Acts 28:28, 31

When it seems like everything is in chaos, it can be difficult to understand the purpose or see the good during difficulty. There is never a moment or encounter we face that God cannot turn around and use to our benefit and for His glory. He wastes nothing! I am convinced that during difficult circumstances or challenges, our purpose can emerge and shine the brightest!

At the start and middle of every year, we come together to pray and fast for God to be made known in our lives and the people around us. As we preach God’s word, we are empowered by God to be channels of His miracles in our relationships and communities. Let’s reflect on how God can use all kinds of people to reveal Himself through miracles in advancing His kingdom.

Philippians 4:12 reveals a profound truth: there is a “secret to learning contentment.” As Paul declares in the next verse, the secret is the strength Christ provides: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Just as a tree’s unseen root system gathers vital resources for the tree, the unseen part of contentment is being “rooted and built up in Christ” (Colossians 2:7). Contentment is not an elusive concept. Instead, it is a tangible reality within our reach through a relationship with Christ.

Acts 28 might seem like the end, but it’s really just the beginning. This 5-day plan continues a journey through the book of Acts, the Bible’s gripping sequel of Jesus at work in the life of his followers as he expands his kingdom to the ends of the earth. It’s a journey on what it means to be a Christian. It’s a story in which you have a role to play.