Daily Reading Week 7
Sunday
Matthew 6:4-13. 7:7-11
Discover:
Jesus teaches us to pray to “Our Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:9)—an awesome privilege. Once enemies of God, we have been redeemed, adopted as His children, and clothed in Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 8:14–17; 2 Cor. 5:21). We approach Him with filial awe, never terror, knowing no concern of ours is too small for His care.
Jesus compares us to earthly parents: even we, though evil, give good gifts to our children. How much more will our perfect Father give good things to those who ask in faith (Matt. 7:7–11)? He invites us to bring every need—daily bread, forgiveness, protection from temptation—trusting He answers when our requests align with His will (Matt. 6:11–13).
Yet the Lord’s Prayer does not center on our needs. It begins with God’s glory: “Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matt. 6:9–10). We pray first for His name to be revered as holy everywhere and for His kingdom to advance—that realm where His will is done freely and joyfully. As Calvin noted, this is a plea for God to enlighten the world with His Word, shape hearts by His Spirit, and restore order through His power.
True prayer seeks God’s kingdom and glory first. When we do, our personal needs find their proper place under His loving, trustworthy provision. “Seek first the kingdom of God…and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
Respond:
• How do you typically approach prayer?
• What helps prayer feel relational rather than routine?
Monday
Jeremiah 29 (focus v.12-13)
Discover:
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most cherished promises in Scripture: God declares He has plans for His people’s welfare, hope, and future. Yet the very next verses make the fulfillment of that promise hinge on this: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (vv. 12–13). Restoration—whether from exile or from our own spiritual bondage—comes when we pursue God with undivided devotion in prayer.
Do we? Or do we approach the throne casually, half-heartedly? Prayer is never a right we claim; it is a grace we receive only through Christ. “Through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). Because of His sacrifice, we may come—but we must come humbly, reverently, gratefully.
True prayer begins with awe at God’s holiness and gratitude for His mercy: He withholds the judgment we deserve and gives the blessing we never could earn. As Samuel urged, “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Sam. 12:24).
When we seek Him with our whole heart—not mechanically, not distractedly—He promises to be found. Not because we earn it, but because He is faithful to His covenant love.
Respond:
• What distractions most affect your prayer life?
• How can you create intentional space to meet with God?
tuesday
Psalm 145 (focus v.18)
Discover:
Every human empire eventually falls. Rome ruled the world until barbarians brought it down. A thousand years later, the Byzantine Empire was conquered, and Constantinople became Istanbul. The British Empire once spanned the globe, but after World War II it dissolved. Today, some wonder if we’re seeing the end of American dominance too.
Knowing this it is comforting to remember that God’s kingdom never ends. Human kingdoms depend on people’s allegiance, but the Lord’s throne stands firm forever—no matter how rebellious we are. As Psalm 145:13 declares, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.”
God’s reign is also over everything—every corner of creation. Scripture speaks of His kingdom in two ways:
• The joyful realm where His will is gladly obeyed (like Jesus teaches us to pray: “Your kingdom come” in Matthew 6:10). This is growing through the church and will be fully realized when Christ returns.
• His present, universal rule as Creator and King—right now, even when people ignore or resist Him. Psalm 145 celebrates this sovereign, unstoppable dominion.
What makes God’s rule so amazing is His
And for us who know Him? We get the incredible privilege of being His children—saved by grace, heard in prayer, and invited to bring every need to Him. As John Newton once wrote so beautifully:
“You are coming to a King— large petitions with you bring; for His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.”
Empires fade, but our King reigns forever—and He’s good, patient, and generous toward you. Bring your heart to Him.
Respond:
• Which part of the prayer pattern do you tend to skip?
• How can structure strengthen your prayer life?
Wednesday
Psalm 40 (focus v.1)
Discover:
Psalm 40 is one of those beautiful songs where David pours out his heart after God has rescued him from a desperate situation. He’s been pulled out of the pit, set on solid ground, and given a new song of praise (vv. 1–3). And what does he do? He can’t stop talking about God’s faithfulness, power, and goodness.
The heart of David’s praise is this: the right response to God’s deliverance isn’t just showing up for religious routines—it’s sincere worship from the heart and a life of steady obedience. As John Calvin put it so well, God isn’t impressed with empty ceremonies; He wants “sincerity of heart with faith and holiness of life.”
David says it plainly: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (v. 8). That’s not forced duty—it’s joyful surrender. God’s Word isn’t just something he reads; it’s written on his heart by the Holy Spirit, shaping his desires and decisions.
Sadly, it’s easy to settle for less. Some folks carry a church membership card, show up on Sunday, maybe even crack open a Bible now and then—but if the life outside the pew is unchanged and unholy, it reveals a heart that hasn’t truly been captured by grace.
True believers, though, find real delight in obeying God. It’s not perfection (we all stumble), but direction: pursuing holiness because we love the One who first loved us.
And here’s the best part—Psalm 40 points straight to Jesus. Hebrews 10 quotes it to show how Christ came and said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God” (Heb. 10:7). He perfectly fulfilled what the old sacrifices could never do. He obeyed fully, offered Himself fully, and now clothes us in His perfect righteousness.
So even when our obedience is imperfect and tainted by sin, we stand accepted before God because of Christ’s obedience, not ours. That frees us to keep looking to Him, trusting Him for the strength to delight in God’s will and walk in His ways.
Respond:
• Where do you need your desires aligned with God’s will?
• How does prayer help bring that alignment?
THursday
Colossians 4 (focus v.2)
Discover:
God-honoring prayer isn’t just about asking or confessing—it’s also full of thankful praise for all the good gifts our Father gives. Colossians 4:2 puts it simply: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Scripture shows us two main reasons for this. First, ingratitude is at the root of so much sin. In Romans 1, Paul traces humanity’s downward spiral back to two core failures: we suppress the truth about God and we refuse to give Him thanks (v. 21). Idolatry and ingratitude go hand in hand—they’re the soil where every other sin grows. Even after we’re born again, that old tendency lingers. The best way to fight it? Intentionally thank God in prayer for His kindnesses. Gratitude crowds out grumbling and turns our hearts back toward the true God.
Second, we’re so quick to forget. Think about the ten lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17:11–19. All ten were cleansed, but only one—a Samaritan—came back to thank Him. The other nine weren’t ungrateful in their hearts; they were thrilled to be healed! But they never said it. Like us so often, they took the blessing for granted and moved on.
We pray for ten things, God answers nine, and we fixate on the one “no”—overlooking the countless ways He’s already been good to us. A habit of specific thanksgiving reminds us of His mercy, keeps our eyes on His faithfulness, and guards us from that sneaky forgetfulness.
Respond:
• What are you currently waiting on God for?
• How can prayer sustain you during the waiting?
Friday
Psalm 105 (focus v.4)
Discover:
Jonathan Edwards, one of the greatest minds in Protestant history, gave us a profound insight in The End for Which God Created the World: God’s passionate pursuit of His own glory is never at odds with our deepest happiness. In fact, the very thing God seeks most—displaying the full splendor of who He is—is exactly what brings us the greatest joy.
How does that work? Because God is perfectly good, the highest good in all existence is… God Himself—His infinite worth, beauty, holiness, and majesty. He does all things for the sake of His name and will share His essential glory with no one (Isa. 48:11). So if His glory is the supreme good, then our truest, fullest joy must come from beholding it, rejoicing in it, and reflecting it back to Him. There simply isn’t anything greater that could satisfy us more.
Psalm 105 captures this beautifully: “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!” (v. 3). Notice the connection—glorying in God’s name (reveling in who He is) and rejoicing go hand in hand. We were made for this very purpose: to seek the Lord, to delight in His glory, and in doing so to find our hearts overflowing with joy. Isaiah puts it plainly: God created His people “for my glory” (Isa. 43:7).
And here’s the best news for us in Christ: because we’ve been redeemed by His blood, we have this sure promise: our Savior “is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 24). On that final day, God’s glory will be fully revealed. For those who reject Him, it will be a day of terror (Ezek. 30:3). But for those who belong to Him, it will be a day of uncontainable, eternal joy.
So seeking God’s glory isn’t a sacrifice that costs us our happiness—it’s the pathway to the fullness of it. When we deny ourselves for His sake, we’re not losing anything worthwhile. We’re gaining everything: the endless delight of being in the presence of the One who is most beautiful, most worthy, and most satisfying.
Respond:
• Where in my daily life am I seeking my own happiness or satisfaction apart from God’s glory?
• When was the last time I truly “gloried in His holy name” and felt genuine, deep rejoicing as a result?
• Am I living with the confident expectation that my greatest joy awaits in the full revelation of God’s glory on the last day?
Saturday
Hebrews 4 (focus v.16)
Discover:
One of the most comforting truths in the Bible is this: God isn’t distant or standoffish—He loves to come close to His people.
In Eden He walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8). Even after sin broke everything, He kept drawing near—first dwelling among Israel in the tabernacle, then in the temple (Ex. 40:34–38; 1 Kings 8:10–11). The closest He ever came however was in Jesus. The Son of God became fully human—like us in every way, “yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).
Hebrews 4:14–16 drives this home: Because Jesus is our sympathetic high priest who’s been tempted just like us (but never gave in), we can come boldly to God’s throne. When we need mercy and grace? Run to Him—right now, exactly as we are.
The warnings earlier in Hebrews about falling away are serious, but they don’t mean “Clean yourself up first, then maybe God will take you back.” That’s the opposite of the gospel. We don’t fix ourselves to earn God’s welcome—we come to Jesus because we can’t fix ourselves. He’s the only one who can.
So even at your lowest—when you’ve blown it again—don’t hide. Trust that the Father is gracious in Christ, then run to Him with confidence. Faith comes first: believe He wants to forgive and receive you. Repentance flows naturally from that trust—not as a way to earn favor, but as a grateful response to His kindness.
Jesus became one of us not just to pay for sin, but to invite us close—so we can approach God without fear, knowing He’ll meet us with exactly the mercy and help we need to keep going and grow in holiness.
Respond:
• How can prayer become more integrated into your daily routine?
• What rhythms help you stay connected to God?