Sunday (1/30)

This Your Faith Journey devotional is walking through the first two books of the Bible, Genesis and Exodus, during January and February. There will be opportunities to continue reading the Old Testament books after the Lenten season in March and April. Below are some questions and suggestions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

2. Are you using a Study Bible?

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more.

The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

3. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

4. What do these verses teach me about myself?

5. What do these verses reveal about God?

6. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (1/31)

Read the following verses to center your heart and mind on the Lord:

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;

and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.

For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

– Psalm 22:27-28 NRSV

 

Sing, read lyrics, or listen to a song that helps you to worship the Lord.

 

Read Genesis 37. As you read it is helpful to remember that “Jacob” is also called “Israel” in these verses. In the account about Jacob’s son, Joseph, which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

If you have not read the previous chapters of Genesis, you are encouraged to watch the following Bible Project videos about the Old Testament, the first eleven chapters of Genesis, and chapters twelve through fifty as a way to help you understand the book of Genesis more clearly. The videos are available on YouTube:

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project:

 

Overview Genesis: 1-11 by the Bible Project:

 

Overview Genesis: 12-50 by the Bible Project:

 

Pray through your day, including what you will do, or what you have already done, the people you will be with, or those you already were with.

 

 

Tuesday (2/1)

Read the following verses to prepare your heart and mind for time with our God:

From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses,

are running back to God.

Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him.

God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.

– Psalm 22:27-28 MSG

 

Be silent for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord and remember that God is our creator and king. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, or kneel in a posture of humble submission and worship.

 

Read Genesis 39 to continue reading Joseph’s story. You are encouraged to use the questions and suggestions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Wednesday (2/2)

Read the following verses to focus on the Lord as you begin your devotional time:

The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.

All the families of the nations will bow down before him.

For royal power belongs to the LORD.

He rules all the nations.

– Psalm 22:27-28 NLT

 

Be silent for a few minutes to be with God to allow yourself to acknowledge him. You may find it helpful to lay face down on the ground, kneel, or bow down as you sit to form a posture of worshiping our God.

 

Read Genesis 40. Which word, phrase, or verse stands out to you from what you read? Let that message roll around in your mind throughout the day.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick,

imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)

• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

Thursday (2/3)Read the following verses to center your heart and mind on the Lord:From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses,are running back to God.Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him.God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.- Psalm 22:27-28 MSG Be silent for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord and remember that God is our creator and king. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, or kneel in a posture of humble submission and worship. Read Genesis 41:1-40. If you haven’t yet, choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time. Pray, offering thanksgiving and praise to God now and throughout the day. Friday (2/4)Read the following verses to prepare your heart and mind for time with our God:All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.- Psalm 22:27-28 NRSV Sing, read lyrics, or listen to a song that helps you to worship the Lord. Read Genesis 41:41-57. As you study the verses, you may find it helpful to use the questions and suggestions from the Sunday portion of this devotional. Pray lifting up whatever is in your heart and mind to the God who listens to our prayers. Remember that the Lord is our provider, sustainer, comforter, and counselor. Saturday (2/5)How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week. Read Psalm 1. You may find it helpful to return to this Psalm throughout the day. You could listen to one translation of the psalm from the YouVersion Bible App in the morning as a way to connect your day to God from the start, then read the psalm from a different translation during dinner or before going to bed. Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or thirty minutes. During your time of solitude & silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. For many believers the Holy Spirit does not speak in an audible voice. Instead, the Spirit will place a thought, phrase, verse from scripture, song, image, person, or idea in your heart and mind. Notice the physical sounds you hear and the way your body feels during this time of silence. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God. After the ten to fifteen minutes, then read the Bible verses listed below. Read Exodus 20:1-21. These verses are the Ten Commandments from God revealed to Moses while he was on Mount Sinai. The commandments were given to the Hebrew people who had recently been set free from slavery in Egypt.

• What do these commandments reveal about our relationship with God?
• What do the the commandments reveal about how we are supposed to treat other people?
• What do these verses reveal about the Sabbath?

 

Spend some time thinking about how you saw, heard, or experienced God working in your life this past week. You may find it helpful to write in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend. What did you learn about yourself, God, and others this past week?

 

Pray in response to the One who sets us free.