Upper Room Devotional

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“One kilometer to go,” shouted the timekeeper as I crossed the mark in a 5-kilometer run. I was tiring, but I kept my eyes on the finish line and my mind focused on winning the prize. I was running for the reward that comes with being first to cross the finish line. I had trained months for this day.

Early on, others passed by me, but I had kept to my own pace. Thoughts of quitting entered my mind as I tackled the hills. The last hundred yards were the hardest. My breathing was heavy and my legs ached. But the cheers of people along the roadside spurred me on. I finished strong and won first prize.

Paul likens the Christian life to a race. We are to run the course set before us with purpose and perseverance. In order to run with vigor, we must practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, and Bible study. We will all give account to Christ and be rewarded for how we have lived. When I stand before Christ, I want to receive his commendation and receive the rewards for a life of faith and obedience.


Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to run with vigor the course of life so that we honor you and receive our eternal reward. Amen.

Upper Room Devotional

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Just after my first year of high school, I desperately needed a change. I had been going to a private school my entire life and living in the bubble that comes with that. I wanted to escape the familiar and experience something new. I was terrified to go to a public school because it was such an unfamiliar place, and I did not know anyone. But I felt God was urging me to make a substantial change, and so I decided to change schools. I poured all my stress and anxiety into my prayers and trusted God to help me.

Having now finished high school, I could not be more thankful that God gave me the courage to make that change. Even though I was nervous at first, eventually I found peace in my choice. I learned so much in those three years about respecting others with different beliefs and life experiences. My eyes were opened to so many different walks of life, which made me grow stronger in my faith and realize how God works in mysterious ways.
No matter how big or small the change may be, God has our best interests at heart. Following God's call-even when it requires a big change- can be a wonderful blessing.

Prayer: Dear Lord, remind us to put our trust in you. Give us courage to embrace new experiences and to follow your loving guidance. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 17:22, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 4:6, James 1:2-4


For some believers in Jesus, spreading joy as a way to share our faith in Jesus will be the easiest thing we ever do. Some of us are just naturally nice and friendly. People might rarely have anything negative to say about us, and tell us they feel better just being in our presence. Let’s use this to our advantage and influence them for Jesus by spreading joy! So, how do we do this?

First, we consider what we say. When our words are sprinkled with kindness and gentleness, we draw people to ourselves instead of repelling them. Speaking with grace and kindness is a universal language that everyone understands.
 
Second, we can do something nice for someone. Maybe our coworker is always negative. It may feel unnatural to do something nice for him or her, but this is the best time to do it. The fastest way to break down a hard heart is by dousing it with a kind act.

Third, we choose to do the kind things that bring a smile to someone’s face—a compliment instead of a complaint, a hand-written note of encouragement, or their favorite drink.
When we do things like these, we’re telling them that we see them and that they have a friend in us.

People who are joy spreaders are others-focused and look for ways to serve and love the people around them. While it comes more naturally for some, we’re all called to exhibit joy and make a difference in someone’s life. Understand that as we do this, we’ll be asked a variety of questions:

Why are you so happy?
Why do you say nice things to me?
Why don’t you have bad days?
Why do you always have a smile on your face?
Why are you nice to everyone?

We have a great opportunity to evangelize those around us simply by telling them why we have this unexplainable joy. This is our time to say, “The reason I’m this way is because I know Jesus, and He guides my life. Things don’t always go my way, and sometimes, life is extremely hard. But, He’s with me, all the time, in every season, and during difficult storms. And He died for you and wants to know you.”

Whether you share your faith through your story, extending an invitation, appealing to someone’s intellect, or spreading joy, whatever is your best evangelistic tool, use it! All we have to do is our part. God didn’t ask us to save someone. That’s His job. We are simply the tools He uses while His Holy Spirit is transforming someone’s heart.

Appeal to Intellect

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-19, James 1:5, 1 Peter 3:15

One of the more difficult aspects of sharing our faith is when we know someone who won’t believe in God because they can’t see Him. In fact, many highly intelligent people struggle with putting their faith in something they can’t see. They’d rather trust in their own intellect and things they can actually place their confidence in.
 
If you’ve read any part of the New Testament, then it’s likely you’ve read something that was written by the Apostle Paul. He was well-educated, highly intelligent, and even once persecuted people who believed in Jesus. The Bible doesn’t say this for certain, but with all of the credentials attributed to Paul, it’s likely that he was a know-it-all, arrogant Jew. But on one unlikely day as Paul was still threatening Christians with their lives, he was transformed.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6 NIV

Paul went from oppressing and harassing Christians to encouraging and teaching them. For years he’d heard the truth about Jesus, but chose to reject Him because this didn’t line up with everything he’d learned in his life. But on this day, no amount of intellect could explain away his experience with Jesus on that dusty road.

This method of evangelism, where we appeal to someone’s intellect, won’t be for everyone, but it will be attractive to some. Maybe we just don’t feel we know enough to journey down this intellectual path. Even if that’s the case, there could still be a time when God places someone in our path who has an abundance of questions, and plenty of them are ones you don’t seem to have the answers to.
 
Let’s spend some time learning new things about our amazing God, so that we’ll be prepared with answers to the questions that may be asked of us. We can also read books and learn about men and women who came to know Christ through a more intellectual way. Some people we come across won’t believe in anything until they understand it completely. And while we can’t change their hearts, we can be ready to share what we know and trust God to do the rest.

We won’t know everything, but we can ask God for wisdom that He’s ready to give us. As we learn new things, God may use us to bring grace-filled truth to someone at a time when we least expect it.

A very popular way that people share their faith with others is through extending invitations. Sometimes we don’t know what to say to people about our faith, so inviting them to our church to hear the good news of Jesus is often a great start. In fact, most people will attend church at Christmas or Easter because of traditions. Always be on the lookout for how you can introduce someone to Jesus through an invitation.

There is a noteworthy story found in John 4 where we see this act of inviting people displayed. Jesus and His disciples had just spent time in Judea baptizing people. On His way back to Galilee, He stopped at a nearby well to rest and get water. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and that’s when Jesus asked her for a drink. It was uncommon for a Jew to associate with a Samaritan, so the woman was clearly shocked that He asked her for help.
 
They began a conversation where Jesus was referring to one thing, and she was thinking it was something else. She eventually asked Jesus to give her this “living water,” but His response was unexpected—“Go and get your husband.” (John 4:16 NLT) When she told Him she didn’t have a husband, Jesus proceeded to tell about her past with men, which included five previous husbands and a current live-in boyfriend.

After more discussion, Jesus tells this woman that He is the Messiah in John 4:26. She left her jar, ran back to town, and started telling people about this man who knew everything about her. The people followed her back to where He was. And this is where her invitation does a miraculous work!

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” John 4:39 NLT

Can you just imagine the scene? What started as a story of a man asking a woman for water ended up turning into an evangelistic event! Because this woman invited people to meet Jesus, many lives were changed. She didn’t have to know all of the right things to say or do, she simply had to say, “Come and see!” And they did.

We can all find something to invite someone to where they can hear about the Jesus we believe in and live for. You could invite them to church, or a Christian concert or conference. Or you could also invite them to a Bible study or choose a Christian book to study with them. You could introduce them to the YouVersion App, and then begin a Bible Plan together.
 
There are numerous ways to invite someone to hear the truth and grace about Jesus Christ. Think about the ways you could begin to implement this into your strategy for sharing your faith. 

Share Your Story

One of the most compelling ways to share our faith in Jesus is by sharing our testimony, or story. The word testimony simply means that we’re sharing something that we experienced firsthand. We’re giving evidence of an event that occurred in our lives. Sharing our story is so powerful, because it’s not debatable. Not only that, but there is a strong chance they’ll be able to see the transformation that has occurred within you.

In John 9, the chapter opens with Jesus and His disciples coming across a blind man. The disciples wanted to know if this man had sinned to cause his blindness or not. Jesus assured them that the reason he was blind was “so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3 NIV) Eventually, Jesus healed the blind man in a bizarre way when He spit on the ground, made mud, and then rubbed it over the blind man’s eyes. After the blind man washed his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, he could see.

This man was born blind, and everybody knew it. You can imagine the questions asked and the awe-inspired looks he got when he started interacting with the people around him. It was such a big ordeal that the now-seeing blind man was brought to the Pharisees. At first, they were upset that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Eventually, they began to ask more questions and even doubted that the man was ever blind! One visit with the man’s parents proved their doubts wrong.

Most of us might have been flustered by all of the questions from the Pharisees, especially when they wanted him to “give glory to God by telling the truth.” (John 9:24 NIV) You can almost hear the frustration in the man’s voice when he finally responded:

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:25 NLT

So, what’s your story? What has God done in your heart? How has He changed your life? There are so many people who need to hear what He’s done in you. And there’s no one better to tell of God’s work in your life than you. Firsthand stories change lives!

Spend some time thinking about how God has worked in your life. Maybe it’s something profound with one of your children, or how God healed you from a disease. It could be that your view on life has drastically changed, and you know that’s only because of the life-changing power of Jesus. Whatever way God has given you a story to tell, tell it!

Why should I share my faith?

When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, it means that we’re saying yes to His ways and His plans for our lives. Part of that is sharing the life-changing power of Jesus with those around us. This is called evangelism.
 
Evangelism is defined as a zealous advocacy for a cause. In Christianity, this “zealous advocacy” is spread when we share the good news of Jesus Christ—how He came to earth to save us by dying for our sins and then being raised back to life so that we could spend eternity with Him. This is the good news of Jesus.

So, why is this important for us as followers of Jesus? For one, Jesus said to do it in the last words He spoke to His disciples at the end of Matthew 28. He told them to “go and make disciples of all nations…” And they did, and so should we! Secondly, anytime we have good news to share that could benefit someone’s life, we share it, don’t we? Knowing Jesus is not only good news, it’s the best news! We have the cure for the human condition, so let’s be a sharer of God’s love to the people in our lives.

Before we share the good news, or gospel, of Jesus, it’s important that we know it. Here’s the truth about what God has done for us:

God created us for a relationship with Him. (Genesis 1:26) But, we sinned and because of that, we deserve punishment. (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23) Thankfully, God made a way for us to know Him by sending His only Son, Jesus, to save the world by dying on a cross and rising from the grave. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9) And once we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, we receive eternal life. (Romans 10:9-10)
 
Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? We messed up, but then a loving, perfect Heavenly Father sent His only Son to save us from ourselves. It’s profound, but very simple. And it’s extremely good news!

Read: Acts 4:13-31, Mark 16:14-20

Hopefully, over the past few days, you have felt a Holy nudge to truly live out the book of Acts as a kingdom ambassador for Christ. The book of Acts is our roadmap for how we, as disciples of Jesus, are to conduct ourselves. This call to action is not just for pastors and church leaders, but for all of us. The more believers embrace living out the book of Acts, the more we will see God's kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

The enemy isn't intimidated by a believer who only knows the Word; he's terrified of one who lives it. To live out Acts, we must have the audacity to believe in God through any of the enemy's tactics. Knowing that as we care for one another, trust the Holy Spirit, and surrender to the Holy Spirit as people sent by God, we are fulfilling our kingdom mandate.

By embracing these foundational principles, we will see a world ablaze for the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. I leave you the charge and prayer for boldness that Peter and John prayed when they were imprisoned. That as you speak with boldness, miracles, signs, and wonders begin to take place in the name of Jesus.

By His authority, we have the power to bring healing, restoration, salvation, and hope to a people in desperate need of the love of Jesus. Go out and make a difference, proclaiming the name of Jesus in all the earth.

Prayer: Lord, help me take the steps necessary to live out the book of Acts today. As Peter and John prayed, grant me the boldness to speak your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen.

Read: Acts 9:1-22, Philippians 1:21, Romans 12:1

There are two S’s that speak to living out Acts that I want to call to your attention. The first one is similar to trusting the Holy Spirit, but I believe it speaks to a deeper level of trust, which would be surrender. This surrender is not a solitary act, but a process guided and supported by the Holy Spirit. One of the most prominent examples of this comes from the Damascus road experience of Apostle Paul.

Paul, known as Saul before his conversion, was a notorious Jew known for persecuting Christians. But in Acts 9, he would have an encounter with Jesus that would change his life forever. In this encounter, Jesus would tell Saul that it “is hard to kick against the prick or goad."

This phrase, often used in agricultural contexts, means it’s hard not to surrender to the Lord when He has called you. In this interaction, Paul would respond, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” And at the command of Jesus, Paul did exactly what He said from that day forward, writing about half of the New Testament and leading churches worldwide.
To truly live out Acts, we must be willing to surrender everything to the Lord. For Paul, it was his traditional way of thinking, his knowledge, and eventually his life. Yet, in this surrender, he found true freedom. He was so committed that he wrote, 'To live is Christ and to die is gain' (Philippians 1:21) and 'to present our bodies as living sacrifices' (Romans 12:1).

I urge you to surrender whatever may be holding you back from truly living out the Acts, whether it’s fear, lack, comparison, money, or even an ideal way of life that you had planned without consulting God. In this surrender, you will find true liberation and peace.
It is through Paul’s surrender that we understand fully what it means to be sent. When you look at the word Apostle (Apostolos in the Greek), it simply means a sent one. When Paul surrendered to the Lord, he embraced the sent nature of the Great Commission and helped spread the Gospel to new territories.

In the same way Paul was sent, we, as New Testament believers, are being sent out into our jobs, schools, neighborhoods, and so on, to proclaim the goodness of God. But to embrace being sent, you have to surrender the insecurities, people pleasing, and anything else that may hinder you from sharing the Gospel of Jesus with all you come in contact with. It is on us to share the good news to the ends of the earth beyond the comfort of the church!

Reflection Questions:

Where do you feel God asking you to surrender control right now?

What’s one step you can take this week to live like someone who has been sent by God?

Read: Acts 5: 1-11, Acts 10: 1-48, Acts 11: 1-18

Depending on the translation of the bible you read, the book of Acts may be referred to as the Acts of the Apostles. While this title is true, as we see what the apostles did through the book of Acts, I would encourage you to view it in addition to Acts of the Apostles as Acts of the Holy Spirit. For it is by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles acted.

Now that I have shared that I believe it is important for us today just as it was for the Apostles then to trust the workings of the Holy Spirit. Acts 5 gives us an example of what not trusting (by way of lying) can do in the example of Ananias and Sapphira. Their lack of trust led to dire consequences. This should reassure you of the importance of trust in the Holy Spirit and give you confidence in His guidance.

However, let’s focus on another instance that I believe speaks to trusting God. In Acts 10 and 11 we see Peter preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. In short, the Gentiles were not seen as the chosen people like the Jews were and so this was a big deal and counter cultural for a Jew to do such a thing. But the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter that God shows no partiality by way of a vision God gave Him and by seeing the Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:34). In Acts 11, Peter would have to defend this revelation sharing with the Jews, leading them to be accepting of Gentiles who believed in Jesus, the risen savior.

This took Peter trusting the work of the Holy Spirit to stand for something that was counter cultural but from the Lord. In the same way, we have to trust the Holy Spirit when He shows us something or tells us things that may be contrary to societal norms. As New Testament believers, we have to take the promptings of the Holy Spirit seriously. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you to be bold and share your faith with those who don’t believe like you. Trust Him to lead you to pray for the stranger in need of a touch from God. Trust God to give sacrifically because you know that God will supply your needs.

Reflection Questions:

When was the last time you sensed the Holy Spirit prompting you to do something—and did you follow through?

What might trusting the Holy Spirit look like for you this week—in your words, decisions, or relationships?

Read: Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-35, Mark 12:28-31

The next way that we can live out Acts is to care for one another. Acts 2:42-44 tells us that the people were together daily and had all things in common. I know that even that sounds like a lot for us in our culture today, but you are typically only around people daily whom you genuinely care about. How do I know that they cared for one another? Verse 45 tells us that they sold all their possessions, goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35 also tells us that, because of this heart posture, none of them lacked anything.

Think about that for a second. The Christians, believers, church, disciples, etc, sold all their belongings to divide among themselves so that everyone was taken care of. This illustrates the level of care that we, as the people of God, should have for one another. We should love one another sacrificially, sharing our belongings and homes with those in need, so that none of our brothers and sisters are lacking.

Just in case you needed another example, in Acts 6, the reason the apostles selected deacons was that a complaint arose that the widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of resources. None of this is brought up if the people did not care for one another enough to speak up for those on the margins of society. Remember that contextually, women were dependent upon their husbands at this time. The fact that someone spoke up and the leaders addressed the needs speaks to the intentionality of caring for one another.

In this day and age, we must care for one another, not just to emulate the example set in the book of Acts, but because it is what Jesus commanded us to do. He said to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). The book of Acts is not just about the power received by the Holy Spirit, but also the care and compassion we receive from being led by the Holy Spirit. Let us take the time to bear one another's burdens, open our homes, and care for the needs of those around us. Doing these things reflects the nature of Christ and helps us live out the Book of Acts wholeheartedly.

Reflection Questions:

What do Acts 2:45 and Acts 6:1 reveal about how the early church viewed people in need?

What are some needs (physical, emotional, or spiritual) that you see around you in your community, school, or church?

What’s one small, practical way you can meet a need this week?

If someone watched your life this week, what would they see that shows you care for the needs of others?

Read: Acts 2:5-38, Acts 3:1-13

Now that we have established that the Great Commission was not just for the Apostles but for us all, let’s walk through how we can live out Acts today. To do this, each day will be dedicated to a letter in the word ACTS. So we begin with the letter A, which we will use the word Audacity.

As believers, we are called to emulate the courage of the apostles. They had the audacity to believe in the power of God and share Him with others. When the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with new tongues, the people marveled and called them drunk. But Peter, with unwavering courage, proclaimed that this was the work of God and preached with power, calling those who were there into repentance. Their courage should inspire us to boldly share our faith.

Peter also had the audacity to believe in the power of God and to share it with others in Acts Chapter 3, when he healed a lame man. The man expected Peter to give him money, but Peter gave Him a better gift when he said, “Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” This moment would lead the lame man and Peter to give God all the glory, helping others come to know that the power of God in the name of Jesus is the real deal.

Now, imagine the profound impact we, as believers, can have if we follow the apostles' example. What if the person who is on the street begging for money or resources had an encounter with the audacious believer reading this devotional that changed their life forever? Do you believe in God enough to pray for the person? To share with the young troubled teenager how God saved your life? Your faith and courage can have a life-changing impact on others.

These questions are not just to encourage you, but to motivate you to take the next step in your walk with God. We are called to be audacious in sharing the love of Jesus with everyone we come in contact with. As believers in Christ, we cannot be fearful but must be audacious in sharing the love of Jesus. The Lord is sending you to be His ambassador on the earth. So whether you’re in the grocery store, at your school, or at your job, be audacious in sharing the love of Jesus.


Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt God leading you to do something bold for Him?

What held you back or pushed you forward?

Why do you think it’s important for believers today to have the same kind of audacity Peter had?

What might that look like in your school, community, or ministry?

Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee.”

What do you already have that God can use to bless or impact someone else?

Read: John 14:25-26, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:1-4 & 38-47

Before we go any further, it is essential to level-set on why we need to live out Acts and why you can do so. First, let's go back to what Jesus told His disciples in the Gospels. In John 14:26, Jesus informs his disciples about the helper God the Father will leave with them, which is the Holy Spirit who leads them and guides them into all truth and brings back to their remembrance the things in which He (Jesus) told them.

In Acts chapter 1, Jesus would again share with the disciples the promise of the Holy Spirit by telling them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and they would be His witnesses in all the earth (Acts 1:8). In Acts chapter 2, that promise is fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. From that moment forward, the disciples… now Apostles would proclaim the Good News of Jesus like never before, marking the birth of the New Testament church. They would go on to heal the sick, cast out demons, baptize people, and help people come into the knowledge of Jesus.

So why should we continue to live out Acts? Because that is what Jesus' disciples did. The mandate to live life boldly for Jesus has not stopped, and we, too, are called to live boldly in the authority that Jesus has given us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is not just a suggestion, but a call to action, a call to live boldly for Christ.

The Great Commission was initiated when the disciples received the charge, and they set the example for what we are to do as believers. Understand that this charge is not just for those who hold the titles Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Bishop, or any other church title, but for all believers. It is up to us to continue to live boldly for Christ, learning from the example of Jesus and what His chosen Apostles did with the charge He gave them.

Reflection Questions:

The book of Acts shows believers who acted on their faith immediately.

What’s one small “act” you could do this week to live out what you believe?

How did the apostles’ actions impact the people around them?

What kind of ripple effect happens when believers live out their faith?

Read: James 1:22-25, Matthew 28:18-20

One of the most essential verses for believers in the Bible is not just to be hearers of the word but doers (James 1:22). As simple as that God-breathed verse is, if we are not careful, we will find ourselves doing the opposite of what it implores. What does this look like?

Attending church week after week and never changing. Going to every Christian event held in your city or region, but never being inspired to move or act as the hands and feet of Jesus yourself. Listening to your favorite preacher, Christian podcast, etc, but never awakening to the fact that you have been given the same access and authority to share the gospel. Ultimately, we become mere consumers of Christian media.

Now, understand that we have been saved by grace, and not by works, meaning that it isn’t about doing to be saved. But as a person who has received salvation through Christ Jesus, it should awaken you to doing for the Lord. This could mean volunteering at a local shelter, sharing the gospel with a friend, or participating in a mission trip.

This brings us to the beautiful book of Acts, which outlines what Holy Spirit-filled believers did by understanding the command God gave them through the Great Commission and the purpose of this bible plan. The book of Acts recounts the events immediately after Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension, and serves as a blueprint for New Testament believers and the church today. Over the next few days, we will explore what it means to live out the Acts and how you can do so today.


Reflection Questions:

In what ways can I move from being only a hearer to a doer of the word?

What would change in your community, school, or church if more people lived out their faith daily?
 

Read: Mark 14: 32-42

Jesus observed the Passover meal with His disciples. That evening, He predicted His death, a betrayal by one of His disciples, disowning by another, and abandonment by all (Mark 14:18, 24, 27, 30). What grief and sorrow awaited Him!

He and His disciples sang a hymn, walked toward the Mount of Olives, and then to the Garden of Gethsemane. Can you imagine how that walk must have felt to those who had walked beside Him, through thick and thin, for three long years? They plodded along—pained, perplexed, perturbed. When they reached their destination, Jesus asked them to sit nearby while He prayed. But He asked Peter, James and John to come with Him.

Privately, Jesus told His inner circle that He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:33–34). He again asked for prayer. Then He went a little farther down the path. He went alone. He fell to the ground, asking God the Father to take the cup of death away from Him. But, the Scriptures affirmed that this was not possible; they predicted that God’s Servant would be despised, rejected, stricken, afflicted, and pierced (Isaiah 53:3–5). Knowing all of this, Jesus sought to do the Father’s will.
 
Boris Pasternak, a Russian poet who won the Nobel Prize for his novel, Doctor Zhivago, wrote that in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus “renounced / Omnipotence and miracles / As if they had been borrowed things, / And now He was a mortal among mortals.”  
Jesus returned to find His closest friends asleep during His hour of need. This happened not just once, but three times! How weak, how mortal they proved themselves to be. Yet, it was for their sake, and ours, that Jesus chose the cross.

The path through the garden of Gethsemane is an intimate look at the prayer life of the eternal Son of God. Jesus’ willingness to serve showed the depth of His love for the Father, and the depth of love God has for us. Jesus went to the cross so that our sins might be forgiven. He showed us what it looks like to trust and obey God completely, without reservation.

 
Lord, when I face challenges, help me pray like You did: “Abba, Father. . . . Not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36).

Read: Philippians 2:8

The Lenten journey leads us down a road lined with palm branches and up a hill called Golgotha. Along the way, we witness the depth of Christ’s humility and the cost of our redemption. The cross is not merely a symbol of suffering—it is the place where love chose to bear the weight of our sin.

As we walk this road, we bow low in repentance, but we also lift our eyes in gratitude. Christ’s obedience, even unto death, opens the way to life. Lent prepares us to stand at the foot of the cross with reverence and to rise with hope as Easter draws near.

Reflection Question:  
How does the humility and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross shape the way you walk through this season?

Prayer:  
Lord Jesus, as we walk the road toward Your cross, humble our hearts. Help us grasp the depth of Your love and the cost of our redemption. Lead us through sorrow into hope, and prepare us for the joy of resurrection. Amen.

Read: Isaiah 64:8

Clay is beautiful when it is pliable, but when it dries, it becomes brittle and easily broken. Our hearts can feel the same—rigid from fear, cracked from disappointment, or misshapen by the pressures of life. Yet clay in the hands of a patient potter can be softened again. It can be reshaped. It can be made new.

Lent is the season when we return to the Potter’s wheel. Christ, the Living Water, moistens the hardened places of our souls. He works gently but purposefully, forming us into vessels that reflect His grace. The Potter does not discard the clay—He transforms it.

Reflection Question:  
What part of your life needs to be softened or reshaped by the Potter’s hands?

Prayer:  
O God, our Potter, soften the places in us that have grown rigid or weary. Shape us according to Your will. Restore what has cracked and renew what has been distorted. Make us vessels that reflect Your grace. Amen.

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:22

God’s answer to our brokenness is not to stand far off—it is to enter the dust Himself. Jesus steps into our world with all its frailty and sorrow. He becomes the Second Adam, taking on the full weight of our humanity so that He might lift us from the dust of death into the life of God.

Christ does not simply patch up what was damaged. He restores what was lost. He breathes life where death once reigned. Lent reminds us that Jesus meets us in the very places we feel most undone and brings resurrection where we least expect it.

Reflection Question:  
Where do you sense Christ stepping into your “dust”—your weakness, your need, your longing for renewal?

Prayer:  
Jesus, You entered our dust so that we might share in Your life. Thank You for meeting us in our humanity and restoring what sin has broken. Help us trust Your redeeming work in every part of our lives. Amen.

Read: Genesis 3:19

The story of humanity takes a painful turn when sin enters the world. The dust that once held promise now bears the weight of brokenness. Lent does not hide this truth—it invites us to face it with humility. The ashes placed on our foreheads are not meant to crush us, but to awaken us to our need for God’s mercy.

Sin dries us out. It cracks the places meant to hold life. But even in the words spoken in Eden, God’s grace is already stirring. The One who formed us from dust refuses to leave us in it. Lent is the season when we name what has gone wrong so that God can begin to make it right.

Reflection Question:  
What part of your life feels dried out or cracked and needs God’s healing touch this season?

Prayer:  
Merciful Lord, we confess that sin has marked our lives and distanced us from Your design. Meet us in our honesty. Turn our ashes into hope and lead us toward Your restoring grace. Amen.

Read:  Genesis 2:7

Lent begins by taking us back to the very first touch of God upon creation. Before we ever stumbled, before sin ever scarred the world, God shaped humanity from the earth with deliberate care. Dust became something sacred when God breathed His life into it. This season invites us to remember that our identity is rooted not in our failures or our fears, but in the hands that formed us.

When life feels scattered or fragile, Lent calls us to remember that God has always worked wonders with dust. What He shapes, He cherishes. What He breathes into, He sustains.

Reflection Question:  
Where do you need to remember that your life began in God’s hands and still rests there?

Prayer:  
Creator God, You formed us from the dust and breathed Your life into us. As we begin this season, remind us of our sacred beginning. Restore our sense of belonging and renew our trust in Your care. Amen.

Read:  Luke 4: 1-13

Lord God, by Your Word, fill me with your life-giving Spirit

Pray: God, connect with me here, as I seek you in Your Word.

Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you.

Read: the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of intriguing words and phrases and read them a second time.

Reflect: on what strikes you as you read. Think through what God is communicating to you at this point in your life.

Respond: to the passage. Speak to God directly about what's on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you've uncovered.

Read:  Luke 9:28-29

The Lord chose three disciples to testify of Him because the things of God must be testified and made known (II Corinthians 13:1). Peter, James and John were the privileged three, whom the Lord chose to be close to Him, understand His purposes and testify of Him. Yet, on two occasions when Jesus took them with Him to pray, they slept (Mark 14:32-41/ Luke 9:28-32)!

It appears that these three disciples were unable to fully appreciate and internalise God’s ways initially. However, later they became wonderful testimonies of God. As they learnt to pray with Jesus, they understood and participated in the things of God and be one with Him in His concerns. They were then able to testify of Him.

How is it with us? Do we spend time with God in prayer, participating in His concerns?

It is only when we are transformed through prayer that we can truly testify of Jesus to people and help them experience His salvation (Hebrews 5:7-9).

Time with God will transform us. Stephen was transformed (Acts 6:15). Moses was transformed (Exodus 34:29-30). As we spend time with God, sharing His concerns, we will be transformed. It will be seen. We will not be able to hide the glow. God will be testified through us.

Thought to ponder

Are you longing for a deep intimacy with God or is your prayer time more of an apology?

Read: 
Mark 14:32–42

Read the Passage and Pray: Mark 14:32–42

Reflection:
● What do you learn about God’s nature and character from this passage?
● What do you learn about mankind from this passage?
● How is this passage an example of ultimate surrender?
● What does it look like for you to wake up each day and say, “Father, not my will be done, but your will be done”?
● The victory on the cross was won in the garden the night before. What does that mean for us as we seek to follow Jesus?
● What is your application this week?
● Spend time praying that God would prepare your heart to hear from Him this Saturday at the conference.

Read: 
Mark 10:35–45

Read the Passage and Pray: Mark 10:35–45 

Reflection:
● What do you learn about God’s nature and character from this passage?
● What do you learn about mankind from this passage?
● How is Jesus’ style of leadership countercultural?
● What does servant leadership look like at home, at work, in the church, and in the community?
● How is servant leadership related to our theme of surrender?
● What is your application this week?
● Spend time praying for the speakers at this year’s conference.

Read: 
Mark 4:35–41

Read the Passage Mark 4:35–41 and Pray: 

Reflection:
● What do you learn about God’s nature and character from this passage?
● What do you learn about mankind from this passage?
● Name a time when you felt like the disciples who said in verse 38, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
● What do we learn from this passage about how we deal with the storms in our lives?
● The disciples wanted Jesus to be a piece of cargo in the back of the boat; Jesus wanted to be the Captain of the ship. When do you tend to put Jesus in the back of your boat?
● What is your application this week?
● Spend time praying for those around you who are going through a storm right now.