Daily Readings at Southeast

  Your rest is not to be found in figuring your life out, but in trusting the One who has it all figured out for your good and His glory. We were on our way to the local mall with our two young boys when the three year-old asked out of the blue, “Daddy, if God made everything, did he make light poles?” I had the thought that all parents have again and again as they deal with the endless “why” questions that little ones ask: “How do we get from where we are to where we need to be in this conversation?” Or, “Why does he have to ask me ‘why’ questions all the time?”  Human beings have a deep desire to know and understand. We spend much of our daily mental time trying to figure things out. We don’t live by instinct. We don’t leave our lives alone. We are all theologians. We are all philosophers. We are all archaeologists who dig into the mounds of our lives to try to make sense of the civilization that is our story. This God-designed mental motivation is accompanied by wonderful a...

  Here’s the bottom line. The Christian life, the church, our faith are not about us, they’re about Him—His plan, His kingdom, His glory. It really is the struggle of struggles. It is counterintuitive for us all. It is the thing that makes our lives messy and our relationships conflicted. It is what sidetracks our thoughts and kidnaps our desires. It is the thing below all the other things that you could point to that argues for our need for grace. It is the one battle that one never escapes. It is the one place where ten out of ten of us need rescue. It is the fight that God wages on our behalf to help us to remember that life is simply not about us. It is about God—His plan, His kingdom, and His glory.  This is precisely why the first four words of the Bible may be its most important words: “In the beginning, God . . .” These are four thunderously important words. They really do change everything, from the way that you think about your identity, meaning, and purpose to the w...

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Malachi 3 Malachi 4 Revelation 22

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Malachi 1 Malachi 2 Revelation 21

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Nehemiah 12 Nehemiah 13 Revelation 20

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Nehemiah 10 Nehemiah 11 Revelation 19

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Nehemiah 7 Nehemiah 8 Nehemiah 9 Revelation 18

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Nehemiah 4 Nehemiah 5 Nehemiah 6 Revelation 17

  P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Nehemiah 1 Nehemiah 2 Nehemiah 3 Revelation 16

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Ezra 8 Ezra 9 Ezra 10 Revelation 15

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Esther 9 Esther 10 Revelation 14

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Esther 6 Esther 7 Esther 8 Revelation 13

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Esther 3 Esther 4 Esther 5 Revelation 12

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Esther 1 Esther 2 Matthew 1 Luke 3

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Ezra 5 Ezra 6 Ezra 7 Revelation 11

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Psalms 107 Psalms 126 Revelation 10

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Psalms 84 Psalms 90 Revelation 9

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Psalms 81 Psalms 82 Psalms 83 Revelation 8

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Psalms 79 Psalms 80 Revelation 7

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Psalms 77 Psalms 78 Revelation 6

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Psalms 74 Psalms 75 Psalms 76 Revelation 5

  P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Zechariah 13 Zechariah 14 Revelation 3 Revelation 4

  P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Zechariah 11 Zechariah 12 Revelation 2

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Zechariah 9 Zechariah 10 Revelation 1

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Zechariah 5 Zechariah 6 Zechariah 7 Zechariah 8 Jude 1

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Zechariah 1 Zechariah 2 Zechariah 3 Zechariah 4 3 John 1

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Haggai 1 Haggai 2 2 John 1

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Ezekiel 45 Ezekiel 46 1 John 2

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Ezra 1 Ezra 2 1 John 4

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Ezekiel 47 Ezekiel 48 1 John 3

P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in. R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down. A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that? Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Scripture: Ezekiel 45 Ezekiel 46 1 John 2