I am so excited that you signed up to receive our daily devotionals for our 30-day challenge. During these next days, we will be studying the book of John together. In each devotional, our number one goal is to spend time in the word, praying, and opening our hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Each devotional should take no longer than 10-15 minutes. Here are some helpful tips to best utilize this time.
- Choose an ordinary place to become a sacred-ordinary holy ground. This could be your favorite chair, the back porch steps, or a coffee shop.
- Set aside anything that could distract you for the next 10-15 minutes. If you are using your phone or laptop for these devotionals put it on due not disturb. If you are using a printout, set aside your phone or smartwatch. This time is intentionally meant to be with The King.
- I suggest picking up a journal so that you can jot down some ideas that stick out to you from your time with Jesus. As you continue to meditate on it throughout your day, write it down.
- Pick a consistent time. For you it may be the final moments in your day, early in the morning before anyone wakes up, or your daily office lunch break. When doesn’t matter as much as being consistent.
I pray that during this time of meditation, reflection, and prayer God will reveal himself to us so we can draw near to him. Shall we begin?
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August 4 John 1:1-18
- Let’s Begin with Prayer. Pick a posture whether kneeling, sitting, or sitting up straight with the palms of your hands facing upward.
- Spend time for the next 5 minutes (or more) praying to Him about your day, the challenges you may be facing, and the things you are grateful. If you are at a loss for words, recite some portions of scripture and offer them up as prayers. Here are some of my personal favorites: Ps 22, Ps 23, Ps 121, John 10, and Ps 1. Be intentional to dwell on each line that you read and offer it up as a prayer to God.
- Read John 1:1-18 Write some of your thoughts down. Here are some questions to consider to help navigate your time studying scripture.
- Where did I feel resistance? Where did I feel delighted? What portion of scripture did I experience God’s nearness?
Some Thoughts I Like To Share,
John is taking us back to the beginning. Back to where it all started. It is almost as if He is rewriting the book of Genesis all over again. Except with a central focus on the Word. He is filtering everything through the Word. Notice how through The Word things come into being, through Him a light that can fight against the darkness is given. John is trying desperately to help our minds adjust the way we see how our story begins. Our story didn’t begin when we were brought into existence, our story is grafted into another. The Word. In other words, we will find our purpose, meaning, and path if we look at our lives through the lens of The Word.
This all powerful being, who through Him everything is made, becomes human to close the distances with those His soul longs for. Yet, knowing full-well He would be rejected by many, He still comes to offer just an opportunity for those who would believe in him and accept him. Welcoming them to be Children of God. This is The Word we serve, this is Our King.
