Reclaim Today

12/18/2025

Some seasons of life feel loud. Even when we want to be attentive to God, our minds are crowded—by responsibilities, by worries we didn’t ask for, by the constant pressure to keep going or to keep up. And sometimes we wonder if we’ve forgotten how to hear him… or if maybe he stopped speaking to us the way he speaks to others.

But Scripture tells us that God isn’t far away. He isn’t playing hide and seek, or waiting for us to become flawless before he speaks. Jesus says his sheep know his voice—not perfectly, not always clearly, but faithfully enough to follow. Hearing God is less about having a dramatic encounter and more about being present to the quiet ways he is already near.

If you’re in a place where you’re trying to listen, where you want to hear God, but it feels hard, this prayer is for you. Not to fix it, not to force it, but to help you gently turn your attention again toward the One who already knows your voice, your heart, and your hopes.

𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐝
Shepherd of my soul, sometimes it can be hard to listen for your voice. There’s so much noise inside and around me. Help me slow down. Help me notice. Teach me the sound of your voice again—gentle, steady, full of mercy. Help me notice you in quiet nudges, in the wisdom of Scripture, in the kindness of others, and in the tug toward what is good and true. When I feel lost or unsure, remind me that you are already speaking and that I am already held. Give me patience as I listen, and peace as I follow. Amen.

Want to slow down and reconnect with God this season? Join our new Bible Plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.”

You’ll rediscover how people like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds heard God’s voice, and how you can, too. It's linked here:

We all want to hear from God. But sometimes, it’s hard to know what that means or how to listen. In the Christmas story, God spoke to ordinary people through dreams, angels, Scripture, and the quiet stirrings of the Spirit. Each one had to decide how to respond. Over five days, we’ll look at how...

12/16/2025

Contributed by

For he alone is worthy

12/15/2025

Contributed by

God doesn’t need perfect—He uses the honest, the healing, the willing.

12/14/2025

The name Immanuel means “God is with us,” and shows up in Matthew 1:23.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Matthew was writing his Gospel (a story of good news), he remembered an ancient prophecy to an ancient king named Ahaz. Through Isaiah, God promised to rescue the people of Judah from their enemies. Matthew saw the life of Christ as a fulfillment of God’s ancient prophecy to Ahaz and the Israelites, and good news for us, too.

The name means “God is with us,” and that phrase (God is with us) shows up in lots of places in the Bible where people needed reassurance of God’s notice and love in the midst of hard circumstances. If you want a good example, check out Psalm 46:12: “The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

Whatever's in front of you today, God is still “Immanuel” and with you in what you’re facing. Pause a few times this Christmas to take a deep breath and pray, “God is with me.”

And if you’re still wondering why Immanuel is sometimes spelled with an “I” and other times an “E,” it has to do with the original languages used in translation. The “I” is a transliteration from Hebrew. The “E,” a transliteration from Greek.

Want to slow down and reconnect with God this season? Join our new Bible Plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.”

You’ll rediscover how people like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds heard God’s voice, and how you can, too.

Here's the link to start on YouVersion: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63994 See less

12/13/2025

Ever feel like God is silent when you need Him most? Or like life is moving faster than you can keep up?

Simeon waited years for a promise from God. He could have grown impatient, distracted, or discouraged—but he stayed faithful and alert. And when the moment came, he didn’t miss it. Simeon recognized God’s promise fulfilled in the baby before him (Luke 2:25–32). He took Jesus in his arms and praised God, responding with awe, gratitude, and worship.

We often want God’s direction on our timeline, in our way, but here are three ways we can follow Simeon’s example in our own lives:

1. Wait expectantly. God often speaks in His timing, not ours. Trust that he’s at work, even when it’s not obvious.
2. Notice God’s timing. Being attentive to his presence helps us recognize his voice in the right moment.
3. Respond in faith. Hearing God isn’t just about knowing; it’s about doing. Take the next step he’s calling you to, even if it feels small.

Simeon’s story shows that listening to God isn’t passive. It requires being present, alert, and ready to act. The good news? You don’t have to wait alone. The Holy Spirit is with you, guiding you to notice his work in ordinary and extraordinary moments.

Want to see how other people in the Christmas story learned to hear God? Join our YouVersion reading plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.”

You’ll explore Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and more—and discover how to notice God’s voice in your everyday life.

It's linked here: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63994

12/11/2025

❄️ Nothing cuts through the bleakness of winter quite like Christmas lights. There’s something about seeing them, reflecting across a dark road, over freshly fallen slow, that creates a beauty unique to this time of year. They are fleeting and flickering nudges, calling attention to the true Light—our reason for hope in an otherwise dark world.

🎄 As the lights continue to go up in your city this year, let this prayer serve as a reminder of God, made man, and Jesus coming to us in the most ordinary of circumstances. You might even get to use it again in February (or March), if your neighbor’s lights get left up a little too long ;].

𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
Joy of the World, our streets glimmer with reminders of your Incarnation– a celebration of your arrival. The dancing lights break the winter’s darkness, leaving whispers of your hope. May each home overflow with the warmth of your love. As I notice the lights of the Christmas season, may you use me to reveal your light to the world. Amen.

Want to slow down and reconnect with God this season? Join our new Bible Plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.”

You’ll rediscover how people like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds heard God’s voice, and how you can, too.

Here's the link to start on YouVersion: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63994

Daily devotions, prayers for everyday moments, creative projects, scripture meditations, peer-to-peer testimonies and more!

12/09/2025

Around Christmas time, there can be a lot of pressure to celebrate “enough,” or in the “right way.” To be fair, Christmas IS a big deal for Christians (you know, Jesus’ birth and all).

But this year, let go of that Christmas stress. As you think about the Christmas story, what feels meaningful and significant to you? Let yourself sit with that for a while, and don’t rush off.

Today, we’re sitting with the idea that God came to us. Join us in this meditation!

John 1:14
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Observations from the Text
God came to live among us (v. 1)
God’s character shone through Jesus (v. 1)
Jesus exemplified the fullness of grace AND truth (v. 1)

Prayers of Response
Lord, this year, I praise you for sending Jesus to “dwell among us” because _________.

I admit that typically, I think _________ (grace or truth) is most important, and as a result, I probably neglect to be a good representative of your _________ (grace or truth).

Prayer Requests
In the midst of a Christmas season that feels ________ this year, help me to see your glory or presence in the midst of it.

Please help _________ (name) to have a tangible sense of your peace this year as they process _________.

Prayers of Readiness
God, this Christmas, I will celebrate that I’ve learned _________ about Jesus’ life and character.

Heavenly Father, show me a creative way to invite _________ (name) into Christmas celebrations that really honor you.

Want to slow down and reconnect with God this season? Join our new Bible Plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.”

You’ll rediscover how people like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds heard God’s voice, and how you can, too.

Here's the link to get started on YouVersion:

We all want to hear from God. But sometimes, it’s hard to know what that means or how to listen. In the Christmas story, God spoke to ordinary people through dreams, angels, Scripture, and the quiet stirrings of the Spirit. Each one had to decide how to respond. Over five days, we’ll look at how...

12/08/2025

Peace doesn’t just happen; it’s practiced.

Try one of these five simple habits this week to slow down and connect with God and others in deeper ways.

And if you’re looking for something that helps you keep practicing, our holiday bundle that includes Prayers for Ordinary Life cards and our Bible studies on Friendship and Technology is a great place to start. 💛

To get everything before Christmas, order by December 15th! It's 15% off and linked here: https://reclaimtoday.org/product/pray-study-bundle/

12/07/2025

Most of us want to hear from God.
But between the noise, busyness, and uncertainty of life, it’s easy to wonder: Am I even listening right? What does it even look like to listen for God?

The Christmas story is full of people who heard God in completely different ways—angelic announcements, dreams, whispers in the waiting. Through them, we learn that God still speaks today… we just have to pay attention.

Here are five ways to start listening for God in your own life:
1. Begin each day with openness. Like Mary, ready to say “yes.”
2. Look for God in the ordinary. He often speaks through small moments.
3. Make space for quiet. Stillness helps his voice rise above the noise.
4. Trust him in the waiting. Silence doesn’t mean absence.
5. Move in faith. Often, clarity comes after obedience.

The same God who spoke to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds wants to speak to you, too.

Want to explore how they heard him? Join our new YouVersion Bible plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.” You’ll see how God met each person, and how he might be speaking to you today.

It's linked here: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63994

12/06/2025

Artwork by .adsit

The holidays can move fast... so fast that we miss the very peace they promise.
From packed calendars to endless notifications, hurry steals the joy right out of Advent.

But what if you didn’t have to keep up? What if slowing down was how you actually found God this Christmas?

Here are 5 ways to unhurry your holidays and stay present to what really matters:

1️⃣ Start with wonder, not hurry.
When the shepherds heard the angel’s news, they hurried to see Jesus—but their hurry was full of wonder, not stress (Luke 2:15–16). Before your day fills up, pause and remember: You’re invited to wonder, not rush. Pause and whisper a simple “thank you” before moving on to the next thing.

2️⃣ Practice presence over perfection.
Like Martha, we get distracted by preparations (Luke 10:41–42). But Jesus reminded her that “only one thing is needed.” Choose presence over performance. Let one thing stay unfinished today—and be okay with it.

3️⃣ Slow down for people.
Jesus always had time for others (Matthew 9:36). Love takes time. In the holiday rush, slowing down to listen might be the most Christlike thing you do. Try leaving your phone in another room during one conversation today.

4️⃣ Make room for rest.
Even the Son of God entered the world in quiet (Luke 2:8). Rest isn’t wasted—it’s sacred space where God renews us. Light a candle tonight and sit still for a few minutes, letting peace settle in.

5️⃣ Keep Christ at the center.
It’s easy to let Christmas revolve around our to-do list instead of the One it’s all about. Read Luke 2:1–20 slowly, like it’s the first time you’ve ever read it, and let your celebrations flow from his presence.

You don’t have to do it all. You just have to be here—awake, open, ready to notice God’s presence in the ordinary moments.

Want to slow down and reconnect with God this season? Join our new Bible Plan, “Hearing God Through the Christmas Story.”

You’ll rediscover how people like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds heard God’s voice, and how you can, too.

Here's the link to start on YouVersion: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63994

12/05/2025

Contributed by

🌹🍒🍎💌 enjoy the simple things of life.

12/04/2025

Have you ever noticed the word “refuge” in refugee? A refuge is a safe place that protects from danger. And our world is full of people in danger. Some come from war-torn regions. Some are refugees because of persecution—their beliefs about politics or religion are not acceptable in their home country. Others have to abandon their homes because of natural disasters. And some can’t find a job or provide for their families. There’s debate on whether this last group counts based on the technical definition of a refugee, but when it comes to the Bible’s description of the vulnerable, they definitely count!

The Bible talks a lot about caring for refugees. Take a minute to look for words like “stranger” or “foreigner” in the Scriptures, and you’ll see how important it is to God to take care of them. Not to mention, Jesus was a refugee when his family had to flee Bethlehem for Egypt because an army was sent to kill him (and all the other little boys). It’s something God cares about, and something he experienced.

More than just that, one of the primary terms used to describe God throughout the Bible is “a refuge.” So as we look around and notice the many conflicts and terrible circumstances that displace people around the world, let’s hear the compassionate voice of God, and feel the same empathy for them that he feels. Let’s also examine the opportunities we have to be like him, providing safe places for people who have to leave home.

A good place to start could be meditating on this verse and this prayer.

𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
“The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞𝐬
Refuge and Strength, there are so many people displaced from their homes right now and trying to figure out what’s next. Please guide them, and give them the strength to make it somewhere safe. Provider, please supply food and water, and furnish all they’ve left behind. Healer, please bring restoration to their hearts and bodies, especially with the trauma they’ve experienced. And God, help me be like you by noticing those who need support and doing what I can to help. Amen.