20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

1 Chronicles 16:1, 4 Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. And [David] appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel.

Observation:

There’s a principle of sacrifice in the Bible—the giving up of something to give it to God. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were tangible and intangible. Sheep, bulls, and goats were offered literally on an altar. There were also sacrifices of time, energy, and focus to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the God .

In the New Testament Jesus became our sacrifice, which sufficed once and for all. No longer do we need to sacrifice animals to cleanse ourselves from sin—Jesus did that for us, praise God! But the intangible sacrifices are still there. Sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise.

Why is it called a sacrifice to take the time to praise and thank God? Perhaps it’s because we give our time and attention and praise to God instead of being focused on ourselves.

Application:

Do I take the time to thank and praise God for the many blessings he has given me, and for the sheer delight of who he is? Not nearly enough. This passage made me realize how selfish I’ve been. I think it’s time for a little sacrifice.

Prayer:

Abba Father, I’m so grateful to you for sending your son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for my sins! Thank you. You’re awesome!

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Scripture Focus:

1 Chronicles 14:10 And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” The LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

Observation:

David hears that the Philistines have made a raid against Israel. Instead of saying, “Well, that’s it! I’m going after those guys!” David first asks God about it. “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

The amazing thing is that God gives him a very specific answer: “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

My first thought is that this seems to be a natural thing for David to do without thinking twice. Usually I wait until I can’t figure out anything else to do before I ask God for direction. And secondly, God answers! Wow!

Of course, God does give us very specific promises that if we ask his advice, he will give it to us. (See James 1: 5)

Application:

Ask God’s advice right away. Expect an answer. When he gives it to you, act on it.

Prayer:

Abba Father, I can think of several things I could use your advice on today. Thanks in advance for the wisdom I know you’ll give me!

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Scripture Focus:

1 Chronicles 5:20 …they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.

Observation:

The battle spoken of in this verse was a physical battle, but the principle remains the same for other kinds of battles. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10, we don’t battle against flesh and blood, but we do battle against the forces of hell and their lies, so our battles are just as real.

When we’re in a battle, there are two things we can do to win: put our trust in God and cry out to God for help. God likes it when we trust him, and he likes it when we pray. (You have not because you ask not.)

Application:

I don’t have to fight my battles alone. God is more than willing to help if I will trust him and ask him for help.

Prayer:

Father God, I trust you to help me win my battles today.

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Scripture Focus:

1 Chronicles 4:9–10 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Observation:

Jabez was stuck with a black mark from birth. His mom must have had a difficult pregnancy and birth because she named him Pain. What a thing to be saddled with! Yet somehow he was able to see that he didn’t have to go through life stuck with someone else’s curse. It must have been an amazing moment when he realized that God was bigger than his mom.

The Prayer of Jabez has gotten a lot of attention because of a book published on it. I don’t remember much about the book, but the prayer really is amazing. He asks for a lot—and God gives it to him!

Application:

I don’t have to be stuck with other people’s pronouncements about me, other people’s stigmas. I have a God whose opinion matters more than those who would put me down, a God who answers prayer. What a relief!

Prayer:

Father God, I pray that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!

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1 Samuel 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.
1 Samuel 1:15 No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

Observation:

When we are experiencing deep emotional pain or trauma, we often can’t pray in the normal way, but we can pour out our soul before the Lord. Such a prayer is full of anguish, weeping, bitterness. To an onlooker, we may appear to be out of control, but God is in tune with such a prayer.

Application:

Don’t be afraid to speak to God about your deepest feelings and hurts and your strongest desires. Often such a prayer is the turning point for the situation.

Prayer:

Father God, you have felt grief and sorrow, so you understand when I have deep and troubling emotions. Thank you for being there and helping me when I need it the most.

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Mark 11:24–26 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Observation:

In Mark chapter 11 Jesus is in a “high state of hoorah” as my mother-in-law used to say. He curses the fig tree as an object lesson for the disciples, he cleanses the temple of money loving merchants, he tells his disciples they can pray for whatever they want and they’ll receive it if they don’t doubt in their heart, and he coyly refuses to answer the Pharisees question about where he gets his authority.

Regarding praying and believing, I’ve always wondered how I can chase away doubt when I pray. Even the disciples doubted after they watched Jesus feed the 5,000. What made the difference for them later, after Jesus ascended to heaven? I believe it was the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tacks an interesting thought to his words about prayer. He says that when we pray, we should forgive others because God will forgive us in the same manner we forgive others. It’s a sobering thought.

Application:

I need the power of the Holy Spirit in my life to have the kind of believing prayer Jesus is talking about. That isn’t something I can drum up on my own. And I also need to keep short accounts with God and others. Lack of forgiveness toward those I feel have wronged me isn’t an option if I want God to forgive me.

Prayer:

Father God, stir up the Holy Spirit within me to bring about belief in your ability to answer prayer, and may my prayers not be hindered by an unforgiving heart.

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