Don't Forget Your Maker

Scripture:

Hosea 8:14 "Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire upon their cities that will consume their fortresses".

Observation:

All through Hosea, the prophet has been pronouncing judgments on Israel and Ephraim because they have turned from the Lord. As we come to Hosea eight, I read these words, "Israel has forgotten His Maker". They had built palaces and achieved many good things, but had forgotten who gave them the power to prosper. They had turned from God and relied on themselves and the gods of other nations. God had built that nation and He wanted them to serve Him.

Application:

God's people should always walk in humility and thanksgiving toward Him. Often, people serve God in their time of need and He delivers them, then they feel like they can handle things on their own and don't seek Him any more. God wants to be honored and esteemed as priority in our lives. Don't forget your Maker. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Keep Him at the center of your life and you will continue to be blessed.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to keep You at the center of my life. My life belongs to You. You created me. You called me. You trained me. You are my source and sustenance. You are my life. Help me to never lean on self or others, but always on You for everything. Help me this year to walk closer to You than ever before. I want to hear the whisper of Your voice.

Yours,

Jeff

God's Awesome Grace

Scripture:

Hosea 6:1 "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds".

Observation:

Hosea had been talking about the judgment of the Lord that was coming on Israel for their hard-hearted rebellion against God. In the midst of the continual talk of destruction that is coming upon them he throws in this little interlude. He tells the people to return to the Lord and, even though he has torn you up, he will heal you. He understands that God always responds to a heart of repentance. He understood the grace of God.

Application:

God loves his children so much! He is amazing! Many times when we mess things up, we hesitate on coming to the Lord in humility and repenting. Hosea, though he knew the judgment of God, knew the grace of God as well. We must come to the understanding that God loves us and that as we turn toward Him, He turns toward us in love, not judgment. He waits for us to make a move, but He helps us make it, so that He may demonstrated His grace to us.

Prayer:

Lord, as You are quick to forgive, teach me to be quick to forgive. As You simply wait for your children to turn around, teach me the same. Your grace is amazing! You love for us is incredible. You are the best! Thank You for loving me, even when I make mistakes. Thank You for showing me Your love and grace.

Love,
Jeff

God's Incredible Love

Scripture:

Hosea 2:23 "I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'not my loved one.' I will say to those called 'not my people,' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God'".

Observation:

Hosea has been writing concerning Israel's unfaithfulness to God. He has said that they were like an unfaithful wife who cheats on her husband and leaves him. He talks about how much God hates it and will judge them for it, yet in the end he says God will show His love for them again. It says He will call them His people again and that they will say He is their God.

Application:

God never gives up on His people! Thank God for that. He continues to draw us by His Spirit to Himself and wants us to love and appreciate Him for it, but even when we mess up, He continues to offer us a better plan for our lives. He continues to love us when we are hurting Him. He continues to accept us and forgive us. His love is amazing. His faithfulness goes beyond description. His dream is to have a people who are fully consecrated to Him. i want to be that person.

Prayer:

Father, You are amazing and Your love never fails. You continue to draw us even when we have failed You. You continue to demonstrate Your love to us when we don't deserve it. Help me to be more like You. Teach me to be as faithful as You are. Teach me to love the unlovable. Help me accept those who most have given up on. Let Your love flow through me today.

Your Son,
Jeff

The Word of the Lord

Scripture:

Amos 8:12 "Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the Word of the Lord, but they will not find it."

Observation:

Amos is prophesying about Israel. They had neglected the word of the Lord for so many years that God declared He would send a drought of hearing the word of the Lord. It was considered a punishment on Israel. God was saying how He would banish them from their land as exiles, that they would be defeated on every hand, and that the terrible things were coming because of their disobedience. Not hearing the word of the Lord was one of those punishments.

Application:

We are so honored to have Bibles everywhere in America. You can find a bible anywhere and most of us probably have several of them, yet they are not getting used enough. We have the word of the Lord, yet don't read it. We have become self reliant and act like we don't need the word of the Lord. If God's word was taken away from us, how much would we miss it? Do we properly honor the Word of the Lord? We must honor the word of the Lord and treasure it. It could be taken away!

Prayer:

Father, Let Your Word be alive to Your people. May we begin to read, listen to , and apply your word in our lives. Let me hunger and thirst for Your word. Teach me to dig through it like digging for treasure. Your Word is amazing and I thank You for allowing us to have it in written form. Show me more in Your Word. I want to go deeper.

Jeff

While in my Chains

Scripture:

Philemon 10 "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains"

Observation:

Philemon's slave had run away and Paul, who knew Philemon, ends up leading the slave to Christ. In this story of Paul sending Onesimus back home and asking Philemon to receive him with love and grace there is a line that talks about Paul. He says, "whom I have begotten while in my chains". These words jumped off the page at me this morning. Paul was leading people to Christ while in his own personal chains. While in prison, he was preaching Christ effectively.

Application:

Today, we associate being in the will of God with having no problems. If we have any problems, we think we are out of the will of God. Paul had problems, big problems, yet in the problems, he was leading people to Christ. Most of us would say, "When I get out of this situation I'm going to share my faith". Paul said that in the midst of the problem, God is with me and I will lead people to Christ. Many times when bad things happen or when things are not going well in our lives, we feel we can't share Christ with others. Nothing is farther from the truth. In the midst of life's problems, we should be sharing the love of Christ with all around us.

Prayer:

Lord, I have not been to prison for my faith. I have not been persecuted strongly for my faith. Help me to lead people to Christ in every situation of life and not to allow my personal situations to stop me from demonstrating the love of God. While in my chains, I want to see You working in people's lives. You are the best!

Jeff

Laboring Fervently in Prayer

Scripture:

Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bond servant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God".

Observation:

At the end of Colossians, Paul is sending greetings to and from people and includes this simple statement about a man named Epaphras. It says of this man that he was "always laboring fervently for you in prayers". He wanted so badly to see God's people stand perfect and complete in him that he prayed fervently for it. It is one thing when Paul says something like this about himself, but when he says it about someone else, it must be a behavior he has seen many times.

Application:

I am convicted by this statement because I see a man that wants so badly to see God's people mature and complete that he labors fervently in prayer for it. To labor fervently in prayer is to pray "red hot" prayers and labor is work. I need to pray stronger prayers for the people I lead out of such a desire that they be complete in Christ. Recently, God has been asking me to pray stronger for His people to be "whole". I must step up to the plate and pray more fervently for God's people.

Prayer:

Father, don't let this verse slip away from me. Let it be said of me that he labored in fervent prayer for the people of Word of Life. Help me to pray red hot prayers for those You have entrusted to me. Teach me to intercede for them more effectively. Let them be whole and complete, lacking nothing.

Amen,
Jeff

The Power of the Cross

Scripture:

Colossians 2:15 "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it".

Observation:

Paul is in the middle of a discourse about baptism and our position in Christ when he comes out with this statement. He is talking about what Christ did through His death, burial and resurrection and connecting us to that through baptism and Him living in us, the hope of Glory. To disarm means to take away from an enemies arsenal. Through Christ's death, burial and resurrection, the spiritual forces of the enemy have been disarmed and Chris triumphed over all of them, therefore since Christ is in us, we have triumph over our enemy.

Application:

The power of the cross is amazing, but we must begin to really believe what Paul is saying here. As we identify with Christ, we have victory over the enemy and all his forces. Not in and of ourselves, but through Christ, we can walk in victory in this world. The power of the cross has already defeated our enemy, yet until we have this revelation, we remain constantly beat up by him.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for speaking to me this morning. You are amazing! Thank you for helping me see the power of the cross over the enemy of my soul. Now help me retrain my brain to think right about my enemy being disarmed. Let me not give satan more credit than he is due and let me see more the awesome power of my God.

Yours,

Jeff

Be Anxious for Nothing

Scripture:

Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God".

Observation:

God doesn't like to see His children all stressed out over life. He wants to remove anxiety from our lives, but we need to follow His prescription. Many times in His word, He tells us not to worry or allow anxiety to control our lives. Here He tells us how to get rid of it. He says that by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving we can make our request known to Him.

Application:

Sometimes, the first place we should go for help, is the last place we run to. God's desire is to be our support, strength and help. He wants us to depend on Him and to trust Him, but we are accustomed to facing life on our own so we try to handle everything ourselves, then come to God when it doesn't work. The best way is to come to God first and foremost in prayer and supplication, make our requests known, then let God work while we relax.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to come to You first when problems arise. Teach me to seek "first" Your kingdom and righteousness. Help me to come to You before I am full of anxiety and need a miracle. You are my rock and my strength. You are my deliverer! I love you Lord.

Jeff

Renewed

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:23 "and be renewed in the spirit of your mind".

Observation:

Paul tells the Ephesians that they should put off the old man and put on the new man. The way to do it is by being renewed in the spirit of your mind. Romans says that we are transformed by the renewing of the mind. We have been trained by this world system to think in certain ways. As a child of God, we must begin to think differently, then we will live differently.

Application:

Stinkin thinkin never got anyone anywhere! To really grow in the Lord, we must be renewed in the way we think. WE must begin to think like our Father thinks. We must train our brain to think right, then we will act right, live right and be right. It all starts with a change of mind. I want to dwell on the word of God and live as it says I can. I want to truly have the mind of Christ in every situation.

Prayer:

Lord, help me retrain my brain to think, act, and react as You would. I want to be more like You. Let Your word determine the path of my life and the direction of my steps. May I think the thoughts You want me to. Help me to focus on what your word says about about me instead of how I feel at the time. I want to walk by faith, not by sight.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Created for Good Works

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them".

Observation:

As Paul is beginning a letter to the Ephesians he tells them that they are the workmanship of Christ, who created them for good works. These good works were prepared beforehand by God that we should walk in them. From this I see that God has a plan for my life and that part of that plan is good works. He knew who would be near me each day and prepared good works for me to do before I was even born.

Application:

Have I missed out on many of the good works that God had prepared for me to do? How many times was His plan for me to reach out to someone in need and I just walked by because I was too busy? God created good works specifically for me to do. They are part of His plan for my life. I must be sensitive to the voice of the Lord each day and do what I feel He leads me to do. These good works are like anything else in the Christian life. He prepares them, but we must be obedient and walk in them.

Prayer:

Lord, I don't want any of the good works You have prepared for me be unfinished. I want to complete every assignment you have given me. Help me hear Your voice clearer and understand you more. Teach me to be obedient and to realize that if I am not, then someone is being robbed of a good work that you created me to do. Let me miss no more opportunities to bless someone.

Your Son,
Jeff

His Desire is Towards Me

Scripture:

Song of Songs 7:10 "I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me."

Observation:

Once again, this poem describes the love between a man and a woman. In it's verses I find simple nuggets of truth that are also true about my relationship with Christ who is my bridegroom. This woman realized that she was loved and knew her lovers desire and affection was toward her. She knew she was first place in his life and that he wanted to be with her.

Application:

The word of God tells us many times that God loves us and desires relationship with us. We know that He loves us as a fact, but don't really feel it in our heart. Most of us would struggle to say "his desire is toward me". I remember hearing Jesse Duplantis telling how much God loves him. As he spoke of how much God loves Jesse, I got jealous of his relationship with God. What he knew in his head had dropped into his heart. Many of us try to impress God to get Him to love us more, but He loves us already and His desire is toward us.

Prayer:

Father, Your word says that nothing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God. It tells us over and over how much You love us. I want to know You intimately. I want my knowledge of Your love to move deep into my heart. I want to be able to say with confidence "his desire is toward me". Thank You for your love. Let it grow in my heart every day and let me love otters that way you love me.

Jeff

The Heart of a God-Seeker

Scripture:

Song of Songs 5:2 "I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved!"

Observation:

The Shulamite is longing for her lover and describes it by saying, I sleep, but my heart is awake; it is the voice of my beloved. She is able to get rest, but she is easily awakened at the sound of the voice of her lover. Her body sleeps, but her heart never sleeps. She is in love!

Application:

I remember different times in my life when this was to be said of my relationship with God. I would go to sleep seeking God and would rest physically, but be easily awakened spiritually as God would speak and I would get back up to pray. I longed for the voice of the Lord and my heart never slept because I was in love and wanted to hear my Father's voice. I am getting hungry again and sense another time like that on the horizon. I want to hear from my Lord. I long for His voice to lead me.

Prayer:

Father, I want to hear your voice and know You better each day. I want to run after You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Lately I have been really tired and just want to sleep. Help me get my physical rest so I can handle the light sleep of the night, when you awaken me to speak to me. Wake me up and speak to me in my sleep. I want to hear Your voice more clearly than ever. Speak to me Lord.

I Love You,
Jeff

Seeking God

Scripture:

Song of Songs 3:2 "'I will rise now', I said, 'and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love'. I sought him, but I did not find him".

Observation:

Song of Songs is a beautiful story of romantic love between young lovers. In the story we see how they relate to each other and some of the feelings that lover feel for each other. In this verse we see the bride seeking after the bridegroom with all her heart. In the New Testament we are called the Bride of Christ and He is our bridegroom.

Application:

Jesus is worth pursuing with all your heart. Song of songs is a story about a couple, but when we see ourselves as the bride of Christ, we can extract things from the story that should apply to us. This woman in the story was willing to get up, go into the city streets and look for her lover. She was seeking him. She laid everything else aside and began to seek him. I want to seek Jesus like that. I want to go after Him with all my heart, soul mind and strength. I want to rise up and seek His face with more love than ever.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to know You more and more. I seek You this morning as a lover seeks her love. I want to grow in my love for You and become all You want me to be. Help me be a God-seeker. I want to hear Your voice whisper to me and direct me. I want to see what You are doing and be part of it. I want to feel Your presence throughout the day. Walk with me I pray and talk to me today.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Way of the Wise

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 10:10 "If the axe is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success".

Observation:

Ecclesiastes is a book that analyzes the ways of man. It shows what ways are folly and what ways are beneficial. Here, the author demonstrates wisdom by saying that a dull axe works, buts makes the work harder. With a sharp axe, you don't have to work as hard. It pays to take the time to sharpen the axe and use wisdom.

Application:

I am definitely one for swinging a dull axe really hard and for a long time. I don't like to break from the work to sharpen tools, even though sharpening them will cause production to move faster. I tend to be a workhorse who just keeps plowing and doesn't take a break to make things easier. I need to slow down, think and use wisdom instead of just pressing harder in some areas of my life.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to work smarter instead of harder. Help me to understand the ways of the wise. I want to build a house with wisdom and understanding. Speak to my heart daily and help me in this area I pray. Forgive me for working harder instead of smarter and asking Your insight more. I want to learn to lean on You more!

Your Son,
Jeff

A Time for Everything

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven".

Observation:

Ecclesiastes starts out with such a negative thought. It basically says everything is vanity, useless, and meaningless, therefore, why work so hard? It's like the author, after years of struggling to accomplish many things, realizes that he will die and those things will go to someone who may not appreciate them. Finally, after two chapters of dwelling on this, he realizes that there are times and seasons for everything. Seasons change, times change, everything changes given time. Everything has a season and a purpose.

Application:

We should always be hard workers and diligent people, but sometimes even when we work hard and live diligent lives, things don't happen when we want them to. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball we weren't expecting and we have to endure a season we didn't expect. The good thing about seasons is that if you hold on long enough, seasons will change. Likewise, if you hold on long enough, life's stuff will change as well. Nothing stays the same forever! There is a purpose for the season I am in. I must learn from that purpose and know that a new season will come.

Prayer:

Father, when things don't seem to happen on my personal timeline, please help me realize that there are times and purposes in God that I have no control over. Teach me to be patient and have faith when things are not what I want them to be. Your word says that through faith and patience we inherit the promises. Thank You for reminding me that everything has a season and that I don't have to rush anything.

Your Son,

Jeff

Filthy and Don't Know it

Scripture:

Proverbs 30:12 "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its own filthiness".

Observation:

The author here makes a powerful statement that is so true and that I believe is true of many in my generation. There are many today who truly feel they are right with God and that they are pure, yet they are purely wrong and don't know it. They hear the Word of God and are not convicted in their hearts of their continual lifestyle of sin. The don't realize they are not washed and clean, yet honestly think they are tight with the Lord and are doing great.

Application:

We can never allow ourselves to become pure in our own eyes, The only way to do this is to compare ourselves, not with others, but with the Word of God and the Son of God. These are our guidelines. Man has a tendency to think he is good. We need a standard to compare to, which is the Word of God. When we realize our shortcomings, we should be quick to realize it and repent of wrong. We need to walk in humility and have a teachable spirit. We don't want to get into legalism, but do want a life that is clean before the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to walk a life of humility and true purity before You. Help me to not be pure in my own eyes, but in Your eyes. Let my life shine for You. I don't want to stand before you one day and You say, "you thought you were pure, but really you were filthy". I want to walk in purity and power in this life. Move by Your Spirit. Build Your Kingdom in this region. Grow Your church!

Yours,
Jeff

It's a Matter of the Heart

Scripture:

Proverbs 27:19 "As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals a man".

Observation:

Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Here Solomon tells us that a man's heart reveals a man. If you want to know what is on a man's heart, simply stay around him a little while and he will reveal it through his mouth. Water can reflect an image, but the heart reveals the person. When there is joy in the heart, it will show on the face. When there is peace in the heart, it will show on the face. When there is much strife, it will show on the face. What is in our heart comes out on our faces and in our words.

Application:

Instead of trying to fix the outside and stop certain things, it is best to change the inside, which will affect the outside in due time. Many times we try so hard to have a right attitude and we simply need to have a right heart and the attitude will change. The heart makes the difference and is powerful. We need God to do a work in our hearts that will show in our speech and in our lifestyle.

Prayer:

Father, I love You and want to take a minute to praise You. You have blessed my life immensely and I appreciate it. Thank You for letting me serve You. Help me to do it with diligence and strength. I also ask that You would help me to have a pure heart. Let me have a heart that seeks after only You and that trusts You completely. My heart will reflect what is inside. Let my heart express the goodness of God.

Yours,
Jeff

Exceling at Work

Scripture:

Proverbs 22:29 "Do you see a man who excels at his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men".

Observation:

God wants His children to excel in life. He wants us to be the best at what we do, no matter what the field is. When you see someone who really excels in their work, God will raise them up and they will do their work for those who are in places of power. If you are a master of what you do, people will find out and seek for you to do their work. Excelling in any area will open doors from excellent people.

Application:

No matter what we do, we should do it with all our might. We should work with diligence and excellence. If you are a technician, a salesman, or an engineer, excel in it and watch the Lord raise you up. Be the best in your field and watch how your work will be sought out by those above you. Doing a great job with a great attitude is the key to staying employed and prospering in a recession.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to excel in every area of my life. Help me become an excellent pastor and teacher. I give You my life and ministry and ask You to bless it and help me get better at what I do. Be glorified in my life and let my preaching never be average. Let me walk with the excellent.

Your Son,

Jeff

Humility and Honor

Scripture:

Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor".

Observation:

Humility is one of the greatest characteristics of someone who is allowing God to really work in their lives. Scripture tells us many times to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand and He will raise us up. Here it tells us that humility comes before honor.

Application:

When we raise ourselves up, God will put us down. When we humble ourselves, God will raise us up. The second sounds much better to me. We live in a very self-reliant and proud culture that teaches us to fight for what is ours and lift ourselves up and make a place for ourselves. God's kingdom is opposite of the thinking of this world! He wants us to depend on Him and trust Him with our entire lives. He wants us to realize we are nothing and He is everything. When we get this, He will raise us up and bring honor to us. We must move from self-promotion to working hard and trusting God for the increase.

Prayer:

Father, be the center of my universe. Let my life become a life that honors You completely. Teach me humility and school me in becoming a man of God who is humble, yet valiant. You are amazing, help me to trust You and seek You more.

I Love You,

Jeff

Finding Life

Scripture:

Proverbs 8:35 "For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord".

Observation:

Proverbs 8 is talking about wisdom and gives many references to gaining wisdom and not having wisdom. This one tells us that whoever finds wisdom finds life and receives favor from the Lord. In finding wisdom, you find life and God's favor. What better is there to seek for than life and favor from God? When you have those two, you have amazing benefits.

Application:

The application is simply seeking wisdom as a precious jewel. Wisdom comes from experience and living life. In order to find wisdom, one must do one of two things: 1. experience a lot of things. 2. Seek out the advice of those who have more experience. The second is a much easier way to live! I want to be wise and live life to the fullest as well as have the favor of God on my life, therefore I must seek out wisdom.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to seek out wisdom. Help me to continually seek it out, that I may be wise and lead myself, me family and my church with wisdom and confidence. I want to live a life "well-lived" and with much wisdom. I want your favor on my life. Teach me wisdom and help me to seek out the wise.

Your Son,

Jeff

Being a Blessing

Scripture:

Proverbs 3:27 "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act".

Observation:

Solomon is simply saying that when we have the power to do good to people, we need to do it. God places us in positions so that He can bless people through our lives. When we have the power to act, it is because He placed us where we are and is trusting us to do good to those who deserve it.

Application:

How many opportunities have I missed to do good to someone who deserves it? How many times could I have spoken a kind word or done a kind gesture to someone? God has put me in a position to be a blessing and do good to people who deserve it. I need to act on it and use that position to bless as many people as possible.

Prayer:

Father, show me opportunities to do good to people. Help me to be a blesser of people and an encourager. You have blessed my life and placed me in a position to do good to people. Help me do it. Teach me to hear your voice and show me the opportunities You place in front of me every day. I want my life to be a blessing to others.

Yours,

Jeff

The Greatest Honor

Scripture:

II Corinthians 6:1 "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain".

Observation:

Paul describes himself in terms of being a fellow worker with God. It is as if he and God worked together to bring about God's will on earth. In the context, he was talking about reconciling people to God as though God were making His appeal through us. He understood that God worked together with him as he was leading people to Christ and reconciling them to God.

Application:

When I am ministering on Christ's behalf, I am a co-worker of God. I am never alone when I am working for Him. He is working together with me to reconcile people back to Him. What a blessing and the greatest honor in the world! We get to work together with God to bring about His will on the earth. When we are ministering, we are doing it through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of God will speak through us, and the job will get done.

Prayer:

Father, what an honor to work with You to bring about Your will on the earth. Cleanse my heart and mind, so I can be a better fellow worker with you. Help me represent You well and speak on Your behalf. Work with me to build Your kingdom on this earth in greater dimensions than ever before. I want You to flow with me and work through my life. Let me be an empty vessel You can fill and use for Your glory.

Love You,

Jeff

Ever increasing Glory

Scripture:

II Corinthians 3:18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is spirit".

Observation:

Paul is speaking of the glory of the New Covenant. He talks about how the glory of the Old Covenant caused Moses' face to shine and for him to need to wear a veil in front of the people because of God's glory on him. Now he says we have unveiled faces and are reflectors of the Lord's glory. He says we are being transformed in his likeness with ever-increasing glory.

Application:

Can I say that I am being transformed into the likeness of Christ with ever-increasing glory or have I gotten satisfied with where I am in my relationship with Him? After reading this verse, I want to become a better reflector of the glory of the Lord. I want his glory to be ever-increasing in my life. I want to be transformed into His likeness as the verse says. We must stay away from things that diminish his glory and likeness in our lives and begin to allow Him to shine through us more and more each day.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a glory reflector! I want to shine for You. Help me to live a life that you can shine on. Teach me to become a better Christ-follower and become more like Him every day. Let Your glory be ever-increasing in my life, that you may be glorified in and through my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Stand Firm

Scripture:

I Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain".

Observation:

Paul has been talking in the previous verses about death and resurrection. He talked about how mortal will put on immortality. Then he says, "Therefore", because of the resurrection, let nothing move you. Give yourselves to the work of the Lord because your labor is not in vain. God wants His people to stand firm and not give up so easily. He wants people who will remain faithful through the hard things of life and not give up when things don't go their way.

Application:

Lately, God has been speaking to me about standing firm. He keeps saying "hold onto what I sent you to do". He keeps reminding me that my reward is in heaven and that He is with me. This verse today strengthens my resolve to continue to finish what I came here to start. As we do what he wants us to do, He lets us know that our work is not in vain. He is in control and as we submit to Him, He will direct our paths and give us the strength we need to do what He tells us to do.

Prayer:

Thank You Lord for the encouragement this morning. You are always faithful! May Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Strengthen your body that they may fulfill the great commission and realize in the process that their work is not in vain.

Love,
Jeff

More than Talk

Scripture:

I Corinthians 4:20 "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power".

Observation:

Paul has been talking to the Corinthians about following different men instead of following Jesus. They were being persuaded by gifted speakers division was coming in the church. Paul tells them that when he comes, he will see who is arrogant and who has power. Paul was saying, the proof is in the pudding. You can be a great speaker, but if the power of God isn't there to back up what you are saying, it is just words that don't produce much.

Application:

If God's kingdom is not about words, but power, why do we lean on our own understanding and try to rationalize everything? Why does the church of Jesus Christ seem powerless these days? Is it because we have eloquent speakers, but lack the power of the gospel. Paul said the Kingdom of God was a matter of power. We need the power of God in our lives if our testimony is going to stand. We must seek God until He comes in power to confirm His word.

Prayer:

O Lord send the power just now. O Lord send the power just now. O Lord send the power just now, and baptize everyone. I want to see You power to save, heal, deliver and make new. I ask You to pour out Your Spirit and bring forth the revival we so desperately need. Awaken the church that bears Your name and let the power be turned on. Revive me Lord and let your power flow through my life.

Your Son,
Jeff

Despised of the World

Scripture:

I Corinthians 1:28 "God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important".

Observation:

Paul is writing to the Corinthian people and telling them that God's wisdom supersedes the world's wisdom. He talks about how God chooses the simple things to confound the wise. God will demonstrate to the world that He is God! He will use simple people who carry a powerful anointing to show that the wisdom of the world is nothing compared to the power of God.

Application:

Sometimes God asks me to do things that don't make sense to me. Sometimes He asks me to step out in faith and believe Him for things that I can't understand. When I fall to my own understanding, I fall miserably, but when I lean on Him and don't ask questions, He comes through every time. When I walk in obedience to what makes no sense to me, God always confuses the wise and makes them say, "there must be a God in heaven". God is looking for people today who are willing to look like a fool for Him in order that He will confuse the wisdom of the wise.

Prayer:

Father, I want to see You work in power. My region is very intellectual and is full of very wise people in human wisdom. Your wisdom far exceeds human wisdom and You use simple, willing vessels to reveal Your glory through. My region needs to see a demonstration of Your power. Come in power to this area and reveal Your glory! Come and move in our midst until the wise are confounded. Do what only You can do! I Love Serving You,
Jeff Jacob

Humility is the Key

Scripture:

Psalm 149:4 "For the Lord takes delight in his people; He crowns the humble with salvation".

Observation:

The Word of God tells us that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humility is one of the main characteristics of a follower of Christ. It starts with humility, when we humble ourselves before Him and admit we are sinners and deserve punishment. It finishes with humility as we bow before Him and worship in eternity. It was pride that caused Lucifer to fall and it is what destroys most people today. God lifts up the humble.

Application:

We have become a very proud people. We think we can do life without God having to do much because we have got it under control. We like to be the masters of our own destiny. We like to plan out our lives and tell God what He needs to do. He is looking for a people who will humble themselves and realize that His plans are better than your own. He is looking for a humble people that He can crown, while we are striving after crowns to demonstrate our pride.

Prayer:

Lord God, let a spirit of humility come upon my life. I want to be fully reliant on You and to live a life that pleases You. Show me the way and help me to walk in it. I want to walk in tune with You Spirit. I want to hear Your voice clearly. I want to live in Your presence.

Yours,
Jeff Jacob

Great is our God

Scripture:

Psalm 147:5 "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit".

Observation:

God is great and mighty in power. There is no greater power or authority in the universe, yet many times we live our lives like He is weak or He doesn't love us. Sometimes we look as if things are hopeless in our lives, when we serve the most powerful God in the world. Nothing is beyond His understanding according to this verse. He created knowledge and He understands all things.

Application:

If God is great, mighty and full of understanding, then why do I struggle to trust Him more completely? God wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul mind and strength. He wants us to seek Him. He is great and mighty, but his people must seek Him in order to see the day of great things. We must pursue this awesome God of incredible power and understanding. He is worthy of the hunt!

Prayer:

Father, You are the all-powerful God. You are full of wisdom and knowledge. I long to see the greatness of Your power in my life. I long to see You move in the earth as You have in past times. I long to see you heal the sick and raise the dead as a testimony to the world that You are God. Awaken Your church to realize You are powerful and mighty. Awaken You church to walk in the power and might of their God. I long for You!

Jeff

Give Thanks to the Lord

Scripture:

Psalm 136:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever".

Observation:

This Psalm repeats the phrase "His love endures forever", after every statement. The Psalmist wants us know that God's love endures forever. When things are good, His love endures, when things are not so good, His love endures. The love of God remains forever. This scripture tells us the give thanks to the Lord because He is good. A thankful heart will keep your perspective right. We must remain thankful for all the Lord has done for us instead of expecting Him to do what we want, when we want, and then being upset if He doesn't give us what we want.

Application:

God wants His people to have a thankful heart. If He never did another thing for us, we should be thankful for what He has already done. Thanksgiving is coming up and it is a time for Americans to remember what our forefathers did for us. How much more should be be thankful for all our heavenly father has done for us? God is good! We must give Him thanks for this on an every day basis. We must live every day in great appreciation for all the Lord has done for us. We must be thankful people.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for all you have done in my life. You have blessed me beyond measure. You have always taken care of me. You set me in a great family. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you on a daily basis. Forgive me for taking you for granted and expecting things of you. Teach me to be a thankful person for all you have done and continue to do in my life. If you never did another thing, You have already done enough for me to be thankful the rest of my life.

You are awesome!

Jeff

Arise O Lord

Scripture:

Psalm 132:8 "Arise O Lord, and come to Your resting place; you and the ark of your might".

Observation:

David had desired for a long time to build God a place to be worshipped. He longed to build a temple for the Lord. He loved God and wanted God to be lifted up and honored above all else. Just before this verse it says David couldn't sleep day or night until he had built a place for God. When David died, the temple was built and here the Psalmist is praying, "Arise O Lord and come to Your resting place. The place David wanted so badly to build you.

Application:

As David longed to build a house for the Lord and the Psalmist later desired God to arise in that place in all His strength, I long to build a place where God is lifted up and He will arise in all His strength and might. I believe we need an encounter again with the Power of God. I believe we need God to visit us in power. The church has been powerless for many years, yet we serve the all-powerful God. I say with the Psalmist, "Arise, O Lord, and come to Your church. Arise you and the ark of your strength, or tangible presence of God".

Prayer:

Arise O Lord and demonstrate your power once again in the body of Christ. I want to see You high and lifted up and your people alive and vibrant in their faith again. Let your church long for You like David did. Let your presence fill our churches again. Let those who come in know they have had an encounter with the living God. Arise O Lord and fill your people with strength. Heal your people and encourage them.

Amen,
Jeff

Waiting and Hope

Scripture:

Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope".

Observation:

When God speaks, it will come to pass. Our job is not to question, but to wait patiently and to trust in his word. Twice the Psalmist says he waits for the Lord, then he closes the thought with "and in His word I do hope". The one thing we can trust and place our hope in is the Word of God. It does not lie and cannot fail.

Application:

Trusting God and waiting on Him can be frustrating. He is never late, but seldom early. What do we do when we are waiting for Him to work in our lives? We should be placing our hope in His word and not in ourselves. His word is powerful and will come to pass if we remain in faith, hope and trust. Wait on the Lord and hope in His word. He will bring it to pass.

Prayer:

Lord, here I am again asking for patience, endurance and trust. I want to wait confidently for Your words to come to pass. Teach me to have hope while waiting on the fulfillment of all You have called me to do. I want to trust You more and lean on my own understanding less and less.

Yours,

Jeff

Reaping in Joy

Scripture:

Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy".

Observation:

The Psalmist shares a little insight about sowing and reaping that we often neglect. We constantly hear about sowing in good ground, sowing by faith, reaping what we sow, etc, but here it takes a little different twist. Here it shows sowing when it is painful and bringing tears. His word for them is that they will reap in joy.

Application:

The time of sowing is not easy under any circumstances. Sowing is hard work and brings pain. Reaping brings forth joy in our hearts because the work has paid off and the harvest is coming in. Sowing in tears is difficult! It would be much easier if God would bring in the harvest while we were sowing so we could see the final results to encourage us in the process. The sad thing is that when we are sowing, we can see nothing happening and must trust that what we sowed, we will reap. I feel like I have been sowing a long time and haven't seen the harvest come into its fullness yet.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to trust that every seed I sow will produce eventually. Help me understand this principle better. I want to come forth with joy in the harvest. I want to walk by faith, not sight, and know that I have sown in tears and will reap in joy. I am more than ready for the season of joy! I love You Lord, and I am Yours forever. Thank You for the recent signs of a joyful harvest coming.

You're the Best,

Jeff

Trust in the Lord

Scripture:

Psalm 125:1 "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Observation:

Trusting God means allowing Him to be in control and lead the direction of our lives. When we truly trust Him, we live above fear, stress, anxiety, etc. Peace fills our lives. Many are moved by situations and circumstances, but those who trust in the Lord cannot be moved, no matter how bad the situation looks.

Application:

I want to be like Mount Zion and not be moved by what I see, hear, touch, taste, or feel. I want to be moved only by the Word of God and faith. I want to trust the Lord more and become more a man of faith than I have been. I want to walk more by faith and less by sight. I want God to truly be in control of every part of my life.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to trust You more and stop taking things into my own hands. Help me to walk as Jesus did and only do what I see You doing and only say what I hear You saying. Help me walk in Your ways and trust that You have my life under Your control. You are my father and I want to trust You like a little child trusts his father.

Yours,

Jeff

Purity and God's Word

Scripture:

Psalm 119:9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.

Observation:

Psalm 119 is a powerful chapter full of insight and wisdom concerning God's word. Every verse in the longest chapter of the bible talks about the word of the Lord, the scriptures, God's commands, etc. This verse tells me that a young man can stay on the path of purity by living according to God's word. I want my sons to walk the path of purity, therefore I must help them live according to the word of God.

Application:

God's word is powerful and the more we get of it, the better we will live. When temptation comes, it is the Word of God that will keep us from falling. I want to teach my sons the power of the Word of God. I want them to know that God is able to keep them from falling into temptation when it comes. The Word of God is crucial as a mirror to look into and we must apply it to our lives every day.

Prayer:

Father, help me better train my sons in the word of God. I want them to be strong and able to face all manner of temptation, but i know their strength will only come from knowing Your Word. I ask You for ideas to make it desirable for a young man. Watch over my sons and keep the pure I pray.

You Son,

Jeff

Fear and blessing

Scripture:

Psalm 115:13 "He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly".

Observation:

God is no respecter of persons. He treats people equally, not matter what their background is. He takes the lowly and makes them important. In this passage it says that God blesses those who fear Him, both great and lowly. His blessing isn't only for the high and mighty, but for the lowly. The fear of the Lord bring about God's blessing, no matter what your background has been.

Application:

As I read through the Psalms again, i am amazed at how much the Psalmist talks about the fear of the Lord. He understand the fear of the Lord and how God blesses those who fear Him. There seems to be a continual theme of the fear of the Lord, which, I believe, we have lost in the church today. I welcome and want the fear of the Lord in my life. Jesus said not to fear those who can hurt you physically, but rather Him who can take your life. I want to fear God more than man.

Prayer:

Father teach me to fear you and give you the respect your deserve. There seems to be great blessing for those who fear you. Help me fear you more than I fear anyone else and to honor you above everyone else. I love you Lord, give me strength today.

Yours,

Jeff

Benefits of Fearing God

Scripture:

Psalm 112:2 "Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed".

Observation:

The above verse is just a part of what the Psalmist declares of those who fear the Lord. God desires to be feared, but the promises of what happens in your life once you step into the fear of the Lord is amazing. The children of those who really fear the Lord will be blessed and prosperous in everything they touch.

Application:

My parents have been faithful to the Lord and followed Him wholeheartedly their entire married lives. They have feared the Lord and tried to do exactly what God would have them do in every situation. Their children have been blessed and successful in what ever they put their hand to. The next generation is blessed because of the fear of the lord in my mom and dad. I want to pass on the blessing to my children by walking in the fear of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, let Joshua and Jordan be successful and prosperous because dad feared and walked with You. I have seen how You bless generations and families and I want my family to be blessed. Help me stay on track and walking in the fear of the Lord. You are holy and awesome!

Your Son,
Jeff

God's Protection

Scripture:

Psalm 97:10 "You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked".

Observation:

The Psalmist encourages those who love the Lord to also hate evil. He records that those who hate evil and live godly lives will be protected and rescued from the ungodly. He makes a correlation between our right living and God's rescuing and protection.

Application:

We need to hate evil more! We must love God and hate evil. many times we wonder why God doesn't protect us better or rescue us when we are in trouble. Could it be that we are living ungodly lives? Could it be that we don't hate evil? God wants His people to come out from among them and be holy as He is holy. When we are doing that, He will take care of our enemies.

Prayer:

Lord, let my life be godly in every area. Forgive me for not hating evil as I should. Teach me to walk in your paths of righteousness and see sin and evil through your eyes. Show me how to walk in Your ways and not simply by comparing myself to someone else and feeling I am doing better than them. I want to be pure before You, hate what you hate, and love what you love!

Your Son,
Jeff

A Challenge

Scripture:

Psalm 96:2 "Sing to the Lord; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves".

Observation:

The Psalmist encourages each person to daily proclaim the good news that God saves. Many times, the hardest conversation to get into is the one that contains the best news. Isn't it amazing that when we eat at a great restaurant or see a good movie, that we tell everyone about it. When God does something great in our lives, we are hesitant to say anything to anybody. We must begin to proclaim the good news that He saves DAILY!

Application:

I want to be a person that shares the good news with someone every single day. I want to be able to say with the Psalmist that "He saves". I am being challenged today to share the good news at least once per day in some way with someone. I personally have no problem talking about football with someone, but find it harder to talk about Jesus to the same person. I want to change that in my life.

Prayer:

Father, make me more bold for You. Help me to witness to at least one person per day. Help me declare the good news that You save at least once per day. I want to be a vessel in your hand that you can use to touch many lives. Help me start today and give me the strength to not let a day go by without sharing good news with someone.

Your Son,
Jeff

Wisdom

Scripture:

Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom".

Observation:

This is a Psalm of Moses. He asks the Lord to teach him the brevity of life so that he can grow in wisdom. Moses understands that wisdom comes from realizing how short life is. When you realize how short life is, you make your decisions count and apply more wisdom. When you think life is eternal on the earth and you are indestructible, you get wreckless with life.

Application:

We need to think about how short life really is. When we realize how short life is, some of the things we fight about, worry about, and get frustrated about, lose their importance in our lives. When you keep in mind the brevity of life, you want to enjoy it more and live a healthy, happy life on this earth. People who know they only have a couple years to live tend to make lists of the things they want to do before they die and try to accomplish them. People who think they have a long time, tend to live for today and worry about tomorrow.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to number my days and realize the brevity of life. Help me to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Let me make every day count for you. Help me be more wise with my time and to finish your work for my life. When this life is over, i will step into eternity. Help me live every day with eternity in mind.

Your Son,
Jeff

Revive Us

Scripture:

Psalm 85:6 "Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in You?"

Observation:

The Psalmist is speaking of reviving Israel and making it powerful again. He states that people will rejoice in God when they have been revived. To revive means to bring back to life.

Application:

I want to see God revive His church again! I want to see the church of Jesus Christ alive and well, doing the will of God from the heart. I want to see God's people full of life. For too long the enemy has sucked the life out of God's people and caused them not to be able to produce fruit. I want to see Zoe life in the church again. I want God to breath again on His church as He breathed on Ezekiel's army in the valley of dry bones. I want God's people to rejoice in Him and simply to rejoice again.

Prayer:

Lord, let revival fires fall! Let Your glory be upon your people again. Let your people rejoice because God is moving. Let there be a new joy in the house of God. Let your people have an encounter with You. Revive your church and awaken this nation. Breathe life again into dry bones and let them live again. I cry out with the Psalmist, won't You revive us again, so your people can rejoice in You? Thank you for pouring out Your Spirit yesterday in our service. Increase it and let your people rejoice in their God.

Yours,

Jeff

Power Increase

Scripture:

Psalm 75:10 "For God says, 'I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly'".

Observation:

The Psalmist wrote this song speaking of what the Lord will do to His enemies. It is a Psalm speaking of God having the final say on the earth. He closes the Psalm by declaring, "I will increase the power of the godly". This verse stood out to me this morning as lately I have been really hungry to see God's power in my life again.

Application:

If God increases the power of the godly, and I want to see more of His power, then I must increase in godliness. If I want to see his power revealed in my generation, then I must live a more God centered life. He must be the center of everything I do.

Prayer:

Lord, I have allowed other things to play center stage in my life. I have always wanted to please You, but I have feared others more than You. Help me place increase in godliness, I want to be more like You. You are my everything! Help me become a godlier person. I long to see Your power revealed in Ashburn, VA. I also understand that Your power is revealed through people who are godly. Help me get there 100%.

Jeff

Throughout the Earth

Scripture:

Psalm 67:2 "May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere."

Observation:

The Psalmist desired to see his God known in all the earth. The cry of his heart was to see God exalted and people coming to Him. He had a desire for the whole earth to know the God of Israel.

Application:

I am with the Psalmist on this one. I want to see God's name lifted up throughout the entire world. I want to see nations that have rejected him totally, be turned around for His own glory. I want the world to see the power of God and serve him. God's heart has always been for the world to know him.

Prayer:

father, make your name known in all the earth. Rise up O God and move mightily in all the earth. Let all the nations tremble before you. Let your awesome name be named in every country of this earth. Throughout all the earth, may your name be praised!

You're the best!
Jeff

God Does Not Ignore our Prayers

Scripture:

Psalm 66:20 "Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me".

Observation:

The psalmist understood that God does not ignore our prayers and that He doesn't withdraw his unfailing love form us. Verse 18 helps me understand it a little better when he says, "if I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened". He understood that God hears and answers as his people confess their sins and humble themselves before Him.

Application:

God does not ignore our prayers, but sometimes our prayers are hindered because of the unconfessed sin in our own hearts. Many times we get frustrated with God, when He is waiting on us to get our hearts right before Him. He always hears and answers. He doesn't ignore us, but He does wait for us to come before Him humbly and confess our sin. His love and faithfulness can be trusted, therefore i must confess my sins to Him and know I won't be ignored. I must do my part to see my prayers answered.

Prayer:

Lord, I ask you to help me to walk humbly before You and to continually confess my sins, that my prayers be not hindered. I want open and free communication with You. Thank you for hearing and not ignoring me when I pray. I want to know You more and walk with You more. Teach me the power of confessing my sin and help me to do it regularly.

Jeff

Angels

Scripture:

Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them".

Observation:

The angel of the Lord is seen many times in scripture. The angel of the Lord is a powerful angel that can defeat any enemy. He rises up to fight on behalf of God's people. In this verse we see that the angel of the Lord camps around, and delivers, those who fear the Lord.

Application:

Fearing the Lord has many benefits I am learning as I walk through Psalms this time. Here, the fear of the Lord causes the angel of the Lord to stay around me and deliver me from my enemies. This powerful angel goes to work on my behalf when I walk in the fear of the Lord. If I really believe this, stress in life is reduced because I would know that this powerful angel has got my back and will deliver me from any situation. You can rest easier knowing there are unseen forces working on your behalf at all times. This is brought on by the fear of the Lord.

Prayer:

Here I am again Lord asking you to teach me about the fear of the Lord. I know there are many benefits for those who fear you. I want to fall in that category. Teach me to fear you as I should and let your angels get my back.

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

The Fear of the Lord

Scripture:

Psalm 25:12-13 "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth".

Observation:

The fear of the Lord is something you don't hear talked about much anymore. The Psalmist understood the fear of the Lord. He knew that when you feared God, you obeyed God, and when you obey God, blessing follows. He understood some things we need to get ahold of today.

Application:

It is usually the fear of punishment that keeps you doing the right things in life. You don't speed, not because it isn't a good idea, but because you are afraid of a thing called a ticket. Fearing a spanking from a parent keeps a child in line and their obedience brings about blessing. Prosperity awaits those who really fear the Lord according to this verse and my children will be blessed. I want to understand the fear of the Lord better and bring about prosperity for my family.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to fear you. Teach me what it means to fear you. I want to please you every day of my life. I want to sit at your feet and learn of You. You are my rock and my salvation. I need you Lord. Help me to understand and walk in the fear of the Lord.

Yours,
Jeff

The King of Glory

Scripture:

Psalm 24:8 "Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle".

Observation:

This is a Psalm of David. The Psalmist has declared, "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up you everlasting doors! And the king of glory shall come in". Next it declares who this king of glory is. He is the Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle". David understood who the Lord was. He knew that God was strong and mighty in battle. He knew beyond any shadow of doubt that God was all powerful!

Application:

I want to know the Lord as David knew Him. David, at times, questioning God, but he always came out declaring the praises of the Lord and knowing he was that Lord mighty in battle. I want to have the confidence in my God that lets me know I am in His hands and can completely and totally trust Him. He is powerful, but sometimes I don't live life like He is. There is nothing too difficult for Him, yet I live sometimes as if He is limited.

Prayer:

Father, I want to know you more. Thank you for an awesome service yesterday. Thank you for coming and touching the lives of people! You are amazing! Help me to pursue You more diligently every day. I want more of You! You are my source and life. You are my strength and vitality. Help me to trust you more and more. I want to see You as David saw you, The undisputed King of Glory".

From Sincere Hearts

Scripture:

Psalm 15:1-2 "Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts."

Observation:

David writes this Psalm about who can worship in God's sanctuary. He talks about who can enter into God's presence. He says it is the ones who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Truth and sincerity are always on God's top ten list. He wants us to be people who are truthful and live lives above reproach. He asks for integrity.

Application:

There are times when I don't follow this verse in its fullness. I don't always speak the truth from a sincere heart. Many times I don't say things that need to be said because I don't like confrontation and avoid it at all costs. My heart is sincere, but I don't always say things that I know I need to say because I like people to like me. Coming into God's presence requires that we speak the truth from sincere hearts, not vengeful or mean hearts, but hearts that truly want others to be blessed.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to say the things that will bring forth the best end for people. Teach me to speak the truth, even when the truth hurts. Help me to love people enough to say things from a sincere heart. Let my confrontations always be to bring about the best and to help others. Let the sincere heart show forth. I love your presence and want to experience more of it every day.

Your Son,
Jeff

The Lord's Promises

Scripture:

Psalm 12:6 "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over".

Observation:

In the context of this passage, the Psalmist is talking about why the wicked prosper and don't get judged. He has spent several chapters talking about God getting revenge on his enemies. In the middle of this ranting and raving about his enemies, David declares the word of the Lord. He says that God has seen what is happening and that His promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace seven times over.

Application:

If God said it, you can take it to the bank! The Psalmist understood that God's word never fails and does not lie. We need to come to the place where the Lord's promises are treated as something of value. Instead of throwing around a silver plate that has been purified seven times, you would take great care of it because of its value. God's promises must be taken great care of. They are valuable to us. They are pure and will come to pass in his timing. If something silver has been purified seven times in the fire, it is valuable. It is also beautiful. We must treasure God's promises, written and Rhema.

Prayer:

Father, let me honor Your promises. Help me to esteem your promises as silver refined seven times. Teach me to love your promises and trust them completely. I want to understand each promise and esteem them highly in my life. Your promises are pure, help me to see them as such.

I Love You,

Jeff

Authority

Scripture:

Psalm 8:6 "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority".

Observation:

The Psalmist David is talking here about mankind, created by God. Speaking to the Lord he says, "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority". The Psalmist understood man. He understood God's plan for mankind. The original plan of God was that Adam and Eve would have dominion over all of His creation. God wanted man to reign and rule on this earth.

Application:

Jesus is called the second Adam in the NT. After the sin of Adam and Eve, man was separated from God and no longer had dominion because of sin. Jesus, the second Adam, came to restore that authority and dominion. He paid the price for sin so that we could have access into the heavenlies. We need to get back to God's original intent of having authority over God's beautiful creation. We must understand that God created us to rule and reign, not to just accept whatever comes along. We must take our place and walk in the authority that Jesus died to give us.

Prayer:

Father, teach me Your original intention for man. Show me more. I want to understand more fully and completely. I want to walk in the authority you have given us and have dominion as You would want me to. I don't want to just accept things in the earth that are not right, but to change them. Help me take my authority.

Yours,

Jeff

The Lord will Answer

Scripture:

Psalm 4:3 "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call on Him".

Observation:

This is a Psalm of David. He lets us know that we can be sure of two things. 1. God set the godly apart for Himself. He also lets us know that the Lord will answer when I call on Him. These are things the Psalmist tells us we can be sure of. We can stake our lives on these two things.

Application:

We must become as confident in our walk with God as David was. He was totally confident that God had set Him apart and that God would answer when he called. Our lives would be so much different if we actually believed that when we called, God would answer. We would finally learn to walk by faith and not by sight. If we really believed that when we called on Him, He would answer, I believe we would call on Him more and expect results more.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk in confident assurance that when I call on You, that You will answer. I have have some needs right now that I have been calling on You for. Help me walk by faith and trust that You have heard and that you are responding. I love You Lord and want to walk by faith more and more.

Your Son,
Jeff

Enjoying Life

Scripture:

Job 33:30 "He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life".

Observation:

Elihu is the youngest of Job's friends and has been silent until this point because culturally it would be considered wrong for a younger person to council an older person. Finally he feels like he must say some things and begin to tell him what he thinks Job's problem is. In the course of it he makes this comment about God, "He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life".

Application:

Job's friend wasn't perfect theologically, but he did have something good to say here. God does rescue us from the grave so we can enjoy the light of life. Are we enjoying what Jesus came and died for? We must learn to enjoy the life that Christ died to give us. Too many of us are walking around down and discouraged with no light and life in us. This is not God's problem, it is ours! Our NT life is a life of faith. We walk by faith, not by sight. We will enjoy life and light when we learn to be controlled by our faith and not controlled by our emotions.

Prayer:

Father, I want to enjoy life. I want to walk in the light as you are in the light. You paid the ultimate price so that I could have abundant and eternal life. I want to live that kind of life. Help me keep my focus on You and Your will. Show me the areas I need to change and help me to walk by faith and not by sight.

Yours,

jeff

Wisdom

Scripture:

Job 28:17 "Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold".

Observation:

Job was a very wise man who had great understanding. He has just talked about being able to mine gold, silver, copper, etc. He said that we know how to do these things, but do we know how to mine wisdom and understanding?

Application:

We must ask God to give us godly wisdom in every area of life. Wise people prosper and don't make the same mistakes as others. They see the warning signs and don't go there. They see ahead and notice dangers on the horizon. Wisdom is extremely valuable because it can guide us into making right decisions. We need to ask god for wisdom and seek for it diligently.

Prayer:

Help me to gain wisdom in my life. I want to be a wise person who is able to make right choices and decisions. I want my life to bring your glory and a life of wisdom makes you look good. Teach me to seek out wisdom and to use it in every part of my life. You said if anyone lacked wisdom we could ask God and He would give it. Lord, today I ask for wisdom. I desperately need it in my life right now.

Jeff

Job's Vow

Scripture:

Job 27:3-4 "As long as I live, while I have breath from God, my lips will speak no evil, and my tongue will speak no lies".

Observation:

Job is responding to his "friends" who have told him that he is hiding some sin somewhere or he wouldn't be in this situation. He vows to his friends that as long as he lives his lips will speak no evil and his tongue will not tell a lie. Job had already endured incredible suffering and has declared his innocence. Here he is letting them know that he is not lying about this or any other situation.

Application:

Our mouths can get us into so much trouble. Things we say can and do hurt people and cause much pain. The same tongues we say we love God with are used to curse people. We need to make a vow to god that our mouths will utter nothing evil and will speak no lies. As we do our best to fulfill this commitment, God will do the rest. He has given us His Holy Spirit to help us live according to His will. We must fix our speech problems.

Prayer:

Father, I want to walk in purity before you. My tongue has a way of getting me in trouble at times and causing problems in my life. Purify my speech and let it be used to bring You glory and help others. Help me to speak the positive and be an encourager. Have a great day!

Jeff

Jesus Christ My Mediator

Scripture:

Job 9:33 "If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment".

Observation:

Job felt that God was punishing him unjustly. He felt that he should take God to court and prove his innocence, but he realized that could never happen and that God was so perfect and so powerful that He could never lose. He realized he was a sinner and God was perfect. All he could ask for was a mediator who could bring him and God together and make Go stop beating him.

Application:

Job cried out for a mediator who would turn away God's punishment for whatever he had done. He longed for someone who could bring Him and God together. Jesus is the mediator that Job cried out for. He took our punishment and turned God's wrath away from us, therefore we don't have to live in fear and terror of God like Job did. Our mediator has come and his name is Jesus. Job wanted someone to bring him and God together. Jesus died to do exactly that. He brought us together with God.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for sending your son to die in my place, to take my punishment, and to bring us together. Thank you for accepting and loving me. Thank you for bridging the gap between You and me. You are truly amazing and your grace is incredible. You're the best! Thank you for calling me son.

Jeff

Confidence and Hope

Scripture:

Job 4:6 "Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn't your life of integrity give you hope?"

Observation:

Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, comes to him when he has lost everything and had sores all over his body with a message. Job really just wants to die and his friend comes by with some good words. He ssys, "Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence and your life of integrity give you hope?" He has seen Job's life and knows that Job is a man of integrity. He also knows that a man of integrity usually feels confidence and hope because he knows he is living right and that God is with him.

Application:

Our right living and integrity should give us confidence and hope when thigns are difficult for us. We should have an inner peace knowing God is our father and we are in His hands of mercy and grace. Right living produces confidence and hope. When you are doing right and living the way God wants you to, you have hope because you know your relationshi with God is strong. This doesn't guarantee, as in Job's case, that nothing will go wrong, but it shuold help us as we go through tough times.

Prayer:

Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to You. I want to know that our relationship is great and receive confidence and hope as a result. Help me live in integrity and be the man you want me to be. You are amazing!

Jeff

IS God Santa Clause?

Scripture:

Job 2:10 "But Job replied, 'You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?' So in all this Job said nothing wrong".

Observation:

Job was and extremely wealthy man. God allowed Satan to take away all of his earthly possessions including all his children, his livestock and everything he owned. Satan then attacks Job with boils from head to foot until he was absolutely miserable and in terrible pain. His wife had just told him to curse God and die, thinking it would be easier than the life he was living. His response to her was amazing. He asks her if they are only to receive good things from God and never bad. He was committed to God enough that he was willing to accept the bad with the good and still serve Him.

Application:

Sometimes we think of God as Santa Clause who only brings us all of the gifts we ask for. We want Him to bring us everything we need in life and a little more. We even make list of things we want Him to do for us. We expect Him to only bring good gifts and never anything bad. Suffering is the greatest way to build character and if we never have to go through anything negative, our lives become weak. God is still God when things are good and when things are bad. We should love and worship Him when things are wonderful and when things are terrible. He is God!

Prayer:

Father, teach me to accept all of Your gifts, the good and the bad. The blessings and the tough times. Tough times help me grow in You and depend more strongly on You. Make me strong in You. You are not Santa Clause, but the master of the universe. You know what I need better than I do and I trust You to be fully in control.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Conquering Evil

Scripture:

Romans 12:21 "Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good".

Observation:

Paul is speaking to the Romans about how to live peaceably with each other. He talks about love and then moves into talking about not repaying evil for evil. As he closes this thought, he makes one simple statement, "don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good". Sometimes we fight the darkness so hard, when all we have to do is turn on the light. Doing good will conquer evil every time.

Application:

Many times we fight, rebuke, do spiritual warfare, etc. against the evil of our day. Paul tells us that we can conquer evil by doing good. Spiritual warfare is a reality and needs to be waged, but many times our battles just need for us to be men and women enough to do good, and let God be God. As we listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, He will show us how to win every battle. Darkness is really just the absence of light. Evil is really just the absence of good. Doing good can conquer any foe.

Prayer:

Lord, let me see You hand at work in my life. I want to see You high and lifted up and every enemy defeated. teach me to live a simple life of doing good, living right and watching You defeat every enemy that tries to raise it's ugly head against me. You are my protection, my fortress and my defender.

Thanks,
Jeff

Spirit Empowered Living

Scripture:

Romans 8:9 "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled be the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you".

Observation:

This passage is in the middle of a lengthy discourse about the power of sin and death compared to the power of the Spirit. We are all born with a sin nature. The Law helped us see that sin nature. Through Christ, the old nature died and our new nature is that of our father. We have died to sin and its power over our lives. When we live by the Spirit, we will have victory over sin. The Spirit will lead us to do the right thing for the right purpose and will give us everything we need to walk in victory over sin. "We are not controlled by our sinful nature". We have power over it, it doesn't have power over us.

Application:

We must understand this principle if we are ever gong to live the way God intended us to live. He wants us to be free from the power of sin in our lives. Jesus has already paid the price for sin's power to be broken in our lives, yet we continue to give in to the sinful nature. The power of sin is broken and the Spirit causes us to walk in victory over sin. We must live Spirit empowered lives. We must walk with the Spirit and receive the power to live a life that is not controlled by sin or anything else except the master.

Prayer:

Father, you sent your son and your spirit to help us get free from this power called sin. You have done everything necessary to free us from it's power, yet Your people walk powerless. Help me communicate your truth in ways that people can grasp and that will set them free from this sin nature. let the love of God fall fresh in my life and let me filled to overflow with your Spirit. I want to know you more each day and live a life that makes You pleased.

Love,
Jeff

Divine Reversals

Scripture:

Esther 8:15 "The Mordecai left the king's presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the decree".

Observation:

God is the God of divine reversals. He can turn any situation around when his people fast and pray. Here, Mordecai was suppose to be impaled, but his enemy ended up being impaled and his enemy's royal position was given to Mordecai. He went from being on death row to being one of the most powerful people in the land. This is how God works on behalf of His people when they seek His face and call on His name.

Application:

Sometimes we spend too much time worrying about what could happen instead of fasting and praying and asking God to turn things around. If God is our father and we truly believe He will take care of us, why do we stress and worry? He is truly in control! Seek the Lord while He may be found. Cry out to Him, He is near to those who call out to Him. Divine reversals still happen today for those who seek the Lord with fasting and prayer.

Prayer:

Lord, You are my Father and my God. I look to You as my healer, deliverer, friend, and the one who knows my situations. You are the God of divine reversals! I ask you to turn some things around in my life. Turn WOL around and let it begin to grow. Let us impact our region for eternity. Let there be breakthroughs in every area. Let the lost find Christ and let this region see a revival of unprecedented proportions. You are able, help me believe.

The Power of Fasting

Scripture:

Esther 4:16 "Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same".

Observation:

Esther was about to come boldly to the king and ask him to spare the Jews. It was against the law for her to approach him without being invited, but she knew if the Jews were going to be saved, she must speak with him. Knowing this was extremely dangerous, she asked everyone to fast and pray. On the third day, she went for it, risking her very life, and God gave her favor with the king.

Application:

Prayer and fasting is powerful in the life of a believer. There is something really special and powerful about prayer with fasting. Prayer is emphasized very much in the church today and there is a movement of fasting that is coming. When we fast, we are telling God that He is more important to us than food or anything else. It is saying that He is more important than even the food that sustains us. When you can't seem to get a breakthrough, couple prayer with fasting and see what the Lord does.

Prayer:

Father, I have been feeling Your Spirit telling me to fast and I have put it off. I begin a fast this morning. Help me to complete it with joy. I need a breakthrough in so many areas right now. Our church, Hearts for the Harvest, and my family all need a major breakthrough right now. I look to You with prayer and fasting. You are my source, my hope and my deliverer.

Love,
Jeff

God's Fantastic Favor

Scripture:

Esther 2:9 "Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments".

Observation:

Many beautiful young women from all over the kingdom were brought the king's palace to take place in a beauty contest. The one that the king desired would become the queen. This was a huge event! There were many, many women and the king cold choose whichever one he wanted. God had His hand on Esther's life. He had a plan and needed her to win so He gave her favor with those in charge of the contest. The other thing I see here is that God was working this plan a long time before trouble arose so that she would be in the right position when she needed to be. God is never surprised, rather, He knows what is coming and prepares for it.

Application:

This story lets me know two things. God will give me favor and place me where He needs me for His plans to be accomplished in my life. Also, He knows the future and is always working out His plan. Esther received favor from the Lord and the king. God will give favor to you to get you where He needs you for His purposes. It really is all about Him and not us. The favor that comes to us is for God's purposes, not our own. God knows tomorrow and has me where He needs me today so that tomorrow will work out for His purposes.

Prayer:

Father, let me be led by Your Spirit and live a life of obedience to You. Lead me into Your destiny for my life. Teach me your ways and let me grow in You. I yield my life to Your plans and purposes. Use me to advance Your kingdom in whatever way YOU see fit. Keep me on YOUR plan for my life and let me finish well.

I Love You Lord,

Jeff

The Joy of the Lord

Scripture:

Nehemiah 12:43 "Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy, The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away".

Observation:

SO often throughout the Bible I hear about the incredible joy that would come to those who were serving God with all their hearts. Here, as the wall of Jerusalem was being dedicated, the joy of the Lord could be heard a long way away. It says it was because God had given the people cause for great joy. There was an incredible celebration as the sacrifices were made.

Application:

We are told that the joy of the Lord is our strength. In this passage the joy was there because of what the Lord had done for them. As New Testament Christians, we should be living in a state of continual joy because of what the Lord has done for us. He has delivered us, healed us fixed our ruined lives, given us hope and a future. He has restored us, blessed us and seated us in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. How much more does He have to do in order for us to walk in great joy? Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians. Right after love comes joy! We must get our joy back and allow following Jesus to be fun again.

Prayer:

Lord, I want Your joy in my life again. Somehow the happy go lucky individual I once was has been weighed down with a load of care and concern. Teach me the childlike faith I once had and give me the song in my heart again. I know Your joy and walked in it thoroughly for many years. I want it back in my life! I need You Lord more than ever before. Fill me with Your Spirit and teach me to leave my cares with You. Let my joy be FULL. I want to be a joyful person because I believe your best representatives are filled with joy and I want to represent You well.

You Son,

Jeff

First Fruits

Scripture:

Nehemiah 10:35 "We promise to bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord's Temple year after year - whether it be a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees".

Observation:

The people had seen the hand of God in the re-building of the wall of Jerusalem and they had heard the Law read by Ezra. Now it was their turn. Would they commit to it or would they not? This verse is one of many here where the people are making a commitment and promise to God. They want to do what God has asked of them. God asks for the first of everything in the Old Testament. He wanted the first of the fruit, the vegetables, the wine, the sheep, etc. God has always wanted to be first in the lives of his people.

Application:

God's word is very clear about how much He loves us. He gave all for us to become His children. What does He want in return? He wants to be first in our lives. He wants no other gods or idols in our lives. He wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then for us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He wants us to place Him at the top of the list instead of just making a little room for Him if it is convenient on Sunday. We must come back to our first love and serve God with gladness. We must surrender all and lay down our own pursuits to follow his voice. He wants to be number one in our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, help me re-align my life to have You above all else. I want You in Your rightful place, at the top and center of my life. I want to live the life You have planned for me and not pursue my own agenda and plans. I surrender to You this morning. Be first in my life! I love You and want to offer myself as firstfruits for Your pleasure and glory.

Your Son,
Jeff

Ask and You Shall Receive

Scripture:

Ezra 7:6 "He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him".

Observation:

God really blessed the people of Judah as they were coming out of Babylonian captivity. When they were completing the temple, they were given everything they needed. There was huge amounts of gold and silver given to them. They were given massive amounts of rams, cattle, etc to sacrifice. This verse tells us the reason: 1. He ask for it! 2. the gracious hand of God was on him.

Application:

As a believer, the good hand of God is already on my life. Jesus died to give me access to the very throne of God and I am seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Everything I need is already in the hands of my God and every need is easily met when He gets involved. The good hand of God was upon Ezra and he got everything he asked for. My problem is that I tend to trust God, but don't like to ask for help. Jesus said "Ask, and it will be given". James said "we have not because we ask not". I need to learn to ask.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to be more bold about asking for help. The things You have called me to do are far beyond my present resources and we barely make it each month now. I need to change in this area. I ask You to let the good hand of the Lord be on my life and teach me to be bold enough to ask for help when it is needed. Ezra got what he asked for. I just always feel weird asking. Teach me this that we may advance Your kingdom in a stronger way.

Jeff

When God makes Your Enemies Pay for your Vision

Scripture:

Ezra 6:8 "Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of this Euphrates river so that the work will not be interrupted".

Observation:

Judah had been started to rebuild their Temple as they returned home from exile and were stopped by the king of Babylon. After some time, they began to build again and the governor of the region sent word again to the king. This time the people of Jerusalem sent a word asking the king to look through his records and see a decree by a former king to help them build their temple. He found it and immediately got on their side, giving them all the resources they needed to get the job done. God moved on one man's heart and His temple was paid for and everything furnished. The ones who were their enemies, were paying for the Temple of their God to be rebuilt. This is God at work! He is amazing!

Application:

When God is really working in your life and you are submitted to Him, His blessing will overtake you so that even your enemies are giving into your life. Bosses that don't even like you are made to give you a riase by someone above them. When the blessing of God falls on your life, even your enemies will be forced to bless you. God is able! Many times we think, "that was great for them back then, but God doesn't do that anymore". He still does it that His name may be glorified.

Prayer:

Father, there are ten acres of land somewhere in Ashburn that some developer is sitting on. You have given this land to our church. Work on the hearts of the developers and have them give us the land for a tax write off and let it cost your people nothing. I know you are the same yesterday, today and forever. Let it happen quickly, that we may give You praise. I want to build you a place in this city for your name to be glorified. Make it come to pass I pray.

Your Son,
jeff

Praise and Worship

Scripture:

II Chronicles 29:30 "King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. So they offered joyous praise and bowed down in worship".

Observation:

King Hezekiah understood how to relate to God and how to have God forgive, heal, restore, and make all things news. He understood that the first thing that needed to happen was for cleanse the Levites and once they were cleansed they needed to get praise and worship going in the Temple as quickly as possible. Once the praise and worship started, the sacrifices were coming behind as they were restoring Moses pattern of worship give to him from God Himself.

Application:

I see a progression that Hezekiah used to bring God's favor and blessing back onto Judah. He started with cleansing, went into praise and worship, then began to sacrifice. When we come into the Lord's presence as NT believers, it is still a good pattern to follow. We should start out by cleansing ourselves and repenting of things we know we shouldn't have have. Next we need to move into vibrant praise and heartfelt worship. From there we should offer ourselves as a sacrifice. All of this before we ask God for anything. We must learn to put ourselves into a position that God can bless. Hezekiah asked for joyous praise and for worship where we would bow down.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me how to come into Your presence effectively and the way You want me to. I want Your blessing on my life. I need You Lord to speak to me every day of my life. Show me how to be in the position for You to bless me that way.

Your Son,
Jeff

Seeking God Leads to Prosperity

Scripture:

II Chronicles 26:5 "He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper".

Observation:

Uzziah was a good king who reigned for 52 years. That's a long time! He did what was right in the sight of the Lord until he felt comfortable enough to burn incense at the incense altar. From that point on he had leprosy. While he was seeking God properly, God made him prosper.

Application:

The last couple days the Lord has had me on this area of prosperity, which I usually tend to avoid because I don't like the way the prosperity message has been spread in the body of Christ. In this passage though, I again see God making someone prosper because they sought Him and obeyed Him. We must be people who seek the Lord and obey His voice. When we do, I believe He will prosper us in every area of life. I believe God wants to bless His children, but his children must be in a blessable condition. God seekers and obeyers seem to bring about His blessing.

Prayer:

Father, I want to seek You more and obey You more completely. Help me to follow You wholeheartedly, not that I may be blessed, but that I may know You more intimately. My hunger for You is growing again. I love You and want to know You more every day. Come Holy Spirit and work in my life. Bring about Your will in me and my family. I surrender to You and Your calling on my life.

Yours Completely,
Jeff