20-20 Blog

Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 18, 19, 20; Psalm 93; John 17

Scripture Focus:

John 17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You…

Observation:

Up to this point, Jesus has been saying, “My hour has not yet come.” Now he says, “My hour has come.” The events have already started that will lead to the cross and death, and Jesus knows it. Jesus is not taken by surprise, but he does ask for God’s glory to be revealed in the trial he is about to endure.

Application:

The hour comes for all of us at one time or another. We stand face to face with the impossible, the unedurable, the thing we would rather avoid more than anything else in the world, but we must walk through it.

The question is not whether or not I will walk through it—most of the time I have no choice. Rather the question is how will I walk through it? Will my prayer be, “God be glorified through this?”

Prayer:

Father God, Jesus was such a great example of how to walk through a trial. My trials are nothing in comparison, but may I walk through them in a way that you are glorified.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38, 39; Psalm 75; 1 Peter 2

Scripture Focus:

1 Peter 2:20–23 …But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
“ Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Observation:

This goes against every grain in our body—first of all to suffer, and secondly to suffer in silence, but Jesus is our example, and we are called to be like him—to take it when someone reviles us and not revile in return, but instead to commit ourselves to God and let him be the judge. Wow.

Application:

To do this takes humility. I keep coming back to this concept in my Bible reading, and every time I do, I realize that I have a long way to go to achieve the status of “humble.” However, if I’m going to be like Jesus I must be willing to suffer and to do so humbly, trusting in God to be the judge.

Prayer:

Father God, help me to be willing to be like Jesus.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6,7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3

Scripture Focus:

2 Kings 7:2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”
And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

2 Chronicles 20:5–6 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?

2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Observation:

There are two ways to look at our circumstances—one is to see the enormity of our need and doubt that God can do anything about it. The other is to look at the enormity of our need and affirm that God is powerful enough to help us. It’s called faith. We not only affirm—we ask for help, as Jehoshaphat did. James 4:2 says, “Ye have not because ye ask not.”

Application:

What is my seemingly insurmountable problem today? Is God big enough to handle it? Yes. Then I need to ask him to handle it and believe that he will.

Prayer:

Father God, I trust in your provision for my need today, and I’m excited to see how you’re going to handle it!

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Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15–16; Colossians 1

Scripture Focus:

2 Chronicles 16:7–9 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Observation:

God wants us to rely on him when we have a need. Our first tendency is to look around us for someone who can help us out, but God is looking for people who will be loyal to him on a heart level. For those people, he will show himself strong.

Application:

When I have a need, what is my first response? Do I turn to God for help, or do I look around me for solutions? May I be loyal to God in my heart today!

Prayer:

Father God, I look to you for help today. I know you are eager to show yourself strong on my behalf! Thank you for taking care of my needs.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 21–23; 1 Thessalonians 1

Scripture Focus:

2 Samuel 22:30 For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.

Observation:

This verse gives such a picture of victory over overwhelming odds! Imagine a troop of soldiers coming at you. “I can run against a troop.” Imagine a high brick wall in your way. “I can leap over a wall.” The key point is not “I can” but “by You I can.” What would be impossible by myself becomes victory with God’s help.

Application:

When I come across a difficulty, it’s time to check with the One who enables me to overcome. Never say “I can’t.” Ask God if it’s his will for me to move forward, and if I’m sure that he has called me to overcome the problem, say “I can,” and begin to move forward in confidence of victory.

Prayer:

Abba Father, there’s no wall or opposition too strong for you. Hallelujah!

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Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31, 54; Matthew 7

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Observation:

We would not need this verse if we never felt afraid, if we never felt weak and helpless. But the truth is, all of us feel this way at one time or another, so we need to hear these words of encouragement directed to those who put their hope in the Lord. Sometimes that’s all we have—hope that God will make things right again, but hope is enough. If we can hope in God, we can be of good courage, knowing he will strengthen our heart.

Application:

When my courage fails, when I feel emotionally weak, I can turn my thoughts to the God of hope. If David could pen the words of Psalm 31:24 when he was in such great anguish of soul and physical peril, then it gives me hope that I can say them when I encounter difficulties.

Prayer:

Abba Father, no matter what happens today, help me to put my hope in you that you may strengthen my heart.

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Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 20–21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

Scripture Focus:

1 Samuel 20:3 But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.

Observation:

This passage is such a desperate place to be: but a step between me and death. Some observations:

First of all, just because we’re God’s child, even when we’ve been especially chosen by him for a great task, we’re not immune to deep waters of trouble that roll over our souls.

Secondly, we need friends during such times. David is talking to his dear friend Jonathan when he speaks of his anguished plight.

And thirdly, David continues to trust in God even as he takes steps to get away from his undeserved enemy and cause of the trouble: King Saul.

Application:

Don’t be surprised when trouble rears its head. Jesus says, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” Seek out trustworthy friends during hard times. Better yet, cultivate friends during good times before you need their help. And finally, keep focused on God who has promised to never forsake you.

Prayer:

Abba Father, thank you that I’m not in David’s shoes right now, but I know that you will be there for me should such a time arise. Thank you.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Ruth 1–2; Psalm 53, 61; 2 Corinthians 5

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 61: 2
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Observation:

God can be reached from anywhere—even from the end of the earth.
It’s not “if my heart gets overwhelmed.” It’s “when my heart is overwhelmed.” From my experience, overwhelmed happens with some frequency.
There is a place of refuge, a place of help. As the old hymn says, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Application:

Don’t wait, my soul, to cry out for help to your Heavenly Father. In fact, why wait until you’re overwhelmed? Take refuge in that solid place now, as you start out your day.

Prayer:

Father God, if I look at all I have to do today and in the coming days, if I look at the obstacles to overcome, I could easily panic, so before I even start my day, I cry out to you for your help, for your shelter, for your strength and wisdom. Amen.

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Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 7–9; Mark 15

Scripture Focus:

Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

Observation:

Difficulties can be a test of our character or a way to humble us. Only when the chips are down do we really know the stuff we’re made of. Will we follow God’s commandments, even when it isn’t fun anymore, and we don’t feel successful or victorious?

Testing can last a long time. Forty years is a very long time! But this verse lets us know that God is still leading us, even in the testing.

Application:

When God allows difficulties in my life, may I take a deep breath, keep a humble spirit, and show God that I’m not a whiner.

Prayer:

Father God, may your testing purify me as fire purifies gold, and may I be found pleasing in your sight.

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