August 3-9, 2025
Last week, 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: Ecclesiastes 3:1-7
Theme: Trust
Day 1: What are your habits early in the morning? Are you preparing your day with the Lord in mind? Are you starting with your phone in hand? Really consider what you are doing to prepare your day.
Day 2: What was the significance of the ark of the covenant? Spend some time researching what it was, what were the rules surrounding it, and why was it significant to these people following God.
Day 3: Why is it hard to navigate a place where we have never been before? Think of a time when this was significant for you and journal about it.
Day 4: What does it mean to consecrate yourselves? Take some steps today to do so - make it practical for your daily living.
Day 5: Has the Lord ever given you a warning that “great things” are coming? What did you do?
Challenge: Take some time to go outside in search of a rock. Bring the rock back home, write the date on it, say a prayer asking God to show you great things!
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.