Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

John 1:1, 3–5, 9 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it… That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” 

He was present at the creation described in Genesis 1:1, and through Him all things were made. Without Him, the Scripture tells us, nothing exists. In Him was life, and that life was the light of humanity, shining in the darkness—a light the darkness did not understand. 

Verse 9 tells us that this true Light gives light to everyone who comes into this world. Once again, God spoke, and light pierced the darkness, dispelling confusion and emptiness. 

I am so grateful that God still speaks into our lives today and gives us, again, purpose and direction. 

Recognize the light He offers. Allow it to guide your path. Talk to Him about this, because He wants to give you the light that you need right now. 

It’s time to pray. 

Exodus 1:9 

“And he said to his people, ‘Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.’” 

The enemy opposes the children of God by keeping God’s people convinced that they’re less than they are. In Exodus 1:9, the king acknowledged that the children of Israel were indeed greater in number and mightier than those in Egypt. Yet his plan was to make them believe the opposite, lest they rise up in their God-given power and authority and become free. 

This was a type of psychological warfare, and the enemy employs the same tactics against you and me today. The enemy suggests we’re marginalized, less in number, and weaker in power than we really are. The media ridicules those who believe in righteousness and truth. They say that Christians are losing influence and churches are closing. 

But Christ Jesus is still alive, still sitting on His throne with absolute power. 

Don’t buy the lie. Our word weapons are still mighty in God for the pulling down of wicked strongholds. 

It’s time to pray. 

Genesis 1:3–4 

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” 

God always moves in harmony with His Word. The Spirit of God stirred upon the darkness, and when God proclaimed, “Let there be light,” light appeared. 

Isn’t that incredible? When God speaks, darkness must yield to light, and emptiness transforms into purpose. His voice fills the void in our hearts, revealing our creation’s purpose and meaning. 

When God saw the light, He deemed it to be good, separating it from the darkness in our lives. When the Lord speaks, confusion fades, and we gain clarity on what is of God and what is not—recognizing the good and the evil, the purposeful and the destructive. 

Just as God spoke again in the earth’s future, bringing forth light, we should be grateful for His continual guidance. 

As we reflect today on this, let us open our hearts to God’s voice and allow Him once again to illuminate our paths. 

It’s time to pray. 

Genesis 1:1 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

The earth at this time was formless and empty, shrouded in darkness. Do you recall a time in your life when you felt that way? 

For those listening today, think back to when you experienced emptiness and uncertainty about the purpose of your life. Just as the earth existed without form, you also may have felt lost and without direction. 

In those initial moments when the world was created, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters, bringing life and purpose. Do you remember the day that you sensed His presence? Like a friend of mine who actually felt the Spirit of God enter the room where he was crying out. 

The Holy Spirit comes into our darkest places offering hope and renewal, ready to transform our lives once again today. 

Allow God to reign in your heart. Allow Him again to be glorified in your life. 

It’s time to pray. 

James 1:5 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” 

One of the great promises of Scripture is found in the book of James, where God says that if you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you and will not withhold—if you believe that He will. 

So the question is, are you reading God’s Word and asking Him for wisdom as you read it? We shouldn’t just want to learn God’s Word, which is great in itself, but you and I should want the wisdom that comes with it. 

Ask Him to help you apply that wisdom to every area of your present life and your future. Remind Him that this is one of the great promises in the Bible. And when you ask for wisdom, be mindful of those who sought it before you and received it. 

Take a moment to sincerely ask God now, believing in His promise: if you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you. 

Join with us every Wednesday night, 7:00 PM Eastern time at itstimetopray.org where many of us are asking for the wisdom we will need to navigate these days in our generation. It's time now to pray.  

We’re currently in a season where God can still be found—but there will come a day when that opportunity is gone. It will be too late for many to seek Him then. 

You cannot save yourself through good deeds or by changing your mind. No amount of human effort can bring you into God’s presence and promise of salvation. 

That’s why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, over 2,000 years ago. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for your wrongdoings, your character flaws, and the sin within you—declaring it dead on the cross so that you could have new and eternal life. 

If you open your heart today, you can experience this new life and strength. Take a moment now to invite Jesus Christ into your life and then experience what only God can do—both in you and through you. 

Talk to Him, please, right now about it. 

It’s time to pray. 

We’ve come to a time again in history where there’s an open rejection towards those who believe in and live for Jesus Christ. But I believe that it’s a good thing. This rejection sends us back to where we have belonged all along—and that is a place of prayer. 

We’re going there not in our strength, but in dependence upon Jesus. When we’re praying in our own strength, we have a tendency to add our own plans to the leading of God. But when we’re weak, finally we have no more plans. We understand, like those who have gone before us in Scripture, that there is no way forward without our complete and total dependence on Jesus. 

Persecution drives us—the Church of Jesus Christ—back to our true power source: God Himself. It really is time, not just to say that we believe, but to begin to live it out. 

It’s time to pray. 

Psalm 32:4–5 

“For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” 

It’s God’s mercy and goodness that draw us closer to Him. When we resist Him, His hand may feel heavy—but not from anger, rather from love. 

If you feel that heaviness, it’s time to confront what’s within and seek His forgiveness. Be honest about your struggle. He offers immediate healing for what hinders you. 

If you sense a pull toward God today, no matter your situation, know that it’s His goodness calling you. 

Take a moment to pray, to confess, and to embrace in your heart His freely offered forgiveness. 

It’s time to pray. 

Psalm 32:3 

“When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.” 

In other words, when we refuse to align ourselves with God—when we resist His call to address our character flaws and seek His forgiveness—we end up feeling the weight of our silence. 

The Lord is trying to communicate with us, but we often cling to the idea that there’s still some goodness within ourselves, blinding us to the truth that the Holy Spirit wants to reveal and heal. 

When we remain silent and withdraw, we begin to feel the toll that it takes, and our bones, as the Scripture says, grow weary. It’s a long journey when we resist acknowledging what needs to change. 

So take a moment today to listen and be honest with God about what He might be trying to reveal in your life. He loves you. He died to save you and to change you. Talk to Him about it today. 

It’s time to pray. 

Do you consider yourself wise? Do you know that merely acquiring knowledge does not equate to wisdom? As the Apostle Paul warned, in the last days there will be individuals who are always learning, yet fail to reach the deeper understanding and transformation that that knowledge should inspire. 

In fact, their very lives may contradict the very truths they’re learning. 

It’s essential for you and me not only to seek knowledge, but to apply what we learn meaningfully in each of our lives. It’s time for us to start reflecting on what we’ve learned and ensure that it leads us toward genuine wisdom—which always leads to transformation. 

Join with us every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM Eastern time where people from all over the world at itstimetopray.org are gathering, saying, God, transform us, lead us, guide us, set us free, and use each of our lives for your glory. It's time now for you and me to pray.