Day 1: Back to the Beginning
Devotional Have you ever wondered why Jesus called His disciples back to Galilee after His resurrection? It wasn’t random—it was intentional. Galilee was where it all began for them. It was where they first heard His voice, first saw His miracles, first decided to follow Him. Sometimes in our spiritual journey, we need to return to our beginning too. Not physically, but spiritually. We need to remember that first moment when Jesus captured our hearts, when His love became real to us, when we said yes to following Him. Life has a way of complicating things. We add layers of expectations, performance, and religious activity that can cloud the simple beauty of our relationship with Christ. But Jesus is always calling us back to that place of beginning—back to the wonder, back to the simplicity, back to the love that started it all. When the disciples returned to Galilee, they were returning to familiar ground where they could remember who they were before they tried to be who they thought they should be. In that place of beginning, Jesus met them again. He always does. Your beginning with Jesus might have been in a church, at a camp, in your bedroom, or during a difficult season. The location doesn’t matter—what matters is remembering the heart connection that started your journey. That’s where everything opens up again.
Bible Verse
‘Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”‘ – Matthew 28:16-20
Reflection Question
What was your ‘Galilee moment’—that place or time when you first encountered Jesus in a real way, and how can returning to that memory refresh your faith today?
Quote Jesus is calling them back to the place of their beginning. That’s where they met Jesus. That’s where they first heard him.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for calling me back to the beginning. Help me remember the wonder and simplicity of when I first said yes to You. Strip away the complications and help me find You again in that place where it all started. Amen.
Day 2: Imperfect and Chosen
Devotional It’s remarkable that Jesus chose to entrust the future of His kingdom to eleven men who still struggled with doubt. Even after witnessing the resurrection, Matthew tells us that some of them doubted. Yet Jesus didn’t wait for them to get their act together. He didn’t require a faith assessment or a spiritual maturity test. This should encourage every one of us who feels inadequate or imperfect. You might look at your life and see the gaps, the struggles, the areas where you’re still growing. You might think, ‘God could never use someone like me.’ But that’s exactly the kind of person God loves to use. Perfect people don’t exist, so God has chosen to build His kingdom with imperfect, incomplete people who simply keep showing up. He’s not looking for your perfection—He’s looking for your presence. He’s not waiting for you to have it all figured out—He’s inviting you to partner with Him right where you are. The disciples’ doubt didn’t disqualify them; it made them relatable. Their imperfections didn’t eliminate them; it made them authentic. Their struggles didn’t sideline them; it made them human. God sees your heart, not just your performance. He sees your willingness, not just your ability. He sees your potential, not just your past. When you feel inadequate, remember that you’re in good company with those first disciples who changed the world despite their doubts.
Bible Verse
‘God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”‘ – Genesis 1:28
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life do you feel too imperfect or inadequate to be used by God, and how might He want to use those very areas for His glory?
Quote He doesn’t use perfect people. You know why? There isn’t any. He uses us and he partners with us.
Prayer
Father, thank You for choosing imperfect people like me. Help me stop waiting for perfection and start showing up with willingness. Use my weaknesses to display Your strength and my doubts to deepen my dependence on You. Amen.
Day 3: Cosmic Gardeners
Devotional From the very beginning, God had a beautiful plan for humanity. We weren’t created just to exist—we were created with purpose. God made us to be ‘cosmic gardeners,’ partners with Him in making the whole world flourish like Eden. This original calling was both relational and missional. God wanted to be in relationship with us, and He wanted us to join Him in His work of bringing life, beauty, and order to the world. We were designed to be His image-bearers, reflecting His character and extending His kingdom wherever we went. But something went wrong. The fall broke this beautiful partnership. Through sin and death, the authority God had given us was transferred to the enemy. What was meant to be a garden became a wilderness. What was meant to be partnership became separation. Yet this brokenness wasn’t the end of the story. It was the setup for the greatest comeback in history. Jesus came to wrestle back what was lost, to restore what was broken, to reclaim the authority that had been stolen. Understanding this bigger picture changes everything about how we see our lives and our purpose. We’re not just trying to get by until heaven—we’re called to be part of God’s restoration project. Every act of love, every moment of service, every word of encouragement is part of making the world more like it was meant to be.
Bible Verse
‘And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”‘ – Genesis 2:16-17
Reflection Question
How does understanding your original calling as a ‘cosmic gardener’ change the way you view your daily responsibilities and opportunities to serve others?
Quote We’re sort of cosmic gardeners. That’s what we were called to be. That’s what Adam and Eve were called to be.
Prayer
Lord, help me see my life through the lens of Your original design. Show me how to be a gardener in my corner of the world, bringing life and beauty wherever You place me. Restore in me the joy of partnering with You. Amen.
Day 4: Authority Restored
Devotional The most powerful moment in human history wasn’t just about forgiveness—it was about restoration. When Jesus declared that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him, He was announcing that the cosmic coup was over. The enemy’s reign was finished. What had been stolen was now reclaimed. But here’s the incredible part: Jesus didn’t keep this authority to Himself. Just as God had originally given authority to humanity in the garden, Jesus gives it back to us. The Great Commission isn’t just a nice suggestion—it’s a restoration of our original calling with divine backing. This changes everything about how we approach life. We’re not victims of circumstances or slaves to fear. We’re not powerless against the darkness in our world. We have been given authority—not because we earned it, but because Jesus won it back for us. This authority isn’t about dominating others or getting our way. It’s about partnering with Jesus to bring His kingdom to earth. It’s about speaking life into dead situations, bringing hope to hopeless places, and demonstrating God’s love in practical ways. The authority Jesus gave you is still yours. You don’t have to earn it again or prove you’re worthy of it. You just need to step back into it, knowing that the One who holds all authority is the same One who never leaves your side.
Bible Verse
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”‘ – Matthew 28:16-20
Reflection Question
What would change in your daily life if you truly believed and lived from the reality that Jesus has given you His authority to make a difference in the world?
Quote He takes that authority that initially had been given to us. He takes it back. And now he has the authority. He wrestles it away from the evil one and he gives it once again.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for winning back what was lost and sharing Your authority with me. Help me step confidently into this calling, knowing that Your power backs up Your purposes. Show me how to use this authority to serve others and advance Your kingdom. Amen.
Day 5: Never Alone
Devotional The Great Commission begins with ‘all authority’ and ends with ‘always with you.’ This isn’t coincidence—it’s the complete truth that transforms everything. The One who holds ultimate power in the universe promises to never leave your side. Think about what this means for your Monday morning, your difficult conversation, your financial stress, your health concern, your relationship struggle. You’re not facing any of it alone. The same Jesus who has authority over every situation is the same Jesus who walks with you through every moment. This promise pushes away fear, doubt, and despair. They lose their grip when we live with constant awareness of His presence and power in our lives. You don’t have to be strong enough, smart enough, or brave enough on your own—you just have to show up knowing He’s with you. God sees you. He has never left your side. His eyes have been on you the whole time. In your victories and your failures, in your confidence and your confusion, in your mountaintop moments and your valley experiences—He’s been there. This isn’t just a nice theological concept—it’s a daily reality that changes how you walk through life. When you let this truth settle on you, it gives you courage to step into opportunities, strength to face challenges, and peace to rest in His love. You are never alone. The One with all authority is always with you. That changes everything.
Bible Verse
‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ – Matthew 28:20
Reflection Question
How would your approach to today’s challenges and opportunities change if you lived with constant awareness that Jesus is right there with you?
Quote The one who holds all authority is the same one who never leaves your side.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise that You are always with me. Help this truth sink deep into my heart and transform how I face each day. When fear tries to grip me, remind me of Your presence. When doubt whispers lies, let me hear Your voice of truth. I am never alone because You are always with me. Amen.
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