Use this devo as you are able, in whole or in part. Don’t feel compelled to read it all. Simply read and meditate upon whatever catches your attention. The goal is enjoying time with God through His Word and in prayer. Questions about the devotional elements?

Call to Prayer

Prayer of Confession

Missionary God, thank you for sending people to speak your timely message of salvation. I pray for all those who communicate your good news—empower them to speak gracefully and effectively. Raise up new messengers to bring your gospel to all people and places in clear and compelling ways. And I ask that you send and empower me to be a timely witness of the glory of the resurrection. In the risen Savior’s name, amen. (Prayer based on Canons of Dort, Question 1.3)

*Prayer borrowed from Philip Reinders’ Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year

Reading Plan

This reading plan will help you to develop the habit of being in God’s Word each morning and evening. Come to this time with expectation. Expect God to reveal himself to you. Expect that he delights in you being there, even when you’ve wandered away. Growing a spiritual habit is a slow, patient process. So be kind to yourself as you grow! 

Readings are hyperlinked. Simply hover over the passage or click Morning/Evening Reading (email version).

Morning Readings:

Pray Psalm 61 | Read 1 Corinthians 12

• Praying the Psalms: Read slowly. Take note of words and phrases. Bring them before the Lord in prayer and personalize the passage as you pray.
• NT Context: “Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a classic of pastoral response: affectionate, firm, clear, and unswerving in the conviction that God among them, revealed in Jesus and present in his Holy Spirit, continued to be the central issue in their lives, regardless of how much of a mess they had made of things.” Meditate on the passage, noting a few words or a phrase that stood out. Take them to God in prayer.

Evening Readings:

Pray Psalm 62 | Read 2 Chronicles 34

• OT Context: “Sovereignty, God’s sovereignty, is one of the most difficult things for people of faith to live out in everyday routines…This story makes it clear that it was not God’s idea that the Hebrews have a king, but since they insisted, he let them have their way. But God never abdicated his sovereignty to any of the Hebrew kings; the idea was that they would represent his sovereignty, not that he would delegate his sovereignty to them. Reflect on the passage. Who was the original audience, and what was their situation? How is that relevant to you today?

Sermon Devo

We are in our Spring series in Romans 8. Each day we will dig into a different aspect of this incomparable chapter and see how it alters the way we live “in Christ!”

Read: Romans 8 (yup! re-reading the whole thing this week)

Mothers Day is this upcoming Sunday so we are going to be exploring Romans 8:1-11 once again. This time we’ll consider how verses 1-11 work together to show us:

1) How the Spirit helps us to live in light of the reality that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

2) How the Spirit living within us leads us to set our minds on the things of the Spirit that lead to life that is truly life and peace that is truly peace.

3) How the Spirit of God dwelling in us not only assures us of the resurrection to come, but also how that future resurrection-life is meant to transform us in the present!

REFLECT: Re-Read Romans 8:1-11. Then spend some time in prayer asking God to show you areas of your life where you are not living in light of these three realities. Then ask him to help you to find practical everyday ways to do so!

Evening Prayer of Examen

• Where did you move with or feel close to Jesus today?
• Where did you resist or feel far from Jesus today?
• Where is Jesus leading you tomorrow? Ask for joy as you follow him.

Benediction