Scripture:
Ezra 8:21 "There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions".
Observation:
Ezra was preparing to lead a group of people back to Jerusalem after being in captivity for a long time. They were travelling a long way and were bringing lots of valuable with them There was a lot of potential for bandits to attack them on the road with their great wealth. He did the right thing and called a fast to seek the Lord for His protection along the journey.
Application:
As Ezra called a fast to prepare for a great journey and to ask God's protection and provision for them, so we must fast and pray and ask God to take care of us. We must seek the Lord and ask for His protection and provision for our lives. Often He is the last one we talk to when we are facing something. He should be our first line of defense and not an afterthought. He wants us to look to Him first and seek Him first as our primary source and resource.
Prayer:
Father, help me to seek Your direction in my life before doing things. I truly want to do what You want, but sometimes it's not as clear as I would like it to be. Remind me to seek you deeper with fasting and prayer on issues in my life and ministry. Work our my housing situation quickly Lord I pray and let it be completely Your doing. Bless my family as we seek the right place to live.
Yours,
Jeff
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Paying Attention
Scripture:
II Chronicles 33:10 "The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention".
Observation:
Manasseh was seen as a king who didn't follow the Lord. He served other gods and brought God's judgment on his nation. It says here that the Lord did speak to him and his people, but that they paid no attention.
Application:
Many times when we are going in a wrong direction, the Lord speaks, but we pay no attention. As God's people, His voice should be our first priority. We should be listening to Him continually and seeking His guidance in our lives. When He speaks, we should be paying attention and doing what He says.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to follow Your voice completely. I want to pay attention to You, but I need to hear Your voice more clearly. Open my ears to hear your voice more and more as I continue to grow in You. When I hear what You want, help me to pay attention.
II Chronicles 33:10 "The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention".
Observation:
Manasseh was seen as a king who didn't follow the Lord. He served other gods and brought God's judgment on his nation. It says here that the Lord did speak to him and his people, but that they paid no attention.
Application:
Many times when we are going in a wrong direction, the Lord speaks, but we pay no attention. As God's people, His voice should be our first priority. We should be listening to Him continually and seeking His guidance in our lives. When He speaks, we should be paying attention and doing what He says.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to follow Your voice completely. I want to pay attention to You, but I need to hear Your voice more clearly. Open my ears to hear your voice more and more as I continue to grow in You. When I hear what You want, help me to pay attention.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Seek God and Work Hard
Scripture:
II Chronicles 31:21 "In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."
Observation:
Hezekiah, during his reign as king, sought God with all his heart and led God's people back to him. He was determined to bring his nation back to serving God properly. They had been in idolatry and far from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This verse said that he prospered because he sought God and worked wholeheartedly.
Application:
We need to learn from Hezekiah to seek God and work hard. We are to pray like it is all up to God and work like it is all up to us. We must find the balance in this. Some people pray and put no action to their faith because they want God to do all the work. Some people work hard and don't seek God, making their work less fruitful. We need to pray hard and work hard, then we will have success like Hezekiah had.
Prayer:
Father, help me live a life that pleases You. I want to seek You with all my heart. I also want to accomplish much in the expansion of Your kingdom. Holy Spirit, You have deposited so much in me. Help me fulfill everything You have called me to do in my lifetime. Let me seek You hard and work hard to do the things You put before me.
Yours,
Jeff
II Chronicles 31:21 "In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."
Observation:
Hezekiah, during his reign as king, sought God with all his heart and led God's people back to him. He was determined to bring his nation back to serving God properly. They had been in idolatry and far from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This verse said that he prospered because he sought God and worked wholeheartedly.
Application:
We need to learn from Hezekiah to seek God and work hard. We are to pray like it is all up to God and work like it is all up to us. We must find the balance in this. Some people pray and put no action to their faith because they want God to do all the work. Some people work hard and don't seek God, making their work less fruitful. We need to pray hard and work hard, then we will have success like Hezekiah had.
Prayer:
Father, help me live a life that pleases You. I want to seek You with all my heart. I also want to accomplish much in the expansion of Your kingdom. Holy Spirit, You have deposited so much in me. Help me fulfill everything You have called me to do in my lifetime. Let me seek You hard and work hard to do the things You put before me.
Yours,
Jeff
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Seeking the Lord Brings Success
Scripture:
II Chronicles 26:5 "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success".
Observation:
Uzziah was a great king in Judah's history. He had a heart after God and wanted to do things God's way. His father was a terrible king, so he had no good demonstration of what it meant to lead a nation for God. He sought out the prophet Zechariah who instructed him in the fear of God. He also learned to seek the Lord and as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
Application:
Many people are pursuing success these days. Everyone wants their children to be successful so they send them to the best schools and go into loads of debt hoping education will make them successful. God gives success to those who seek Him. As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God gave him success. Success comes from knowing God, not from achieving certain positions in life through our efforts. As we seek God, He gives us success and everything we need to accomplish His will.
Prayer:
Lord, I look to You. You are my source and the one who guides my life. Show me the way. Help me accomplish all You desire for me in my life. Teach me yours ways and let my life bring You praise. I seek Your wisdom, Your guidance and your will for my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
II Chronicles 26:5 "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success".
Observation:
Uzziah was a great king in Judah's history. He had a heart after God and wanted to do things God's way. His father was a terrible king, so he had no good demonstration of what it meant to lead a nation for God. He sought out the prophet Zechariah who instructed him in the fear of God. He also learned to seek the Lord and as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
Application:
Many people are pursuing success these days. Everyone wants their children to be successful so they send them to the best schools and go into loads of debt hoping education will make them successful. God gives success to those who seek Him. As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God gave him success. Success comes from knowing God, not from achieving certain positions in life through our efforts. As we seek God, He gives us success and everything we need to accomplish His will.
Prayer:
Lord, I look to You. You are my source and the one who guides my life. Show me the way. Help me accomplish all You desire for me in my life. Teach me yours ways and let my life bring You praise. I seek Your wisdom, Your guidance and your will for my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, June 27, 2014
Humility Pays Off
Scripture:
II Chronicles 12:12 "Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah".
Observation:
God had determined to destroy Rehoboam and his kingdom because Rehoboam did not follow the Lord completely and he served other gods. He was not faithful to the Lord, the God of his fathers and God had determined to wipe Judah off the map. When Rehoboam realized what he had done and was confronted with his lifestyle, he humbled himself before God and God gave him mercy.
Application:
What was it that turned away God's anger from Rehoboam? Simply an act of humility. God loves humility and turning to Him in bad situations. He is quick to forgive a humble person, but works against the proud. As God's people we must learn the lesson of humility. When we get it, our relationship with God will develop and we will see the good hand of God revealed in our lives more and more.
Prayer:
Father, help me walk in true humility before you. I look to You as my everything. Without You, I can do nothing. Without You I can't make it. I need You desperately in my life. You are the king of all kings and the Lord of all Lords. You are awesome and I love you.
Yours,
Jeff
II Chronicles 12:12 "Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah".
Observation:
God had determined to destroy Rehoboam and his kingdom because Rehoboam did not follow the Lord completely and he served other gods. He was not faithful to the Lord, the God of his fathers and God had determined to wipe Judah off the map. When Rehoboam realized what he had done and was confronted with his lifestyle, he humbled himself before God and God gave him mercy.
Application:
What was it that turned away God's anger from Rehoboam? Simply an act of humility. God loves humility and turning to Him in bad situations. He is quick to forgive a humble person, but works against the proud. As God's people we must learn the lesson of humility. When we get it, our relationship with God will develop and we will see the good hand of God revealed in our lives more and more.
Prayer:
Father, help me walk in true humility before you. I look to You as my everything. Without You, I can do nothing. Without You I can't make it. I need You desperately in my life. You are the king of all kings and the Lord of all Lords. You are awesome and I love you.
Yours,
Jeff
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Wisdom From God
Scripture:
II Chronicles 9:7 "How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually hear your wisdom!"
Observation:
Solomon was given wisdom by God. His wisdom exceeded the wisdom of everyone before him and even after him. The above verse shows the effect of a person who walks in God's wisdom. Wisdom made those around Solomon happy.
Application:
When we walk with God, His and seek Him, His wisdom will begin to fill us. As we seek His face concerning our lives and the things we should do, those around us should see God's wisdom in us and it should make them happy! God is all-knowing and has all wisdom. The wisdom of the ages resides in us. We need to seek Him and His wisdom. When we do, those around us will rejoice as they see how God works in our lives.
Prayer:
Lord, give me Your wisdom today. Let every decision I make be led by You. You are the wisest of the wise. Fill me with your wisdom and let me not be led by my own mind, but by your Spirit. Let my decisions and my leadership be filled with your wisdom and let it bring joy to those around me.
Yours,
Jeff
II Chronicles 9:7 "How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually hear your wisdom!"
Observation:
Solomon was given wisdom by God. His wisdom exceeded the wisdom of everyone before him and even after him. The above verse shows the effect of a person who walks in God's wisdom. Wisdom made those around Solomon happy.
Application:
When we walk with God, His and seek Him, His wisdom will begin to fill us. As we seek His face concerning our lives and the things we should do, those around us should see God's wisdom in us and it should make them happy! God is all-knowing and has all wisdom. The wisdom of the ages resides in us. We need to seek Him and His wisdom. When we do, those around us will rejoice as they see how God works in our lives.
Prayer:
Lord, give me Your wisdom today. Let every decision I make be led by You. You are the wisest of the wise. Fill me with your wisdom and let me not be led by my own mind, but by your Spirit. Let my decisions and my leadership be filled with your wisdom and let it bring joy to those around me.
Yours,
Jeff
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Arise Lord God
Scripture:
II Chronicles 6:41 "Now arise Lord God, and come to Your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness".
Observation:
Solomon is dedicating the incredible temple he had built for the Lord. In his dedication, he prayed this beautiful prayer. He asked the Lord to arise and come to his resting place. He had prepared a place for the Lord to rest. He asked God to let the priests be clothed with salvation and God's people to be rejoicing in his goodness.
Application:
As New Covenant believers, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are his temple. May we ask like Solomon for God to arise and rest upon us. May His presence be upon us and since we are a kingdom of priests, may we be clothed with salvation and rejoice in his goodness.
Prayer:
Father, rest on my life. Let your presence rest on me. I want to be a carrier of your glory to the ends of the earth. Clothe me with salvation and let me and my people rejoice in your goodness. I want to see you work strongly in my generation. I believe revival is coming. Come and move upon your people.
II Chronicles 6:41 "Now arise Lord God, and come to Your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness".
Observation:
Solomon is dedicating the incredible temple he had built for the Lord. In his dedication, he prayed this beautiful prayer. He asked the Lord to arise and come to his resting place. He had prepared a place for the Lord to rest. He asked God to let the priests be clothed with salvation and God's people to be rejoicing in his goodness.
Application:
As New Covenant believers, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are his temple. May we ask like Solomon for God to arise and rest upon us. May His presence be upon us and since we are a kingdom of priests, may we be clothed with salvation and rejoice in his goodness.
Prayer:
Father, rest on my life. Let your presence rest on me. I want to be a carrier of your glory to the ends of the earth. Clothe me with salvation and let me and my people rejoice in your goodness. I want to see you work strongly in my generation. I believe revival is coming. Come and move upon your people.
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