Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few".
Observation:
Solomon is telling us not to be quick to make promises to God and to talk about all we're going to do for Him. It is better to say nothing than to speak and not fulfill what you said. He tells us what James tells us later about being slow to speak. He says we need to not be quick with our mouth or hasty in our heart. In other words we need to think before we speak.
Application:
Many times we say things that get us into trouble because we spoke too early on the subject. Often we make promises that we will never be able to keep, whereby we lose our integrity. We need to slow down and think before we speak, especially to God. He remembers every word we speak and Jesus said we would be held accountable for every idle word. When emotions are running high, slow down before you say something you will later regret. Let your words be few!
Prayer:
Father, help me keep my mouth shut and consider my words better. Teach me the discipline of listening intently and thinking before speaking. You are amazing and powerful. In your presence, help me not to make vows that I cannot keep. Help me hold my tongue when it wants to take a course of its own.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Wisdom and Sorrow
Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 1:18 "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief".
Observation:
Solomon is considered to be the wisest man ever to live. He accomplished some of the most incredible things during his life that any leader has ever accomplished. In all his wisdom, he found out that wisdom and knowledge produce sorrow and grief. By this he infers that the more you know and understand, the more you realize that the world is a very unfair place. He realized that bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people and that sometimes there is no explanation, which can bring sorrow and grief into your life.
Application:
Sometimes the more you know, the less happy you are. When you realize things in this world are never perfect and people will let you down, it bring sorrow because we all want to live in a perfect world. Our hearts groan, looking for the better days and for the revelation of the fullness of God's kingdom. What I gain from this is that wisdom and knowledge are great, but that they still won't answer everything. We need God.
Prayer:
Lord, I long for the days when Your kingdom comes in its fulness. The more I know about the world around me, the more I realize we need the fulness of Your kingdom. Until You reign completely, this world will continue to be imperfect. When you reign completely, we won't have to grieve and be sorrowful. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Yours,
Jeff
Ecclesiastes 1:18 "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief".
Observation:
Solomon is considered to be the wisest man ever to live. He accomplished some of the most incredible things during his life that any leader has ever accomplished. In all his wisdom, he found out that wisdom and knowledge produce sorrow and grief. By this he infers that the more you know and understand, the more you realize that the world is a very unfair place. He realized that bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people and that sometimes there is no explanation, which can bring sorrow and grief into your life.
Application:
Sometimes the more you know, the less happy you are. When you realize things in this world are never perfect and people will let you down, it bring sorrow because we all want to live in a perfect world. Our hearts groan, looking for the better days and for the revelation of the fullness of God's kingdom. What I gain from this is that wisdom and knowledge are great, but that they still won't answer everything. We need God.
Prayer:
Lord, I long for the days when Your kingdom comes in its fulness. The more I know about the world around me, the more I realize we need the fulness of Your kingdom. Until You reign completely, this world will continue to be imperfect. When you reign completely, we won't have to grieve and be sorrowful. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, April 26, 2013
Working the Land or Chasing Fantasies
Scripture:
Proverbs 28:19 "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty".
Observation:
Solomon, in all his wisdom, makes some very simple statements that are also very profound. Here he talks about the simple man who works his land faithfully and how he will have abundant food and provision for his family. On the other hand, the man who chases fantasies, will not get what they are after. The planting, caring, growing, and then harvesting of land takes time. Get rich quick schemes fade and fill people with poverty, but the wise continue to sow, grow and reap until they see the blessing.
Application:
In the long run, nothing beats good hard work. The man who works hard instead of chasing fantasies, will always come out better off. There is no short cut to seeing the blessing of God. Faithfulness always wins over quick rewards. Working the land for me today speaks of working the spiritual land of Ashburn, VA and continuing to do so by planting seeds of the Gospel everywhere I go. Rather than crying out to God continually that He would send masses of people to our church, He wants me to work the land bringing in one soul at a time.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to sow seed today in some one's life that will produce fruit. Help me be a better farmer of the land You have sent me to. Help me to sow, grow and harvest one person at a time for Your kingdom. I need your strength to work the land today.
Yours,
Jeff
Proverbs 28:19 "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty".
Observation:
Solomon, in all his wisdom, makes some very simple statements that are also very profound. Here he talks about the simple man who works his land faithfully and how he will have abundant food and provision for his family. On the other hand, the man who chases fantasies, will not get what they are after. The planting, caring, growing, and then harvesting of land takes time. Get rich quick schemes fade and fill people with poverty, but the wise continue to sow, grow and reap until they see the blessing.
Application:
In the long run, nothing beats good hard work. The man who works hard instead of chasing fantasies, will always come out better off. There is no short cut to seeing the blessing of God. Faithfulness always wins over quick rewards. Working the land for me today speaks of working the spiritual land of Ashburn, VA and continuing to do so by planting seeds of the Gospel everywhere I go. Rather than crying out to God continually that He would send masses of people to our church, He wants me to work the land bringing in one soul at a time.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to sow seed today in some one's life that will produce fruit. Help me be a better farmer of the land You have sent me to. Help me to sow, grow and harvest one person at a time for Your kingdom. I need your strength to work the land today.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Self Control
Scripture:
Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control".
Observation:
When Solomon wrote this, a city was protected by it's walls. The walls were the strongest point of protection. When the walls were broken through, the enemy was going to come in and take the city. Solomon says here that a person without self-control is unprotected from his or her enemies. Their wall of protection is deteriorating and they will be conquered if they don't get the wall repaired quickly. Lack of self-control is an open door to the enemy of our souls and he loves to come in through the hole in the wall or the open door.
Application:
Self-control is one of the fruit of the Spirit. When Holy Spirit is really working in your life, self-control will get easier and easier because we are becoming more like Christ. It is when we are led by our flesh, feelings, emotions, etc. that we open the door to the enemy through a lack of self-control. Though it is a fruit of the Spirit, self-control is exactly what it says, "self" control. Holy Spirit will help us do it, but we must begin to control ourselves.
Prayer:
Father, I need Your help in this area. I want to be a person who exhibits great amounts of self-control in every area of life. Help me conquer my flesh, feelings and emotions and walk by Your Spirit into self-control. I want to lead a disciplined lifestyle, but I need Your help.
Yours,
Jeff
Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control".
Observation:
When Solomon wrote this, a city was protected by it's walls. The walls were the strongest point of protection. When the walls were broken through, the enemy was going to come in and take the city. Solomon says here that a person without self-control is unprotected from his or her enemies. Their wall of protection is deteriorating and they will be conquered if they don't get the wall repaired quickly. Lack of self-control is an open door to the enemy of our souls and he loves to come in through the hole in the wall or the open door.
Application:
Self-control is one of the fruit of the Spirit. When Holy Spirit is really working in your life, self-control will get easier and easier because we are becoming more like Christ. It is when we are led by our flesh, feelings, emotions, etc. that we open the door to the enemy through a lack of self-control. Though it is a fruit of the Spirit, self-control is exactly what it says, "self" control. Holy Spirit will help us do it, but we must begin to control ourselves.
Prayer:
Father, I need Your help in this area. I want to be a person who exhibits great amounts of self-control in every area of life. Help me conquer my flesh, feelings and emotions and walk by Your Spirit into self-control. I want to lead a disciplined lifestyle, but I need Your help.
Yours,
Jeff
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Get Back Up and Keep Going
Scripture:
Proverbs 24:16 "for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes".
Observation:
Solomon say here that the righteous may fall over and over again, but they will get up and keep going while the wicked stumble and can't get back up. Sometimes the difference between winners and losers is simply the determination to get back up and keep going when the have fallen.
Application:
According to Solomon, getting knocked down and getting up again is one of the signs of the righteous person. They may fall seven times, but will rise again. When life knocks us to the ground, we must get back up. To sit around and talk about how bad life is accomplishes nothing. We must get up, dust off and keep moving forward. With God nothing is impossible and remaining down is out of the question. He is the God of resurrection and can resurrect when His children fall. The word of the day is "get back up and keep going". Never stay down.
Prayer:
Lord God, teach me to never give up, but to continue to look to you as the author and finisher of my faith. Help me to bounce back quickly when knocked down. Keep my faith strong and help me grow into more of a person of faith.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Proverbs 24:16 "for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes".
Observation:
Solomon say here that the righteous may fall over and over again, but they will get up and keep going while the wicked stumble and can't get back up. Sometimes the difference between winners and losers is simply the determination to get back up and keep going when the have fallen.
Application:
According to Solomon, getting knocked down and getting up again is one of the signs of the righteous person. They may fall seven times, but will rise again. When life knocks us to the ground, we must get back up. To sit around and talk about how bad life is accomplishes nothing. We must get up, dust off and keep moving forward. With God nothing is impossible and remaining down is out of the question. He is the God of resurrection and can resurrect when His children fall. The word of the day is "get back up and keep going". Never stay down.
Prayer:
Lord God, teach me to never give up, but to continue to look to you as the author and finisher of my faith. Help me to bounce back quickly when knocked down. Keep my faith strong and help me grow into more of a person of faith.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Draw Out Purpose
Scripture:
Proverbs 20:5 "The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out".
Observation:
Insight is literally "seeing into". Insight looks inside one's heart and finds their purpose. The author says that the purposes of one's heart are deep, murky waters, but we must attempt to draw them out because when purpose is found, life gets better. A good life coach will draw purpose out of someone and find out what they were born to do and love to do.
Application:
My wife Cheryl is awesome at drawing out people's purpose. Sunday, we spent a significant amount of time with someone and I watched her in action as she drew out the purpose of this person's heart. Feeling purpose in life is crucial to living an abundant, happy life. When you can't do what your purpose is, you will just get by. When you do what you love to do, you excel.
Prayer:
Father, help me to be one who draws purpose out of people and helps them discover why they were made. Teach me to search through the deep waters of their lives and my own as well to draw out that purpose.
Yours,
Jeff
Proverbs 20:5 "The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out".
Observation:
Insight is literally "seeing into". Insight looks inside one's heart and finds their purpose. The author says that the purposes of one's heart are deep, murky waters, but we must attempt to draw them out because when purpose is found, life gets better. A good life coach will draw purpose out of someone and find out what they were born to do and love to do.
Application:
My wife Cheryl is awesome at drawing out people's purpose. Sunday, we spent a significant amount of time with someone and I watched her in action as she drew out the purpose of this person's heart. Feeling purpose in life is crucial to living an abundant, happy life. When you can't do what your purpose is, you will just get by. When you do what you love to do, you excel.
Prayer:
Father, help me to be one who draws purpose out of people and helps them discover why they were made. Teach me to search through the deep waters of their lives and my own as well to draw out that purpose.
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, April 19, 2013
Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord
Scripture:
Proverbs 9:10-11 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom, your days will be many, and years will be added to your life".
Observation:
The author is saying here that through wisdom, we will have long and better lives. He also tells us that the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God is the beginning of that wisdom. In other words, the better we know and fear God, the longer and better our lives will be. Therefore we must learn to walk in the fear of the Lord and come to understand Him better.
Application:
Knowledge comes from study. We must seek to know God more each day. We must study God through His word and personal relationship with Him. We also must learn to fear the Lord. Many today have lost the fear of the Lord. We must have deep awe and reverence for the Lord and we must realize He is the one who could strike us dead instantly at any time He wants. Many people play with this fact, but God is a holy God and when you read the Old Testament, you realize that he is someone to be feared. When we learn to fear Him, wisdom comes and with wisdom comes a long and excellent life.
Prayer:
Lord, You are awesome and Your name is to be praised in every generation. Teach me your word. Show me truth each day as I seek you. Help me to align myself completely with Your will for my life. I want to walk in wisdom and make right decisions that will bring blessing into my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Proverbs 9:10-11 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom, your days will be many, and years will be added to your life".
Observation:
The author is saying here that through wisdom, we will have long and better lives. He also tells us that the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God is the beginning of that wisdom. In other words, the better we know and fear God, the longer and better our lives will be. Therefore we must learn to walk in the fear of the Lord and come to understand Him better.
Application:
Knowledge comes from study. We must seek to know God more each day. We must study God through His word and personal relationship with Him. We also must learn to fear the Lord. Many today have lost the fear of the Lord. We must have deep awe and reverence for the Lord and we must realize He is the one who could strike us dead instantly at any time He wants. Many people play with this fact, but God is a holy God and when you read the Old Testament, you realize that he is someone to be feared. When we learn to fear Him, wisdom comes and with wisdom comes a long and excellent life.
Prayer:
Lord, You are awesome and Your name is to be praised in every generation. Teach me your word. Show me truth each day as I seek you. Help me to align myself completely with Your will for my life. I want to walk in wisdom and make right decisions that will bring blessing into my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Straight Ahead
Scripture:
Proverbs 4:25 "Let you eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you".
Observation:
Solomon tells us that we need to keep looking straight ahead and to fix our gaze directly in front of us. I see here the importance of eliminating the distractions from our lives. Things that get us looking back or to the sides, slow our progress forward. It is very difficult to go forward when you are looking backward.
Application:
I have been overrun the past year with distractions, things that pull my attention off the main things in my life. It seems like I get pulled to the side, pulled backward, and distracted from my main purpose. Not all distractions are bad, but too many can stop our sense of forward progress. When I have no time to look to the future and where we are going from here, my vision fades and when my vision fades, my church struggles. I must take the time to look forward and to move that direction instead of being pulled around everywhere else.
Prayer:
Father, you said Your Spirit would guide us. Thank You for guiding me this morning and helping me get on focus. Enable me by Your Spirit to keep looking ahead and to fix my gaze on where we are going instead of being distracted all the time. Help me to stay on track and to always be a leader who is out on the cutting edge, leading my people to victory.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Proverbs 4:25 "Let you eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you".
Observation:
Solomon tells us that we need to keep looking straight ahead and to fix our gaze directly in front of us. I see here the importance of eliminating the distractions from our lives. Things that get us looking back or to the sides, slow our progress forward. It is very difficult to go forward when you are looking backward.
Application:
I have been overrun the past year with distractions, things that pull my attention off the main things in my life. It seems like I get pulled to the side, pulled backward, and distracted from my main purpose. Not all distractions are bad, but too many can stop our sense of forward progress. When I have no time to look to the future and where we are going from here, my vision fades and when my vision fades, my church struggles. I must take the time to look forward and to move that direction instead of being pulled around everywhere else.
Prayer:
Father, you said Your Spirit would guide us. Thank You for guiding me this morning and helping me get on focus. Enable me by Your Spirit to keep looking ahead and to fix my gaze on where we are going instead of being distracted all the time. Help me to stay on track and to always be a leader who is out on the cutting edge, leading my people to victory.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Love and Faithfulness
Scripture:
Proverbs 3:3-4 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man".
Observation:
Solomon was the wisest man ever to live. God gave him incredible wisdom and practical insight into everyday living. Here he tells us to bind love and faithfulness around our necks and to write them on the tablets of our hearts. He is basically saying that love and faithfulness are crucial and that walking in them will bring favor and cause us to have a good name with God and man. Favor and a good name can open many doors in our lives, but we get those through love and faithfulness.
Application:
Love and faithfulness seem like easy targets, but they are actually very difficult to live out. Love is easy toward those who love you and are kind to you. Real love is when we love those who hate us like our Savior. Faithfulness sounds easy, but usually faithfulness is demonstrated when we have to be faithful in something we are not exactly loving. Faithfulness means I can be faithful beyond my feelings. Faithfulness means I can be trusted when things are going great and when they are not. We must make love and faithfulness priorities in our lives, when we do, we are promised favor and favor is powerful!
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, teach me to love the unlovable and to be faithful when things are not going so well around me. Help me to walk in the power of your Spirit and do the things You want me to do regardless of whether I feel like it or not. I want to serve You well. Help me to do it!
Yours,
Jeff
Proverbs 3:3-4 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man".
Observation:
Solomon was the wisest man ever to live. God gave him incredible wisdom and practical insight into everyday living. Here he tells us to bind love and faithfulness around our necks and to write them on the tablets of our hearts. He is basically saying that love and faithfulness are crucial and that walking in them will bring favor and cause us to have a good name with God and man. Favor and a good name can open many doors in our lives, but we get those through love and faithfulness.
Application:
Love and faithfulness seem like easy targets, but they are actually very difficult to live out. Love is easy toward those who love you and are kind to you. Real love is when we love those who hate us like our Savior. Faithfulness sounds easy, but usually faithfulness is demonstrated when we have to be faithful in something we are not exactly loving. Faithfulness means I can be faithful beyond my feelings. Faithfulness means I can be trusted when things are going great and when they are not. We must make love and faithfulness priorities in our lives, when we do, we are promised favor and favor is powerful!
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, teach me to love the unlovable and to be faithful when things are not going so well around me. Help me to walk in the power of your Spirit and do the things You want me to do regardless of whether I feel like it or not. I want to serve You well. Help me to do it!
Yours,
Jeff
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Imitate the Right People
Scripture:
III John 11 - Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God".
Observation:
John is writing to his dear friend Gaius and tells him here not to imitate what is evil. To imitate is to "do what they do". God does not want his children to do what the rest of the fallen world is doing. Rather than imitating and looking like the world, God wants us to reflect the image of his Son. He tells us to imitate what is good. When we imitate evil, he says here that we have not seen God.
Application:
God doesn't tell us not to imitate people, He just tells us to imitate the right people. Two things God is speaking to me here: 1. I need to find someone who I look up to in life and ministry and begin imitating what is good in their lives. 2. I need to provide an example to those around me of a person worth imitating. I need to live a life worth imitating. Paul said, "follow me as I follow Christ" and I need to be able to say the same about every area of life.
Prayer:
Father God, I love you and want to be an excellent servant of Yours. Help me to live a life worthy of imitation. Help me to walk fully in Your Spirit and demonstrate a life that is fully submitted to Christ and the Holy Spirit. I want You to live in me and through me so that I can live a life worthy of imitation.
Your Son,
Jeff
III John 11 - Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God".
Observation:
John is writing to his dear friend Gaius and tells him here not to imitate what is evil. To imitate is to "do what they do". God does not want his children to do what the rest of the fallen world is doing. Rather than imitating and looking like the world, God wants us to reflect the image of his Son. He tells us to imitate what is good. When we imitate evil, he says here that we have not seen God.
Application:
God doesn't tell us not to imitate people, He just tells us to imitate the right people. Two things God is speaking to me here: 1. I need to find someone who I look up to in life and ministry and begin imitating what is good in their lives. 2. I need to provide an example to those around me of a person worth imitating. I need to live a life worth imitating. Paul said, "follow me as I follow Christ" and I need to be able to say the same about every area of life.
Prayer:
Father God, I love you and want to be an excellent servant of Yours. Help me to live a life worthy of imitation. Help me to walk fully in Your Spirit and demonstrate a life that is fully submitted to Christ and the Holy Spirit. I want You to live in me and through me so that I can live a life worthy of imitation.
Your Son,
Jeff
Monday, April 15, 2013
Humility and Victory
Scripture:
Psalm 149:4 "For the Lord takes delight in His people; he crowns the humble with victory".
Observation:
This verse stands out to me because it shows me two major things about my God. Number one is that He takes delight in His people. He is delighted with His people. Secondly it shows me that God gives victory to the humble. God loves the humble and will raise them up. He will purposely cause the prideful to be defeated and the humble to experience victory.
Application:
I need a better understanding of how much the Lord delights in me. Many times I feel like I am not good enough and that God is not pleased with me. At those times I must turn to verses like this that tell me that God "delights" in me. He is "delighted" with me as His son. When the lies of the enemy come, we must say, "God is delighted with me". Secondly He gives victory to the humble so we must humble ourselves and realize that it is He who will bring us victory and not we ourselves.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for loving me and being delighted with me. You are incredible and it is an honor to be considered Your child. Teach me to walk in humility, knowing my God will defeat every enemy. Help me not to act on my own impulses, but be led by Your Spirit.
Yours,
Jeff
Psalm 149:4 "For the Lord takes delight in His people; he crowns the humble with victory".
Observation:
This verse stands out to me because it shows me two major things about my God. Number one is that He takes delight in His people. He is delighted with His people. Secondly it shows me that God gives victory to the humble. God loves the humble and will raise them up. He will purposely cause the prideful to be defeated and the humble to experience victory.
Application:
I need a better understanding of how much the Lord delights in me. Many times I feel like I am not good enough and that God is not pleased with me. At those times I must turn to verses like this that tell me that God "delights" in me. He is "delighted" with me as His son. When the lies of the enemy come, we must say, "God is delighted with me". Secondly He gives victory to the humble so we must humble ourselves and realize that it is He who will bring us victory and not we ourselves.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for loving me and being delighted with me. You are incredible and it is an honor to be considered Your child. Teach me to walk in humility, knowing my God will defeat every enemy. Help me not to act on my own impulses, but be led by Your Spirit.
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, April 12, 2013
Show Me the Way I Should Go
Scripture:
Psalm 143:8 "Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life".
Observation:
This is a Psalm of David, who looked to the Lord for everything. When he didn't know where to go, he asked the Lord. Before he went into battle, he asked the Lord. Before he did anything, he asked the Lord. David exemplifies a person who has truly placed their trust in the Lord completely. He was continually asking God for direction which shows that he truly wanted to be in the Lord's will at all times and that he trusted the Lord completely.
Application:
Entrusting my life to the Lord completely means that I trust Him with every decision pertaining to my life. It means that I don't do anything without asking Him. Entrusting my life to Him means that I allow Him to make my major decisions instead of me. If my sons trust me, then they will listen to me and do what I say, even when it seems to make no sense to them. We must ask the Lord for direction in our lives and not move until He has clearly spoken. I am safer in a war zone in the will of God than at Wal-Mart out of the will of God.
Prayer:
Father, I need your direction. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. I trust You to order the steps of my life. Show me the way Lord. I am yours completely and I don't want to step out of Your will for a minute.
Your Son,
Jeff
Psalm 143:8 "Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life".
Observation:
This is a Psalm of David, who looked to the Lord for everything. When he didn't know where to go, he asked the Lord. Before he went into battle, he asked the Lord. Before he did anything, he asked the Lord. David exemplifies a person who has truly placed their trust in the Lord completely. He was continually asking God for direction which shows that he truly wanted to be in the Lord's will at all times and that he trusted the Lord completely.
Application:
Entrusting my life to the Lord completely means that I trust Him with every decision pertaining to my life. It means that I don't do anything without asking Him. Entrusting my life to Him means that I allow Him to make my major decisions instead of me. If my sons trust me, then they will listen to me and do what I say, even when it seems to make no sense to them. We must ask the Lord for direction in our lives and not move until He has clearly spoken. I am safer in a war zone in the will of God than at Wal-Mart out of the will of God.
Prayer:
Father, I need your direction. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. I trust You to order the steps of my life. Show me the way Lord. I am yours completely and I don't want to step out of Your will for a minute.
Your Son,
Jeff
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Whatever He Wants
Scripture:
Psalm 135:6 "The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths".
Observation:
The Psalmist is describing the awesomeness of God and giving Him praise. In the midst of this, he says that the Lord is great and greater than all other gods. He says that God does whatever he wants to do. What can God do? Anything he wants to do! Nothing is too difficult for Him and He can do whatever pleases Him.
Application:
I'm reminded of my favorite line from the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" where a kid on the school bus asks Napoleon, "What are you going to do today?" and Napoleon replies, "whatever I feel like I want to do". God can truly do whatever he feels like He wants to do. Fortunately for us, He loves us with a love that is deeper and stronger than any we can experience on this earth and His power is directed towards us for good and not evil. Fortunately, we are His children and He loves us because He can truly do "whatever pleases Him".
Prayer:
Lord God, You are awesome in power and control the very universe. You could destroy me and my nation in a moment if you chose. Thank you for choosing to use your incredible power to bless my life. Thank you for this season of blessing that we seem to be in right now. You are the best!
Jeff
Psalm 135:6 "The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths".
Observation:
The Psalmist is describing the awesomeness of God and giving Him praise. In the midst of this, he says that the Lord is great and greater than all other gods. He says that God does whatever he wants to do. What can God do? Anything he wants to do! Nothing is too difficult for Him and He can do whatever pleases Him.
Application:
I'm reminded of my favorite line from the movie "Napoleon Dynamite" where a kid on the school bus asks Napoleon, "What are you going to do today?" and Napoleon replies, "whatever I feel like I want to do". God can truly do whatever he feels like He wants to do. Fortunately for us, He loves us with a love that is deeper and stronger than any we can experience on this earth and His power is directed towards us for good and not evil. Fortunately, we are His children and He loves us because He can truly do "whatever pleases Him".
Prayer:
Lord God, You are awesome in power and control the very universe. You could destroy me and my nation in a moment if you chose. Thank you for choosing to use your incredible power to bless my life. Thank you for this season of blessing that we seem to be in right now. You are the best!
Jeff
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Good and Pleasant
Scripture:
Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!"
Observation:
David tells us that when God's people live together in unity, it is good and pleasant. When there is unity, life is more pleasant. When there is unity in a marriage, life is good. When there is unity in a church, the church is vibrant. Unity is a powerful force. Everyone wants good and pleasant, but nobody wants to work toward unity.
Application:
Unity doesn't come easily, but when it comes, great things happen. When there is unity, life makes a turn toward being good and pleasant. Unity is worth the effort it takes to bring it about. I need to work at bringing unity by confronting what destroys the unity around me. I need to have "unifying talks" with some people. I look forward to the "good and pleasant life".
Prayer:
Lord, help me to confront the unity destroyers in my life. Give me strength to be a person who causes unity to happen. I want to see my church walking in unity. I've been preaching about it for months, now let is come.
Your Son.
Jeff
Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!"
Observation:
David tells us that when God's people live together in unity, it is good and pleasant. When there is unity, life is more pleasant. When there is unity in a marriage, life is good. When there is unity in a church, the church is vibrant. Unity is a powerful force. Everyone wants good and pleasant, but nobody wants to work toward unity.
Application:
Unity doesn't come easily, but when it comes, great things happen. When there is unity, life makes a turn toward being good and pleasant. Unity is worth the effort it takes to bring it about. I need to work at bringing unity by confronting what destroys the unity around me. I need to have "unifying talks" with some people. I look forward to the "good and pleasant life".
Prayer:
Lord, help me to confront the unity destroyers in my life. Give me strength to be a person who causes unity to happen. I want to see my church walking in unity. I've been preaching about it for months, now let is come.
Your Son.
Jeff
Monday, April 8, 2013
I Wait for the Lord
Scripture:
Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope".
Observation:
The psalmist writes here about waiting on the Lord with everything he has and he adds that he puts his hope in God's word. He put his hope, not in a plan or program or even a person. Rather, he put his hope in the word of God, then he waited with all of his being for the promise to come to pass.
Application:
I have high hopes about what God's word to me, but waiting on them to happen is no fun for me. I wants all of God's promises in my life fulfilled now, but He wants me to wait on Him so that the credit can only go to Him. While I'm waiting for the breakthrough to come, I must put my hope in God's word. I need to find some promises and stand on them...until.
Prayer:
Father God, I want to be more effective for You. Guide my life and teach me to put my hope in Your word while waiting on your promises. You have spoken many things to me concerning my life. Now help me to wait correctly for the fulfillment of all of them. Teach me to trust Your word more.
Your Son,
Jeff
Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope".
Observation:
The psalmist writes here about waiting on the Lord with everything he has and he adds that he puts his hope in God's word. He put his hope, not in a plan or program or even a person. Rather, he put his hope in the word of God, then he waited with all of his being for the promise to come to pass.
Application:
I have high hopes about what God's word to me, but waiting on them to happen is no fun for me. I wants all of God's promises in my life fulfilled now, but He wants me to wait on Him so that the credit can only go to Him. While I'm waiting for the breakthrough to come, I must put my hope in God's word. I need to find some promises and stand on them...until.
Prayer:
Father God, I want to be more effective for You. Guide my life and teach me to put my hope in Your word while waiting on your promises. You have spoken many things to me concerning my life. Now help me to wait correctly for the fulfillment of all of them. Teach me to trust Your word more.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, April 5, 2013
Great Peace and Never Stumble
Scripture:
Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble".
Observation:
The psalmist is writing quite extensively about the Word of God, or the Law of the Lord. Here he tells us that those who love God's word, law, commands, decrees, etc will have great peace and nothing will be able to make them stumble. The more time spent in the Word of God, the less likely we are to stumble and more peace will enter our lives.
Application:
The world is looking for peace and stability. Here we receive the answer to peace and stability, loving God's law and His word. We must go from reading God's word in our daily wash to "loving" God's law, then we will find the peace and stability we need to live life completely. We need to move from "studying" God's law to "loving" God's law. Something you study, you learn about, something you love, you desire to know more intimately.
Prayer:
Father, let me fall as in love with Your word as I am with You. Your word is powerful and I want to know it more and more. Teach me things daily as I enter Your word. Show me more I pray and help me to implement it in my life. I want Your peace and I never want to stumble. Help me to love Your word.
Yours,
Jeff
Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble".
Observation:
The psalmist is writing quite extensively about the Word of God, or the Law of the Lord. Here he tells us that those who love God's word, law, commands, decrees, etc will have great peace and nothing will be able to make them stumble. The more time spent in the Word of God, the less likely we are to stumble and more peace will enter our lives.
Application:
The world is looking for peace and stability. Here we receive the answer to peace and stability, loving God's law and His word. We must go from reading God's word in our daily wash to "loving" God's law, then we will find the peace and stability we need to live life completely. We need to move from "studying" God's law to "loving" God's law. Something you study, you learn about, something you love, you desire to know more intimately.
Prayer:
Father, let me fall as in love with Your word as I am with You. Your word is powerful and I want to know it more and more. Teach me things daily as I enter Your word. Show me more I pray and help me to implement it in my life. I want Your peace and I never want to stumble. Help me to love Your word.
Yours,
Jeff
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Shouts of Joy
Scripture:
Psalm 118:15 "Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous. The Lord's right hand has done mighty things".
Observation:
The Psalmist speaks here about what happens to the righteous. He says they are surrounded by shouts of joy and victory because the Lord has done mighty things. He connects being righteous with the Lord doing mighty things. He shows his belief that God causes his people to win and be victorious in life.
Application:
When we are living a righteous life and serving God with all our hearts, we should be able to expect Him to do mighty things in our lives and around us. We should be able to expect every enemy to be defeated because "if God is for us, who can be against us?' I want shouts of joy and victory back in my life. I need to reaffirm my trust of Him. I need to see some answers to prayers and some victories in my life right now.
Prayer:
Lord, I am tired, exhausted, and dried up. I feel like I am so empty right now. I need You to fill me afresh with Your Spirit. I need to see some victories and see that You are still for me and with me. I give myself to You once again today and ask You to bring my shout of joy and victory back.
Yours,
Jeff
Psalm 118:15 "Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous. The Lord's right hand has done mighty things".
Observation:
The Psalmist speaks here about what happens to the righteous. He says they are surrounded by shouts of joy and victory because the Lord has done mighty things. He connects being righteous with the Lord doing mighty things. He shows his belief that God causes his people to win and be victorious in life.
Application:
When we are living a righteous life and serving God with all our hearts, we should be able to expect Him to do mighty things in our lives and around us. We should be able to expect every enemy to be defeated because "if God is for us, who can be against us?' I want shouts of joy and victory back in my life. I need to reaffirm my trust of Him. I need to see some answers to prayers and some victories in my life right now.
Prayer:
Lord, I am tired, exhausted, and dried up. I feel like I am so empty right now. I need You to fill me afresh with Your Spirit. I need to see some victories and see that You are still for me and with me. I give myself to You once again today and ask You to bring my shout of joy and victory back.
Yours,
Jeff
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