The Awesomeness of God

 Scripture:

“He makes nations great, and destroys them; he extends the boundaries of nations and disperses them.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Job has a lot to say about who God is and how He works among people. In this verse he says that God makes nations great and He destroys them. He attributes extending and contracting the boundaries of nations to the Lord. Job saw the awesomeness of God in everything. He gave God credit for everything that happens in this world. 

Application:

I need to see God’s handiwork more and be in awe. It is easy to leave God out of the picture in certain things. There are times when we feel like we make things happen, but without God, we are sunk. We must give Him credit where credit is due. God takes care of the big things and the little things. He oversees nations, yet is concerned with every sparrow. He is incredible.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I humble myself before You. You are great and You are awesome! Your ways are above my ways and Your thoughts are above my thoughts. Help me to see Your hand in every area of my life. As I go take the Good News to the Dominican Republic, guide my steps and use my life for Your glory. Touch many lives this week as we go on mission for You.

Yours Always,

Jeff

Discipline From God

 Scripture:

““Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

There are several times in Scripture that we are told that we should not despise the discipline of the Lord because He disciplines those He loves. Here it continues and says that He wounds and strikes, but that He also bandages and heals. We are told not to despise God’s discipline.

Application:

God disciplines those He loves. Just as a parent disciplines their child to make them a better person, God disciplines us to help us course correct when we need to. We need to welcome God’s grace, love, forgiveness, and kindness, but we must also welcome His discipline and plan for our lives. I want to be told what to do and not to do. I want God to shape me and develop me. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to receive Your discipline in my life. Teach me to follow You completely. Let my life reflect someone who trusts You and Your ways. Help me to walk in step with You at all times. You are my everything and I welcome Your discipline when I get off track. Help me to respond well when it comes.

Yours,

Jeff

Peace From God

 Scripture:

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

There is a promise here in the Scripture. It says that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus when we, in every situation, are not anxious, but pray and petition with thanksgiving. Our job in this is to relax and bring our prayers to God, then we can expect to walk in God’s incredible peace. We should be full of peace and not anxiety because we are people of prayer.

Application:

We have to learn to relax and bring our needs to the Lord in prayer. When life gets stressful, we must bring it to God with thanksgiving, then we are promised that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. When we do our part, God does His. I want to walk in God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding. I want to see the fulness of His goodness in my life.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are mighty and awesome! You are incredible and I love serving You. Help me to leave anxiety behind and to walk in Your peace at all times. Help me to relax during the stressful times and know that You are in control. Teach me to pray effectively and to walk in Your surpassing peace.

Yours,

Jeff

Suffering for Others to be Blessed

 Scripture:

“and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing here to the Philippians from a prison cell. He states that God’s people now had more boldness to preach God’s word fearlessly because of his imprisonment. He was honored to serve his prison sentence because it was helping the Body of Christ grow strong. He knew his imprisonment was empowering the Church and he rejoiced in that.

Application:

We must learn to live like the Apostle Paul. We must be willing to suffer for Christ if it means that others would be stronger in Christ. Of course we would rather prosper and be in health at all times, but we must have the attitude that we are willing to suffer for Christ if it blesses someone else and strengthens their faith. We must learn to live selfless lives.

Prayer:

Father, You are incredible and it is an honor to serve You. You are my rock and my salvation. You are my hope and my help. Teach me to live a selfless life. Show me how to prefer others above myself and to live for Your kingdom above all else. Help me to have the right attitude toward suffering and difficulties. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Divine Reversals

 Scripture:

“The king then removed his signet ring (the very one he had taken back from Haman) and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther designated Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s estate.” ‭‭Esther‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Mordecai was faithful to God and was blessed for it. He did the right thing at all times and humbled himself before the Lord. He walked in step with the Lord and God favored him for it. He ended up receiving the signet ring of the king and living in the estate of the second most powerful man in the empire. 

Application:

When God turns things around, He does it with class. God is faithful to His people when they are faithful to Him. When I read Scripture, I see so many times when God’s people were in terrible situations, but God brought them out with incredible blessings, wealth, and honor. He had a way of promoting those who are faithful to Him. We must trust God and seek him like Mordecai did.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be faithful when it looks like things are not going well. I also ask You to step in and provide Your incredible favor and provision when it is needed. You are awesome and I love the way You bless and take care of Your people. Let my life be aligned with You at all times. Provide the resources for me to extend Your kingdom around the world.

Yours,

Jeff

God Plus Nothing Equals Everything

 Scripture:

“When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.” ‭‭Esther‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

When women were brought before the king in hopes of becoming the next queen, they brought gifts with them for the king. They were given whatever they wanted to give to the king. When it was Esther’s turn, she didn’t ask for anything special. She went as she was, yet she met the approval of everyone who saw her. She didn’t need anything extra because God was with her.

Application:

God plus nothing equals everything. When God is on your side, favor will come upon your life. When you have God’s favor, you don’t need anything else. Others can have more qualifications, but you will get the job. Others will have extra gifts and talents, but you will be promoted. When God placed His favor on your life, you will stand out from the crowd.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are incredible! I want to walk in Your favor and blessing. I want to live a life that You can bless in every way. Live in and through my life. Use me for Your glory and let Your goodness and grace be evident to those around me as I serve You with all my heart. You are the best!

Your Son,

Jeff

Ambassador in Chains

 Scripture:

“for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing here from a Roman prison. In prison, he sees himself as an ambassador in chains. He doesn’t ask them to pray that he will be released from prison, but that God will give him the ability to speak boldly as an ambassador in chains. He was not looking for a way out of his problems, but to be a bold witness in the middle of his problems.

Application:

When bad things happen to us, the natural reaction is to want to get out of a bad situation. Rather than looking to get out of every bad situation, we should pray for God to use us in the midst of the situation. As for me, I want God to be glorified in my life in the good times and in the bad times. 

Prayer:

Father, help me not to complain when things go wrong. Help me to see Your hand in everything that touches my life. I trust You and ask You to use me in the good times and in the bad times. You are worthy of my very best and I want to give that to You. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Even in the Desert

 Scripture:

“For forty years you sustained them. Even in the desert they never lacked anything. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Ezra is worshiping God in this passage for all He had done for the people of Israel. He recounted many of God’s incredible provisions through the years for His people. That verse stood out because of the words, “even in the desert they never lacked anything.” It continues by saying their clothes didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell during that forty years.

Application:

If God was able to take care of 2-3 million people in a desert, He can take care of me, my family, and the church I lead. When we are aligned with God’s plans and purposes, He provides and takes care of His people. There are times when life feels like a desert, with not a lot of growth and life, but God can provide in the midst of the desert. Even in the bad places of life, God is still our provider.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are incredible and I love You much! Help me to walk by faith in the are of provision. When I feel like I’m in the desert, provide for me and my family. Take care of the church You sent me plant. Help me to lead according to Your will and ways. Provide the land and buildings we need as a block. Provide the finances for our current place and enough to hire the help we need.

Yours,

Jeff

With the Help of Our God

 Scripture:

“When all our enemies heard and all the nations who were around us saw this, they were greatly disheartened. They knew that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Nehemiah and his team rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem in 52 days, while being taunted by their enemies. When it was completed, their enemies were disheartened. Their enemies realized that God was involved in the process. They knew the God of Israel was working with them once again and they were filled with fear. 

Application:

When we are walking with God, we can expect some miraculous intervention at certain periods. During those times, we know that God is working with us to accomplish His will in and through our lives. I want the hand of God to be visible in my life. I want the enemies of God to see His faithfulness in my life. I want to live a life that makes the enemy fear because it is evident that only God could do the things that are accomplished.

Prayer:

Father, I love walking with You and serving You. You are my strength and my song. You are my rock and my salvation. You are the source of every good thing in my life. I want testimonies that let the world and the devil know that God is with me. I long to see Your miraculous power demonstrated around my life. You are my everything. Be glorified in my life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Pray, Fight, and Work

 Scripture:

“When I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your families!”” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Nehemiah was trying to do what the Lord had called him to do. In the process, the enemies of Judah began to torment him and his workers. When he inspected what was happening, he reminded the people not to be afraid of their enemies, but remember the great and awesome Lord. HE then told them to fight on behalf of their brothers, sons, daughters, wives, and families. He encouraged them by reminding them that God was awesome and their families were worth the fight.

Application:

When I feel overwhelmed by all that is on my plate, I need to remember the great and awesome God I am working for, then I need to make it personal and fight for my family. As Mark Batterson says, we need to pray like it all depends on God and work like it all depends on us. I need to pray hard and work hard to fulfill all God has given me to fulfill.

Prayer:

Father, help me to honor You well in everything I do. Help me, when I don’t see things going well, that You are still great and awesome. Help me to trust You when I don’t see You working on my behalf. Also, empower me to fight for what I need to fight for and work for what is important to You and Your kingdom. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Add Fasting When Necessary

 Scripture:

“So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This verse shows the power of fasting and prayer. Ezra had called the people back to God and was making a fresh covenant with God and the people. He was repenting, praying, and seeking God for His blessings. In the process, he decided to add fasting to the mix and began to humble himself before the Lord. When he did, it says very clearly, “and He answered us.”

Application:

Sometimes we have to add fasting to our prayer regimen in order to see the breakthrough. Fasting is a form of humbling ourselves before the Lord and acknowledging that we cannot make it without His intervention. Fasting is not a way to bend God’s arm, rather it is a way of aligning us with His will, then He can bless us. I need to spend more time in fasting prayer in my life.

Prayer:

Father, show me when to add fasting to my prayers. I see the power of fasting in this verse. I want to be able to write as the Ezra did, “and He answered us.” I know You always hear me, but I want to see some answers to my prayers. I want to see some breakthrough in some areas of my life. Teach me to hear Your voice and to walk humbly before You all the days of my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Favor and Strength

 Scripture:

“Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem! He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisers, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭7‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Ezra communicates here about what the Lord had done in having Cyrus, a Babylonian king, encourage him to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. He not only encouraged him, he blessed him, gave him favor, resources, and everything he needed to get the job done. Ezra declares here that God moved the heart of the king to honor God’s people. God had the king give them favor. It was God who gave him strength to accomplish what he was called upon to do. More than anything else, he said that he had strength because the hand of the Lord God is upon him. 

Application:

When God’s favor and blessing are on your life, even you enemies will have to bless you. God can use heathen to accomplish His purposes in the earth if He needs to. When God’s hand is on your life, favor and blessing come with it. For me, I want God’s hand upon my life for His purposes every day. I want to see his goodness. I need to have more faith that whatever God calls us to do, He will provide for.

Prayer:

Father, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to believe that You can do what You say You can do. Teach me to walk in Your Spirit and to yield to Your will and desires. Let my life reflect Your goodness. Give me favor this year as we look to build a permanent home for the church I lead. Let Your favor and grace be evident upon my life.

Yours,

Jeff

Shouting and Weeping

 Scripture:

“When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by King David of Israel. With antiphonal response they sang, praising and glorifying the Lord: “For he is good; his loyal love toward Israel is forever.” All the people gave a loud shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established.” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

King Cyrus of Persia, a foreign king, felt from God to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem for God Almighty. He heard from the Lord and started the work. HE was an outsider, but one who did what he felt the Lord wanted him to do. When the Temple was established, the priests and Levites, praised God how David had taught them. The people wept and shouted at the top of their lungs. They sang out, “For He is good; His loyal love toward Israel is forever.”

Application:

There are shouting seasons in our lives when we need to give God a triumphal shout, declaring how awesome He is. We must learn that God isn’t afraid of celebration, in initiated it in Israel’s day. There are times when weeping and shouting go together. Weeping at the goodness of God and shouting shouts of victory because we see His hand moving in our lives. We must be willing to do both. 

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are awesome and I love You with all my heart. Teach me to follow Your ways. Help me to know when to celebrate and when to weep. Show me when and how to build a building for Word of Life. Provide the necessary things to get land and build for Your kingdom. Like David, I want to build a house for You in the region I have given my life to build Your kingdom in. Let me always be led by Your Spirit and not my desires.

Yours,

Jeff

Saved By Faith, Not Works

 Scripture:

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

This passage tells us that we are baptized into Christ and we are clothed with Christ. It goes on to say we are all one in Jesus Christ. We are not male, female, slave or free, but one in Christ. We are all Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to the promise. As Gentiles, we are given the promises and blessings o Abraham by faith and belief in Christ and what He did for us on the cross.

Application:

Christ lived a perfect, sinless, life. We, as Gentiles, are grafted into the family of God. We have been accepted and adopted into the greatest family ever. Even in the process, we are not judged on our obedience to the Law, but our walking in the Spirit. We have been given some incredible blessings and favor. God brought us into His family, not because we were good enough, but because Christ was good enough to cover all of our sins and trespasses. We are truly saved by grace through faith, not on anything we have done.

Prefer:

Thank You Lord for these great and precious promises. Thank You for allowing us access to the kingdom of God. You are incredible and I appreciate all You have done for me. Help me to follow You completely and to see Your good hand in my life. Help me to live a life that appreciates Your sacrifice Jesus and that advances Your kingdom and plans in the earth. You are incredible!

Yours,

Jeff

Consecrated Leadership

 Scripture:

“Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭34‬:‭33‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Josiah was a great king, who started at a very early age. He followed the Lord God with all his heart and soul. He removed all the idols that other kings had set up. He tore down the worship areas of Gods other than God Almighty. He set his nation apart and brought the blessing of God. He turned them to God and the remainder of his reign, they followed him.

Application:

Sometimes walking in righteousness doesn’t make you popular immediately, but if you remain faithful to the Lord, people will be glad. When a leader wholly follows the Lord, those under his rule will experience the blessing of God and will follow after him. So much depends on the leader. As a leader, I want to lead people to follow God fully and completely. I want my life to be used to bring people into covenant with God so they can be blessed.

Prayer:

Father, use my life for Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your name will be glorified. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life. Help me to hate what You hate and love what You love.

Yours,

Jeff

Man of God

 Scripture:

“They stood at their posts according to the regulations outlined in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests were splashing the blood as the Levites handed it to them.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭30‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Hezekiah had been doing right things before the Lord. He restored everything concerning God’s worship among God’s people. There is a simple description of Moses in the passage because they were re-implementing everything Moses started. It refers to Moses as “the man of God.” 

Application:

I am not into titles, but if I ever wanted a title to be attached to my life, it would be “man of God.” People in the Scripture who followed God wholeheartedly may have been called a prophet, a king, or a priest, but one of the greatest titles I see in the word of God is ‘man of God.” Above every other thing I can be called, I have always desired that one day people would call me a “man of God.” I want to be a man of God in every aspect of the term. 

Prayer:

Father, make me a man of God. Help me to follow You wholeheartedly and let my life shine and represent You well. Teach me to walk with You closely as friend with friend. Let my life bring Your honor and praise. Let my ways be uplifting to You and Your kingdom. I want to be a man of God.

Yours,

Jeff

Taught to Honor God

 Scripture:

“He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

King Uzziah did his best to follow the Lord completely. He messed up in the end, but most of his reign, he was a very godly king. This passage tells how he followed God during Zechariah’s life because Zechariah taught him how to honor God. This passage makes one other important statement. “As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed.”

Application:

First, I need to be a Zechariah to some Uzziahs. I need to teach others how to honor God. I want to invest my life into those who are willing to follow God closely. I also want to see them succeed in everything they do because the Lord is with them. I want to see those I invest in become mighty in God.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of my very best. Help me to honor You well all the days of my life. Help me to be a blessing to the next generation, that they may exalt Your name and live powerful lives in You. Help me to be a Zechariah to some Uzziahs.

Yours,

Jeff