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, 2/23/26 – 2/28/26
Faith UMC
MONDAY 2/23/26: Mark 1:29-39, Tempted to Stay
Jesus’s ministry begins and it is a hit. People are flocking to Jesus, and it’s no wonder. He is performing miraculous things—reversing suffering—and his fame is growing. He could stay in Capernaum and soak in the fame, but that’s not his mission. He came to bring the good news—that God’s kingdom is at hand—to all people. As tempting as it would be to stay, Jesus carries on. What curiosities arise when you read this passage? Why is it powerful to get alone to pray?
TUESDAY 2/24/26: Luke 6:27-45, The Sermon on the plains
Jesus teaches the ethics of this “Kingdom of God” that he is ushering in. This is the way people who follow Christ should live. Notice that this way of living is marked out by loving those who are difficult to love, not casting judgement, and being generous. How are you living out this kingdom lifestyle? In what areas do you need to grow?
WEDNESDAY 2/25/26: Psalm 121, Where does our help come from?
Like David, this psalm faces trials and struggles knowing that God is alive and active in our world. This is the posture and orientation that we are called to take when we approach the struggles and circumstances of our world. We do not assume that God is inactive. Quite otherwise! Our help, first and foremost, comes from God who is guiding us into his good future. Our job is to be aware and join in what God is doing.
THURSDAY 2/26/26, Judges 4:1-10, Heroic women of the book of Judges
The Israelites are caught in a cycle of sin > slavery > salvation > sin . . . Each time the Israelites cry out to God for help, God sends them a “judge” to rescue them. Today, we read about Deborah and her leadership. Deborah leads men who doubted God to victory. The Canaanite general, Sisera, is defeated and killed by another woman, Jael. God will raise up heroes from any who are willing, regardless of age, gender, race, or any other category the kingdoms of this world create.
FRIDAY 2/27/26: Ephesians 6:10-24, Our fight is not with each other
We are not called to fight each other, but to reconcile with each other. Our fight is against the powers and spirits of division, oppression, greed, destruction, and evil. We can’t fight this fight with normal weapons, so Paul gives us this analogy of armor. Since our fight is against powers and spirits that grip our world (and us!), we have to be prepared with truth, justice, the Gospel of peace, faith, the Spirit, and the Word. What are you doing to grow in these ways?
SATURDAY 2/28/26: Mark 2:23-28, Missing the Sabbath Point
A recurring theme is present in Jesus’s ministry: he doesn’t know how to Sabbath correctly! (According to the religious leaders of the day, at least.) The Gospel writer is forcing us to ask, “Then what is the Sabbath for?” What does Sabbath mean to you? How do you practice it? Join us in worship as we continue our series, “Let Your No Be No.” You matter to God.
Faith UMC
MONDAY 2/23/26: Mark 1:29-39, Tempted to Stay
Jesus’s ministry begins and it is a hit. People are flocking to Jesus, and it’s no wonder. He is performing miraculous things—reversing suffering—and his fame is growing. He could stay in Capernaum and soak in the fame, but that’s not his mission. He came to bring the good news—that God’s kingdom is at hand—to all people. As tempting as it would be to stay, Jesus carries on. What curiosities arise when you read this passage? Why is it powerful to get alone to pray?
TUESDAY 2/24/26: Luke 6:27-45, The Sermon on the plains
Jesus teaches the ethics of this “Kingdom of God” that he is ushering in. This is the way people who follow Christ should live. Notice that this way of living is marked out by loving those who are difficult to love, not casting judgement, and being generous. How are you living out this kingdom lifestyle? In what areas do you need to grow?
WEDNESDAY 2/25/26: Psalm 121, Where does our help come from?
Like David, this psalm faces trials and struggles knowing that God is alive and active in our world. This is the posture and orientation that we are called to take when we approach the struggles and circumstances of our world. We do not assume that God is inactive. Quite otherwise! Our help, first and foremost, comes from God who is guiding us into his good future. Our job is to be aware and join in what God is doing.
THURSDAY 2/26/26, Judges 4:1-10, Heroic women of the book of Judges
The Israelites are caught in a cycle of sin > slavery > salvation > sin . . . Each time the Israelites cry out to God for help, God sends them a “judge” to rescue them. Today, we read about Deborah and her leadership. Deborah leads men who doubted God to victory. The Canaanite general, Sisera, is defeated and killed by another woman, Jael. God will raise up heroes from any who are willing, regardless of age, gender, race, or any other category the kingdoms of this world create.
FRIDAY 2/27/26: Ephesians 6:10-24, Our fight is not with each other
We are not called to fight each other, but to reconcile with each other. Our fight is against the powers and spirits of division, oppression, greed, destruction, and evil. We can’t fight this fight with normal weapons, so Paul gives us this analogy of armor. Since our fight is against powers and spirits that grip our world (and us!), we have to be prepared with truth, justice, the Gospel of peace, faith, the Spirit, and the Word. What are you doing to grow in these ways?
SATURDAY 2/28/26: Mark 2:23-28, Missing the Sabbath Point
A recurring theme is present in Jesus’s ministry: he doesn’t know how to Sabbath correctly! (According to the religious leaders of the day, at least.) The Gospel writer is forcing us to ask, “Then what is the Sabbath for?” What does Sabbath mean to you? How do you practice it? Join us in worship as we continue our series, “Let Your No Be No.” You matter to God.