August 24-30, 2025
Recently, I spent a week in the Dominican Republic serving in an impoverished community near Cercadillo. Amid trash piles and stray dogs, live a people group that God is redeeming—one generation at a time!
The missionary we support has been in the area for over 20 years and you can really start to see the community being transformed. The current leaders are the sons and daughters of the two women who were invested in the most.
One of those women was recently married and preached the Gospel to over 250 people in her village who attended. One of the youth raised in this village was taught and tutored by the missionary. He was just accepted into a technical school for a marketing program.
When our team of 10 from the U.S. gathered for the week, we hosted a Bible camp (similar to a Vacation Bible School in the U.S.) with the villagers leading. We supported them as hosts but they led the kids and shared the Gospel for their people group. We were happy to play a behind-the-scenes roll in this village.
One of the stories we shared was from Joshua 3-4.
We taught the kids that we remember the great works of God so that we can trust Him for the next thing in our life. We anchor that great work with a symbolic reminder like stones to help us recall what He did in the past to rescue us and protect us. We see those visual reminders and it helps us trust Him again. These truths weren’t just for the Israelites, they are for us too.
Read along this month and create some visual reminders of God’s work in your life so that you can trust Him when you are facing challenges in the next season.
This week's Bible reading: Joshua 4: 7-14
Theme: Trust
Day 1: Do you tell stories in your family or with your friends. What are your memorial stories? Think of one today and write it down.
Day 2: Some of the stones we carry are heavy. How are you doing with your load? Be honest with God about what you are struggling to carry today.
Day 3: The verse says that the stones the Israelites carried are still there today. What moment of faith do you carry with you everyday to remind you of God’s goodness and provision? Reflect on that moment and why it helps you.
Day 4: Moses came before Joshua as the example. Who is your Moses? Reach out and tell them thank you today for leading your journey to God and being an example to follow.
Day 5: Sometimes we feel like we are the only one leading and everyone is standing around watching. Name one area you feel alone in your leadership today (household, work, family, friendship). Ask God to bring companionship, partnership, and community to you in that area.
Challenge: Invite someone else to lead something with you this week. It could be inviting a child to help with dinner, a co-worker with a project, a spouse with a chore, or a friend to go see another friend who needs encouragement. Find a way to take someone with you on the journey
Prayer Prompts and Bible Readings are provided by Michele Bowden and Lisa Brass, Coaches with Visual Faith™ Ministry. Find them on our Creative Devotion page, on Instagram @victoryinart and @aworthylif, and on the web at victoryinart.com.