December 17

Nahum 1:1-3:19, Revelation 8:1-13, Psalm 136:1-26, Proverbs 30:7-9 



Pray: The Psalms teach us how to pray and today’s Psalm introduces us to a liturgy (a form of worship and prayer). Make a list of what you are thankful for. Then tell God what you are thankful for one item at a time on that list. After each item of thanksgiving, take a moment to adore Him by reciting, “His faithful love endures forever.” (see Psalm 136 for the structure of this liturgy)

Read: Consider the urgency and power of prayer as you read some tough Scriptures today.

Edify: Amidst the terror, judgment, and pain in Nahum and Revelation, there’s a beautiful silence. It’s a deep breath and peaceful silence. It is also purposeful from heaven’s throne. Between the scrolls of judgment being opened is a 30 minute silence as God pauses to give full attention to the prayers of God’s people. So many have turned from Him, but yet those who earnestly seek Him and pray to Him have His full embrace and attention. The angel brings the golden incense burner to mix with the prayers of God’s people so they may rise to the very throne of God. No thunder. No trumpets. Only God listening to the needs of His children. Rejoice!

Practice: Make a written prayer list today. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the One who will judge the quick and the dead, hears your earnest prayers. So take this labor of love through prayer seriously and make your list so that no petition is forgotten or overlooked.

December 16

Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:1-17, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6



Pray: Micah prompts us to “look to the Lord for help…wait confidently for God to save” (7:7). Micah then reminds us of the promise that the Lord hears our prayers. Bring your petitions to the Lord today. Consider if the Lord answers each petition, then what difference would it make in the world today and how would it matter eternally.

Read: Entertain the question in Micah 6:6 “What can I (we) bring the Lord (the God Most High)?”

Edify: The entire reading today reinforces that the Lord will preserve and protect His own people. There will be a remnant restored no matter how bad it gets. Remember how God brought His people out of slavery in Egypt and then out of exile from Babylon. God preserves and provides for His people. Knowing God’s faithfulness, you can confidently live differently than the rest of the world. What does that look like? Instead of pursuing your own fame, wealth, and success at the expense of others; you can do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). With the vision of Revelation of singing about the strong one who sits on the throne and brings salvation, we can live differently on this earth. 

Practice: What is your next humble step as you walk out this life of faith with God? What is the next best thing God has called you to do or say in your workplace, home, or ministry? Write it down and prepare to act on it.

December 15

Micah 1:1-4:13, Revelation 6:1-17, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 30:1-4 



Pray: Take the Psalmist’s direction and physically lift your hands in prayer. Ask Him for mercy. Praise Him for both His power and His presence in your life.

Read: Take a moment to tremble at the thought of the judgment, sorrow, and suffering that has been withheld from you. Your life most likely isn’t devoid of pain, however imagine being born in a different era or different country. Imagine the difficulty that could have been and suffering that still could be as you read what has and will happen upon the earth. 

Edify: Micah is a prophet who brings to light our propensity to listen to news that tickles our ears and affirms our preconceived agendas. The people preferred a prophet full of easy to digest lies, much like we like our slanted 24 news cycle shows. Micah speaks of the Lord’s restoration for Israel someday as He “will bring (them) together again like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture” (2:12). The shepherd heart of God doesn’t stand idly by while the people ruin the land they were given with their sin and oppression of the vulnerable. Instead, He uses His staff to discipline and guide the sheep as His true prophets give difficult truths and hold the mirror up to the people to see the truth.

Practice: Everyone has opinions on how a nation should be led, and many are shouting these opinions through every avenue. Cut yourself off from the tv, social media, and newspapers for a day. Then, with truths about how Israel had gone wrong as a people communicated through Micah, consider a Word-shaped short list of policies that you prayerfully support regardless of party and platform. Micah addresses social, financial, and international politics, so what are some things that God values when it comes to politics?

December 14

Jonah 1:1-4-11, Revelation 5:1-14, Psalm 133:1-3, Proverbs 29:26-27 

Pray: When is the last time someone you know (or even a famous sports, politician, etc.) did not receive a punishment that they deserved? Did it confuse or upset you? Spend time in prayer acknowledging the ways that God has shown you mercy in times when you know He withheld what you truly deserved.

Read: When you get a peek into heaven in the Revelation reading, consider how unified everyone in heaven is around the person and plan of God in Christ Jesus. Then notice how important it is for our lives to be in harmony with God’s plan and God’s people as you read the rest of the Scriptures.

Edify: Vivid encounters with the Gospel of Jesus lead to a life in harmony with God’s plan and people. Take Jonah, who went down to the depths of death and spent 3 days in the merciful belly of a whale. He then, 3 days later, emerged from the depth with new life. Jonah immediately changes directions and fueled by God’s mercy brings a message of a merciful God leading a nation to repentance. Jonah’s heart hadn’t caught up to his obedience, but the picture in Revelation 5 shows that one day it will. When John weeps at the Lamb who had been slain, interchangeable with the Lion of Judah, the entire population in heaven breaks into a gospel song about God’s worthiness and His merciful act of ransoming a people to Himself from every tribe and language and people and nation. The Gospel brings harmony to our lives, purposes, and relationships. 

Practice: How is your life out of harmony in your relationships? In view of God’s mercy in Christ Jesus, how are you supposed to tangibly show mercy to someone in your life right now? “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” ~ Jesus.

December 13

Obadiah 1:1-21, Revelation 4:1-11, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 29:24-25

Pray: Who sits on the throne of heaven? Remind yourself of the one who created it all and rules everything forever and ever. Let this truth drive your prayer time.

Read: Ask God to enlarge your perspective with your current challenges, circumstances, and plans as you take in the full counsel of God in today’s reading.

Edify: The Psalm echoes the unconditional promise of God to David that one of his ancestors will sit on the throne forever (Psalm 132:11). Obadiah is a mouthpiece of God who echoes this promise even in a time of ruin and exile. God will judge those who go against His plans and will restore Israel, because He will never go back on this promise. Do the promises of God rule in your heart and in your sight, or do your circumstances rule the day? The vision of the unchangeable one (in both His nature and position on the throne) is meant to change our perspective and purpose in our today. What does the Good News of Jesus look like in your family, work, church, and entire life today?

Practice: Write down your top cause of stress and anxiety. What fear are you projecting on the future? Now write down Revelation 4:8 or 4:11 in response. What does God’s redemptive plan look like in this particular situation?

December 12

Amos 7:1-9:15, Revelation 3:7-22, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 29:23



Pray: “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord – now and always” (Psalm 131:3).  Search your heart and pray through where you are placing your hope. Take action and “put” your hope in the Lord in prayer.

Read: As you begin reading through the book of Revelation the rest of the year, a common phrase that you will see is Jesus’ promise, “I am coming soon.” Soak in those four words and the comfort and hope that they bring as you read.

Edify: Laodicea is the only church in which Jesus doesn’t have anything good to say. The discomforting part is that it is a church and city that would appear to have it all together from a worldly perspective. History shows that it is a place of medical advancement and a financial center with an abundance of banks. Jesus assures that He is knocking on the door and still pursuing. However, He paints a brutal picture of how their indifference makes Him nauseous. Out of love and to shake up the status quo, Jesus is prepared to bring discipline to this church whom He still loves.

Practice: Jesus offers gold from Him and clean garments. In other words, your aspirations for wealth and progress (self-righteousness) have something so much greater available. How will you store up treasures in heaven this week? A planned financial gift to the church or the poor? A scheduled appointment for family devotion time? Time set aside to minister to others in a nursing home, homeless shelter, a strategic partner, etc.?

December 11

Amos 4:1-6:14, Revelation 2:18-3:6, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 29:21-22 



Pray: Close your eyes and take a moment to imagine walking up to the old city of Jerusalem to where the temple of the Lord is. Your eyes fixed upon the city up on the hill. This pilgrimage is paired with song as you ascend. Read the couple verses of Psalm 130 aloud as your song and prayer to begin your time with the Lord today.

Read: As you read through Amos and Revelation, what is it that the Lord is after? What does He want from His people? 

Edify: The Lord desires to show mercy to repentant hearts, disciplines out of love, yet He is within His rights to bring judgment at the proper time. Amos delivers a striking message from the Lord for those who have forgotten the Lord, gotten drunk on their own privilege, and cared nothing for those who are vulnerable and in need. Israel was unfaithful spiritually yet still used practices such as giving offerings to the Lord as ways to increase their status before one another. But yet the Lord calls His people to “Come back to me and live!” (Amos 5:4b). Repent from what is evil and enter into the peace of the Lord is the echo of both John (Revelation) and Amos.

Practice: Take one step to serve, spend time with, or give to the poor this week. This is “pure religion” as James says. This is the biblical vision of justice. We are to love our weak, vulnerable, and poor neighbors as we would love and look out for ourselves.