Week 1 | Day 5 – WHEN WE TRADE GLORY FOR CONTROL – Romans 1:21–32
Paul pulls back the curtain on the human heart: we know there is a God, yet we refuse to glorify Him or give thanks. That refusal dims our thinking, darkens our hearts, and drives a tragic exchange—trading the glory of the immortal God for created things we think we can manage. This is the essence of idolatry: “I’ll worship anything or anyone—as long as I remain on the throne, master, boss, and savior of my own life.”
Left to ourselves, depravity deepens. A heart turned from God is capable of the ugliest sins, and three times Paul says God “gave them over”—letting rebels run the course of their choices. The cross, then, is not a license to indulge but a gift to enjoy—a rescue from self-rule, not a permission slip to continue in it.
APPLICATION
1 - Expect Reality—Not Surprise
Don’t be shocked when the lost act lost—or when carnal believers act like sinners. This is the fallen nature at work. Respond with truth and grace: hope, pray, share, serve.
2 - Fight the Exchange with Worship and Gratitude
The slide began when people stopped glorifying and thanking God. Reverse it daily. Start each morning with two sentences of praise and three specific thank-you statements to God.
Finally, name and renounce any “functional saviors” competing for your trust.
3 - Walk by the Spirit, not the Flesh (see Galatians 5:17)
You can’t keep one foot in both camps. Be honest about your sinful inclinations and draw near to God. Identify one area where you’ve “sat on the throne.” Confess it, and take one Spirit-led step of obedience today.
4 - Persevere in Intercession
Never cease praying because Satan never ceases preying. Make a short, daily list of names—lost, drifting, struggling—and pray specifically for repentance, rescue, and renewal.
PRAYER
Holy God, I confess how quickly I trade Your glory for lesser things I think I can control. Forgive my pride, my ingratitude, and my idols. Do not give me over to my sin; lead me by Your Spirit. Restore to me a heart that glorifies You and gives thanks. Empower me to walk in obedience today, to intercede faithfully for the lost and the wandering, and to serve with grace and truth. Jesus, take Your rightful place on the throne of my life. Amen.
Left to ourselves, depravity deepens. A heart turned from God is capable of the ugliest sins, and three times Paul says God “gave them over”—letting rebels run the course of their choices. The cross, then, is not a license to indulge but a gift to enjoy—a rescue from self-rule, not a permission slip to continue in it.
APPLICATION
1 - Expect Reality—Not Surprise
Don’t be shocked when the lost act lost—or when carnal believers act like sinners. This is the fallen nature at work. Respond with truth and grace: hope, pray, share, serve.
2 - Fight the Exchange with Worship and Gratitude
The slide began when people stopped glorifying and thanking God. Reverse it daily. Start each morning with two sentences of praise and three specific thank-you statements to God.
Finally, name and renounce any “functional saviors” competing for your trust.
3 - Walk by the Spirit, not the Flesh (see Galatians 5:17)
You can’t keep one foot in both camps. Be honest about your sinful inclinations and draw near to God. Identify one area where you’ve “sat on the throne.” Confess it, and take one Spirit-led step of obedience today.
4 - Persevere in Intercession
Never cease praying because Satan never ceases preying. Make a short, daily list of names—lost, drifting, struggling—and pray specifically for repentance, rescue, and renewal.
PRAYER
Holy God, I confess how quickly I trade Your glory for lesser things I think I can control. Forgive my pride, my ingratitude, and my idols. Do not give me over to my sin; lead me by Your Spirit. Restore to me a heart that glorifies You and gives thanks. Empower me to walk in obedience today, to intercede faithfully for the lost and the wandering, and to serve with grace and truth. Jesus, take Your rightful place on the throne of my life. Amen.
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Archive
2026
2025
September
Week 1 | Day 1 – BOUGHT, BELONGING, AND BOUND TO CHRIST – Romans 1:1-7Week 1 | Day 2 – EAGER TO STRENGTHEN, EAGER TO SHARE – Romans 1:8–15Week 1 | Day 3 – UNASHAMED: THE POWER AND THE PATH OF FAITH – Romans 1:16–17Week 1 | Day 4 – WHEN TRUTH IS PLAIN – Romans 1:18–20Week 1 | Day 5 – WHEN WE TRADE GLORY FOR CONTROL – Romans 1:21–32Week 2 | Day 1 – NO PARTIALITY: TRUTH THAT LEADS TO REPENTANCE – Romans 2:1–11Week 2 | Day 2 – WHEN LAW AND CONSCIENCE SPEAK – Romans 2:12–16Week 2 | Day 3 – INSIDE-OUT FAITH – Romans 2:17–29Week 2 | Day 4 – WHEN PRIVILEGE MEETS THE PLUMB LINE – Romans 3:1–8Week 2 | Day 5 – SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR – Romans 3:9–20Week 3 | Day 1 – BUT NOW… GRACE – Romans 3:21–26Week 3 | Day 2 – RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY FAITH ALONE – Romans 3:21–27Week 3 | Day 3 – THE PROMISE OF ABRAHAM – Romans 4:1-15Week 3 | Day 4 – GRACE GUARANTEES THE PROMISE – Romans 4:16–25Week 3 | Day 5 – JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE – Romans 5:1-5Week 4 | Day 1 – GOD’S LOVE ON FULL DISPLAY – Romans 5:6-8Week 4 | Day 2 – HOW MUCH MORE – Romans 5:9-11Week 4 | Day 3 – FROM ADAM’S RUIN TO CHRIST’S RESCUE – Romans 5:12-21Week 4 | Day 4 – STATE AND STANDING: DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE TO GOD – Romans 6:1-4Week 4 | Day 5 – DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO GOD – Romans 6:5-10Week 5 | Day 1 – LIVING FREE, LIVING OFFERED – Romans 6:11-15Week 5 | Day 2 – SET FREE TO SERVE – Romans 6:15-23
October
Week 5 | Day 3 – RELEASED TO BELONG – Romans 7:1-6Week 5 | Day 4 – A MIRROR AND NOT A LADDER – Romans 7:7-13Week 5 | Day 5 – FEEDING THE RIGHT KING – Romans 7:14-25Week 6 | Day 1 – FREEDOM—NOT CONDEMNATION – Romans 8:1-4Week 6 | Day 2 – RISEN THINKING OR STINKING THINKING – Romans 8:5-11Week 6 | Day 3 – ASSURED AND ADOPTED – Romans 8:12-17Week 6 | Day 4 – LIVE EXPECTING AND LIVE SENT – Romans 8:18-21Week 6 | Day 5 – HOPE THAT HOLDS US STEADY – Romans 8:22-25Week 7 | Day 1 – HELP, HELD, AND MADE LIKE JESUS – Romans 8:26-30Week 7 | Day 2 – GOD IS FOR US – Romans 8:31-34Week 7 | Day 3 – INSEPARABLE – Romans 8:35-39Week 7 | Day 4 – A BURDEN FOR THE LOST – Romans 9:1-5Week 7 | Day 5 – PROMISE OVER PEDIGREE – Romans 9:6-13Week 8 | Day 1 – CHOSEN TO CHANNEL MERCY – Romans 9:13-18Week 8 | Day 2 – PLANNED GRACE—PERSONAL FAITH – Romans 9:19-29Week 8 | Day 3 – SOVEREIGN STUMBLING BLOCKS – Romans 9:30-33Week 8 | Day 4 – A BURDEN FOR TRUTH – Romans 10:1-4Week 8 | Day 5 – A GOSPEL FOR EVERYONE – Romans 10:5-13Week 9 | Day 1 – GO AND TELL – Romans 10:14-15Week 9 | Day 2 – HEARING BUT NOT HEARING – Romans 10:16-21Week 9 | Day 3 – A HOLY REMNANT – Romans 11:1-10Week 9 | Day 4 – A GRAFTED CHURCH – Romans 11:11-24Week 9 | Day 5 – GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES – Romans 11:25-32
November
Week 10 | Day 1 – A DOXOLOGY – Romans 11:25-32Week 10 | Day 2 – OUR HIGHEST ACT OF WORSHIP – Romans 12:1-2Week 10 | Day 3 – THE BODY OF CHRIST – Romans 12:3-8Week 10 | Day 4 – CHRISTIANITY IN MOTION – Romans 12:9-21Week 10 | Day 5 – CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP – Romans 13:1-7Week 11 | Day 1 – LOVE OVER LAW – Romans 13:8-10Week 11 | Day 2 – ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD – Romans 13:11-14Week 11 | Day 3 – LOOKING AFTER ONE ANOTHER – Romans 14:1-12Week 11 | Day 4 – IT’S THE POWER OF LOVE – Romans 14:13-18Week 11 | Day 5 – MAKE EVERY EFFORT – Romans 14:19-23Week 12 | Day 1 – BEAR EACH OTHER’S BURDENS – Romans 15:1-13Week 12 | Day 2 – FULFILLING ONE’S CALLING – Romans 15:14-22Week 12 | Day 3 – GOING THE EXTRA MILE – Romans 15:22-33Week 12 | Day 4 – YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME – Romans 16:1-16Week 5 | Day 5 – BE GRATEFUL YET ALERT – Romans 16:17-27
December
Week 1 | Day 1 THE ADVENT OF CHRIST Matthew 1:18:2:12 | Luke 2:1-22 | John 1:1-14Week 1 | Day 2 THE BAPTISM OF JESUS Matthew 3:1-17 | Mark 1:1-11 | Luke 3:1-23Week 1 | Day 3 THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS Matthew 4:1-11 | Luke 4:1-13Week 1 | Day 4 THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES Matthew 4:18-22 | Luke 5:1-11 | John 1:35-51Week 1 | Day 5 THE WEDDING AT CANA John 2:1-12Week 2 | Day 1 THE FIRST TEMPLE CLEANSING John 2:13-25Week 2 | Day 2 JESUS MEET WITH NICODEMUS John 3:1-21Week 2 | Day 3 THE WOMAN AT THE WELL John 4:1-42Week 2 | Day 4 THE BEATITUDES Matthew 5:1-12 | Luke 6:17-23Week 2 | Day 5 TEACHINGS FROM THE MOUNT Matthew 5:13-48 | Luke 6:24-36Week 3 | Day 1 THE LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:5-18 | Luke 11:1-13Week 4 | Day 5 JESUS GOES TO THE OTHER SIDE Matthew 8:23-33 | Mark 5:1-20 | Luke 8:22-39Week 3 | Day 2 TREASURES IN HEAVEN Matthew 6:19-34Week 3 | Day 3 MORE TEACHINGS FROM THE MOUNT Matthew 7:1-27 | Luke 6:37-49Week 3 | Day 4 THE MASTER’S TOUCH Matthew 8:1-17 | Mark 1:21-45 | Luke 4:31-41Week 3 | Day 5 THE HEALING OF THE PARALYTIC Matthew 9:1-8 | Mark 2:1-12 | Luke 5:17-26Week 4 | Day 1 JESUS ANOINTED BY A SINNER Luke 7:36-50Week 4 | Day 2 THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER Matthew 13:1-23 | Mark 4:1-20 | Luke 8:4-15Week 4 | Day 3 PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND TARE Matthew 13:24-43Week 4 | Day 4 A SET OF SIGNIFICANT PARABLES Matthew 13:31-36 | Mark 4:20-30 | Luke 13:6-8; 18-21Week 5 | Day 1 THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER Matthew 9:20-24 | Mark 5:25-43 | Luke 8:40-56Week 5 | Day 2 THE LORD OF THE HARVEST Matthew 9:35-10:52 | Mark 6:7-13 | Luke 9:1-6Week 5 | Day 3 THE POOLS AT BETHESDA John 5:1-17
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