Finding God In Your Nazareth

A 7-Day Devotional by Bishop Raymond Rivera
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)

Sometimes the greatest move of God begins in the most unexpected place—right in your own neighborhood, your own house, your own life. This devotional journey invites you to rediscover the sacred in what feels familiar, ordinary, even dismissed. For seven days, let’s seek God in the overlooked corners of our world—and our hearts.

Day 1: Homegrown Glory

Scripture: “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown…” – Matthew 13:57
Reflection:
Jesus was overlooked in Nazareth—not because He lacked power, but because people thought they already knew Him. Familiarity can blind us to glory. God often works through the people and places closest to us, yet we miss it because it looks… ordinary.

Application: Journal about someone close to you—a family member, friend, neighbor—who quietly inspires you through faith, resilience, or love.
Call to Action: Reach out and affirm them today. Let them know you see the glory in them.

Day 2: Beauty from the Block

Scripture: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” – John 1:46
Reflection:
Too often, we believe that wisdom must come from somewhere else—somewhere more polished, educated, or distant. But God still speaks through local voices, hometown prophets, and those shaped by the same streets we walk.

Application: This week, make space to intentionally listen to someone from your own community—especially someone often overlooked.
Call to Action: Break the habit of tuning out familiar voices. Ask God to speak through them.

Day 3: Shepherd to King

Scripture: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at... but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7
Reflection:
David’s own father didn’t even invite him to the lineup of potential kings. Yet God saw what no one else did. You are more than the labels others have given you—and so is your neighbor.

Application: Spend time in prayer today asking God: “Help me see myself and others the way You do.”
Call to Action: Choose one person you’ve misjudged. See them again—this time with Kingdom eyes.

Day 4: From the Margins Up

Scripture: “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…” – 1 Corinthians 1:27
Reflection:
God doesn’t start with society’s power players. He starts at the margins—calling shepherds, fishermen, immigrants, addicts, single mothers, and formerly incarcerated prophets. That’s where power hides.

Application: Identify someone in your circle who’s been dismissed, excluded, or underestimated.
Call to Action: Speak life into them. Remind them they carry God’s image and possibility.

Day 5: Meeting God in Routine

Scriptures: Exodus 3:1-6; Genesis 28:16
Reflection:
Moses met God while tending sheep. Jacob woke up and said, “Surely the Lord was in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Maybe you don’t need a retreat or revival. Maybe you just need to look again.

Application: At some point in your normal routine—while cooking, commuting, walking—pause and ask: “God, show me Your presence right here.”
Call to Action: Set an alarm today just to pause, breathe, and acknowledge God's nearness.

Day 6: Breaking Bread, Eyes Opened

Scripture: “When he was at the table… he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened…” – Luke 24:30–31
Reflection:
The risen Jesus wasn’t revealed through a sermon or sign but through the breaking of bread. Don’t underestimate the sacred power of sharing a meal. God still shows up at the table.

Application: Invite someone over or out to eat this week—especially someone you’ve overlooked or misunderstood.
Call to Action: Break bread with intentionality. Look for Jesus in the connection.

Day 7: Urban Hope, Living Prophets

Scripture: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
Reflection:
Yes, you’re from Nazareth. You’re from the Bronx. You’re from a place with pain and struggle—but you’re also chosen, called, and more than a conqueror. Your origins do not disqualify your destiny.

Application: Write down one dream, one gift, or one calling that you’ve kept buried because of where you come from.
Call to Action: Speak it out loud. Share it with someone. Say, “No more captivity. I’m stepping forward.”