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Monday June 16th
God's Sovereign Plan
Reading: 8:28-30 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Devotional: As we read about Daniel's vision and God's detailed plan for history, we're reminded that our lives are part of a greater divine narrative. Just like the prophecies that came true, God's promises for our lives will be fulfilled. In times of confusion or hardship, remember that God is orchestrating events for His glory and our ultimate good. Reflect on a challenging situation in your life. How might God be working through it? Trust that even when you can't see the full picture, God is in control and His plan is perfect.
Tuesday June 17th
Recognizing the Spirit of Antichrist
Reading:
Matthew 24:3-14 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Devotional: The spirit of antichrist is already at work in our world, manifesting in selfishness, materialism, and the exaltation of self over God. As believers, we must be vigilant and discerning. How might the spirit of antichrist be influencing your own life or the culture around you? Ask God for wisdom to recognize these influences and the strength to resist them. Focus on cultivating a Christ-centered perspective in all areas of your life, putting God's will above your own desires.
Wednesday June 18th
Hope in Suffering
Reading: Daniel 12:1-3 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Romans 5:3-5 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Devotional: Daniel's prophecy speaks of a time of great distress, but also of ultimate deliverance for God's people. In our own lives, we may face periods of suffering, but we have the assurance that these trials are temporary and purposeful. Reflect on a time when God brought something good out of a difficult situation in your life. How did that experience strengthen your faith? Ask God to give you an eternal perspective that sees beyond current struggles to the hope of glory that awaits.
Thursday June 19th
The Power of God's Word
Reading: Daniel 9:24-27 24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work
Devotional: The precise fulfillment of prophecies in Daniel reminds us of the power and reliability of God's Word. Every promise God has made will come to pass. How does this truth impact your view of Scripture? Challenge yourself to spend more time reading and meditating on God's Word this week. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and apply them to your life, trusting that God's Word has the power to transform you from the inside out.
Friday June 20th
Shining for Christ in a Dark World
Reading: Daniel 12:3 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Devotional: Despite the darkness in the world, believers are called to shine like stars, pointing others to righteousness. We have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to be light in our communities. How can you let your light shine more brightly for Christ today? Consider specific ways you can demonstrate God's love and truth to those around you. Pray for opportunities to share the hope you have in Christ, remembering that your faithful witness may lead others to have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Monday June 16th
God's Sovereign Plan
Reading: 8:28-30 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Devotional: As we read about Daniel's vision and God's detailed plan for history, we're reminded that our lives are part of a greater divine narrative. Just like the prophecies that came true, God's promises for our lives will be fulfilled. In times of confusion or hardship, remember that God is orchestrating events for His glory and our ultimate good. Reflect on a challenging situation in your life. How might God be working through it? Trust that even when you can't see the full picture, God is in control and His plan is perfect.
Tuesday June 17th
Recognizing the Spirit of Antichrist
Reading:
Matthew 24:3-14 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Devotional: The spirit of antichrist is already at work in our world, manifesting in selfishness, materialism, and the exaltation of self over God. As believers, we must be vigilant and discerning. How might the spirit of antichrist be influencing your own life or the culture around you? Ask God for wisdom to recognize these influences and the strength to resist them. Focus on cultivating a Christ-centered perspective in all areas of your life, putting God's will above your own desires.
Wednesday June 18th
Hope in Suffering
Reading: Daniel 12:1-3 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Romans 5:3-5 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Devotional: Daniel's prophecy speaks of a time of great distress, but also of ultimate deliverance for God's people. In our own lives, we may face periods of suffering, but we have the assurance that these trials are temporary and purposeful. Reflect on a time when God brought something good out of a difficult situation in your life. How did that experience strengthen your faith? Ask God to give you an eternal perspective that sees beyond current struggles to the hope of glory that awaits.
Thursday June 19th
The Power of God's Word
Reading: Daniel 9:24-27 24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work
Devotional: The precise fulfillment of prophecies in Daniel reminds us of the power and reliability of God's Word. Every promise God has made will come to pass. How does this truth impact your view of Scripture? Challenge yourself to spend more time reading and meditating on God's Word this week. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and apply them to your life, trusting that God's Word has the power to transform you from the inside out.
Friday June 20th
Shining for Christ in a Dark World
Reading: Daniel 12:3 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Devotional: Despite the darkness in the world, believers are called to shine like stars, pointing others to righteousness. We have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to be light in our communities. How can you let your light shine more brightly for Christ today? Consider specific ways you can demonstrate God's love and truth to those around you. Pray for opportunities to share the hope you have in Christ, remembering that your faithful witness may lead others to have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.