Praising the wicked.

Reading: Proverbs 28-29, Psalm 48, and 2 Peter 3

 

Scripture: Proverbs 28:4-5, Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely

 

Thoughts: Who are we making famous? Who are we making known as house hold names? Politicians who lie and cheat to get into office then claim some sort of faith when all their policies and platforms go against that “faith.” Career criminals who are high on drugs who die when resisting arrest. Let us seek the lord and understand justice.

 

Prayer:Father God, help us to walk in you ways, help us to see and recognize when we are praising something other than you. Let us not make famous the wicked. 

God-Shaped Hole

Reading: Proverbs 26-27, Psalm 98, and 2 Peter 2

Scripture: Proverbs 27:7, One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

Thoughts: We always have a hunger for God, no matter if we believe there is a God or not we were created with a longing in our hearts for God. As both Audio Adrenaline and Plumb wrote “We all have a God-Shaped hole” We continually try to will these God shaped hole with things of this world, yet it never is filled. I see this God-shaped hole not as a static shape but one that is constantly changing and only God can move and adjust to that every changing hole. That is why something will fill that void for a time and then it will come back. When we fill ourselves with the world the sweet honey of God is unappealing but when we allow that hunger for God to lead us to Him who can fill that hole, we will be filled with the love of God like we have never experienced before. 

Prayer: Father God, Fill the God-Shaped holes in our lives, help us to recognize the things of this world that we are trying to use to fill this place in our hearts that only you can fill. 

Confirm your calling.

Reading: Proverbs 24-25, 2 Peter 1, and Luke 15

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10, Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Thoughts: We have all been commissioned to go into all the world to make disciples, within that commission we also each have a unique calling that is related to our lives. Peter lists qualities that we need to practice as well as understanding who we are and where we came from will help us to see what that calling looks like. Seek God and his calling on your life.

Prayer: Father God you are the creator of all things and you know me better than I know myself, you know the darkness in me and you know the strengths you gave me that I don’t know or see. Lead me and guide me in all that I do. Open my eyes and heart to the step that need to be taken. 

Shepherding the flock among you.

Reading: Proverbs 22-23, Psalm 101, 1 Peter 5, and Luke 14

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:2-3, shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Thoughts: Over the years I have felt like I have been told that one day I would be in full time ministry, almost every Pastor, and even the Word refers to us as sheep or a flock. At first as I read this that was the mindset I was reading with. As I came back around to this passage again, I looked at it as I have a flock, and I have as more responsibility to them than I would to a if I was the pastor of a church. My family is my flock. My family is the Flock of God among me. 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, your grace and mercy abound, your love overflows, and your peace and Joy are my comfort. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, the molding and refining you are working in me and the directions that you have placed before me. I ask that you help me to walk in the path you have and not try to take shortcuts to what I think your plan is. Help me to walk in your calling on my life. 

Called to be holy

Reading: Proverbs 14-15 and 1 Peter 1

 

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:16-17, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

 

Thoughts: Not sure what this stuck out to me today, but I had just seen a couple of ladies bashing on a popular conservative commentator about his stance on transgender issues. No matter where you land on the issues around LGBTQ issues God is the only one who can judge. We are called to be holy as he his holy. Holiness is not beating people down for having different views and beliefs. The Word has very direct things said about things like this, but we are all sinners and have the opportunity for forgiveness through Christ Jesus. We are to love them and it is the job of the Holy Sprit to change them. I may not agree with you but I love you as God loves you. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the maker of all things, we are caked to be holy as you are holy. I lay my life before you, take it and mold it and refine it into the vessel that you need it to be. Help me to love as you love, to see the person and not the sin. Open my heart to hear the steps you have for me, lead me and guide me.

Are we suffering alone?

Reading: Proverbs 12-13, Psalm 149, James 5, and Luke 11

Scripture: James 5:13, Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

Thoughts: Having young kids, we are trying to instill in them the importance of God and prayer in their lives. There are prayer prayer outlines that are used like the five fingers and ACTS, James is reminding us of our consistent communication with God. If you are suffering bring it to God, if things are going well, bring is to God. He goes on to remind us that we are to pray for one another taking the sick to the elders and confessing our sins to one another that we can pray and help. Are we suffering alone because we are not wanting anyone one to know a sin or sickness, or are we able to stand with others in prayer holding one another up when there is suffering? 

Prayer: Father God, you are so wonderful, the glory of your creation speaks of your majesty. You supply all we need, your spirit leads us and guides us. Your greave and mercy allows us to enter your presence. I thank you for your molding and refining, that you use the trials in my life to grow me. I ask that you help us to seek out those who will come beside us and walk with us as we walk through our suffering and our victories. 

The seductive voice of folly.

Reading: Proverbs 9-11 and James 4

Scripture: Proverbs 9:13, The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.

Thoughts: Folly to me is being described as like prostitute who offers great and wonderful things at a price. We can easily be drawn in by the promise of excitement and pleasure, I know the most foolish things I have done have been when I listened to the seductive voice of folly. The happiness and pleasure that comes from eating something sweet is nice but when that becomes all we eat then it leads to health issue. God has given us pleasurable things in this world, but when we let those things become as important to more important than God, we are stepping into folly. The evil one will take something pleasurable that God created for good and twist it and cause us to try to raise it above God. Money is the one most people go to when speaking about putting things above God, but I believe that sex is right there with it. God created it as a union between a husband and wife, and the evil one has twisted it to be whatever you want it to be for pleasure, especially if it goes against what God plan. Are we being seduced by something?

Prayer: Lord God, you are the creator of all things, you gave us the ability to enjoy and take pleasure in thing, yet you tell us to put nothing above you. I heard it said that another way to read the first commandment is “Have no priorities above God.” Lord you are the one who is worthy of worship and praise. I ask that you help me to move anything I have before you that I may put you above all things. I thank you for the molding and refining you are doing in my life. Lead me and guide me all my days. 

Seek wisdom, and learn prudence and sense.

Reading: Proverbs 7-8, Psalm 123, James 3, and Luke 10

Scripture: Proverbs 8:4-5, To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

Thoughts: We are given conflicting information from opposing sides of things every day. Each side claims that they are the ones giving the truth. There are lots of people out there who just pick a side and blindly walk the line. King Solomon working from the great wisdom that God granted him wrote, to seek wisdom, and to learn prudence and sense. When we seek wisdom and have learned or learning prudence and sense, we are less likely to just blindly follow a side but to seek out the true truth. Just like in the political we need to be careful in our spiritual walk, there are those who would deceive us and use “religion” to draw us away. Read the Word of God and let it lead.

Prayer: Lord God, your grace and mercy abound, your love overwhelms and your joy overflows. You are the way the truth and the life, you bring wisdom to this world and provide all things. I ask that you help us to learn prudence and sense that we can better serve you and not be deceived by the truths that have been manipulated or biased. 

Who is your enemy?

Reading: Proverbs 5-6, James 2, and Luke 9

Scripture: Luke 9:49-50, John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

Thoughts: The media, both mainstream and social medias are almost continually beating us down with the idea that if we are not saying the same thing that are saying that we are against them. For example, as a strait white man, if I am not berating myself for my whiteness, saying that we need to give everything to those minorities of race and sexuality, then I am against them and I need to be burned down and canceled. As the disciples came to Jesus saying they are not part of our group, but they are doing thing in your name, Jesus’ line, “the one who is not against you is for you.” Says we are not enemies unless we are truly on opposing sides. I love my brothers and sisters no matter what shade of melanin their skin has or what their background is, or even if there is sin in their lives. We are all called to battle the enemy, the evil one and if we are fighting the same enemy, we are not enemies. 

Prayer: Father God, you have made each and everyone in your image, you knew us before we were born, you knit us together in our mother’s womb. Your praises a cried out by your creation. I thank you that you are continually molding and refining me. may we all unite to fight the one true enemy and seek the truth in your word and not the lies of the evil one. 

Forgetting what we look like.

Reading: Proverbs 3-4 and James 1

Scripture: James 1:23-24, For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

Thoughts: As I read this again, even for those who are in the Word everyday diving into the Greek and the Hebrew, gaining more information and understanding of what the Word says I must ask, “Where is the fruit?” James is saying that if we are not making the word and its teachings apart of our daily lives and doing the dos, instead of just avoiding the don’ts, then what good is it. Each of our calls to serve may look different but we all have the do of spreading the Gospel to all nations. 

Prayer: Lord God, your creation shouts your glory, your love shines in this fallen world. Your mercy and grace overwhelms me and tells me of your love. I thank you that you have given us your word and that you are leading and guiding us. I thank you for your molding and refining that you are working in my life. Help me to walk in your plans and your love. 

Who provided for them out of their means.‭

Reading: Proverbs 1-2, Psalm 128, Hebrews 13, and Luke 8

Scripture: Luke‬ ‭8:1-3‬‬‬, Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.‭

Thoughts: As I read this, it caught my attention that it mentioned that these women provided for Jesus and the twelve out of their means. We have no account of Jesus asking anyone for money, He told the rich young ruler to give it all away and give to God what is God’s and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. These women helped to support this ministry with what they had. Are we supporting God’s ministry with what we have? 

Prayer: Father God, you own it all, you are worthy of all praise, you are worthy of all honor and glory. I praise you with all I am and all that is within me. I thank you that you provide for me and I joyfully give back to you a portion of what you have given me to steward. I thank you for all you have done and all that you are going in my life. Open my eye and heart to things I am holding back from you, that I may repent and release it to you. 

Blessed be

Reading: 1 Kings 10, 2 Chronicles 9, and Hebrews 12

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 9:8, Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.

Thoughts: As I read this passage, when this queen had been testing Solomon to see his wisdom, she says,” Blessed is your God that delights in you.” My mind when to a scene in John Bevere’s book Driven by Eternity, where as people come into the king’s presence and the king would call then by a job they did not have in life. This would lead to a discussion about who they were called to be, verses who they chose to be in life. In the beginning of Solomon’s time as king he was who he was called to be, but the things of the world crept in and slowly turned him from that calling. He was still king, yet he brought in the other gods and build places to sacrifice to them. We can be doing good for the kingdom, but if we are doing someone else’s calling instead of our own our influence will be hindered. Listen for and seek the calling you have on your life. 

Prayer: Father God, you use all things for the good of those who love you and those called according to your purpose. I thank you for my assignments and call, you lead me and guide me in that calling. I thank you that you are molding and refining me every day. I thank you for your provisions and the blessings you pour out on us every day. I ask that you help me to continually check that I am not off course and that you are the one who get the glory. 

Commended but did not receive the promise.

Reading: 1 Kings 9, 2 Chronicles 8, Hebrews 11, and Luke 7

Scripture: Hebrews 11:39-40, And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Thoughts: Through the entire chapter the author is pointing us to many of the great figures of faith, pointing out the great need for faith. Here at the end of the chapter it points out that as great of faith these all had they had not received the promise that we received through Christ. The single sacrifice to cover all our sins and the Holy Spirit, who is continually working in us and sanctifying us to be more like Christ. 

Prayer: Lord God, your love overwhelms me, the beauty of your creation shines bright and points to you. Your grace, mercy and love abounds and draws us to you. I thank you for molding me and refining me into the man you call me to be. Open my heart to the sanctification that you are working in me and help me to walk in your ways, and shine you truth to a dark and fallen world. 

Those who are being sanctified.

Reading: 2 Chronicles 6-7, Psalm 127, and Hebrews 10

Scripture: Hebrews 10:14-16, For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 

Thoughts: Just before this passage the author was showing the difference between the continual sacrifice and what Christ did for us. With Jesus’ sacrifice we are given Holy Spirit in our lives and with that we now are called to the process of sanctification. Even though when Father God looks at us he only sees what Jesus did for us we are still called to grow and change. The Laws of the lord are no longer written on a stone but on our hearts and mind. Are we living out our lives as if we have a safety net that allows us to do anything even when God’s law tells us otherwise, or are we striving every day to be better than the last, to grow and be refined? 

Prayer: Lord God, you have made a way that we can come to you, your laws are written on our hearts and in our minds. I thank you that you are molding me and refining me every day. I thank you for your provisions and your blessings that are poured out continually. Help me to listen to your voice and walk in your ways. 

The conscience of the worshiper

Reading: 1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5, and Hebrews 9

Scripture: Hebrews 9:8-9, “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

Thoughts: As important as works and signs can be, we can get hung up on them. Just as the Jews of the time were so focused on the traditions and laws that were allowing access to God through the high priests. These things were not changing their hearts, Christ came, and his sacrifice opened the door for us to receive Holy Spirit into our lives and He is the one that works within us to perfect our conscience. Without Holy Spirit in our live perfecting our conscience we would continue to look to the things that feel good instead of the true things of God and are far greater. 

Prayer: Lord, you are above all things, your ways are higher than our ways, you knew me before is was born, you formed me in my mothers womb. I thank you for your Holy Spirit in my life, the conscience that he brings. Lord I thank you for the work you have been doing in my life and that is continuing to be done to help mold me and refine me into that man you call me to be.