Sunday (5/1)

Jesus’ earliest disciples had a living relationship with the holy scriptures. Those of us who are Jesus’ followers today need a living relationship with The Holy Bible. As part of our living relationship with the Bible, we are reading and studying the Old Testament in 2022. This Your Faith Journey devotional will provide you with a reading plan to help you to read and study much of the Old Testament this year. Throughout January and February, we read and studied the books of Genesis and Exodus. During the Lenten season, we turned our focus to the Gospel According to Luke, but now we are returning to the Old Testament books. Since Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are a continuation of the story in Exodus, we will turn our attention to Numbers this week. If you did not read the books of Genesis and Exodus, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about the Old Testament. The video is available on YouTube.

TaNaK/Old Testament by the Bible Project

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

Which of these characters would I be?

In what ways is their story similar to my story?

7. Read, study, and discuss scripture with a small group or another person.

8. Are you using a Study Bible?

A Study Bible is a very helpful tool for understanding each book of the Bible. They include information shared by scholars about historical and cultural realities during the time depicted or the era of the document, the author, when the book might have been written, the intended audience of the document, themes and messages within a book or letter, and more.

The NIV, NRSV, ESV, and NLT Study Bibles are worth considering if you do not own one. There are a few available from the AUMC Library in the back of the Chapel. You can also purchase a Study Bible from ChristianBook.com, Cokesbury.com, or Amazon.com.

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online for free.

 

 

Monday (5/2)

Read the verse below from Psalm 118 to prepare yourself for time with the Lord:

 

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 118:1 NRSV

 

If you have not watched it already, you are encouraged to watch the Bible Project video about The Book of Numbers to understand it more clearly. The video is available on YouTube:

The Book of Numbers by the Bible Project

 

Read Numbers 14:5-45. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray through your day, including for the people you will be with, or have been with, as well as what you will do, or what you have done.

 

 

Tuesday (5/3)

Read Psalm 118:1 to prepare your heart for time with our God.

 

Be silent for a few minutes to turn your heart and mind towards the Lord as you seek to be with him, the One who is the source of living water. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time of being led to the “peaceful streams” by the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:2 NLT).

 

Read Numbers 20. You are encouraged to use the suggestions and questions on the list from the Sunday portion of this devotional during your study time.

 

Pray for:

• Those closest to you (family members & friends)
• Those who point others towards God (pastors, teachers, mentors, authors, musicians, etc.)
• Leaders (locally, nationally, and globally)
• People in need throughout the world (the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, imprisoned, neglected, abused, lost, etc.)

• Yourself (share your needs and invite the Lord to guide you)

 

 

Wednesday (5/4)

Read Psalm 118:1 to prepare yourself for time with the Lord.

 

Read Numbers 21:4-9. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you today from what you read?

 

Pray however you feel led to pray.

 

 

Thursday (5/5)

Read Psalm 118:1 to focus on being grateful today.

 

Be silent for a few minutes imagining God using you as his messenger. The messages might be shared in person, over the phone, in written form, or a combination of all of these ways. Think about how you have seen and experienced the steadfast love of God that endures forever. Imagine sharing that as one of the messages God sends you to proclaim to family members, friends, neighbors, and whoever your path crosses today. You may find it helpful to sit, lay down with your face towards the ground, kneel, or walk during this time with the Lord.

 

Read Numbers 22:1-38. If you haven’t yet, choose a question or two from the Sunday list of this devotional to wrestle with as part of your study time.

 

Pray in response to God using the ACTS acronym as a guide:

Adoration (praise the Lord)

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication (share your needs & the needs of others)

 

 

Friday (5/6)

Read Psalm 118:1 to seek to center yourself in God.

 

Before you begin reading and studying the next book of the Bible, you are encouraged to watch The Book of Deuteronomy video by the Bible Project that is available on Youtube:

The Book of Deuteronomy by the Bible Project

 

Read Deuteronomy 1:1-8 and 5:1-33. Which of the Ten Commandments stands out to you? Why?

 

Pray that the Lord helps you and our congregation to faithfully follow Jesus and live the AUMC virtues revealed in Christ, which includes humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love.

 

 

Saturday (5/7)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation to experience restoration. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read Deuteronomy 6:1-25. You may find it beneficial to return to verses 4 through 9 throughout the day.

 

Solitude and Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten, twenty, or up to thirty minutes. During your time of solitude and silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. Imagine that God is speaking the message from Deuteronomy 6 directly to you. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do-lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God. Afterwards, read the Bible verse listed below.

 

Read Deuteronomy 26:16-19. Which word, phrase, or verse is God using to speak to you from what you read?

 

Are you obeying God and submitting to him as the Ruler/Lord of your life? Are you walking in the ways of Jesus? Consider writing your answers in a journal or spend some time talking to your spouse, another family member, or friend about your answers to these questions.

 

Pray in response to the LORD our God.