fuel

Genesis 18:3
3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.”

When we serve God, we need him to fuel our service. In fact, we can’t serve without him. Not in the ways he intends. God wants us to enjoy being a blessing for others and so he favors us as we reach out.

As you serve today, imagine Jesus alongside.

will

John 8:29
29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."

When our will and God’s will intersect, we begin to see him at work the way Jesus sees him. When we are serving God, we never have complete solitude because there is always someone hanging around with us. Thank Him!!

Pray that God is your constant companion this new year.

alone

Luke 9:18
18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

We can be alone even with others. It is a matter of focus, as well as location. Jesus has support as he supports. This still works.

Chose someone who serves the Lord powerfully from your own life and pray for them today.

knowing God

Christmas is not just for Christians- when God reveals himself as Jesus, we are all confronted with hope

mountain

Luke 6:12
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

I have a chance to be in the mountains on occasion. It is always beautiful and it changes your perspective. While hiking up Half Dome in Yosemite, one of the things you notice about mountains is it makes you concentrate on just catching your breath. The mountains bring you back to the basics, including the very air you breath.

Thank God for the gift of life and for carrying you along the way.

habit

Luke 5:16
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Solitude is not a special occasion kind of thing. On a regular basis, being alone can become a pattern in your life. There you will have to best chance to have the environment Jesus had to make his best decisions.

Pray for solitude to become a habit.

reveal

Mark 9:2
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

Amazing things sometimes happen in solitude. What about a combination nuclear reactor and Savior? That is kind of special. A baby in an obscure cave/ stable somewhere in the middle of the universe? Not so ordinary. How can we shine today? Maybe some time alone will guide us to figure it out.

Pray for God to reveal what he has in store for you.

when

Mark 1:35
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

If you are a morning person, this is by far the best time to spend alone with God. Now remember, Jesus is divine and so he appears to be a night person and a morning person! You just need to pick one as the best time for you to be alone with him.

Pray for the desire to spend more alone time with Jesus.

what is Christimas?

when the Messiah comes the desert blooms
where are the deserts in your life?
insights by Pastor Ed Markquart

review

Matt 14:23
23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Jesus, himself, needed alone time. Night is a great time to reflect on the events of the day and to think about what is coming up tomorrow. I don’t think he needed a day planner, but I am sure he had daily concerns just as we do.

Pray about your day tonight.

diffferent

Jeremiah 15:16-18
17 I never sat in the company of revelers,
never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand was on me
and you had filled me with indignation.

Being alone may mean acting differently than those around you. Like Jeremiah, who is speaking specifically here about drunken, party animals. This is especially the case for followers of Jesus who would choose not to join in behavior they think is inappropriate. A quiet “No thanks,” is much more effective than a condemnation, of course.

Pray for graciousness with those who have different lifestyle guidelines.

desert

Isaiah 35:1
1 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Lonely places can be beautiful. It is not uncommon for those seeking the Lord to go out in the desert. This is a popular place to gather your thoughts and focus. Yet, the desert is also a place to see the beauty of God in the wind sweeping over the sand and the flowers coming out of the cacti. Just avoid the ATV’s and bring plenty of water!

Pray for St. Andrews Abbey, in the high desert at Valyermo, CA.

good

1 Kings 17:4
4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

Elijah was in solitude and God provided. This is good to know. When we are alone with God, it gives us a sense of our ultimate limitation in life. All we can trust on in the end is God. All we can hope for in the end is God. All we need is God. It’s good to spend some solitude time getting to know God. Very good.

Pray for God to quiet your mind.

open

Numbers 23:9
9 From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

Too much solitude is not a good thing. I can be a loner, on purpose, because I don’t want to deal with people. We can even be in solitude as a community. This is especially challenging if we are a Christian church. We are to be a blessing to those around us, but if we set up barriers against the “evil” outside world we never connect the Jesus who is already out there serving.

Pray for God to get you out with people more.

Christianity and other religions

does God speak through other religions as he draws people to Christ?
we explore this issue

wrestling

Genesis 32:24
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

Jacob wrestling with a man/ angel/ God is a fascinating story. Like Nacho Libre, without the comedy. Jacob struggling with his life, the poor choices he has made in his life, and his future. God appears to him and they wrestle it out.

Wrestling with God in the quiet to the night is not a rare phenomenon. Even atheists do it. It’s called the “conscience.” So whether deliberately or subconsciously, night wrestling may be the only time God finds us open enough to listen.

Pray for God to bug you tonight if you need bugging.

solitude

Solitude- The creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposefully abstaining from interaction with other human beings, so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God. (Renovare Study Bible)

We will finish the year in solitude. What an appropriate time during the hustle of these days before Christmas. We are with people more this month of December than just about any other time of year and yet we also can feel very lonely. Solitude teaches us that there is a difference between being lonely and being alone.

Pray for times of refreshment and looking within alone with God.

mouth

James 3:1-12
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so, blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

This is such an easy one to figure out. Do we want to be a blessing to others or do we want to be a curse? Stinking thinking leads to cursing, damaging language. Everything that is necessary to bring blessing or curse is located in that area just above our necks. “If you can’t say something nice about someone….”

Grandma was right.

Pray for God to either teach you his brand of love, or render you speechless (Luke 1:20).

listening

James 1:19
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

“He’s the listen of the town.” “I’ll listen to you later.” “Listening is precious!”

I don’t know if we can replace “talk of the town,” “I’ll talk to you later,” or “talk is cheap” from our list of phrases (nor if we want to), but it’s interesting to think about how much more we talk of “talking” rather than “listening.”

Pray for listening to become more a part of your life.

truth

Rom 3:19
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

God’s way of life is for everyone. He speaks to us through the Bible and our conscience. No one is exempt. We can ignore the Bible and ignore our conscience but that doesn’t mean the truth is not discovered there. Whether a believer or not, God is not silent to the world.

Pray for the wisdom to make progress in your study of God’s Word.

mood

Zephaniah1:7
7 Be silent before the Sovereign LORD,
for the day of the LORD is near.

The Day of the LORD is when all God’s plans come to fulfillment. It is a joyous and scary day for disciples. Joyous, because finally the new creation is complete and the world is set to right. Scary, as it is also a time we honestly realize how much we need God and how much we have failed him. Somber and joyous together make a good combination for silence.

Pray for a sense of urgency always to be obedient to God.

worship

Habbakkuk 2:20
20 But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him."

I chuckle when I think of this text used to try to get people quiet in church services. The opposing team pulls out, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” and we can start “Fight Club.” There are times to connect with each other and there are times to listen. A little silence can be powerful, especially at worship.

Quietly pray for the worship at your church before you arrive.

John 2:12-22 Bible Study

why is Jesus so perturbed at the Temple?
why does he go Ultimate Fight?

King Jesus

what does it mean for Jesus to rule the universe and in our own lives?

hope

Lamentations 3:26
26 So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.

I would never think of bragging about my salvation. I certainly praise my Savior, however. It’s all about him. In the meantime, I want to serve others, reaching some with the good news that I heard for the first time long ago. I never get tired of hearing it.

Pray that the astounding hope of Jesus in your life never gets old.

all

Isaiah 53:17
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Jesus knows his suffering and death are for us. So, he takes it as it comes and he let’s all the injustice of it die with him. That injustice he goes through turns out to be our healing and eternal life. We deserve what he received, so we might receive him. How could I worship any other??

Thank Jesus for what he has done.

peaceful

Isaiah 32:17
17 And this righteousness will bring peace.
Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.

When we are right with God, we can handle all the “drama” that comes our way. Notice, I didn’t say we won’t have troubles, it’s just that we face them with God as our partner and so they aren’t really troubles in the long run, are they?

Pray for God’s eyes when you face challenges in your life.

the city

why does God love big cities so much?

(thanks to Rodney Stark and Tim Keller for background info)

available

Isaiah 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.

We don’t want to end up like God’s people, whom Isaiah is speaking to here. They are not willing to listen. It’s always a good idea to listen to God, but you can’t listen if you are doing all the talking.


Pray for God to guide your listening in prayer, as well as your requesting.

light

Proverbs 11:12
It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
a sensible person keeps quiet.

If you think advice would be helpful for someone else, then it takes great skill to actually earn the open attention from them to hear what you would like to share. If you want to criticize or show how much more you know than them, just know no one appreciates it deep down and you appear foolish, though people might not share that because they figure you wouldn’t hear it anyway.

As Stephen Covey once wrote, “Be a light instead of a judge.”

Pray for God to quiet your judgments.

how to be a genuine Christian without being a jerk

Dana is guest speaker at Oasis Christian Center
live and unplugged!

satisfied

Ps 131.2
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

A child learns to trust that he/she will be fed by his/her mother, and no longer needs to cry out when hungry. Same goes for us with God. We do not have to have our needs met by God if he doesn’t agree. A few less “give me this/ give me that’s” in our prayers might be just what God needs to “hear.”

Pray for satisfaction of what you have already been given.

resting

Ps 62.1
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

Without knowing I get to live with Jesus forever, I would have great fear wondering if I measure up. Thank God Jesus dies for us while we are yet sinners. We don’t earn what is not ours to possess. Life with God forever comes through Jesus, not my effort.

Pray for an extra anointing of God’s grace today.

defender

Ps 39.9
I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.

When we sin against God there is no court of appeals. We are 100% guilty 100% of the time. We can’t talk our way out it. All that is left is to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court. Thank God for our prosecutor who ends up being our defense, as well. The honorable Jesus.

Pray for honesty in your confession.

fade

Ps 4.4
Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.

There is no law that says we have to speak up every time something ticks us off. It may be just as good for us to leave it inside and let it die out as it is releasing it, to “get it off my chest.” Many don’t have a hard time lashing out in anger, but few are skilled at letting it die inside, even though this may be as good or better a response.

Pray for patience and holding your tongue.

quiet

Job 13:5
If only you could be silent!
That’s the wisest thing you could do.

In this day of instant recordings, instant blogging, instant everything, everything you say can and will be used against you, if someone decides they want to put you down. Public figures can no longer deny saying something they said. Now, they can only say, “I didn’t mean what you think I meant.”

Leaving things unspoken unless our speaking is absolutely necessary to bring good into the situation may be a discipline to take on if you are challenged by speaking too much.

Pray for the ability to be quiet.

Bible study on John 2:1-11

celebrate life Jesus style!

Jesus has eternity to plan his first public miracle,
so, naturally he helps two young newly weds keep the party going , and avoid social embarrassment-
what's with that??

ignore

Job 6:24
24 "Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong."

If I stay busy enough, then I don’t have to be concerned about my sin. Too many things to do, right now, urgent and compelling-- to notice what I am already doing that is wrong or what I am not doing that would be right. Clever Tempter, good luck, God now has my attention.

Honestly confess the things you have done or left undone in the last week that have gotten in the way of God.

God

1 Kings 19:12
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came the sound of sheer silence.

“Sound of sheer silence.” With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel, God knows about this first. This is not a koan, as in Buddhist thought. “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” and such. Literally, to truly hear from God it is a much a matter of our preparation to hear as it is his availability to communicate with us.

What is God saying to you at 12 noon today?

intensity

1 Samuel 1:3
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk.

Nothing like prayer to help on the booze budget. Now we know why they call it, “spirits.” Hannah is not drunk, however. She is just concentrating in the quiet of the hour. Focusing on her God. Praying intensely. Is intense prayer so rare for us that it seems unusual?

Pray intently for the Holy Spirit to come to you for a set period of time. “Spirit fill me.”

who trusts teenagers? God!

our best days are ahead of us and God working through young people is why

the model of King Josiah is alive and well today

attention

Tuesday
Genesis 24:21
Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

Communication is about 90% non-verbal according to communication mavens. We hear with our “eyes.” Also, practically, we all know what we miss in conversation because we are not really listening as much as trying to think of what we are going to say next.

With God, our richest communication can occur by just paying attention to the world around us and see where he shows up.

Pray for deep listening skills with loved ones.

silence

Friends-

We have been focusing on scriptural passages that deal with issues of practical living with God (the “with-God” life), and actively praying about this. A key discipline of growth and renewal for Christians is practicing silence and solitude. In our information overload era, these are among the toughest ways to open up to the Spirit.

So, of course, we will do just that for the remainder or the year. I don’t know about you, but I always get a little frazzled from now until New Year’s. Not now! We are going to get a Bible vitamin every week day, starting today. Enjoy!

Silence: Closing off our souls from “sounds,” whether noise, music, or words, so that we may better still the inner chatter and clatter of our noisy hearts and be increasingly attentive to God (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible)

Spend some time in quiet today and pray for guidance on this.

John 1:35-50 Bible Study

God works through relationships
Jesus starts building his team

forward

Rev. 22:5
And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

When we are with God forever there will be no darkness. Everything will be completely out in the open. We will live exactly as God has designed us to live.

This life with God has already begun with the resurrected Jesus. We have glimpses of what will be our eternity, today. We call this the “Kingdom Life.” Notice it isn’t sitting back plucking at a harp and eating bon bons. We will reign with God in the new creation. He is bringing the Kingdom in for good and we are part of this plan. Together we move his Kingdom forward.

Pray for more trust so God can use you in even greater ways.

blessed now

1 Pet. 5:6-7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

God is ready and able to be a blessing to anyone. In the long run, there is no worry or care that can stop God from blessing us. All that is necessary is a desire to be blessed. Do you want God in your life?

Come to Jesus.

Pray for God to renew your relationship together, or begin it.

sides

1 Pet. 3:12
"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”

Whose side is God on? Those who are always looking in his direction. Those who look to him for life. Those who follow him and repent when they stray.

Who does God oppose? Those who do evil. So, Whose side do you want to be on?

Pray for common sense when it comes to God.

partner

Heb. 13:6
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

When it comes to following Jesus or following people always choose Jesus. There is nothing someone else can do for you or to you that is greater than what Jesus can do. This works in all areas of life. Jesus is the best partner you can possibly have.

Pray for progress in the confidence you have in Jesus.

what did you say?!

sharing the gospel isn't a matter of technique it is a matter clarity

bridge

Heb. 7:25
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.

Without Jesus, we are the enemy of God. We are not capable of living right lives on our own, not to the extent of being right with God, and if we worship or follow any other “god” it is living a lie.

Jesus is our bridge. He wants all people to come to God through him and he has already made it possible.

Pray for those who are following other “gods” to keep seeking.

preaching at Oasis

Friends- I will be preaching at the 6 p.m. service at Oasis Christian Center, in Hollywood (the Godchicks church!) this Sunday, November 4th. Worship is at Oasis Theatre, located at 5100 Wilshire Blvd, in between La Brea & Highland. I am giving the message, seven reasons why people say they aren't Christian. Here is a sample essay that will be handed out.

Christians are way too exclusive

You must be kidding. When Carl Sagan, the most well known scientist of my generation, gave the keynote address at the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal organization’s annual meeting, he said this.

In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (Carl Sagan, 1987 CSICOP keynote address)

I’ll leave politics out of it, but there are a few little events that have occurred to change the way people think about religion, like say, Christianity out of Judaism, the whole Protestant Reformation, or more recently, the rise of Mormonism out of Christianity. Whatever you think of the merits of these outcomes, Carl, change does happen, even in religion.

So why would someone as brilliant as Carl Sagan be so naive concerning religion? I am most familiar with my own faith, of course, so I’ll ask the question this way. What’s your problem with Christianity? Actually, people have a lot of problems with Christianity. One strong criticism of Christianity is it is so exclusive.

“Christians think they are right and everyone else is wrong.” “Christians think they have the inside track to the truth.” “Christians are intolerant toward others.” What is really going on with these and similar statements?

Actually, everyone is exclusive. Everyone thinks they are right about their viewpoint. It’s just that Christians are honest enough to be open about their exclusivity. Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.”

I mean, really, who doesn’t think they are right about the way they think? Christians aren’t saying there is no truth anywhere else, because we think whatever is good and right and honorable comes from God, anyway. We just think Jesus is the ultimate truth. If you want to see potentially unhelpful exclusivity, for example, stay tuned for the current presidential election. Do you think the candidates think they are right about their viewpoints? How about what the other candidate thinks? Perhaps it goes something like this.

“My opponent has some great ideas; actually quite similar to my own. In fact, I wish I could adopt a couple of his positions because they really might work well, but I can’t, because they are ideas he supports. Instead, I need to try to convince you that he is Satan incarnate.”

Everyone thinks they have to be right. Everyone believes they have the exclusive truth. Even people who say there is no truth think they are right. That is the latest theory. A very white, European idea floating around for the past couple of hundred years. Relativism.

Relativism asks the question, “Whose to say your truth is anymore real than my truth? It is just your opinion based on your cultural bias. Truth is simply a contextual thing.”

Well to say, “There is no ultimate truth” is, in and of itself, an ultimate truth statement. Everyone thinks they have the truth. Christians are just honest enough to admit it.

I like what author, Anne Lamott said, at a National Pastor’s Retreat a few years back. She was commenting on the phrase, “Well, that’s just your opinion.”

Yes, that’s just my opinion but I think I am right. If I didn’t think I was right I would have another opinion.

Yet, if everyone is exclusive in his/ her viewpoint, isn’t that being intolerant? I don’t know how this could be intolerant because the very definition of tolerance includes thinking you are right.

Tolerance says, “I respect you as a human being and I respect your right to have an opinion and I think your opinion is wrong.” You can’t be tolerant with people you agree with. You would be, “agreeable.” You can only show tolerance with people you disagree with.

To be intolerant would be to not respect people as human whom you disagree with, and/or not respect their right to have a worldview, and actually try to force that opinion to never be uttered. If you actually know anything about Christianity you would know that is the furthest thing from the model or message of Jesus. Here is what he said about people who disagree with Christians.

‘If people vehemently disagree with you, tell them you think they are wrong, leave them alone, and find some other people who might be more open to your viewpoint' (Luke 10:10-11).

Wow, how exclusivist and intolerant can you get? “Leave them alone.” You can see how this whole issue is a matter of full disclosure and honesty. If you are going to criticize Christians for being exclusive, you must criticize every human who ever lived, including of course, yourself. Everyone thinks they are right. Everyone is exclusive.

(Dana Hanson 2007 www.christcast.net )

source

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s word is the source of life. Jesus is the Word. His word brings life in abundance. His word drives us to repentance and new life if we but hear it and respond. In a world filled with so many words constantly immersing us with verbiage, God speaks softly and we strain to hear. Yet, these are the words we must here. Out of honesty and truth, they are for us and for our healing.

Pray for the desire to be faithful in hearing God’s word.

Bible study on John 1:10-34

Word become flesh and John the Baptizer
with insights from the work of Pastor Mark Driscoll

watch

Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Angels are not people who have died and are with God directly now. Angels were created by God before the beginning of the universe. They are messengers for God, protect God’s people, and have a special role of protecting children. There are greater things going on than we can see. Thank God for these servants.

Pray for the children in your life and the protection of their holy angels.

power

1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

Unless we see God’s power at work, all the words in the world are not going to sway us to trust in Jesus. Unless the Holy Spirit fills us, we will not see God’s power at work enough to drive us to trust. Unless we are intentionally open to the possibility of the Holy Spirit, the whole process can’t begin. Faith begins with an invitation to a way of life.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you more vision of what God is doing in your life.

hidden

Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we die to using human instinct and human desires as the source of our actions. The last thing I want to do is to go by my gut instinct or look within myself to get direction to how I am to live my life. I trust Jesus and his ways so much more then I trust me. I will rest in him.

Pray for confidence knowing Jesus holds you safe.

impossible

Eph. 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

This goes along with the similar themes for this week. When God works through us, we become someone we can’t fathom. “Infinite” is beyond measure. It is wise to ask God to give us the vision to see the impossible as the area’s of life most worthy of living in.

What impossible thing might God have in store for you today? Pray about it.

unlimited

Eph. 3:16
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

When we worry about how we can be a blessing to the world, a better spouse, parent, friend, a more effective disciple, then we are really wasting our time. We can have concern, but why would we worry? There are unlimited resources for us to do God’s work.

When we worry over things that God is not blessing or does not want blessed, then worry is a good thing because we ought not be doing those things in the first place. Worry might actually force us to get back on God’s track.

Pray for the areas of you life where you need God to show up the most.

good news

Eph. 3:7
By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

When we serve God the way he intends us to serve, we are privileged to be doing what we are doing. It is only when we are serving in arenas we aren’t gifted in, don’t have passion for, or aren’t areas God is calling us to address, that we might be dragged down. Ministries that have something to do with “spreading the Good News” are a strong indicator of possible strength.

Pray for God to give you appreciation for what he is doing.

promises

Eph. 1:18
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Light reveals God’s love and God’s promises. Light also reveals the sin we hide in our hearts. We have confidence because we know God’s Kingdom is sure, and God is in charge. The revelation of our
sin means we don’t have to try to save ourselves but rely on God’s mercy and faith. We can change because it is up to him, not us.

Pray that God would give you a stronger sense of his promises.

2 Cor. 12:9
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Why would God’s power work best in weakness? Think of it this way. If there is anything you can do on pure human power then you don’t need God to show up. When he doesn’t, don’t be shocked. It is only when you stretch enough to have to have God show up, or else, it will be a disaster, then he shows up in power. So, God’s power is seen when our weakness is exposed.

Pray for God to stretch you today.

no worry and truth

2 Cor 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

When God is the source of what we are doing we really don’t need to worry about a thing. Another way of saying this is when God is not behind what we are doing, all we will do is worry because it isn’t going to work out in the end. So, to end worry, discover what God is doing in your world today and join him.

Pray for God’s guidance on what you ought to be thinking about today.



2 Cor 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I can learn from someone who doesn’t trust in Jesus, but not in anything that has eternal significance. I can share what I have in common with someone who is not a disciple, but I can’t agree on the ultimate. Jesus, alone, is the truth. I don’t know the whole truth but I know who does. That makes all the difference.

Pray for clear teaching of the truth of Jesus.

why share the Gospel?

basic Christian evangelism

satisfy

1 Cor 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Paul worked hard for the Lord. What did he do? He gave his whole life. Does this mean we are to do the same thing? Yes, give our whole lives, assuredly. Work constantly? Not in the way you probably think.

In whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord. If God is specifically guiding you, you will know it because you will be energized and alive. 5 hours will seem like 5 minutes. We aren’t trying to be martyrs or exhaust ourselves under the strain. God satisfies.

Pray for a sense of what God is calling you to do.

tools

1 Cor 12:11
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

We aren’t called to be multi-talented, on fire, everything-I-do-is-a-raving-success Christians. We are called to use the strengths the Spirit has given us and focus our time and energy where we have the greatest influence in arenas where we have the most passion. God uses our gifts, interests and personalities as tools to work through. We all have the same general calling. To be an influence to draw people closer to Jesus who don’t know him and/or building up the trust and confidence of people who do.

Pray for God to use one of your gifts and passions to do something this day.

not enough

1 Cor 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.


The Word is used to give us faith. The Word encourages us, teaches us, corrects us, and energizes us. Yet, words are not enough.

We can say things anyway we want, but if we don’t have the Spirit of God behind us we will fail. More than any other way we open ourselves to the Spirit by reading God’s Word carefully and acting upon it. There are no shortcuts.

Pray for more openness to the Holy Spirit.

model

Romans 14:17
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


Paul is specifically talking about whether Christians can buy and eat meat that is sold after being sacrificed in a Roman religious ceremony. He says for some it may be a sin because it causes you to stumble, and for others it’s not. Then, he makes the more general statement. Don’t get so caught up in matters of social protocol that you overlook the bigger picture. You are not a rule follower as much as you are a model of what kind of life is coming out of you.

Pray for God to keep you firm in his ways while giving you the grace to quietly decline living ways that are not his.

urges

Romans 8:12
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

Somewhere we lost all logic when we began talking about genetic or physiological “causes” to behavior. There may be genetic and physiological urges that are within us, but that has nothing to do with behavior. There is nothing that says we have to act. Behavior is acting out on the urges. It is wrong to say humans have no choice. Of course we do. There is a gap between the urge and the chosen action. For almost everyone of us, we get up in the morning and we choose to do many things. We are not robots being controlled by our body “switches.”

The key to a healthy life includes doing things your body and urges are telling you not to do, and avoiding acting on what your body and urges are telling you to do. How will you know? Jesus and his Word are the measures of healthy living.

What excuses do you make for behavior you know at your core is sin? Pray about this.

extremes

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we don’t know the freedom of Jesus and how he brings new life into our lives then we are not our best true selves. We will live on the extremes of being so self-loathing that we have a constant negative pall over everything and everyone around us, or we have deep self-centeredness, where narcissism is seen by the people forgotten in our path. Either way sin takes away from our lives rather than the abundant life Jesus has in mind.

Where do you lean the most: self-loathing or narcissism? Begin praying yourself out of it.

body

Romans 6:13
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

If we are going to get into trouble, our bodies are likely to get involved. Whether it is addiction or being influenced by unhealthy habits, there is a way out. Jesus provides freedom and new life. We provide our presence and willingness. When Jesus works through us, we have new life and glorify God by our body.

What do you need to work on in regard to challenges of body?

Bible Study on Colossians 4 and 5

the influence of Jesus on our relationships

wealth

what does Jesus say about wealth?

favor

Acts 28:10
10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.

Paul and his companions healed the sick on the island of Malta. When they were about to leave the people gave them honors and provisions. Notice Paul doesn’t refuse the honors nor the supplies with a sense of false modesty. He allows the people of Malta to be appreciative. It is a gift of hospitality to allows others to practice hospitality.

Pray for someone who has shown you favor recently.

pray for

Acts 23:11
That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

God is keen on getting his message out. On rare occasions, he actually has to tell us directly. Most often, though, we know what to to do, it is just a matter of doing it. Why not make it an ongoing habit to let it be known that you would like to pray for someone whenever they share a concern? This is the most effective way of intersecting faith and life, whether in friendships, at work, or in other public situations.

Pray for someone today.

Acts 19:20
20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

After confessing their sins, residents of Ephesus see the power of forgiveness in action. The message and actions of the forgiven have a strong impact on the community. This is an invitation for us today.

When we honestly confess our sins to God and do not carry around the guilt, but instead begin to work for the Lord fresh, we will see his power. Unrealized forgiveness drags us down just like unrepentant sin. Either way we are focused on ourselves and not God.

Confess any current sins that are dragging you down and let them go.

dance for God

what does David dancing have to do with adoring God?
just about everything

courtesy

Acts 15:12
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Are you kidding? The Gentiles are enemies of the people of God up until this point. Yet, their fellow Christians listen quietly as Barnabas and Paul tell them that God is now at work around the Gentiles. There is no heckling or outcry as they tell their story. It is interesting when you have a common vision to spread God’s gospel around the world that you can show courtesy and respect.

Pray for this kind of courtesy to enter into your family conversations.

Jesus

Acts 14:27
Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.

When God is at work is extraordinary ways, it is not a good idea to keep it a secret. Yet, this is what is happening right now. Who knows that it is Christianity and not Islam that is growing most rapidly around the world? In Asia, Latin America, and Africa in particular, people are coming to saving faith in Jesus exponentially. In China, for instance, people are coming to Christ so quickly it amounts to 10,000 people a day.

God apparently has something else in mind then a common logical fallacy that “all religions lead to the truth.” If you mean by this, “All worldviews have inherent within them ways to connect to the Gospel of Jesus,” then, of course, you are correct. The difference between this and other missionary movements of the past is the current growth is under the leadership of native culture leaders who are able to contextualize the Gospel truths. Fascinating.

Pray for those who are translating the Bible into new native languages.

for and against

for today and tomorrow

Acts 11:21
The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

When God is present in power, his blessing is abundant. A healing and helping hand from God through his people is a huge attraction for non-Christians to come to Christ. They might disagree with what is being taught but they can’t ignore the evidence. Signs and wonders address skepticism head on.


Pray for Jesus to work through you today to be a sign.

Acts 13:11
Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

God’s hand can also work against us and tear us down. In this verse, Saul, a hateful enemy of God is reprimanded in a way that only God can pull off. The bitter, spiteful opponent becomes Paul, the main biblical spokesman in the New Testament. The one who couldn’t see the light of the sun finally gives in to the “light of the Son.” Now you can’t stop him from sharing the Good News.

Pray for God to correct you if you are going against his ways.

Bible Study on Colossians 3

the new life of a Christian

Bible Study on James 1

a first person account of James, the brother of Jesus

no barriers

Acts 11:17
So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"

Here Peter is speaking about the message he received from God who told him that faith in Jesus is for all people, not just the Jews. God leads the non-Jewish people (Gentiles) to faith in Christ and so it is legitimate. The barriers are falling and being right with God is possible for all cultures.

Pray for your Jewish friends.

open

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

When you were a kid, did you ask one of parents why you had to do something, and he/she replied, “Because I said so.”?

Well, here Jesus doesn’t even have to tell his disciples what to do. He has so much confidence in them that he simply states it as fact. Maybe it has something to do with the Holy Spirit coming to them.

With the Holy Spirit in your life you can’t help but witness. If you aren’t a witness of the love and power of Jesus does that mean the Holy Spirit hasn’t cracked your resistance? What do you think?

Pray for an openness to the Holy Spirit.

different

John 17:21-23
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Christians are not called to think exactly alike. The Gospels are a great witness to this. Each of these four accounts of Jesus has a different emphasis by a different author for a different immediate audience. When someone uses the Gospels as an example of “discrepancies” in scripture, you know they haven’t actually thought about them for one minute or perhaps haven’t even read them.

Jesus comes in a specific culture and time and at the same time says all cultures in all times will have an opportunity to understand and trust. However, careful listening is required.

Pray for a local church you don’t attend.

Bible Study on Colossians 2

freedom!

Bible Study on Colossians 1

Jesus is in charge

Jesus is

John 15:5
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Did you ever have a little brother or sister who had to follow you wherever you went? People would call him/ her your “little shadow.”

Jesus is more than a shadow. He invites us to remain in him- his presence, his teaching, his love- and he will reciprocate. “I in them.” Jesus calls himself, “God,” several times using the sacred name of God, “I Am.” We see one such example here. “I am the vine.”

Jesus also brings his divine power to the rest of us as we are open to remaining in him. “I in them.” I would follow that big brother, who also happens to be God, wherever he leads. Where else would you want to go?

Pray for brothers and sisters, your own or someone else’s.

better

John 6:56
Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

What are we, a bunch of zombies or vampires? It’s passages like these from the Bible that must shock those who don’t know the story of Jesus. What a wonderful teachable moment about the Eucharist; Holy Communion.

Jesus comes to us in the bread and wine of Communion and declares that he is there in a way he is not in the rest of his creation, “for you.” He is present within this sacred act to bring the message of “forgiveness of sin, new life, and salvation.”

This is way better than Dracula or “Night of the Living Dead.”

Pray for those who will receive their first communion soon.

clear

John 1:4
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Jesus offers his life to all people. This is not an anonymous or hidden inner light that is in all people just waiting to be discovered as some philosophies or religions teach. You may believe this but it doesn’t appear Jesus did. In him the light of the world is revealed in a very specific and clear way. “In the flesh,” as verse 14 will state later in this chapter.

Secret knowledge or light within that has to be discovered is exactly the kind of thinking Jesus came to correct. There is nothing secret, mysterious, or rare to being a follower of Jesus. It is just being open to live in Christ, who says, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

Pray for the basic, simple clarity of the good news of Jesus to reach those who are seeking.

city

Luke 24:49
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Pastor Tim Keller says ‘As the city goes, so goes the culture. We need churches wherever there are people, but we can have our greatest influence for good in our society if we have a strong presence in the urban centers.‘

The early church went to the cities first. Christians established centers for hope, healing, and good news in the urban arenas of the Middle East, Asia, Minor, and Europe. Only later did the faith spread to the countryside. What are the implications for this today?

Pray for the blessing of the largest city near you.

giving it all to Jesus

following rabbi Jesus costs everything...
not following him costs even more

children

Luke 18:16-17
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Anyone who thinks little children are precious and completely pure has never raised or met a two year old who finally discovers he/she is not the center of the universe. As one pastor said in a sermon I heard recently, “They would kill you in a minute if you weren’t so big.”

Precious? Of course. Pure? At times. Yet, Jesus isn’t talking about the exemplary behavior of children; he is talking about their confident trust. If you say something, children expect it to be true. If they are in trouble, you will save them. If they are sad, you will comfort them. It is this trust Jesus is lifting up as a model for us all.

Pray for the children in your life.

lost people matter to God

what does it mean to be lost?
What is God doing about it?

how to study the Bible

a brief summary of Bible study

justice

21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”

Nothing more has to happen to bring in God’s Kingdom; it is already here. In order to live in his Kingdom, you must trust in the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins and accept his forgiveness. If you don’t want him he will not force himself on you.

God the Father does have pure wrath against sin and so if you don’t accept the sacrifice of Jesus your actions are all that will save you from the purely just God. God is perfection and so your actions must be identical to God’s in order to not need Jesus. God is not mean or vindictive, he is only fair.

Pray for God to guide you to those who don’t trust in Jesus that you might share his love.

one way

Luke 11:29
29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah."

The sign of Jonah is the declaration to repent. There are various meanings for this word from the Bible.

repent- turn and go in a new direction
repent- think again, only differently

For a generation to be classified as evil it must be working against God’s ways. The assumption is that you do know the ways of God, and yet, you are still doing one or both of these things: Going in the wrong direction and/or not thinking straight. When God eventually brings fairness and justice to the situation, there will be no excuse. You knew and you chose to go your own way rather than God’s on purpose.

Pray that you would be honest before God.

preach

Mark 16:20
20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

When the Holy Spirit is at work, people will notice. There may even be miraculous signs. Notice the signs follow the preaching. Are there life changing signs that occur at your church after your preacher preaches? The most common and miraculous sign is when Christian believers become disciples. When it actually sinks in that this faith stuff really does matter in a practical way in everyday life, and followers actually follow.

Pray for long term as well as short results in the life of your community.

intention

Matthew 28:20
20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Everything that Jesus wants done will be done because he is there to do it. Disciples are those who intentionally choose to follow the ways of Jesus and learn from him however they can. This is different than people in churches who love Jesus and trust in him and want to live with him forever, but they don’t practically intend to actually follow his teachings.

If you love Jesus and wish to live with him forever you get to, but there is more life in store for us than simply believing. It is about living the abundant life and we can do this, too. All the way to the end, and beyond. Choose this life.

Pray for strength to be more intentional in your walk with Jesus.

more

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

This verse is not meant to assume that Jesus is not present with us when we are alone. What it does tell us is we are strong when we are together. Think of what would actually happen if we lived in our homes as those gathered in the name of Jesus? Then why don’t we?

Pray for Jesus to be in all your relationships today.

whole world

Matthew 16:19
19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

The keys of the Kingdom are a sign of God’s work in his community. We have been given the means to decide what is acceptable and what is forbidden in the life of our churches. This begins and ends with the Bible. Christians of good conscience can disagree over important matters (e.g., infant or adult baptism, open or closed Communion) and so it is probably a good thing that “it takes the whole world to preach the Gospel.”

Pray for churches who take positions contrary to your viewpoints.

best seat in the house

when following Jesus, we don't have to try to compare and compete with others for his blessing-
there is room for everyone at Jesus' table

God's measurements are different

God honors humans so much, he allows us to make bad choices
the story of King Saul

other than that

Matthew 1:23
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.”

Who would have thought that we would actually have Christians questioning the Virgin Birth? What’s wrong with Jesus having a human biological father? Well, two things. One, he would have been conceived out of wedlock, a sin and sign of disobedience, and two, he wouldn’t be divine from eternity. So, other than those two reasons...

Pray for God to continue to bless faithful teachers of the Gospel.

fine

Daniel 6:22
“My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”

Confidence and humility are the ways the Holy Spirit works through us most often. We know we are going to be just fine, no matter what, in the long run. We also know this is because of who God is not who we are. We just made the connection and stopped getting in our own way.

Pray for confidence in the power of Jesus in your life.

with us

Daniel 3:25
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

What does God look like? God can have an appearance (“glory”), but he is a non-physical entity. Yet, there are instances where God appears through his angels. Here is one of those times. Protecting his teachers (missionaries) in a land that does not recognize God.

The three servants of God are spared and the angel disappears. What if God could be with us all the time? What if every single step of the way nothing bad would ever happen? God is with us, but not always for immediate protection. If we lived in a sheltered bubble, we would never grow out of infancy. Yet, we are wise to pray for God to be with us always.

Pray for God’s glory to shine in any darkness you or a loved one is experiencing.

dwell

Ezekiel 37:27
27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Have you invited God to live with you? If not, why not? Do you feel unworthy? You are not. Jesus makes you worthy as you connect with him. It’s really not about you.
Do you think you don’t need him? Are you fine on your own? Really?

Have you had bad personal experience with people who identify as Christians? Perhaps you need to get out more. There are probably a few people you could hang out with. Seems others have been able to do that in spite of Christians who disappoint. Even people who hang out with me!

Pray for faith.

far

Isaiah 63:11
Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock?

When it seems God is far off even though he has been so powerful in our lives in the past, we have good company. God’s people in the Bible bring this up again and again.

So, when you are experiencing challenging times, do you figure God really doesn’t exist and try to find another one? Think about what that means in every other area of your life. If I am being challenged, I just give up. If I don’t understand something, it must not be right. You get the picture.

Pray for understanding.

thinking about faith

faith is about more than just a gut instinct...it's actually about evidence

radical faith

some people in the world today die to go to church
some people say I don't go to church, but I am spiritual...
why the difference?

one thing

what can Christians do that no one else can?

how

Isaiah 45:15
Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.

God chooses Cyrus the Persian, king and enemy of Israel, to do his bidding, defeating another enemy, the Babylonians, and bringing the Israelites back to their homeland. We don’t know when God is at work in human history but we know he is at work. How can so many good things happen in spite of human sin? Only God knows.

Pray for God to open eyes to his work.

everywhere

Isaiah 43:1-5
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

Christianity is the fastest growing faith in the world. Especially in the South and East. North Americans and Europeans have a hard time understanding this because they seem to be missing out on all the fun! Unlike any other faith or worldview (except, perhaps rock music) Christianity brings people from every culture together, with at least one thing in common. Trust in Jesus. This appears to be enough.

Pray for Christians in North America and Europe to share the love of Jesus.

pick

Isaiah 41:10
9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

If you played games or sports at recess, you got picked to play. It could be a brutal experience to be picked last. I guess we all just have had to learn to get over it.

There is one team where we are always picked first. The team is followers of Jesus and the game is service. Game on!

Pray for youth sports leagues.

christcast 25- video

Dana and Kristina return and talk about getting ready for college and High School Musical!!

eternal

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

If God exists the way Christians claim, he has to be able to operate outside of our space and time dimensions. This explains his eternal existence. Outside of our time, God doesn’t need to be created because “beginning” co notates our time dimension. It is scientifically logical as well as spiritually that God can be eternal without a creation.

Now, for Christians that have a hard time with thinking there was a Virgin Birth, carefully read the above paragraph again. Can God move outside our dimensions and within them? Do you get it? Ponder.

Pray for expectant mothers.

live

Psalm 91:16
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.

People worry so much about aging and spend billions trying to slow it down. Good health is a good idea; so don’t knock it. But, the obsession of staying young is a bit different. It can take on a quality of living as if this life is all there is. I realize some people think this, so do I have a solution for you!

When our lives are fully lived in God’s kingdom, there will be the fulfillment of the new creation, where Jesus rescues us for good. So, the time period of our human life now is nothing compared to our eternal life as part of the new creation. Long life is what every lover of Jesus has to look forward to. Forget cryogenics. Try the new genesis!

Pray for those with arthritis today.

normal faith/extraordinary results

the story of Ruth shows us how God works in powerful ways behind the scene

care

Psalm 33:15
…he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

How does God care so much for us that he considers everything we do? No parent with a video camera stuck in front of his/her face for the whole childhood of their special child competes with God who follows all his creation every second of every day. God is way more proud papa than angry judge when it comes to watching over us.

Pray for God to see you doing right today.

healing

Psalm 23:3
…he restores my soul.

The most popular psalm certainly, if not the most beloved words of the Bible. This is a quiet peaceful song/poem until you realize every verse is about God in action. He is doing everything necessary to bring life to us as fallen human beings.

Nothing is more important than to heal our “sin-sick” soul; that which is so beautiful about us as his image bearers that we stain chasing after our own desires, not his. We aren’t a lost cause. Restoration is one of his specialties.

Pray for God to work hard on your soul.

ahead

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Where is God in your life? If he is front and center then the confidence available in his name is amazing. Nothing can get in the way of God accomplishing what he wants through you if you remain focused on him always ahead of you preparing what you will discover.

Pray for more attention to God’s signs before you.

small things

Nehemiah 2:8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

It is not improbable that God works in our lives. Chances are you have seen this happen. What is fascinating to me is considering God working through mundane matters like lumber for your house. Here is the situation. Either God is big enough to actually be interested in our everyday life or he is not. If God is big enough, then we don’t get to tell him what should interest him.

Pray to God about some little thing today.

waiting

2 Chronicles 32:7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.”

God’s power does not come from brut force. God is always in charge even if it seems that he is far away. It isn’t military power, financial power, diplomatic solutions, nothing that comes out of humanity that will bring ultimate goodness to the world. We work for justice in all those arenas but that is all. Only by turning to Jesus and putting our lives in his hands will the world be changed for good. And this is exactly what will happen. In the meantime we wait and we serve.

Pray for those who wait.

gracious

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.

When we are standing up for God’s ways, we are many times going to go against our culture. Christian disciples are actually called to be radically counter cultural. This means that if someone is against you for following God, you do not attack or withdraw. You stick with God, and graciously treat the one who opposes you with respect. God will figure it out. He always does.

Pray for those who think they are doing the right thing opposing God and his ways.

source

2 Chronicles 17:9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

King Jehoshaphat is a remarkable ruler. He is a wise king of Judah, and not only does he follow God’s ways, he sends his government officials to teach the people, as well! O, that the Christian community would have such passion to seek God’s guidance.

Read a chapter of the Bible today and pray concerning what you read.

wanted

2 Chronicles 1:22 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

This passage is about King Asa, who gets rid of all the idols in the land, and then even other tribes come and live with him as his kingdom is right with God. There is no compromise or nuances when it comes to being a follower of Jesus. You are either with him or seeking him. If you are forsaking him because you think you have something better in mind, he won't stick around. Doesn't really like to spend much time where he is not wanted.

Pray for those who are seeking to learn more about Jesus.

the meal

1 Chronicles 29:14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

This is from King David's prayer in thanksgiving for the offering that has come in to build the Temple. What we give God is from God. He enjoys our giving generously though he certainly doesn't need it.
It reminds me of the process of shopping for groceries and the cook who prepares a luscious meal. The gift of the meal is the love that
goes into preparing the offering, not the ingredients themselves.

Pray for all those involved in food services.

protect

vacation- pre-dated to follow

2 Kings 6:16-17 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

I have this passage in mind whenever I am in situations that there is need of protection. It could be driving a windy road or protecting against my own sharp tongue. I also pray this covering over our children. They haven't returned singed by the fire but I know they are being watched over.

Pray for the protection of your loved ones today.

God-filled

1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

In worship, we are not the participants, we are the witnesses. We mainly see God’s Spirit at work or we mainly see people at work. You can tell the difference and it doesn’t have a lot to do with enthusiasm, entertainment, awe or reverence.

O, all those can be expected when God is at work. Yet, you can tell the difference. It is about being authentically open and expectant that the Spirit is there. Already waiting for you. Just don’t do too much to get in the Spirit’s way.

Pray for those who lead worship.

sinners are the hope of the world

we are sinful but Jesus still uses us to bless the world
can we actually change enough to be an influence for good in others?
Colossians 3:1-11

rescue

2 Sam 22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

“Rescue” is the key to the story of God’s people, not escape. We don’t get out of having to live in the reality of life. There is no way to try to convince ourselves otherwise. There is no secret wisdom that makes us immune to pain, suffering, or disappointment.

Yet, in the middle of it all, someone is absolutely thrilled we are here. The one who gives us our existence in the first place. There is nothing that gets in the way of his love, and this includes many rescues along the way. Even the greatest rescue of all. From ourselves.

Pray for firefighters today.

marching on

2 Sam 5:24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."

Have you ever suffered because you did the right thing? Have you ever been unfairly treated and yet didn’t strike back in revenge? Have you been misunderstood because you follow Christ rather than your own desires?

God is marching ahead of you. Can you hear him?

Pray for patience and strength for those suffering persecution today.

follow

1 Sam 18:12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

Saul has known God’s hand all his life. Now God is gone. Do you think he realizes what has happened? The evidence of life without the Lord is all around him. He begins comparing himself to David and blames him for his situation. Fear and anger become his new companions. Despair has arrived.

It’s tough to follow the Lord, but it’s a lot tougher not to.

Pray for those who are resisting the love and influence of Jesus.

in charge

1 Sam 17:47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

God is in charge. He doesn’t need human means or power to accomplish what he wants done. Instead of a standing army, his greatest strength marches on in an embryo growing quietly in the womb of Mary. The closing battles continue, but the war is already won.

Pray for the peace of your household.

no God

Judges 16:20 Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you! He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

Samson didn’t follow the Lord’s ways. He wanted to follow his own path. He chooses the wrong direction and is influenced by Delilah, who also doesn’t follow God. So, what do you expect will happen?

Keep ignoring the wisdom and guidance of God, and he will honor that decision. Eventually, we get what we want, even when we don’t want God.

Pray for an increase desire for God.

mercy

Judges 6:16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

God doesn’t need numbers when he defeats evil. All are as one with Him. This makes it all the more remarkable that God treats us as individuals. Instead of destroying us as one because we are human and sinners, he opens for us new life through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Each of us is invited to taste the mercy of Jesus, and have our lives restored. If you want God in your life, you get him.

Pray for forgiveness in doubting God’s power.

Good Samaritan

the Good Samaritan for today

complete

Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

Still another reason to have confidence in the God of the Bible. He is there for us. What would it be like to be in relationship with God as Moses was? We have that access and more through Jesus. We don’t have to think about what it would be like, we open ourselves to God’s Spirit and it becomes a reality.


Ponder about being confident in God today.

Jeshurun

Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty."

"Jeshurun," is a poetic name for “Israel,” that appears four times in the Bible. The God of Israel (Jeshurun) is everywhere, poetically described as soaring in the universe ready to right wrong. Whenever we look up in the sky we can’t help but think of being immersed in God’s protection.

Take some time looking up during the day and night.

peace

Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

During modern times of war, those who are in charge generally aren’t on the front lines. This makes the United States Air Force intriguing in that per capita, it’s officers see much more combat.

Jesus leads God’s peace brigade and gives his life for the sake of his own people and for the sake of his enemies. What kind of leader is Jesus? The only one who will actually bring lasting peace. How does eternal peaces sound?

Pray for those in the armed forces that they will be protected and bring protection, justice and mercy.

good odds

Deuteronomy 28:6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.

When God calls people to follow him, he expects them to obey his teachings. In Deuteronomy 28, there are 14 verses that speak of blessing that will come as God’s people obey, and 53 verses talk of the curse that will befall those who say they trust but do not obey.

Well, that’s about a 4 to 1 curse to blessing ratio. Which is just about the reality ratio of how much we get messed up when we follow our own ways. Following Jesus, God promises he takes the curses, while the blessings remain. Nice odds!

Pray for Jesus to reveal himself in a friend’s life today.

the source

Deuteronomy 8:17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’

Quite often there is a sympathy for the atheist who has no one to thank for good fortune. The great danger of atheism is to consider yourself the ultimate source of all good in your life, because at some point, and repeatedly, we all fail miserably. Despair for your own failure follows, or anger if you transfer the blame for the failure outside of yourself.

Followers of God are not exempt from this, either. We spend a lot of time taking God for granted, and taking credit when things are going well. I have a lot more in common with an atheist than he/she might realize.

Pray for an atheist or agnostic friend today.