Everyday Jesus: Everyday Jesus is a great way to deepen your Bible reading, prayer life & personal time with Christ.

• Monday: Read Revelation 2:8-11, 1:17-18, Isa 41:1-4, 44:6-8*, 48:12-13 To the church at Smyrna Christ reminds them He’s the first and the last, who died and came to life. Consistently from Isaiah to Revelation, Christ as the first and the last is an encouragement against any reason for fear or doubt as well as to underscore the superiority of Christ compared to any other notion of help or strength. As you read these passages, pray for the Lord to reveal & remind you of His strength at work on your behalf.
• Tuesday: Read Revelation 2:8-11, James 2:5 The church was facing soul crushing grief, poverty and slander, by those claiming spiritual authority but actually were a “synagogue of Satan”. Christ has the ability to know & identify with the reality of those that belong to Him. Ask the Lord to reveal every detail about your situation, to you.
• Wednesday: [Day of Fasting] Read Revelation 2:8-11, Mt 24:9. In Rev 2:10, Christ shares the details of specific tribulation and testing for a designated period of time that’s on the way for the church at Smyrna. We often go many places looking for answers and help. In your prayer time today, go to the Lord seeking wisdom and patient endurance in your time of tribulation.
• Thursday: Read Revelation 2:8-11 It had to be grim news to hear tribulation leading to death was on the way for the church at Smyrna. Yet, Christ’s instruction was for the church to remain faith-filled and He would give them a victory wreath in heaven. Reality is, some things won’t be fixed here on earth and some outcomes are what they are. Ask the Lord to give you strength to overcome life’s tribulation and adjust your focus of what victory looks like - and to be at peace with your now as you grow in knowledge & the great hope of what’s next.
• Friday: Read Revelation 2:8-11, Rev 20:6, 14; 21:8. In v11 the 2nd death refers to judgement and being thrown into the lake of fire. Life here on earth comes with tribulation that seeks to crush the soul but those that endure & conquer will receive a victory wreath from Christ and not experience the eternal ravages of the lake of fire. Read the other passages that refer to the lake of fire & the character traits of those that go there vs. those that spend eternity with Christ. Let those passages lead you into prayer.