God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, circumstances, and the church to reveal himself, his purposes and his ways.

Memory Verse: “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.” Hebrews 1:1–2 (NLT)

Day 1
Memory Verse: “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.” Hebrews 1:1–2 (NLT)

Long ago God spoke… we do a lot of reading these days; scanning news feeds, texts, emails, and sometimes a good old fashioned hand written letter. What a refreshing time it is when someone calls or even stops in and we actually get to talk. This passage says God spoke, an intimate form of communication, and went beyond that with the drop in, God-living-among-us Jesus having conversations. Reading God’s Word is not an exercise. This is how a person, God, reveals himself to you.

Do you have an expectation that when you encounter God’s Word that He will change your life?
How have you experienced God’s voice?
When recently has God’s Word inspired awe?
Identify the most meaningful word from God today.
Reword that into a prayer.
How will you actively respond?

Day 2
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 (ESV)

This God breathing image makes me think of mouth to mouth resuscitation. It echoes Genesis 2:7 where God fills Adams lungs. Our time with God’s Word is like sucking in oxygen for the soul, but not with a cold tube attached to a tank. It’s God personally breathing in what’s good for me, something to learn, something for guidance, something that will grow me into what He intends me to be, something that will change the lives of the people we live among.

What time do you regularly dedicate to listening to God’s Word?
What have you learned about God while reading His Word?
What has recently convicted you while reading His Word?
Who do you share your insights with to confirm your understanding and check-in on your response?
Identify the most meaningful word from God today.
Reword that into a prayer.
How will you actively respond?

Day 3
…your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8b (ESV)

When we’ve spent time listening to God speak to us in His Word, all that learning, conviction, guidance starts to shape our part of the conversation, prayer. His Word begins to shape our heart and our prayers begin to reflect the heart of God for the people and issues we pray about. God hearing His own heart shining in our prayers… well I can only understand what it’s like when my child asks me for the thing I’ve so longed to give. I’ve just been waiting for them to ask as a sign of their learning process.

When our heart doesn’t yet sing God’s song, an honest prayer conversation is the venue for God to continue shaping our heart to match His. Look at your current prayer list and consider what God would like to adjust in you.

When has God shown you a better answer than what was desired in your prayer?
Identify the most meaningful word from God today.
Reword that into a prayer.
How will you actively respond?

Day 4
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 
Exodus 3:4 (ESV)

Have you ever considered the burning bush as bait? God was waiting to see if Moses was paying attention before He spoke. Our daily time in God’s Word is time to pay attention and listen. The oddities in our day are also opportunities to take a closer look to see what God is doing and listen for the echoes of God’s Word.

How has God caught your attention? How did you choose to listen closely at that moment?
What unusual details in current circumstance should you investigate to learn whether God is giving you a nudge to join Him in His work?

Identify the most meaningful word from God today.
Reword that into a prayer.
How will you actively respond?

Day 5
“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord. 
Amos 8:11 (NLT)

There are worse things than a recession, worse things than war, worse things than the results of an election. Amos is speaking to people who are so content with life, so sure they’ve prevented the worst from happening, yet ignored the word God spoke to them. A drought of God’s Word can be caused by all the static of busyness in our life. Or we’re too busy studying His Word or talking to God and not listening. We may not even notice God’s silence as the soil of our heart hardens.

Spend a chunk of time* today in silence and solitude, still the static, meditate on this week’s memory verse and listen for God to guide you to the adjustment needed to for close communication with Him.

*chunk of time ie. more than usual – dedicated close the door turn things off time.

Memory Verse: “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.” Hebrews 1:1–2 (NLT)