20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 64:3–4
Since before time began
   no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
   who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
   who keep a good memory of the way you work.

Psalm 107:6
Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.
      He got you out in the nick of time;
vs 43
 If you are really wise, you’ll think this over—
      it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.

Observation:

God is in the business of helping those who trust in him and wait for him, and do what is right. Even if I blow it and find myself in a desperate situation, I can call out to God, and he will help me. God loves it when I appreciate his deep love for me.

Application:

What is to prevent me from calling out to God when I need help? Why sit and stew, or even sit and just wait? God really likes to be asked! And when God provides, helps, heals, and comes through for me, I must not forget to tell him thanks and appreciate his deep love for me!

Prayer:

I’m calling out to you today, God. I place my need in your capable hands! Thank you that you see and hear and answer my prayer!

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Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 41:13
I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.
I’m right here to help you.’

Isaiah 42:15–16
But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way,
who can’t see where they’re going.
I’ll be a personal guide to them,
directing them through unknown country.
I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take,
make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.
These are the things I’ll be doing for them—
sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.”

Observation:

God is there for me when I need him. He will see me through tough times, and help me figure out what I’m doing when I’m in uncharted territory.

Application:

Trust God today to lead me, to show me what to do, to empower me, to bring support and help from unexpected sources.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for walking with me today. I trust you to be my personal guide to help me through this day.

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Amos 4: 6 You know, don’t you, that I’m the One
who emptied your pantries and cleaned out your cupboards,
Who left you hungry and standing in bread lines?
But you never got hungry for me. You continued to ignore me.”

vs 8 You never got thirsty for me.
vs 10 You didn’t notice me.
vs 12 Prepare to meet your God!

Amos 5:6 So seek God and live! You don’t want to end up
with nothing to show for your life
But a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground.
For God will send just such a fire,
and the firefighters will show up too late.

Observation:

Trials and disaster appear to be God’s way of getting our attention. Blessing us doesn’t seem to do it. But even disaster doesn’t always correct our perspective. According to Amos, we don’t recognize that God caused the disaster to get our attention.

Amos 4:12 is probably the scariest verse in the Bible: Prepare to meet your God! I suppose the feeling it inspires would depend on where you stand spiritually, or how eager you are for the appearing of Jesus.

Application:

James tells us that trials test my faith and produce patience, but Amos indicates that trials can sometimes be God’s way of getting my attention when I’m living a life that ignores God, so when a trial appears, it’s time to take a good look at my life and ask myself some hard questions, such as how would I stand if I heard the words, “Prepare to meet your God!”

Prayer:

Father God, help me live my life in such a way today, that I am prepared to meet you at any moment. May I be hungry and thirsty for you and be aware of you today.

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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.

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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.

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Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Observation:

Daniel and Joseph are two of my favorite Bible characters because they were both dealt a cruel and unjust blow during the height of their youth, yet they both determined to remain faithful to God.

Faithfulness takes different forms, depending on the circumstances. Joseph became the best slave he could be, and he avoided sexual temptation. Daniel determined not to eat food that was most likely offered to idols first.

Both young men were used of God as a positive force in the great scheme history.

Application:

Oh, that I would be as faithful during times of small inconveniences or large disasters! It starts with a decision—a decision to remain faithful in spite of the circumstances.

Prayer:

Father, help me see the bigger picture when I encounter trouble, and help me take the high road.

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Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Observation:

Satan is still alive and active in our world. This verse tells us how to overcome him: by the blood of the Lamb (faith in Jesus) and by the word of our testimony (what God has done for us). Overcoming doesn’t mean that we are exempt from being martyred for our faith. We must not love our lives so much that we’re willing to compromise with Satan.

Application:

I can expect to be hassled by Satan, but this verse tells me how to overcome him: by trusting in the blood of Jesus, the Lamb, and by holding fast to the my own testimony of what God has done for me.

Prayer:

Father God, may I be strong in you when Satan comes around to hassle me. Thank you for overcoming Satan already. It’s a done deal!

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Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Observation:

I think it was yesterday that I read about the martyrs in Revelation. Today we read about those who went through the great tribulation and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, a picture of Jesus washing away their sins. In both cases, God has a special place for them in heaven.

Application:

There are those who have suffered great atrocities, and have even been murdered for their faith. While no one would ever desire such a thing, it is nice to know that God sees and cares about the persecution of believers.

Prayer:

Father God, may I remember those who are being persecuted—remember to pray for them and help them when I can.

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Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Observation:

Four of the seven churches are addressed in chapter 2 of Revelations. In each case they are told to listen to what the Spirit is saying, and they are also encouraged to be overcomers. Overcomers get to eat from the tree of life in Paradise, they won’t be hurt by the second death, they are given hidden manna to eat and a new name written on a white stone, and they are given power over nations.

Application:

This life is my temporary testing ground. Compared to eternity, it is very temporary, indeed. Oh, that I would keep the larger picture in mind, and be faithful to God through the hardships that come my way, for only those who overcome will be with God in Paradise.

Prayer:

Father God, may I be faithful to you always. Teach me to overcome the small temptations and trials, so I’m ready if a big one should come along.

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Jeremiah 45:5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”

John 21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Observation:

Many places in the Bible speak of God’s blessing on his people, but there are places, like we see in these two verses, where the people of God can expect to struggle, even die. In God’s view, it’s more important to glorify God than to live in comfort or to even live at all. Sometimes, as in Baruch’s case, God promised him only his life in the midst of great trouble.

God rightly sees the bigger perspective. What happens on this small planet is a blip compared to eternity, but it’s an important blip, because how we handle life here sets the stage for eternity.

Application:

Will my life, no matter what the circumstances, bring glory to God and eternal life with him someday? It helps to put my life into perspective. These are momentary struggles compared with eternity!

Prayer:

Father God, may I live today with eternity in mind. May I glorify you in the circumstances of life today.

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