20-20 Blog

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.

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Scripture Focus:

Psalm 1:3–4 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Observation:

What a comparison—a mighty tree versus chaff! One is enduring, the other floats away on the wind. What makes the difference? Whether or not we meditate on and follow the law of the Lord.

Application:

It’s very easy to get my sight off this foundational principle. So many other things vie for my attention and time. Time in the Word, time in prayer must be a priority. Life itself is short. Doing what matters most for eternity is wise.

Prayer:

Father God, I have been lax lately in coming to your Word for my daily sustenance and guidance. It should be the very air I breathe. Open my eyes to the truth today—that life is short, that eternal things count more than I imagine right now.

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Scripture Focus:

Lamentations 3:40–41 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the LORD;
Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.

Observation:

With regularity, but especially during times of trials and testing, we must search out and examine our ways. Sometimes the hardships are due to sin in our lives, sin from which we must repent and turn back to the Lord. First comes the searching and examining our ways, and then comes the lifting of our hearts and hands to God in heaven—asking forgiveness, turning from our ways to follow his way.

Application:

When was the last time I truly asked God to read me like an open book and let me know what he sees? If I do this regularly, the corrections will be minor and easy. If I wait until God is disciplining me, it’s much more unpleasant and difficult.

Prayer:

Father God, I’m willing for your Spirit to convict me of sin.

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Scripture Focus:

Lamentations 2:4 Standing like an enemy, He has bent His bow;
With His right hand, like an adversary,
He has slain all who were pleasing to His eye;
On the tent of the daughter of Zion,
He has poured out His fury like fire.

Observation:

The Bible says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” The opposite is also true. If God be against us, who can be for us?

This verse talks of God as Israel’s enemy, an adversary. How did that happen—that God should be against the very people he chose and blessed? It was because they were disobedient to his laws and commandments, and though he warned them through his prophets for years and years, they refused to turn from their ways.

God is patient and gives his people ample opportunity to turn around, but there comes a point when it is time for judgment. Then, beware, for God “stands as an enemy.”

Application:

Has God been trying to tell me something? Am I listening? Am I making adjustments in my life to line up with God’s perfect will for me? It’s better to be sensitive to God’s direction than to ignore his voice and eventually find that God becomes like an enemy to me.

Prayer:

Father God, keep me sensitive to your corrective voice.

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Scripture Focus:

Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:9 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Observation:

For each of the churches this phrase is repeated in Revelation 3: I know your works. In the case of the church at Sardis, God knew the truth. Even though Sardis had a reputation of being alive, he knew that they were really dead. It was all a show.

God rebukes and chastens those whom he loves with the hope that they will be zealous and repent.

Application:

No matter what other people see, God knows the truth about us. We can’t fool God with counterfeit spirituality.

What does God see when he looks at my life? Does he see life, or am I dead inside?

Prayer:

God, show me what you see when you look at my life. Help me to be zealous and repent even before you need to discipline me.

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Scripture Focus:

Psalm 112:5, 9 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.

Observation:

This morning’s message at church was on helping the poor, and how that is God’s heart. Over and over in Scripture, including these verses, we see that it is the mark of true righteousness and greatness to be gracious to those less fortunate, to be generous when it is within our means to do so.

Application:

We are so blessed here in America. Compared to much of the world, I live like a queen with food to eat, a comfortable home, and enough money to do more than just survive.

As we’ve learned more about helping the poor, especially through micro loans, Charlie and I have made the decision to participate in programs that help the poor, not just through handouts that quickly are gone, but through giving them an opportunity to better themselves.

Prayer:

Father God, you are gracious, full of compassion, and righteous, and you want us to be like you. We want to partner with you to help the poor and needy, both physically and spiritually.

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Scripture Focus:

Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.

Observation:

There is a principle that is repeated with some frequency in the Bible: you will reap what you sow. Even the hidden things are known to God who searches the heart and tests the mind. Therefore, if I don’t like the fruit I’m seeing in my life, perhaps I’d better look at what I’m sowing.

Application:

I’ve heard it said that “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” God said it first long ago: You will reap what you sow. So what do I want to reap? Aaaah! Now that’s the question I must answer!

Prayer:

Father God, give me a vision for what can be when I follow biblical principles, and give me the courage to take steps in the right direction.

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Scripture Focus:

Psalm 107:8–9
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Observation:

Psalm 107 speaks of troubled times, and yet four times in Psalm 107 these words are repeated:
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Why? Because in troubled times we see God’s deliverance and faithfulness—even when the trouble comes becomes of our own stupidity or rebellion.

Application:

May my attitude today be one of thankfulness for what God has done and WILL do, even today, on my behalf.

Prayer:

Thank you, Father God, for always seeing me through difficult times.

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Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 60:16 You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Observation:

I’ve noticed that Isaiah uses the word Redeemer a number of times in his book. Today it particularly jumped out at me. When something or someone is redeemed, it means it was lost or somehow off track from it’s original purpose, but is now restored.

God is in the business of redeeming me when I get off track. He gives me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy in place of mourning, and the garment of praise to replace a spirit of heaviness.

The ultimate redemption, of course took place on the cross, where Jesus performed his greatest act of redemption, allowing me back into the family of God, the place I truly belong.

Application:

I have received the ultimate redemption from my sins, and I’m part of the family of God. Will I let God redeem other areas of my life as well? Where things have gotten out of wack (work overtaking life and degenerating into workaholism, for example) will I let God bring redemption?

Prayer:

Father God, may it be so! I’m ready for the beauty, joy, and praise that comes as a result of your redemption!

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Scripture Focus:

Titus 3:14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Observation:

A theme I see repeated frequently in the Bible is the idea of doing “good works.” In this verse we see that one way to do good works is to meet urgent needs. Doing good works involves helping people—helping the poor, helping widows in distress, giving someone a ride when they’re stranded, etc.

Application:

Be on the look out for a good work you can do in the name of Jesus. Jesus says that if you give a glass of cold water to a child, you’ve done it as unto him.

We just heard that a couple with three young children moved into the room we sponsor at My Father’s House. I’m so thrilled we can be a part of what God is doing to help that family!

Prayer:

Father God, you care so much about people in need. May I be your hands and feet, doing good works in your name. Amen.

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