Starting Right: Beginning With the Word – 6-Day Devotional
Day 1 – Beginning With the Right Foundation
(Recap & Emotional/Spiritual Connection)
Scripture
John 1:1–2 (NLT)
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Devotional Thought
Most of us know what it feels like to start over. A new year, a new season, a fresh commitment. We tell ourselves, This time will be different. Yet, deep down, many of us carry the quiet frustration of having tried before—and still feeling unchanged. John opens his Gospel by reminding us that real transformation does not begin with effort, intention, or timing. It begins with who we build on.
John intentionally takes us back to “the beginning,” echoing Genesis, but he does something surprising. Instead of pointing us to creation, he points us to Christ. Before the chaos of life, before broken relationships, before disappointment and regret, the Word already existed. Jesus is not a reaction to our problems; He is the foundation beneath everything.
This truth meets us emotionally. When life feels unstable, when identity feels fragile, when the future feels uncertain, John gently shifts our focus. Stability does not come from controlling outcomes—it comes from anchoring our lives in Someone who existed before time itself.
Starting right does not mean having all the answers. It means trusting the One who has never been uncertain. When we begin with Jesus, we are not scrambling to create meaning—we are receiving meaning that already exists.
Reflection Questions
Where have you been trying to “start over” without starting with Christ?
What does it mean for your life that Jesus existed before your current struggles?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, I confess that I often try to rebuild my life without returning to You first. Help me to rest in the truth that You are the beginning and the foundation I need.
Action Step
Write down one area of your life where you’ve been striving for change. Surrender it to Jesus today, intentionally inviting Him to be the foundation—not just the solution.
Day 2 – Understanding the Word Who Was With God
(Biblical Depth & Background)
Scripture
John 1:3 (NLT)
“God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”
Devotional Thought
When John calls Jesus “the Word,” he is making a bold theological claim. In Jewish thought, God’s Word represented His power, presence, and action. In Greek philosophy, the “Logos” represented reason, meaning, and order. John bridges both worlds by declaring that Jesus is not merely a messenger from God—He is God’s self-expression.
This matters because it reshapes how we view Jesus. He is not simply a moral teacher or spiritual guide. According to John, everything that exists came into being through Him. That means your life—your story, your gifts, your calling—are not accidents. They are rooted in divine intention.
Understanding this background helps us see why starting anywhere else leads to frustration. If Jesus is the Creator, then meaning cannot be discovered apart from Him. We don’t create purpose—we receive it from the One who created us.
John wants us to slow down here. Faith is not built on vague inspiration but on revealed truth. The more clearly we understand who Jesus is, the more confidently we can trust Him with our lives.
Reflection Questions
How does seeing Jesus as Creator—not just Savior—change how you view your life?
Where have you been looking for meaning outside of Christ?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, open my eyes to see You more clearly—not only as the One who saves me, but as the One who made me. Teach me to trust Your authority over my life.
Action Step
Spend five minutes reading John 1:1–5 slowly. Underline or note anything that expands your understanding of who Jesus is.
Day 3 – When Life Feels Dark
(Heart-Level Reflection)
Scripture
John 1:5 (NLT)
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
Devotional Thought
John does not deny the reality of darkness. He names it. Darkness represents confusion, sin, grief, fear, and unanswered questions. Many believers struggle not because darkness exists, but because they assume darkness means God is absent.
John says otherwise. Light does not wait for darkness to disappear—it enters it. Jesus does not stand at a distance from human pain; He steps into it. The light shines in the darkness, not after it.
This is deeply personal. Some seasons don’t resolve quickly. Prayers feel unanswered. Healing feels delayed. John reminds us that God’s work is not always immediate, but it is always intentional. Darkness cannot overpower the light, even when the light feels small.
Hope does not mean pretending things are fine. Hope means trusting that Jesus is present, even when clarity is not. Faith grows not by avoiding darkness, but by believing that the light still shines within it.
Reflection Questions
What “dark” area of your life have you assumed means God is distant?
How does knowing that darkness cannot overcome Christ’s light change your perspective?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, I bring You the places where life feels heavy and unclear. Help me trust that Your light is still at work, even when I cannot see the outcome.
Action Step
Light a candle or sit near a light source today as a physical reminder that darkness does not win. Reflect quietly on God’s presence with you.
Day 4 – Receiving, Not Earning
(Personal Application)
Scripture
John 1:12 (NLT)
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Devotional Thought
One of the most freeing truths in Scripture is also one of the hardest to live out: God’s family is entered by receiving, not achieving. John contrasts human effort with divine grace. Becoming a child of God is not about heritage, performance, or religious effort—it is about trust.
Many believers live like spiritual orphans. We believe in Jesus, yet still strive to earn approval, fearing rejection when we fall short. John’s words remind us that identity precedes behavior. We do not obey to become children—we obey because we already are.
Receiving Christ means resting in what He has done, not obsessing over what we must do. It means allowing God to define us, rather than measuring ourselves by success, failure, or comparison.
When you accept Christ, your story changes. You belong. You are named. You are loved.
Reflection Questions
In what ways have you tried to earn what God freely gives?
What would change if you truly lived as God’s beloved child?
Prayer Prompt
Father, help me release the pressure to prove myself. Teach me to live from my identity in You, not for it.
Action Step
Write down the phrase: “I am a child of God.” Place it somewhere visible today as a reminder of your identity.
Day 5 – Light That Reaches Others
(Community & Outward Focus)
Scripture
John 1:9 (NLT)
“The one who is the true light gives light to everyone who comes into the world.”
Devotional Thought
Jesus is not only personal light—He is public hope. John reminds us that Christ’s light is meant to be shared, not hidden. When we begin with the Word, our lives naturally reflect Him.
Light exposes, but it also guides. It comforts, but it also calls. As followers of Christ, we carry His light into workplaces, families, neighborhoods, and communities that are searching for hope.
This doesn’t mean preaching louder—it means living differently. Compassion, integrity, patience, and love become signposts pointing others to Jesus. The light we’ve received becomes the light we reflect.
Reflection Questions
Where has God placed you to reflect His light right now?
How can your life point others toward Christ this week?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, help me live in a way that reflects Your light. Use my words and actions to draw others toward You.
Action Step
Intentionally encourage one person today—through prayer, a kind word, or an act of service.
Day 6 – Starting Right, Living Forward
(Faith-in-Action Challenge)
Scripture
John 1:4 (NLT)
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”
Devotional Thought
Starting right is not a one-time decision—it’s a daily posture. Each day, we choose what shapes us. Voices compete for our attention. Schedules fill quickly. Distractions multiply.
John invites us back to the beginning again and again. When Jesus remains central, life aligns. Light guides. Identity holds.
Faith in action means intentionally beginning each day with the Word—listening before acting, trusting before striving, believing before building.
When we start with Jesus, we don’t just survive seasons—we grow through them.
Reflection Questions
What would it look like to consistently begin your days with Christ at the center?
What step of obedience is God inviting you to take next?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, I want my life to reflect Your life. Give me the courage to follow You daily and trust You fully.
Action Step
Commit to a daily rhythm with God this week—Scripture reading, prayer, or reflection—starting tomorrow morning.