Week Twenty-One: Can You Pass the Test?
This Week’s Readings
Day 1: 2 Kings 23-25
Day 2: Luke 1-4
Day 3: Luke 5-7
Day 4: Luke 8-11
Day 5: Luke 12-14
Day 6: Luke 15-18
Day 7: Catch up
Reflections
What tests have you encountered lately?
Did you pass or fail your test? How did you do it?
What advice would you give someone going through a test?
Reflections from The Bible in 52 Weeks by Dr. Kimberly Moore
GraceNotes - My Reflections
Luke 11:9-13 NIV
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Growing up, my mom always used to say, "You have not if you ask not," and it was just something she said when I wanted a donut or some fruit snacks - but as an adult, it hits on a spiritual level. Even though our Heavenly Father knows all our needs, wants, and dreams, it's so important to build a relationship with Him where we feel open enough to share our hearts. It's all about our heart posture because God truly wants to bless us with the desires of our hearts. Being able to come to Him and say, "Lord, I need this," or "God, I want that," shows our boldness and trust in Him. Plus, I believe that asking, seeking, and knocking in Jesus' name brings things to life as if they already were.
Luke 11:2-4 NIV
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ”
I was scrolling through Instagram University the other day and saw this woman talking about "give us this day our daily bread." Even though Jesus is teaching us how to pray, He's really showing us what our life's subscription should look like. The Lord wants us to have a relationship with Him, to stay connected with Him in our everyday lives. But the lady took it a step further and mentioned the Israelites and the manna—how God provided manna daily, and it only lasted for the day because He wanted His children to depend on Him daily. The symbolism of bread in the Bible, especially Jesus breaking bread and saying, "this is my body," makes me realize the importance of needing Jesus every single day. Each day, the bread fills us in different ways because no day is the same. My prayer is that He will supply all our needs each day, and I'm trusting Him for it.
Luke 17:3-4 NIV
3 “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Forgiveness is something so many of us struggle with. It’s tough to just let go and forgive, especially when it feels like the other person doesn’t deserve it. But if the Lord can forgive us for all our mistakes, how can we not do the same for others? Honestly, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to remind myself to let go because if I want God’s grace, I have to extend it too. I’m not going to sugarcoat it—it's all about repetition. Just saying, “I forgive this person for this,” over and over is the start of healing because forgiveness is for YOU. It’s what makes us women after God’s own heart. So, who do you need to forgive today?
Hey Ladies! Drop your revelations, thoughts, and those lightbulb "aha" moments right down there in the comment section! Let's create a space to spill the beans on how God is throwing us some divine vibes as we dive deep into His word. Time to share the spiritual tea!
