Come Closer: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Come Closer" by Pastor Tanya Skeeter

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: The Danger of Lukewarm Faith

Based on the Message: "Come Closer" by Pastor Tanya Skeeter

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."- Revelation 3:15-16

Devotional: Have you ever tasted lukewarm water? It's not pleasant. It lacks the refreshing quality of cold water and the comforting warmth of hot water. It's just... there. Unsatisfying. This is precisely how Jesus described the faith of the Laodicean church. Their spiritual temperature had settled into a comfortable middle ground that actually disgusted Him. Spiritual complacency is a silent killer of vibrant faith. It creeps in gradually as we become satisfied with where we are in our relationship with God. We attend church, say our prayers, read our Bibles occasionally—checking the boxes of Christian living without the passion that once drove us. We become lukewarm. The most dangerous aspect of complacency is that we often don't recognize it in ourselves. The Laodiceans thought they were doing fine—rich, prosperous, needing nothing. But Jesus saw their true condition: wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Their self-assessment couldn't have been more wrong. Today, take a moment to honestly evaluate your spiritual temperature. Are you on fire for God, pursuing Him with passion? Are you cold, having drifted away entirely? Or are you somewhere in the middle—going through the motions while your heart remains disengaged? Jesus desires so much more for us than lukewarm faith. He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking, waiting for us to invite Him in for intimate fellowship.

Quote: "Ever tasted lukewarm water? It doesn’t quench, it doesn’t refresh—it just makes you gag. That’s what compromise feels like when you were made for fire." - Pastor Tanya Skeeter

Question: What areas of your spiritual life have become routine or comfortable, where you might be settling for lukewarm rather than pursuing passionate devotion to Christ?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I've settled for lukewarm faith. I don't want to remain in complacency. Rekindle the fire of my first love for You. Help me to see the areas where I've become comfortable and complacent, and give me the courage to pursue You with my whole heart. Amen.

Day 2: Recognizing the Enemy's Whispers

Based on the Message: "Come Closer" by Pastor Tanya Skeeter

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31-32

Devotional: Satan is strategic. He doesn't typically approach believers with obvious temptations to abandon their faith entirely. Instead, he whispers subtle suggestions that slowly lead us away from fervent devotion. He knows exactly where our vulnerabilities lie and how to exploit them. Think about it: Satan was once a worshiping angel in heaven. He knows Scripture. He's had spirits observing your patterns and weaknesses since birth. This makes him dangerously effective at tailoring temptations specifically for you. His tactics are predictable yet powerful. He minimizes sin: "It's just a little compromise." He provides spiritual-sounding excuses: "You can pray from home instead of joining corporate prayer." He promises you can always repent later: "God will forgive you anyway." Each whisper seems reasonable in the moment, but leads to spiritual drift. The enemy's goal isn't just to make you sin—it's to make you complacent about sin. He wants to grind down your spiritual sensitivity until you no longer feel convicted about things that once troubled your spirit. This is how believers who once walked closely with God can gradually find themselves far from Him, wondering how they got there. Today, practice discernment. When thoughts enter your mind suggesting spiritual shortcuts or justifying small compromises, ask yourself: "Is this God's voice or the enemy's whisper?" The Holy Spirit convicts to restore; Satan condemns to destroy. Learn to recognize the difference.

Quote: "This is what the devil wants to do to you — to powder you, grind you down, and pulverize you. Why? Because he knows that if he can break you enough, tear you apart piece by piece, you’ll lose the very faith you need to stand on God’s promises." - Pastor Tanya Skeeter

Question: What subtle whispers or justifications have you been listening to that might be leading you toward spiritual complacency?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, sharpen my spiritual discernment today. Help me recognize the enemy's whispers for what they are—attempts to pull me away from passionate devotion to You. Thank You that Jesus intercedes for me just as He did for Peter. Strengthen my faith so that I might strengthen others. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 3: The Pursuit of Wholehearted Devotion

Based on the Message: "Come Closer" by Pastor Tanya Skeeter

"And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will let myself be found by you, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 29:13-14

Devotional: God isn't interested in half-hearted devotion. He doesn't want just a portion of our attention or the leftovers of our time and energy. He desires all of us—our complete, undivided hearts pursuing Him with passion and purpose. Jeremiah 29:13-14 contains both a promise and a condition. The promise is extraordinary: God will let Himself be found by us. The Creator of the universe makes Himself available for relationship! But notice the condition—we must search for Him with ALL our heart. Not some. Not most. All. Wholehearted seeking means intentional pursuit. It's not passive or casual. It's deliberate, focused, and persistent. It means prioritizing time with God above other activities. It means engaging with Scripture not just to check a box but to truly hear His voice. It means praying not just with our lips but with our entire being. When we become complacent, we often substitute religious activity for genuine relationship. We might maintain the outward appearance of devotion while our hearts grow distant. But God sees past our religious performances to the true condition of our hearts. Today, consider what wholehearted seeking looks like in your life. What would change if you pursued God with the same intensity you pursue other things you value? What distractions or competing affections might need to be set aside? God promises that this kind of seeking never goes unrewarded—He will let Himself be found by you.

Quote: "Complacency is when we become so satisfied with ourselves and our relationship with God that we are in danger of spiritual death. But the Lord is not calling us to settle. He is calling us higher. He is saying, ‘Come closer."- Pastor Tanya Skeeter

Question: What practical steps can you take today to move from partial devotion to wholehearted seeking after God?

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I've often given You less than my whole heart. I've held back parts of myself, pursuing You with limited enthusiasm while chasing other things with passion. Forgive my divided heart. I want to seek You wholeheartedly. Draw me closer to You today, and fulfill Your promise to let Yourself be found by me. Amen.

Day 4: The Danger of Spiritual Self-Sufficiency

Based on the Message: "Come Closer" by Pastor Tanya Skeeter

"The Lord is near to all who call on him. To all who call on him in truth." - Psalms 145:18

Devotional: One of the most subtle forms of spiritual pride is self-sufficiency—the belief that we can handle life on our own strength, wisdom, and resources. It's the Laodicean attitude that says, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing." Self-sufficiency is appealing because it feels like strength. Our culture celebrates independence and self-reliance. But in God's kingdom, the principles are reversed. True spiritual strength comes through acknowledged weakness and dependence on God. When we believe we're self-sufficient, we pray less fervently. We study Scripture less hungrily. We worship less passionately. We serve more out of duty than devotion. We may maintain religious activities while gradually losing our sense of desperate need for God's presence and power. The truth is, we need God for every breath, every heartbeat, every moment. Our apparent strength is actually borrowed strength. Our wisdom is merely a dim reflection of His perfect wisdom. Our resources ultimately come from His provision. The Lord is near to those who call on Him—but the prerequisite is recognizing our need to call. When we acknowledge our insufficiency, we position ourselves to experience His all-sufficiency. When we empty ourselves of self-reliance, we create space for His power to work through us. Today, consider areas where you've been operating in self-sufficiency rather than God-dependency. Surrender those areas to Him, acknowledging your need for His guidance, strength, and provision.

Quote: "Refuse to be self sufficient. Because if you are self sufficient, then you're telling God you don't need him and that he can't do anything for you." - Pastor Tanya Skeeter

Question: In what areas of your life have you been relying on your own strength and wisdom rather than acknowledging your complete dependence on God?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive my self-sufficiency and pride. I confess that I need You for everything. I cannot navigate this life successfully without Your wisdom, strength, and guidance. Thank You for being near when I call on You. Help me to live in constant awareness of my dependence on You, calling on You not just in crisis but in every moment. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 5: Opening the Door to Intimate Fellowship

Based on the Message: "Come Closer" by Pastor Tanya Skeeter

"Lord, let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." - Psalms 143:8

Devotional: There's something profoundly moving about the image in Revelation 3:20. The Lord of the universe stands at the door of our hearts, knocking, waiting for us to invite Him in. He doesn't force His way in. He doesn't demand entrance. He knocks and waits for our response. Notice what Jesus promises when we open the door: "I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends." This isn't about a distant God issuing commands from afar. It's about intimate fellowship—the kind that happens around a table, where friends share food, conversation, and life together. Spiritual complacency often means we've left Jesus standing outside while we go about our busy lives inside. We hear the knocking, but we're too comfortable, too distracted, or too self-sufficient to answer. Meanwhile, the deepest relationship we could ever experience waits just on the other side of the door. Each morning presents a fresh opportunity to invite Jesus in. Psalm 143:8 encourages us to hear God's steadfast love in the morning and to lift our souls to Him for guidance. This daily practice of seeking His presence, listening for His voice, and surrendering to His direction keeps the door of our hearts wide open to Him. Today, imagine Jesus knocking at your heart's door. What's keeping you from fully opening to Him? Pride? Busyness? Fear? Sin you're not ready to surrender? Whatever it is, consider what you're missing by keeping Him at the threshold rather than inviting Him to the table of your life.

Quote: "He loves us all, and He will do what He has promised. So be diligent — turn from your indifference. For He says, ‘Look! I stand at the door and knock." - Pastor Tanya Skeeter

Question: What specific areas of your life have you been keeping Jesus out of, and what would it look like to fully invite Him into those spaces today?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your patiently knocking at the door of my heart. Forgive me for the times I've kept You waiting outside while I've busied myself with lesser things. I open the door wide today. Come in and make Yourself at home in every area of my life. I long for the intimate fellowship You promise. Help me to hear Your voice each morning and follow Your guidance throughout my day. Amen.