Day 1 • 1 Samuel 1:1-18

We might fool others, but we will never fool Him, so why try? It does no one good. Instead, God wants us to be real with Him and with others. When we do, we see how God meets us in our greatest times of need—in our greatest anguish—to provide mercy, grace, love, and comfort. And we show others that they are not alone in their pain and can, too, cry out to the Lord.

What are some ways that you might be wearing a mask before others, or perhaps even before God?

Day 2 • 1 Samuel 1:19-28

.“Why would God finally give me a son, for me to abandon him? Surely that is not what He wants.” 

We imagine this because it is what we would have likely done. We’d likely cheer Hannah on had she made the decision to keep her son. We might even want to see Hannah do this so that we might feel better. But that is not what we see. Instead, we see the shocking reality of Hannah following through on her promise and leaving her young son with Eli. Surely this was not easy for her. Surely she wept as she made her lonely journey home, her arms now empty. But what sustained Hannah was knowing God’s goodness to her had provided a son and that same goodness would sustain her as she gave God’s gift back to Him in worship.

What gift from God might you be holding on to instead of giving it back to God in worship? Why?

Day 3 • 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Hannah rejoiced in the Lord because she did not take God’s goodness for granted. She had not forgotten how God had answered her prayer or how He had lifted her up. So now, she lifted Him up. Yes, Hannah also boasted in the victory over her enemies, but even that was not the foundation of her praise. God’s goodness was. And Hannah understood that God was just as good when she cradled Samuel in her arms as when she placed him in the care of Eli.

How has God been good to you in recent days? Be as specific as possible and worship Him as He is due.

Day 4 • 1 Samuel 2:12-36

We are all accountable for our own sin and relationship with God. We cannot blame our parents for our rebellion against God any more than we can credit them for our salvation. Parents play a role, a key role, in our evangelism and discipleship and yet we are each accountable and will stand before God as such.

How have the spiritual leaders in your life pointed you to Jesus over and over again? What are some ways you can express gratitude for their faithful service?

Day 5 • 1 Samuel 3:1-21

We may long for God audibly to break the silence in our lives and world, but our neglect of what He has spoken to us in His Word should cause us to tremble.

What is your plan to spend regular quality time in God’s Word?

I hanks for listening 

Day 1 - Joshua 2:1-7

The intent of Joshua’s spies, on the other hand, was to act from faith—to find what God had given them and perhaps how He had given it to them. Similar actions; different motivations. One scouting trip was done honoring God, the other rebelling against Him.

When have your actions seemed right from the outside, but you performed them with the wrong intentions or motivations? What happened?

Day 2 - Joshua 2:8-24

In these verses, we are reminded of the power of a testimony. Word of what God had done had traveled to Jericho because someone, somewhere, had told others what he or she had witnessed. It may have been one person; it may have been several people, or even many people, but someone’s testimony ended up in Rahab’s ears and led to her faith in God. And that is what we are called to do today as followers of Christ—we are to declare what God has done in Christ to others, trusting in God for our testimony to bear fruit.

What has God done, or is He doing right now, that you can tell someone else about today?

Day 3 - Joshua 6:1-14

We see something similar in Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. In verse 4, Jesus said to the Father, “I have glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” Here, we see Jesus used the past tense to speak of a future event; in this case, the cross. Just as Jericho’s fall was sure in Joshua 6, so was Jesus’ lifting up on the cross in John 17.

What sure promises of God do you need to rest in today?

Day 4 - Joshua 6:15-21

On the seventh day, they were called to action—although it was not the action a soldier would expect. It must not have made much sense to the Israelite soldiers. It must have been frustrating. And yet, they did exactly what God had called them to do—in obedience and in faith. Sometimes God calls us to act in faith; at other times, like here, He calls on us not to act, in faith.

Consider a time in your life when God’s plan was simply to move. How willing were you to follow His simple instruction? Why?

Day 5 - Joshua 6:22-27

We see here a word picture of the power of God to change us by grace through faith. When we trust in Christ, our old self is put to death and we have been giving new life in Christ. 

How do you tend to live as your old, dead self at times? Why? How do you fail to live as your new self at times? Why? 

Day 1 - Joshua 1:1-9

God knew Joshua would need encouragement and God knew the people would need it as well. But God also knew the people needed something else more—much more. They needed Him. Good leaders are a gift from God. Great leaders are a blessing. But no leader, no matter how good he or she might be, is a substitute for God Himself. Moses was not who the Israelites needed. Joshua was not either. Nor would it be any of the judges, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, any other king, or any prophet. The leader the people needed was Christ Jesus—the One who God provided to lead us out of bondage of sin and into the rest of salvation in Him.

Have you ever lost a significant leader? What was the effect of that loss on you and others?

Day 2 - Joshua 1:10-18

We know from the Book of Hebrews, that rest in the promised land was a shadow of the greater rest we find in our salvation in Christ. In Christ, we are able, for the first time ever, to cast aside our labor—our innumerable attempts to be right with God—and rest in Christ instead as recipients of forgiveness and righteousness in Him. This is the rest our souls need. This is the rest the gospel gives.

What are some ways that you need to stop working and rest in Christ?

Day 3 - Joshua 3:1-17

We need to consecrate ourselves day-by-day, moment-by-moment. God is at work all around us everyday, but will we see it? 

What are some ways you can consecrate yourself each day to see what God is doing and follow Him?

Day 4 - Joshua 4:1-16

Do we see ourselves as Joshuas? Do we understand that God has positioned us where He has, and how He has, for a reason—to glorify God? Or are we ever tempted to steal God’s glory instead? To take how He has gifted and blessed us and hoard it for ourselves? May we hold loosely to our glory and tightly to God’s. 

How can you point others to God this week through how He has blessed and gifted you?

Day 5 - Joshua 4:17-24

While the primary context of these two passages focuses on parents, it is broader than that. All of us are called by God to disciple others and this is to be our blueprint of discipleship. We are to teach others God’s Word, but we are also to testify to how God has been kind to us. We are to talk about His provision, His protection, and His power. We are to celebrate who He is and what He has done. 

What are some of the “stones of remembrance” that you can share with others to point them to who God is and what He has done? 

We will publish the reading plan again next week

Day 1 - Numbers 22:1-41 

Even when the Israelites could not see it, God was working for their good. God is always working all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). 

How has God’s faithfulness helped you remain faithful to Him even in the midst of difficult circumstances?

Day 2 - Numbers 23:1-30

Even though we may face persecution and difficult times, there is nothing that can stop God from fulfilling all that He has planned and promised. God has placed stories of His work for His people in the Bible so that we can see how He works for the good of His people, and in doing so, realize He works for us in the same way. 

How can seeing the unstoppable faithfulness of God change the way you approach difficult situations today?

Day 3 - Numbers 24:1-14 

The message of the gospel is a message for all the world. God has saved us to display the immeasurable riches of God’s grace for the rest of eternity, and He calls us to start now by inviting those who don’t know Jesus, to trust in Him and enjoy His presence and provision forevermore.

How can your guarantee of eternal life motivate you to share the gospel today?

Day 4 - Numbers 24:15-25

We trust in His forgiveness, but we also trust in His rule over us, knowing He has done everything necessary for our salvation and righteousness, yet we are called to live in obedience out of love and gratitude for what He has done. 

What is your motivation for obeying God? Why?

Day 5 - 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 

One day Christ Jesus will return, and He will make all things new and kill death for good. At the death of death and the restoration of all things, the rule and reign of Christ will be unchallenged and unhindered. We can trust in God’s ability to conquer all things now, since He has already conquered death, which is our greatest enemy.

How does knowing Jesus conquered our greatest enemy, death, give you boldness when sharing the gospel?

Day 1 - Numbers 22:1-41 

Even when the Israelites could not see it, God was working for their good. God is always working all things for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). 

How has God’s faithfulness helped you remain faithful to Him even in the midst of difficult circumstances?

Day 2 - Numbers 23:1-30

Even though we may face persecution and difficult times, there is nothing that can stop God from fulfilling all that He has planned and promised. God has placed stories of His work for His people in the Bible so that we can see how He works for the good of His people, and in doing so, realize He works for us in the same way. 

How can seeing the unstoppable faithfulness of God change the way you approach difficult situations today?

Day 3 - Numbers 24:1-14 

The message of the gospel is a message for all the world. God has saved us to display the immeasurable riches of God’s grace for the rest of eternity, and He calls us to start now by inviting those who don’t know Jesus, to trust in Him and enjoy His presence and provision forevermore.

How can your guarantee of eternal life motivate you to share the gospel today?

Day 4 - Numbers 24:15-25

We trust in His forgiveness, but we also trust in His rule over us, knowing He has done everything necessary for our salvation and righteousness, yet we are called to live in obedience out of love and gratitude for what He has done. 

What is your motivation for obeying God? Why?

Day 5 - 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 

One day Christ Jesus will return, and He will make all things new and kill death for good. At the death of death and the restoration of all things, the rule and reign of Christ will be unchallenged and unhindered. We can trust in God’s ability to conquer all things now, since He has already conquered death, which is our greatest enemy.

How does knowing Jesus conquered our greatest enemy, death, give you boldness when sharing the gospel?

Day 1 - Numbers 20:1-29 

We are to obey perfectly. And even one act of unfaithfulness earns condemnation. But thankfully, we have been provided a way to be forgiven of our transgressions in Jesus, the One who perfectly obeyed and who takes our sin and credits us with His righteousness when we believe. 

How have you obeyed God partially at times believing that was good enough?

Day 2 - Numbers 21:1-7a

We too are quick to forget God’s faithfulness and we too need God’s gift of discipline at times to remind us that if God was willing to provide Jesus to die on the cross to address our greatest need, we can surely trust Him to provide for our daily needs as well (Luke 12:24).

What are some things that God has done for you in the past that you can remember today to help you remain faithful in the face of need or temptation?

Day 3 - Numbers 21:7b-8 

Many who have trusted in Jesus find it difficult to continue to trust in the completed work of Jesus. That is why we are grateful that Jesus is an ever-present intercessor, always at the right hand of the Father making appeals to Him on our behalf.

Who has God placed in your life for you to be an intercessor, praying for them and telling them what Christ has done?

Day 4 - Numbers 21:9-35

As we live each day, we go forward in confidence living from the victory that Jesus has already won for us. Jesus has defeated sin and death, so in the face of any persecution we will face, we continue striving to live the way He has called us to—with faith and with joy.

How does knowing that God goes before you and with you give you confidence as you face opposition?

Day 5 - John 3:1-21 

our salvation is the completed work of Jesus—His life, death, burial, and resurrection—and the unending power of God to preserve our salvation no matter what. 

What kind of doubts do you face in your walk with Christ, and how does His completed work on the cross help you continue to believe?