May 12

1 Samuel 12:1-13:23, John 7:1-30, Psalm 108:1-13, Proverbs 15:4 



Pray: How often do you pray for your family or others you know? Samuel says something interesting in our reading today. He says, “I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). As a single person, there are people God has placed in your life who could use your prayers. If you’re married and/or have a family, you need to be praying for them: ask God to bless them, ask God to use them for His purposes, ask God to protect them, ask God to help you lead them well. Samuel considered it a sin against God if he didn’t pray for the people. For whom will you pray today?

Read: Patience: it’s not only a virtue, but it’s often a divine command. We don’t like to wait on things. Yet, in the book of Acts, the people are told to go back to Jerusalem and wait for power from on high (Holy Spirit). Going even further back, Saul was told to wait for Samuel. He looked at his circumstances and decided not to trust the Lord. Thus, one of his first acts as Israel’s King was an act of disobedience. The result? “The Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. but now your kingdom must end…” (1 Samuel 13:13-14). Consider what Saul gave up because he was impatient and he didn’t trust God’s timing. What does this speak to you?

Edify: Political correctness has been identified by both left-wing and right-wing pundits as a huge problem in our society and a force that has actually swayed elections. No one wants to speak the truth for fear of offending another or of hurting feelings. It’s foolishness. It’s also foolish to think that this concept is new, or original to “us.” We find it in John 7:13: “But no one had the courage to speak favorably about [Jesus] in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble…” Even that long ago, people struggled with being politically correct. How about you? Will you also be afraid to speak favorably about Jesus in public? 

Practice: We are obsessed with fame, on a large and even a small scale. We would love worldwide notoriety, but we’ll settle for a post that goes “viral.” Our priorities sure could use some realignment. It’s as if Jesus’ brothers were living in 2026 and completely out of touch with what Jesus was about. I almost laugh when I read it. They actually say to Him, “You can’t become famous if you hide like this!” (John 7:4). Though He is probably the most widely-known historical figure of all time, fame was never His goal. His goal, His aim, His mission, was all about people. In whom can you invest your time and energy mentoring? To whom can you add value? Don’t pursue fame, pursue people. It was good enough for Jesus.

May 11

1 Samuel 10:1-11:15, John 6:43-71, Psalm 107:1-43, Proverbs 15:1-3  

Pray: There’s one in every crowd. You know how it goes, don’t you? Something great happens, and everyone is excited, including you. Then, that one brings down everything and everyone around them. Saul was just anointed and celebrated as king. Remember, it was the people, not God, who wanted a king for Israel. God gave them what they wanted! Yet, as Saul was returning home, we find “some scoundrels who complained.” Even when God gives us exactly what we asked for, there’s always that one. I’ve found that when things are going on in my life and I feel like I’m losing control, I’m unhappy, I’m uncertain, etc., that’s when I’ve become that one. Have you ever been that one? Seek the Lord’s forgiveness when you pray. Ask Him to help you see all the good He is doing and to rebuke the negativity of the enemy.

Read: Score 1 for Simon Peter. Jesus has been teaching in John 6. He has been challenging people. He knows some have just come along because this new movement of God is exciting, but they’re not really sold out to the mission of Jesus. When they hear these challenging teachings of Jesus, “many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him” (v. 66). But when asked if the original 12 would also go away, Simon Peter says, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God” (v. 68-69). Is God challenging you today? Will you turn and go away, or will you make the proclamation of Simon Peter? 

Edify: What defines you? What limits you and your success in life? Saul’s father was not an important person. Jesus’ earthly daddy was a simple carpenter. Their family origins did not limit them, especially when it came to their divine appointment. One person standing and watching Saul prophesy for the first time asks, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” (1 Samuel 10:12). Yes! Anyone can become anything when God is on the scene. Reread those first two questions and maybe consider how God wants to change your original answers…

Practice: “At that time, the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you…You will be changed into a different person…do what must be done, for God is with you” (1 Samuel 10:6-7). Samuel speaks these words to Saul as he is anointed in preparation for his kingship over Israel. If you’re a follower of Jesus, a Christian, I believe the same is being spoken to you. “The Spirit of the Lord has come powerfully upon you. You are a different person than before. Now, do what must be done, and remember I, the Lord, am with you.” You may not be the king of a nation, but the Lord is leading you to do great things in His name and for His Kingdom. What will you do?

May 10

1 Samuel 8:1-9:27, John 6:22-42, Psalm 106:32-48, Proverbs 14:34-35



Pray: “We want to be like [them]” is the refrain of the people of God in 1 Samuel 8:20. It’s easy to get caught up in that kind of thinking. We see posts, tweets, and pics online and think to ourselves, “Must be nice to be them.” Study after study shows that the leading cause of depression and jealousy today is social media. It’s also a rising cause of suicide, especially among teenagers. It seems when we are constantly looking at others’ lives, we are constantly finding fault with our own. As you pray today, ask the Lord to help you be content. Find contentment with your job, your house, your car, your church, your family, etc. When you’re content, you won’t want to be like “them.”

Read: If only this…if only that. The world will tell us things to keep us down: “You’ll never be able to do that…it won’t work.” We even tell ourselves things like, “If that hadn’t happened in my life, then…if I were thinner, prettier, smarter, etc., then…” It’s simple proof of our finite minds. Saul was walking around looking for donkeys when a prophet of the Lord had a conversation with him. You hear the excuses Saul gives. He’s from a tribe that’s unimportant. His family is not prominent. Sounds like something we might say or think of ourselves. Yet, Saul is about to be named King of Israel. I’m grateful for a limitless God who still speaks to people, with quite limited minds, like me.

Edify: Personality worship happens when we begin to ascribe what the Lord is doing to an individual. It happens rather frequently with a pastor, where we worship him/her instead of the God he/she represents (good preacher, great at visitation, etc.). It happens with worship leaders, too (great voice, spirit-filled). Because of their giftedness and ability to lead music, we begin to worship that person rather than the one who put them in the position to begin with: the Lord. The people in Scripture were guilty as well. They attributed God’s provision of bread from Heaven to an individual leader, Moses. Jesus is quick to correct them, telling them it was His Father who gave the people bread. It is easy to drift to personality worship if we’re not careful. Have you ever been guilty of personality worship?

Practice: Why do we make things more difficult than they have to be? We’ve been doing that for centuries. Jesus encountered this in John 6 when the people said, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” (v28). Then, when Jesus tells them the only thing they need to do is to believe, what do they do? Do they celebrate? Do they breathe a sigh of relief? Nope. They demand that Jesus perform a miracle in order for them to believe in Him. The height of arrogance is demanding God do anything for a fallen, rebellious humanity. Yet, that’s what they did. This passage causes me to take a pause and ask myself, “What demands am I placing on God? What does my “this-is-what-a-Christian-looks-like” list contain?” Jesus says, “Believe in the one [the Father] has sent.” Maybe we could stand to simplify things.

May 9

1 Samuel 5:1-7:17, John 6:1-21, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 14:32-33 

Pray: “Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord!” (1 Samuel 5:3). Here we find a false idol/god falling on his face before the Ark of the Lord, the presence of God. We find today that many do not know the Lord. Yet, throughout Scripture, the demons and the false gods recognize the Lord. Perhaps we, as followers of Jesus, as the people of the one true God, should fall on our faces and worship Him more often. Taking this posture reminds us of who God is and who we are in relation to Him. As you pray, consider your posture before the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Read: The disciples, at least in John 6 really seemed to like the word “can’t.” They can’t feed everyone even if they worked for months. The young boy has some, but they can’t feed everyone even with the boy’s fish and bread. Then, Jesus acts. The thousands are fed and leftovers are collected. In the course of the day, how often do you use the word, “can’t?” Sometimes it’s an excuse word: “I can’t do more.” We really mean: “I don’t want to do more.” Sometimes, though, it’s more serious. We sometimes use “can’t” when thinking of our life circumstances: singleness, marriage, finances, health, children, country, world, etc. We think things simply can’t change. God forgive us for being just like those disciples on the hillside looking at the faces of a hungry crowd thinking that they can’t feed them. With Jesus, all things are possible. ALL THINGS! 

Edify: John 6:15 says, “When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.” This happens immediately after the people have witnessed the miraculous feeding of the 5,000+. The people were ready to force Jesus to be who they wanted and to do what they wanted. Have you ever tried to force God into a corner? “God, if you’re real, then you’ll do this for me…God, I know you want this, but….” That’s simply not how God operates. He’s not our employee. He’s not our subordinate. In fact, we ought to think of it as the other way around. We are in submission to God! God should be the one giving directions to us and we should be following Him in absolute obedience. How are you doing with this?

Practice: Three or four miles of rowing seems tough, especially in rough waters. When the disciples left Jesus, that’s what they faced. The waters rough, the distance long, and the night dark. You kinda know the feeling, right? You’ve been rowing for a while, but yet the waters are still rough and the light at the end of the tunnel seems elusive. There’s hope. Just like He met the disciples, He will meet you in the midst of your stormy sea. When they welcomed Him, “immediately they arrived at their destination!” If you want a break from doing all the rowing yourself, if you want calm instead of rough seas, invite Jesus, the Master, into your life’s boat and see where He takes you.

May 8

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalm 106:1-12, Proverbs 14:30-31 



Pray: Today’s readings begin with, “Now Eli was very old, but….” Have you ever felt too old to do something? Maybe it's the opposite and you’ve felt too young to do something. Age really is of very little importance when it comes to Kingdom work. There are countless examples of both very young and very old people doing incredible work for God. What excuses have you been giving the Lord for not serving Him like you should? Pray and ask for His grace and forgiveness. Commit to serving God and others…then watch what God will do in your life.

Read: One of the things I lament in the local church is a lack of praise. It doesn’t matter whether traditional or contemporary (whatever those terms mean). Age is not a factor, either. If I look around during worship when the band (or choir, or organist) is leading a song, participation is minimal. Reading through the Psalms (and much of Scripture), praise is given to God no matter the circumstances. When things were good, the people praised God. When things weren’t going well, they praised God anyhow…because God deserved to be praised! Perhaps it came from a sense of gratitude. Perhaps it was from a sense of awe and reverence for God. How about you? Do you praise God enough? The psalmist asked this: “Who can ever praise Him enough?” Good question!

Edify: If anyone could act on His own and not be questioned, it would be Jesus. He’s the Son of God, the Savior of the World. If anyone could be completely independent, it’s Him. Yet, in John 5:30, He says, “I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me…I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” I’m amazed and convicted by this. We don’t like authority, spiritual or otherwise. We prefer to do our own thing. Yet, here is Jesus submitting Himself to the divine will of God, the Father. If it’s proper for Jesus to submit to spiritual authority, I stand without excuse. 

Practice: Who or what is your Eli? Samuel was lying in bed, minding his own business when he heard his name called out. He ran to Eli, but Eli was not the one calling Samuel. This happened three times! Then, Eli gave instructions to Samuel, because he knew it was God who was calling Samuel. When God speaks to you, where do you run? God says serve, and you run to an already busy schedule? God says tithe, and you run to an already tight budget? God says go into ministry, and you run and promise God, “Not yet, but soon?” We’ve all had our encounters with Eli. Maybe it’s time to have the encounter with the Lord. After all, He is the one who is calling…

May 7

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalms 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29

Pray: Lord, I must thank You for so many things. Last week was filled with many opportunities to see You at work in my life and in the lives of those around me and I pray that I didn’t miss anything. And while You have been so good to me, I am sure that I have, once again, fallen short of what You expect as a devoted follower of Christ. For those things I am sorry and ask for Your forgiveness. Today, I want to thank You for all the churches in our area and especially all the Christ Church campuses and the services we experienced. I thank You for Pastor Charles, Pastor Chip, Pastor Walter, Pastor Mike, Pastor Tyler and Pastor Matthew and their leadership. Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit and the way You speak through Your mouthpieces. Help us be obedient to what You are calling us to believe and take action on.  Amen.

Read: Today we read of the miracle of Samuel’s birth and his mother’s desperate desire to have a child. Be careful what you promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to Hannah’s credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. In the New Testament, we read of the miracle at the pools of Bethesda and Jesus confronting the Jewish leaders about His work on the Sabbath. It is in this conversation that Jesus makes the claim publicly that He is the Son of God much to the dismay of the Jewish leaders. Jesus’ response?… just wait and see.

Edify: I was fortunate enough to travel to the Holy Land with a group from our church. One of our stops was the pools of Bethesda, the place where Jesus healed a lame man. As powerful as the entire trip was, the reality that Jesus had once walked where I was walking and even had healed a man from his infirmities on that very ground wrecked me. We gathered our group and took the chance to pray over one another next to the very pools that Jesus prayed next to. The Jesus connection was strong in those moments. When have you had a strong Jesus connection? You haven’t or haven’t recently, you say?  Today is the day. It’s time to go into your “prayer closet” and ask Christ for an encounter that reminds you of His presence and His power in and over your life.

Practice: Take the time today to allow God to speak to your heart and give you an encounter with Jesus. Find a place where there are no distractions and spend time in prayer and meditation and wait on God. It may be uncomfortable if you have never done this but stay focused and “be still”. God is there! 

May 6

Ruth 2:1-4:22, John 4:43-54, Psalms 105:16-36, Proverbs 14:25-27



Pray: Lord, today I want to pray for the leaders of our country, our community and our churches. I ask that You grant them wisdom that is grounded in You. I ask Your blessings and protection to be on their families and those closest to them because the devil is constantly looking for ways to divide us and tear us apart. Lord, I ask that You give them a burden for those who are hurting and in need of care like You have a burden for those same people. May our leaders see all people as people of value and worth because we are each created in Your image and Lord, may we be a nation, communities and churches that would rather seek Your approval instead of the approval of those we serve. Amen.

Read: Today we read the rest of the book of Ruth and enter into the journey toward an eventual marriage between Boaz and Ruth. Ruth begins with gleaning from the fields of Boaz and catches the eye of Boaz. Naomi develops a plan to further the relationship and Ruth goes along with it and ultimately is redeemed by Boaz in marriage. In today's, Old Testament reading, we get a glimpse at the family structure and commitment to caring for family in the story of Boaz and Ruth. In John, we encounter Jesus continuing His preaching ministry in Galilee. During His time there, He has the opportunity to heal the son of a government official. Although, a little irritated that it seemed to be only His miracles that were causing people to believe, He healed this boy just by speaking the words. This story and the healing of the little boy caused the government official and his entire family to believe in Christ as the Savior.

Edify: In the rat-race world that we live in, it is easy to lose focus. The Israelites lost focus time and time again and paid the price for it. When we lose focus in our lives and in our world today, we can’t get the things that need to get accomplished. We lose the power behind our efforts. The psalmist today shares the importance of remembering all that the Lord has done for us as a way of staying focused. When we stay focused on Him, we have the power needed to accomplish great things for Him. When we stray from Him, our lives get chaotic and have to be brought back in line. If you find yourself without focus in your life… dive into Scripture and attune yourself with the Creator of the Universe and the power behind your efforts. 

Practice: Where do your loyalties lie? Are you selfless in your actions or are you selfish? Today, go out and practice selflessness (putting others needs before your own) rather than selfishness. See where that takes you.