God Always Remembers Us

 Scripture:

“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and domestic animals that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to blow over the earth and the waters receded.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭NET‬

Observation:

God had flooded the entire earth because of man’s unfaithfulness. Every living thing died in the flood, except what He had told Noah to bring into the ark for safety. It was a restart for the entire population, including the animal kingdom. When the floods ended, this verse says, “God remembered Noah.” Even in discipline, God doesn’t forget His people.

Application:

There are times when we are disciplined by the Lord for our disobedience, but He always has a plan for our restoration. He doesn’t judge us, then give up on us. He always remembers us and comes back to restore things if we are willing. It is in God’s nature to bring restoration, even when He brought the punishment. 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for being long suffering with Your people. Thank You for not disciplining us, then forgetting us. You always remember restoration, even in Your discipline. Help me to reflect Your ways as well. Teach me to remember people and to restore relationships that have gone wrong. Help me to serve You and Your people well.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Walking with God

 Scripture:

“Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This little verse is so powerful because it speaks of one of the only men who never died. This is all we know of him, but I would love to know more. The rest of the thought expressed said that he ended up living 365 years on the earth before he was taken by the Lord. We know one thing about him, he walked with God and God took him to heaven.

Application:

I want to live as one who walks with God. I long to be a real man of God that is in tune with my Father and doing His will in the earth. I want to know His heart, His voice, and His desires. I want to know Him deeply and powerfully. God is looking for those who simply want to walk in step with Him. His goal for us is that He would be our God and we would be His people. I want to be His people!

Prayer:

Father, teach me the secrets of walking with You like Enoch did. I am intrigued by this person You created and brought back to You after 365 years. Let my life be the life of one who walks with God. Let me live a life You can trust and that You are close to. I want to know You deeply.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Decisions Determine Destiny

 Scripture:

“The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.””Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

When God confronted Adam about his sin, he blamed the woman God had given him. Ever since that day, we humans have been known for making excuses for our disobedience. The decisions we make have dire consequences and we must take them seriously. Adam’s sin is still affecting the entire human race.

Application:

Our decisions affect those who are coming after us. When we make decision, they not only affect us, but our children and their children. We must take this into consideration when we want to do our own thing or disobey the voice of the Lord. We must not only think of ourselves, but think how my choices will impact those who are coming after me. Decisions have consequences and we must think them through before we flippantly make them.

Prayer:

Father, decisions determine destiny. Help me to make right decisions that will make a greater impact for You and Your kingdom. Help me to think through each decision I make so they are not selfish or self-centered. Help me do what is right above what is convenient. Teach me to walk in accordance with Your will all the days of my life. I want to walk in Your blessing and I want those who come after me to be blessed.

Yours,

Jeff

Write My Name on the Scroll

 Scripture:

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.” ‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This passage says that in God’s presence, a scroll was written to record the names of those who feared God and always thought about the honor of His name. This scroll was written to remember the names of those who feared God. There is a link here between the fear of God and those who honor Him. Both should be in our lives.

Application:

I want to live a life that honors God and makes Him look good. This comes from having a proper fear of the Lord. We should desire the holiness that Malachi speaks toward. I want to live a life that gets the books in heaven opened because I feared and obeyed the Lord completely. I don’t want to be on the fence in any area. I want to be fully submitted to God at all times. Honoring His names is so important as well. We should want God’s reputation to be awesome when people look at our lives.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are awesome and worthy of worship. You are my strength and my life. You are my everything. Help me to live humble before You and to fear You every day of my life. Let me have a healthy fear of the the Lord and let my life bring You honor. Help me to live a life that makes You look good. Let me never smear Your reputation in any way. Help me to represent You well.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Be Faithful to Your Promises

 Scripture:

“Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.” ‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to the people of Israel about their unfaithfulness to Him, which is demonstrated by their unfaithfulness to their wives. When we make a vow before God, He expects us to fulfill it. If we make a covenant with someone, He expects us to live up to the covenant we have made. God doesn’t ask us to do the easy thing, but to do the right thing at all times.

Application:

When we make commitments to God and others, He expects us to fulfill them. If we are going to follow Him, it is not at our convenience, but according to His covenant. Christianity isn’t just about what we get from God, but about how we serve God. Me must serve Him wholeheartedly. He wants His people to follow Him completely and not half-heartedly. We need to think about our commitments, God takes them seriously.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to make good on every promise I have made. Help me to walk out what I preach every day. Teach me what to do and when to do it. Show me how to walk in the Spirit at all times. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Show me Your ways and help me to follow them with all my heart.

Yours,

Jeff

Refined and Purified

 Scripture:

“I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”” ‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭13‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God tells His people that He will bring through the fire of difficulty and will refine them. He says at that time, they will call on His name and He will answer them. God then says, “These are my people,” and they say, “The Lord is our God.” 

Application:

God has always looked for a people who will serve Him completely and who will honor His name. Our job is to work with God to purify our lives and allow the refiner to work in our hearts. Then we will see the day of God’s blessings. I want to be one He says, “These are my people.” Sometimes, when in our church and I see all the nations, I will say, “These are my people.” It is a way for saying I want to be associated with these people.

Prayer:

Father, let me live a life that makes You say, “He is my son!” I want to please You in every way. You are my all in all and I ask You to purify my life and let it be used for Your purposes. You are amazing and it is an honor to serve You and represent You.

Yours Always,

Jeff

God Makes us Strong

 Scripture:

“By my power I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the Lord, have spoken!”” ‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This simple verse is short, but powerful. God says to His people that He would make them strong. Our strength doesn’t come from ourselves, it comes from God. Secondly, He tells them that by His authority they will go wherever they wish. He closes this section by saying, “I, the Lord, have spoken!” 

Application:

When God speaks a word, He has the authority to back it up and bring it to pass. When God speaks to an individual, a church, a country, etc. He doesn’t just throw around words. He has all authority and power to bring to pass whatever He speaks. We can be strong, not because of ourselves, but because God Almighty lives within us. My job is to hear what God is saying, then trust that He has the authority and power to bring it to pass. 

Prayer:

Father, let my ears be open to Your voice. Let me hear Your heart concerning my life. Help me to walk in confidence and strength. Teach me to walk in Your ways and to extend Your kingdom. Touch my region with a mighty revival. Bring my church into revival and awakening I pray. Let people in my area encounter You in a real and powerful way!

Your Son,

Jeff