January 13th, 2026
by Matthew Spoon
by Matthew Spoon
5-Day Devotional: Called to Communicate
Day 1: The Extraordinary Privilege of Prayer
Reading: Jeremiah 33:3; Hebrews 10:19-22
Devotional: Prayer is not merely a religious duty—it's an extraordinary privilege. You have direct access to the Creator of the universe, the One who formed you in the womb. In the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter God's presence once a year. But when Jesus died, the temple veil tore from top to bottom, opening the way for you to approach God's throne boldly. This access cost Jesus everything—His very flesh torn so the barrier between you and God could be removed. Today, pause and marvel at this reality: the Almighty invites you into His presence. He doesn't just tolerate your prayers; He welcomes them. You can speak to the Alpha and Omega anytime, anywhere. What an expensive, extraordinary privilege you've been given.
Reflection Question: How does understanding the cost of your access to God change the way you approach prayer?
Day 2: Praying with Intensity and Persistence
Reading: Luke 11:5-10; Colossians 4:2
Devotional: Paul urges believers to "continue earnestly in prayer"—to pray like it actually matters. Jesus illustrated this with a parable about a persistent friend knocking at midnight. The man received what he needed not because of friendship alone, but because of his bold persistence. God invites the same from you: keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Pray with vigor and heartfelt sincerity. Don't settle for vague, passionless prayers that leave you wondering if God even heard. Pray specifically, intensely, continually. Bring your needs before Him again and again. When you pray this way, your faith strengthens because you recognize God's answers clearly. Your praise deepens because you know exactly what He's done. God isn't annoyed by your persistence—He welcomes it as evidence of your faith.
Reflection Question: Are you praying specific prayers that would allow you to recognize God's answers, or are your prayers too vague?
Day 3: Praying with Gratitude in Every Circumstance
Reading: Acts 27:33-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Devotional: Paul wrote about thanksgiving in prayer over thirty times. Even shipwrecked in a three-day storm, weak and seasick, Paul paused to thank God for bread. Imprisoned in Rome, he still encouraged gratitude. This wasn't naive optimism—it was deep spiritual maturity. Paul understood that even in the worst circumstances, there's always something to be thankful for. At minimum, every believer can thank God for the open channel of prayer itself. Gratitude transforms your perspective. It shifts your focus from what's going wrong to what God is doing right. It reminds you that your circumstances don't define God's goodness. Today, even if you're facing storms, pause and thank God—for His presence, His promises, His provision. Let thanksgiving season every prayer you offer.
Reflection Question: What is one thing you can genuinely thank God for today, regardless of your circumstances?
Day 4: Communicating the Gospel Through Your Walk
Reading: Matthew 5:14-16; Colossians 4:5-6
Devotional: Your lifestyle is a gospel message. People outside the faith are watching, assessing whether following Jesus makes any real difference. Jesus said the world would know His disciples by their love and obedience. Paul urged believers to "walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time." This means living intentionally—looking for opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love through your actions. You're writing a gospel every day through your deeds and words. Is it a message of grace, mercy, and truth? Your walk should be both sweet and salty—kind and gracious, yet preserving truth. Don't let fear of offense keep you from speaking truth, but don't let zeal for truth make you unloving. Be tactful yet impactful. Let your life communicate that Jesus transforms people from the inside out.
Reflection Question: If someone observed your life this week, what gospel message would they read?
Day 5: Speaking Grace Seasoned with Salt
Reading: John 4:7-26; Ephesians 4:29
Devotional: Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well perfectly models gracious communication. He offered living water—the sweet gospel invitation. Then He lovingly confronted her sin—the salty truth she needed to hear. He was tactful yet impactful, and she responded by believing and sharing the good news. As Christians, we must balance grace and truth. Some believers are so afraid of offending that they never speak truth. Others are so focused on truth that they forget grace. The gospel itself is offensive enough—you don't need to add unnecessary offense through harshness. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. Be respectful, courteous, and kind, while remaining honest and truthful. Pray for wisdom to know how to answer each person. Communicate in a way that draws people to Jesus, not drives them away.
Reflection Question: In your conversations about faith, do you tend toward being too salty or too sweet? How can you find better balance?
Closing Prayer: Lord, thank You for the privilege of prayer and the opportunity to communicate with You and about You. Help me pray with intensity, persistence, and gratitude. Use my life as a living gospel message. Give me wisdom to speak grace and truth in perfect balance. May my walk and my words draw others to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Day 1: The Extraordinary Privilege of Prayer
Reading: Jeremiah 33:3; Hebrews 10:19-22
Devotional: Prayer is not merely a religious duty—it's an extraordinary privilege. You have direct access to the Creator of the universe, the One who formed you in the womb. In the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter God's presence once a year. But when Jesus died, the temple veil tore from top to bottom, opening the way for you to approach God's throne boldly. This access cost Jesus everything—His very flesh torn so the barrier between you and God could be removed. Today, pause and marvel at this reality: the Almighty invites you into His presence. He doesn't just tolerate your prayers; He welcomes them. You can speak to the Alpha and Omega anytime, anywhere. What an expensive, extraordinary privilege you've been given.
Reflection Question: How does understanding the cost of your access to God change the way you approach prayer?
Day 2: Praying with Intensity and Persistence
Reading: Luke 11:5-10; Colossians 4:2
Devotional: Paul urges believers to "continue earnestly in prayer"—to pray like it actually matters. Jesus illustrated this with a parable about a persistent friend knocking at midnight. The man received what he needed not because of friendship alone, but because of his bold persistence. God invites the same from you: keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Pray with vigor and heartfelt sincerity. Don't settle for vague, passionless prayers that leave you wondering if God even heard. Pray specifically, intensely, continually. Bring your needs before Him again and again. When you pray this way, your faith strengthens because you recognize God's answers clearly. Your praise deepens because you know exactly what He's done. God isn't annoyed by your persistence—He welcomes it as evidence of your faith.
Reflection Question: Are you praying specific prayers that would allow you to recognize God's answers, or are your prayers too vague?
Day 3: Praying with Gratitude in Every Circumstance
Reading: Acts 27:33-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Devotional: Paul wrote about thanksgiving in prayer over thirty times. Even shipwrecked in a three-day storm, weak and seasick, Paul paused to thank God for bread. Imprisoned in Rome, he still encouraged gratitude. This wasn't naive optimism—it was deep spiritual maturity. Paul understood that even in the worst circumstances, there's always something to be thankful for. At minimum, every believer can thank God for the open channel of prayer itself. Gratitude transforms your perspective. It shifts your focus from what's going wrong to what God is doing right. It reminds you that your circumstances don't define God's goodness. Today, even if you're facing storms, pause and thank God—for His presence, His promises, His provision. Let thanksgiving season every prayer you offer.
Reflection Question: What is one thing you can genuinely thank God for today, regardless of your circumstances?
Day 4: Communicating the Gospel Through Your Walk
Reading: Matthew 5:14-16; Colossians 4:5-6
Devotional: Your lifestyle is a gospel message. People outside the faith are watching, assessing whether following Jesus makes any real difference. Jesus said the world would know His disciples by their love and obedience. Paul urged believers to "walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time." This means living intentionally—looking for opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love through your actions. You're writing a gospel every day through your deeds and words. Is it a message of grace, mercy, and truth? Your walk should be both sweet and salty—kind and gracious, yet preserving truth. Don't let fear of offense keep you from speaking truth, but don't let zeal for truth make you unloving. Be tactful yet impactful. Let your life communicate that Jesus transforms people from the inside out.
Reflection Question: If someone observed your life this week, what gospel message would they read?
Day 5: Speaking Grace Seasoned with Salt
Reading: John 4:7-26; Ephesians 4:29
Devotional: Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well perfectly models gracious communication. He offered living water—the sweet gospel invitation. Then He lovingly confronted her sin—the salty truth she needed to hear. He was tactful yet impactful, and she responded by believing and sharing the good news. As Christians, we must balance grace and truth. Some believers are so afraid of offending that they never speak truth. Others are so focused on truth that they forget grace. The gospel itself is offensive enough—you don't need to add unnecessary offense through harshness. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. Be respectful, courteous, and kind, while remaining honest and truthful. Pray for wisdom to know how to answer each person. Communicate in a way that draws people to Jesus, not drives them away.
Reflection Question: In your conversations about faith, do you tend toward being too salty or too sweet? How can you find better balance?
Closing Prayer: Lord, thank You for the privilege of prayer and the opportunity to communicate with You and about You. Help me pray with intensity, persistence, and gratitude. Use my life as a living gospel message. Give me wisdom to speak grace and truth in perfect balance. May my walk and my words draw others to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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