5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the Sunday Message from January 18, 2026:
Day 1: Our Father - Knowing God Intimately
Reading: Matthew 6:5-15
Jesus revolutionized prayer by inviting us to call the Almighty "Father." This wasn't casual language—it was scandalous to His first hearers. The God whose name was too holy to speak aloud now desires intimate relationship with you. Prayer isn't a religious transaction where you earn God's favor through perfect words or posture. It's a family conversation around the dinner table. Your Heavenly Father already knows your needs, your failures, and your heart. He isn't waiting for you to clean yourself up before approaching Him. Today, come as you are—broken, messy, honest. True prayer begins not when we perform perfectly, but when we tell the truth about who we really are.
Day 2: Childlike Honesty - Praying Without Pretense
Reading: Psalm 62:8; Romans 5:8
God cannot have a relationship with who you're pretending to be because that person doesn't exist. The psalmist instructs us to pour out our hearts before God, holding nothing back. This is humility—not groveling, but honesty. You cannot disappoint a God who knew all your sin before you were born and still sent Christ to die for you. Pride puts on a show; humility embraces reality. God sees past your carefully chosen words straight into your heart. He can handle your frustration, your doubts, your messy thoughts. Stop playing poker with the One who knows your hand. Bring Him your authentic self—your gratitude and your grief, your victories and your struggles. Only then can you experience His real love.
Day 3: Constant Connection - Praying All Day
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Colossians 4:2
"Pray without ceasing" doesn't mean endless formal prayers—it means maintaining an open line of communication with God throughout your entire day. The difference is between making occasional phone calls and keeping the line constantly open. God isn't waiting only for emergencies; He's inviting you into ongoing conversation as you work, drive, wait, rest, and play. The posture of your heart matters more than the posture of your body. You don't need closed eyes or folded hands to talk with your Father. Involve Him in everything—not just the spiritual moments, but the mundane ones too. He's already present in every part of your life; prayer simply acknowledges His presence and invites His participation in your daily journey.
Day 4: From Information to Transformation
Reading: James 1:22-25; John 15:1-8
Knowing about prayer won't change your life—practicing prayer will. Information without application leads to spiritual drift and complacency. James warns against merely hearing the word without doing it. Jesus taught that fruit grows where connection is constant. A branch doesn't occasionally check in with the vine; it maintains unbroken attachment. Your spiritual growth depends not on how much you know about God, but on how consistently you abide in Him. Transformation requires moving from sitting still to taking action. Today, don't just think about prayer—actually pray. Don't just agree that God wants relationship—pursue that relationship. Put what you know into practice. The faith that bears lasting fruit is the faith that moves from information to application.
Day 5: Invitation to Everything - No Area Off-Limits
Reading: Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:14-16
Some areas of your life may feel too mundane, too messy, or too shameful to bring before God. Here's the truth: He's already there. Nothing in your life is off-limits to God's presence or beyond His desire to redeem. Paul instructs us to bring everything—every worry, every need, every circumstance—to God with thanksgiving. The writer of Hebrews assures us we can approach God's throne with confidence, not fear. He doesn't want just the polished parts of your life; He wants all of you. Invite Him into your work challenges, your relationship struggles, your secret sins, your daily routines. Let Him redeem what's broken, restore what's damaged, and heal what's wounded. A deeply rooted faith isn't one that prays occasionally about big things—it's one that invites God into absolutely everything.
Day 1: Our Father - Knowing God Intimately
Reading: Matthew 6:5-15
Jesus revolutionized prayer by inviting us to call the Almighty "Father." This wasn't casual language—it was scandalous to His first hearers. The God whose name was too holy to speak aloud now desires intimate relationship with you. Prayer isn't a religious transaction where you earn God's favor through perfect words or posture. It's a family conversation around the dinner table. Your Heavenly Father already knows your needs, your failures, and your heart. He isn't waiting for you to clean yourself up before approaching Him. Today, come as you are—broken, messy, honest. True prayer begins not when we perform perfectly, but when we tell the truth about who we really are.
Day 2: Childlike Honesty - Praying Without Pretense
Reading: Psalm 62:8; Romans 5:8
God cannot have a relationship with who you're pretending to be because that person doesn't exist. The psalmist instructs us to pour out our hearts before God, holding nothing back. This is humility—not groveling, but honesty. You cannot disappoint a God who knew all your sin before you were born and still sent Christ to die for you. Pride puts on a show; humility embraces reality. God sees past your carefully chosen words straight into your heart. He can handle your frustration, your doubts, your messy thoughts. Stop playing poker with the One who knows your hand. Bring Him your authentic self—your gratitude and your grief, your victories and your struggles. Only then can you experience His real love.
Day 3: Constant Connection - Praying All Day
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Colossians 4:2
"Pray without ceasing" doesn't mean endless formal prayers—it means maintaining an open line of communication with God throughout your entire day. The difference is between making occasional phone calls and keeping the line constantly open. God isn't waiting only for emergencies; He's inviting you into ongoing conversation as you work, drive, wait, rest, and play. The posture of your heart matters more than the posture of your body. You don't need closed eyes or folded hands to talk with your Father. Involve Him in everything—not just the spiritual moments, but the mundane ones too. He's already present in every part of your life; prayer simply acknowledges His presence and invites His participation in your daily journey.
Day 4: From Information to Transformation
Reading: James 1:22-25; John 15:1-8
Knowing about prayer won't change your life—practicing prayer will. Information without application leads to spiritual drift and complacency. James warns against merely hearing the word without doing it. Jesus taught that fruit grows where connection is constant. A branch doesn't occasionally check in with the vine; it maintains unbroken attachment. Your spiritual growth depends not on how much you know about God, but on how consistently you abide in Him. Transformation requires moving from sitting still to taking action. Today, don't just think about prayer—actually pray. Don't just agree that God wants relationship—pursue that relationship. Put what you know into practice. The faith that bears lasting fruit is the faith that moves from information to application.
Day 5: Invitation to Everything - No Area Off-Limits
Reading: Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:14-16
Some areas of your life may feel too mundane, too messy, or too shameful to bring before God. Here's the truth: He's already there. Nothing in your life is off-limits to God's presence or beyond His desire to redeem. Paul instructs us to bring everything—every worry, every need, every circumstance—to God with thanksgiving. The writer of Hebrews assures us we can approach God's throne with confidence, not fear. He doesn't want just the polished parts of your life; He wants all of you. Invite Him into your work challenges, your relationship struggles, your secret sins, your daily routines. Let Him redeem what's broken, restore what's damaged, and heal what's wounded. A deeply rooted faith isn't one that prays occasionally about big things—it's one that invites God into absolutely everything.