Devotionals

This week’s devotionals are based on the Sanctified Art’s Daily Devotional Series: “Tell Me Something Good” by Rev. Sarah R. Speed. www.sanctifiedart.org

Mark 6:32-44

And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (CEB)

Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.

Reflection: Jesus charged the disciples to feed the crowds. What is Jesus charging you to do in this season of life? Good news mantra: Together, we can make a difference.

Prayer: Jesus of Nazareth, you could have fed the crowds that day, but instead you had your disciples break bread and pass baskets. You had the disciples feed the crowds before you. In this season of life, what are you charging me to do? In this season of life, how would you like me to grow, to serve, to connect, to partner with others? Amen.

Reflection: What is a dream you have for yourself, your church, or the world? Good news mantra: Together, we can make a difference.

Prayer: Out-of-the-box God, I dream of a vibrant church full of intergenerational joy. I dream of a country without hunger and a world without war. I dream of a neighborhood where we know each other’s names, and a city where we eradicate poverty. I have dreams stacked upon dreams and can’t help but wonder—what if they aren’t impossible? Show me the work that is mine to do. Amen.

Reflection: Who in your life helps you believe that you can make a difference? Good news mantra: Together, we can make a difference.

Prayer: Calling God, you have placed people in my life who inspire me to be a better Christian, a better neighbor, a better version of myself. Those people are like beacons of light in the night, calling me forward and calling me home. Show me how to adopt the courage, the conviction, and the compassion that these saints model for me. And if possible, show me how to be a light for someone else. Amen.

Reflection: The gospel is full of stories of surprising good. What does this teach us about God? Good news mantra: Together, we can make a difference.

Prayer: Jesus of Nazareth, time and time again you did the unexpected. You ate with outcasts. You healed on the Sabbath. You flipped tables in the Temple. You welcomed the children. Time and time again, you reinterpreted the law and bent the rules, all in the name of love. What surprising good are you up to today? I don’t want to miss it! Amen.

Reflection: Where do you see signs, even small ones, that the impossible might already be shifting? How is God at work around you in ways that give you hope? Good news mantra: Together, we can make a difference.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the quiet ways your kin-dom is already breaking in. So often I look for big signs when the truth is that you move through small mercies, everyday kindness, and ordinary acts of courage. Help me notice the places where healing is budding and justice is taking root. Let these glimpses of your movement steady my hope and soften my heart. And as I see the work you are already doing, draw me into it with humility and trust. Amen.

Reflection: What strength, gift, or resource can you contribute to the work God is already doing—and how might it join with the strengths of others? Good news mantra: Together, we can make a difference.

Prayer: Collaborating Christ, you never meant for us to do this work alone. From the very beginning, you gathered people and showed us that transformation is born in community. So today I offer what I have: my gifts and my questions, my courage and my care. Take these small pieces and weave them into the good you are already doing in the world. Remind me that my offering matters and that its impact grows when joined with the offerings of others. Amen.