GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

It’s a nice sunny day here in Los Angeles and I can’t help but be struck by the thought that even with turmoil around us, God’s hope is steady and His joy remains our strength. In our Summer Bible Study Week 4: Hope in Troubled Times we seek to carry forward with power and encouragement in His Word.

We know Summer reminds us of renewal. The sunshine, the warmth, the growth — all of it a quiet declaration that God is still working, even when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. This week, we lean into the comfort and truth that our hope is not in man, but in God alone.

The psalmist didn’t deny his pain — he wrestled with it. He questioned why he felt so low, so overwhelmed, but then turned his heart toward hope. In the same way, we are not called to ignore the brokenness of the world, but to rise above it by fixing our eyes on the One who is faithful.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 42:11 (NIV)

Hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a confident expectation grounded in God’s promises. Even when governments fail, leaders falter, and the future looks uncertain, God’s plan never wavers. We rejoice not because all is well, but because He is with us through it all.

Download Week 4 Summer Bible Study Worksheet! 2025 Summer Bible Study Series - Week 4 (27 downloads )

In Week 4 of Summer Bible Study Series, please reflect on the following as part of this today’s and this week’s prayer journaling:

• Write a short letter to God sharing your hopes for your life, your community, and the world.
• Reflect on a time when you saw God move in a difficult season — how did that grow your hope?

Share your comments & thoughts

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GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NIV)

This week has beared witness to the impact of natural disasters and fractured by division—whether through violence, injustice, political tension, or broken trust—Jesus offers us a gift unlike anything the world can provide: His peace.

Not a peace that comes and goes with circumstances, but a steady, quiet strength that holds us firm when the storm rages. It’s not found in headlines or policy changes. It’s found in the presence of Christ—in whispered prayers, in serving others, in choosing grace when it’s hard.

In the wake of the tornadoes and all the chaos surrounding it, many are grieving, scared, and unsure.

Today’s Sunday devotional shows us the world needs the kind of peace that isn’t shaken by what’s happening around us. That’s the peace we carry—not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

And when we carry His peace, we become beacons of calm, compassion, and hope for others who feel lost in the storm.

Reflection for prayer journaling:

• In what areas of your life are you craving peace right now?
• How can you be a carrier of Christ’s peace to someone affected by the chaos around us this week?

🙏 Prayer:

“Lord,
In the middle of all that feels broken and uncertain, help me rest in Your peace. Quiet my anxious heart and make me a vessel of calm in someone else’s storm. When the world is loud with fear, may my life speak softly of Your presence.

Amen.”

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GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” –2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

As we step into this new month of May, we are reminded that the journey of faith is often a walk through the unknown. We can’t always see the next step, the outcome, or the purpose behind every twist and turn—but God can.

Walking by faith means trusting that even when we can’t see the path clearly, His hand is steadying us. It means believing that God’s promises hold firm, even when our circumstances feel shaky. Oftentimes, this means surrendering control and choosing to trust the One who holds (and knows!) the map.

This week, whatever you face—big decisions, small frustrations, or moments of doubt—pause, take a breath, and remind yourself: I am walking by faith, not by sight. God goes before me.

Think of all the times you were spared, steered in a new direction, delayed, or denied. What if those moments weren’t disruptions, but divine interventions? What if God’s grace was already there—clearing the path, softening a blow, or drawing you closer to Him before you even asked?

Reflection for prayer journaling:

• Where in your life right now are you being asked to trust God, even when you can’t see the outcome?
• How can you lean into faith instead of fear this week?

As always, take a deep breath, lay your burdens at His feet, and allow His peace to fill your heart.

🙏 Prayer:

“Lord,

I thank You for being the God who leads me, even when the road ahead is unclear. Help me to walk by faith, trusting Your goodness, Your promises, and Your plan. Teach me to release my grip on control and hold tightly to You instead. Fill me with courage, peace, and the confidence that You are always working for my good.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

This #SoulfulSunday, we wish you a lovely and Happy Easter. In church service today, I learned the Latin word ‘prevent’ is derived from – “praevenire.”

God’s grace is what’s known as “prevenient grace”—God’s grace that goes ahead of us, drawing us to Him, shaping our lives even when we’re unaware of it.

Today, we reflect on a beautiful and often overlooked aspect of God’s love: His grace that prevents—not in the modern sense of stopping something, but in the ancient and sacred sense of going before us.

Think of all the times you were spared, steered in a new direction, delayed, or denied. What if those moments weren’t disruptions, but divine interventions? What if God’s grace was already there—clearing the path, softening a blow, or drawing you closer to Him before you even asked?

On this Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the ultimate act of prevenient grace: Jesus went to the cross for us before we ever knew how much we needed Him. He prepared the way back to the Father, ahead of our first breath, driven by a love that transcends time.

God’s grace is not only reactive—it’s proactive.
Before we stumble, He’s already steadying the path.
Before we call, He’s already answering.
Before we fall, His mercy is reaching out.

Reflection for prayer journaling:

• Can you recall a time when something didn’t go your way—and later, you saw God’s grace in that delay?

• How does knowing God’s grace goes before you shift the way you face uncertainty or hardship?

As always, take a deep breath, lay your burdens at His feet, and allow His peace to fill your heart.

🙏 Prayer for Resurrection Sunday:

“Gracious Father,
Thank You for Your love that comes before us. For the grace that prepares, protects, and provides—even when we can’t see it. Help us to trust You more deeply, knowing that You are already in the places we’re headed, working all things for our good. As we walk into this new week, may we be mindful of Your presence and confident in Your grace that goes before us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” — John 13:34

For #SoulfulSunday, we explore Book of John chapter 13, verse 34. The Book of John is sometimes referred to as the Book of Signs The Book of John recounts the performing of seven different miracles by Jesus.

Jesus commands, not suggests, us to love. Jesus calls us to love one another not as the world loves, but as He has loved us—with humility, sacrifice, patience, and grace.

This kind of love looks beyond differences, forgives freely, and serves willingly. It’s the kind of love that kneels to wash feet, reaches across brokenness, and binds communities together in unity and truth.

In a world often filled with division and judgment, our love can be a reflection of Christ—a light that draws others closer to Him.

Reflection for prayer journaling:

• Who in your life needs a reminder of God’s love through your actions today?

• How can you reflect Jesus’ love more intentionally this week?

As always, take a deep breath, lay your burdens at His feet, and allow His peace to fill your heart.

🙏 Prayer of the Day:

“Jesus, thank You for loving me fully and unconditionally. Help me to love others as You have loved me—with compassion, humility, and grace. Let my life be a testimony of Your love in action.

Amen.”

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GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” — Romans 12:2

Our #SoulfulSunday leads us into the start of a new week—and a new season (#HelloSpring)—is the perfect time to check in with our thoughts. Are they rooted in truth, or shaped by the noise of the world? Romans 12:2 invites us to renew our minds—to allow God to transform the way we think so we can better understand and follow His will.

Renewing your mind isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a daily choice to let God’s Word reshape your thoughts, strengthen your faith, and guide your actions. When we fill our minds with His truth, we’re no longer driven by fear, comparison, or pressure. Instead, we walk in clarity, confidence, and peace.

Reflection for prayer journaling:

• What thoughts or mindsets do you need to surrender to God today?
• How can you invite God to renew your thinking this week?

🙏 Prayer of the Day:

“Lord, I give You my thoughts. Help me not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by Your truth. Renew my mind today so that I may walk in Your perfect will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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GRACE-God Reconciles All Christ Enters

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

Our #SoulfulSunday devotional shows us that His timing is what is best for us – we just might not realize it in the moment!

God’s timing is perfect. Often, we find ourselves waiting – for answers, for growth, for breakthroughs. But waiting is not wasted time; it is a time for growth, strength, and renewed faith.

Embrace the journey and walk in the purpose God has set before you, knowing that He is leading you every step of the way.

Reflection for prayer journaling:

• Write about a time when you felt that God was making you wait. What was difficult about it, and how did you eventually see His hand at work?
• If you’re currently in a season of waiting, write about your feelings and thoughts. Ask God to strengthen you during this time and to fill you with patience.

As always, take a deep breath, lay your burdens at His feet, and allow His peace to fill your heart.

🙏 Prayer of the Day:

“Heavenly Father,
We come before You with hearts full of trust in Your perfect timing. We acknowledge that Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your plans are far greater than anything we can imagine.

Help us to surrender our impatience and rest in the assurance that You are always at work in our lives, even when we can’t see it. Give us the strength to wait with grace and hope, knowing that You are preparing something beautiful in Your time.

In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen.”

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