Grow • Pray • Study
daily Devotional Guide
Our Grow • Pray • Study (GPS) Guide offers daily readings and thoughts that follow along the Scriptural themes of our Sunday Worship services.
G•P•S - Grow, Pray, Study Guide, 3/2/26 – 3/7/26
Faith UMC
MONDAY 3/2/26: John 5:1-18, Working on the Sabbath
We all have memories of Sabbath practices, or more likely, Sabbath restrictions. These restrictions are not bad in and of themselves, as long as they help us proclaim our freedom in Christ and restore our souls. We get in trouble when we start serving the Sabbath, rather than the Sabbath serving us. This is where the Pharisees are, condemning Jesus for setting a man free on the Sabbath. Some work is appropriate for the Sabbath. What Sabbath practices do you need to pick up to help you proclaim your freedom?
TUESDAY 3/3/26: Luke 7:18-30, Is Jesus the One?
How strange it is that John asks this! Didn’t he already realize it in the baptism? Perhaps John was asking more about the kind of Messiah and the kind of Kingdom Jesus was bringing about. In any case, Jesus answers with evidence of physical, social, and spiritual healing. This is the reality that John’s preaching of repentance pointed to. How do we live out that reality today?
WEDNESDAY 3/4/26: Psalm 95 Do not harden your hearts
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against God when Moses came to free the Israelites. The Israelites hardened their hearts when they traveled through the desert. The call of Lent is to un-harden our hearts. Open your heart to God today. Give God freedom to say what God needs to say to you.
THURSDAY 3/5/26, Ruth 1:1-22, Love breaks the cycle
In the midst of this violent cycle found in Judges (sin > slavery > salvation > sin . . .), God breaks the cycle with a story of two brave and caring women. There is hope that the world can be different. Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, journey to Bethlehem for whatever life they might be able to scratch up. Whether good or bad, Ruth has promised to be with Naomi till the end. What is God saying to you in this story today?
FRIDAY 3/6/26: Philippians 1:1-26, Paul, a prisoner for Christ
Writing from jail, Paul recounts the benefits of having the Good News of Jesus preached, whether it’s from preachers with good intentions or not. That seems so interesting because in earlier letters, Paul seems to really go after people who assert leadership and glory for themselves. Now, what is more important is Christ being taught. Paul has a trust that God will work in all things, even flawed human preachers. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear God’s words even through flawed humans.
SATURDAY 3/7/26: Mark 5:1-20, Casting out Demons, not Neighbors
The style of Mark’s Gospel is fast-paced short stories of miracles without a lot of back story. Jesus heals, and then he’s on to the next one. We get to chapter 5, and suddenly Mark slows down and tells the whole story of man with many demons. The story begins with the man living among the tombs and in chains. His community thought best to discard him, chain him alway among the dead. Jesus isn’t satisfied and addresses who the community has hidden. Join us in worship as we dive deeper into this story and think about what God does with what we would rather keep hidden. You matter to God.
Faith UMC
MONDAY 3/2/26: John 5:1-18, Working on the Sabbath
We all have memories of Sabbath practices, or more likely, Sabbath restrictions. These restrictions are not bad in and of themselves, as long as they help us proclaim our freedom in Christ and restore our souls. We get in trouble when we start serving the Sabbath, rather than the Sabbath serving us. This is where the Pharisees are, condemning Jesus for setting a man free on the Sabbath. Some work is appropriate for the Sabbath. What Sabbath practices do you need to pick up to help you proclaim your freedom?
TUESDAY 3/3/26: Luke 7:18-30, Is Jesus the One?
How strange it is that John asks this! Didn’t he already realize it in the baptism? Perhaps John was asking more about the kind of Messiah and the kind of Kingdom Jesus was bringing about. In any case, Jesus answers with evidence of physical, social, and spiritual healing. This is the reality that John’s preaching of repentance pointed to. How do we live out that reality today?
WEDNESDAY 3/4/26: Psalm 95 Do not harden your hearts
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against God when Moses came to free the Israelites. The Israelites hardened their hearts when they traveled through the desert. The call of Lent is to un-harden our hearts. Open your heart to God today. Give God freedom to say what God needs to say to you.
THURSDAY 3/5/26, Ruth 1:1-22, Love breaks the cycle
In the midst of this violent cycle found in Judges (sin > slavery > salvation > sin . . .), God breaks the cycle with a story of two brave and caring women. There is hope that the world can be different. Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, journey to Bethlehem for whatever life they might be able to scratch up. Whether good or bad, Ruth has promised to be with Naomi till the end. What is God saying to you in this story today?
FRIDAY 3/6/26: Philippians 1:1-26, Paul, a prisoner for Christ
Writing from jail, Paul recounts the benefits of having the Good News of Jesus preached, whether it’s from preachers with good intentions or not. That seems so interesting because in earlier letters, Paul seems to really go after people who assert leadership and glory for themselves. Now, what is more important is Christ being taught. Paul has a trust that God will work in all things, even flawed human preachers. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear God’s words even through flawed humans.
SATURDAY 3/7/26: Mark 5:1-20, Casting out Demons, not Neighbors
The style of Mark’s Gospel is fast-paced short stories of miracles without a lot of back story. Jesus heals, and then he’s on to the next one. We get to chapter 5, and suddenly Mark slows down and tells the whole story of man with many demons. The story begins with the man living among the tombs and in chains. His community thought best to discard him, chain him alway among the dead. Jesus isn’t satisfied and addresses who the community has hidden. Join us in worship as we dive deeper into this story and think about what God does with what we would rather keep hidden. You matter to God.