Monthly Devotional

Scripture passage

Scripture passage July-August 2026

Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV)

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites… But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen… This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…’”

 

What is going on in this passage

Jesus is teaching in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and prayer is on His mind. The religious leaders of the day had turned prayer into a performance — long, public, polished words meant to impress an audience rather than reach the Father. Jesus isn’t against public prayer itself; He’s exposing the posture behind it. He’s inviting His followers into something quieter and more honest: a closed door, an unseen Father, a conversation that doesn’t need an audience to be real.

Then Jesus gives them words to pray — what we now call the Lord’s Prayer. It’s short. It doesn’t ask for much that sounds impressive. It asks for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from temptation. It’s the kind of prayer a child could pray and a theologian could spend a lifetime unpacking.

 

A reflection

It’s easy to let prayer become something we perform, even quietly — a habit we check off, a formula we recite, words chosen because they sound spiritual rather than because they’re honest. Jesus cuts through that. He starts with “Our Father,” not “Almighty Judge” or “Distant King.” Prayer begins in relationship, not performance.

 

What strikes me most is how ordinary the requests are. Daily bread. Forgiveness given as it’s received. A plea for help against temptation. There’s no pretense here — just a family talking to their Father about what they actually need, one day at a time.

 

And that line about forgiveness isn’t a throwaway. Jesus ties how we forgive others directly to how we receive forgiveness. Prayer, it turns out, isn’t only vertical. It shapes how we live with each other.

 

Question to carry with you

When you pray, are you speaking to be heard — or speaking to be known? Take a few moments this week to pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly, phrase by phrase, and notice which line stops you.

 

Living in the word

This month, consider putting this passage into practice by:

 

• Praying behind a closed door — literally — at least once this week, with no agenda but honesty

• Praying through the Lord’s Prayer phrase by phrase instead of all at once

• Naming one person you need to forgive, and bringing that to God honestly

 

Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

Teach us to pray simply, honestly, and without pretense. Give us what we need for today, and give us hearts willing to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. When we’re tempted to perform instead of trust, draw us back behind the closed door, into Your presence alone.

Amen.

 

Until next month

Thank you for spending this time in God’s Word. As you move through the month ahead, may you find freedom in praying honestly, grace in forgiving freely, and peace in knowing your Father already sees what’s unseen.                                      Scripture June-July 2026

Jeremiah 29:11–14 (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…”

What is going on in this passage

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most well-known verses in Scripture. We often hear it at graduations, during times of change, or whenever someone is facing an uncertain future. Yet these words were first spoken to God’s people living in exile. They had been taken from their homes, their future seemed uncertain, and many wondered if God had forgotten them.
God’s promise wasn’t that life would suddenly become easy. In fact, He had already told them they would remain in Babylon for many years. Instead, He invited them to trust that even in the waiting, He was still at work. His plans had not changed simply because their circumstances had.

A reflection

I think many of us know what it feels like to live in the space between where we are and where we hope to be. We pray for answers, clarity, healing, or direction, only to discover that God often leads us one faithful step at a time rather than revealing the whole journey at once.
I’ve learned that some of the deepest moments of spiritual growth happen in those seasons of waiting. Looking back, I can see God’s faithfulness woven through places I once thought were detours. The waiting didn’t mean God was absent. Often, it was where He was doing some of His deepest work.
Jeremiah reminds us that hope isn’t found in having every answer. Hope is found in the character of God. Even when His people couldn’t see the future, God could. Even when they felt forgotten, He remained faithful to His promises.

Question to carry with you

Where might God be inviting you to trust His faithfulness instead of demanding certainty?
Take a few moments this week to sit with that question in prayer. You may not receive every answer you’re hoping for, but you may discover that God’s presence is enough for the next step.

Living in the word

This month, consider putting this passage into practice by:
● Beginning each morning by reading Jeremiah 29:11–14 and asking, “Lord, what do You want me to trust You with today?”
● Writing down one way you’ve seen God’s faithfulness in a difficult season.
● Encouraging someone else who is walking through uncertainty with a reminder that God has not forgotten them.

Prayer

Faithful God,
Thank You for being present even in seasons when life feels uncertain. Help us to trust You when we cannot yet see what lies ahead. Give us eyes to recognize Your faithfulness, hearts that remain anchored in Your promises, and the courage to take the next step in obedience, knowing You are already there.
Amen.

Until next month

Thank you for spending this time in God’s Word. As you move through the month ahead, may you find encouragement in His promises, peace in His presence, and confidence that He continues to walk with you every step of the way.
Until next time, grace and peace.