Monday Oct 27th
Recognizing God's Sovereignty
Reading Psalm 91:1-2;He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Daniel 4:17 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.
Devotional: Who truly sits on the throne of your life? God's word tells us that God is sovereign over all things—every authority, every leader, every circumstance. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High finds true freedom and peace. This isn't about understanding God's ways, but about trusting His character. When we struggle with authorities in our lives, we're really struggling with God's sovereign plan. The invitation today is simple: stop trying to be your own god. Surrender control. God places people and circumstances in our path not randomly, but purposefully. Your freedom isn't found in doing what you want, but in doing what He wants. Trust that God does all things well, even when you can't see His purposes.
Reflection: What area of your life are you still trying to control instead of surrendering to God's authority?
Tuesday Oct 28th
Submitting to Authority
Reading: Romans 13:1-7 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed
1 Peter 2:13-15 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Devotional: Submission isn't popular in our culture, yet Scripture clearly commands us to respect and obey the authorities God has placed over us. This includes government leaders, employers, teachers, church leaders, and parents. Notice Paul wrote these words to Christians living under Nero's cruel persecution—not exactly an ideal government. Yet the command remained: submit for the Lord's sake. This doesn't mean blind obedience when authorities contradict God's Word, but it does mean we honor them with our attitudes and actions. Submission reveals the condition of our hearts toward God Himself. When we resist authority, we resist what God has appointed. The question isn't whether our leaders are perfect—they're not, and neither are we. The question is: will we obey God's command to honor them?
Reflection: Is there an authority figure in your life you've been dishonoring through your words or attitude?
Wednesday Oct 29th
Obedience with the Right Heart
Reading: Colossians 3:22-24 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Ephesians 6:1-8 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord
Devotional: True submission involves more than outward compliance—it requires a heart transformation. Like the story of the boy whose father could not get his rambunctious son to calm down and quit running around, so he picked his son up and sat him in a chair. The son told his dad, "I am sitting down on the outside but I am running around on the inside"? That's obedience without submission. God calls us to honor authority not just with our actions, but with genuine respect in our hearts. This seems impossible when dealing with difficult bosses, unfair teachers, or frustrating leaders. That's exactly the point. We can't manufacture this attitude on our own—only the Holy Spirit can change our hearts. When we obey "as unto the Lord," we're really serving Christ, not just human authority. This perspective transforms everything. You're not just working for your boss; you're working for Jesus. You're not just respecting your parents; you're honoring God.
Reflection: Ask God to reveal any areas where you're obeying outwardly but harboring rebellion inwardly.
Thursday Oct 30th
When to Stand
Reading: Acts 4:18-20 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard
Acts 5:27-29 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Devotional: While God calls us to submit to authority, there's a clear exception: when human authority contradicts God's commands. Peter and John faced this exact situation when religious leaders commanded them to stop preaching about Jesus. Their response? "We must obey God rather than men." This isn't a loophole for whenever we disagree with authority—it's a narrow exception for when we're explicitly told to deny Christ, commit sin, or stop proclaiming the gospel. Most of our complaints about authority aren't about these issues; they're about preferences, inconveniences, or disagreements. Before claiming the "God card," examine your heart honestly. Are you being asked to disobey Scripture, or do you simply dislike the decision? There's a significant difference. Stand firm when God's Word is at stake, but submit graciously in everything else.
Reflection: Have you ever used "conscience" as an excuse for simple disobedience or preference?
Friday Oct 31st
Trusting God's Purposes
Reading: Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Isaiah 40:13-14 13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD,
or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Devotional: Perhaps the hardest part of submitting to authority is trusting that God knows what He's doing when leaders seem incompetent or evil. A powerful illustration is with Pharaoh—a wicked ruler whom God specifically raised up to demonstrate His power and make His name known throughout the earth. God accomplished His purposes through Pharaoh's hardness. Forty years later, Rahab testified that all nations had heard what God did in Egypt. God doesn't consult us about His plans. He doesn't need our approval or understanding. He simply asks us to trust Him. When you face confusing circumstances, unjust treatment, or leaders you don't respect, remember: God does all things well. You may not see His purposes now, but one day you'll understand. Your job isn't to figure it out—it's to obey and trust.
Reflection: What situation in your life requires you to trust God's sovereignty even when you don't understand His purposes?