It is impossible to read this book and not see that God really wants us to know Him, worship Him and follow Him. Lord, help me to do those things every day!!!
Showing posts with label God's Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Word. Show all posts
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Jeremiah 27- Listen to Whom?
We have thousands of voices that are constantly telling us what to do, what is right or wrong, what is good or bad, what is best for us. This was no different for the people of Israel, the voices were dominated by false prophets, dreamers, sorcerers and soothsayers…and we have the same: social media, news, commercials etc.
Lord, help me to elevate Your voice above all others, let me hear You, strengthen me to obey it, and reject all of the other influences that pull my attention. Let me live in absolute surrender!
Thursday, April 17, 2025
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
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.
Sunday, April 13, 2025
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
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!
Saturday, April 12, 2025
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
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.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
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
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!
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
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
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!
Saturday, April 5, 2025
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
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!
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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
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!
Sunday, March 30, 2025
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
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!
Friday, March 28, 2025
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
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!
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
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
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!
Monday, March 24, 2025
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
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!
Sunday, March 23, 2025
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
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!
Friday, March 21, 2025
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
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?
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
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
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.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
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
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!
Sunday, February 23, 2025
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
God must appreciate order.
Friday, February 21, 2025
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
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!
Thursday, February 20, 2025
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
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!
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