Finding Favor in a Faithless Generation

 

Day 1: Chosen by Favor

Reading: Genesis 6:5-9

Devotional: In a world consumed by corruption, Noah found favor with God—not because he was perfect, but because he was faithful. Today, God still sees those who choose obedience over compromise. When everyone around you ignores God, your faithfulness stands out like a light in darkness. Favor isn't about luck or privilege; it's about God recognizing your heart's devotion. He sees you when you pray in private, when you resist temptation, when you stand alone for righteousness. Your faithfulness today is building something eternal. God's favor follows those who honor Him, even when no one else notices. Will you be the one God finds faithful in your generation?

Day 2: Obedience Before Understanding

Reading: Hebrews 11:7

Devotional: Noah built an ark when it had never rained. He obeyed without seeing the full picture, without confirmation from his circumstances. Faith doesn't wait for perfect conditions—it acts on God's word alone. You may be facing a situation where God is calling you to step forward without all the answers. The peace you're seeking comes from being in God's will, not from having everything figured out. Obedience stretches us beyond what we can explain. Like Noah, you're building something that doesn't make sense to others. But favor responds to faith. Today, take one step of obedience, even if you can't see the rain coming. Trust that God sees what you cannot.

Day 3: Blessing That Preserves

Reading: Genesis 7:1-5

Devotional: God's blessing didn't just cover Noah—it extended to his entire family. Your obedience today is protecting people you love tomorrow. The decisions you make now are building a legacy for future generations. Blessing isn't an exemption from storms; it's preservation through them. The rain still fell, the flood still came, but the ark survived because it was built under God's instruction. What God blesses, the storm cannot destroy. You may be facing pressure, challenges, and tests, but if you remain under His covering, you will be kept. Your faithfulness is creating a shelter for others. The rainbow is coming. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Day 4: Anointing to Save Others

Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Devotional: Noah's anointing wasn't for his comfort—it was to build something that would save others. The ark was both warning and invitation, showing God's patience while calling people to repentance. Your life is meant to point others to salvation. The anointing God places on you empowers obedience for the sake of those around you. You're not called to be a spiritual consumer but a contributor. God is raising you up not just to be blessed, but to be a blessing. Handle your business—walk in holiness, speak with boldness, love sacrificially. Every act of obedience is building an ark that others can run to. Your testimony is a sign pointing to Jesus.

Day 5: Run to the Ark

Reading: John 12:32; Matthew 24:37-39

Devotional: The ark wasn't the hero—it pointed to Jesus. No one was saved by admiring the ark from a distance; they were saved by entering it. Jesus is the door, the only way to salvation. Just as the flood didn't discriminate, judgment is coming for all who reject God's mercy. But there is an ark—His name is Jesus. He carried our sins on a wooden cross so we could be saved from the consequences of our rebellion. Today, the invitation remains: run to Jesus. Don't just believe about Him—run to Him. Enter the ark. The flood is real, but so is the Savior. Stop drowning in your own strength and let Him rescue you. Jesus is lifted up, drawing all people to Himself.

Walking in Favor: Chosen for Purpose, Empowered for a City

 

Day 1: Today Is Your Day

Reading: Luke 4:16-21

Devotional: Jesus stood in the synagogue and declared, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Not tomorrow. Not when circumstances improve. Today. God's favor doesn't wait for perfect conditions—it shows up in the middle of broken systems, complicated cities, and tired people. The kingdom of God invades the chaos right where you are. Jesus didn't say "one day" or "when things get better." He said TODAY. This word changes everything. Stop waiting for ideal circumstances to step into God's purpose. He is calling you right now, in the middle of your mess, to receive His favor and walk in His purpose. What has God been calling you to that you've delayed? Today is the day to respond.

Day 2: Chosen for Purpose, Not Preference

Reading: Genesis 39:19-23; Acts 10:34-35

Devotional: God's favor isn't favoritism—it's assignment. Joseph was favored, yet he faced betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment. Even in prison, "the Lord was with him." Mary was "highly favored," yet her calling came with scandal, danger, and watching her son die. Favor doesn't mean an easy life; it means God has chosen you for a specific purpose and will equip you for it. God shows no favoritism based on status, but He does choose people for assignments. The question isn't whether you're His favorite—you are His chosen. Your difficulties aren't evidence of God's absence; they're often the preparation ground for your purpose. Where you are right now, even if it feels like prison, God is positioning you for what's next.

Day 3: Blessed to Be a Blessing

Reading: Genesis 12:1-3; Proverbs 10:22

Devotional: God told Abraham, "I will bless you...and you will be a blessing." God's blessing on your life was never meant to stop with you. Blessing always has others in mind. It's not about accumulation—it's about multiplication. The Lord blesses you so His goodness can flow through you to touch others. True blessing comes without painful toil or manipulation. You don't need to hustle, cheat, or scheme. God's hand produces fruit beyond your human efforts. This year, make space for God to give you more by releasing what you have. Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can. Everything God pours into you is meant to flow through you. Who in your life needs to experience God's blessing through you? What is God asking you to release so He can multiply it?

Day 4: The Anointing That Breaks Yokes

Reading: Isaiah 10:27; Acts 10:38

Devotional: The anointing is God's power that breaks what human effort cannot. That addiction you've tried to quit a hundred times—the anointing breaks it. That generational curse, that depression, that limitation—the anointing destroys it. Isaiah prophesied that "the yoke will be broken because of the anointing." A yoke represents oppression, bondage, and limitation. Even a strong ox cannot break its own yoke, but the anointing shatters it completely. Jesus was anointed not for self-promotion but to set people free—to heal, deliver, and restore. That same Spirit works in His church today. But anointing flows from prayer, consecration, and desperation for God—not from talent alone. The church needs more than strategy and organization; we need the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you relying on your own strength or His anointing?

Day 5: Consecrate Yourself for What's Coming

Reading: Joshua 3:5; Joel 2:12-13

Devotional: Before Israel crossed into the Promised Land, Joshua didn't say "get excited." He said, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Before Jesus entered public ministry, He fasted. Before the church experienced Pentecost power, they prayed and waited. Before revival breaks out publicly, it's always preceded by private surrender. Consecration means separating yourself—shutting out the world to align with God. This isn't about twisting God's arm or proving your spirituality. It's about saying, "God, I'm available. Speak to me." What we give God first, He has permission to bless fully. God's favor, blessing, and anointing are available, but they demand a response. Will you consecrate yourself? Will you fast, pray, and posture your heart to receive all God has for you this year?

Living as Light in the Darkness

 

Day 1: The Light That Disrupts Darkness

Reading: John 1:1-5, 14

Devotional: Darkness doesn't negotiate—it simply exists until light appears. When Jesus entered our world in Bethlehem, He didn't politely ask permission from the darkness. He invaded it. The Word became flesh and shattered the night that held humanity captive. This wasn't a gentle suggestion for improvement; it was a divine disruption.

Today, consider the areas of your life where you've normalized darkness—dysfunction, anxiety, hopelessness, or sin patterns you've accepted as "just who you are." Jesus didn't come to help you manage your darkness better. He came to obliterate it. The same light that broke into Bethlehem wants to break into every shadowed corner of your heart. Darkness has no defense against His presence. Where are you still negotiating with the night instead of inviting the Light to completely transform you?

Reflection: What darkness have I accepted as normal in my life? Am I ready to let Jesus disrupt it completely?

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Day 2: From Victim to Victor

Reading: Isaiah 60:1-3

Devotional: "Arise, shine, for your light has come." This isn't a suggestion—it's a command. God doesn't say, "Stay comfortable in your victim story." He says, "Get up!" The prophet Isaiah spoke to people covered in thick darkness, people who had every reason to stay down. But God's "but" changes everything.

You may have legitimate pain, real trauma, genuine reasons to feel defeated. God sees it all. He grieves with you. But He refuses to let that be your final identity. The dawn He's creating in you isn't about denying your past—it's about not letting your past define your future. When Jesus rose from the dead, He proved that what happened to you doesn't determine what happens through you. Today, you're not just surviving—you're carrying the dawn. Nations and leaders will be drawn to the brightness rising in you when you stop identifying as a victim and start walking as a victor.

Reflection: What victim mentality do I need to surrender? How can I begin walking in the authority Christ has given me?

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Day 3: The Morning Star Rising Within

Reading: 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16

Devotional: Jesus calls Himself "the bright morning star"—the first light before daybreak that signals the night is ending. Peter reveals something profound: this morning star rises not just in history, but "in your hearts." The location of the dawn is inside you.

Before sunrise, night seems permanent. Then a single, unstoppable line of light appears on the horizon. Darkness cannot argue with it, delay it, or overpower it. That is Jesus in your life. He's not trying to give you a nightlight to make your darkness more comfortable. He's bringing complete transformation. When Christ rises in your heart, old habits lose their grip, toxic emotions lose their power, and destructive patterns lose their authority. You're not learning to live with your dysfunction—you're learning to walk in a new dawn. Let the morning star rise fully in you today. Stop settling for managing the night when Jesus is offering you a brand new day.

Reflection: Have I been settling for a "nightlight" version of Christianity? What would it look like to let Jesus bring complete light to every area?

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Day 4: Put On the Armor of Light

Reading: Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 6:10-18

Devotional: "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." This is kingdom instruction, not poetic encouragement. Paul declares that when Christ enters your life, the night that once ruled you begins to die, and your responsibility is to walk as a citizen of the dawn.

You are not called to negotiate with darkness or manage it carefully. You're called to put on the full armor of light and advance. This means actively rejecting the deeds of darkness—not just big sins, but also hopelessness, passivity, and spiritual numbness. Putting on light means choosing faith over fear, declaring truth over lies, and stepping into your God-given purpose instead of hiding in comfort. You are a soldier in God's army of light. The darkness around your family, workplace, and city has no authority when the kingdom rises within you. Today, suit up. The battle is real, but victory is certain.

Reflection: What "deeds of darkness" do I need to put aside? What does it practically look like to put on the armor of light today?

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Day 5: Carriers of the Dawn

Reading: Matthew 5:14-16; Acts 9:17-20

Devotional: Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." Not "you will be" or "you should try to be"—you ARE. Like a flashlight created for one purpose, you were made to shine. When Saul encountered Jesus, scales fell from his eyes, and immediately—not after years of therapy or religious programs—he began preaching. He got up and started fulfilling his purpose.

God isn't calling you to be a perpetual consumer of blessings, constantly needing prayer and help. He's calling you to be a minister, a light-bearer, right where you live. Why does your neighborhood look dark? Because the light hasn't been shining there. Your city doesn't need more church services; it needs you to be the church in your workplace, your school, your home. When you shine, you don't need marketing strategies or perfect words. Fire attracts. Light draws people naturally. Even leaders and influencers will ask, "What is happening there?" Stop waiting for permission. Stop hiding your light. The world is suffocating in darkness, and you carry the dawn.

Reflection: Where has God specifically placed me to shine His light? What's one practical way I can be a light-bearer today, not just a light-receiver?

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Closing Prayer: "Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the World, and You have called me to carry Your light into the darkness around me. I refuse to normalize the darkness any longer. Break through every area of my life where night still rules. Fill me completely with Your presence. Let Your morning star rise fully in my heart. I put on the armor of light today and commit to walking as a citizen of the dawn. Use me to bring Your light to my family, my city, and everyone You've placed in my path. In Your powerful name, Amen."

19SixSeven and a New Jesus Movement

Every generation carries something unique in its language, its humor, and its trends. Gen Alpha’s “Six Seven” trend is one of those moments that seems silly on the surface, nothing more than a phrase that kids throw around without a second thought. And yet, without forcing a spiritual meaning onto a cultural moment, it has made me pause and think about another “67” the year 1967, when the flames of what would later be known as the Jesus Movement first began to rise.

In 1967, no one expected revival. The nation was shaking. Violence was increasing. Wounds were deep. A generation felt lost, disillusioned, and spiritually hungry without knowing it. And right in the middle of that chaos, God began to breathe on a generation that the world had already counted out. A movement of radical salvation, transformed lives, and supernatural revival swept across America and eventually the world. Nobody predicted it. Nobody controlled it. Nobody could stop it.

I am not trying to turn a trend into theology, and I am not trying to join the group of conspiracy chasers who find the devil behind every joke on the internet. But I am saying this:

God can use the ordinary to awaken the spiritually alert.

Because right now in our own city, while fear tries to grip the streets, while violence tries to define our story, while hopelessness tries to suffocate the next generation, God is birthing something again. You can feel it in prayer meetings. You can sense it in worship. You can see it in the growing hunger of young people who do not want religion, they want Jesus.

You can also see the timing of God in the doors that are opening for our city. In May of 2026, Mario Murillo Ministries will be holding a historic Evangelistic Crusade right here in Stockton. This is not an accident and it is not a coincidence. I believe this crusade will serve as the spark that starts the fire of revival that has already been rumbling beneath the surface. What God ignites in that moment will not stay contained. It will spread from neighborhood to neighborhood, from generation to generation, and from this city to cities across the nation.

You can see it in the boldness rising in believers, the unity forming among pastors, the stirring that will not go away, no matter how dark the headlines become.

It is not naive. It is not dramatic. It is not too much to believe this.

God is preparing a supernatural revival in our city and it will echo beyond our borders.

So the next time you hear a kid jokingly shout “six seven” let it be more than noise. Let it be a reminder, a whisper from the Holy Spirit, that the God who moved in 1967 is the same God stirring a new Jesus Revolution today.

A new move of God is coming.

A new generation is rising.

A new outpouring is forming.

And Stockton will not be left out of what God is about to do in this nation.

“Six seven.”

Let it remind you

Revival is already being born.

- Pastor Sergio M. Acedo

A Better Kingdom

 

Day 1: God Meets You in Your Ordinary

Reading: Exodus 3:1-6

Devotional: Moses was doing the most mundane task—tending sheep that weren't even his—when God appeared in the burning bush. For forty years, he had been running from his past, feeling like his purpose had died in the desert. Yet God chose that ordinary moment, that normal day, to reveal Himself and ignite Moses' destiny.

God doesn't wait for perfect conditions or spiritual mountaintop experiences. He steps into your routine—your commute, your kitchen, your workplace. The ground you're standing on right now can become holy ground when you recognize His presence. Stop dismissing your ordinary moments as insignificant. God is there, waiting to transform your routine into revelation. Take off your shoes. Pay attention. Your burning bush moment may be closer than you think.

Reflection: Where in your daily routine have you stopped expecting God to show up? Ask Him to open your eyes to His presence in the ordinary.

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Day 2: Heaven Invades Earth

Reading: Luke 1:26-38

Devotional: The angel Gabriel didn't appear to royalty in a palace. He came to a teenage girl in Nazareth—the ghetto of Jerusalem, the place people said nothing good could come from. Mary was living her normal life when heaven broke through with an impossible announcement: she would carry the Son of God.

Christmas is not a sentimental holiday; it's a supernatural invasion. God chose the unlikely, the overlooked, the ordinary to carry His extraordinary purpose. Bethlehem wasn't a backup plan—it was the invasion point where the King of Heaven stormed into enemy-occupied territory. You may feel too small, too broken, or too ordinary for God to use you, but that's exactly who He chooses. When Mary said "yes" to God's impossible plan, she became part of the greatest rescue mission in history. What is God asking you to carry into this dark world?

Reflection: What "impossible" thing is God inviting you to be part of? How will you respond like Mary: "I am the Lord's servant"?

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Day 3: Light Confronts Darkness

Reading: John 1:1-14

Devotional: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This isn't poetic language—it's a declaration of war. Jesus didn't enter a peaceful world. He came into violence, corruption, oppression, and spiritual darkness. Herod murdered children. Rome ruled with brutality. Yet into that darkness came the cry of a baby in a manger—the cry of deliverance.

Your city, your family, your own heart may feel consumed by darkness right now. But Christmas declares that light is stronger. The same God who said "Let there be light" at creation spoke light into existence again in Bethlehem. That light cannot be extinguished by your past, your pain, or your circumstances. The King has come, and where the King is, His kingdom comes with Him—complete authority over every chain, every lie, every darkness that tries to hold you captive. The light is still shining. Let it in.

Reflection: What darkness in your life needs the light of Christ today? Invite Him to shine His truth into that specific area.

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Day 4: God Sees Your Suffering

Reading: Exodus 3:7-10

Devotional: "I have indeed seen the misery of my people. I have heard them crying out. I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them." God spoke these words to Moses about Israel's slavery in Egypt, but they echo through time to us today. God sees the misery in Stockton, in your neighborhood, in your home. He hears the cries. He is concerned.

But notice what God says next: "So now, go. I am sending you." God doesn't just rescue from a distance—He partners with people. He could have delivered Israel with a snap of His fingers, but He chose to work through Moses. You are not here by accident. You have been delivered from your own Egypt so you can go back and help others find freedom. The chains God broke off your life weren't just for your benefit—they were broken so you could become a deliverer. God has seen the darkness, and He's sending you into it as a carrier of His light.

Reflection: Who in your life is crying out for deliverance? How is God calling you to be part of their rescue?

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Day 5: The Soul Feels Its Worth

Reading: Luke 2:8-20

Devotional: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth." Before Jesus came, humanity was groaning under the weight of sin, crushed by darkness, aching for deliverance. People felt forgotten, unworthy, hopeless. Then He appeared—not to the powerful or religious elite, but to shepherds in a field, the outcasts of society.

When the King came, everything changed. The soul felt its worth. Moses felt unworthy until God appeared. Israel felt forgotten until God appeared. You may feel undeserving, unseen, overwhelmed—but God appears to you today. The nativity scene isn't just a sweet baby in a manger; it's a conquering King who stepped into the ruins of this world to bring redemption. A new and glorious morning broke across humanity, and heaven lit a match in Bethlehem that darkness could never extinguish. The same God who delivered Israel through Moses delivered the world through Jesus, and He is still delivering today—breaking chains from addiction, anxiety, fear, confusion, and sin. The King has come. Your soul has worth. You are seen. You are loved. You are free.

Reflection: Spend time in worship, thanking Jesus for appearing in your darkness and giving you worth. How will you live differently knowing the King has come?

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Closing Prayer for the Week: King Jesus, thank You for stepping into our darkness, our ordinary moments, our pain. You didn't stay distant—You came near. Break through in our lives this Christmas season. Help us recognize Your presence in the everyday. Give us courage to go where You send us, to be carriers of Your light in dark places. We declare that Your kingdom is coming to our city, our families, our hearts. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it. In Your mighty name, Amen.