Purposefull Men

Reading: Exodus 34-35 and Romans 15

 

Scripture: Exodus 34:23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel.

 

Thoughts:  I have been a part of several churches, the women’s ministries and the kids' ministries are flourishing and the men’s seem to be an afterthought. Worship was more focused on feelings in keys that were hard for men to sing in. Seeing churches that have done men's ministry well and ones that don’t it was interesting to have this passage stick out to me. Here in the early days of the process of becoming the nation of Israel God is saying to make a point and be purposeful in setting time aside to worship and be with God. God was calling the men of Israel to come together at the Tabernacle and later the temple 3 times a year. Depending on where they were and where the tabernacle was could be a several days walk. Not only was the purpose to worship and make the trip. We need to be intentional when it comes to men. We (men) need the camaraderie of other men, we need a purpose and a direction. Without those and if the church is only catering to the women and children the more the men will fall away and more the church will look like the world. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you knew me before you knit me together in my mother's womb. You called me from the beginning, and you call me still. You are the wonderful councilor; you lead me to green pastures. I thank you for the work you are doing in me, the blessings you are pouring out on us, and the calling you have on our lives. I ask that you help us men seek each other, so that we may grow and be the light and leaders you have called us to be. Help us to find our fellow warriors so that we can come together in the foxholes of this war and know that I don’t have to worry about any of them falling behind because we will all lift up those who are struggling.

Exhortation or judgment.

Reading: Exodus 32-33, Psalm 1, and Romans 14

 

Scripture: Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

 

Thoughts: It is easy to see how this passage can be used out of context to say stop judging one another, just before this Paul is saying it is God’s place to judge and we each will stand before Him to be judged. No, it is not our place to judge other's salvation. We are called to be a light, not just a light to the broken world around us but to our fellow believers. Exhortation may look a lot like judgment, but we are to call out sin in our brother’s life. First and foremost what is a key component that makes someone a brother? Its relationship. Whether or not my relationship with my brother is good or bad we still have a relationship and within that relationship comes a level of knowing that person and opens the doors to exhortation. I know that there are sins that can creep into our lives and take root without us really knowing. Find people in your life who are walking with the Lord alongside you so that they can help you by calling out your sins and you have the authority in their life to call out theirs. Develop that group that you can dig in together in the spiritual warfare that is raging around us. We all need those people who will be in that Foxhole with us and are willing to lay their lives on the line as much as you are.  

 

Prayer: Lord God, Jehovah Nissi, my banner, my rally point, the one who brings us together. I honor and praise you. I thank you for being the judge and that you sent your Son to be our advocate so that we may stand before you blameless and clean. I thank you for the men that you have brought around me. Help us to be the iron that is used to sharpen and be sharpened. Open our eyes to the exhortation of others and the strength to exhort others. Mold us and refine us into your warriors.

What did he say?

Reading: Genesis 34-35 and Acts 15

 

Scripture: Acts 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

 

Thoughts: Here in Acts just as the Church was starting, those with a particular slant on how the church should be run show up to teach something different. Here it was you need the law and Jesus. Today there are those who doing the same thing saying we need Jesus plus something else. I also have been hearing churches affirming lifestyles that the Bible says are sinful. Churches can lean too far into traditions and customs getting off the mark and churches can go too far into accepting sins into the church. We are to call our sin in our brothers and sisters' lives so that they are not continuing to walk in sin yet we are still to call those who are in the throws of sin to come out into the love of Christ. Once in a relationship, God will call them to confess and repent.

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all praise. Your creation shouts of your glory. I thank you for your Word and the truth within. I thank you for your rhema word speaking into my life. I thank you that you have given me those around me to help me when I stray. I thank you that you are working in my life to bring me closer to you and lead me on your path.  

Are you training?

Reading: Genesis 12-14 and Acts 4

 

Scripture: Genesis 14:14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

 

Thoughts: Abram led his TRAINED men. Before a conflict happened before there was a need Abram had already trained men to fight. Are we training for the trials and fights that we are not yet in? The Bible says there will be trials in our lives. (John 16:33) When it comes to spiritual war our training will look different in comparison to the wars of the world. Our training is going to be more focused on the fruit of the spirit we are to be leaning into the Word of God and familiarizing ourselves with the Armor of God and how to use it. We need protection, but we also need to learn to use the Word of God. Dive deep into the word, seek Him with all your heart, and pray always and in every situation.

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. I place my life at your feet. I thank you for the opportunity to honor you with my stewardship. I thank you for covering my needs and blessing us so that we may bless others. I ask that you help me to put on the Armor of God and take up the Sword of the Spirit so that I can in your power and authority overcome the evil one.

Breaking bread.

Reading: Job 39-40 and Acts 2

 

Scripture: Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

 

Thoughts: We can easily get distracted and lose focus on the things of God. Yet we are still called to be discipled. At my church, we are encouraged to go through a discipleship series. During the different levels, we are asked to commit to a drastic reduction of media consumption. That includes social and mainstream media sources. We are to devote ourselves to the teachings and reading of the Bible, getting into or back into the discipline of daily Bible reading and prayer. In the Bible days and even in many Jewish homes today breaking bread together (having a meal) was not taken lightly it was seen as an acceptance of that person and what they represent. Are we devoting ourselves to seeking God and his will to the point of surrounding ourselves with those who can speak into our lives and those whom we can speak into theirs? 

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all praise, your glory shines brighter than a thousand suns. Your peace amid chaos leads me to joy without understanding. I thank you for all you are doing in my life, I thank you that you are molding and refining who I am. I ask that you help me to devote more time and energy to seeking you and seeking others who point me more to you.   

Judgy Judgy

Reading: Job 24-26 and Luke 17

 

Scripture: Luke 17:3-4 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.

 

Thought: When someone is being called out on sin in their lives it is common to hear Matthew 7:1 be quoted. “Judge not, that you be not judged. But even in this passage about forgiveness we are called to have discernment and in turn, make a judgment. This is not an eternal judgment that is only for God but we are to judge how to deal with sin in the church. In Luke, it says “If a brother sins.” Sure this can be family but this is more likely to be referring to the church family, our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we are not calling out the sins (judging) ourselves and our brothers we will inevitably start finding ourselves and others finding our way towards the wide and easy path. Yes, we will be judged by the measure we use to judge others like Matthew says but when that judgment is loving kindness calling our brothers and sisters back to God that is the judgment I want used against me.

 

Prayer: Father God I thank you for giving me discernment, helping me to see the difference between where I am and where I should be. I am in awe of the love you pour out on me even when I have fallen into sin. I thank you that you have sent brothers and sisters around to call wake me up to sins in my life. I thank you that you are working in my life, continuing to mold and refine me. You are the potter and the silversmith that are working my life into a reflection of you. I ask that you help me to see the next steps in your plan and give me the boldness to step out in them. 

 

Heavier than the sands of the sea.

 Reading: Job 5-6 and John 8

Scripture: Job 6:2-3 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.”

 

Thoughts: Hebrews 11 talks about the cloud of witnesses, Paul took companions with him on his journeys. When we are being weighed down and we feel that we can’t move due to the burden that has fallen on us, are we taking out the harsh rash words and tones or are we seeking those who can help shoulder those burden? Soldiers learn to relay on those men in their squad. We need to find those people around us who are willing to help us with our burdens and we help them with theirs. When seeking those to help carry your burden don’t be deceived by the sweet alluring voices telling you that your sins are ok, seek those who will call you out on your shortcoming and together build up the strongholds against the evil one who seeks to destroy the work God is doing in your life. 

 

Prayer: Author of eternity, creator of all things, I fall on my face before you. I raise my hands I worship and lay my life before you. I thank you for the work you are accomplishing in my life and those people you have brought into my life to help carry me. I ask that you help me to be the helper that they have been to me and to grow deeper in my relationship with you and walk the narrow path that leads to you. Lead me guide me and open my heart to more of you. 

Better together

Reading: Joshua 21-22 and Philippians 4

 

Scripture: Philippians 4:2, I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

 

Thoughts: In my men’s group last night, the idea if unity in the church was brought up. In many past war and conflicts the armies we unified in that every man know what to do and who to follow. Their centurion or leaders were noted by the plums on their head. In western society we are so focused on the individuality we don’t remember or seek the unity that God calls us to. That unity is not just everything and everyone being the same like to Borg of Star Trek, “you will be assimilated, We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile” We are not assimilated into God’s collective, but we are all given a portion of the plan. We are unified in our relationship with God through Christ.

 

Prayer: Father God you are the uniter of all things. You bring us together to in purpose and love to share the good news of that you offer through your Son. I thank you for all that you are doing in me and in my life. I ask that you help me to walk in your plan and seek after every day. I ask that yo continue to refine and mold me into the man and father you are calling me to be. 

More Words

Reading: Joshua 10-11 and Ephesians 5

 

Scripture: Ephesians 5:4,Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

 

Thoughts: Working in manufacturing most of my adult career I have fallen into the filthy talk and bad humor that comes with the working with lots of guys. Some environment are more apt to dive deeper into those things then others but it is common for places where men congregate. Locker rooms, sport teams and heavy manufacturing have been some of the worst due to the type of men typically draw to or forced into that work. We are called to a higher place and to bridle our tongue. In my time chasing the world instead of seeking God I found that I let much of the foul language that has come so common in this world into my daily language. What is sneaking into your vocabulary?

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are the creator of all, you lead and guide. I thank you that you are working in my life. I thank you that you are molding and refining me. I ask that you continue to remove these foul and foolish words from me and fill me with your joy and peace so that is what pours out of me and not the things of this world. Be with me and help me to overcome the temptations of this world. 

Walking in the victories set before us.

Reading: Joshua 6-7, Psalm 6, and Ephesians 3

 

Scripture: Joshua 6:2, And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.

 

Thoughts: There are victories in out lives that God had given us and we are not walking in them. There are victories that I have had that may no look like victories and then there are victories like Jericho where walls have fallen and they was a defeat that was obvious to anyone who knew you. The thing is Joshua was told of this victory when they were still standing outside. He was told to do this ridiculous thing and in his obedience the walls fell and they were able to walk in and take the city. There were no pounding on gates or building things of war to take our this city but the marched around it for seven day and on that last day they blew their horns and shouted. What do we have in our lives that God has told us that you have victory yet you have not done the marching to overcome. There is a release and a freedom that God is offering to you but that is your part in accepting that freedom? 

 

Prayer: Lord God, there are Freedoms in my life and victories in my life that you are calling me to. Hello me to hear your voice. To seek your plan on the release and freedom that you have said is al ready there. Help me to see the next steps and the release that you have for me. I thank you that you have called me that you are molding and refining me. I thank you that I a get to steward my family and the blessings that you pour out on us. 

Are you seeing the Promise or Entering into it?

Reading: Deuteronomy 31-32 and Galatians 5

 

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:52, For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.

 

Thoughts: With so much going on and the constant distractions from work, social media, streaming services, and even family it is easy to let God drop from the priority and being the one who brings all things into alignment, to just making God into another priority. Even with all that Moses did because of not listening to God he was only able to see the promised land. I’m Matthew 7:23 after talking about people coming to the Father and saying they did all these things in His name he said, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Our faith in Jesus and what he did on the cross will save us but are we going to be brought in being told “well done good and faithful servant” or will we be getting in by the skin of our teeth. Are there going to parts of heaven or blessings we will miss out on because like Moses we didn’t listen. We have the opportunity to seek him first and confess our failures and start listening to that still small voice that God speaks with.

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are gracious and merciful, I thank you for not giving me what I deserve. I thank you that you do speak. I thank you that your are leading me, molding me, and refining me. You are the orchestrator, the one who brings things into alignment. I thank you for the opportunity to steward the blessings you are pour out on me. I ask that you help me to open my ears more, soften my heart and help me to keep you are The priority and that all things will fall into alignment under you. 

Are you a Man of War or are you just playing?

Reading: Jeremiah 48-49 and Romans 4

Scripture: Jeremiah 48:14, How do you say, ‘We are heroes and mighty men of war’?

Thought:  As I was reading about judgment of Moab and all the things the Jeremiah was saying they did or didn’t do the passage above stuck me. We are given the Armor of God when we come onto the covenant with God that is offered though the death and resurrection, and as a kid in the church I sang about being in the Lords Army. Yet are we truly fighting in that Army are we claiming hero and men of war even though we are sitting back watching the fighting, or worse have are eyes closed and don’t see or acknowledge the fighting. We are in a war and yes God has already won that war but we still need to do our part and fight our battles in that war. Are we surrounding ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ that can come beside us and fight in that Foxhole with us or are we surrounding ourselves those who maybe unknowingly work for the enemy. Are you a Man of War or are you just playing?

Prayer: Father God, you are the one worth fighting for, you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I honor and praise you laying my life before you. I thank you that you are leading and guiding us, that you mold us and refine us every day leading us into a fuller understanding of you and your love. I ask that you help me to step out of my comfort zone and speak your word to those around me, help me to be a light in this world. 

Gathering around each other.

Reading: 2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34, and Acts 14

Scripture: Acts 14:20, But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

Thoughts: We so often get beaten down by this world, be it for our faith or just because we live in a fallen world that is striving blindly toward the gates of Hell. Paul after being stoned to death, got up and went back into the city but only after the disciples gathered around him. When we are attacked and beaten down, do we have a community that will come together, gather around us to call us back to life. Even though this passage does not say that these disciples were praying over him, but I believe that these disciples were praying over him until he rose. We need our community to gather around us. We most likely are not the solution to the situation and as a man that is a struggle because it is in my nature to fix things, but we are called to be in that foxhole with those are currently in a battle. We are all always at war but each day and each season there are different battles being waged. Right now, I feel there is a battle and war waging over marriage and family and when there is someone in your community being attacked, we need to get into that foxhole with them and declare victory in the name of Jesus. We are overcomers, it will not be easy, but we know who wins the war, we are to walk out this victory, putting on the full armor of God daily. 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you for all you are working in my life, I thank you for the abilities that you have given me to get me where I am today, I thank you for the community that I have and the men who gather around me in my struggles. I ask that you help me to gather around those who are struggling that  we can overcome these battles together. 

What are your high places?

Reading: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33, Psalm 75, and Acts 12

 

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:16-17, He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

 

Thoughts: Reading this passage about the different kings and how they either were for God or not I thought this was interesting. When Manasseh reigned he cleared the idols our of the city and restored the altar of God but the people still went to the high places. Going to the high places was one of the ways the other gods were worshiped. The people were holding onto traditions and practices that did not honor God. Today we do the same sort of things, we may not have these places of worship that were dedicated to other gods the way the people of God did but we have things in our lives that surround us every day that the Bible tells us to avoid. There are groups out there that all things are permissible even when the Word of God speaks against it. We all have to make a choice on where we come down on each and every topic and how we are going to walk through this world. Seek discernment from the Lord and God will reveal to you his heart in the situations of your life. 

 

Prayer: Father God, you are the creator of all things, your grace and mercy is abundant. I thank you that you called me into your family that you forgave me and adopted me. I thank you that you gave me the abilities that have gotten me to where I am today and that you are molding and refining me into the man you have called me to be. I ask the you help me to see your truth and your ways, help me to recognize and walk in your ways. I ask that you help me to overcome the temptations of the evil one and be strengthened in your love. 

The End or Not

Reading: Hosea 8-11 and Mark 13

 

Scripture: Mark 13:6-8, Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 

Thoughts: Watching the state of the country and world today, I hear many people saying things like “The Lord is coming soon.” or “The end time are here.” The way I see it we have been in the end times since Christ ascended to heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. There have been wars and rumors of war seemingly forever, there are famines and earthquakes all over. Here Jesus responding to the disciples asking when things were to happen, “These are the beginning of the birth pains.” Ask any woman who has given birth what the begging was like verses how it was when the baby was born and you will learn about then difference between contractions 30-40 minutes apart and the ring of fire and why God put it in the minds of those who created the epidural. As the father of two wonderful children who regularly test our sanity I have watched my wife go through this twice. In the beginning we are at home going for walks and doing what we can to help her to be comfortable as her body prepares to give birth. With all that we are seeing going on around the world the are only the beginning of the birth pains. We need to not be complacent that every day we move one more day towards eternity but be driven by that thought that we are moving towards eternity. We don’t know if Jesus will return tomorrow or another thousand years in the future but we need to live as if it will end tomorrow because it could for someone. How little do you have to care about someone to not throw them a life ring when they are drowning. Let us toss the life ring, some will grab ahold and others will not accept it, but we are doing out part and putting it out there. 

 

Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for sending your Son, who took my sins, my failures, and washed them clean. I thank you that you are working in my life, that you are providing my needs. I thank you that you are molding me and refining me that I can reflect you better. I ask that you help me to grow my boldness and my discernment that I can overcome the evil one. Lead me and guide me as I go about my days.

And the Stone Table will crack.

Reading: Song of Solomon 5-8, Psalm 13 and 1 John 3

 

Scripture: 1 John 3:16, By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

 

Thoughts: We so often focus on John 3:16 about how we are forgiven and are given eternal life through the gift of God, but we need to spend as much time remembering 1 John 3:16. We know His love because of the sacrifice that he gave, but also we are called to lay down our lives for our brothers. This reminds me of a series of events that happened in The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, after Edmond had escaped the witch and has rejoined his brother and sisters with the Narnian army the witch comes and claims the old magic requires his soul to be hers. Later after Aslan had trained his life for Edmond’s and has risen he recites what was written on the stone table “If a willing Victim that has committed no treachery is killed in a traitor's stead, the Stone Table will crack; and even death itself would turn backwards.” Aslan being a Christ allegory he sacrificed himself to cover the sins of Edmond and save him. We are called to lay down our lives, are we putting God first and no matter what happens to our lives we are there for our brothers and sister and representing God and his love? John 13:35 says “they will know us by our love” how are you know?

 

 

Prayer: Lord God, you are merciful and mighty, you overcome all things and grant us strength and knowledge to honor and praise you and to preach the good news. I thank you that you are here with us and you are always leading and guiding us. I thank you that you are refining me and molding me into the man you called me to and need me to become. I thank you for the blessings and provisions you pour out on us every day. I thank you for our daily bread and pouring into us. I ask that you help us to overflow with your love and walk in a way that brings honor and glory to your name. 

Be in the light as He is in the light.

Reading: Proverbs 30-31, Psalm 96, and 1 John 1

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-6, This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Thoughts: When I was reading about God being the light and we when we claim to be in fellowship with Him, yet we still walk in the dark it says we are I lier. As I was reading, I was thinking about my struggle with lust, I am grateful that most of the time I can avoid falling into the temptations, but it happens. There are those who walk in the darkness and believe the are in the light, walking deceived by the evil one. We are called into the light and into fellowship with the Father, yet we are always being tempted into sin. When we have the unconfessed sin and are not repentant we are walking in the dark pretending to be in the light. God is working with me to completely remove lust from my life. Where are you walking because there is not a was to keep your toe in the dark and walk in the light of God?

Prayer: Father God, you are the light of the world, you open our eyes to see the things in our lives where we have iniquities in our live. You call us into the light, and I ask you that you help us to set aside those things we are holding onto, keeping us in the dark and keeping us from you. I thank you that you are molding and refining me every day. I thank you that you provide what we need and leading and guiding me every day. I ask that you continue to open my eyes and give me your discernment that I can see the traps and snares the evil one is placing before me. 

Wise in your own eyes.

Reading: Proverbs 26-27, Psalm 98, and2 Peter 2

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4-5, Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
 
Thoughts: We all have this tendency to be foolish from time to time, and most grow out of it and develop wisdom as we age. I have seen this disturbing trend into not telling children no, affirming everything they say and do. This trend of affirming all things in them before they have learned to enough to have developed true wisdom are creating people who are wise in their own eyes. We need to seek out those people in our lives who will help us to walk in truth, we are living in an echo with other like minded people who we have never met due to the internet and social media. It is easy to find and build those echo cambers where we hear only our own ideas reflected back to us. Let us welcome those with opposing ideas and those who challenge ours to have conversations and discussions about these differences that we can truly develop wisdom. Salomon in his great wisdom from God was able to speak to this nearly three thousand years before the invention of the internet and social media where does your wisdom come from?
 
Prayer: Father God, you are where all truth and all true wisdom flows. I thank you that you are pouring out your love, your truth, and your peace upon us every day as you provide for all our needs. I thank you for those in my life that walk with you and seek you and are willing to discuss so that we can be that iron sharpening one another. I thank you that you are refining me and molding me into the man you have called me to be. I ask that you help me to grow in your wisdom and walk in your ways that I may not be the fool who see himself as wise. 

What are you speaking?

Reading: Proverbs 18-19, Psalm 16, and 1 Peter 3 

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

 

Thoughts: As I was reading today going through these proverbs and the wisdom that God gave to Salomon, I started thinking about what my words say about me, and what am I speaking into my wife and children? As much as I love my wife and children my words and my tones don’t always show it. The power of life and death are in the tongue. Not only do we need to watch and bridle our tongue around and with our family but in the world around us. We are told that “they will know us by our love.” When we are participating in the hate and distain for one another the way the world is our tongue is speaking death. Our tongues don’t only speak death outwardly but we have the tendency to speak these things over ourselves, “I’m a bad parent”, “I’m fat”, “I’m stupid”, “I’m useless”, these are all lies that the evil one had convinced us to speak over ourselves.  We are a child of the one true King and nobody should speak ill of a child of God not even that child. We are loved and we are to love as he loves, and not just loving the world as he does but loving ourselves as he does. 

 

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you love me more than I could ever understand and know, you are the one who pours life into me everyday. I thank you that you are my provider, you have given me everything I need and even things I want. You provide abundantly and exceedingly more than I deserve. I thank you that you are leading and guiding me, I ask for your discernment, help me to see where I’m going astray and help me to see the root causes of things in my life that we can come together against them that I can serve you more. 

Who has your back?

Reading: Deuteronomy 33-34, Psalm 35, and Galatians 6

Scripture: Psalm 35:1-3, Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” 

Thoughts: We are at war, war for the souls of this world. Every day we battle with the influences of the evil one from the most innocent looking cartoon, to the demonized people who are actively working against the kingdom of heaven. Not only are we told to take up God’s armor in Galatians 6 but here in Psalm 35 David is calling for God to come in and kick some butt, and speak to his soul and remind him who is in control and where our salvation comes from. With God’s armor on and God having out back why are we afraid, why do we doubt, why do we worry? Let us walk in the light of his goodness and grace, and in the power and authority we have as sons and daughters of the most high.

Prayer: Father God, I thank you that you are my strength and power to over come all things. You are my salvation. I ask that you open my eyes and give me the discernment to know and understand those things that are coming against me because I’m your child. Lead me and guide me that I may be a vessel of peace, joy and love.