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Day 1: The God Who Weeps

Devotional Have you ever felt that your pain was too much for others to handle? That your grief was too heavy to share? Many of us carry our sorrows alone, believing that no one could truly understand. But there’s something profound we learn from Jesus at Lazarus’s tomb. Despite knowing He would soon perform a miracle, Jesus wept. The Creator of the universe, the One who holds all power, chose to enter into human grief and share in it. This wasn’t just a display of emotion – it was a demonstration of His deep love and compassion for us. When we hurt, He hurts. When we grieve, He grieves. This intimate portrait of Jesus shows us that we never walk through our valleys alone.

Bible Verse

‘Jesus wept.’ – John 11:35

Reflection Question

What areas of pain or grief have you been hesitant to bring to Jesus, thinking they might be too much for Him to handle?

Quote Jesus cares deeply for us and what we go through. Jesus loved his friends. You’re his friend, he loves you.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for being a God who enters into our pain rather than standing distant from it. Help me to trust you with my deepest hurts, knowing that you understand and care. Give me the courage to bring my whole heart to you. Amen.

Day 2: Unafraid of Our Mess

Devotional We often try to clean ourselves up before approaching God. Like hiding a messy room when guests are coming over, we attempt to conceal our brokenness, thinking it might repel Him. But Jesus demonstrates a different reality. At Lazarus’s tomb, despite the warnings about the stench of death, Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away. He wasn’t repelled by the decay; He moved toward it with purpose. This same Jesus moves toward our mess today. He’s not waiting for us to get our act together. He’s not standing at a distance until we figure everything out. He steps right into our chaos, our brokenness, our ‘stench’ – because that’s exactly where His transformative power works best.

Bible Verse

But Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’ – John 11:39

Reflection Question

What areas of your life have you been trying to clean up before bringing them to God?

Quote Jesus isn’t afraid of the mess and the brokenness in our lives. He’s not afraid of the stench of humanity. It’s exactly why he came.

Prayer

Father, thank you that you’re not afraid of my mess. Help me to stop hiding and start trusting you with every broken piece of my life. Thank you for your transforming power that works even in my darkest places. Amen.

Day 3: From Death to Life

Devotional Life change doesn’t happen in isolation. Just as Lazarus needed others to remove his grave clothes after Jesus called him forth, we too need community in our journey from death to life. When Jesus performed this miracle, He involved others in the process. Some rolled away the stone, others unwrapped Lazarus from his grave clothes. This pattern continues today. While Jesus alone has the power to bring spiritual life, He often uses His people to help each other walk in that new life. We need fellow believers to encourage us, speak truth to us, and sometimes help us unwrap from old patterns and beliefs that no longer fit our new life in Christ.

Bible Verse

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ – John 11:25-26

Reflection Question

Who has God placed in your life to help you walk in your new identity, and how can you be that person for someone else?

Quote We help each other move from death to life. Iron sharpens iron.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of community. Help me to be both humble enough to receive help and available to help others. Show me how to live out my new life in Christ alongside fellow believers. Amen.

Day 4: Living as a Fragrant Offering

Devotional When Jesus transforms a life, He doesn’t just remove the old – He creates something new and beautiful. The same power that raised Lazarus from death transforms us from bearing the stench of death to becoming a sweet fragrance of life. This transformation isn’t just for our benefit; it’s meant to draw others to Christ. When we live in the freedom and joy of our new life in Christ, it becomes noticeable to others. Our lives become living testimonies of God’s transforming power, attracting others to the hope we’ve found in Jesus.

Bible Verse

Then Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ – John 11:39

Reflection Question

How has your life become a testimony of God’s transforming power, and how can you let that light shine more brightly?

Quote See, when you live that life that you’re called to, it’s attractive. It is a fragrant offering to the Lord and it attracts others to the Lord.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for making me new. Help me to live in such a way that others see Your transforming power in my life. Use me to draw others to You. Amen.

Day 5: Stepping Into Freedom

Devotional Freedom in Christ isn’t just a future promise – it’s a present reality. Just as Jesus called Lazarus out of his tomb, He calls us to step out of whatever has been holding us captive. Whether it’s past regrets, current struggles, or fears about the future, Jesus’s resurrection power is available now. But like Lazarus, we must respond to His call. We must choose to step out of our tomb, allow others to help remove our grave clothes, and walk in the new life He provides. This journey begins with a simple ‘yes’ to Jesus, but it continues as we daily choose to walk in the freedom He provides.

Bible Verse

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’ – John 11:44

Reflection Question

What ‘grave clothes’ is Jesus asking you to leave behind as you step into the freedom He offers?

Quote Let Jesus rob that grave in your life.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for the freedom you offer. Give me courage to step out of my tomb and leave behind whatever has been holding me captive. Help me to fully embrace the new life you provide. Amen.

Join us at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online or connect with our Bible Institute for more sermons, courses, etc.

Day 1: Beyond Blame

Devotional When faced with suffering, our first instinct is often to search for someone to blame. We see this pattern in the disciples’ response to the blind man – immediately questioning whose sin caused his condition. Yet Jesus reveals a profound truth that challenges our perspective on suffering. Instead of focusing on fault, He redirects our attention to God’s redemptive purpose. This shift in perspective is transformative. Rather than seeing problems as punishment, we can begin to look for ways God might work through difficult situations. Today, consider how viewing challenges through the lens of God’s potential purpose, rather than blame, might change your response to difficulties in your life or the lives of others.

Bible Verse

‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’ – John 9:3

Reflection Question

How might your response to challenges change if you looked for God’s potential purpose rather than searching for someone to blame?

Quote Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Prayer

Lord, help me shift my perspective from finding fault to seeking Your purpose. Give me eyes to see how You might work through difficult situations in my life. Transform my tendency to blame into an expectation of Your redemptive work. Amen.

Day 2: Spiritual Blindness

Devotional Just as physical blindness affects our ability to see the world around us, spiritual blindness impacts our ability to recognize God’s truth and presence in our lives. This condition isn’t limited to those who don’t believe – even those deeply involved in religious practice can be spiritually blind, as demonstrated by the Pharisees in this story. The good news is that Jesus offers healing for our spiritual blindness. He meets us where we are and opens our eyes to see Him more clearly. This process often happens gradually, just as the blind man’s understanding of Jesus grew from seeing Him as merely a man to recognizing Him as Lord.

Bible Verse

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life might you be experiencing spiritual blindness, preventing you from seeing God’s work or truth?

Quote This man born blind in John chapter nine really represents all of humanity that’s born into the world except for Jesus. We’re all born in spiritually blind.

Prayer

Jesus, open my spiritual eyes to see You more clearly. Remove any blindness that prevents me from recognizing Your presence and work in my life. Help me grow in my understanding of who You are. Amen.

Day 3: Breaking Free from Religious Boxes

Devotional It’s easy to create mental boxes that limit how we think God should work. The Pharisees had such rigid ideas about God that they missed His miraculous work right in front of them. Their story serves as a warning about how religious traditions and predetermined views can blind us to God’s active presence. God often works in unexpected ways that don’t fit our preconceptions. When we hold too tightly to our ideas about how God should work, we risk missing the amazing things He’s actually doing. Today, consider where you might need to loosen your grip on religious expectations to see God’s work more clearly.

Bible Verse

Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked, ‘How can a sinner perform such signs?’ So they were divided. – John 9:16

Reflection Question

What religious traditions or expectations might be preventing you from recognizing God’s work in new or unexpected ways?

Quote We often miss what God is doing right in front of us because we’ve got our own little boxes we try and keep God in.

Prayer

Father, help me release any rigid expectations about how You should work. Open my heart to recognize Your presence and activity, even when it doesn’t match my preconceptions. Give me wisdom to distinguish Your truth from human tradition. Amen.

Day 4: The Journey to Spiritual Sight

Devotional Spiritual understanding often develops progressively, like the blind man’s growing recognition of who Jesus was. He first knew Jesus as simply ‘a man,’ then as a prophet, and finally as the Son of God worthy of worship. This progression reminds us that spiritual growth is a journey, not a destination. Each step brings clearer vision and deeper understanding. God patiently works with us, revealing more of Himself as we’re ready to receive it. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t understand everything at once – celebrate each new insight as part of your journey toward fuller spiritual sight.

Bible Verse

Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him. – John 9:38

Reflection Question

How has your understanding of who Jesus is grown and developed over time?

Quote The process there is so cool, right? It’s a guy named Jesus. For the guy, well, he’s a prophet. He’s a man of God. He’s the Son of God, the Messiah.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for patiently revealing more of Yourself to me. Continue to open my eyes to see You more clearly. Help me embrace each step of growth in my spiritual journey. Amen.

Day 5: Found by Jesus

Devotional After the healed man was thrown out of the synagogue, Jesus sought him out. This beautiful detail reveals the heart of God – He actively seeks those who are rejected and isolated. When religious leaders offered no hope and cast the man out, Jesus deliberately looked for him. This same seeking love extends to us today. No matter where we are or what circumstances we face, Jesus is actively looking for us, wanting to reveal Himself more fully. He doesn’t wait for us to find Him – He takes the initiative in seeking relationship with us.

Bible Verse

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ – John 9:35

Reflection Question

How does it affect your view of God to know that He actively seeks relationship with you, even in times of rejection or isolation?

Quote Jesus heard that they’d thrown him out when he found him. So that means he was looking for him.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for seeking me out. Help me recognize Your pursuing love in my life, especially during times when I feel rejected or alone. Draw me into deeper relationship with You. Amen.

Join us at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online or connect with our Bible Institute for more sermons, courses, etc.

Day 1: Surrendering Control

Devotional We often try to shape God according to our own plans and desires. Like the crowds who wanted to make Jesus king by force, we sometimes attempt to mold Him into what we think He should be. But Jesus’s response teaches us a powerful lesson – He withdrew from their attempts to control Him because His mission was far greater than their immediate desires. This challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we trying to fit Jesus into our plans, or are we willing to fit into His?

Bible Verse

When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. – John 6:15

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life are you trying to make Jesus fit into your plans rather than surrendering to His?

Quote Too often we try to fit Jesus into our own plans. It’s like, well, I think this way Jesus must agree with me, because I’m right, of course.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve tried to control You instead of surrendering to Your will. Help me to trust Your plans above my own. Give me the courage to let go of my need for control and to follow Your leading. Amen.

Day 2: The Divine Presence

Devotional When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to think we’re alone in our struggles. But just as Jesus walked on water to reach His disciples in their storm, He comes to us in our moments of fear and uncertainty. His words ‘It is I’ carry profound meaning – they echo God’s declaration of His own name in the Old Testament. This reveals that Jesus isn’t just offering help; He’s bringing God’s very presence into our storms.

Bible Verse

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I am here!” – John 6:20

Reflection Question

How does knowing that Jesus actively comes to you in your struggles change your perspective on current challenges?

Quote Jesus sees us in our struggles, no matter what storm we’re facing, whether it’s grief, loss, illness, financial hardships, relational betrayal. He’s watching over us.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for being Emmanuel, God with us. Help me to recognize Your presence in my struggles and to find comfort in knowing You’re right here with me. Amen.

Day 3: Walking Through Storms

Devotional We often pray for God to remove our storms, but sometimes His plan is to walk with us through them instead. This isn’t a sign of His absence or lack of care – it’s actually a profound expression of His presence and love. Just as He was with the disciples in their boat, He remains with us through our trials. His presence doesn’t always calm the storm immediately, but it always calms our hearts in the midst of it.

Bible Verse

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8

Reflection Question

What storm in your life do you need to trust God to walk through with you rather than asking Him to remove it?

Quote So often we pray God, remove the storm. Remove the storm. I don’t want to go through this. Sometimes he just chooses to walk with us through it instead.

Prayer

Father, give me the faith to trust You in the midst of my storms. Help me to find peace not in the absence of troubles, but in Your presence through them. Amen.

Day 4: The Ultimate Storm Bearer

Devotional Just as Jonah was thrown into the sea to calm the storm for others, Jesus took on the ultimate storm – death itself – for our salvation. This wasn’t just a display of power; it was an act of sacrificial love. When we face our own storms, we can find comfort knowing that our Savior has already endured the greatest storm possible out of love for us. He understands our struggles because He chose to experience human suffering firsthand.

Bible Verse

Then they picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! – Jonah 1:15

Reflection Question

How does Jesus’s willingness to face the ultimate storm for you impact your trust in Him during difficult times?

Quote Just as Jonah was thrown into the sea to calm the storm for the sailors, Jesus was thrown into the storm of death so we could be saved.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for bearing the ultimate storm for my sake. Help me to rest in Your sacrificial love and find strength in knowing You understand my struggles. Amen.

Day 5: Our Unshakeable Foundation

Devotional Life is unpredictable and often challenging, but Jesus offers Himself as our unshakeable foundation. He’s not just a guide through the storms; He’s our refuge in them. While we can’t control the circumstances around us, we can anchor ourselves to the One who remains steady through every storm. His presence provides stability when everything else seems to be falling apart.

Bible Verse

Then God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” – Exodus 3:14

Reflection Question

What areas of your life need to be rebuilt on the foundation of Christ rather than on shifting circumstances?

Quote Our greatest refuge is Jesus himself. Life’s unpredictable. It’s hard, it’s challenging. But he is our unshakable foundation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for being my unshakeable foundation. Help me to build my life on You rather than on temporary securities. Be my refuge in every storm. Amen.

Join us at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online or connect with our Bible Institute for more sermons, courses, etc.