1 Kings 20-21, Humility Rewarded

 ““Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Interestingly Ahab does not seek the Lord when he is against the wall, but God comes to his aid and does the impossible.  God demonstrates His power multiple times to make it uncoincidental…even after all that Ahab continues to do what he thought was best.  Which was wrong…even though God decides to punish Ahab, he turns in humility and God spares him!

God really is looking for us to be humble and seek Him rather than figure things out on our own.

1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17, Seek God

 “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Seeking the Lord is right in every moment of life.  Attempting to know Him and to love Him more intensively will always produce further sanctification.  Obedience is part of seeking and especially when temptation is at hand following His direction is great evidence of our love.

Lord, strengthen my heart to seek you every moment of every day!  I want to know You and serve You alone…

1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 13-16, Dependance on God

 “And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.””

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Dependence on God rather than our own strength or wisdom is critical for following God.  It’s very easy for me to fall into my own strength without paying attention to this.

Lord, I need my eyes open to see when I depend on my own strength and ideas.  I need my ears tuned to your voice so that I can know where You are leading.

2 Chronicles 10-12, Giving God Glory

 “When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” (The Lords destruction followed…)

 “And when he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

How easy it is to get comfortable and feel like things are all going your way…and become self dependent rather than leaning on God.  After He has cared for and protected us, we gladly accept the credit for all of Gods work.  We actually think all of His provision was because of our own great wisdom and awesomeness…and therefore turn from Him.

God is patient with us, but is unwilling to give up glory and will eventually pull away his blessing and may even allow suffering…this always brings destruction!  But is is also meant to remind us that all good things are from God, not ourselves.

Lord, I need your patience, but open my eyes quickly when I am taking credit for Your blessing so that I can. Give You glory.

1 Kings 12-14, Wiser Counselors

 “Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Seeking wisdom from the wise rather than your friends is always the right move.  Your friends will lead you astray and right into the claws of destruction.

Ecclesiastes 7-12, Work Diligently

 “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Wisdom for the ages: whatever you are working on, do it with all your heart…and in the process, enjoy the blessings God has given you!

Ecclesiastes 1-6, Better Expectations

 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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This has always been one of my favorite books of wisdom.  It seems a bit depressing, but it also helps to reframe what is important and what things to ignore.  Love God, serve Him, take pleasure in whatever He provides and hold all things loosely.  In other words, set the bar of your life expectations low and seek to please God…any joy you experience is a bonus!

Proverbs 27-29, Confessions Healing

 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

What a backward truth that hiding our sin causes destruction but confessing it brings life and peace!  James 5:16 says the same thing…yet that is the opposite of what our fleshly brains think.  God, thank You for new mercy every day…I need it!!!

1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8-

 “Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Destruction is ahead for us when we surrender to Jesus, then turn our own way.  I am convinced that those who are saved and turn away from God experience more trouble, heartache and suffering that people who have never followed Jesus.  Their actions may not be any different, but the result of their rebellion is much more intense.  Lord, when I stray help me to run back to you so that I can live in Your peace and rest!

1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5, Spirit Filled

 “and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

These passages are a great reminder of who God is.  I am especially impacted by the last few verses that talk about the glory of the Lord filling the temple so that even the priests couldn’t continue to minister.  This reminds me of Galatians 5:16 that says, “walk by the spirit and you will not sin”…as the temple of the Spirit of God, I want to be so full of the Spirit that it is no longer possible for me to do anything other than Gods will!

1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3, Incredible Temple

 “Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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What a grand temple!  It would have been amazing to see in person…yet it is only a shadow of Heaven, no matter how perfectly made!

Even more incredible is that God now dwells in me…and I am far from perfect.  So many flaws and failures…Lord, help me to live in obedience so that Your glory would be on display!!!

Proverbs 4-6, Wisdom Personified

 “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.””

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Wisdom personified is such an attractive idea…of course I want to pursue wisdom, to gain it, keep it, used it and share it.  Yet as I read, I see so clearly many ways that I continue to act like the fool!  You would think that after following Jesus for nearly 40yrs all of that would be gone by now.

Lord, help me to recognize when I am acting the fool.  Help me to repent of that foolishness and replace my thoughts or actions with a wise course of action.

Proverbs 1-3, Seek Wisdom

 “if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

When I consider what it looks like for me to seek Silver and Gold, I compare that to my effort to get better at my work.  I have literally read hundreds of books and invested thousands of hours listening to podcasts to gain an edge in business and leadership.

So do I seek Gods wisdom with that same vigor and intensity?  Lord, help me to continue to prioritize knowing You and seeking Your wisdom!

Song of Solomon 1-8, Singleminded Pursuit

 “I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love.”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬, ‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

I love that God decided to place this passage on young love in the midst of Scripture.  Of course it has some passionate imagery related to this married couple, but. It also points to the passion with which I should be pursuing Christ!  Lord, help me to chase after You like the bride was searching through the city for her husband!  I pray that my delight and attention could be naturally and singularly directed toward You!!!

2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72- Defending the Weak

 “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭72‬:‭4‬, ‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

I love how as a new king granted with wisdom and knowledge he is focused on the poor and needy.  He is instantly carrying out his calling to care for all of his people, not just the rich and powerful.

1 Kings 3-4, Wise Prayer

 “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬, ‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

Solomon’s wisdom was that he asked God for something that positively impacted all the people around him rather than just asking for a blessing himself.  I have been thinking about this lately, so much of my prayer time tends to focus on what would be helpful or be a blessing to me…Lord, fill my mind with other people while I am talking with You!

Psalm 119- Love Learning

 “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭124‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

I feel conviction reading this because even though I read the Word every day, most days I do not love it.  I want to be able to declare like David, I love your commands therefore bless me!  But instead I need to say, help me love Your Word!

Psalm 111-118, Faithful Love

 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Read Context

The everlasting love of God is able to withstand every season and every trial.  We can be confident in Him through every season, no matter how we feel or even perceive Him… close or far off.  His love is perfect and His patience long suffering.

Lord, we do not deserve such love!  That You freely provide it demonstrates the vast difference of Your character over mine.  Lord, make me more like You so that others may turn to You and experience Your character through me.

1 Chronicles 23-25, Gods Election

 “All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s authority. They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord. They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil. ”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭25‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I wonder what happened if you were assigned to the worship team but you were born tone-deaf?  Maybe God ensured that didn’t happen, or maybe you got assigned to the rhythm section?  A silly question, but it stood out to me that these families were elected (by God) to specific areas of service based on family, not necessarily skill…

1 Chronicles 26-29, Psalm 127- Right Motives

 “They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness. They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Seeing an entire nation be generous to God is incredible to see.  All of them being obedient to Gods call reminds me to be looking critically at every thing I do to make sure that it is motivated by the Lord and not just my thoughts.

Psalm 108-110, Long Suffering

 “Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your faithful love so they may know that this is your hand and that you, Lord, have done it. I will fervently thank the Lord with my mouth; I will praise him in the presence of many. For he stands at the right hand of the needy to save him from those who would condemn him.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭109‬:‭26‬-‭27‬, ‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, what a blessing that You are long suffering and patient with me.  I would have given up on me a long time ago, yet you continue to show love and grace to me.  Allow me to stay aware of Your faithfulness everyday for the rest of my life!

2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalm 30- Worthy Sacrifices

 “The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for twenty ounces  of silver. He built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord was receptive to prayer for the land,  and the plague on Israel ended.”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, help me to avoid the laziness of only offering You my leftovers.  Let my sacrifices for You be the most valuable things that I have…I want them to be costly to demonstrate Your majesty and splendor.

Psalm 5, 38, 41-42, Always There

 “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.  I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? ”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Tead Context

What a joy to know that God is still there any time I need to talk, cry or be frustrated.  He is listening and ready to help me.  No matter what pain, insecurity or suffering I am enduring, he is patiently waiting for me…even when it feels like He is far away.

2 Samuel 16-18, Endure God

 “Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man!  The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed! ” The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?  He curses  me this way because the Lord   told him, ‘Curse David! ’  Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that? ’ ””

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Absaloms fate was sealed because he was going against God.  David on the other hand allowed the guy to continue cursing him, just in case it was from God…David shows that he is willing to suffer, if it is Gods plan.

Lord, help me to look for Your guidance in every thought, woe or action I take!

2 Samuel 13-15, Destructive Desires

 “Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and valiant! ”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The amount of destruction that comes from following our own desires is shocking.  Amnon and Absalom both seek their own ways and it devastates the people around them…the pain and consequences of their sin destroys lives, families and ultimately kingdoms.

Lord, help me to lay down every desire and follow You.  Allow me to be at rest with whatever You are calling me to.  Help me to trust that You are leading me into the best path.

2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20- Self-Control

 “Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers  are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this! ”  “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Our ability to “problem solve” aka hide our sin, is very refined.  David was doing everything he could think of to cover his tracks.  What a scoundrel…

It stands out to me that even drunk Uriah had more self control than David.  Lord, strengthen my self-control (a fruit of the Spirit) so that I can resist temptation or the urge to hide my sin.

Psalm 65-67, 69, 70- Mighty Savior

 “You answer us in righteousness, with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas. You establish the mountains by your power; you are robed with strength. You silence the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods strength and power are endless and we should be in awe of every act!  Thank You Lord for loving me…

1 Chronicles 19, 2 Samuel 10, Psalm 20- Gods Backing

 “Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand. Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

When God is for you…who can win against you?

Psalm 50, 53, 60, 75- Perfect Judge

 “Our God is coming; he will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes him, and a storm rages around him. On high, he summons heaven and earth in order to judge his people:”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭50‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

It is good to remember that God is the ultimate judge not just our Father.  Lord, allow me to live in a manner that brings You glory!

2 Samuel 8-9, I Chronicles 18- Whose Power?

 “He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.  The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.  So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. ”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Trad Context

It was repeated multiple times today that it was God who made David victorious, not his ability, strength, skill, strategy or stamina…it was always the Lord. god, don’t ever allow me to get confused about whose strength I am depending…may it always be Yours!

Psalm 25, 29, 33, 36, 39- Perfect Faithfulness

 “Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, your faithfulness to the clouds. How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭36‬:‭5‬, ‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, your faithfulness includes love, protection and guidance as well as discipline, correction and reproof.  Thank You for loving me enough to demonstrate Your faithfulness in all these flavors!!!

2 Samuel 6-7, 1 Chronicles 17- Displayed Humility

 “When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He is the one who will build a house for my name,  and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

David’s humility to alter his plans when God changes his course was such a great demonstration of honor.  It shows us that David’s heart was not centered on doing great things, but on following Gods will.  God has laid out distinct plans for each of us, help me to know what Your plan is and be willing to change directions in an instant!  Lord, You don’t hide Your plan from us, but You rarely make it as explicit as this.  Open my eyes to see.  Allow my plans to be perfectly moldable as You reveal Your plan to me.

Psalm 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, 132- Historic Faithfulness

 “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works! Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced,”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

How powerful it is to build our faith and trust in God to remember all the things He has done for us in the past.  The Bible is full of His faithful works and my past shows His incredibly consistent help for me through hard times.  Lord, let me meditate on Your unending love and protection today.

1 Chronicles 7-10, Legacy Destruction

 “Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the Lord because he did not keep the Lord’s word.  He even consulted a medium for guidance,  but he did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. ”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What a tragic end to a legacy…dying because of your unfaithfulness and taking your entire family with you.  It is so critical that I trust in God rather than my own strength or strategies.  Lord, help me to see it clearly when I am doing anything of my own rather than from You!

Psalm 81, 88, 92, 93- Fruitful Result

 “The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The Lord is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

These Psalms remind me that God is faithful and righteous in everything He does, and He calls me to the same high standard.  Lord, I am not righteous on my own, but wholly need to rest in Jesus.  Lord God I want to be so close to You that it is like I am permanently in Your presence.  Let me bear fruit for You all my days!

1 Chronicles 6, Faithful God

 “These were the places assigned to Aaron’s descendants from the Kohathite family for their settlements in their territory, because the first lot was for them.  They  were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands,”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭6‬:‭54‬-‭55‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This reminds me that God is taking care of His leaders just like He said He would!  What a faithful God!

Psalms 73, 77, 78- Present Presence

 “Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory. Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.  But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do. ”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭23‬-‭26‬, ‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Nothing is better than Gods presence!  Lord, allow me to know Your presence always!

Chronicles 3-5, Trust God

 “They received help against these enemies because they cried out to God in battle, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them.  He was receptive to their prayer because they trusted in him. ”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Even in this boring list of names, we are told of a group of people who trusted God and defeated their enemies because they turned to Him in prayer.  God listened and acted on their behalf for one reason: they trusted in Him!  Not trusting in themselves, their skill, their numbers or their strength…they trusted God!  Lord, I pray that my words, actions and motives reflect that I trust You in every moment of my life…

Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87- Trust Worthy

 “Through you we drive back our foes; through your name we trample our enemies. For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory. But you give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced. We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name forever. Selah”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, sometimes it is so easy to trust in the skill You have given or the blessings You provide…remind me that those are not mine and that You are the only one worthy of trust.  Help me to trust in You alone!

1 Chronicles 1-2, Jesus vs Lineage

 “Adam,  Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Noah’s sons:  Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Shem,  Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram (that is, Abraham).”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The detail of recording all those generations is intense!  I am guessing that these Israelite people put a lot of value in identifying their lineage…so different how that we have a Jesus who adopts us no matter our lineage!  Praise Him!!!

Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21- Guiding Presence

 “I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.” I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬, ‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, how refreshing that You are with me through all of life’s circumstances! All the good that I have in life is directly from Your hand and I can rest knowing that You are right beside me…

2 Samuel 1-4, War’s Raveges

 “David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “The Lord bless you because you have shown this kindness to Saul your Lord when you buried him. Now, may the Lord show kindness and faithfulness to you, and I will also show the same goodness to you because you have done this deed. Therefore, be strong  and valiant, for though Saul your Lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.””

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The fight for power is horrible…division, pride and jealousy are not a good look for anyone.  So much death and destruction in these few chapters and God is in the background.  Even when pain and suffering are all that we can see, God is still working in the background.  Lord, help me trust your plans as You work in the shadows.

Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130 - Sin Forgiven

 “Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that you may be revered. Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with him is redemption in abundance.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭130‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Happy Easter…He is risen!  He is risen indeed!!!

What a blessing to know that God made a plan for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus sacrifice on the cross.  His resurrection demonstrating His power over death and victory over sin.  Thank You Jesus for willingly paying my penalty and giving me righteous in return!

Samuel 28-31, Psalm 18- Devine Protection

 “God — his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is a rock? Only our God. God — he clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights. He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation; your right hand upholds me, and your humility exalts me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭30‬-‭35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What a powerful God we serve— He knows our path, strengthens us and protects us— even when it feels like we are lost, wandering and alone.  Lord, allow me to see Your fingerprints in my circumstances, Your presence in the darkness and Your love in the silence. 

Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63- Faithful God

 “God, hear my prayer; listen to the words from my mouth. God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you. I will praise your name, Lord, because it is good. For he has rescued me from every trouble, and my eye has looked down on my enemies.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭54‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Lord, You are so faithful and in every situation You protect me.  Help me to rest in Your plan for my life even when things are tumultuous or confusing.  Allow my mind and heart to meditate on how You have worked good from even the hardest things in my past.  Give me confidence in Your ability to do it again!

I Samuel 25-27, Re-Directed

 “Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice! ” But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be innocent? ”  David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down:  either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. However, as the Lord is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.  Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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David impulsively sneaks into the camp of his enemy, Saul, and his friend thinks he is there to kill him.  That seems like the only possible reason, but then David is struck by conscience and changes his mind, they just take some things from him instead.  This appears to be God redirecting the impulsive plans of David.  

This reminds me that it is never too late to change direction and follow what God wants even if I was previously following my own half baked plan!  Lord, help me to instantly recognize if I am going my own way and turn to follow You as soon as I realize I have made a mistake.

Psalm 56, 120, 140-142, Strength made Perfect

 “Although my spirit is weak within me, you know my way. Along this path I travel they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: no one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me. I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭142‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Strength in our weakest moments comes from God; even in our best moments our strength is directly from Him.  We may not feel like we need God when things are going well, but our own “strength” is so feeble and flimsy.  However, when we are weak, we have no illusion, we know that we need His help!  Lord, help me to remember that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34 & 52- Protective Presence

 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you. You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues. Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What a picture of a counterintuitive comfort…we always want to be removed from the pain, the suffering, the trials…but Gods solution is not always what we are wanting.  Many times He wants us to run to Him in the darkness and rest in His presence.  In His presence is peace and rest, comfort and joy.  We can know Him in the midst of our trials if we seek Him.

I Samuel 21-24, Gods Deliverance

 “He said to his men, “As the Lord is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my Lord, the Lord’s anointed.  I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” ”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This has always been a passage of intrigue as it seems like God is providing an opportunity for David to be free from running.  So much of his suffering and trials would be over if he just shanks Saul here…but he doesn’t.  He trusts that God will handle the situation.  Lord, help me to trust You like that.

I Samuel 18-20, Psalm 11 & 59, Humble Leadership

 “David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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David must have been a great leader if he was both successful and the people he led were pleased.  I believe this reflects following Gods Word and leading in humility.  We see evidence of that later on when David does not feel worthy to be Sauls son-in-law.  Lord, help me to lead in humility and confidence of You accomplishing Your plans!

I Samuel 15-17, Humility & Confidence

 “Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses  of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,  and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves,  for the battle is the Lord’s.  He will hand you over to us.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭46‬-‭47‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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David’s humility and confidence in God accomplishing the task is amazing!  This is the first glimpse of what it looks like to be “a man after Gods own heart”!  Lord, help me to depend wholly on You to accomplish Your plans…and less on my own skills and abilities.

1 Samuel 13-14, Seek Guidance

 ““All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us #— #that will be our sign.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It is an encouragement that Jonathan is taking direction from God…something his father was not doing well.  Lord, help me to hear Your voice, and then follow You!

1 Samuel 9-12, Serious Calling

 ““As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.  I will teach you the good and right way. Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you. ”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This is Samuel speaking to the new King Saul.  It stands out to me that his role was very serious as a mentor, not just an opportunity, but a strong calling that if ignored or minimized would be seen as sin. Lord, help me to take seriously the role you have given me as I walk with men through challenging seasons!

I Samuel 4-8, Desiring God

 “Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. Samuel told them, “If you  are returning to the Lord  with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him.  Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods presence was far from the people and they felt that distance, desiring God be close to them.  It was obvious that they had allowed other idols to take Gods place and they felt the distance.  They longed for the Lord…I believe we can feel this today when we enter “dry season” when God feels far away.  This allows us to look around and remove idols and remember the sweetness of relationship with Him.  When those idols are removed and we turn our attention to seek Him, there is a fresh desire for intimacy with our Creator.  Lord, help me to stay in seasons where I long for You and we have sweet times together!

I Samuel 1-3, Cleaning House

 “The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence.  In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. ”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Samuel is Gods chosen one in the midst of unholy servants.  Hophne and Phineas were evil men representing God and through many circumstances He orchestrated a plan to bring righteousness back to the temple.  Samuel was set apart from conception and ready for service to God and His people.  Lord, help my thoughts, motives, words and actions bring You glory!

Ruth 1-4, Gods Providence

 “Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬, ‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What an amazing story of God turning suffering and tragedy into redemption and heritage.  These women strategic thinking worked in concert with Gods will to produce an incredible story.  Lord, please help me trust that You are at work even in the tragic and that Your plans are brought about through trust and planning.

Judges 19-21, Chain Reaction

 “The congregation sent twelve thousand brave warriors there and commanded them, “Go and kill the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the sword,  including women and dependents.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭21‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The far reaching effects of sin are obvious in this detestable section of scripture…every chain reaction to the first sin is devastating.  Lord, thank You for sending Your Spirit to indwell Your people so that we don’t dig ourselves into such a horrendous situation.  Give me wisdom to see when I am slightly getting off track so that my sin does as little damage to others as possible!

Judges 16-18, Seemed Right

 “In those days there was no king in Israel;  everyone did whatever seemed right to him.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This is literally the theme of the book of Judges, either people are doing what was wrong in Gods eyes, or they are doing what what’s right in their own eyes.  They both mean the same thing.  And because of that everything is a wreck!!! Literally everything is cringeworthy…Lord help me to live by Your Spirit and follow Your commands.  I want to honor You with every thought, word and action!

Judges 13-15, Self Trust

“Samson said to them, “This time I will be blameless  when I harm the Philistines.””

‭‭Judges‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1713/jdg.15.3.CSB

Samson was using his own plans to take vengeance on the Philistines.  How many times to I take things into my own hands.  It may not be taking vengeance agains someone, but I definitely try to solve problems without bringing God into the plans or better yet, asking what God would have me do!  Lord, help my first impulse to be to come to you in every problem or decision!

Judges 10-12, Godless Reputation

 “Ibzan, who was from Bethlehem,  judged Israel after Jephthah and had thirty sons. He gave his thirty daughters in marriage to men outside the tribe and brought back thirty wives for his sons from outside the tribe. Ibzan judged Israel seven years, and when he died, he was buried in Bethlehem.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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What a horrible time to live as an Israelite.  Leaders come and go with nothing good to say about any of them, constant fighting and God is no where to be seen.  Lord, allow my life to be shaped by You so that if anyone remembers me, You are a prominent part of my story!

Judges 8-9, God vs Self

 “In this way, God brought back Abimelech’s evil #— #the evil that Abimelech had done to his father when he killed his seventy brothers.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭9‬:‭56‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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When God is leading His people and they are obedient, incredible things unfold…yet when people are leading toward their own goals, destruction and devastation quickly follow.  Lord, I want to follow You rather than lead.  Help me to hear Your voice and pursue You only!

Judges 6-7, Not Strategy

 “The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say,  ‘I saved myself.’”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I can relate with scared Gideon here, feels too small and weak and incapable of the task that God puts before him.  He plans, strategizes and very successfully recruited an entire army…but God know those things will get in the way of people seeing the truth of God being the one to save them…not Gideon.  Lord, help me to trust You and not my own plans.  You alone are worthy and can be trusted in every situation.

Judges 3-5, Own Way

 “The Israelites again did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He gave King Eglon of Moab  power over Israel, because they had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This whole book is so disappointing because it is decade after decade of Israel following their own logic, being overthrown by their neighbors, the. Turning to God for help and freedom…on repeat.

Lord, help me follow You, where ever You lead.  Help me to recognize when I am following my own logic and ignore You.  Empower me to surrender in every decision to Your way!

Judges 1-2, Fast Falling

 “The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.  They worshiped the Baals  and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples  and bowed down to them. They angered the Lord,  

I did this to test Israel and to see whether or not they would keep the Lord’s way  by walking in it, as their ancestors had.” ”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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The things the God does to help us see that we need Him and are better off when we follow Him are incredible.  It’s crazy to me how quickly this happens as I read about the Israelites, but in reality it happens even faster in my life.  Lord, keep my eyes focused on You and help me to follow You only!

Joshua 22-24, Lead Well

 “Israel worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua  and who had experienced all the works the Lord had done for Israel.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Worship continued in the right direction for Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elders he led lived…what a great reputation, what an impactful leader!  Lord, help me to live in a way that reminds people of who You are.  Help me lead in a way that points directly to You winsomely! 

Joshua 19-21, Promises Fulfilled

 “So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side according to all he had sworn to their ancestors. None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for the Lord handed over all their enemies to them. None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled. ”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭21‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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How amazing that God gives them a home, rest, victory and good things!  Is the God we serve different in character to this God, obviously not!  

Lord, thank You for keeping Your promises and delivering good things to Your people!  I think it is important that we remember that although God provided perfectly and gave them good things, all of it came through trials, battles and following God wherever He was leading. Lord, give me patience to follow You through any trial, every battle and let me see clearly where You are leading!

Joshua 16-18, Love & Justice

 “As a result, ten tracts fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which are beyond the Jordan,  because Manasseh’s daughters received an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh’s sons.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Gods care for the weak (Manasseh’s daughters, at least in that culture) has always stood out to me.  He is not shaped by culture or man’s expectations but His character always points to love.  Lord, give me eyes to see the weak and help me to work toward justice for their good!

Joshua 12-15, Without God

 “But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.  So the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah today. ”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭15‬:‭63‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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This is the first place we see them unable to drive out a people.  Interestingly, God is not mentioned as being part of the battle…it’s almost like this tribe was fighting their own battle, rather than depending on God.

Lord, help me to see when I take things into my own hands.  I pray it would be like a flashing neon sign so that I am not running down any path without You!

Joshua 9-11, Gods Direction

 “Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the Lord’s decision. ”…

 “So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the Lord had told Moses. Joshua then gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. After this, the land had rest from war. ”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭11‬:‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Joshua was fooled by the cunning of men because he didn’t seek ethe Lord in every decision…Yet this foolishness did not prevent God from accomplishing His plans.

Lord, help me to seek Your help in every decision.  I don’t want to run ahead of You or pursue things that do t align with Your plan…but God, I am thankful that You mercifully carry out Your plan even when I fail to follow You!

Joshua 5-8, Mercy & Obedience

 “But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction.  Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live,  because she hid the messengers we sent. …Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and all who belonged to her, because she hid the messengers Joshua had sent to spy on Jericho, and she still lives in Israel  today. ”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬, ‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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Rajah was given mercy because she was obedient to Gods call on her, even as an outsider.  Because she listened to God and acted on His command, she was saved, with her family.  Interestingly, Achan was the perfect inverse…he was an Israelite who disobeyed God and is destroyed, he and his family.

Following Gods commands is not an optional part of following Him. Lord, strengthen me to follow You even when things seem hard!

Joshua 1-4, Strong & Courageous

 “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

It was really interesting that 4 times in chapter 1 Joshua is reminded to be strong and courageous…then immediately the people of Jericho were described in just the opposite way. I am thankful that God repeats the things that are important, because I think I often miss what He says the first time.  In this case they could be strong and courteous, not because of who they were, but because God was with them…or fearful and weak because He was not with them.

Lord, help me to know You so well that I am confident You are with me every step of the day!

Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 91- Love & Faithfulness

 “How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you,  and you will tread on their backs. ,”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭33‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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How incredible that God cared for Israel, and now cares for us!  We have been saved and protected by God personally…Lord thank You for Your faithfulness and Love to undeserving people!!!

Deuteronomy 30-31, Blessed Obedience

 “See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.  For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live  and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

There is still blessing in obedience, but thankfully we are indwelled by the Spirit of God.  We have the added strength and direction of God living in us!  How impossible would obedience have been in their time?

Deuteronomy 28-29, Blessing vs Curse

“Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you bear the Lord’s name, and they will stand in awe of you. ”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Both following the Lord or rejection the Lord bring about the same result: People will recognize that God is doing something and His name will be exalted!  But the experience of His people will be vastly different…incredible blessing versus unimaginable suffering!

That is a no-brained for me…follow God and experience blessing!  Lord, help me to lay down every decision as a living sacrifice asking the question: “what does God want me to do in this scenario, right now?”  Then do that and only that!

Deuteronomy 24-27, Obedience vs Accention

 “‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭27‬:‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I like how all these laws were to be practiced.  It was not enough to mentally agree to them or even to verbally confirm the goodness of them.  The minimum standard was to practice them…in other words actually do these things.

Deuteronomy 21-23, Righteousness Received

 “No one of illegitimate birth may enter the Lord’s assembly; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, may enter the Lord’s assembly.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The law that is given through these instructions was designed to keep Israel holy.  I am so grateful that holiness no longer depends solely on me, rather on the finished work of Jesus.  That doesn’t give me reason to live in sin, but Jesus does cover even the things that I have no control over.

Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to fix the problem of sin.  Help me to pursue holiness in every thought, action or word.  I am so grateful that You made a way for me to come into Your presence!

Deuteronomy 17-20, Remove Completely

 “you are to bring out to your city gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing and stone them to death. ”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God is serious about fully removing sin.  He does not allow a half hearted approach.

Lord, help me to be just as serious about removing sin and temptation from my own life.  I want to follow You in every way!

Deuteronomy 14-16, Celebrations

 “You are to hold a seven-day festival for the Lord your God in the place he chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands,  and you will have abundant joy.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I love how celebrations are important to God.  Celebrations that highlight family, food and joy.  Occasions to remember all the blessings He has given us.

Deuteronomy 11-13, Blessing vs Curse

““Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse:  there will be a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God and you turn aside from the path I command you today by following other gods you have not known.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods intention behind this was to use both the blessing and curse to prove that He was indeed God and sovereign.  God’s character has not changed, so does He still operate under a similar principle with us as believers today?  Obviously, we have the Holy Spirit permanently dwelling in us to help guide us.  And we don’t loose Him if we are disobedient…

He does bless us with sweet joy, peace and contentment when we are walking closely with Him!  But that does not prevent us from suffering trials…when we are not walking closely, we tend to make less wise decisions that lead to additional suffering, despair and isolation.  We feel far from Him and we intentionally pull away from others…And we still experience trials in addition.  It seems like the same pattern.

Lord, help me to follow You closely so that I can experience the joy and peace of your presence and know You more fully.

Deuteronomy 8-10, Humility & Wisdom

 “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm his covenant he swore to your ancestors,  as it is today.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“You are not going to take possession of their land because of your righteousness or your integrity. Instead, the Lord your God will drive out these nations before you because of their wickedness, in order to fulfill the promise he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land  to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. ”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭9‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

““And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear  the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?  Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. ”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Humility and wisdom.  Trust in God rather than your own ability because He is the one who enables our work and prepares our path.

Deuteronomy 5-7, Salvation’s Pathway

 ““If you say to yourself, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I drive them out? ’ do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt:”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

So much of the story of Israel maps onto our own salvation.  Chosen by God because of nothing they had done, slowly fighting against the sins/idols that could entrap them, God defeating even the undefeatable, providing for all their needs…if they surrender and obey.

Oftentimes my sin seems greater than I have the ability to fight…Lord, remind me that You are fighting for me!  That I am not facing these on my own, but rather You have already fought them and won!  That You are fighting them by Your strength and they ARE more powerful than me, but NOT more powerful than YOU!  Allow me to rest in the knowledge that You will win…I just need to surrender to Your will.

Deuteronomy 3-4, Forgetful

“Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves,  so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.  

He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant  with your ancestors that he swore to them by oath, because the Lord your God is a compassionate God.  

You were shown these things so that you would know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him. ”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬, ‭31‬, ‭35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Why do I need these same reminders about who God is?  It seems like these things would be so inspiring and memorable, but the small (in comparison) trials that I deal with are occasionally inflated to take up my entire view…enough to push these truths from my mind.  

That must be why God decided we needed this second reminder of the law and His works!  Lord, help me to know You and remember Your character especially when I am facing trials!

Deuteronomy 1-2, Confident Surrender

 “The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you,  just as you saw him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. But in spite of this you did not trust the Lord your God,”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭30‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God, You show Yourself to be faithful over and over in scripture and in a thousand ways in my life experience!  You always demonstrate Your faithful love and patience…yet stupidly, so many times I am fearful that the situation I face this time will be the will be the outlier!?!  This will be the time You leave me alone to figure it out…how foolish!

Lord, strengthen my faith in You.  Help my confidence be solely in You regardless of the circumstances, especially if it looks like I can handle it.  Let me surrender everything to Your will!!!

Numbers 35-36, Uncommon Rights

 “Any daughter who possesses an inheritance from an Israelite tribe must marry someone from the clan of her ancestral tribe, so that each of the Israelites will possess the inheritance of his fathers.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭36‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Teaf Context

These women are given rights in a patriarchal society which would have been unheard of. God is changing the way that His people thought and cared for the underprivileged or downtrodden.  God continues to do the same today, by asking His people to care for the poor, the immigrant and the unloved.

God, help me to have compassion like You do!  Allow me to think differently than what my culture would encourage as long as it is in line with Your heart!

Numbers 33-34, Distraction Destruction

 “But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become barbs for your eyes and thorns for your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭33‬:‭55‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The result of failure to follow Gods instructions were detrimental to Israel. Not obeying God will guarantee suffering and continual pain.  Gods people were called to destroy anything that could cause idolatry, pull their attention away from God or even make them stumble.  Total destruction, not hiding, minimizing or ignoring those things.  I believe this is a pattern that we should imitate as followers of Christ!

Lord, help me to correctly identify what things may cause me to stumble, distract me or draw me into sin.  Once identified, give me strength to surrender them to You, remove them from my life and follow You!  Give me joy in obeying Your direction and commands, so that peace pervades my whole life!!!

Numbers 31-32, Devine Protections

 “They waged war against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and killed every male…

The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, approached Moses and told him, “Your servants have taken a census of the fighting men under our command, and not one of us is missing.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭7, 48‬-‭49‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The Mideanites had previously let the Israelites into sin including idolatry and sexual sin, causing a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites.  This war was Devine justice and demonstrates the importance God places on holiness and His passion for protecting His people.

Incredibly, during this war, Israel suffers ZERO casualties while completely wiping out the other nation.  This is Devine power on display.  What a great God we serve!

Lord, help me to have my eyes opened when my actions are leading toward sin.  Give me the same passion for holiness and righteousness that You have so that everything I do and say points to You!

Numbers 28-30, Sacred Feasting

“You are to hold a sacred assembly on the tenth day of this seventh month and practice self-denial;  do not do any work. Present a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All your animals are to be unblemished.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭29‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Tead Context

I love how much celebration the Lord commands the Israelites to participate in.  Days of rest, days of feasting, days or remembering, days of joy!  All days they were prohibited from working, and reminded instead of Gods love for them, and the reality of their sin.  Lord, help me to know how to build more of this into my life!!!

Numbers 26-27, Promises Kept

 “But among them there was not one of those who had been registered by Moses and the priest Aaron when they registered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.  For the Lord had said to them that they would all die in the wilderness. None of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭26‬:‭64‬-‭65‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God keeps his promises and interestingly after these 40 years in the desert, their numbers have not changed much.  I wonder if He did that intentionally to demonstrate that they had the same strength both times they approached the promised land.  The first time they doubted God, the second time they trusted Him!

Numbers 23-25, Blindly Misaligned

 “So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. ”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭25‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What am I blindly aligning myself with that is opposed to Christ?  Lord, remove any blindness that I have to see where my very actions or thoughts take me farther from You.  Help me to know You more!

Numbers 21-22, Infinitely Better

 “The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede with the Lord so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.” ”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The snake on a pole is clearly an image of Jesus on the cross.  Anyone who has faith to believe and follows through with looking to the snake is healed.  Poking toward the image of the very thing that cursed them … 

We are required to look at our curse too,  Jesus took on the curse of our sin on the cross, and our salvation is from believing Him and confronting the penalty that we deserve…

Lord, I need more faith to trust You, because so many times my temptations seem better than chasing You!  What a lie!!! Help me to see through it and know the truth that You are infinitely better!!!

Numbers 18-20, Usurping Glory

 “Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses, “Take the staff  and assemble the community. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock  while they watch, and it will yield its water. You will bring out water for them from the rock and provide drink for the community and their livestock.” So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence  just as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you? ” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. ”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Simply adding to Gods command and implying that he was part of the solution Moses and Aaron lost their ability to enter the promised land.  God requires obedience and is not interested in sharing His glory.

Lord, help me to follow You precisely and consistently.  Give me understanding and a heart to see Your leading.  Grant me wisdom to know You and to stay surrendered tonight You at every turn!

Numbers 16-17, Long Suffering

 “The next day the entire Israelite community complained about Moses and Aaron,  saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people! ””

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭16‬:‭41‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I wonder how long it had been since Aarons son had been killed when offering unauthorized fire to the Lord, before this episode where 250 people did something similar.  And shockingly, right after God destroys them and their families, the next day the rest of the people are blaming Aaron and Moses.  God is required to have massive patience with them…and me…

Lord, thank you for being long suffering because we need it.  Help us to have better memories and more trust that You are at work in every area of life.

Number 14-15, Psalm 90, Rest & Worship

 “While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.  Then the Lord told Moses, “The man is to be put to death. The entire community is to stone him outside the camp.” ”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭15‬:‭32‬, ‭35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God was serious about the Sabbath…I find it interesting that the Israelites were told over and over that they were need to deny themselves to follow the Sabbath.  Why is it so hard to rest and worship?

Numbers 11-13, Sovereign Orchestration

“Tell the people: Consecrate yourselves in readiness for tomorrow, and you will eat meat because you wept in the Lord’s hearing, ‘Who will feed us meat? We were better off in Egypt.’ The Lord will give you meat and you will eat. 

But Moses replied, “I’m in the middle of a people with six hundred thousand foot soldiers, yet you say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 

The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm weak? , Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭11‬:‭18‬, ‭21‬, ‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Everyone was complaining against God…asking for more than they were given and God responds by providing superabundantly in an impossible way.  This was also a tragic moment, because the complainers died after seeing Gods provision and even Moses didn’t believe God could follow through on His promise.

When do I view God as incapable or unable?  What an insult, a slap in the face to the One who created the universe, planned salvation and has always provided abundantly for my every need!  Lord, strengthen my faith to never doubt Your ability to accomplish Your will.  Your arm is not weak, but powerful. Your Sovereignty is over every detail and You personally weave every scenario to perfectly accomplish what is best for us all.  Help me to never doubt your power or love for me!!!

Leviticus 5-7, Following God

 “Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning; when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out. Or if it remained a day and a night, they moved out when the cloud lifted. Whether it was two days, a month, or longer,  the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I wish following God in my life was as obvious as this.  What a blessing to physically see what God was asking them to do.  At any moment they could look and see where God was leading them.  Although, they still had to wait for instruction moment by moment.  They didn’t have a predefined plan for what the future held…still walking by faith!

Numbers 7, Knowing God

 “When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him  from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim.  He spoke to him that way.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭7‬:‭89‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Contexr

Although these offerings are extravagant, I think the most impressive is that God shows up to talk to Moses.

Lord, help me to be in awe that I can know You…that I can read Your Word and that You want to hear my prayers!  Help me to know You more intimately!!!

Numbers 5-6, Salvation Trumps

 “He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, while the mark of consecration to his God is on his head. He is holy to the Lord during the time of consecration.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Interesting how making a vow to the Lord trumps all other relationships.  It seems like the Lord is pointing out that a decision to follow Him should become the lens for viewing all other decisions.  Just like our salvation should shape every following choice, path or venture.

Lord, help me to thoughtfully consider every idea, word or action that I make in light of knowing You!

Numbers 3-4, Share the Load

“At the Lord’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the Lord commanded Moses.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭4‬:‭49‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The division of duties was clearly laid out and there was plenty of people whit whom to share the load.  So many times when something new is started, there are just a handful of people to do all the work.  God is making sure that the necessary work will not overburden but can be shared effectively.

Lord, help me not to attempt to take on too much, but help me to be intentional about sharing the load and working with others to train and encourage their participation.

Numbers 1-2, Order Ordered

 “The Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; they camped by their banners in this way and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral family. ,”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭2‬:‭34‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God must appreciate order.

Leviticus 26-27, Obedience = Flourishing

 “For the land abandoned by them will make up for its Sabbaths by lying desolate without the people, while they make amends for their iniquity, because they rejected my ordinances and abhorred my statutes. Yet in spite of this, while they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or abhor them so as to destroy them and break my covenant with them, since I am the Lord their God.  For their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God; I am the Lord.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭26‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God cares so much about us living according to His plan, that He tells them that they will suffer if they don’t obey…but He will not completely destroy them.  He will remember the promises and restore them after they have endured suffering.  Remember this suffering is only intended to bring them back to their senses and finally obey Him.

Seems like the best way is just to obey from the start so that we don’t have to also endure more suffering…why is that so challenging for some of us?

Lord, build my faith so that I can trust You...  So that I can fully believe that in EVERY situation Your ways are best and literally bring flourishing to me.

Leviticus 24-25, Promised Provision

 ““You are to keep my statutes and ordinances and carefully observe them, so that you may live securely in the land.  Then the land will yield its fruit, so that you can eat, be satisfied, and live securely in the land. If you wonder, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we don’t sow or gather our produce? ’ I will appoint my blessing for you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭25‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods promise of provision is amazing here.  It is dependent on following Gods instruction, but results in supernatural harvest that will carry them through obedience to sabbath the land.

When we worry about living the way God commands we are demonstrating our trust in our own abilities rather than trusting what He says.  Whatever He calls us to, He will provide sufficiently.

Lord, help me to follow You without fear, knowing that You will provide for all of my needs!

Leviticus 22-23, Restful Provision

 ““These are the Lord’s appointed times that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for presenting food offerings to the Lord, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its designated day. These are in addition to the offerings for the Lord’s Sabbaths, your gifts, all your vow offerings, and all your freewill offerings that you give to the Lord.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭23‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I love how God wants His people to stop the daily grind and celebrate what He has done.  It is definitely once a week, plus several week long celebrations to focus on Gods provision, community and food.  When He talks about these times of celebration, I would think that the warnings have to be about not taking it to an extreme…but they are reminders not to do our normal daily tasks.  We must exhibit self control to not work!

This seems crazy, but it is exactly the thing I am tempted to do…keep working, get ahead a bit so that the next few weeks can be a little easier… but I think God is asking that we trust Him for providing enough time to do everything that needs to be done.

Lord, help me to rest in Your provision!  Thank You for giving me opportunity to rest,..help me to sacrifice those days to You!

Leviticus 19-21, Foreigner Policy

 ““When an alien resides with you in your land, you must not oppress  him. You will regard the alien who resides with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself,  for you were aliens in the land of Egypt;  I am the Lord your God.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Interesting how the Lord instructs his people how to deal with immigrants and people who are not originally born as Israelites.  If this was Gods intention thousands of years ago, why do we not all agree that we should still treat immigrants in the same way?

Lord, help my friendliness toward immigrants and foreigners be shaped by Your perspective, rather than that of my culture.  I pray that my heart and attitude would help others to think critically about what You would call them to do.

Leviticus 16-18, Critical Confession

 “Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess  over it all the Israelites’ iniquities  and rebellious acts #— #all their sins.  He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness  by the man appointed for the task. ”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭16‬:‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The value of confessing sin is undervalued in our culture.  But I believe there is a reason the priest has to confess all of Israel’s sin out loud before setting the scapegoat free.  The act of confession roots those sins in reality.  They are no longer nebulous ideas that we feel bad about, but they are real, disgusting acts, thoughts or words that hold weight…completely different that when it is an internal struggle.  Internally it is uncomfortable, and we feel some guilt, but only when it is spoken does it carry the full meaning and weight that it truly is.  Confession to a brother is critical to freedom from our sin.

James 5:17 says, “therefore confess your sin to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”

The Christian life is a team sport, and if we want to walk in victory, we will link arms with other men of God and confess our sin and regularly pray for each other!

Leviticus 14-15, Holiness Permeates

 “He must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons on the eighth day, come before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and give them to the priest. The priest is to sacrifice them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.  In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the Lord because of his discharge.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭15‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Gods concern about holiness goes beyond sin and covers even natural conditions of humanity…even things we have zero control over.  He is serious about how we approach each other, our belongings and His house of worship.

Lord, give me eyes to see where in my own life, Your demands for holiness still need to penetrate!

Leviticus 11-13, Set Apart

 “For I am the Lord your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. Do not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy. ”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭11‬:‭44‬-‭45‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God gives all these laws to help us to be more like Him.  Set apart from anything bad, any sin, anything that will contaminate.  He desires that we be transformed into Holy people who can live lives that demonstrate that we are different than the rest of humanity.  Living set apart is a tough thing to do, because culturally we are taught to fit into most situations.

Lord, help me to live like You are calling me…set apart for righteousness.

Leviticus 8-10, Beyond Obedience

 “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do. Then fire came from the Lord   and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. ”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I have am sure there are people who have a clear understanding of why these men’s creativity got them toasted, I don’t fully understand it, but they were going beyond what God instructed.  And that is dangerous…honestly it was likely exposing their pride.  They appear to be showing off or highlighting themselves rather than the Glory of God.

Lord, help me to follow Your instructions rather than take it to the next level.  Keep my pride from bringing glory to myself.

Leviticus 5-7, Catching Holiness

 “Any male among Aaron’s descendants  may eat it. It is a permanent portion , throughout your generations from the food offerings to the Lord. Anything that touches the offerings will become holy.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

It’s very interesting that most of the laws about touching things will bring the touches down to the level of the “unclean” thing…this seems logical.  Contamination of germs and illnesses work like this. But the sacrifices are the opposite, anything that touches them, becomes holy like they are!  This is a pointer to Jesus who had the same impact on people who were sick, they could touch Him and be healed…He would ultimately become the sacrifice for my  sin.

Leviticus 1-4, Sinful Ignorance

 ““Now if any of the common people  sins unintentionally by violating one of the Lord’s commands, does what is prohibited, and incurs guilt, or if someone informs him about the sin he has committed, then he is to bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for the sin that he has committed. He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭4‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Interesting that there is a whole chapter dedicated to sacrificing for people who unintentionally sin, but someone tells them about it.  Obviously when it domes to sin, ignorance is not absolution…you are still guilty of sin if it had been committed!  This is an example where Gods standards are so much higher than ours.

I am so thankful that God points this out, because I think it is easy to slip into shrinking God down to our size, or making Him like us, only a little better…but there really is no comparison!  He is incomparable to us, just so much higher and more holy.

Lord, thank You for caring enough about me to make a way for relationship with You.  And thank You that because of Jesus, the process is so much simpler.  Lord, help me to trust You at every moment of life!

Exodus 39-40, Organized & Orderly

 “So all the work for the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was finished. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.  Moses inspected all the work they had accomplished. They had done just as the Lord commanded. Then Moses blessed them. ”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭39‬:‭32‬, ‭43‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The order and organization to accomplish all these things just the right way is pretty impressive.  God was clearly energizing this work and the people were blessed to have done it well!

Lord, help me to be as motivated and organized as the Israelites when You call me to a task!

Exodus 36-38, Superabundance

 “Then all the artisans who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed  for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done.””

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭36‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

I love how we see God supplying superabundantly for the work He has commanded.  It is not just scraping by, but Moses has to tell the people to stop giving because they have too much!  

Exodus 33-35, Supernatural Equipping

 “Moses  then said to the Israelites, “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God giving His people all the skill required to accomplish His plan is such a blessing.  This is one place where special gifts are given to unique individuals, but I know that if He asks me to do something He will equip me to accomplish that work…He doesn’t throw us into an impossible task and let us flounder.  This is something I need to remember more constantly.

Exodus 30-32, Ransom for Many

 “The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for your lives.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This atonement ransom interestingly points to the gospel.  The amount of the ransom is not correlated to how much they can afford, or their position or even reputation…they all needed the same ransom, just like we all need the same payment for our sins.  Jesus is the only possible payment for the ransom we owe and God was pointing that out here, thousands of years before He even sent Jesus.

Exodus 28-29, Set Apart

 “I will dwell  among the Israelites and be their God.  And they will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭29‬:‭45‬-‭46‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God is once again very particular about how they accomplish all these things…but then He tells us why at the very end of these last 5 chapters:

“And they will know that I am the Lord their God.”

It is an identity statement, a reminder that they/we are not like every other people, but rather they/we are Gods people.  We are consecrated, set apart, different, a holy priesthood… if that is how I viewed myself at all times, I suspect I would have less displeasing sin in my life.

Lord, help me to embrace the calling that I am not just another person, but rather the identity You give me in Christ!

Exodus 25-27, Details Matter

 “You are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning regularly. In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is in front of the testimony,  Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp  from evening until morning before the Lord. This is to be a permanent statute  for the Israelites throughout their generations.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭27‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

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It’s crazy how detailed God is about how to build this tabernacle.  I think this points to His care about how we do everything.  He wouldn’t be particular if it didn’t matter.

Lord, help me to care about the details as much as You do!

Exodus 22-24, Precious Weak

“You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.  If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to me, and I will certainly hear their cry.  My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless. ”

Exodus 22:22-24 CSB

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I love how the Lord promises to fiercely protect the widows, the orphans and the outcast.  I want to also participate in the Lords care of His precious weak.  Lord, help me to see the opportunities You provide and help me to follow through.

Exodus 19-21, Strengthen My Faith

“When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time  and provide for his complete recovery.”

Exodus 21:18-19 CSB

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These laws are interesting… some make sense from our perspective today while others seem terribly unfair.  Lord, help me to trust You even when it doesn’t make perfect sense!