertaking the work of the Lord. After receiving permission from the Persian king Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah immediately faced opposition. Governors of the surrounding territories mocked and ridiculed him, accusing him of rebelling against the king. Nehemiah responded by declaring that his success came from Father-God and affirming that the Jewish people would continue rebuilding the walls.

Nehemiah’s experience teaches believers to expect resistance when they pursue the work of God the Father. Despite opposition and threats, believers are called to remain faithful to their mission and not allow the opinions of the world to deter them. Instead, they must trust in the Lord’s provision and protection. Nehemiah also models how to respond to opposition—with confidence rooted in God’s sovereignty. He demonstrated unwavering faith in Father-God’s ability to bring success to the work he was called to do.

These verses remind me that when the Lord asks me to do something, I must trust that Father-God will help me succeed. One of my personal dreams is to write a novel and see it published. I tried for many years to do this on my own, but it felt overwhelming. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am now confident that I can write and bring to life a novel I love. This confidence comes from deepening my relationship with Father-God and relying on His sovereignty over my efforts.

Perseverance becomes an act of stewardship when we trust Father-God with the outcome, remain content in obedience, and continue the work He has given us despite resistance.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives confidence and strength to pursue what He calls you to do—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 357 Bible Readings - Revelation 14:14-16 (ESV)

Merry Christmas Eve!

Ezra 10, Revelation 14:14-20, Revelation 15, Proverbs 29:1-9

Revelation 14:14-16 (ESV)

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

In Revelation 14:14–16, John describes a vision of the Son of Man—Jesus Christ—seated on a cloud with a sharp sickle in His hand. An angel emerges from the temple and calls for the harvest to begin. Christ then swings His sickle over the earth, symbolizing the completion of God’s judgment.

I love this image of Christ holding ultimate authority over the earth. The presence of the angel reminds us that only the Lord knows the appointed moment for judgment and the fulfillment of His plans. Even Christ Himself taught that the exact timing belongs to the Father alone. When Christ harvests the earth with the sickle, He separates those who belong to Him from those who do not.

These verses remind believers that we will never know when judgment is near. As followers of Christ, we are called to live in readiness for His return. Since only the Lord knows the precise timing of the harvest, believers must remain spiritually prepared at all times. I find these verses comforting because they assure me that I will one day meet Christ face to face. They also serve as a gentle reminder that we do not know when our time on earth will end, and therefore we should live ready to meet Father-God.

True contentment grows when we live ready for Christ’s return, trusting Father-God’s timing rather than clinging to control over our own.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel compelled to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who will one day judge the earth—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 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.