Today’s Reading, 2025 recap and 2026 preview
Focal Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.”
Reflection is necessary in your personal life. This is a practice I do everyday. I also do this after any major event or season in my life. Why? I believe that evaluating how I handle different situations helps me grow as a person. I ask myself questions that are hard and very personal. What mistakes did I make today? Was that mistake made because I was lazy or because I didn’t prepare? If no mistake was made, did I lead in a way that was biblical? How were the relationships in my life handled? Did I treat others with respect and show them the love of Christ? My self reflection gets even more detailed and personal than that over everything I do and lead. I tell all of this so you know I even evaluate what I write and what I am doing next concerning my journaling.
Today’s focal verse is where I landed after my evaluation. It is one of my favorite verses in all of the Bible. However, this year it means something different. Instead of it just being about preaching, it is about being prepared. Prepared for what? Prepared to give an answer to anyone and everyone who has questions about my beliefs and Jesus. I need to be better prepared to correct others, rebuke them if needed. The biggest area I need to work on from this verse is encouraging others and to be patient while teaching them biblical values.
I learned from this past year that my personal time with the Lord has to become more intentional and intense. I have to get deeper and more serious, especially in my prayer life. My Bible reading showed me that making deeper connections with the Lord will enhance and build my faith for the purpose of being his spokesperson. I also learned to always be ready to speak, preach, lead, and serve at a moments notice. I never know when doors will be opened. I am praying that the Lord will allow me to serve this year in a more formal setting as I miss leading Gods people. I am just not sure how that looks.
For the 2026 year I am going to make some changes in my personal devotion and writing, I am going to read the Bible chronologically. I have never read it this way and believe it will help me with a fresh perspective in my reading and observations. Personally, I am praying that God will grant me opportunities to preach, serve and lead to build his kingdom. I am not looking to be famous or popular, just obedient. I pray he uses my time as an educator to make much of his name.
I want to be ready in season and out of season no matter what I have experienced. The last 18 months have been difficult spiritually and personally. Witnessing what I did and seeing others ignore biblical truth was hurtful and quite honestly shocking. God has grown me through that observation and reminded me that he will judge the wicked and hold them accountable. My calling is to be faithful no matter what, especially when I have been faithful and not dropped details of what I have seen and heard.
God wants me to always be ready. He also wants you to be ready. Don’t allow the sins of others to deter you from faithful service. Being ready means being surrendered. Being ready means evaluating yourself for God’s service.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Genesis 1-3
