Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Bible in a Year: ❏ Genesis 28-31 | ❏ Mark 8
The world is a noisy place. Everywhere we go, we hear about things that will fulfill us. We are promised more time, pleasure, peace, and rest. Yet, when we fall into bed after a day of “more,” we feel empty. We wake up after a restless night, ready to embrace all the more with a little hope but also a little trepidation, fearing that the more might be our end.
This is not the life to which Christ calls his followers. He promises that our desires for more are all met in him. He is the water our thirsty souls long for.
John 7:37-38
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
Conceptually, we can understand that Christ is all we need, but when it comes to living our daily lives, it seems out of reach. It’s easier to scroll through social media than it is to spend time in the Bible. If we do manage to find time to read the Bible, we read our devotional, verse, or chapter, and then move on.
Yet with this mindset, how can we expect to grow in our love and knowledge of Christ? We would never expect to form a relationship with another person through one text a day. The same can be said about our relationship with Jesus. We need to spend intentional, purposeful time with him to obtain the peace that he promises.
One spiritual practice that helps us grow is meditation. Meditation in a Christian sense should not be confused with Eastern meditation. It involves filling our mind, not emptying it.
We read the Word and then dwell on how it should change our behaviors. We dwell on Christ’s character and how we can become more like him. Initially, it will be challenging because we are so accustomed to constant noise. However, as we practice intentional times of quiet and meditation, our skills and enjoyment of the exercise will increase.
Soon we will find that the Holy Spirit speaks to us throughout the day. Then, and only then, will we find the peace we desire, even when the chaos is swirling around us.
Questions:
How much time do you spend in silence every day? How could you integrate more intentional times of silence into your life?
How can you integrate the practice of dwelling on what you read in the Bible into your life?
Next Steps:
Try dwelling! Set aside 5 minutes each day for the rest of this week to think about our series’ memory verse. Spend time trying to memorize it, and then think about what it means. If you need to start smaller, contemplate the theme verse during a short walk. (No listening to anything on your phone!)
21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 10
Today’s Prayer Focus: To Connect with God Relationally
Prayer:
Father, I come to you in prayer today, thankful that I am your child. You have forgiven me and adopted me as your own. You have made me righteous and restored our relationship. I am so grateful that you are my Father. Thank you for loving me. I love you. In Jesus' name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 2:1
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
This post was written by Julie Mabus, a Whitehouse attendee and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.