March
23
Reading:
Leviticus 24-25 and John 15
Scripture:
Leviticus 25:3-4, For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you
shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year
there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord .
You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.
Thoughts:
Moses is teaching about the law for giving your fields a rest every 7 years and
that there will be enough in the 6th year to last into the 8th
when you can harvest again. In American culture we are lucky to take a could
days off from work but we almost always fill it with so many things that we are
glad to be back at work because we get less rest on our days off. We need to
take a rest from our toils. There are companies out there that have a sabbatical
system set up where you get a paid break to reset, this is more then vacation or
sick time it is an extended rest. God told us about these thousands of years
ago. We need to be willing to take a day a week to just relax in the lord and reset
our focus on him. When Israel was not giving the land its Sabbath, God took them
out of the land and gave the lad rest for 70 years. In this time of COVID 19 many
of us are being told to take a break this may be a few weeks or months, so make
a point to reset your compass back to true north and focus on the father.
Prayer:
Father you are so wonderful and your creation screams of your glory. I thank you
that you care for us that you set the need for rest. I thank you for your love,
and your provisions and blessings that you pour out on us every day. I ask that
you help me to rest and help me to keep my focus and my compass pointed to you.
March
24
Reading:
Leviticus 26, Psalm 12, and John 16
Scripture:
Psalm 12:6-8, The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a
furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them; you
will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as
vileness is exalted among the children of man.
Thoughts:
This is a Great reminder that God’s word has value. I have struggled with staying
in the word, in my past I played the dutiful Sunday morning Christian thinking because
I believed and knew the stories that I was going to be fine. In the culture of
the time when this what written 7 was considered the number of completion and they
said the word was purified 7 time. I this time the wickedness of this world is
everywhere and we need to stay in the Word daily diving deep into what we it
teaches.
Prayer:
Father you are the great redeemer and I thank you for bringing me back into
relationship with you. I thank you for the blessings and provisions that you
pour out upon us every day. I thank you for my family and friends that you have
brought into my life for my encouragement. Open my heart to you love and
guidance lead me in your love. Open my eyes to what you have for me each day.
March
25
Reading:
Leviticus 27, Psalm 136, and John 17
Scripture:
John 17:14-16, I have given them your word, and the world
has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the
world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them
from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Thoughts:
As I was going through today's reading I found myself really comforted, in the
mist of the global pandemic and the panic that many people are going though due
to the pandemic or the efforts to control it, there is peace. I know this in
the passage Jesus was not praying about an outbreak or some other disaster that
affects everyone but was praying over us that after receiving the Word that we
are going to be hated and he wants us to be protected from the evil one. Even though
we are not being persecuted in this the governments wail looking out for us are
also making it more difficult for us to do life together and share God’s love. There
is also the great reminder that we are not of this world, our citizenship is in
heaven and we are resident aliens on this planet. It does not matter what
happens here our home is with God in heaven.
Prayer:
Father you are the maker of all things, protector of all thing, and you use all
things for our good. I thank you for your love and mercy, I thank you for your provision
and blessings you pour out upon us every day. I ask that you help me to walk in
your plan and seek you all the time. Open the eyes to see the good that is coming
from the disturbance of our lives due to these issues.
