Write My Name on the Scroll

 Scripture:

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

Observation:

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

Application:

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

Prayer:

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

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Be Faithful to Your Promises

 Scripture:

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

Observation:

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

Application:

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

Prayer:

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

Yours,

Jeff

Refined and Purified

 Scripture:

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

Observation:

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

Application:

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

Prayer:

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

Yours Always,

Jeff

God Makes us Strong

 Scripture:

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

Observation:

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

Application:

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

Prayer:

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

Your Son,

Jeff

Truth and Peace

 Scripture:

““This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.” ‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God tells His people here what they should be concerned about. They were wanting to know about the rebuilding of the Temple and when to have fast and feast days, but the Lord told them to concern themselves with loving truth and peace. God wasn’t as concerned about the festivals and the special days, He was concerned how His people were in their daily lives. 

Application:

What God wants from His people isn’t strong adherence to a list of rules and regulations. He wants His people to be people who walk in truth and peace. Truth and peace are the foundation for the rest of the spiritual activities like feast days, etc. We should make walking in truth and peace our strongest desire because these are the things that please God and bring Him glory. 

Prayer:

Lord, let me be a truth lover and a peace lover. Let my life exemplify these two characteristics. I want to serve You well and to do Your will. Empower me to live at peace and to speak truth at all times. Help me not to only share the truth when it is convenient, but always. Help me not to water down Your Word, but to preach it clearly and honestly and let truth be spoken.

Yours Always,

Jeff

Small Beginnings

 Scripture:

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)”Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Zechariah gives a word to Zerubbabel from the Lord at this point in his message. Zerubbabel had started rebuilding the Temple of the Lord and this passage commends him for doing it. It says that the Lord rejoices to see the plum line in his hand. In other words, the Lord loves to see the work begin. The Lord told him not to despise small beginnings because God was happy to see the work get started. 

Application:

God always looks for obedience. He doesn’t ask us how we are going to complete everything, but is glad to see us get started. Sometimes in life, we have to obey God and start something He puts into our hearts. God is happy with our first steps of faith. He rejoices over the foundation, not just when the building is finished. He loves obedience from His people to do what He says. 

Prayer:

Father, I have tried to build what You put into my heart many years ago. I try to follow You as close as I possibly can. Help me not to get frustrated with small beginnings because, but to see Your bigger plan. Help me to be strong where I am as I do my best to fulfill what You put into my heart. Help me not to get frustrated when things don’t grow like I would want them to. Help me be content with simply obedience and to stop comparing with others who started near the same time.

Yours,

Jeff

Live Humble and Righteous

 Scripture:

“Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you— protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.” ‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Zephaniah, after prophesying the destruction of God’s people for their sin and rebellion, tells them to seek the Lord and follow His commands. He tells them to do whatever is right and live humbly, then maybe the Lord will protect them from the day of God’s anger.

Application:

The prophet confronts God’s people with their sins and rebellion. He then tells them there is still hope and describes how to come to God. We should always come before God by doing right and living humbly. Pride will always be rejected by God. Humility is the language of heaven. It is the language that gets God’s attention. As God’s people, humility, obedience, and righteous living, will bring our protection and provision. 

Prayer:

Father, You are good and Your mercy endures from generation to generation. Help me to live in such a way that You are well pleased. Let my life influence others for You and Yours kingdom. Empower me to live humbly, walk justly, and live fully submitted to Your will and Your desires.

Yours,

Jeff

Surefooted in the Lord

 Scripture:

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)” ‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

As Habakkuk is closing his prophetic revelations, he says that God makes him as sure footed as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. There are two types of deer in Israel, one is the fallow deer and the other is the ibex. The ibex lives in the mountains and have incredible skills at climbing on the edges of cliffs an on rocks that seem impossible to stand on. I have watched them on the mountaintops and it is truly incredible to see the places they can go because they are surefooted.

Application:

If God makes us surefooted as a deer on the heights, then we are better off than we thing we are. Sometimes it feels in life like we have lost our footing and things are not going like we planned or thought they would. We must realize that the Lord is our strength and He gives the ability to tread on the mountains. There are places we could never go, but with the Lord being our strength, we are surefooted and can do whatever He wants us to do. I am surefooted, not because I have perfected climbing the heights, but because I belong to the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, You are the best! You make my feet as sure as a mountain deer. You are my life and my strength. You are the source of every good thing in my life. Help me to trust You more and more each day. Teach me Your ways and let me walk in Your paths. When You lead me out on the edge, remind me that I am as surefooted as a mountain deer.

Your Son,

Jeff

Come!

 Scripture:

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬

Observation:

After an incredible description of the New Jerusalem, we hear an invitation coming from the Spirit and the bride. They are saying “come” to anyone who is thirsty to drink from the water of life. They are extending an invitation to everyone who will listen to “come.” It is God’s desire for people to come to Him, the fountain of living water.

Application:

God provides the water of life freely for us, but we have to “come” to Him. God doesn’t push us, He invites us. He invites us to an incredible life that He has planned for us and then tells us to come. I also see in this passage that it is the Spirit and the bride that are saying “come.” The bride is the Church and the Spirit is the Spirit. The Church and the Spirit are meant to work together to invite people to the river of life. We must invite, but the Spirit will convict and work through us. I want to be a voice for God telling people to “come” to Him.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and I love You. Let me be an instrument in Your hands, calling the world to come to You. Let Your invitation to the water of life come through my voice as much as You desire. Help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit and to make the invitation as often as You want me to. Let me and my church get better at inviting people to the water of life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Judgement Day

 Scripture:

“Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The subheading for this portion in my Bible said “The Final Judgment.” After the Millennial reign of Christ, Satan will be released for a short time to deceive the nations once more. At the end of that season, this verse takes place. It basically tells us that everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and the only thing that matters is if you name is in the Book of Life. Having your name there is the most important thing in your life.

Application:

First, there is a lot of teaching being shared today that there is no place of eternal torment, which we call hell. Jesus spoke much about hell and the awfulness of it. Here it is seen as a lake of fire. My application today is simply that I must let people know what is coming and the importance of having your name in the book. Secondly, I need to do everything possible to love people into the Kingdom and help them get their name in the book of Life.

Prayer:

Father, let my life be used to plunder hell and populate heaven. Let my life be about getting names written in that precious book. Help me. Empower me. Teach me. Show me how to help people move from darkness to light. Use my life to build and extend Your kingdom rule and reign. Let me make the most of every opportunity to bring people to Christ. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Are We Watching?

 Scripture:

““Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus spoke these words in the midst of a section about the coming Great Tribulation and worship of the Beast and False Prophet. He told us, “I will come as unexpectedly as a thief!” He continues and let us know that those who are watching for His return are blessed. They who keep their clothing ready will not have to walk around naked and ashamed. 

Application:

I believe with all my heart that the coming of Jesus is very soon. When He comes, it will be like a thief in the night. He will come quickly, suddenly, and those who are ready and looking for His return, will go with Him. Our job is to be ready and wearing our white robes at all times. White robes demonstrate the righteousness of God’s people. We need to live out our lives in righteousness and live prepared for the coming of the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know You are coming soon! I see the signs all around me. I read Your Word and see the news of what is happening all over the earth. Everything You said would happen in the end is happening before our eyes today. Help me to live with my white garments on. Help me to extend Your Kingdom in the time I have left here on earth. Show me how to follow You well. Speak to me. Open doors of ministry and provide the resources to build Your kingdom here and around the world. I want to finish strong.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Face-down Worship

 Scripture:

“The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him. And they said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, the 24 elders fell on their faces and worshiped God Almighty. Their words are powerful words of worship. “We give thanks to You, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now You have assumed Your great power and have begun to reign.” They start with thanks and end in submission.

Application:

Just as the 24 elders fell on their faces before God Almighty, we should fall on our faces before Him. He is the only one worthy of our worship and honor. Worship should be our response to the goodness of God in our lives. Worship is more than singing a song, it is face down, humbling ourselves before the King of the Universe. I believe in face-down worship.

Prayer:

Father, You are the only one worthy. You are holy. You are mighty and I extol Your name. Let my worship be exactly what You want. Teach me to worship face-down. Let every area of my life be submitted and surrendered to You. Let my life bring You the glory and honor You deserve. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

A Vast Crowd

 Scripture:

“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

John the Revelator saw a vast crowd that was so huge it couldn’t be counted. They were from all over the earth, and they were standing in front of the throne of God and before Jesus. They cried out, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” These were the saints of God worshiping the Almighty.

Application:

Worship is what God has always wanted from His people and in the end, worship is what He will get. My job in this is to fill out the crowd and make it vast. Our job is to reach people around the globe with the Good News of Jesus so they can worship Him on this day described by John. My job is to make the crowd and vast crowd. I want to lead more people to Christ in my latter years than in my former years.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I look forward to worshiping around Your throne. It will be the joy of my heart to one day stand before You and bring You what You deserve. Empower me now to make the crowd and vast crowd from every nation, tribe, and language. Show me the right doors and provide the resources for us to touch more nations with Your Gospel. You’re my reason for living.

Your Son,

Jeff

Heavenly Worship

 Scripture:

““You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The worship in the book of Revelation always stands out to me. I love how everyone in heaven worships together. In this passage John describes the scene at the throne of people where the twenty four elders fall before the Lord and place their crowns at His feet. They describe the Lord as worthy to receive glory and honor and power because He created all things and they exist because he created what He wanted to create. 

Application:

Jesus is worthy of all the praise, glory, and honor I can give Him. He created all things and keep them moving. He is my life and my light. Without Him, nothing we see would exist. He is not only worthy of worship with words, He is worthy of worship by giving Him our very best in every area. He is worthy of our sacrifice. He is worthy of our gifts. He is worthy of our obedience. He is worthy!

Prayer:

Lord, You are worthy!!! You created everything I see and You sustain the world with the word of Your mouth. You are incredible and I worship You. Help me to give You my very best in every area. Teach me to walk with You in humility and strength. Let my life bring You glory. Help me to live a life that will bring You honor. 

Yours,

Jeff

Justice and Love

 Scripture:

“Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.”‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This passages tells us about the incredible unfailing love of God for His people. Micah asks the question, “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people?” Micah had just prophesied God’s wrath coming, but he also knew the love of God that never fails. He knew that God’s punishment will last a season, but His favor will last a lifetime.

Application:

We must be able to know God in all of who He is. He is justice and love combined. He hates sin, but loves sinners. He doesn’t overlook sin, but forgives those who come to Him. I want to know all of God’s characteristics, not just the good ones I claim in the verses I like. God is fear-invoking, yet full of love and compassion. He is awe-inspiring, yet cares about our smallest needs. He is incredible!

Prayer:

Father, I want to know You in all Your ways. Teach me to walk like You. Help me to represent You well. I want to know You in all Your ways, not just the ones I like. Teach me Your ways. I want to know Your heart clearer and clearer. Show me how to serve You well.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Ministry for Personal Gain

 Scripture:

“You rulers make decisions based on bribes; you priests teach God’s laws only for a price; you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord. “No harm can come to us,” you say, “for the Lord is here among us.”” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to the rulers, priests, and prophets. He says they have made it all about the money instead of all about representing God. He says the rulers are controlled by bribes, the priests teach for a price and the prophets want pay. Ministry cannot be about money. It must be about the heart of God and doing what He wants you to do.

Application:

As a minister, my life must remain devoted to the Lord first and foremost. I cannot make decisions based on money, but on the will of God. My answer must be yes, Lord, yes, to whatever He speaks to me. I will stand accountable to the Lord one day, not for how much money I made, but for representing Him well and delivering His word with accuracy and conviction. I want to walk in humility and serve the Lord well in my generation.

Prayer:

Lord, let ministry never be about money for me. I do want to see Your blessing on my life because I want my family to see Your goodness. I want to leave a legacy and an inheritance to my children that they may see the blessing of serving God completely and totally. Keep my heart pure and let ministry never be for an offering or for personal gain. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

God’s Heart for the Nations

 Scripture:

“But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”” ‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jonah was upset that the Lord had caused Nineveh to repent. He knew the Lord was going to do that, but didn’t want God to do it because he hated the Ninevites. God replied to Jonah’s disgust by asking him “shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” The heart of God has always been for people. 

Application:

When we experience the heart of God, we will weep for cities that don’t know Him. All people are on God’s list of those in need of Jesus and i need of someone to speak to them. God doesn’t want anyone in any city to walk in spiritual darkness. He wants the eyes of people to be opened spiritually and them to come to repentance. I want to be part of answering God’s cry for my city and for the cities of the world. 

Prayer:

Father, use my life to bring people to Christ. Help me to see the vast number of people around the world like You see them. Fill me with Your Spirit and let me reach more and more people in my latter years. I want to see more people come out of spiritual darkness and into Your amazing light. Let Loudoun County see the light of Your glory. Let those around me see the light of your glory. Let there be a revival of repentance and turning to You.

Yours,

Jeff

Without a Single Fault

 Scripture:

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jude gives glory to God in this passage and tells us that He “is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” In other words, we can’t save ourselves or be holy enough, but God can bring us into His presence without a single fault because of Jesus Christ. God not only tells us not to fall away, but gives us everything we need to do so.

Application:

We need to know that when we put our trust and faith in Christ, He is able to keep us as we pursue Him. We need to walk in confidence that we have been cleansed from sin and are pure before God Almighty. We need to know our position in Christ. He has already overcome the world, therefore, we have also. If we remain in Him, we will be presented “without a single fault.” We must believe that the blood of Jesus truly takes away all our sins and their stains.

Prayer:

Father, Thank You for sending Your dear Son to die on my behalf. Thank You that my sins are blotted out and under the blood of Jesus. Thank You that one day I will come into Your glorious presence without fault. You saved me. You sustain me. You are the source of everything in my life and I worship You today. Help me to see myself as You see me.

Yours,

Jeff

Truth and Love

 Scripture:

“Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.” ‭‭2 John‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

John says here that grace, mercy, and peace will continue to be with those who live in truth and love. Truth and love are powerful in the Kingdom. When we operate in them, we will see results in our lives. When we pursue truth and love, we will walk in grace, mercy, and peace.

Application:

Truth and love are the bedrock of the Gospel of Christ. As He walked in absolute truth and absolute love, we also must walk as He did. When we operate the way Jesus did, we will see powerful results. Truth is hard when it means confrontation for me. I like people to like me and that can cause me to settle for not being completely truthful. I don’t necessarily lie, but I avoid telling everything I know. 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for convicting me with Your word today. Help me to walk in absolute truth as Christ did. Help me not to water down the truth, but to call it out. Let Your love flow through my life. Help me to love well. You are my example. Empower me to live as You lived here on this earth. I need You desperately.

Yours forever,

Jeff

The Blessing of the Lord

 Scripture:

““The time will come,” says the Lord, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Amos had prophesied some very difficult things because of Israel and Judah’s disobedience to God. He then tells them of a day where they would return to the Lord and to their land and God would bless them because they were following Him. The Lord tells them that the fruit will be produced faster than they could harvest it and Israel would drip with sweet wine. There is a promise that, when they turn to God, He will prosper them and cause them to see growth and abundance.

Application:

When we are seeing lack and wondering how we are going to make it, we must examine our ways and see if we are truly walking in obedience to the Lord. If so, we can be assured that God does reward faithfulness and obedience to Him. Barren times don’t last forever. We must believe that when we serve God wholeheartedly, that He will cause His blessings to flow into our lives. I am looking for the day of fruit coming faster than we can harvest it. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to see Your blessing in my life, my family, my church, and my region. I ask You to let the fruit of continual obedience begin to come quicker than we know how to harvest it. I ask You to fill our church with new people coming to Jesus and being transformed. As I have obeyed the words You gave me, I pray for the day of Your blessing on our obedience. I look for the day of quick and strong growth according to Isaiah 54;1-3.

Your Son,

Jeff

Obedience

 Scripture:

““But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ‘Shut up!’” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to Israel and Judah about how they treated those who were fully committed to Him. He speaks against them because they made the Nazirites, who are in covenant to never drink wine, to drink wine. These people told the prophets to shut up. They didn’t want to hear what God was saying and therefore, God was coming after them for their disobedience. 

Application:

Disobedience to God and His principles is not a healthy choice to make. As believers, we don’t live our own lives and do what we want. We are in a covenant with a holy God. It is a covenant of love, but it is still a covenant of obedience. When we obey God, we see His blessings. When we disobey Him, we can expect things not to go well for us. Our place is a place of obedience and trust. We obey Him because we know He loves us and wants to bless us. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk in obedience to You every day. Open my ears to hear Your voice and give me a heart of obedience in all things. I want to serve You well and walk in Your blessings. You are incredible and I want to reflect Your heart to Your people.

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff

Secure In Christ

 Scripture:

“We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This context of this passage speaks of sin and the believer. It says that God’s children don’t make a practice of sinning. It is no longer their nature to sin. The final words are so powerful because we see both God’s part and our part in walking this out. It says that God’s holds His children securely and the evil one can’t touch them. It also says, we don’t make a practice of sinning.

Application:

God wants us to know that we are secure in Christ and that our salvation is not a revolving door. God goes so far as to say that the evil one cannot touch God’s children. We have a powerful God who works with us to keep us on His path. We also have a part. We have to make a decision to follow God’s ways and not allow sin into our lives. Our confidence is not in ourselves, but in a powerful Savior who loves us and protects us from the evil one.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for loving me, forgiving me, cleansing me, and keeping me close to You. Help me to hate what You hate and love what You love. Teach me to follow Your ways completely. Keep me from the evil one in every area. You are amazing and I appreciate You.

Jeff

Living Like Jesus Lived

 Scripture:

“But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

John tells us here that when we obey God’s word, we show how completely we love Him. Our love should be demonstrated by obedience to God’s word. He continues to say those who say they live in God, should live their lives like Jesus did. Jesus lived in complete obedience to the Father in all things.

Application:

Obedience to God’s word is the thing that demonstrates, more than anything else, that we love God. We can say we love God with our lips, but when it is from our hearts, it will be demonstrated by obedience. Jesus lived in complete submission to the will of the Father. As He came to the end of His life and His crucifixion, Jesus asked the Father if there was any other way, then said, “nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done.” Jesus lived to obey the Father and we must live like Jesus lived.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for Your Spirit that empowers me to live like Jesus lived. Thank You for the price Jesus paid so I could have eternal life. Help me to live like Jesus lived on this earth, in complete obedience to You. Show me the way forward and teach me to walk in full submission to You at all times. Let my life be used for Your glory every day and in every way.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

What God Says…Will Happen

 Scripture:

““Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy forever, and foreign armies will never conquer her again.” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This verse, in its context is speaking about Armageddon and the battle that will one day take place there as a fulfillment to Old Testament prophesy. When that is said and done, the world will know that The Lord is God and He will be with His people and He will be their God. At that point, Jerusalem, which has been conquered many times in the past will never be conquered again. 

Application:

What God says will happen, will take place as He has said. Sometimes His prophesies come to pass quickly and sometimes there are thousands of years, but His word always comes true. God is right now bringing His people back to the land He gave them so many years ago. They are growing stronger and stronger as He promised. Everything is lining up for the fulfillment of this passage. Jerusalem will be holy forever and never conquered again.

Prayer:

Father, Your word is powerful and it is true. So many prophecies have already come to pass. While we wait for ones like this to happen, we know Your will. You want the world to know You are God and You want to be with Your people. You want to be their God and for them to be Your people. Let me be part of restoring people back to You. Use my life to bring people back to You around the world. I am Yours. As we live in these last days, teach me to hear Your voice and to know exactly what to do in each and every situation.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

More Like Jesus

 Scripture:

“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This verse tells us that God has given us some great and precious promises that enable us to share in his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption because of human desires. This lets us know that when we are born again, we receive a new nature, the nature of Christ. 

Application:

We have to live out of our new nature and not our old nature. God has given us great and precious promises. These are available to us, but we must walk in our new nature and not be controlled by our old nature. Fortunately, God has given us everything we need to accomplish His will for our lives. Our job is to follow the Lord and do what the Holy Spirit speaks to us. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to please You in this life more than anything else. I want my life to be used for Your glory. Help me to live out the promises You have given us. Teach me not to give in to the flesh, but to follow You completely and passionately. Teach me Your ways and guide my steps. Let my life bring You honor and praise. Let me live out of my divine nature and not my old nature. Make me more like You.

Yours,

Jeff

Forever My Source

 Scripture:

““O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.”” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking to Israel about their constant turning away from Him and serving other gods. He tells them to stay away from idols because He is the one who answers their prayers and cares for them. He tells them that He is like a tree that’s always green and constantly producing fruit. God wanted to be their source for everything they needed, but they continually turned to other gods.

Application:

God wants us to always turn to Him, not away from Him. We should never walk away from God or look to any other source for our needs. He wants to be a continual supplier for us. He longs for us to turn towards Him and not away when things get difficult. He wants to be our supplier. We must always run to Him and not to other means. He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible! You are faithful and strong. Your love and mercy is deeper than the sea. Help me to never look to any other source but You. You are all I need. Teach me to walk by faith. Bless my life and those around me. Bless Word of Life today. Bless the work of my hands and my family in every way. You are my source!

Yours,

Jeff

Speak What God is Saying

 Scripture:

“The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God, yet traps are laid for him wherever he goes. He faces hostility even in the house of God.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Israel was far from God at this point in their history. Hosea gave them messages from God about their disobedience to Him and what their punishment would look like. Even in Israel’s worst times, God always had a prophet telling them the truth and speaking on God’s behalf. According to this verse, those prophets were watchmen, yet they faced traps from without and hostility from within God’s house.

Application:

The true prophetic voice is always difficult to hear. People don’t want to hear that they are far from God and need to turn to Him. People don’t want to hear that their sin has separated them from God and that punishment was coming to them. A person who speaks the true Word of God will face persecution. People will try to trap them and there will be hostile people in the house of God who have other opinions. We must remain strong in those times.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be strong and to represent You well. Let me speak Your words accurately and effectively. I want to know You more deeply and to say what You are saying. Show me things to come. Teach me when to preach, when to teach, when to prophecy, and when to listen. Give me the strength to endure when people don’t seem to want to hear what You are saying. More than anything, help me to speak what You are speaking at all times.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Last Days Restoration of Israel

 Scripture:

"But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David's descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of His goodness." Hosea 3:5

Observation:

Hosea prophesies here about a time when God's people would return to Him and devote themselves to Him once again. It closes with a word about the last days. It says that in the last days, they will tremble is awe of God and of His goodness. 

Application:

The story of Israel being basically gone from the world almost two thousand years, then God reviving a nation and a language, is incredible to think about. It is enough to make a person tremble in awe of His goodness. There are so many Biblical prophesies coming to pass right now in Israel that it is awe-inspiring. God has restored something that was totally gone for a very long time. Every day, Israel is in the news because God is restoring and blessing His people. We are in the last days and watching this verse come to pass daily.

Prayer:

Father, help me to observe with awe what You are doing in Israel. You are bringing Your word to life! You are incredible and I honor You. I want to be part of Your people and I want You to be my God. You are worthy of my very best in every area. Help me to fulfill Your will for my life and to advance Your kingdom into all the earth.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Great Expectation

 Scripture:

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation." (I Peter 1:3).

Observation:

In this verse, Peter reminds us that we are to give praise to God because it is by His mercy that we have been saved. He finishes this simple verse with the statement, "Now we live with great expectation." This is such a powerful thought.

Application:

I have to ask myself the question, "Do I live each day with great expectation?" Do I live anticipating good things? Do I expect things to go well for me or do I expect things to go bad? As a believer, we have access to the resources of heaven. We have a Father who created everything we see. We have a God who loved us enough to send His only Son for us. Today, I need to expect great things every day and have great expectations of my future.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of my all. Help me to live with great expectation each day of what You are going to do in and through my life. Let my faith grow stronger, and my expectation increase. You are incredible! Help me to live like it.

Yours,

 Jeff

Lead People to Righteousness

 Scripture:

"Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like stars forever." (Daniel 12:3)

Observation:

Daniel is speaking here about what we would call the Last Days. He speaks about nations and what they will be doing in those days, then he drops this verse. He says the wise and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like stars forever. 

Application:

I have always had a heart to lead people to Jesus and, through Him, to righteousness. I want to lead more people to Christ in my latter years than in my former years. He is worthy of my very best, and I want to serve Him well in my generation. I'm not as concerned about shining like the stars, but I do want people to know Jesus and want to lead as many to Him as possible throughout my life.

Prayer:

Father, I  know I go through seasons where I am stronger in evangelism. Help me to walk in obedience to You and see more people saved in my latter years than the rest of my life combined. Help me to see people who need Jesus. I want to see more and more people turn their lives over to You and begin following Your ways. Empower me to be a better witness for You.

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.'"

Observation:

When the angel delivered a strong word about the last days to Daniel, he told Daniel that he was very precious to God. He spoke over Daniel that he was to be peaceful, encouraged, and strong. Daniel immediately gained strength and was ready to hear what the angel was going to deliver. 

Application:

Everything starts where this angel started. He told Daniel, "You are very precious to God." Those words are powerful coming from the throne of God Himself through His messenger. We need to know that we are precious to God. We are His children, and we are loved by our Father. When we understand that, we are ready to hear the word of the Lord. We become stronger when we understand God's love for us more and more. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk close with You and to know that I'm precious to You. I want to have confidence and be strong in every area of life because You are my source. Meet every need in my life and let me have peace, be encouraged, and be strong. All I have and hope for is in You.  

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Without a Scratch

 Scripture:

"The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God." Daniel 6:23

Observation:

Daniel had been thrown into a den of hungry lions because he would not stop praying to his God. The king's officials didn't like Daniel and wanted him put to death. The only thing they knew he would never bend on was his relationship with God. Daniel ended up in the lion's den for a night. When the king came in the morning, there was not a scratch on him and it says,  "he had trusted in his God."

Application:

We have a God who can protect us in any situation. He can close the mouths of lions, open seas and rivers, and feed a multitude with a few fish. God knows how to take care of His people. We can walk in confidence, knowing that if we are serving God completely, and not ourselves, God will take care of us and deliver us from whatever situations we end up in. He can have us come out of bad situations without a scratch.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more each day. I want to know You. Teach me Your ways and let me walk in Your path. Thank You for all the times I have come out of problems without a scratch because You protected me. You are amazing anf the more I know You, the more I love You.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Come Close

 Scripture:

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

James tells us here to come close to God and He will come close to us. He also lets us know that in order to do that, we need to wash our hands and clean our hearts because our loyalty is divided between God and the world. We come close by walking toward Him and away from the things of this world.

Application:

We should be on a continual pursuit of the Goodness of God. We should love to know Him more and more. We should continually be “coming close” to Him. I want to walk close with God throughout my life. I long to be in His presence and know that means I must pursue Him above every other thing. I need to be continually letting go of the things of this world.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me the beauty of coming close to You. Help me to follow You well and to serve You well in my life. Teach me what to walk away from and what to pursue. Give me strength to live this way and empower me to walk close to You. That is my desire. I want to be a man who comes close to the king and reflects His glory.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Faith and Works

 Scripture:

“So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” ‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬, ‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Martin Luther hated this passage because he preached that faith alone saves us. The apostle Paul teaches us that we cannot earn our salvation or work for it because it is a gift. James comes along and declares that faith without works is dead. Where we end up is knowing that faith alone saves us, but that faith should produce some right actions that prove our faith.

Application:

As God’s people, we must be diligent to put our faith into action. We must produce some good works because of our faith. Faith gives us right standing with God, but works lets God work through us. I want my faith to be evident. I want the world to know the awesomeness of God. I want to live in the harmony of faith and works.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me to walk the balance between faith and works. Show me how to live by faith and produce much for Your kingdom. Let me live a life whee my faith is proven by the things I do and say. Let my words and my works be evidence that I have faith in You. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

River of Life

 Scripture:

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭47‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel saw a river flowing from the Temple that was very special. It was a river that brought healing everywhere it went. It caused difficult places to flourish. The trees along the banks of the river have leaves that never turn brown and fall. There was always fruit on the branches because there was a new crop every month. This river brings life everywhere it went.

Application:

Jesus said of us that we would have rivers of living water pouring out of us. Our lives should never turn brown and fall from lack of nourishment. We should be always producing fruit because the river of life flows from us. Wherever we go, healing, restoration, and life should flow. When the Holy Spirit really works in and through our lives, we will bring new life everywhere we go. I want to live with the river flowing unstoppable in my life.

Prayer:

Father, let Your river of life flow in and through my life. Let me know You more and more each day. Show me every step to take and every place to go. Lead me and let my life count for You. Fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit. Guide me every moment of every day. Teach me to let Your river flow.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Don’t Leave the Same Way

 Scripture:

“But when the people come in through the north gateway to worship the Lord during the religious festivals, they must leave by the south gateway. And those who entered through the south gateway must leave by the north gateway. They must never leave by the same gateway they came in, but must always use the opposite gateway.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭46‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This is a unique command about coming and going from the Temple in Ezekiel’s day. During festivals, when it was crowded, people were to enter the south and leave the north. This was most likely to keep it moving and not have people traffic as bad. It was practical guidelines to help with crowd control I would imagine.

Application:

Taking this totally out of context, there is a unique line in here that I have sung in church since I was a kid. “You must never leave the way you came in.” There is an old song we used to sing, “You won’t leave here like you came, in Jesus’ name.” I want to get back to this in our church and in my life. I want the house of God to be a place where people expect to be changed and leave differently than they came. In my own life, I want to leave church more like Jesus than when I entered. 

Prayer:

Lord, I don’t want to go through the motions in church. I want to leave changed every time I enter Your house. Change me, mold me, transform me. In the church I pastor, let people not leave the same way they came each week in Jesus’ name. Let people experience true transformation each and every week. Let them leave differently than when they came. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

All Nations Will Know I Am The Lord

 Scripture:

“and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the Lord.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭38‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This prophetic word from Ezekiel speaks of Gog attacking Israel in what was called the distant future. Gog is present day Russia. At some point, Russia will invade Israel in a massive invasion. God will arise and defeat Russia as everyone watches. God will arise and display His power and greatness and all nations will know that He is God.

Application:

These chapters speak of what is present day for us today. Israel was a valley of dry bones just 80 years ago. Jews have come and repopulated the nation and have built an incredible force there. Everything God said would happen, has already happened in our lifetime. This war is still in the future, but not far away. We need to see the signs of the times we live in and realize that we are living in the Last Days. We must live knowing that the coming of the Lord is sooner than we think. 

Prayer:

Father, Your Word is so incredibly accurate concerning Your people. Just as You said, they have returned from every nation on the earth. You goal in all of this is that the nations will know that You are the Lord. I want to be part of that. I want to let the world know that You are God and there is none like You. Make me sensitive to Your voice. Open my eyes to see what is happening in my generation. Give me prophetic insight like You gave Ezekiel.

Yours,

Jeff

Frustrated Leaders

 Scripture:

“So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God tells Ezekiel here that the people are coming and pretending to be sincere, but have no intention of doing what he says. God says of these people that their hearts are only after money. He goes on to say that they think Ezekiel is very entertaining, but don’t act on what he says. They hear but don’t act on what they hear. According to earlier verses just above this, Ezekiel did what he was supposed to do and delivered the messages, the people didn’t act on them. Therefore, they are accountable.

Application:

Sometimes as a leader, it is hard not to get an attitude with God’s people. We can lead them to water, but we can’t make them drink. It is easy to fall into feeling useless because people are entertained by your messages and even say they love them, but don’t put any action to them and don’t live them out. It is very frustrating in ministry to preach your heart out and feel like people aren’t listening. It makes you questions whether you are effective or not. We must keep in mind that our job is to deliver the word. The people will be held accountable for whether they apply what they hear.

Prayer:

Father, help me to navigate the feelings of ineffectiveness when I give my whole life to declaring Your word and I don’t see people appreciate it or follow it. Help me to deliver accurately what You want me to speak and leave the rest to You. Help me to be okay in preaching Your word, and not get frustrated when I see Your people not following it. 

Frustrated,

Jeff

That Their People will KNOW

 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:

God speaks here to Egypt through Ezekiel. He tells them that their people will know that God is the Lord when He sets Egypt on fire and destroys all their allies. The heart of God in this passage is not set on the destruction of nations, but on them knowing He is God and serving Him. God will do whatever it takes to see people and nations honor His name. 

Application:

I want to walk with the Lord all the days of my life. I don’t want Him to have to prove Himself to me. He has done enough already by sending His only Son to die in my place and take my punishment. I want the world to know God without disaster and chaos. I want to work with God in the extension of His kingdom, rule, and reign.

Prayer:

Father, I want to see the world know You. That has been the cry of Your heart for centuries as I look into Your Word. You desire a people who will follow You completely. I want to be one of those people. I want to lead others to do the same. Let the world know You are God. Demonstrate Your goodness and Your power in and through my life. 

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Speak God’s Truth Now

 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 the difficult task of speaking some very hard words from the Lord to His people and the surrounding nations. His message was not an easy one to deliver and people didn’t like him for his messages. The Lord told him that the day will come in the future, when Israel will revive and THEN your words will be respected. They will believe you, just not right now. 

Application:

As a representative of God and a speaker of His words, we must fulfill our assignments faithfully. We must speak what He is speaking, not for the praise of men, but for the honor of God. When God gives us a difficult task, we must fulfill it faithfully. Sometimes when we operate this way, our words seem at the time as powerless and ineffective because people don’t respond immediately. We must learn to trust God and speak what He is saying, then leave the results to Him. The people we speak the message to might not get it for a long time, but they will eventually see.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be faithful to Your word. Help me to communicate to Your church what You are speaking. Let my words be clear and powerful. Let me say, not what is convenient or popular, but truly what You are saying in this day and hour. Help me to accurately represent what You are saying to those to whom You send me. Help me not to give in to impressing people or wanting to be well received. I want to speak on Your behalf.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Follow God Completely

 Scripture:

“and I was told to give this message to the people of Israel. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will defile my Temple, the source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭24‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel prophesied in this passage that God would defile His own temple, which He called Judah’s security and pride. He went on to say that it was the place their hearts delighted in. He told them their sons and daughters would be slaughtered. All of this was because of their refusal to follow God’s commands and paths. God was seriously trying to get Judah to wake up and see their rebellion, but they simply wouldn’t turn.

Application:

Hard-hearted and stiff-necked people are hard to reach. Sometimes God has to take drastic actions to get their attention. There are people who won’t follow God until they hit rock bottom as we call it. God wants us to follow Him out of our love for Him, but some need tough love. God’s heart for them to walk with Him and follow Him causes God to lift His hand of protection and allow the enemy to ruin their lives. He does this, not for punishment, but because He wants them to turn to Him completely.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. I want to follow You well all the days of my life. I want to speak what You are speaking and do what You are doing. Help me to always walk in submission to You and Your Word. Let my life be aligned with You. 

Yours Always,

Jeff

Mercy Honors God

 Scripture:

“You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭20‬:‭44‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God says here that He will honor His name by treating the people of Judah mercifully, even though they were wicked. God considered mercy something that honors His name.

Application:

When we demonstrate mercy, we are demonstrating the goodness of God. He doesn’t give us what we deserve. In spite of our wickedness and failures, He chooses to love us, accept us, and work with us. Mercy is wonderful to receive when we have messed up, but it is hard to give to someone else. Although difficult, mercy honors God. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to remember how merciful You have been with me. Let me represent You well in this area.  Teach me to walk in your mercy and to demonstrate it to others. You are incredible and have been merciful to me. Help me to show Your mercy as well to those around me. 

Your Son,

Jeff

God Can Bring Both Life and Death

 Scripture:

“And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭17‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks through Ezekiel here and tells him that it is He who makes green trees wither and gives the dead trees new life. Of course God wasn’t talking about trees, but about His people. What He is saying is that He alone has the power to bring life to dead things and to cause living things to wither on the vine. He can make our lives great or He can make our lives terrible. 

Application:

We should always want to walk with the Lord in His favor and blessing. As for me, I want to follow the Lord and see dead things coming back to life. I don’t want to see things wither in my life, therefore, I must seek the Lord diligently and walk according to His ways and not my own inventions. When we do things God’s ways and, we get God results. When we do things our own way, God doesn’t have to bless it. We must live so that God is glorified and that His blessing will cause life all around us.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a tree that brings life everywhere I go. I realize from our verse today that it is You that promotes, You who tears down. It is You who raises up and it is You who can make things miserable in our lives. I choose You! I want to follow You well in my generation. I want to walk close to You and to hear Your heart. I want to represent You and Your Word well wherever You lead me. Speak clearly to my heart and give me strength to follow You completely.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Singleness of Heart

 Scripture:

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking here through Ezekiel about what He was going to do with the people of Judah who were in exile at this time. He said He was going to give them a new, soft, heart. He was giving them a responsive and tender heart so they would obey His decrees and regulations. He was doing all this for one reason, “Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”

Application:

This verse describes what happens throughout most of the Old Testament. God’s people would stray away from their covenant with Him and find themselves in really bad situations. God’s desire, every single time, was that they would repent and turn to Him so that they could be His people and He could be their God. He has always wanted a people who would serve Him completely and want with Him intimately. God has always looked for the people of God who are committed to Him. He promises to bless them, prosper them, and make them a visual for the rest of the world to see His goodness.

Prayer:

Lord, let me answer the cry of Your heart. I want to be Yours completely. I want to serve You with singleness of heart. I want to follow Your ways and live the life You want for me. I surrender to You and Your ways. Show me the path You have for me and I will walk it out. I long for You truly to be my God and I long to be Yours completely.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Influencing Leaders

 Scripture:

“Then on September 17, during the sixth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, while the leaders of Judah were in my home, the Sovereign Lord took hold of me.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Ezekiel describes an event going on during the captivity where he had the leaders of Judah in his home. While in his home with the leaders of Judah, God took hold of him and began to show him things. I find the first part of this verse very interesting. Ezekiel was a prophet who did some very strange things, yet he had the leaders of a nation in his home. This tells me that his home was large enough to entertain leaders in. It also tells me he that leaders were listening to him, which is what he was told would not happen. Even though his words were hard, it appear the leaders of Judah wanted to hear.

Application:

When God’s hand is on your life, He will bring people of influence into your life. We need to listen to the voice of God and do what He says. Ezekiel did some seemingly crazy things at the word of the Lord, yet had the leaders of a nation in his home. We need to walk closely with the Lord and do what He says at all times. We have to leave the results in His hands. We need to be strong when we have heard from the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, You have brought influential people across my path so many times in my life. Help me to steward well every opportunity You place in my life. Teach me to walk with You in every season of life and to fulfill Your will. Use my life for Your glory. Help me to represent You well and speak what You are saying. 

I am Yours,

Jeff

Then They Will Know

 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:

God is speaking to His people through Ezekiel in this passage. The Lord promises Ezekiel that His people will pay for their sins and go through terrible things because they had disobeyed the Lord. He says that He will crush them and destroy their cities… THEN they will know that I am the Lord. God’s goal was never punishment for the sake of punishment, but punishment so they would know He is God.

Application:

God doesn’t get delight in messing up His people’s lives. He doesn’t punish us simply because we mess up at times. He allows bad things to happen in order for us to turn to Him. When we stray away, He will let us go and withhold His protection and blessing… so that we will repent and turn to Him. He longs for relationship with His people and will do anything to get their attention. Therefore, we need to give Him our complete and total surrender and dedication to Him. We should live knowing that He is the Lord and serving Him every day.

Prayer:

Father, let my life be pure before You. Help me to live a life that honors You above all Elise. Teach me to follow You in good times and in bad times. You are my help. You are my hope! You are my strength! You are my everything! I love You Lord and want to walk in Your blessing. Help me to live a life You can bless.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Delivering God’s Word

 Scripture:

“Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

When God called Ezekiel, He gave him a very difficult calling. He was to speak to Israel, knowing they were hard-hearted and would not respond to him. He told Ezekiel to listen carefully to God’s words himself and  let them sink into his own heart before speaking them to the Israelites. He was told to then deliver the words, whether they listen or not. 

Application:

When you speak for God, there will be times when people don’t want to listen to you. As a communicator for God, I am first and foremost a spokesperson for the Lord. I must let His words go deep within me before I communicate them with others. I need to pray a message into my heart and not release it until I have digested it well. After that, I am free to deliver the message. I must live my own message.

Prayer:

Father, help me to represent You well as I endeavor to teach and preach Your word. Help me to let Your word sink deeply in my heart so I can communicate it effectively. Show me how to be more effective in speaking Your words. Let my words be anointed to bring life change. Give me strength when people don’t respond to Your words or Your voice. Show me how to communicate for You well.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

The Ultimate Sacrifice

 Scripture:

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus has been presented as the perfect high priest up to this point in this scripture. Therefore, because He is better than any high priest, he is able to save those who come to God through him. It also says that He lives forever to intercede with God on our behalf. Jesus is interceding for us right now and He lives to do just that.

Application:

We have a perfect high priest as our Lord and Savior. He stands in the gap for us before God Almighty. Because He was perfect, He offered a perfect sacrifice for our sins. He became human so He could represent humans as a sacrifice that would be able to save them completely. We must realize that our works can never save us or deliver us. It is only through Jesus that we can be healed, freed, delivered, and brought into the Kingdom. He is the center of it all. He is also praying for us, which should give us great confidence.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, than You for paying the ultimate price for my sins. You alone deserve the glory. Thank You for taking my punishment and for forgiving my sins. You are incredible and I worship You this morning. You are not just a high priest, but You are the ultimate high priest. Thank You for interceding for me each and every day before the Father. I can’t wait to see You face to face.

Yours,

Jeff

Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

 Scripture:

“And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews is speaking about Jesus when he said, “God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” In the life of Jesus, These things were normal and happened often. God still confirms His word with signs, wonders, and miracles. 

Application:

The early church prayed that God would confirm His word the same way. They said, “Stretch out Your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” The Gospel should be confirmed with signs, wonders, and miracles. These things cause people to put their faith and trust in God.

Prayer:

Father, I join the author of Hebrews and the early church and say, confirm Your word with signs, wonders, and miracles. Move in power so that the faith of men is not in the wisdom of man, but the power of God. Help me to know You more intimately and to do exactly what You are doing at all times. Help me to walk in Your power and do the things You have ordained for me. Let my life be used for Your.glory and honor. I am Yours!

Your Son,

Jeff

Praise in Troubling Times

 Scripture:

“But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.” ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jeremiah writes in Lamentations about how things were after God’s people were taken away to other countries. They felt totally abandoned by God. They were helpless and hopeless. God had told His people this was going to happen, but now they found themselves in the middle of it. In the midst of God’s judgment on their country, Jeremiah says, “Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.” He worships God, even when God is punishing them.

Application:

I want to be a person who praise God in every situation. I want to trust God in every good time and in every bad time. I want to have faith and understanding of God’s ways. Even in the worst of times, I want to declare that God is faithful and that He is enthroned through all generations. I don’t want my faith to waver because of bad situations or circumstances.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk with You in seasons of blessing and seasons of discipline. Help me to follow You completely in good times and bad times. Let my faith remain strong throughout my life and let me live a life that pleases You. You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Teach me Your ways. Show me Your paths and walk with me closely. I want to be in Your presence every day.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Faithful Love

 Scripture:

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Lamentations is a lament over Israel and Judah being overtaken by their enemies, which God told them for years would happen if they refused to turn to Him. It is believed that Jeremiah, who prophesied all these terrible things, was the author of Lamentations. In the midst of him lamenting over the devastation, he stops and writes the above powerful verses. He declares, even when everything bad has happened that the faithful love of the Lord never ends and that His mercies never cease. He describes God’s faithfulness as great and his mercies new every morning.

Application:

Even in devastation, we can trust in the faithful love of God. Even when things are not going the way we wanted them to, we can still trust God because He is merciful and faithful. Rather than simply wallowing in self pity when things go wrong, we must a raise the declare the goodness of God. He hasn’t gone wrong, but He may have needed to correct us for a season to straighten us out. We must trust His faithfulness.

Prayer:

Father, when I don’t understand what’s happening around me, let me always know You are faithful and trustworthy. When the world seems difficult and things are not going as I thought they would, help me to trust and lean on Your unchanging grace. Teach me to walk with You in every season of life. 

I am Yours forever,

Jeff

Transformation

 Scripture:

“Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.” ‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing to Philemon to beg him to take Onesimus back and to treat him well as a slave. Onesimus was a runaway slave who met Jesus and became a strong Christian under Paul’s mentorship. When Onesimus came to Christ, his life was dramatically changed. He went from being “of much use” in the past to being “very useful” because of Jesus.

Application:

Sometimes we consider people has hopeless cases. There are people that seem useless and unproductive. When these people really encounter Christ, they are completely changed. This says to me that I should never give up on anyone. It also speaks to my heart about people the world has given up on. We must never lose sight of the redemptive power of the cross and the resurrection. God can still turn people around in big ways, which will change their lives forever.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to see people as You see them. Teach me to never give up on anyone. Show me how to love those You love and bless those You bless. Show me how to love Your people well. Help me to see potential in every person who comes to Christ and to never give up on anyone. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Discipline

 Scripture:

“Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭46‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking through Jeremiah to all the people who fled from Judah and were going to Egypt. He was very upset with them for their idol worship. His message to His people was that they shouldn’t be afraid because He was with them. He told them that he would destroy the nations they had been exiled to, but they would not be destroyed, even though they were the ones who walked away from Him. He told them He would discipline them and bring them back.

Application:

Even in God’s punishment and discipline, the goal is always restoration. His ways seemed hard in the Old Testament, but His heart was always to restore relationship with His people. God is long suffering and full of patience when His people mess up. Even when we are being disciplined, we can take comfort in the fact that He disciplines who He loves. When we mess up, we must lean on His mercy and grace. We must know our father’s heart, a heart of restoration. 

Prayer:

Lord, when I mess up, thank You for always taking me back into the place of Your blessing. Thank You for not giving me what I deserve for my sins, but giving me grace and forgiveness. Help me to never take that for granted. Show me each day how to walk in step with Your Spirit and to fulfill Your will. Speak to me each and every day. I want to walk with You closer and closer and reflect Your character. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Led by Fear or Led by the Spirit?

 Scripture:

“‘Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For I am sorry about all the punishment I have had to bring upon you. Do not fear the king of Babylon anymore,’ says the Lord. ‘For I am with you and will save you and rescue you from his power.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭42‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God spoke to His people who were left in Israel after most had been taken away into Babylon. They said they would do whatever He told them to do. When they were given this word, they refused to listen to it or believe it. They couldn’t trust the Babylonians not to come back and get them. The problem was, they listened to themselves and their fears over the voice of the Lord.

Application:

Just like God gave them a good word for their future, He has some great things to say to us. The problem is, we always try to evaluate whether the word we are give in accurate. We trust our own fears and wisdom over God’s wisdom. We must learn to trust God more and trust ourselves less. We tend to lean on our own understanding of how things will work out in every situation rather than simply trust God and do what He says. This is the life of faith and obedience.

Prayer:

Lord teach me today to trust You more and myself less. Guide my steps and direct my paths. Show me th way forward at all times. Show me things to come and help me to be prepared for whatever may come my way. I know my trust is increased with my ability to hear Your voice clearly. Speak clearly and let me hear exactly what You want me to do at all times. I want to be led by the Spirit and not my own mind.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Trust and Protection

 Scripture:

“Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭39‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Everything Jeremiah had prophesied was coming to pass. Babylon was coming to get God’s people. Jeremiah had been imprisoned and left in terrible conditions at times. In this midst of the storm, God spoke to Jeremiah and said the above words. He said, “Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward.” He completed the statement by promising Jeremiah that He would rescue him and keep him safe.

Application:

When you follow God completely and do as He says, it may not always be easy, but you can be assured that God will rescue you at the right time. He will save you as you continue to serve Him faithfully. He can keep you safe when the whole country is being deported. God has a way of taking care of His people who are truly committed to Him. This whole verse starts with, “because you trusted me.”

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more and more each day. You are my source and my resource. You are my provider and my guide. Show me the way forward at all times and help me to say yes to whatever You place before me. I love You Lord! You’re truly amazing!

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff

God’s Desire to Bless

 Scripture:

“Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭36‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

I love passages where you can see clearly the heart of God. In this passage He says, “Perhaps the people of Judah will repent…then I will be able to forgive their sin and wrongdoings.” God’s heart was to forgive and bless them, but He needed them to repent in order to do that. God wasn’t punishing them as a form of judgment, but as a way to help them repent so He could bless them.

Application:

When God challenges us, we have to understand that He is actually doing whatever He is doing for our good and because He wants to bless us. Rather seeing God’s discipline as negative, we must see it as positive and that He wants us to change so that He can bless and prosper us. We must actually believe that God has our best interest in His heart at all times. He will give us what we need and not only what we want.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome! Thank You for loving me and caring for me. You are my rock, my salvation, my strength, and my song. You are my everything! Help me to follow You completely, fully trusting that You are in control and will bring out the best in my life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Is Anything Too Hard for God?

 Scripture:

““I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭32‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God is reminding Jeremiah that he is the God of everything and everyone. He asks Jeremiah a simple question that we need to ask ourselves periodically, “Is anything too hard for me?” The obvious answer is that nothing is too hard for God Almighty.

Application:

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we serve the God of the impossible. What may be impossible for others is never impossible for God. He is able to do what we could never do. He can change any circumstance or situation. Nothing is too difficult for the God we serve. Therefore, we must walk in faith and believe that He will do what He says He will do.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You completely as the God who can do anything. Help me to walk in faith each day of my life. Teach me to walk in step with You and to trust Your leadership. Bless my life, my family, the church I lead, and the ministry I lead as well. Pour out Your goodness on all of them! Rescue those who are far from You, but close to me.

Yours,

Jeff

Futile Hopes

 Scripture:

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord!” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to Jeremiah and the people of Judah about those who prophesy lies and fill people with hope when bad things are coming. The Lord told him that they were making up everything they were saying and not truly speaking from the Lord. God called it giving “futile hope.”

Application:

If we are going to speak on the Lord’s behalf, we better not just preach or teach what we think people want to hear. We must firmly and boldly declare what God is saying in our generation. Many churches today only preach messages of hope because hope keeps people coming back. We are not in the business of getting people to come back. We are in the business of speaking on the Lord’s behalf. I need to seek the Lord more and lean on self less for each message I preach. I need to lean in to Jesus and hear from His heart before declaring His word.

Prayer:

Father, help me to accurately speak what You are speaking. You have entrusted me with people’s lives. Help me to feed them well and accurately discern what You are speaking at any given time. Teach me to hear Your voice clearly and speak what You are saying, not just a helpful, positive, message. I don’t want to fill people with futile hopes.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Great Warrior is Beside You

 Scripture:

“But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭20‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jeremiah realized he was called to a very difficult ministry. He knew he had to prophesy words the would not be received by God’s people. He was given very harsh messages from God to His people. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be him. He also had confidence that the Lord stood beside him like a great warrior. He knew God was on his side and this gave him confidence to stay the course, though at times he wished he was never born.

Application:

Feelings are fickle. There are times when we will feel like following God is not easy and that nobody is listening to us. There will be times we want to quit and do something else, but knowing that God is standing right there with me gives me strength to continue on. Knowing that He fights my battles helps immensely, but it does get difficult at times. It is awesome when you realize that the greatest warrior in world history is standing right beside you.

Prayer:

Lord, sometimes life and ministry is not easy. I wish it was simple and I would see the growth and blessings I would love to see. I know I get frustrated at times. Help me to know that, no matter what, You are standing right there with me. Help me to sense the presence of the Lord God Almighty, the mighty warrior, standing next to me on those days.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Trust God Over People

 Scripture:

“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, the Lord tells us that who who put their trust in mere humans are cursed. They rely on human strength and turn their hearts from God. He says they are like stunted shrubs in the desert with no hope for the future. Barrenness is their future. 

Application:

The more we rely on people instead of relying on God, the more we trust man instead of God. We must put our confidence in the Lord and not in our own thoughts or the thoughts and plans of a person. When we start leaning on man, God steps away and lets us go our way. When we continue to seek the Lord for wisdom, He answers and defeats our enemies. We must put our trust in God and not in any person. He alone is worthy of that level of respect.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. When I’m in a pinch, I still tend to lean on myself and others. Help me to always look to You for my help and hope. Be my strength and my fortress. Help me to trust You over any and every person in my life. Speak to me. Lead me. Guide me.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Made to Cling

 Scripture:

“As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Lord speaks through Jeremiah here and tells Judah and Israel that they were created to cling to God like a loincloth clings to a man’s waist. God wanted them to be as close as His skin to them because He wanted them to be His pride, glory, and honor. He closes by saying, “but they would not listen to me.”

Application:

We were created to be close to God. He shouldn’t be the place we run when we are in trouble. He wants us to cling to Him and to be close. He wants to bless us and prosper us, but we only come to Him when we have needs and not just because of who He is. I want to walk close to the Lord at all times. I want to live a life of close proximity to Jesus. I want to cling to Him at all times, not just when I NEED Him.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I want to walk as close to You as a loincloth. I want to cling to You closely. I want to walk in nearness to You at all times. I want You to be able to whisper in my ear. I want to follow You with all my heart. Help me to cling to You above every other thing. 

Stuck on You,

Jeff

Words on Fire

 Scripture:

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven's Armies says: 'Because the people are talking like this, my messages will flame out of your mouth and burn the people like kindling wood.'"

Observation:

Because the people were not listening to the word of the Lord, God told Jeremiah that He would cause his messages to come out of his mouth like flames and burn the people. If the people wouldn't listen, God would turn up the heat on Jeremiah's preaching. God was determined to see the people transformed and He was going to use Jeremiah's preaching to do it.

Application:

God can set on fire what belongs to Him. When we offer our lives to Him like Jeremiah did, He can set our words on fire and make them impactful. When we walk with the Lord, He can put His touch on our words and speak through us in such a way that people have to listen. I want the Lord to use my voice to speak to His people and to call them to walk with Him. 

Prayer:

Lord, I want You to speak through me today. Set Your words on fire in my life and let me deliver what You want me to speak. Guide my heart and my mouth today and let Pakistan be touched for Your glory. Let me accurately declare what You want me to say and set my words on fire with the power of Your Spirit. 

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Fear of People

 Scripture:

"And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Jeremiah 1:8 NLT

Observation:

When God called Jeremiah, He gave him instructions that would help him. Jeremiah told the Lord that he was too young and couldn't speak in front of people, but God confirmed that He was with him. In this passage, the Lord tells him not to be afraid of the people because God was going to be with him and protect him. 

Application:

Fear of people is one of the strongest fears you have to deal with in ministry. It's not necessarily a fear of people hurting you physically, but of people leaving you, spreading rumors, saying things about you, etc. People can be your best friends or they can become your worst enemies. People can spread things about you that are not even true. I receive this word for me today because I know I am a people pleaser, and I want to be free from what people think of me. I want to speak what God says and do what He wants me to do without fear of what people think or will do.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to break the power of being a people pleaser. Let me be a God pleaser above everything else in my life. Teach me when to listen to people and when to stand on what You are speaking to me. Give me confidence and let me not make decisions based on the opinions of people, but on the word of the Lord. 

Yours,

Jeff

Integrity in Leadership

 Scripture:

"And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching." Titus 2:7 NLT

Observation:

Paul began this letter to Titus by stating that he had left him in Crete to complete the work there and appoint elders in each of the towns. He tells Titus in this passage that he must be an example by doing good works of every kind and that everything he does should reflect integrity. As leaders, we must walk in integrity and reflect the teaching we teach with a life that pleases God.

Application:

It is crucial, as leaders in God's kingdom, that our lifestyle reflects our teaching. We must make sure we don't hinder the truth of the Gospel by living lives that don't match what we teach. People should be able to watch us live what we teach. There are too many ministers falling into sin and bringing damage to the Body of Christ. We must live what we teach, or we will do more damage in our fall than the good we did with our lives. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a life that demonstrates Your Word to Your people. Enable me to live in integrity. I don't want to bring damage to Your kingdom work on this earth. Show me how to walk in the Spirit so I won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. Strengthen my resolve to live in Your presence and to represent You well.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

God Wants Us to Seek Him

 Scripture:

"The Lord says, 'I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am!' to a nation that did not call on my name.'" Isaiah 65:1 NLT

Observation:

God is speaking here and telling Isaiah that He wanted to help and respond, but nobody was asking for His input in their situations. He was saying that He was ready to step in and help, but nobody was looking to Him. God wants to help us in our times of trouble, but we must seek Him. All we need is a heart in pursuit of Him.

Application:

God gives direction and instructions to His people. He is more than ready to give us what we need, but He wants us to ask Him, seek Him, and knock on the door of heaven. He wants us to realize that we cannot be self-sufficient. God is ready and willing to step in and fight on our behalf, but He won't come uninvited. He doesn't have to say "Here I am" to me; I am inviting Him to lead.

Prayer:

Father, I invite You to lead me and guide me into Your truth. Direct my steps. I am looking for You. I need You in my life. I need to hear Your voice. I want to know Your plans and follow them. Teach me to be Your best follower. Show me how to live successfully in Your kingdom. I am Yours and I cannot do anything without You. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Remain Soft-hearted

 Scripture:

"And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Observation:

The prophet is speaking to the Lord in this passage. He tells the Lord that He is their father and that they are clay, while He is the potter. The last sentence is crucial, which says, "We all are formed by your hand." We must remember that throughout our lives we are being formed by God. He is always working on us. Our job is to remain soft like clay and let the potter do His work. When we harden ourselves, we cannot be shaped.

Application:

I want to be shaped by the Lord to become all He wants me to be. I want to follow His voice at all times and to do what He puts in front of me. I don't want to become hardened by life or by ministry. My goal is to remain loving, compassionate, gentle, and kind in the hands of God. I want to remain pliable in His hands. I don't want to get negative, hard, and stop being formed by the potter. I want to remain usable to be formed as He wants.

Prayer:

Father, I give You my life once again. Help me to live in such a way that I remain flexible and tender-hearted. Let my life be shaped by Your hand. Help me to stay soft and shapable so I can become all that You want me to be. Teach me Your ways and let me be more shaped by You than by the world that is always pressing.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Double Portion Prosperity

Scripture:

"Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." Isaiah 61:7 NLT

Observation:

This passage follows the prophecy about Jesus, which says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me..."  Continuing speaking of what would happen with the coming of Jesus, this verse speaks and tells us that we would enjoy double honor and a double portion of prosperity in the land. Part of Isaiah 61 spoke of "Good news to the poor." This is a promise of God to those in Christ.

Application:

I am claiming this verse for my life. I am looking for double honor, double prosperity, and everlasting joy in my life. As I read this text, I see that God does bless His people with abundance and joy. He wants to bless His people and lift them up. He also requires obedience in order to have it operate in our lives. I am believing the Lord for an increase of His blessing and provision for my own life and the life of our ministry. I am claiming a double blessing. As my African friends would say, "Everything a double double O"

Prayer:

Lord, Your word speaks of Your blessing falling on the obedient. I am looking for Your blessing in my life, my family, my church, and our ministry. Let them see the day of double honor, double prosperity, and everlasting joy.

Yours,

Jeff