February 12
Today’s Reading
Leviticus 18–19
Psalm 13
Acts 19
⸻
Scripture Focus
“So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life… If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.”
— Leviticus 18:3–5 (NLT)
“So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves… I am the Lord your God.”
— Leviticus 18:30 (NLT)
“You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
— Leviticus 19:2 (NLT)
⸻
Reflection
Dear sister friend,
Can you imagine how patient and attentive a person had to be in those days?
Your whole life born and raised in Egypt… shaped by its customs, its beliefs, its moral standards, its way of thinking — and now God says, Do not imitate them.
Then He adds, Do not act like Canaan either.
They were leaving one culture and walking toward another, and God was saying, “You are different. You belong to Me.”
Over and over in these two chapters, God says:
“I am the Lord.”
“I am the Lord.”
“I am the Lord.”
More than forty times in just these chapters.
Why?
Because this wasn’t just behavior modification.
It was identity transformation.
Egypt had its gods.
Canaan had its idols.
But Israel had one Lord.
Every command was anchored in His authority.
He wasn’t saying, “Try this way.”
He was saying, “I am the Lord.”
And that changes everything.
He is Lord over our bodies.
Lord over our relationships.
Lord over our private thoughts.
Lord over our habits.
Lord over what no one else sees.
To say “Yes, Lord” means leaving Egypt behind.
Leaving old thinking behind.
Leaving cultural compromise behind.
Leviticus 18 says, “Do not imitate.”
Leviticus 19 says, “Be holy.”
The world always has customs.
Culture always shifts.
Morality always gets redefined.
But the Lord does not change.
And today, just like Israel, we must choose.
Not just Savior.
Lord.
⸻
Lesson for Me
If He is truly Lord, then I do not negotiate His commands.
Holiness is not legalism — it is loyalty.
When God repeats, “I am the Lord,” He is reminding me that obedience flows from relationship. He rescued me. He redeemed me. Therefore, I respond with surrender.
I cannot claim Him as Lord in words while imitating the world in practice.
⸻
Examine My Heart
•Are there areas of my life where I still imitate “Egypt”?
•Have I softened any of God’s standards to fit culture?
•Is Jesus truly Lord over my private life — not just my public one?
•Where do I need to say a fresh “Yes, Lord”?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, You are holy.
You are not like the gods of this world.
You are not shaped by culture or opinion.
Teach me to live differently.
Show me where I have allowed Egypt to linger in my heart.
Help me leave behind every custom, mindset, and compromise that does not honor You.
You are my Lord.
Not just my Savior — my Lord.
I say yes to You again today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Today’s Reading
Leviticus 18–19
Psalm 13
Acts 19
⸻
Scripture Focus
“So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life… If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.”
— Leviticus 18:3–5 (NLT)
“So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves… I am the Lord your God.”
— Leviticus 18:30 (NLT)
“You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
— Leviticus 19:2 (NLT)
⸻
Reflection
Dear sister friend,
Can you imagine how patient and attentive a person had to be in those days?
Your whole life born and raised in Egypt… shaped by its customs, its beliefs, its moral standards, its way of thinking — and now God says, Do not imitate them.
Then He adds, Do not act like Canaan either.
They were leaving one culture and walking toward another, and God was saying, “You are different. You belong to Me.”
Over and over in these two chapters, God says:
“I am the Lord.”
“I am the Lord.”
“I am the Lord.”
More than forty times in just these chapters.
Why?
Because this wasn’t just behavior modification.
It was identity transformation.
Egypt had its gods.
Canaan had its idols.
But Israel had one Lord.
Every command was anchored in His authority.
He wasn’t saying, “Try this way.”
He was saying, “I am the Lord.”
And that changes everything.
He is Lord over our bodies.
Lord over our relationships.
Lord over our private thoughts.
Lord over our habits.
Lord over what no one else sees.
To say “Yes, Lord” means leaving Egypt behind.
Leaving old thinking behind.
Leaving cultural compromise behind.
Leviticus 18 says, “Do not imitate.”
Leviticus 19 says, “Be holy.”
The world always has customs.
Culture always shifts.
Morality always gets redefined.
But the Lord does not change.
And today, just like Israel, we must choose.
Not just Savior.
Lord.
⸻
Lesson for Me
If He is truly Lord, then I do not negotiate His commands.
Holiness is not legalism — it is loyalty.
When God repeats, “I am the Lord,” He is reminding me that obedience flows from relationship. He rescued me. He redeemed me. Therefore, I respond with surrender.
I cannot claim Him as Lord in words while imitating the world in practice.
⸻
Examine My Heart
•Are there areas of my life where I still imitate “Egypt”?
•Have I softened any of God’s standards to fit culture?
•Is Jesus truly Lord over my private life — not just my public one?
•Where do I need to say a fresh “Yes, Lord”?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, You are holy.
You are not like the gods of this world.
You are not shaped by culture or opinion.
Teach me to live differently.
Show me where I have allowed Egypt to linger in my heart.
Help me leave behind every custom, mindset, and compromise that does not honor You.
You are my Lord.
Not just my Savior — my Lord.
I say yes to You again today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Type your new text here.
Psalm 13
Scripture Focus
“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?”
— Psalm 13:1
“But I trust in Your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because You have rescued me.”
— Psalm 13:5
⸻
Reflection
Dear sister friend,
Have you ever prayed a “How long?” prayer?
How long will this trial last?
How long will this relationship feel strained?
How long will this burden sit on my heart?
David does not hide his emotions. He does not clean them up before bringing them to God. He speaks honestly:
“Will You forget me forever?”
And yet — this is the same David who knows God’s faithfulness.
Psalm 13 is only six verses long, but it moves from anguish to assurance.
From:
“How long?”
To:
“I trust.”
David teaches us something powerful here.
Faith is not the absence of struggle.
Faith is choosing trust in the middle of it.
Notice something beautiful — David feels like God has hidden His face, but he still calls Him “Lord.”
Even when he feels forgotten, he does not walk away.
He brings his pain directly to God.
And by the end of the Psalm, nothing around David has changed — but his perspective has.
“I will trust.”
“I will rejoice.”
“I will sing.”
Circumstances may delay, but God does not forget.
His unfailing love does not expire.
His timing does not slip.
His presence does not withdraw permanently.
Sometimes the holiest thing we can do is stay.
Stay in prayer.
Stay in trust.
Stay in obedience.
Stay in hope.
Even when the answer feels slow.
⸻
Lesson for Me
It is okay to ask, “How long?”
But I must not stop there.
Lament should lead me to trust.
Even when my emotions say, “You are forgotten,”
Truth says, “You are loved.”
I can be honest with God without losing reverence for Him.
⸻
Examine My Heart
•Have I been carrying silent frustration instead of bringing it to the Lord?
•Where do I need to move from “How long?” to “I trust”?
•Am I allowing delay to weaken my faith — or deepen it?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, You see the questions I carry.
You hear the prayers I whisper in exhaustion.
When waiting stretches me, anchor me in Your unfailing love.
When I feel unseen, remind me that You never forget Your children.
Teach me to trust You before the answer comes.
Teach me to sing before the breakthrough arrives.
I trust You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture Focus
“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?”
— Psalm 13:1
“But I trust in Your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because You have rescued me.”
— Psalm 13:5
⸻
Reflection
Dear sister friend,
Have you ever prayed a “How long?” prayer?
How long will this trial last?
How long will this relationship feel strained?
How long will this burden sit on my heart?
David does not hide his emotions. He does not clean them up before bringing them to God. He speaks honestly:
“Will You forget me forever?”
And yet — this is the same David who knows God’s faithfulness.
Psalm 13 is only six verses long, but it moves from anguish to assurance.
From:
“How long?”
To:
“I trust.”
David teaches us something powerful here.
Faith is not the absence of struggle.
Faith is choosing trust in the middle of it.
Notice something beautiful — David feels like God has hidden His face, but he still calls Him “Lord.”
Even when he feels forgotten, he does not walk away.
He brings his pain directly to God.
And by the end of the Psalm, nothing around David has changed — but his perspective has.
“I will trust.”
“I will rejoice.”
“I will sing.”
Circumstances may delay, but God does not forget.
His unfailing love does not expire.
His timing does not slip.
His presence does not withdraw permanently.
Sometimes the holiest thing we can do is stay.
Stay in prayer.
Stay in trust.
Stay in obedience.
Stay in hope.
Even when the answer feels slow.
⸻
Lesson for Me
It is okay to ask, “How long?”
But I must not stop there.
Lament should lead me to trust.
Even when my emotions say, “You are forgotten,”
Truth says, “You are loved.”
I can be honest with God without losing reverence for Him.
⸻
Examine My Heart
•Have I been carrying silent frustration instead of bringing it to the Lord?
•Where do I need to move from “How long?” to “I trust”?
•Am I allowing delay to weaken my faith — or deepen it?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, You see the questions I carry.
You hear the prayers I whisper in exhaustion.
When waiting stretches me, anchor me in Your unfailing love.
When I feel unseen, remind me that You never forget Your children.
Teach me to trust You before the answer comes.
Teach me to sing before the breakthrough arrives.
I trust You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.