5-Day Devo (Based on 1.25.26 Sermon)

Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the January 25, 2026 Sermon.

Reading: Isaiah 32:1-8

Devotional: "Behold, a king will reign in righteousness." This isn't poetic optimism—it's a radical promise. When we examine our lives honestly, we often discover we've placed our security in strategies, relationships, or circumstances rather than in God's reign. Like ancient Judah, we may appear spiritually functional while God has been pushed to the margins. True security doesn't come from better circumstances but from better leadership—from allowing Jesus to truly rule. Today, ask yourself: What am I trusting in for stability? Where have I replaced God's authority with my own solutions? The invitation isn't to try harder but to yield control. When the right King rules, everything else begins to align.

Reading: Isaiah 32:2; Psalm 46:1-7

Devotional: Isaiah describes God's reign as "a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place." Notice that righteous rule doesn't eliminate hardship—it assumes wind, storms, dryness, and weariness will come. What changes isn't the presence of difficulty but the presence of refuge. Under God's reign, we're no longer left exposed. Political alliances failed Judah; our own strategies will fail us too. But when Jesus rules our hearts, we find genuine shelter. Today, identify one area where you feel exposed or overwhelmed. Instead of seeking a human solution first, pause and acknowledge God's authority over that situation. True peace flows from rightful leadership, not from managed circumstances.

Reading: Isaiah 32:3-4; James 1:5-8

Devotional: "Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention." When God reigns, spiritual clarity emerges. We begin seeing what we've been blind to and hearing what we've been resisting. The "hasty heart" finds understanding; confused speech becomes distinct. This isn't just intellectual knowledge—it's inner transformation. Drift happens when we stop actively yielding to Jesus, when we pray only after decisions are made, when Scripture no longer challenges us. Alignment begins by slowing down enough to ask: "What does obedience look like here?" Today, before making decisions, pause to consult God. Let Scripture speak into areas you've kept personal. Direction replaces drift when the right authority governs our lives.

Reading: Isaiah 35:1-7

Devotional: "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom." God doesn't just bring order—He brings life back to barren places. These are the areas where we've stopped expecting much: stuck patterns, dry faith, strained relationships, mechanical obedience. When God truly reigns, He works in these dried-up spaces. Not magically or overnight, but genuinely. Isaiah isn't rebuking weakness; he's naming it honestly—weak hands, feeble knees, anxious hearts. God's reign restores courage where fear has settled. Today, identify one "wilderness" area in your life. Don't try to fix it yourself. Instead, invite God's authority into that space. Restoration is real, often partial now and complete later, but always moving toward wholeness.

Reading: Isaiah 35:8-10; John 14:6

Devotional: "A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness." This isn't about moral perfection—it's about direction. When God reigns, life becomes oriented rather than drifting. Confusion is often the clearest sign His rule has been displaced; clarity signals its restoration. Jesus is the Way—not just philosophically, but practically. He doesn't merely tell us what's right; He restores us as He reigns. Alignment isn't a one-time decision but a daily practice of surrender. It looks like responding differently when wronged, naming sin honestly, letting Scripture shape our conflicts. Today, ask: Who is actually ruling my life? Not who I believe in, but who governs my decisions and responses. Jesus isn't asking for perfection—He's asking for rightful authority. When He reigns, scattered lives become re-centered.

This 5-Day Devotional was generated with the help of AI, and is based off of Pastor Doug's January 25, 2026 Sermon: When God Reigns.