Words and Actions

 Scripture:

“For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking here through Hosea to the people of Israel and Judah. He says that His people were determined to desert Him, even though they call him the Most High. The people of Israel were worshiping God without truly honoring Him as God. They wanted to call Him Lord without serving Him as Lord.

Application:

Today, there are many who love to worship a God that they do not really know. Our worship cannot be just with our lips, but must be with our hearts. We must humble ourselves before the Lord and honor Him. We do this, not through our words and worship, but through a life of obedience to  His word and His teachings. We must make sure our actions match our worship. We must make sure our lives are a good as our music we worship God with.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and I love You much. Help me to follow You well. Let me hear Your voice and obey. Teach me to honor You above every other thing in my life. I want to serve You well and to hear well done when I see You face to face. Empower me to honor You well and to not say anything in a worship song that I don’t plan to live out.

Yours, 

Jeff

Don’t Forget God

 Scripture:

“Israel has forgotten its Maker and built great palaces, and Judah has fortified its cities. Therefore, I will send down fire on their cities and will burn up their fortresses.”” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Israel and Judah had rejected God and turned to worshiping idols. They had forgotten God. Because of that, God told them He was going to send down fire on their cities and burn up their fortresses. This was never God’s first plan for Israel and Judah, it was to get their attention and for them to turn back to Him because He wanted to bless them. God wanted to bless His people, but they refused to follow Him.

Application:

We can never take our relationship with God for granted. He has done so much for me. The passage above says that they built great palaces and fortified cities. We can do some good things apart from God, but we should always value Him and bring honor to Him. As for me, I don’t want to build something designed and built by myself. I want to build what God has for me and in the way He wants to do it. God is able! I need to always walk humbly before God and never turn from Him, then I can expect His blessings and favor.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are high and lifted up! You are great and glorious! You are victorious in all Your ways. You are faithful and true. You are my rock and my salvation. I appreciate You and I want to follow You well all the days of my life. Help me to build what You want, when You want, and teach me not to build something I desire. Let my steps be ordered by You.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Restoration of Relationships

 Scripture:

“In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Hosea had been delivering a word of judgment for God’s people because of their prostitution with other gods. In this verse, he tells God’s people that they will soon be restored so that they may live in God’s presence. Even when God punishes for sin, His goal is always the same. He wants us to turn so that He can forgive us, restore us, and let us live in His presence. He punishes because His holiness demands it, but then looks for restoration so He can bless.

Application:

As believers, our goal is to be more and more Christlike. We should desire the traits of God to be reflected in our lives. When we have issues with people, or even have to punish them for wrongdoing, we should be eager for restoration so we can walk together again. The goal of punishment isn’t pain, but restoration and healing so the relationship can be healed and restored. Our goal should be to dwell with the people who hurt us or abandoned us.

Prayer:

Father, let my life look more and more like Yours. Help me to forgive those who hurt me and walk away from me. Teach me to seek restoration always, so we may get along as Your people. Guide me into healing  and restoration and never into judgment for the sake of punishment. Show me how to love like You love. I want to be more like You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Long Game

 Scripture:

““Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute that would represent what He wanted to tell Israel. In this passage, He is telling them that one day they would prosper and have countless children. He is prophesying the day of their return to Him and to their homeland. Where they were called, “not my people” they would be called “children of the living God.” God always has restoration in mind, even when He is prophesying doom and gloom.

Application:

God always has the long game in mind. He controls time and eternity and He is not in a hurry. Sometimes, we feel like God isn’t moving quick enough for our liking, but He knows what He is doing. Sometimes restoration comes quickly, but usually restoration is a long process. I want to see multitudes come to Christ immediately, but sometimes it is a process that takes a long time. I need to walk in step with the Spirit daily and watch Him work out the long game as I follow Him.

Prayer:

Father, You always the the long game in mind. You are able to see things we can’t even imagine. You are able to see the end and know what is going to happen. Let me never give up on anyone. Help me to see that the people who are not your people can still become Your people and that You can still bless them.

Yours,

Jeff

The Right Time

 Scripture:

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Peter is closing his letter here and tells his readers to humble themselves under the mighty power of God, and then At THE RIGHT TIME, God would lift them up in honor. They were going through persecution and trials. People were being killed for their faith in Christ all around them and Peter told them to remain humble and let God promote them at the right time. 

Application:

Sometimes God doesn’t rescue us at the time we want Him to. There are times we have to go through fiery trials and difficult seasons. Our place in the tough times is to humble ourselves before God, knowing that if we remain humble before Him, He will raise us up at the right time. The hard part of us is that we don’t know the time and therefore must remain humble throughout our lives. We are to have a posture of humility before and after God blesses us. Humility always wins with God. We must learn to walk in it.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Teach me to walk in humility throughout my life and to trust that at THE RIGHT TIME, You will raise me up. The timing is Yours. The humility is mine. Show me how to walk in humility until Your timing is fulfilled. Show me how to serve You well in my generation. I want to walk with You and remain in You. I want to be one with You.

Yours,

Jeff

Past Tense Victory

 Scripture:

“Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Peter was extremely impactful as a disciple and as a leader in the early church. He understood that Christ died, was buried, raised again, and ascended into heaven where He is now seated in all authority. He tells us in this passage that Jesus is seated next to God and that all angels, authorities, and powers accept His authority. 

Application:

Peter saw Jesus as high and lifted up and all powerful. He knew that Christ has already been given all power and authority in heaven and earth. Peter used past tense to talk about Christ’s position and authority.  He considered it done, finished, and completed. We must see that Christ has already been exalted and that He has commissioned us to do His will in the earth. We must see our victory as already accomplished. We must see our battles as already won by Christ. The enemy has already been defeated. We must begin to see all Christ accomplished past tense so we see in the present tense that He already resigns and rules.

Prayer:

Jesus, open my eyes more and more concerning what You have done for us and all You accomplished with Your death, burial, and resurrection. You are amazing! You are seated at the right hand of the Father and already have the victory. Let me live by faith that sees everything I need in life as already provided for. Help me to walk in everything You died to give us that I can extend Your Kingdom rule and reign on earth in this season until You come again.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

The Time of the End

Scripture:

 “But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Daniel was given his messages from the Lord and was told to seal up his book until the time of the end. He was told several times that at the end of time, understanding would come of everything Daniel had seen. Today I want to focus on the words, “when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” This simple description of the end is powerful when we look at it today, but probably didn’t mean much to those of Daniel’s time. Now, people are rushing here and there continually and knowledge is increasing at incredible rates. We are most definitely living in the days Daniel prophesied about.

Application:

As we see the signs of the times we are living in, we must focus more in on God and His mission in the world. Now is not the time for halfheartedness. Now is the time for full surrender to the call and cause of Jesus. We must get active concerning the things of God and give ourselves to the accomplishment of His purposes in the world around us.

Prayer:

Father, as we all in these last days, I ask You to walk with me daily. Let my heart be pure before You and let me hear Your voice each and every day. Let my steps be ordered of You. Let me now waste away the days I live in but let me be used for Your purposes and Your kingdom in the earth. Show me things to come as You did with Daniel. Let me be prepared for everything coming on the earth in these days Daniel described so accurately.

Yours,

Jeff

Precious to God

 Scripture:

““Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my Lord, for you have strengthened me.”” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Daniel had some very powerful interactions with God and His angels. In this one, he was told not to be afraid because he was very precious to God. Daniel had just been on a 21 day fast of anything pleasant to eat. The angel brings him revelation concerning the Last Days and he was overwhelmed. The angel told him “Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” At that point, Daniel’s strength returned to him and he was ready to listen to the word of the Lord.

Application:

God stills speaks to His people. His word to me this morning is “you are very precious to me. Peace! Be encouraged! Br strong!” I felt like this word was written to me this morning and not just to Daniel. God has a way of taking words written hundreds of years ago and making them personal for me today. When we hear the voice of the Lord, we are encouraged, strengthened, and empowered to serve Him better. Just as Daniel did, we must seek the Lord with fasting and prayer.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for speaking to me this morning. Thank You for encouraging my faith and giving me strength. You are incredible and it is an honor to work with You to build Your kingdom. You give me life. You give me joy. You give me the strength I need. You are my everything. Help me to seek You more and more in the coming days and as we approach the days Daniel spoke about.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Favor After Testing

 Scripture:

“Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Daniel was a deported captive in Babylon, yet God raised him up to influence the nation. He worked directly with several kings in Babylon during the captivity of his own people. It says here that because of Daniel’s great ability, the king was going to place him over the entire empire. Daniel excelled in his gifts and remained faithful to God and God raised him up and have him great authority and influence. He was tried and tested, yet favor was strong on his life.

Application:

God’s favor can do things for you that nothing else can do. God’s favor can change people’s perception of you and cause you to prosper in the midst of deportation and captivity. God still blesses His people and causes them to be influencers. When God knows He can trust you, He will elevate you and open doors for you. You will be tested, but if you remain faithful in the tests, God will promote you in His kingdom and in positions in this earthly world. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a life You can bless. Help me to remain faithful when tested and tried. Teach me to walk with You closely, no matter what comes against me. Give me Your favor and let Your will be done in my life. Show me how to lead well and to lead with exceptional abilities because You are with me. I look to You. Show me how to live a life You can bless.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God Rules the Earth

 Scripture:

“He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Daniel shares here that God controls the course of world events. It is God that removes kings and sets up other kings. It is God who gives wisdom and knowledge. It is God who puts people into positions of power and authority for His purposes. God is always working in world affairs to bring about what needs to take place on the world stage.

Application:

Sometimes when we are frustrated with our leadership, we must remember that God is working a plan and He uses world leaders to implement that plan. Even evil rulers are put into position by God for His purposes. Nothing and no one gets into office without God being involved. Many times we put our political hats on and take pride in our political campaigns and elections, but in the end, it is God who puts people into office as part of His plan. Our job is to work with Him to accomplish His purposes.

Prayer:

Father, help me to find the right balance between You and politics. Help me to realize that, no matter who is in office in our country, that You are still in control ultimately and working Your will in the earth. Teach me to be okay with trusting that You are working, even when ungodly people rule. Teach me to trust You more and more each day.

Yours,

Jeff

Unusual Aptitude

 Scripture:

“God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬

Observation:

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were given unusual aptitude by God. They were given an ability by God, in a foreign land, in the king’s residence. Daniel had an unusual ability to interpret dreams and visions. This morning I was drawn to the fact that God can give unusual abilities and aptitudes to His people for His purposes. 

Application:

When God gives you supernatural abilities and aptitudes, you must use them for His glory. He gives us everything we need to serve Him and accomplish His purposes in and through our lives. God gives special gifts and callings, then He prepares us to do them. We must realize these are gifts from God and for God, not for our own use and benefit. I also see the need for me to use the special gifts and abilities He has blessed me with. I don’t want to be a one talent or two talents believer. I want to return to my Lord everything He gave me, with much more because I used the special abilities He gave me.

Prayer:

Father, Once again, I lay my life down before You. Help me to use well every gift, talent, ability, and aptitude You have given me. Teach me to walk humbly before You and to use the gifts You have imparted to my life well. Teach me to serve You people with all my heart and to use what You have given me for Your purposes. I am Yours for the extension of Your kingdom.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Faith Tests

 Scripture:

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

James teaches us there that when our faith is tested, our endurance will grow. He then encourages us to let it grow  because when it is fully developed we will be perfect and complete and need nothing else. According to this verse, we should welcome the tests of our faith because they are going to work patient endurance in our lives. 

Application:

Sometimes our faith is tested and we have to learn to continue to walk in faith, even when it seems like nothing is happening. I have prayed for thirty five years for Cheryl’s blood pressure. In the past year it has dropped slowly and her last appointment was the first time her blood pressure has been normal in thirty five years. I pray daily for her and her health, but the process has been a long walk of faith. Now we are seeing results. God is incredible and we don’t understand His timing, but His word never fails. He will do what He says He will do, He just may let us go through some faith tests in the process of time.

Prayer:

Father, increase my faith. I want to live a life that pleases You and without faith it is impossible to please You. Help me to pass the faith tests along the way and to know You are working, even when I don’t see visible results. I want to be a person of strong faith.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

River of Life

 Scripture:

“Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭47‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel had a vision of a river flowing from the Temple in Jerusalem. This river got deeper the farther it went until a person would have to swim in it. The river brought healing and life wherever it went. The river will end in the Dead Sea and will make the waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure with lots of fish in it. Whatever God does brings life. He brings life to dead things.

Application:

Wherever the river of God flows, life flows. Dead things come back alive when God’s river flows to them. This verse describes a literal river that will flow one day, but Jesus said, “out of your bellies will flow rivers of living water.” Because of our walk with God, dead things should be coming to life around us. We need to let His river flow through us and heal everything around us. I need to seek Him until His river of life flows to everything dead and dying around me. Jesus didn’t come to bring guilt and condemnation. He came to give LIFE.

Prayer:

Father, let Your Spirit flow through my life to bring life to everything around me. Help me to walk with You at deeper levels. I want to know You more and more each day. Teach me how to let Your river of healing flow through me at a greater measure. I want to produce life for those around me. Let me be a person who brings life and not dead, cold religion.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Reputation

 Scripture:

““So now, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation!” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭39‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God had allowed Israel and Judah’s enemies to triumph over them. They were taken out of their own country and into exile in a country that was not theirs. They were captives because of their disobedience to God. I generally focus on God restoring them, “that the nations may know that I am God.” This time He says, “I jealously guard my holy reputation!” God’s reputation is important to Him. He does what He says He will do so that His reputation will not get marred.

Application:

We can stand on the promises of God, not only because His word says them, but because God has a reputation of doing what He says He will do. He performs what He says He will perform, sometimes simply so that His reputation won’t be ruined. Moses leaned in on this and told God that He was going to look bad if His people died in the wilderness after He saved them. God doesn’t like to look unfaithful, therefore, we can stand on His promises. He will do what He says He will do, maybe not for your purposes, but for His reputation.

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious! You are incredible and I worship You this morning. You follow through on Your promises. You do what You say You will do. Thank You for being trustworthy. You have provided for me all of my life. You are amazing and I appreciate You. Help me to understand how to stand on Your promises and Your faithfulness more and more. Like the disciples, teach me to pray effectively.

Yours,

Jeff

Restoration of Israel

 Scripture:

“And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God had been speaking about the restoration of Israel, when His people would come back from many countries to rebuild. He told them that when this happened, the former wasteland would become like the garden of Eden and cities would be full of people. He said He would restore, not only the people, but the land.

Application:

Today, massive amounts of people have resettled Israel from all over the world. It is now a powerhouse and truly the desert is blossoming like a rose. What looked like a wasteland 70 years ago, looks like a beautiful and lush place that produces beauty and strength. God’s word is powerful and can be trusted. He will do what He says He will do. Our place is to walk with Him in obedience, then He will restore, repair, and rebuild our lives.

Prayer:

Father, You are truly incredible! I love You more as I know You more. You are worthy of the worship of every nations, kindred, tribe, and tongue. You are worthy of it all! Help me to walk in obedience to Your written word, but also to You word that You put in my heart. Speak clearly Lord. I want a heart of clay, not of stone. Make me pliable and usable for Your glory.

Yours, 

Jeff

God’s Flock

 Scripture:

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In the previous section, God is talking about personal responsibility to honor Him and do what He requires. He says that if His people return to Him, He will bless them and make them prosperous. As He was speaking those words, He told them and us, “You are my flock, the sheep of My pasture. You are my people and I am your God.” Here we are called the flock of the Almighty God.

Application:

A flock is a group of sheep who are led by a shepherd. They go where he wants them to go and they do what He wants them to do. He is responsible to feed them and give them good pasture, but they have to follow Him. Our place is to follow where God leads us daily and listen to His voice. Our job is obedience to the shepherd, His job is to take care of us in our obedience.

Prayer:

Father, let me be a good sheep. Help me to follow Your voice and listen to Your word. Teach me to walk in obedience and not question Your Word or will for my life. Help me to hear from You and to deliver Your word to those you have placed under my care. Help me to serve You well. I want to hear the voice of my shepherd daily. I want to walk in intimacy with You.

Forever Your Sheep,

Jeff

The Heart of God’s Messages

 Scripture:

“And the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord when I have set Egypt on fire and destroyed all their allies.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭30‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel is in the midst of prophesying terrible devastation for Egypt in this text. In the middle of the warning to Egypt comes the heart of all God’s messages through His Old Testament prophets, “they will know that I am the Lord.” In every prophecy of doom and gloom for any and all nations, I hear God say this repeatedly. His desire is for the nations to know Him.

Application:

Whether it is through nations seeing devastation under the judgment of God or through the preaching of the Gospel, God wants His name worshiped in every nation, tribe, kindred, and tongue. God wants His name to be worshiped and for the world to know that He is God. I continue to hear this as I read this year. We must do everything we can to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth, “that they may know that He is Lord.”

Prayer:

Lord, I have given my life for the extension of Your Kingdom. Help me to do it effectively and with greater passion. Open doors and I will walk through them. Close doors that are not of You. Help me to organize and coordinate things well so we can extend Your Kingdom globally. Give us the resources to support more missions works and to build out the ones that are currently being constructed.

Yours Eternally,

Jeff

Delayed Respect

 Scripture:

““And the day will come when I will cause the ancient glory of Israel to revive, and then, Ezekiel, your words will be respected. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭29‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel was given some very harsh prophesies for Israel and the surrounding nations. He carried a very negative word from the Lord that would not be received. In the passage, God tells him that the day will come when He would revive Israel and then Ezekiel’s words would be respected. Until then, Ezekiel was suppose to deliver the words accurately and be disrespected greatly. 

Application:

God’s timetables are not aligned very well with ours. We like instant reward for obedience, but sometimes God can take many years before the reward and the answer come. Many people who do great things are not respected until after their death even. Many artists are not discovered until after their deaths. We must realize that God promotes things and blesses things in His time. Our job is obedience, which will be rewarded, but it is up to Him WHEN we will be rewarded.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be faithful to what You put in front of me to do. Teach me to honor You and Your word more and more. Thank You for sharing with me today about delayed respect. Sometimes I feel very disrespected when I am simply trying to do what You want me to do. You always have the right word. Help me to be faithful until the reward comes.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Wall of Righteousness

 Scripture:

““I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, the Lord had been prophesying terrible destruction for Israel and Judah. In the midst of talking about their destruction He says that He looked for someone who would rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. He was looking for someone to stand in the gap so He wouldn't have to destroy the land, but He found no one. Ezekiel speaks here of a wall of righteousness.

Application:

Walls keep enemies out and protect what is inside the wall. Righteousness is a wall in our lives that keeps the enemy away and protects us from his attacks. We are blessed in the New Covenant with the fact that Jesus righteousness is our righteousness. When Jesus made us righteous with His own blood, He gave us protection from the enemy when we walk in what He paid for us. As we live lives that are pleasing to God, we are protected from the onslaught Satan and his workers. I want a wall of protection around me at all times.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are great and glorious. I worship You alone. Let me walk in the righteousness of Christ. Let my life bring You glory. Let righteousness be a wall around my life of protection from every attack. Let my walk with You fill the gaps in the wall for my generation as well. Let your wall be built in and through my life. 

Yours,

Jeff

Personal Responsibility

 Scripture:

“The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In the passage, Ezekiel makes is clear that the individual who sins is punished for sin, and not their children. The children will be punished for their own sin. He very clearly demonstrates that righteous people will be rewarded for THEIR righteous acts and sinful people will be judged for THEIR own sins. We can’t save our children and our children can’t save us.

Application:

Many times as parents, we can feel terrible because maybe our children are not serving God. This passage lets us know that each generation will stand before God individually. They won’t get into heaven because of their parents and they won’t go to hell because of their parents. Each generation has personal responsibility for their sins and disobedience. We should train our children and pour into their lives, but eventually they have a choice and will be accountable for the choices they make. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more with my sons. Help me to release responsibility for their choices and understand that each individual is accountable to You for their walk with You. I want my sons to walk with You because I know the benefits and have walked out the benefits of serving You wholeheartedly. Draw them closer to You each and every day and help them to make wise decisions.

Yours,

Jeff

God’s Desire - Always the Same

 Scripture:

“False prophets and those who seek their guidance will all be punished for their sins. In this way, the people of Israel will learn not to stray from me, polluting themselves with sin. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!’”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage God is speaking through Ezekiel to His people. He tells them that they will be punished for their sins. He tells them this will let the people know not to stray away from Him and into sin, thus polluting themselves. His goal is always the same, “they will be my people, and I will be their God.” 

Application:

The cry of God from the beginning has always been the same, “that they would be His people and He would be their God.” He has always looked for a people who are completely His. Our place is to be the people He is looking for. We should make it our goal and answer the desire of the Father. When we walk with Him and follow His ways, we are bringing great joy to the Lord. His ways must be the center of our focus and doing His will must be our vision. Then He will be blessed and honored and will have His desires fulfilled.

Prayer:

Father, let me be completely Yours. Let my life reflect Your desires and my heart be pure before You. I want You to be my God and I want to be Your child. I want to live a life that brings You pleasure. You are worthy of my very best and I want to honor You with my life. Teach me to walk in step with You and to follow You completely.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

False Representation

 Scripture:

“Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies!” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭13‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬

Observation:

False predictions get God angry. These prophets were saying things that were not from God, then expecting Him to bring them to pass. They were saying that their messages were from the Lord when they were not. God hates being misrepresented!

Application:

When we speak on behalf of God, we must represent Him well. If we say, “Thus says the Lord,” we better have heard from the Lord clearly.. I want to accurately speak what God is speaking and to do that I need to hear His voice clearly and know His word deeply. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I bless You this morning. Help me to represent You well and to speak what You are truly saying in my generation. Let my words be Your words and let me speak them with confidence and humility. Open my ears so I can hear You well. Help me to never say thus says the Lord unless I have really heard from You.

Yours,

Jeff‬

Turn Back to God

 Scripture:

““Have you seen this, son of man?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger?” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking here through Ezekiel and He asks Ezekiel if he has seen the detestable sins of the people of Judah. The Lord tells Ezekiel that the people of Judah were thumbing their noses at Him and provoking His anger. They were leading the nation into violence through their sin. God hates sin and anything that separates Him from His people.

Application:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach on any nation. When a nation turns away from God and serves other gods, the Almighty gets upset. He desires the nations to worship Him so He can bless them and walk in covenant with them. America was once a righteous nation that was supernaturally blessed by God. Today, our sins have become many and there is no respect for God anymore. We are in a dangerous place. We need a sweeping revival in this land.

Prayer:

Father, America, like Israel, was born for Your purposes. Our early founders dedicated this land to You and Your purposes in the earth. We have strayed away in every area. Bring us back to You O God. Turn us from our wicked ways and let America once again be the city on a hill You desired it to be. In our elections today, protect truth and righteousness. Let nothing happen that is not Your doing. Expose what needs exposed and let justice roll down like a river in this nation. Heal our land, that has sown so much into the Kingdom around the world.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Redemption in Punishment

 Scripture:

“I will crush them and make their cities desolate from the wilderness in the south to Riblah in the north. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel prophesied some really difficult things concerning God’s people and their coming destruction because of their disobedience to Him. Even in the really harsh language about what God was going to do to the people for their rebellion, you can hear His heart for all to be saved. He ends most hard predictions with “Then they will know that I am the Lord.” Even in punishment, the heart of God is that all would know Him.

Application:

God is a severe God at times, but He is a loving God who simply desires His people to walk in obedience so He can bless them and call them His own. His desire and covenant with us is powerful and beautiful, but we must hold up our end of the covenant. He wants to bless His people, but He needs us aligned with Him so He can do it and so the world can be saved.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk with You daily and to hear Your voice clearly. Let my life bring You honor and praise. Help me to represent You well in my generation. Teach me to obey You in all things. Show me Your ways and I will follow Your paths. Empower me to bring more people into Your kingdom, “that they will know You are Lord.”

Forever Yours,

Jeff

My Life God’s Glory

Scripture:

“may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews speaks a blessing over them at the conclusion of his letter. In that conclusion he demonstrates that it is God who equips us with all we need for doing His will. It is God who produces everything that is pleasing to Him through the power of Christ. Therefore, He gets the glory forever and ever. From the beginning to the end of our salvation, it is about God’s glory, not just our salvation. Our lives are to bring Him glory forever and ever.

Application:

My life for His glory should be my motto. We should do everything we do, not for our benefit, but for the glory of God. When we are trying to make our lives better, we struggle, when we are building God’s kingdom, He takes care of our needs and gives us what we need. We should live for the glory of God and not the comfort of ourselves. Salvation, though it is personal and wonderful for us, is really not about us, but about Him. We should live to honor Him.

Prayer:

Father, let me live my life for Your glory. Use my life to bring You honor and glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your name is praised in everything I do. I offer You my life this morning. Show me every step to take and every move to make. I am Yours and I want to live a life for Your glory and the advancement of Your kingdom.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Patient Endurance

 Scripture:

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬-‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Patient Endurance helps us continue to do God’s will. When we walk in patient endurance, we will receive all that He has promised. It is patient endurance that allows us to walk in the first part of this passage. We need to remember the rewards of serving God and not throw away our confident trust in the Lord. 

Application:

I’m not a halfway person. I want to live for the FULL reward of ALL God has promised. Therefore, I must not throw away my confident trust in God and I must remember the reward that comes from serving Him wholeheartedly. I also need to work on my patient endurance when things are not going the way I expected or believed for. I want a full reward for my work in the Lord. I need to keep my eyes on Him and trust completely that He will bring about His reward as I patiently endure, waiting for the breakthrough.

Prayer:

Father, I want to serve You well in my generation. I want my life to make a difference for those around me. Help me to patiently do what You have called me to do. Make Your way and Your will clear to me and give me the strength and courage to step out in faith and go for it! Until the vision comes to pass, give me patient endurance, but please speed up the process.

Yours Forever,

Jeff