Wednesday, August 20, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: Mark 13
Overscheduling rarely feels dangerous in the moment. It starts small. A few extra commitments here, an added meeting there, until our calendars are so full that there’s no room left for what matters most. That’s how deception creeps in. It doesn’t wave a red flag. It quietly fills the margins, and before we know it, our peace and priorities are off course.
Each year, I buy a new planner and promise myself I will be “less busy” that year. And let me tell you, I don’t just grab any planner off the shelf. I go on a mission. Over the years, I’ve tried them all.
In January, those clean pages hold my best intentions. But little by little, other things fill those spots. Nothing inherently bad, but the slow drift from my original priorities is real. By this time each year, my schedule is overflowing, and I tell myself, “It’s just for this season.” In reality, I’ve bought into the distortion that I can crowd my life and still have peace.
That’s how deception works. It doesn’t always shout, “Turn away from God!” Instead, it whispers subtle distortions of truth: “This won’t hurt.” or “God’s fine with it.” Over time, these shifts pull us off course of God’s plan.
In 1 John 2:26-27, John warns us to stay alert, but he also reassures us that we don’t have to live fearful or cynical lives. The Holy Spirit, God himself, lives within us, guiding us into truth. He reminds us of what Jesus has said, steadies our hearts when uncertainty creeps in, and brings clarity when confusion swirls around us.
When life gets extra busy, it's critical to stay connected to God. Spend time in his Word, talk to him daily, and invite the Spirit into your decisions. Distortion loses its power when we remain in fellowship with Christ. His truth is not just something we know; it is someone walking alongside us.
1 John 2:26-27
26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Questions:
Can you think of a time when a “small” compromise slowly pulled you off track?
What practices help you notice the difference between God’s truth and a distorted idea?
How can you remain in God this week, even if life gets noisy?
Next Steps:
This week, set aside ten minutes each morning to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may have believed a distorted truth, even a small one. Write down what comes to mind and replace it with a scriptural truth.
Prayer: 21 Days of Prayer - Day 17
Heavenly Father, we praise you for the gift of community and the joy of neighbors. We ask for your peace and protection over our neighborhood and every home in it. We pray you would fill our streets with grace and mercy, and that you would teach us to love one another as you have loved us. We lift up to you those who are sick, hurting, or lonely, and we ask for your healing and comfort in their lives. Lord, we desire that our neighborhood be a place where your presence is known and your name is glorified. Help us to be good neighbors who shine your love and light to the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, 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 Monique Myers, a Perrysburg attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.