Monday, August 4, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Mark 1

1 John 1:5
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 

I had to start with the main verse from our weekend message because it is a beacon of hope amidst the chaos in the world. 

To demonstrate the unshakable joy that comes from this truth, think about a time when you were at the ocean, watching the waves coming in and out. I bet it didn’t take long for the sounds of the sea to drown out all your worries. Or maybe you were walking along a path at your favorite park when, all of the sudden, a fawn popped out. Just seeing that wonderful surprise replaced whatever else was on your mind. 

I don’t know about you, but when I spend quality time in nature, just gazing on what God has created, I don’t find fault like I do in everything else. The birds fly and are fed. The rain waters the plants that grow. God has it handled. 

So why is it so hard to trust God to do the same in our lives?   

These words that John wrote so many years ago are a foundation we can stand upon, especially when life feels uncertain. God is perfect, and he sees it all. He has promised to provide us with all that is necessary to carry out his will and to deal with every injustice we encounter.

When we try to control our surroundings, friendships and situations to produce our own controlled outcomes, not only does it rarely work, but it’s also a sure way to become overwhelmed. Jesus offers us a better way.

We’re invited to surrender to Jesus, trading our ways for his.   

After we accept Jesus’ forgiveness and begin our adventure with him, we get to experience the powerful truth that he is the perfect light. As the bottom line states, we find real joy when we live in and from God’s light.

When we live from this light, we can trust God with all that burdens us. In exchange, we get unshakable joy! 

Questions:
Has there been a time when you’ve experienced God as the light?

Is it hard for you to believe there is no darkness in who God is? 

Next Steps:
Spend some quality time in nature. Look for the ways God takes care of his creation.

Write down how God has surprised you with his timing in the last year, and express to him how this made you feel. 

Prayer: 21 Days of Prayer - Day 1
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your great love for us, that you sent your son Jesus to die for our sins and to reconcile us to you. We praise you for your grace and mercy that are new every morning. We pray for our cities, Lord, that they may be places of peace, justice, and righteousness. We pray that you would protect the innocent, comfort the grieving, and restore the broken. We ask you to fill us with your love, Lord, that we may love one another as you have loved us. Help us to overcome evil with good, to forgive as you have forgiven us, and to serve one another in humility. Help us to be salt and light in this dark world, to shine your truth and grace to those who do not know you. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Psalm 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

This post was written by April Willer, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.