Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 25; Psalm 25; Psalm 26; Acts 22
Scripture Focus:
Psalm 26:1–3 I’ve thrown in my lot with you, God, and I’m not budging. Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I’m fit inside and out so I never lose sight of your love, but keep in step with you, never missing a beat.
Observation:
We decide who we will follow. If we make no decision, we’ve decided to follow our own way, which ends up being Satan’s way—the way of self.
But if we decide to follow God, we get put in an uncomfortable position—we cannot remain the same, be ourselves the way we’ve always been. If we are to walk with God, he must examine us and make sure we are fit for the walk with him—otherwise, we’ll never endure.
Application:
“Examine me,” is a good prayer to pray to God consistently. Make no mistake. God will do so, and the results may be uncomfortable, but the alternative is worse. Am I willing to make the changes I need to make to keep in step with God? I like where He’s going a lot more than where I’m headed when I take my eyes off of Him!
Prayer:
Dear God, examine me. Make sure I’m fit to walk with you today. Help me never lose sight of your love. Help me keep in step with you, never missing a beat.
Posted by admin on February 15th, 2010.
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Today’s Bible Reading: Philemon 1; Hebrews 1, 2, 3, 4
Scripture Focus:
Hebrews 4:14–16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Observation:
Jesus knows my weaknesses. In fact, he can sympathize with me because he’s been tempted in the same way, only he didn’t give in to his weaknesses. He invites me to come boldly to the throne of grace—his unmerited favor—to receive his mercy and grace at my point of need.
Application:
Why don’t I go to the throne of grace more often? It’s there for the asking—help in my time of need, mercy when I fail. What if I were to go to the throne of grace first thing—before I mess up already? What a thought!
Prayer:
I’m coming God, I’m here, at your Throne Of Grace. You know my need. Would you please shovel out as much grace as necessary to cover my need? Thanks! I can tell this is going to be a better day than if I winged it on my own!
Posted by admin on December 11th, 2009.
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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 1, 2, 3, 4
Scripture Focus:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 2:4–7 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Observation:
God has not given me a spirit of fear. Instead, he gives me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Armed with such a spirit from God himself, I can focus on the job God has given ME to do. As I focus, God will give me understanding in ALL things.
Application:
There isn’t room for worry or fear in my life today. Worry and fear are paralyzing. Power, love, and a sound mind are energizing. That’s what God gives to me as I start my day, but I must focus. God doesn’t promise an easy, self indulgent life. Just the opposite. But the rewards are great. “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.”
Prayer:
May I walk in the power and love of God today. I know I have a sound mind, for I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), so God, please help me focus today on the things that matter.
Posted by admin on December 10th, 2009.
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Today’s Bible Reading: Psalm 124; 2 Corinthians 11, 12, 13
Scripture Focus:
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Observation:
Becoming a Christian is not a complicated matter nor a set of convoluted rules to follow. Becoming a Christian is realizing I am a sinner and putting my trust in Jesus to forgive my sins and take over the position of “boss” in my life. (Become the Lord of my life.)
Religious people (sometimes that’s me) often create a set of rules that must be followed. This takes my focus off Jesus and onto myself and what I can do to be right in God’s eyes. Paul tell me to get back to the simplicity of the gospel and put my focus on Jesus being my Lord, one day at a time.
Paul also suggests that I periodically examine myself to see whether I am in the faith, whether Jesus lives in me.
Application:
Today I can trust Jesus in me to lead me. I don’t need to make it complicated, but I should examine myself to see if there’s evidence that Jesus is living in me.
Prayer:
Father God, may it be abundantly clear to me and to others that Jesus is living in me!
Posted by admin on November 18th, 2009.
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Jesus, Salvation, trust |
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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 7, 8, 9, 10
Scripture Focus:
2 Corinthians 10:18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Observation:
We can start to think we’re doing pretty well until we stop to look at things from God’s perspective. It’s amazing what a difference that makes!
Application:
Stop to look at your day from God’s perspective. What does he see? Ask him for his viewpoint, his take on things. What does he want you to do today?
Prayer:
Father, I know that if you ask me to do something, you will provide the grace, the strength, and the power to see it through, so please show me what you want me to focus on today.
Posted by admin on November 17th, 2009.
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Today’s Bible Reading: Job 39, 40; I Corinthians 13, 14
Scripture Focus:
I Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Observation:
One can be a great speaker, or one can say all the right words—beautiful words, even—and lack love for the ones being spoken to. This kind of talk—talk without love—is as worthless or hollow as metal striking against metal.
Application:
It’s not so much what I say, but my motivation behind the words, that counts. People can feel the difference. When I talk to my family, or the Scrapper’s Guide team, or people in the church, or strangers, can they sense the love I have for them? If I don’t have love, can I ask God to channel his love through me so they see the love of God?
Prayer:
Father, God. You’ve said love trumps everything. It’s impossible to have that kind of love without you. May your love flow through my words today in such a way that the people I speak to feel loved.
Posted by admin on November 13th, 2009.
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Today’s Bible Reading: Job 21; Mark 5, 6
Scripture Focus:
Mark 5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:36 “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 6:5–6 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison.
Mark 6:50 “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Mark 6:56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
Observation:
Today I’ve listed a series of amazing events involving Jesus. Mostly the stories have happy endings, but they all involved faith in Jesus—belief. I don’t claim to understand how belief works, but I know that it’s a necessary ingredient to seeing and receiving great things from God.
It seems to me, though, that belief is not wishing. It’s faith in a person who really does have the power to grant my desire.
Sometimes belief lands you in a hot spot—like John the Baptist. He languished in prison and then was beheaded. We never know where our belief might ultimately take us, and we have to be willing to entertain the possibility of suffering or death, but most of the time belief enables us to do great things or accept great things—such as healing—from God.
Application:
Jesus says to me today, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Will I believe in his power to perform what I need in my life today, or will He marvel because of my unbelief?
Prayer:
Father God, I choose to believe in you today to be my complete and adequate source of life and power to fulfill the mission you’ve given me.
Posted by admin on October 30th, 2009.
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Today’s Bible Reading: Job 19; Mark 1, 2
Scripture Focus:
Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:16 “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
Mark 2:18 “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
Observation:
Mark 2 is mostly question and answer. Jesus does something unusual, unpredictable, or suspect, so the questions begin. And Jesus is gracious enough to answer honest questions.
Application:
Following Jesus might mean that I don’t follow customary “religious” practice, which will raise questions from the community of faith that thinks it has a corner on how a religious person should act. That’s to be expected. As long as I’m truly following Jesus and loving like he loved, the questions need not anger or bother me or make me impatient.
May God give me the ability to answer such questions graciously, but without waffling, like Jesus did.
Prayer:
Father God, may my walk be so like Jesus that people are compelled to ask questions, and may you give me the right answers, when the time comes.
Posted by admin on October 28th, 2009.
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Today’s Bible Reading: Job 17; Acts 24, 25, 26
Scripture Focus:
Job 17:1 “My spirit is broken,
My days are extinguished,
The grave is ready for me.
Are not mockers with me?
And does not my eye dwell on their provocation?
Observation:
Job is in a world of hurt—no doubt—and his “friends” aren’t helping him one bit. As he feels beaten down and ready to die, he admits that he’s dwelling on the provocation of his mocking friends. All he can think about is what his friends are saying, and they’re not a positive influence for him, not a good place to dwell.
Application:
My circumstances are what they are, but I must always choose to dwell on the truth, on God’s promises, and on his presence, for he is surely with me, even in the darkest hour.
Prayer:
Father God, may I sense your presence with me through today’s circumstances. May I listen to your Spirit’s leading and guiding as I lead and guide my company today.
Posted by admin on October 26th, 2009.
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Attitude, Daily Scripture Reading, Trials, thoughts, trust |
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Today’s bible Reading: Job 6, 7, 8; Acts 12
Scripture Focus:
Job 7:7 Oh, remember that my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.
Observation:
Job has been dealt a mighty blow. Everything and everyone of value to him have been taken away. As he sits and bemoans this fact with his friends, he makes this observation: “My eye will never again see good.”
Those of us who have read the end of the story know this isn’t true. God abundantly blesses Job when this period of suffering is over, but at this point in his life, Job can’t imagine how that could ever be true.
Application:
When I’m in the middle of a hard situation, my perspective tends to skew my attitude. It’s hard to see beyond my current circumstances and maintain a positive, trusting attitude.
Even John the Baptist, when he was in prison, sent to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, or should we look for someone else?”
This is where faith comes in. Later, in Job 13:15, Job is able to come to the point where he says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.”
Prayer:
Father God, I so often feel like I’m a victim of my circumstances. Help me to look beyond the circumstances and know that you love me and have my life in your hands, no matter how I feel right now.
Posted by admin on October 26th, 2009.
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Attitude, Daily Scripture Reading, Trials, Vision |
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