Monday

Reading for Today:
John 10:1-10
1 John 2:12-17
Job 10
Ezekiel 29, 30

John 10:1-10
It’s not always easy to hear the voice of the Father. Our lives can become so busy his voice is drowned out by the noise. Sometimes the things that keep us busy are good things—maybe even godly things like volunteer or ministry opportunities. Other times things like social media, Netflix, sports, or hobbies keep us so busy we no longer have time to listen. Whatever the cause, when we are too busy to hear the voice of God, we are too busy. Are there things in your life today you need to quiet so you can better hear him?

Tuesday

Reading for Today:
John 10:11-21
1 John 2:18-23
Job 11
Ezekiel 31, 32

Job 11
Job’s friends seemed to think suffering was always the result of personal sin. To them, it was a simple equation: sin equals suffering. In reality, the storms of life strike both the sinner and the saint and are not always the direct result of sin. God never promised to protect us from pain and suffering. He did, however, promise he would be with us through the pain. “In this world, you will have trouble,” Jesus said in John 16:33. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” God might not prevent the storm, but he will join us in it.

Wednesday

Reading for Today:
John 10:2-42
1 John 2:24-29
Job 12
Ezekiel 33, 34

Ezekiel 33, 34
Religious leaders will fail. Even those who seem especially close to the Father might let us down. Maybe you have witnessed this firsthand. Maybe someone whom you admired in the church has disappointed you. The truth is, we all make mistakes. All of us, that is, except the True Shepherd. When we place our hope in mentors or leaders or anyone on this earth, we will be disappointed. But when we place our trust in the True Shepherd, he will lead us to still waters and meet our every need. In whom are you placing your trust today?

Thursday

Reading for Today:
John 11:1-16
1 John 3:1-10
Job 13
Ezekiel 35-37

1 John 3:1-10
We are called by many names. Sometimes these names bring a smile to our faces, like the first time we hear our child utter “Mommy” or “Daddy.” Other times these names wound us deeply, like childhood nicknames shouted on a playground. These names remind us of our past and tell us we are not good enough. “Too ugly!” they scream. “Too weird . . . too sinful . . . too broken.” But God whispers another name to us: Child of God. In his kingdom, we are not too weird, too sinful, too broken, or too anything else. We are his, and in him, we are enough.

Friday

Reading for Today:
John 11:17-37
1 John 3:11-18
Job 14
Ezekiel 38, 39

John 11:17-37
Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t come at once when his friend Lazarus was sick? He could have left immediately or healed him with a word, right there. Why the delay? Maybe you have wondered why God seems slow in acting on your behalf too. Maybe you, like Mary, have said, “Lord, if you had been here, this wouldn’t have happened.” What Mary learned is that sometimes, when God seems slow, there’s a reason. By not preventing Lazarus’ death, Jesus did an even greater miracle and raised him from the dead. What great miracle might God be planning to do in your life?

Saturday

Reading for Today:
John 11:38-44
1 John 3:19-24
Job 15:1-16
Ezekiel 40, 41

1 John 3:19-24
There’s a lot of pressure today to “do what feels good” and “trust your heart,” but the Bible suggests we do otherwise. It says in Jeremiah 17:9 that “the heart is deceitful above all things.” Trusting your heart is not good advice because our hearts don’t always tell us the truth. Sometimes, as 1 John 3:20 reminds us, our hearts condemn us when we have already been forgiven in Jesus. Our hearts tell us we do not belong to the family of believers, when, in fact, God says we do. Today, instead of trusting your heart, trust the One who created it.