Scripture:
Genesis 22:18 "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me".
Observation:
God had just asked Abraham to make the greatest sacrifice possible. He didn't ask for Abraham to sacrifice 1000 sheep or 500 oxen. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, the son of his old age, the son that was promised by the Lord. When Abraham was obedient to the most difficult command, God stopped him from killing his own son and told him, "through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me".
Application:
There are times when God will test us to see what we are willing to sacrifice for Him. There are times when He wants to know just how obedient we will be when He tells us to do something difficult. Our obedience to the hard word of God brings about great blessing. When we obey in the easy things and it costs us nothing, there are rewards, but when we obey in seriously difficult times, extreme blessing will follow.
Prayer:
Father God, help me to say yes to "everything" you ask me to do. Give me the courage and strength to do the things that You put in my heart. Teach me to walk closer with you. I am willing to sacrifice for You, but I want to hear Your voice more clearly, like Abraham did. Speak to me Lord and I will obey.
Your Son,
Jeff
Friday, January 8, 2016
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Open Your Eyes
Scripture:
Genesis 21:19 "The God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink".
Observation:
Hagar had taken Ishmael away from Abraham's family and into the desert. In the desert, she came right to the place of death for her and her son. At that point, she called on the Lord. God told her that her son would become a great nation and He opened her eyes so that she saw a well of water. Either the well was miraculously put there, or she just couldn't see it in her condition.
Application:
Sometimes we need God to open our eyes because the answer we are looking for may be right beside us. We may be looking for an answer from the Lord and we may be closer than we think. It is easy to get distracted with apparent failures and setbacks in life. These things happen. When God opens our eyes, we may find out that it is not as bad as we thought it was.
Prayer:
Father, open my eyes to see how You are working in my life. Open my eyes to see Your plan in every area. Help me to know that my answer could be right beside me. Help me to trust You more and to walk in faith every day.
Your Son,
Jeff
Genesis 21:19 "The God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink".
Observation:
Hagar had taken Ishmael away from Abraham's family and into the desert. In the desert, she came right to the place of death for her and her son. At that point, she called on the Lord. God told her that her son would become a great nation and He opened her eyes so that she saw a well of water. Either the well was miraculously put there, or she just couldn't see it in her condition.
Application:
Sometimes we need God to open our eyes because the answer we are looking for may be right beside us. We may be looking for an answer from the Lord and we may be closer than we think. It is easy to get distracted with apparent failures and setbacks in life. These things happen. When God opens our eyes, we may find out that it is not as bad as we thought it was.
Prayer:
Father, open my eyes to see how You are working in my life. Open my eyes to see Your plan in every area. Help me to know that my answer could be right beside me. Help me to trust You more and to walk in faith every day.
Your Son,
Jeff
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Face to Face With God
Scripture:
Genesis 18:33 "When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home."
Observation:
In this passage of Scripture, I see something I have not seen before. I see that God would come down and speak with Abraham and have conversations with him. In the chapters ahead of this there are a couple references to God coming and speaking with Abraham and then going back away. It seems from this portion of scripture that God would come down and have conversations with Abraham.
Application:
Abraham is called the father of faith because he believed God. I personally want to meet with God like Abraham did. I want to converse with Him as friend with friend. I want the personal walk with God that Abraham had where God came down and spoke with him in what appears to be a very personal way. Abraham didn't question whether it was God or himself speaking. He had conversations with the Father. I want to have some conversations with the Lord.
Prayer:
Father God, I want to know You more and more in my life. I want a real relationship with You where we speak as friend with friend. I want more times where You come down and meet with me like You did with Abraham. I give myself to You. Come and meet with me. Show me things. Teach me things. Help me to walk more and more in line with You and Your will for my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Genesis 18:33 "When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home."
Observation:
In this passage of Scripture, I see something I have not seen before. I see that God would come down and speak with Abraham and have conversations with him. In the chapters ahead of this there are a couple references to God coming and speaking with Abraham and then going back away. It seems from this portion of scripture that God would come down and have conversations with Abraham.
Application:
Abraham is called the father of faith because he believed God. I personally want to meet with God like Abraham did. I want to converse with Him as friend with friend. I want the personal walk with God that Abraham had where God came down and spoke with him in what appears to be a very personal way. Abraham didn't question whether it was God or himself speaking. He had conversations with the Father. I want to have some conversations with the Lord.
Prayer:
Father God, I want to know You more and more in my life. I want a real relationship with You where we speak as friend with friend. I want more times where You come down and meet with me like You did with Abraham. I give myself to You. Come and meet with me. Show me things. Teach me things. Help me to walk more and more in line with You and Your will for my life.
Your Son,
Jeff
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
God Let's You Know What's Coming When You Follow Him
Scripture:
Genesis 15:13-14 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions'".
Observation:
God was speaking here to Abram about his family and future. At the time, Abram didn't even have any children, but the Lord told him he would have them like the the stars in the sky. The Lord went on to tell him his family's future and how they would become slaves. He also let him know that after four hundred years, they would come out with great possessions. Nothings surprises God. He knows what is coming far before it happens.
Application:
Just like God spoke to Abram about his family, He can speak to us today. The Holy Spirit came to "show us things to come" and to "lead us into all truth". We can trust a God who knows our future and has all power. Our job is to seek Him and be in right relationship with Him so that when He speaks, we will hear.
Prayer:
Father, You now my past, my present, and my future. You are my everything and I trust You. During this 21 day fast, open my ears to hear all You have to say. Help me to walk in faith and to trust You more. Show me things to come. Show me what decisions to make. Take control of my life and future. I am Yours.
Yours,
Jeff
Genesis 15:13-14 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions'".
Observation:
God was speaking here to Abram about his family and future. At the time, Abram didn't even have any children, but the Lord told him he would have them like the the stars in the sky. The Lord went on to tell him his family's future and how they would become slaves. He also let him know that after four hundred years, they would come out with great possessions. Nothings surprises God. He knows what is coming far before it happens.
Application:
Just like God spoke to Abram about his family, He can speak to us today. The Holy Spirit came to "show us things to come" and to "lead us into all truth". We can trust a God who knows our future and has all power. Our job is to seek Him and be in right relationship with Him so that when He speaks, we will hear.
Prayer:
Father, You now my past, my present, and my future. You are my everything and I trust You. During this 21 day fast, open my ears to hear all You have to say. Help me to walk in faith and to trust You more. Show me things to come. Show me what decisions to make. Take control of my life and future. I am Yours.
Yours,
Jeff
Monday, January 4, 2016
Unity is Powerful
Scripture:
Genesis 11:6 "The Lord said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan will be impossible for them'".
Observation:
At this point in time, there was only one language on the earth and the people had big plans. God literally had to confuse the languages and separate the people because, if they remained in this unity, nothing would be impossible for them.
Application:
What is impossible when a group gets in unity? In this passage, even God said nothing would be impossible for the people when they were of one language and going one direction. Unity is powerful and we need to harness it in our lives and relationships. When we walk in unity, we will see great things accomplished for God.
Prayer:
Father, let my life be used to bring unity to the body of Christ and to bridge gaps that have separated for years. Let my life bring about oneness in God's people. Let the people of Word of Life also become one in vision, direction and passion.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Genesis 11:6 "The Lord said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan will be impossible for them'".
Observation:
At this point in time, there was only one language on the earth and the people had big plans. God literally had to confuse the languages and separate the people because, if they remained in this unity, nothing would be impossible for them.
Application:
What is impossible when a group gets in unity? In this passage, even God said nothing would be impossible for the people when they were of one language and going one direction. Unity is powerful and we need to harness it in our lives and relationships. When we walk in unity, we will see great things accomplished for God.
Prayer:
Father, let my life be used to bring unity to the body of Christ and to bridge gaps that have separated for years. Let my life bring about oneness in God's people. Let the people of Word of Life also become one in vision, direction and passion.
Yours Forever,
Jeff
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Favor with God
Scripture:
Genesis 6:8 "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord".
Observation:
God had just said that He was regretting ever making the human race and that He was going to destroy them and the earth they lived on. Then the word tells us that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Favor is a powerful thing!
Application:
We need to ask God for His favor to be on our life and we need to live lives that will attract His favor. God had favor on Noah and his family was protected when the entire population of the world was wiped out. We need to seek the Lord and ask for his favor, because when it is on our lives, we will be much different than everyone else. We will prosper when others are falling apart.
Prayer:
Father, let Your favor rest on my life. Allow me to have favor with God and with man as it was with Jesus. Help me to live a life that attracts Your favor. You are amazing and I love You with all my heart.
Yours,
Jeff
Genesis 6:8 "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord".
Observation:
God had just said that He was regretting ever making the human race and that He was going to destroy them and the earth they lived on. Then the word tells us that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Favor is a powerful thing!
Application:
We need to ask God for His favor to be on our life and we need to live lives that will attract His favor. God had favor on Noah and his family was protected when the entire population of the world was wiped out. We need to seek the Lord and ask for his favor, because when it is on our lives, we will be much different than everyone else. We will prosper when others are falling apart.
Prayer:
Father, let Your favor rest on my life. Allow me to have favor with God and with man as it was with Jesus. Help me to live a life that attracts Your favor. You are amazing and I love You with all my heart.
Yours,
Jeff
Friday, January 1, 2016
Walking with God
Scripture:
Genesis 3:8 "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden".
Observation:
When God created Adam and Eve, He created them for relationship with Him. From this verse, it appears that God would come and walk with them and talk with them in the garden. I can't even imagine what was really lost at the fall of man. After the fall, Adam and Eve hid from the God who created them and loved them. They could no longer walk with Him as they had before.
Application:
God has always wanted to walk with His people and have relationship with them. His desire is relationship with those who are His. Our greatest desire in life should be to walk with Him as in the garden. Because of Jesus, we have access to God and can walk in the Spirit with Him. Our life goal should be to walk in unity with Him as Adam was suppose to.
Prayer:
Father, let me walk with you completely. Let me hear Your voice and let my life bring Your praise and honor. Help me to follow You wholeheartedly in every area of my life.
Yours,
Jeff
Genesis 3:8 "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden".
Observation:
When God created Adam and Eve, He created them for relationship with Him. From this verse, it appears that God would come and walk with them and talk with them in the garden. I can't even imagine what was really lost at the fall of man. After the fall, Adam and Eve hid from the God who created them and loved them. They could no longer walk with Him as they had before.
Application:
God has always wanted to walk with His people and have relationship with them. His desire is relationship with those who are His. Our greatest desire in life should be to walk with Him as in the garden. Because of Jesus, we have access to God and can walk in the Spirit with Him. Our life goal should be to walk in unity with Him as Adam was suppose to.
Prayer:
Father, let me walk with you completely. Let me hear Your voice and let my life bring Your praise and honor. Help me to follow You wholeheartedly in every area of my life.
Yours,
Jeff
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