Thursday, April 9, 2026

Bible in a Year: Psalms 146-148 | Matthew 1

Have you ever felt the urge to keep your faith quiet? Like it’s safer to believe in Jesus privately, rather than saying it out loud? Maybe you’ve wondered what others might think, or if you’ll say the wrong thing. So you hold it in.

But that was never God’s plan.

Romans 10:9-10
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

The apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that salvation isn’t meant to stay hidden. When we believe in our hearts and declare with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, we step fully into the life he’s offering. Faith is meant to be expressed.

Jesus didn’t hide his love for us. He carried it all the way to the cross - publicly, boldly, sacrificially. And we’re invited to live that same kind of open, unashamed faith.

For me, stepping into that kind of faith means sharing my God story. The real story. Not the polished version, but the one that includes a childhood marked by brokenness, questions, and moments that could have easily defined me differently. God stepped in. He redeemed what I couldn’t. He healed what I didn’t know how to fix.

Now, I choose to share it.

Not because I have it all together, but because I don’t. I am a broken vessel that is filled with his Spirit for a purpose far greater than anything I could imagine. And I’ve come to understand something humbling: I will never fully know the impact God has made through my obedience. 

So I keep saying yes.

And that’s the invitation for all of us.

When you say yes to Jesus, not just in your heart, but with your voice, your actions, your story, you are stepping into new life. Baptism, sharing your faith, and encouraging others are part of God’s plan.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You just have to be willing.

Because your story matters. Your voice matters. Your declaration points others to Jesus.

This has always been God’s plan: not just to save us, but to shine through us.

So don’t hide what he’s done.

Say it. Live it. Share it.

Questions:
Where in your life have you been keeping your faith quiet instead of openly living it out?

What is one part of your story that God may be inviting you to share to encourage someone else?

Next Steps:
Today, take one bold but simple step and share a piece of your faith out loud. This could be telling a friend what God has done in your life, posting a short encouragement on social media, or signing up for baptism if you haven’t yet. Don’t overthink it, just say yes.

Prayer: 
Jesus, thank you for saving me and giving me new life. I believe in my heart that you are Lord, and today, I choose to not keep that to myself. Give me courage to speak, to share, and to live my faith out loud. Use my story, especially the broken and redeemed part, for your glory. Even when I don’t feel ready, remind me that you are working through me. I say “yes” to you again today. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

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