Ascending Calvary | WEEK ONE

Day One | Wednesday, February 21

Read: Psalm 24
Write: Psalm 24:3-4

Ponder: This journey was written to help us ask honest and thoughtful questions about our relationship with God. There are topics we will talk about that may be associated with painful memories or parts of your story that you’ve tried to overlook. Remember, the Lord is in the business of working through our brokenness. Sometimes it can be difficult to change plans when we assumed that our plans were God’s plans, too. But He is the God of the earth and the God of our hearts, so it is always in our best interest and for His glory to be obedient and trusting of His plans!

Ask: Do you have any hesitations about working through your personal journey? Is there anything you need to lay down before God before we begin this journey?

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Day Two | Thursday, February 22

Read: Acts 17:24-27
Write: Acts 17:27

Ponder: God is completely aware and sovereign over every single aspect of your life. Elisabeth Elliot explained it like this: “It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place.”

Ask: Where are you in your current life stage? Is it where you thought you’d be? How have you seen God’s sovereignty over your life’s journey? How does this give you comfort when things do not go as planned?

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Day Three | Friday, February 23

Read: Genesis 3
Write: Genesis 3:22-23

Ponder: God’s redemption plan began way back in the Garden. While it may seem harsh to us that God did not allow Adam and Eve to remain in the Garden after eating of the forbidden fruit, He had a plan even then.

Ask: How do you see God’s mercy in the Garden? How have you seen God’s mercy in your own life? Write a prayer of thankfulness and praise for the mercy He has shown you.

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Day Four | Saturday, February 24

Read: Titus 3:3-7 and Romans 3:22-24
Write: Titus 3:5

Ponder: Mercy and Grace seem similar at first, but here is a helpful way to distinguish the two. Grace means receiving what we do not deserve, while mercy means not receiving what we do deserve. God is the source of grace and mercy simultaneously, saving us from the death we deserve and lavishly giving us the abundant gifts we could never earn.

Ask: What do these passages show you about grace and mercy? How have you seen God’s grace and mercy in your life recently?

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Day Five | Sunday, February 25

Read: Proverbs 11:2-3; 16:18-19, 1 John 2:15-17
Write: Proverbs 11:2

Ponder: Pride can be a huge stumbling block to receiving God’s grace and mercy. When we have an elevated view of ourselves, we can become blind to the ways we need forgiveness and grace.

Ask: How is pride evident in your heart or life right now? Is there any area of your life that needs to be surrendered to the Lord? Pray for a heart that is humble and malleable, and praise God for grace and mercy that are greater than our sin.

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Day Six | Monday, February 26

Read: Ephesians 1:3-4; 2:1-7
Write: Ephesians 2:4-5

Ponder: God not only rescued us from sin, but He has given us the means to flourish and abide in Him. His mercy has pulled us out of our mess and His grace has given us abundant life.

Ask: How do you see God’s story of redemption in these verses? What benefits are you given by God’s grace? From what has God saved his people? As we live in this broken world, awaiting our future home with the Lord, how can you flourish in Christ practically?

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Day Seven | Tuesday, February 27

Read: Psalm 31
Write: Psalm 31:19

Ponder: God’s plan of redemption and salvation is big and eternal, but it is also personal. The Lord knew you before you were born, and His plan has been to wrap you in His love all along.

Ask: How have you seen God’s plan of redemption in your personal story? Take time today to praise Him and give thanks for His salvation in your life.