Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
These psalms have always felt like quiet, personal prayers to me, the kind you pray when no one else is listening, and you don’t quite know what to say out loud.
In Psalm 141, David asks the Lord, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” That prayer feels especially fitting when I think about stepping into a new season. I often wish I could begin a new year with everything neatly sorted out and having clear plans, confident faith, and steady emotions. But more often than not, I find myself simply asking God to help me be mindful, to keep my heart tender, and to let my words reflect trust even when I’m unsure.
Psalm 142 reminds me how much God values honesty. David doesn’t hold anything back. He names his fear, his loneliness, his discouragement. And I’m reminded that God already knows the inner workings of our hearts—our questions, our worries, the places that still ache. Being honest with Him isn’t a weakness; it’s a gift. One that invites Him into the very places we’re tempted to hide.
Then Psalm 143 brings it all together with a prayer I return to often:
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
I don’t always want direction; I want certainty. I want to know how everything will turn out. But these words remind me that faith isn’t about having it all together or seeing the whole picture. It’s about trusting that the Lord holds our future, that every step is already in His hands, and choosing to walk forward with purpose because of that truth.
As we head into a new year, I hope we can give ourselves permission to start honestly. To come before God as we are: hopeful, uncertain, grateful, weary, or somewhere in between. He meets us there. He always has.
Prayer: Lord, You know our hearts before we speak a word. Help us to be honest with You and with ourselves. Guard our hearts, guide our steps, and lead us forward by Your Spirit as we trust You with what’s ahead. Amen.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
New Year, New Bible Reading Plan
At Venture Church, providing quality Daily Essential tools for spiritual development is a priority we are passionate about. As a result, we provided a Bible Reading Plan in 2020, Daily Devos in 2021, and Family Devos in 2023. We are always looking for ways to better serve the church through resources that assist in the growth of your faith. Thank you for supporting us and joining us on this journey!
This year, we have some exciting additions to our Daily Essential tools. In 2026, Venture Church will begin offering two Bible Reading Plans. Both of these plans will be delivered to your inbox in a weekly summary, replacing daily emails. Scripture, Daily Devos, Family Devos, videos, and relevant links for the week will be delivered in a single, easy-to-access email each Monday morning.
The first plan will be the New Testament Bible Reading Plan, a 5-day-a-week plan that leads readers from Matthew to Revelation in a year. Daily Devos and Family Devos will continue to help readers dig deeper into God’s Word. And this year, we are adding audio recordings of the Daily Devos for on-the-go listening!
The second Bible Reading Plan option will be the One-Year Bible Reading Plan. This 7-day-a-week plan will guide readers through the entire Bible in 365 days. If you’re looking to read all of the Word this year, this plan is for you! Though Daily Devos will not be connected to this plan, we are excited to provide introduction videos for each Book of the Bible as an additional resource.
Join us January 1st to start a new Bible Reading Plan in the New Year!