Wholehearted

 Scripture:

“Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not wholeheartedly.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭25‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This simple verse speaks volumes. Amaziah did things that were pleasing to God, but he didn’t do them wholeheartedly. It shows a difference between obedience and wholehearted obedience. Whatever he was doing, was good, but he wasn’t doing it with a right heart. 

Application:

I want to live a life of no compromise concerning the things of God. I want to live wholeheartedly and not just obediently. God can tell when I’m doing things that are pleasing to Him compared to when I’m doing tings that are wholeheartedly obedient. I want to worship God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I want to serve Him with my whole heart and not just do the minimum I can to make it to heaven. 

Prayer:

Father, I want to live ALL IN. I want to serve You well in my generation. Help me to follow Your lead in every area of life and to leave nothing undone that You have called me to do. Fill me with Your Spirit and let me live a life of wholehearted obedience and no compromise.

Always Yours,

Jeff

Lead Follower

 Scripture:

“So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Abijah understood having a covenant with God and doing things God’s way. He knew he had followed his part of the covenant, therefore he fully expected God to fulfill His end of the covenant. He knew his enemy wasn’t fully following God. He understood that God was with them and was their leader.

Application:

When God is your leader, you cannot lose. When we lead and do whatever we want, we are using our own strength. I would rather have God’s strength when battles arise. I would rather have Him fight my battles than me. We often go to “leadership’ conferences, but maybe we need to go to followership conferences learning to let God be our leader instead of ourselves. As for me, I want God to lead and myself to follow. I want to be the lead follower.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to follow You well and to let You lead my life. Guide me and direct my path. Show me how to serve You well and let my heart be pure. Show me Your ways and teach me to follow You completely. Lead my life. Lead my family. Lead Your church. Lead on King Jesus!

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Wisdom of the Elderly

 Scripture:

“But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

When King Solomon died, Rehoboam became king. Some of the people asked him to lighten the load his father had placed on people. He first went to the elders and they said the people would respect him for lightening the load and would serve him lovingly. He then decided to ask some younger counselors what they thought and they told him he should present himself as harder than his father. He listened to the younger instead of the elders and it destroyed the kingdom of David.

Application:

Generally speaking elders, spiritual fathers, people who have been around a long time, have some wisdom and experience in life. We should seek the counsel of those who are older than us and not just get our information from those around us. Everyone needs a spiritual father, a mentor, an elder, etc. who they can gain wisdom from. We all need counsel from those who have walked ahead of us, and not just from social media influencers. True wisdom comes from a life lived out well. I need to mine wisdom from the fountains of the elderly.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be wise. Show me how to honor and respect those who are older and who have done things I haven’t done. I don’t want to live as an island, but want a mentor in my life. Show me who You want to speak into my life. Bring me into that relationship that can help me be more effective for Your.

Your Son,

Jeff

Sacrifice

 Scripture:

“There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle that no one could keep count!” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

As Solomon was bringing the ark of the covenant into its final resting place in the newly constructed temple, King Solomon and the entire Israelite community sacrificed so many sheep, goats, and cattle, they could not keep count. In other portions of scripture it records thousands of sheep and cattle being sacrificed to God. This must have been more than that. I would imagine thousands of animals being sacrificed that day to honor the Lord and get His attention.

Application:

God sees every sacrifice we make. He honors our sacrifice because sacrifice honors Him. When we lay something down for God or we give something up for God, He notices and those acts do not go unnoticed. For Solomon, fire cam down from heaven and the glorious presence of God filled the Temple. For us, He shows us He is with us in many different ways. Paul told us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord. I want to give myself completely to the Lord for His purposes.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are worthy of my very best. We don’t offer sheep and goats and cattle any more because Jesus fulfilled all those sacrifices, but I do give You my life. I offer You my heart, soul, mind and strength. Use my life for Your glory Fill me to overflowing with Your presence. As you manifested Your presence at the dedication of the Temple, manifest Your presence in my life as I offer myself to You as a living sacrifice.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Blessings

 Scripture:

“Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This verse describes Solomon, David’s son, and the king of Israel. Apparently he was a bold leader because it says he took FIRM control of his kingdom. He knew what he was doing and acted on it. Secondly it tells us that God was with him and made him very powerful. 

Application:

Solomon led with confidence and authority. He accomplished some incredible things as king. His labor force for building God’s Temple and his personal residence was 150,000 men. He accomplished so much as a leader, but real reason for all his success was that God was with him and when God is with someone, they always prosper. God also made him powerful. He didn’t take power, it was given to him by God. We must realize that God sets up and God pulls down those in authority. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Help me to lead Your people well. Show me every step to take and every door to walk through. I want to walk in step with Your Spirit and to lead as You want me to. Help me to represent You well in this generation. Bless everything I touch as You did for Solomon.

Yours,

Jeff

Continual Pursuit

 Scripture:

““And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

David was preparing everything in his kingdom for Solomon to take over. He gave the above words to Solomon before he died. The words exchanged from father to son are powerful. He told his son to know the God of his ancestors intimately. He told him to worship and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind. He reminded his son that if you seek the Lord, he you would find Him, but if you forsake Him, he would be rejected. 

Application:

We need to listen to the words of David and walk accordingly. I need to know God, serve God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I need to seek Him more in my life. In other words, I need to pursue God and His ways at all times. I want to be a pursuer of God throughout my life. I long for His presence. With God in our lives, we are meaningless. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to be the person You want me to be. Align my life with Your purposes. I want to know You more and more each day. Help me to remain focused on You and Your will at all times. Let my pursuit of God never fade. Give me a humble heart and a willing mind. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Seek The Lord Wholeheartedly

 Scripture:

“Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.”” 1 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

King David, as he was getting older and was ready to transition the kingdom to his son Solomon, told him to “seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” He continued to tell him to build God a temple for the Ark of the Covenant and all the utensils David had made. He knew if his son would follow the Lord completely, he would be blessed in all he was going to do.

Application:

Seeking the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is the key to so much in the Kingdom of God. God looks at our heart. He wants to bless His children, but He wants His children to want Him. I have always been a passionate pursuer of God, but I want to go deeper at this point in my life. I want to truly give Him my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I want to walk all-in. I want to wholeheartedly follow the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord God, I love You and want to follow You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Teach me wholeheartedly followership. Teach me how to live a completely Christ-controlled life. Let me hear Your voice and give me the courage to do what You ask. I am Yours. Let my life bring You the honor You deserve.

Yours Completely, 

Jeff

Giants Still Fall

 Scripture;

“These Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

David and his men defeated the giants of Gath. Once David killed Goliath, confidence arose that giants could be defeated by humans. What they once feared, they were now continually defeating. Sometimes our people need to see us as leaders slay some giants, then they will have the courage to do the same. 

Application:

As a leader in God’s kingdom, we must defeat some of the giants in our lives, our region, our church, etc. When our people see some victories, they will be encouraged to do the same. I want the people I serve to see true victory in my life. I want them to realize that real giants still fall. Then I want them to eliminate the giants in their own lives.

Prayer:

Father, help me to become a giant-slayer. Help me to set and example for our people of how to overcome giants in our lives. Increase and strengthen my faith and let me be an example to others. Pour out Your Spirit in my life, my family, my church, and our world. We need to see You move again. Come Holy Spirit and move in power. Be glorified and let Your people see lives transformed for Your glory. Give us many more souls for Your kingdom!

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Strength and Joy

 Scripture:

“Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

David had just brought the Ark of God back into Jerusalem. He made sure they moved it correctly on his second attempt. When it arrived in the city, he wrote a beautiful Psalm that speaks of the majesty and greatness of God. This verse speaks of God’s presence and where He dwells. It tells us that honor and majesty surround Him and strength and joy fill His dwelling. 

Application:

When we come into the presence of God we should expect adoration with honor and majesty. He is great and glorious! In His presence we will find what the Psalmist found, strength and joy. As believers, we should be strong people and we should be filled with joy. People often think that Christians are weak and no fun. In reality, strength and joy are in God’s presence. We must learn to walk in His strength and His joy.We need to represent God well on the earth. Therefore, we should be filled with strength and joy. We need to laugh more.

Prayer:

Father, Your word tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. In Your presence there is strength and joy. Help me to walk in strength and joy today and every day. Teach me to represent You well in the earth and let my life demonstrate Your goodness to those around me. 

You Are Awesome,

Jeff

The Ark of God’s Presence

 Scripture:

“The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Ark of God was the resting place of God in the Tabernacle. It was where the presence of God rested. In this passage, David had tried to bring the Ark back into Jerusalem, but Uzzah touched the ark and dropped dead for touching it improperly. At that point, David sent the Ark to Obed-edom’s house until he figured out how to transport it without problems. While the ark was at his house, everything Obed-edom had became blessed. God blessed him and his household because the housed the Ark of God.

Application:

The Ark is a symbol for us of the presence of God. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. We house the precious Ark of God in our physical bodies. Where God resides, things get blessed! God resides in me, therefore I should expect the blessing of God to rest on my life. If God can bless Obed-edom because he hosted the presence of God, He can bless my life for hosting Him well. I want to host the Spirit well in my life and make room for Him.

Prayer:

Father, let my life be a temple for You to live in and operate through. Let me live walking in step with You. Bless my life and make me a blessing. Help me to hear Your voice and do what You want. Fill me to overflowing with Your precious Holy Spirit. Help me to honor Your presence daily and to be a person You can work in and though. Teach me Lord.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Gatekeepers

 Scripture:

“They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Some of the Levites were gatekeepers. They had the responsibility of making sure the gates were opened each day and closed at night. They were considered Temple guards. They were to make sure nothing entered that was not right in God’s eyes. This verses says of the gatekeepers that they would spend the night around the house of God because it was their responsibility to open the gates each morning. 

Application:

These Temple Guards had the opportunity to spend the night around the house of God so they could be there to open the gates in the morning. Rather than go home at dark, they would spend the night around the presence of God. They chose God’s presence over convenience and even rest. I want to have a heart after God and spend time in His presence often. It has been a while since I had an all-night prayer gathering. I feel convicted this morning to spend more time in the presence of God.

Prayer:

Father, throughout my life there have been seasons where I would feel You draw me near and invite me into Your presence. I feel a stirring once again to draw near to You. Help me to live like the gatekeepers, spending time Your presence and not rushing through to the next event. Let me hunger and thirst for more of You at all times. Show me Your ways and teach me Your paths. I long for Your presence this morning. Come Holy Spirit and work in my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Bless Me Lord

 Scripture:

“There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jabez, we are told in this passage, was honorable above his brothers, but his birth was painful. He had a reputation for bringing pain to his mother. He decided that he didn’t want to be known for bringing pain, but for being blessed. He prayed that God would bless him and expand his territory. He prayed that God would be with him and keep him from trouble and pain. We wanted to turn his hurt into blessing.

Application:

It’s not wrong to ask God to bless us and multiply our effectiveness. We serve the God who can take pain and turn it into praise. We serve the God who take take hurt and turn it into healing. There are times in my past when I didn’t think I should ask God to bless me because that seemed selfish. The fact is, if I am not blessed, I cannot be a blessing. I want to be a blessing to those around me so I must be blessed.

Prayer:

Father, I join with Jabez today and pray that You would be with me, bless me and my family. Bless my church and my city. Expand my territory and keep me from trouble and pain. Let my life be a blessing and a source for joy to those around me. Help me to walk in step with You at all times and to fulfill Your will in my life. Bless the meeting I must lead today and let churches be planted as a result.

For Your Glory,

Jeff

The Ministry of Giving

 Scripture:

“As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul is speaking here about sending an offering to a place that needs it. He is asking the Corinthians to be generous in their giving toward that need. He tells them here that because of their ministry of giving, the receivers will give glory to God. First, this shows a ministry of giving or a gift of giving. Second this shows that our obedience in giving proves we are obedient to the Good News.

Application:

Generosity is a very godly characteristic. As believers, our lives should be generous because we serve a very generous God. He sent His own Son to die on a cross for us. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. He has demonstrated a generous heart over and over in the Scriptures. As Christ followers, we must learn to live generous lives. Our lives should be marked by our generosity, not our stinginess. As believers, we are to be givers and not getters.

Prayer:

Lord God, teach me to live with a generous spirit. Help me to walk in obedience at all times and to give generously as You call me to give. Teach me to walk in obedience in this area. Bless my life as You did Abraham, so that I may be a blessing to others.

Yours,

Jeff

Generosity Wins

 Scripture:

“Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Paul is letting the Corinthians know he is proud of them for their faith, their gifted speakers, their knowledge, their enthusiasm, and their love. He goes one step farther and tells them he wanted them to excel also in the gracious act of giving. He was raising an offering and wanted them to be generous. He pushed them to learn to be givers because one day they might be on the other side and need an offering. 

Application:

Generosity is a very godly characteristic. Generosity is not natural. It comes from a walk with Jesus. Generous people are blessed people, not the other way around. If we want to be blessed financially, we must be willing to have a generous heart. I personally believe that generosity opens the gates for God’s blessing to flow into our lives. Most of us can’t comprehend how giving away resources can increase our resources because it doesn’t make mathematical sense. It is a God thing! He blesses those with a generous heart and they have more. I want to walk in the spirit of generosity and see God’s blessing increase in my life.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be more generous with what You give me. Show me when to give, how to give, and how much to give. Let me walk in step with You and what You want me to do at all times. You are my source. Everything I have has come from You. Help me to be generous with what You have blessed me with.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Preach Jesus

 Scripture:

“You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul told the Corinthians here that he didn’t go around preaching himself or anything else. He preached that Jesus Christ is Lord and Paul was his servant. He understood that it is Jesus who calls us into ministry. It is Jesus that our preaching and ministry should point to. It is Jesus who should be the focus of our lives and preaching. 

Application:

It is easy as a preacher to preach about things that will help people. Often we preach, using the Bible, how to have a better life. The reality is, our preaching should be Jesus-focused. We should be leading people to Him. He should be the center of our life and ministry. He should be the center around which everything rotates. I want my life and ministry to point people to Jesus.

Prayer:

Father, help me to preach Jesus as clear as possible. Help me to keep the main thing the main thing. Show me how to keep Jesus at the center and to speak from there. Teach me to teach Your people well. Show me how to correctly handle Your Word of Truth. Let me be a voice that points people to Christ for salvation, healing, deliverance, and life-giving water.

Yours,

Jeff

Remain Faithful and Obedient

 Scripture:

“These things happened because of the Lord’s anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah, until he finally banished them from his presence and sent them into exile. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭24‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

After King Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and destroyed the altars of all other gods, Judah rebelled against the Lord and began erecting images of other gods. The kings led the process as the people turned against the ways of God and the commandments of God. Finally, sin and disobedience caused them to be exiled from the land the Lord had given them. They were banished because of their repeated sin.

Application:

We should be a people completely devoted to the Lord and His ways. His incredible blessings are upon those who follow Him wholeheartedly and completely. I want to be a person who wholeheartedly follows the Lord and does what He says to do. His blessings are amazing, but His judgment is also true. Sometimes we focus so much on the love of God that we forget that He is holy and wants His people to live holy lives. We must learn to love God and fear God at the same time.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be a faithful follower of You and Your Word. Teach me to walk in step with the Spirit. Show me Your ways. Let my life bring You honor as Josiah’s life did in his strong obedience to You. I want to live out my life fully surrendered to You. Make me effective for You and Your kingdom.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Obedience and Blessing

 Scripture:

“He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.” 2 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬-‭7

Observation:

Hezekiah remained faithful to the Lord God Almighty. He carefully obeyed everything the Lord commanded. This scripture says that because of that, the Lord was with him and made him successful in everything he did.

Application:

When we fully follow the Lord, we can expect Him to be with us and to prosper our lives. When we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit, we will always come out on top of whatever comes against us. When we stop obeying the Lords commands, we have no promises to stand on. Obedience brings blessing!

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. Help me to follow you completely and wholeheartedly. Teach me to walk in step with Your Spirit every day and to do what You speak. Thank You for helping all these incredible years.

Yours Wholeheartedly,

Jeff

Relax and Trust God

 Scripture:

““Why go today?” he asked. “It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath.” But she said, “It will be all right.”” 2 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In the passage, the son of a woman who had built an addition on their house for the prophet, had died. She was distraught and told her husband to go get the prophet. When he inquired as to why, she just said, “It will be all right.” She knew if she could get to the prophet, everything would be okay.

Application:

When we are faced with insurmountable problems, we should not allow ourselves to get overwhelmed, but look to God, who can change any circumstance. We need confidence that “it will be all right”. Real faith relaxes and puts things in the hands of an all powerful God.

Prayer:

Father, help me to run to You with every need and not get stressed out or feel hopeless. You are me everything. Help me to relax and trust You more each day.

Yours, 

Jeff

Man of God

 Scripture:

“But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.”  ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Elijah knew who he was in God. When confronted by fifty men, he said “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you.” Then it happened as he said. The proof of being a man of God was that God backed up his word.

Application:

In my heart, I have always wanted to be known by the words “man of God” more than any other title. I long to be like Elijah or Elisha and truly be a man of God who is bold in faith and knows who he is in God.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a man of God. More than a pastor, teacher, prophet, apostle, or evangelist, I want to be a man of God who knows and walks with God and fully obeys the Lord in all situations. Let me live a life completely surrendered to You Lord. I’m yours!

Your Son, 

Jeff

Think Deeply About Your Calling

 Scripture:

I Kings 19-20 (NLT) "So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, "First let me go and kiss my father and mother goodbye and then I will go with you." Elijah replied, "Go back, but think about what I have done to you."

Observation:

Elijah had found Elisha and threw his cloak over him. The cloak was a symbol of his anointing. Elisha instantly knew Elijah wanted him to leave his parents and follow him. When Elisha asked to go back and say goodbye to his parents, Elijah gave him permission but told him to think about what he had done to him. He wanted Elisha to ponder the anointing that was being placed on his life.

Application:

There are times when we ned to think deeply about what God has called us to do. There are times we need to think about the ramifications of carrying God's anointing on our lives. We must think deeply about what it means to walk with God and fulfill His purposes in the earth. When God calls us, we must think about what He is calling us to do and what that will require of us.

Prayer:

Father, You have called me to do things that seem above my current thought processes. Help me to think deeply about Your calling and what that means for my life. What do I need to do now? What do I need to prepare for? What do I need to accomplish? What should I be giving my time to? Teach me to think deeply about Your calling on my life.

Forever Yours,

Jeff