Category: Daily Devotion

2 Timothy 1:3-9 NIV

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

INTERCEDE: The good news of Jesus Christ isn’t always popular today, nor was it popular in Paul and Timothy’s time. That can cause us to stay silent. In this passage we see Paul interceding in prayer while encouraging boldness and persistence in sharing the gospel. Ask the Holy Spirit to go before you, preparing hearts and then to help you break through your own fears and hesitations.

Looking to go deeper into today’s Scripture?  

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.

2. Read today’s Scripture slowly. Listen for God’s voice to you in the text. Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage. Pray in response to what God is saying to you. What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage? Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friend.  What is your key take-away from this passage? What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

Need prayer?  Let us know! 

Mark 2:13-17 NIV

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

INTERCEDE: Jesus came to seek the lost.  When Jesus asked Levi to follow Him, He made a very public statement that even the worst of sinners, even a tax collector, would not be excluded from His invitation to follow Him. 

Do you know anyone whose work, lifestyle, or social status keeps them from coming to church or hearing Jesus’s invitation? How might you find time to pray for them over the next 20 days?

Looking to go deeper into today’s Scripture?  

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.

2. Read today’s Scripture slowly. Listen for God’s voice to you in the text. Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage. Pray in response to what God is saying to you. What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage? Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friend.  What is your key take-away from this passage? What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

Need prayer?  Let us know! 

Luke 10:1-3, and 17-20 NIV

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

INTERCEDE: In this passage, Jesus sends out the 72 and when they return from their evangelistic mission, Jesus rejoices along with them! Wouldn’t it be amazing over the next few weeks to see those who have no relationship with Jesus to come to faith in Him? 

Who in your circle, community, workplace, etc. does not have a relationship with Jesus? Pray for God to show you the names of those He would have you intercede in prayer for.

Looking to go deeper into today’s Scripture?  

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.

2. Read today’s Scripture slowly. Listen for God’s voice to you in the text. Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage. Pray in response to what God is saying to you. What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage? Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friend.  What is your key take-away from this passage? What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

Need prayer?  Let us know! 

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for those who are new to their faith walk and seeking to grow their relationship with Jesus.  

Acts 10:19-20 NIV

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for our church leaders, staff, and their families. 

John 15:12-13 NIV

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for our Armed Forces personnel, law enforcement agencies, and their families.

Matthew 19:21-26 NIV

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for the hearts of the wealthy;  pray for opportunities to be generous.

Revelation 7:9-10 NIV

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for our international missions ministries in Guatemala, Burundi, and Slovakia.

Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for Crux Student Ministry, as well as all youth and young adults in our church and community.

Matthew 9:10-13 NIV

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for those who labor in unpopular fields of work or industry, leaving them excluded from certain social groups.