John 13:21-30, Weaving w/ Failures

 “When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 

After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬, ‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It is interesting that Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him to the people who wanted to kill Him, yet He didn’t stop him.  It was all part of the plan for Jesus sacrifice for our sin.  But is that how God deals with us as well?  When He knows we are headed into sin, he doesn’t force us to stop, but rather allows us to do what we have decided…I think that this is true!

What is even better and more exciting is that God uses even our sinful choices as part of our story that ultimately brings God glory!  Jesus was ultimately glorified BECAUSE he died on the cross…

I am so excited to see how God will be glorified in my story, despite all the stupid, sinful things I have done/will do.  Lord, I pray there are fewer and fewer of my failure that You need to weave with, but help me to glorify You!

John 13:12-20, Know or Do?!?

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 

Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord help me to live my life as an example that others can follow.  I will never do all the things perfectly, but allow me to grow daily in living like Jesus.

It is amazing that You call out so clearly that knowing all the right things is good, but the blessing only comes from following through with obeying what we know.  Help me obey with joy and confidence.

John 13:1-11, Eager Obedience

 “Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. 

So he [Jesus] got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. 

…he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It is shocking that Jesus would wash his followers feet because that is the job of a slave/servant.  The Rabbi is the one with the power and esteem, and so should be on the receiving end.  But I think what is more incredible is that Jesus already knew Judas would betray Him, yet He still washes Judas’ feet.  Jesus still demonstrates humility and shows love to the very one who would hand Him over to be crucified.

Gods character is on display and this is an example of how God thinks about each of us.  He loves us unconditionally even though He knows the next sin we will commit…in fact He knows everything wrong we have ever done and will ever do…and still loves us and serves us in humility.

Aside from being mind blowing, this gives me so much love and thankfulness toward God!  I want to, in humility, attempt to do what He calls me to and I am eager to obey!

John 12:44-50, Fear & Funniness

 “For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.””

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭49‬-‭50‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Two things I love about this passage: first, that Jesus conveyed exactly what God wanted Him to say and do.  Second, that the things Jesus communicated bring eternal life.  I want this to be true of me as well…but surely I am far from this being my reality.

Lord, guide my words today.  Allow me to speak life in conversations at work, with my kids and with those I counsel.  Don’t allow fear or funniness to sidetrack what You want me to say.  Give me boldness and compassion, confidence and perception to know exactly what the moment needs and trust You for the outcome.

John 12:37-43, Fearless Following

 “Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭42‬-‭43‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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How many ways does this happen to us?  We are convinced that something is true or right, but are afraid of the implications…of what it will require of us?

Lord, help me to care more about what You think and want from me than anyone else!  Let me follow you without any fear of what others think…

John 12:29-36, Light Magnet

 “As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” 

Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬, ‭35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus plan had always been to save the world, and His works are magnetic, they get everyone’s attention!  He also knew that His time on earth was short.  Thankfully, we can walk in the light even today by following His commands!

John 12:20-28, Backwards Kingdom

“The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I love the backwards way of Gods kingdom…it is so confusing but beautiful!  Loosing what we love seems like the the opposite of what anyone desires…being honored to be a slave is upside down.  The only part of this that makes sense is that a servant must follow their master; go where He goes, do what He does.

Lord, all of this is the paths to freedom and away from pride…in that place is true peace, joy and hope!  Open the eyes of those who have trouble seeing the beauty of this backwards Kingdom!

John 12:12-19, Invisible Prophecy

“they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!” 

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. 

His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Repeatedly during Jesus ministry, He is fulfilling prophecy but no body makes the connection.  It is only after Jesus is crucified that anyone puts all the pieces together.  I think from a history perspective that is the best possible way…if it was all a conspiracy, they would have been looking for all the possible ways to show He was the Messiah, but they didn’t. Jesus works spoke on their own merits.

Lord, I know You are doing the same type of miracles today that I don’t see.  They are accomplishing Your will perfectly and we can’t put the pieces together…help me to trust that you are active in my life and the lives of those around me!

John 12:9-11, Conspiracy & Cover-up

“Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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When we don’t get our way, we can quickly move to desperate ideas.  That is how weak we can be…

Lord help me to trust you, even when everything seems like it is shifting out of my favor or when the evidence is not going my way.  Your ways are good and You can overcome even the most damning evidence…just like our salvation!  You made a way when it was beyond impossible for me to help myself!!!

John 12:1-7, Worship Arrested

 “Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?””

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Mary worships Jesus by washing His feet and anointing them with perfume…it was kind of an odd thing to do.  But it was her act of worship!  Judas however, sees only the practical and is irritated.  He uses some excuse to make his irritation sound more socially acceptable by sounding like he actually cared for the poor.  But the reality is that he wasn’t getting what he wanted, and he had to let everyone know his perspective…because his ideas were so correct.

Lord, I have that same pride in me…confident of why my ideas are so right that it is obvious everyone should agree with me…yet I’m oblivious to what other people are doing or saying.  Help me to see my prideful heart motivations and control my words to enable others to worship You!

John 11:45-57, Selfish Manipulation

 “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” “You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.” So from that day on they plotted to kill him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭48‬, ‭50‬, ‭53‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Fear of losing power and freedom was driving the Pharisees to plot to kill Jesus.  They had a good thing going and were worried that Jesus was going to mess it up.  It really is crazy how much they were willing to do to silence Him…because their own desires would be trampled…

That hits close to home…how many times have I tried to manipulate a situation to get the outcome I wanted?  In what ways do I still try to force a result that makes things better for me?  

Lord, help me to see the greater perspective of Your plan.  I know that Your ways ultimately result in the best thing for me.  I know you are trustworthy, because You have always been so.  You have been so good to me!  Thank You for loving me!  Help me to trust You at every turn!!!

John 11:38-44, IF you Believe

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.””

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭38‬, ‭40‬, ‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, I want to see Gods glory…give me eyes to see the work You are doing.  I know You are actively working all around me, and I believe that You are actively doing the impossible…but I am often blind to it.

John 11:28-37, Believing Goodness

“As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!” 

When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. Jesus wept.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬-‭33‬, ‭35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It is surprising to me that Jesus weeps for the sorrow they have over Lazarus’s death.  If I were Jesus, I would be so excited to raise him back to life that I would be hyping the crowd and telling them that they didn’t have to be sad.  I would be waving away the real grief they were experiencing…clearly, not the right way to handle it.

We don’t know exactly what Jesus was thinking here, but we do see His compassion.  We see His empathy.  We see His humanity.  And we see the heart of God on display!

Even though God knows the next part of our stories, where everything wrong is fixed, He still grieves with us in our suffering.  He knows our pain, sadness, fear and anxieties!  And He wants us to trust Him like Mary and Martha who just knew that Jesus could have fixed everything.  Or maybe better yet, knew that He was already making things better, even through the pain…

John 11:17-27, Strategic Orchestration

Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭21‬, ‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Why is it that Gods plans are often so different than mine?  I am an excellent planner, decision maker and all around strategist…well, I think I am anyway!  Yet most often God has a better plan.

The good news is that Gods plans are always better!  I may have strategized to avoid one small pain point, Yet Christ is working a master plan that will transform me and bring glory to God.  He is playing 4D chess compared to my tic-tac-toe…why don’t I just trust Him completely?

Lord, give me faith to trust that You are working, strategically planning and even manipulating the world around me for my good and Your glory!  Give me eyes to see Your fingerprints and patience to wait for You!

John 11:1-16, Gods Plan!?!

So the sisters sent a message to him: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 

When Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. 

So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬-‭6‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This narrative shows that Gods ways are not our ways!  His plans are always deeper and more profitable than my small mind can comprehend.  I would have wanted Jesus to heal my brother before he died…that would have avoided so much pain and sadness.  That is what I want after all…minimum pain, minimum sadness, minimum suffering.  When those things are increased, I am tempted to feel like God isn’t there, or at least He is not helping.

Yet this passage tells us that sometimes God allows things we would never choose because He LOVES us!  He knows our hearts need to see the impossible so that we can trust Him even more.

Lord, admittedly, I don’t like this strategy…help me to trust Your plan, because I know You ALWAYS do what is BEST for me.

John 10:40-42, Life & Peace

 “Many came to him and said, “John never did a sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The true testimony of who Jesus is, is enough for people to believe.  Lord, help me to talk about You enough that people can believe and have what You promise: LIFE and PEACE!

John 10:31-39, Word & Deed

 “If I am not doing my Father’s works, don’t believe me. But if I am doing them and you don’t believe me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.””

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus is basically saying, “the proof is in the pudding”! Watch what I am doing, if you don’t trust what I am saying.

Lord, help my life to declare so clearly that I am Yours that people can listen to me or watch what I do and know that I follow You!

John 10:22-30, Empowering the Impossible

 “The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 

“I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, thank You for choosing me, help me to listen to Your voice and do what You tell me!  I know that on my own, every step of this is IMPOSSIBLE!

Hearing.

Listening.

Following.

Thank You for empowering me to know You!

John 10:14-21, Selfless Obedience

 “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus’ obedience to God demonstrates His love.  Further, Jesus has the ability to choose what He will do, God isn’t forcing Him.  

We have the same free will and the same opportunity to receive love from God.

Secondly, Jesus is selfless in His actions, thinking about what would be best for others. We should imitate that as well…if we did, people would know we love them!

John 10:1-13, Thief vs Shepherd

 “The gatekeeper opens it for [the Shepherd], and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 

I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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One way we can tell if we are following Jesus is if He is giving us life in abundance…that doesn’t necessarily mean everything is going perfectly or that we are not experiencing trials, but it does mean that He is with us, and through whatever we face, we see His fingerprints and feel His peace.  He knows us intimately, who I am, where I struggle and what my weaknesses are.

That is just as true if we are following a thief or a liar.  Death and destruction abound.  Joy is consistently stolen.  We are facing trials, with no peace, full of fear and confusion.  Every step seems to be trudging uphill through calf-deep mud sucking away our hope and energy.

Lord, I want to follow You!  Remove the blinders when I am following the thief…let me hear Your voice and follow You!

John 9:35-41, Pride Blocked

 “Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.” 

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” 

“If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭39‬-‭41‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The Pharisees pride makes them fall and miss the overall message.  So prideful, they didn’t for one moment reflect on what Jesus was saying…to consider how this may be true, but rather instantly were filled with confidence that they had nothing to confess.  Their unwillingness to reflect was the very thing that condemned them.

Lord, open my ears and eyes to see where my pride is blocking me from being transformed.  I want to be Yours in every part of my life!

John 9:24-34, Irrefutable Evidence

 “He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”

 “This is an amazing thing!” the man told them. “You don’t know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind.  If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭25‬, ‭30‬, ‭32-33‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What we do is evidence of who we are…this was true of Jesus and it is true of us.

Lord, help me to follow in Your way so that everyone knows that I am Yours!

John 9:13-23, Bigger God

 “Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. 

They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 

“We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬, ‭19‬-‭20‬, ‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus intentionally healed on the sabbath to help the Pharisees see their own blindness.  Jesus still acts differently than I would expect ,even today…he needs us to see that He is bigger and more powerful than the box we imagine for him.

John 9:1-12, Shame to Glory

“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 

He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This man lived blind for his entire life, he was used to it, but there was suffering and ridicule, it was not a happy existence.  Blindness was his identity, it is all he knew…most people felt like he had to live this way because it was punishment for something bad.  Then Jesus flips the script and shows how the blind man’s suffering and identity was instantly turned into a powerful tool in the hands of God.

Yes, the man gained sight, but even more powerfully he gained a testimony and new identity.  His biggest weakness was now used by God as the most convincing evidence of the power of God.

Lord, let me to give You my biggest weaknesses so that Your power may be displayed through them.  Help me to see Your hand at work as I lay down my pride.

John 8:48-59, Obedience not Performance

“If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father — about whom you say, ‘He is our God’ — he is the one who glorifies me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭54‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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All glory to God alone!  He alone is worthy to receive glory!  Jesus is defending the honor that He is getting but makes a great statement that is true of Him and true of me.  If I get honored because I am doing something great, it really is worthless…there is no eternal reward in that.  It sounds more like pride…

However, if I am recognized by God for accomplishing His will, that is something to be blessed by, that is something with eternal value.

Lord, help me to focus on obeying Your Word and coming to You when that is challenging!

John 8:33-47, Truth vs Lies

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 

Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬-‭47‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Truth vs lies is the argument Jesus is making in a very true but offensive way.  The religious leaders He is talking to are discounting everything Jesus is saying because they don’t like it.  They are not evaluating it based on truth or reality.  In fact their arguments ignore plain facts about who they are and where their people have been.

Jesus is pointing out that they are not listening to Him or even processing the words He is speaking.  What they don’t understand is that Jesus words are perfect and true and they literally bring eternal life…if they would just critically listen and evaluate.

lord, help me to listen intently to Your Word so that I can know you more and draw near to You!

John 8:30-32, Believe & Follow

 “As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭30‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to hear, read or remember Your Word and believe it.  Give me a faith that is confident in whatever You say and FOLLOW it, even if it is hard or uncomfortable.  I want to follow You and experience the true freedom You promise!!!

John 8:21-29, God in Us

“Who are you?” they questioned. “Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 

So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭25‬, ‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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While Jesus was on earth doing His ministry, everyone wanted to know who He was.  He rarely said outright that He was the messiah, but He alluded to it in many ways and constantly talked about God as His Father.  I love how Jesus reminds the that God is always with Him…just like He is with us today!

Lord, help me to live like God was living inside me, because He is!!!!

John 8:12-20, Follow the Light

Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” 

Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” 

“You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬, ‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to live as if I know You!

John 8:1-11, Undeserved Compassion

“Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 

When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sin, but also to help us know who God is and how He acts.  We sometimes imagine that God is in heaven looking for opportunities to punish us for failing or sinning…but this passage helps us to see His compassion, mercy and love.

He does desire that we stop sinning, but He sees our brokenness and wants what is best for us!  Lord thank You for being more compassionate than I would be.  Thank you for loving me and being patient with me even when I don’t deserve it.

John 7:45-53, Poisonous Power

“Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?” 

“You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” they replied.“Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭51‬-‭52‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The religious rulers were blinded by their expectations and preconceived ideas.  They were so confident of their own correctness that they were not thinking clearly.  They were willing to punish Jesus without a trial, because He was saying things that didn’t match their ideas…willing and even planing and peer pressuring each other to ignore the law which they claimed to perfectly protect.  

When Nicodemus pushed back they gave him good instruction…do the research, find out what scripture says!  They were confident of the answers, but were completely wrong…in fact Galilee is where the Messiah, the savior was supposed to come from.  This highlighted the pride of the leaders because if they were truly doing their work well, they would have known…but instead they were just a big club enjoying their privilege…their station…their power.

It actually reminds me of politics today.  “Christians” following blindly the republican dogma, not even knowing that much of what they stand for is directly opposed to what scripture teaches.  We cannot align with any mainstream party because they both miss the calling of Christ.

Lord, help me to actually know what Your Word says and follow You rather than a person or a group of people who have/want power!

John 37-44, Spirit Blessing

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 

So the crowd was divided because of him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭37‬-‭39‬, ‭43‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, thank You for giving us the Spirit to live inside of me and continually provide direction, strength and comfort.  I pray that as I go through this day, Your Spirit will be obvious to those around me and that everyone I engage with would be blessed by You through me.

John 7:25-36, Speak Boldly

“Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? Yet, look, he’s speaking publicly and they’re saying nothing to him. Can it be true that the authorities know he is the Messiah? Then they tried to seize him. Yet no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭25‬-‭26‬, ‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Jesus is talking publicly in the most dangerous place possible where people literally want to kill Him.  Yet He does it fearlessly because He trusts His Father God explicitly.

Lord help me to trust You in every situation. I am often worried about what people will think of me or if I will be in trouble, help me to have boldness and confidence in You!

John 7:10-24, Inside-Out Concurrance

“Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me. 

Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.””

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭16‬, ‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

People were really unsure about who Jesus really was.  They were confused because he wasn’t saying all the same things as the religious priests but they seemed so true and powerful.  Then He was also doing miracles which were hard to ignore.

This passage Jesus tells them what happens on the outside is not a good way to judge people because it is what is happening internally that matters.  The internal should tell the bigger story.

Lord, You know that my internal life shapes what is happening on the outside.  Help me to trust You to form me internally so that inside and outside would bring You glory!

John 7:1-9, Gentle Truth

“After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since he did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill him. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples can see your works that you are doing. The world cannot hate you, but it does hate  me because I testify about it — that its works are evil.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬, ‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Can you imagine having Jesus as your older brother?  Even as a kid he did everything right…I bet they really wanted to see him finally get what he deserved.  Someone to finally show him that he was not perfect!  How frustrating would that be?!?  But did they really want Jesus to be killed?

The reason Jesus states that people want to kill him is very relatable today.  They hate Him because he tells the truth about how sinful they are living.  Nobody wants to hear that their decisions are motivated by Satan when they are rejecting Gods way.

Lord, help me to speak clearly and lovingly. Full of compassion and tenderness but not shying away from your truth.

John 6:60-71, Gods Gift

“Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” 

He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.” From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭60‬, ‭65‬-‭66‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What a blessing that God has reached out of heaven and selected me to understand and accept Jesus.  Not everyone believes and will be saved.  Scripture says that God is willing that none perish, yet many people choose to reject God and follow their own desires.  Although they get everything they want today, their eternity is separation from God.

John 6:47-59, Eternal Life

“Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭47‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The message doesn’t get any simpler than that!  Belief is not easy nor is it easy to actually follow Jesus, but the rewards of peace, joy and contentment are incomparable.  Lord I need Your help to have faith to believe You and to obey.

John 6:37-46, Called & Secure

“Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to me — ”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭37‬, ‭45‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, I want to be close to You.  I want to know You as perfectly as possible while I am here on earth.  Father God, thank You for drawing me and securing me in relationship with you.  I don’t deserve Your love and compassion or even the security You provide. Allow my heart and mind to listen and learn as I read Your word!

John 6:30-36, Open My Eyes

“What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭30‬-‭36‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What is so shocking about this passage is that literally the day before Jesus fed them (4,000+) with a little boys lunch…talk about bread from heaven!  Now they’re telling Jesus that if he would just do a miracle, then they would believe in Him.  How can this be? Did they just forget their lunch yesterday?

I think sometimes we respond the same way…God is doing the miraculous over and over in our lives, right under our noses, and we are expecting something else.

God, help me to see You at work around me and know You by Your Word.  Help me to see You and believe!

John 6:22-29, Spiritual Food

“When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” 

“What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. Jesus replied, “This is the work of God — that you believe in the one he has sent.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

We humans always miss the real point.  I am like these people, looking at the practical (the meal Jesus provided) rather than the eternal (what does God want me to do?).  I love how Jesus primary concern is that we believe.  Later on in the same book Jesus says that we should obey if we believe.

Lord, help me to obey, help me to believe and help me to love You!

John 6:16-21, Safely Through

“When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

How many times have I been going about my own business, just normal life activities and I find myself it treacherous situation?  It seems like I am in serious trouble and I am afraid and Jesus shows up…He reminds me who He is and the next thing I know, the whole situation is over.  I don’t know how it ended or how I got through it, but Jesus is there, I am calm and the storm is over.  Help me to remember that is who you are even at the start of the storm!

John 6:1-15, Limitless Solutions

 “So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?” Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” 

[Miracle]

When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬, ‭7‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods plans compared to my plans are very different.  The solutions that I come up with are bound by “reality” yet Gods plans have no limitations.  Lord, help me to trust You alone in every situation!  My ways are silly compared to Your perfect plans.  Give me the faith to trust You in every moment!

John 5:31-47, Overwhelming Evidence

“But I (Jesus) have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life. But if you don’t believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?”

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭36‬, ‭40‬, ‭47‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I am so thankful that Jesus continues to do the impossible in my life and in situations around me.  Evidence of all that God can do bolsters my confidence that He loves me and will protect me at every turn.  It is heartbreaking to see people who refuse to believe all that God is doing and all that He has done recorded in scripture…it all happens so that we could believe and be transformed.

Lord strengthen my faith to believe even when all the evidence seems so small.  Help me to see it for what it really is, an overwhelming tidal wave of reality that shouts who You are!!!

John 5:25-30, Believe and Follow

“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life…I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬, ‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

When we believe, we pass from punishment into eternal life. Our eternal destiny is forever changed, but we should also demonstrate our belief.  In other words, we should live like Jesus…we should follow in his footprints and people should be able to recognize that we are different, just like Jesus.  He says here, He only does what God wants him to…

Lord help me to live this way!  It is hard because I want what I want.  My selfish desires are strong and I cannot choose to follow You on my own, I need the power of the Spirit to fill me up.  Only by walking with You am I able to know your voice and direction and choose to lay down my desires and follow You! Help me to know You more!!!

John 5:17-23, WWJD

“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord help me to do only the things that You would do. Allow my heart and mind to ask, if Jesus were in my shoes, what would He do?  Then give me the strength, courage and commitment to follow through with doing that.

John 5:1-16, Made New

 “When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the disabled man answered, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” 

“Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.” Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath, After this, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.””

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭9‬, ‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I was thinking about God showing us who He is by sending Jesus to live with us and act like God…

Jesus sees this needy man and knows everything about him.  Jesus wants to help him, but the man is full of excuses why he can’t help himself.  I love that Jesus ignores the excuses and gives him what he really wants, healing…the thing the man had been earnestly seeking for 38 yrs.

First healing, then a mental reset…Jesus reminds him that through his healing he was now a different man.  Who he was had been changed so he needs to act like the new man that he now is.

Lord, help me to see clearly when I am making excuses for why I continue to sin.  You know that I earnestly want to be fully transformed…and have been earnestly seeking that for 38yrs.  Help me to live as the new man you created me to be!

John 4:43-54, Cemented Faith

“Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” 

“Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my boy dies.” 

“Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” 

The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed. While he was still going home, his servants met him saying that his boy was alive. He asked them at what time he got better. “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him,” they answered. The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” 

So he himself believed, along with his whole household.”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬-‭53‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context 

Belief is an incredible thing…it is the one requirement for salvation yet it is so hard for us.  True belief requires actions that are in line with the thing we are placing our faith in.  We can say we believe the bridge will hold us all we want, but until we walk out onto it, there is no evidence of faith.

This non-Jewish man showed his belief when he stopped pestering Jesus and returned home… His faith was cemented when he left and became real when he saw his healed son.  

We must choose if we will believe, then our faith in Jesus is cemented when we see His action in our lives.

Lord, sometimes my faith is weak…please allow me to see your fingerprints in my life to cement my faith day by day!  Forgive me for needing reminders and allowing doubts to creep into my heart!

John 4:39-42, Come & See

“Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬, ‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This passage reminds me that my testimony is important to attract others to Jesus, but ultimately they will meet Jesus themselves and they will be convinced by Him.

Lord, help me to introduce people to you, like I have surfing.

John 4:27-38, Known & Loved

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

All her secrets were exposed, but for the first time she was not ashamed.  Jesus saw her, knew her, loved her and cared deeply about her.  She was saved by this simple interaction because Jesus fully understood her and did not reject he or cause shame.

Lord, thank You for knowing me the same way!  Full of love and compassion, forgiveness and grace…help me to reflect You wherever I go.  My desire is that people would recognize You in me, just like the woman saw You as messiah!

John 4:13-26, Known & Expected

“The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This woman was waiting for the Messiah, she knew He was coming and what He would do.  It seems that she was excited about His coming and what He would do for her people.  But she didn’t recognize Him when He came and was standing right in front of her.

Lord, I want to know You so well, that if You suddenly appeared I would recognize You.  Help me to walk expectantly looking for Your return ready to join You at a moments notice!

John 4:1-12, Culturally Unbound

“How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” 

“You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Jesus lived His life truly, He was not moved by the culture into sinful ways, like prejudice or callousness.  He genuinely cared for this woman and went straight to what mattered the most, her spiritual needs…even though that was not what she wanted to be talking about.

She instantly compares Jesus to the greatest humans that she knew about, implying that Jesus must be weaker, or less of a provider.  She will soon find out that Jesus is far greater than anyone we could compare Him to.

Lord, help me to think of You as the great, powerful, rewarding, caring and infinite God You are…not as an amplified version of a good man.  You see my heart and are not moved by cultural norms…You go right to the thing that matters most.  Allow me to see others the same way.

John 3:31-36, Disobedience vs Belief

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭36‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, thank you for saving me!  I love You and want to follow and obey You at every step.  I need your power to keep my belief strong enough to do what You say.  I am tempted to fall down in believing that You have the answers and think that my ideas are better than yours.  When my belief fails, I disobey You.  Strengthen my faith in You so that I can follow you in joy and peace!

John 3:22-30, Peace & Contentment

 “John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven… He must increase, but I must decrease.””

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬, ‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to remember that You are behind everything  good and challenging in my life.  All of the things that You give have a simple goal: make me more Christlike and bring You glory.  These are both things that I see great value and increasing reward in.  Peace and contentment as well as joy and delight in You!

Although becoming more Christlike means that my own preferences are slowly becoming less important, the confidence in You soars!  This confidence brings great peace as I rest in Your plan rather than my own.  Help me to trust You more each day!

John 3:9-21, Love vs Selfishness

“For God loved the world in this way: 

He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

This is the judgment: 

The light (Jesus) has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.””

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬, ‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God, thank You for loving me!  I don’t deserve the love that You show me because my natural desire is to do what makes me happy, or at least less stressed.  Help me to love You enough to always go into the light, go towards You, rather than avoiding it because it convicts me of my selfish ways.

John 3:1-8, Motivational Transformation

“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…. unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.””

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬, ‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What a confusing start of the conversation, especially since the answer was so much different than the question…however this is a powerful statement.  Just knowing that Jesus was from God does not give you eternal life.  Jesus is telling us that our spiritual birth will change who we are and what we actually do.

That is why he uses the analogy of the wind, just like we don’t see the wind we can very easily see the results of the wind.  The same is true of people who are “born again”, saved: we cannot see the Holy Spirit enter the person, but we see the evidence of that change.  

We go from selfishness, where every decision is based on what makes me feel good, to making decisions based on what God wants us to do.  The evidence is when we begin to sacrifice the things that previously made us happy to instead do what makes God happy.  The best part is- we are actually happier doing what God wants!!!

John‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭25, Always Right

 “So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.”

‭‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, sometimes when I read scripture I don’t understand why that you tell me to do certain things.  I look at it like the Jews and get very confused.  In my mind the logic doesn’t work  Yet over and over again, it proves out to be true!

Help me to have faith to trust that You know what You are talking about and the strength to do whatever You are calling me to do. Help me to trust Your Word even when it doesn’t seem right!

John 2:13-17, Confused Praises

“After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!””

‭‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

With the present day temple of God being my heart, this verse takes on new meaning.  In what ways do I miss the point and begin to allow work, money or even fun take up residence in my heart?  How has my heart begun to worship anything other than Jesus?

Lord, highlight those things for me so that I don’t end up missing You in worship.  It is such a sweet experience to praise You and to sit in awe of what You have done in my life.  I pray that my heart and mind would be constantly aware of all that You are doing around me and turn that to glorification of Your name!

John 2:1-12, Trust & Obey

““Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants. 

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬, ‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Jesus’ miraculous work is done in our lives to help us believe.  We are cared for in the everyday situations and it would be easy for us to pass it off as normal life, but Gods fingerprints are all around us.

Lord, help me to see Your work in my life today!  Let me give You the glory and allow me to believe and obey You more and more each day!

John 1:43-51, Perfectly Known

““How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭48‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, this feels so unfamiliar…it takes us days or weeks to get to know someone.  Yet, You know us already before we are ever introduced.  You know every good deed and every bad thought.  You know our fears and what delights us.  You know our weakness and strengthens.  You know our future and history.  Nobody sees us as clearly as You do…

You know us so well, it is nearly unbelievable that you actually love us!  Yet this is Your posture toward every person.  Love, gentleness, kindness, and faithfulness inhabit every interaction.  Your character is on display and I don’t deserve it!

Thank You for loving me!  Let your perfect love be reflected in my interactions with others.

John 1:29-42, Known & Loved

“I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” 

He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah”, and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Peter.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭34‬, ‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

John the Baptist sees Jesus and tells everyone who Jesus is, the one they have all been waiting for!  Instantly, John’s followers leave him and start to follow Jesus.  The first thing they all do is go to tell everyone they care about the good news: the Messiah is here!

But what blows me away is that last statement, where Jesus is first introduced to Simon and tells him his future.  This must have been very compelling because Peter never left Jesus after this interaction.

What is amazing is Jesus knows me and my future.  Every good and bad thing I have done and will ever do…and He still loves me.  Isn’t that what we all long for!?!  Someone who knows us perfectly, accepts us even with our faults and loves us anyway!

Lord help me to boldly proclaim who You are and allow me to introduce people to You, the One who perfectly knows and perfectly loves everyone!

John 1:19-28, Reflect Christ

“This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?””

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

John lived his life in a unique way and people noticed he was different.  It was obvious there was something different about him and his message.  This caused people to go to him to ask the question, what’s the story John?

My life should also look different from the people around me…it should be obvious that I have the hope of Jesus.

Lord, I don’t want to be a freak, but I pray that people would want to know about You because of what they see in my life.  Help me to live vibrantly so that anyone who interacts with me sees You reflected in my words and actions!

John 1:14-18. Grace & Truth

 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬, ‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Jesus was full of grace (not treating people in the negative way that they rightly deserved) and truth.  He didn’t lie to people.  He didn’t ignore the things they did that were sinful.  Rather He was kind to them, seeing them with compassion, while at the same time He is still calling us up to live as God created us to live.  

Gods laws (His rules and commands) are given to us so that we can live peaceful, quiet lives, experiencing joy, contentment and peace with those around us.  That all sounds pretty fantastic to me!  The alternative is extreme selfishness, to go after everything that I want…short busts of pleasure followed by enormous regret, frustration, confusion and fear, lived out on repeat.  This is horrible to experience and devastating to watch.

Lord, help me to be like Jesus- filled with compassion, patience and tenderness for people choosing their own way. Yet, able to kindly share the truth without causing more pain or them feeling judged and rejected.

John 1:1-13 True Life

 “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. 

… to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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John tells us that true life, thriving life, energizing life…eternal life is found only in Jesus.  I don’t know about you, but that is the life I want.  In contrast, life apart from Jesus is dull, feels empty (or at least seems like there should be more), requires that we look for excitement and constantly seeking another rush of fun or adrenaline. 

Then shockingly he tells us that we can be adopted into Jesus family just by receiving Him, accepting Him, believing Him.  This incredibly simple exchange happens not because we have the right plan or finally figure it out…but because it was Gods will.  

So He desires that we follow Him, and gives us the ability to receive the gift of true life.

Lord, help me to follow You.  I don’t want to throw away this gift You chose to give me!  I want to experience true life to the full!!’

Proverbs 31- Spousal Delight

“Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels. Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭10‬, ‭26‬, ‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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There is no gift after Salvation, that has more impact on your life.  Marrying a wife who encourages you toward what is truly important cannot be understated.  We all need help and encouragement and having a spouse that is ready, able and full of wisdom is critical for long term joy.

Lord, I have been blessed beyond measure and I want to remain thankful and demonstrate my delight every day.  Help me not to get self focused but to love and protect her daily.  Thank You for the incredible wife and partner in every adventure…

Proverbs 30- Blind to Sin

“Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God. 

There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filth. This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I’ve done nothing wrong.””

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭8‬-‭9‬, ‭12‬, ‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, give me eyes to see myself clearly.  Don’t allow me to be blind to who I am or the impact of my sin.  It is so easy to falsely think that I have things in life handled and I don’t need You, but that is the biggest lie.  I need You every moment of every day or else I begin to move in the wrong direction and cause chaos in my life and those around me.

Proverbs 29- Prides Antidote

“Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy. 

A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor. 

The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭18‬, ‭23‬, ‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The fear of what others think, pride and a lack of direction lead to destruction…Humility, obedience and trusting God bring happiness, honor and safety.

Lord, help me to trust You in every situation.  Let me first run to Your word instead of making my own plan.  I want to be ruled by humility, and Scripture!

Proverbs 28- Painful Truth

“Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong. 

The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong will suddenly fall. 

One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue. 

The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭6‬, ‭18‬, ‭23‬, ‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Integrity is such a valuable characteristic in humanity, and unfortunately it is rare!  Sometimes it is easier to tell a friend that what they are doing is no big deal, even though it is obviously sin.  It feels better in the moment to lie and have them like you…we often call that “being kind”…but God doesn’t distort the truth.  We all have to decide if we will trust God or trust ourselves.

Lord, help me to trust You alone, speak truth in a loving way and have compassion for those who  don’t walk in integrity.

Proverbs 27- Godly Counsel

“Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel. 

Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬, ‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, thank you for placing me in a community that loves me and encourages me.  Thank you for surrounding me with people who love you and continually remind me of Your goodness and grace.

When I try to figure out my own problems, I inevitably make them worse...but when I bring in trusted, believing friends, they always help me to see things clearly and point me back to your truth!  Without those people, I would be lost, hopeless and making a mess of even the simplest problems!

Proverbs 26- Pride & Foolishness

“As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness. 

Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to remain humble and avoid the foolishness of pride.

Proverbs 25- Speaking What, When

“A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings. A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, you have given me a ministry that relies heavily upon speaking into challenging situations to people who are hurt/hurting.  Let me depend solely on Your Spirit to know the appropriate timing and what to say so that they may benefit and You are glorified!

Proverbs 24- Cost of Wisdom

“A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength; for you should wage war with sound guidance — victory comes with many counselors. 

Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The benefits of wisdom really are unending.  And what is amazing is that wisdom is not something that is dependent on how smart you are or how much education you have, it comes from following Jesus.  Wisdom comes from reading scripture, talking to people who have wisdom, praying to God.  In James we see that God gives wisdom to anyone who asks…

So wisdom is not hard to get, all of those things are free and accessible.  But wisdom does require humility in nearly every way:

- we must admit that we need it.

- we must recognize people wiser than us.

- we need to be willing to consider that our way is not best.

- we have to be suspicious of our natural thinking.

- we need to ask for help.

- we must respond to wisdom given by acting on it…even when it is uncomfortable or hard.

- we should attempt to build it into how we think about all aspects of life.

So although it is not hard to get, it is extremely difficult to pursue.  However, it is worth it in every way!  Sweet to your soul and leading to victory at every turn…it is worth the challenge, worth the humility, it is worth whatever it costs!!!

Proverbs 23- Self Control

“Apply yourself to discipline and listen to words of knowledge. 

Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the Lord. For then you will have a future, and your hope will not be dashed.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭12‬, ‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Discipline is not easy, but it is worth it…to be disciplined in holding Gods Word in high esteem, or listening to it above my own wants or desires takes daily, moment by moment surrender.  

God I cannot do any of this on my own, I need Your Spirit to empower me, to produce self control, and to energize me to surrender to Your will every second.  Without Your strength, I will drift back to my selfish ways and be dragged away by pride.  In that far away state, I feel so alone and hopeless…

Proverbs 22- Confidence in God

“Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. I have instructed you today — even you — so that your confidence may be in the Lord.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, thank You for giving me wisdom from Your Word!  I pray that it would not just be knowledge stored up, but that You would guide me into opportunities to share it and example it!  Bolster my confidence in Your work, in Your character, in Your love so that others would recognize You and run to Your presence.

Proverbs 21- Words & Motives

“All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs hearts. 

The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬, ‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to see from your perspective, give me wisdom to understand my own heart and motivations.  I don’t want to be fooled by my own selfish thoughts or excuses.  I want to make decisions based on truth, Your Word and an accurate understanding of why I do what I do.

In all these things, guard my mouth that I may speak truth in love, recite Your Word with accuracy and allow You to protect my reputation rather than my creative deceit.  Give me the faith to trust You alone rather than feeling the need to help with verbal misdirection.

Lord, I want to please You with my motives and my words…May I rest in Your strength rather than my cunning!

Provers 20- Scripture & Spirit

 “Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. 

Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out. 

Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬, ‭5‬, ‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, you have called me to counsel and help with disputes.  I need Your wisdom to be effective, Your Word to impact peoples hearts.  For the sake of those whom I minister, remind me that my words are flawed and only Your Word and Spirit can bring transformation!

Proverbs 19- Fight or Follow

 “A person’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord. 

Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬, ‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, I pray that I would not be set against You in my plans.  I have plenty of foolishness left inside my heart and mind, but I don’t want to be in opposition to You or Your plans for me!  I don't want to be fighting in a different direction than your plan, because Your ways are best and I know You will win in the end.  

Help me to see it early when I am pulling against Your will so that I don’t find myself fighting against You!  I never want to fight You, because I know it will be painful and I will end up going Your way in the end.  Better to put all my efforts into going with You and spending my energy in the same direction as You are leading.

I love You Lord and want to go where You lead because I know it is best for me!!!

Proverbs 18- Near Protection

 “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom. 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. 

Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. 

One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬, ‭10‬, ‭12‬, ‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Selfishness and pride are the evidence of coming destruction, especially when that person is isolating from those who can give wisdom.  At the same time we can have pride and selfishness and surround ourselves with other people who think like us…there is little protection there, since the problem stems from our own thinking.  Just because we find others who share our opinions and desires does not mean we have found “wisdom”.

The antidote to pride and selfishness is surrender to the one who is “closer than a brother”, who is “a strong tower”, who is Jesus.  He is the ultimate protector and will provide the only thing we really need in life: His presence.  After all He is “closer than a brother” because His Spirit lives inside us…and He strengthens us to get through any storm, because He never leaves us on our own.

Lord, help me to live in surrender to Your will and help me to see when pride, selfishness, and isolation are pulling me further from You!

Proverbs 17- Heart Condition

“A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the Lord is the tester of hearts. 

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬, ‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Purification of precious metal is performed by heating it up to force the impurities out of the material.  It’s almost impossible to look at a lump of gold and know its purity, and humans are the same.  We need God to purify our hearts, which He also does through heat and pressure of trials.  Having willingly submitted our heart to the Lord, I expect to be tried but also purified and enlivened with joy!

God is the only one who can take our brokenness and purify it, transform it and soften it into joy, peace and contentment.  He does it through fire, trials and painful circumstances to drive out the impurity…leaving behind joy.  Lord thank You for purifying me a little more each day.  Help me to love the process that draws me closer to You!

Proverbs 16- Pride & Lies

“All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs motives. 

Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. 

Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭5‬, ‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, purify my motives…allow my heart to recognize when pride is driving me or I am twisting truth to get my way.  Give me faith to trust that You are at work and will use every situation to purify me and glorify Jesus!

Proverbs 15- Attractive Words

“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness. 

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge, but not so the heart of fools. 

A person takes joy in giving an answer; and a timely word — how good that is! 

Anyone who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever listens to correction acquires good sense.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬, ‭7‬, ‭23‬, ‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What great reminders of how to speak wisely!  Lord teach me to make knowledge attractive.so that it is not easily ignored.  

Proverbs 14- Confusion vs Clarity

 “Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord, but the one who is devious in his ways despises him. 

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive. 

There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. 

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬, ‭6‬, ‭12‬, ‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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I love how the Proverbs bring contrast so easily to very complicate ideas:

A mocker is someone who thinks following God’s ways is silly, he makes fun of those who fear the Lord.  They think their own ways are better…maybe more in line with what makes them feel good, or is less offensive to their friends.  Even when they are earnestly looking for the right thing to do, they cannot find it…everything just seems confusing and doesn’t line up with what makes sense in their own mind.  In other words, following your own ideas leads to confusion.

The wise person fears the Lord.  They recognize that trusting what God says, although it does require sacrifice, leads to joy, peace and contentment.  It protects you from death or at least situations that seem like death would be easier.  Confusion and chaos can be avoided when we trust that God knows the “why” even when it doesn’t make sense to us!

Lord give me faith to trust that You always know why and that Your way is best…even when that makes no sense to me!

Proverbs 13- Time Machine

 “Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore discipline, but the one who accepts correction will be honored. 

Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste, but to turn from evil is detestable to fools. 

The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

How does my life fit into these categories?  Lord, give me wisdom:

“Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore discipline, but the one who accepts correction will be honored.”

I don’t want poverty and disgrace, but I do want to be honored…

“Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste, but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.”

I don’t want to be a fool and I want to avoid sin…

“The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.”

I don’t want to suffer trials but I do want to be wise…

Lord, help me to see how todays thoughts, decisions and actions lead to who I am tomorrow…or in 20 years!

Proverbs 12- Future Vision

 “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a wife who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. 

A person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the work of a person’s hands will reward him.

There is life in the path of righteousness, and in its path there is no death.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬, ‭14‬, ‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What we say, the path we walk and the choices we make all have significant consequences.  These proverbs remind me of the long term results of the quick, small and insignificant decisions we make.

Lord, give me wisdom to see the impact of each choice I make today.  I pray it would be so clear as I am making the decision as if I were watching a TV show…I want to chose You!  I want the long term joys of following You!

Proverbs 11- Peaceful Life

 “When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. 

Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance. 

Genuine righteousness leads to life, but pursuing evil leads to death.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬, ‭14‬, ‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Humility, guidance and doing right…all are required for a peaceful life and each one builds on the other!

Lord, help me to stay (or become) humble in every situation.  Allow me to see and comprehend my own weaknesses.  Place men and women around me that are wise so that I may seek their input.  Then, give me the strength to do what is right, even when it is hard!

Proverbs 10- Avoid Suffering

 “What the wicked dreads will come to him, but what the righteous desire will be given to them. 

The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the honorable, but destruction awaits evildoers. 

The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not remain on the earth.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬, ‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Simple statements of truth, but great reminders of why I follow You.  I need Your protection, I need your guidance and I want the blessings of following You!  Maybe I am selfish and want to avoid destruction, chaos and the unknown…but if I can have good things rather than bad, I am all in on pursuing You Jesus!

Lord, help me to trust in You as I walk out each day!

Proverbs 9- Correction Reception

 “…rebuke the wise, and he will love you. Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, allow me to be receptive to wisdom…let me be as the wise who responds well to correction by others and by the conviction of the Spirit.

Proverbs 8- Wisdom

 “I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. I possess good advice and sound wisdom; I have understanding and strength. For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.””

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭14‬, ‭35‬-‭36‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, help me to know wisdom in every situation, allow me to identify Your wisdom rather than “a good idea”!  I need wisdom in every conversation, wash interaction so that I can represent Christ well…I never want anything I say or do to cause people to lower their view of Jesus!

Proverbs 7- Seductive World

Read the following imagining the seductive woman as the world’s philosophy:

 “My child, obey my words, and treasure my commands. Keep my commands and live, and guard my instructions as you would the pupil of your eye. Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your relative. She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a wayward woman with her flattering talk. 

At the window of my house I looked through my lattice. I saw among the inexperienced [you], I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense. Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night. A woman [the world] came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda. She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home. Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner [social media]. She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him, “I’ve made fellowship offerings; today I’ve fulfilled my vows [I am religious]. So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I’ve found you. I’ve spread coverings on my bed  — richly colored linen from Egypt. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let’s feast on each other’s love! 

My husband isn’t home; he went on a long journey. He took a bag of silver with him and will come home at the time of the full moon.” She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk. He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare  — he doesn’t know it will cost him his life. 

Now, children, listen to me, and pay attention to the words from my mouth. Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways; don’t stray onto her paths. For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless. Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Proverbs 6- Guide Book

 “My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, help me to meditate on your instruction so that I always know what You want me to do.  I want Your Word to be as clear to me as if You were talking to me about the situations I face, I want it to be as clear as my GPS when I need guidance and I want to know You are right here with me in every joy and sorrow!

Proverbs 5- Two Paths

 “At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction. I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my instructors. I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community.””

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What a chilling result of not following Jesus: life in ruins, body falling apart, depressed and despised by everyone around. Not just because you didn’t listen to the Word of God, but solely because you only listened to yourself.  All of the choices, based on what you thought were…OK, maybe not the best but OK.  Never seeing where the road leads…until suddenly you wake up to this reality!

Lord, help me to see the end of the road I am traveling!  Open my eyes, awaken my heart and give me joy in following You!  I am so blessed that You love me enough to paint the picture of the alternative to joyfully fallowing You in peace, love and contentment.

Proverbs 4- Open Ears

 “Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching. Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭6‬, ‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, help me to listen, to hear and understand what it is You are teaching me. Your Word is full of wisdom so allow me to see what You are instructing… Trials also bring wisdom, so bring me insight to what I need to learn.  Help me put the pieces together to comprehend Your instruction and help me not be confused by my own pride…help me to see it for what it is.  Allow me to identify it and sift it out of my thinking, so that I can see clearly to the lessons You want to teach me…

I wish this were not so hard!  I wish that I was better at seeing Your lessons but as You have made me, give me eyes to see and ears to hear what You have for me today!

Proverbs 3- Happiness Found

 “Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, help me to seek your wisdom with all my heart.  Do not let me fall into the trap of following my own ideas or plans…I don’t want to invest another step, another minute or any energy in following my way.  Lord, keep me hungry for Your truth, wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 2- Better Judgment

 “if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 

He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity — every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight you. Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you. It will rescue you from the way of evil — from anyone who says perverse things,”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, I need Your protection and Your insight into wisdom…my personal judgment is not always on track and I want to avoid folly with every path I take!  I would be lost and foolish on my own, help me to turn to you with every thought and action so that I may glorify You!

Proverbs 1- Wisdom or Folly

 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me. Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord,”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬, ‭22‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, help me to choose to learn from You, because the consequences of ignoring You are too great for me to endure.

Psalm 150- Praise Him

 “Hallelujah! Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in his mighty expanse. Praise him for his powerful acts; praise him for his abundant greatness. Praise him with the blast of a ram’s horn; praise him with harp and lyre. Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and flute. Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with clashing cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭150‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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God is worthy of our adoration, worthy of our  thankfulness, worthy of our delight in Him.  We should praise Him at every turn!

Psalm 149- Humble Rewarded

 “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭149‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Humility is required for salvation because belief must include an understanding that we cannot be saved by our own efforts.  Actually, we need to comprehend that we are hopeless if it is up to us…and we need Jesus or else we are screwed!  Lord, help me recognize when my pride is working its way back to the surface and let me humbly lay it at your feet!

Psalm 148- Praise & Worship

 “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭148‬:‭1‬, ‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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If praise is thanksgiving and a recognition and highlighting of what God has done or who He is, then I wish that I was better at keeping this on the front of my mind!  Spending time in creation helps all the distractions of life fad to the background…His fingerprints become obvious and praise is continually on my mind.

Lord, help me to live this same way even when I am at work, getting groceries or doing chores.  The work that you have done and the way in which You accomplish it, all because of who You are, is astounding!  Open my eyes to see it so that I would praise and worship You as deserved!

Psalm 147- Hope & Awe

 “He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; he does not value the power of a warrior. The Lord values those who fear him, those who put their hope in his faithful love.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It blows me away that the things that impress me (or humans in general) are of no interest to God.  It is so counterintuitive that God doesn’t care about me being impressive or having incredible skills, power or strength.  He isn’t awed by how much money I have or what my job is.  He doesn’t care what I have achieved or if I have been successful…He just wants me to place my hope solely in Jesus and be in awe of who He is!

Psalm 146- Help & Hope

 “Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever,”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭146‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Happiness comes from trusting in the right thing…and God is the only right thing to trust in because He is faithful always.  He has been faithful for all of history, He has been faithful for all of my life and even in scripture He is shown to be faithful…if this is who He has always been, it seems like we can trust that is who He will continue to be.  

I admit, I want to be happy!  I have historically been pretty good at getting my own way.  I creatively achieve my goals by pushing hard, working harder and manipulating the narrative to fit my desired outcome.  And even as I have gotten nearly everything I set out to accomplish, it has rarely brought any more than fleeting smile.  I always needed just a bit more, just a slight tweak, just a little different…if I could be successful in that, then I would be happy.  True happiness never arrived…until I laid down my expectations and worked to rest in Jesus.

I have never been happier!  It turns out this Psalm is right!!!  Happiness truly comes when you trust what God has planned for your life, and you hope in Jesus, waiting for His help at every turn!  I have to actively press against my nature to trust God, and it is worth the peace and contentment I experience every moment of every day…that is true happiness!