In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Praying that we would all be the light of Christ today! May His love in your heart light up your life and the lives of others. Praying for you…
Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today!
READ
If you would like, you can read the entire stories from these passages in
Exodus 14 & Joshua 3
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
Exodus 14:26-29
“So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.”
Joshua 3:14-17
Thinking about our life’s journey today! I’m a planner. I like to know what is ahead of me, I like to plan and prepare for it. I like to think through every scenario, test my options and pick the most logical, time tested, safe one. Yet, often that is not the way God works. In both of these passages God is leading His people to the promised land. There are uncertain things in front of them (and in the case of the Exodus behind them, too). But, when God is with them, guiding them… they just need to keep moving forward. Isn’t that the same with us. Trust… it can be so hard. But, really it should be so easy – the Creator of the Universe has a plan for our lives that is so much better than any and every scenario that we can think up. How well are you trusting God?
Love this song by Jeremy Camp… May we all “Walk By Faith”
Praying that the Spirit would work in your hearts and minds to help you to rely on our mighty God. May we trust in Him whether the path is clear or not. Praying for you.
Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today
as you read through the entire passage!
READ
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3
“’Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’ ”
Matthew 22:36-38
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
Recently I have been reading through the book of Ezekiel. I have been thinking about the fickle hearts of the Israelites of long ago and about the people of God today. We are no different than they were! We set our hearts on things other than God, we work for comfort, money and success. We desire the pleasures that this world has to offer seeking after happiness, and fulfillment and satisfaction in places other than our relationship with God through Christ. As Ezekiel prophesies about the fall of Jerusalem God instructs him to tell His people, “ Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.” Ezekiel 6:9NLT. All over the Old Testament God calls the act of unfaithfulness by His people “whoring.” It is a vivid picture of how God views us when we choose “things” before Him. And, though God has made a way to Him through our Savior Jesus Christ and He has given us grace upon grace – and abounding steadfast love. Though, as Christians, He will judge us as redeemed citizen cleansed in the blood of Christ. I do not believe He views the act of unfaithfulness to Him any differently. He wants our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind. Does He have yours?
Praying that the Lord change you to seek Him first. May we all dedicate our lives and hearts to Him. Praying for you!
Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today
as you read through the entire passage!
READ
2 Peter 3:13-18
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18
Praying that the Lord would give you wisdom and discernment as you test the teaching of those around you. So that you can grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praying for you!
Take time to ask the Spirit to guide you as you spend time in God’s word today…
READ
John 8:31-32 & John 15:1-11
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
John 8:31-32
Praying that the Lord would work to grow you and mold you and make you His disciple. May you know that in Christ you have freedom as you remain in a state of connectedness with Him. And, in turn will you bear much fruit and bring Him glory. Praying for you!
Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today!
READ
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
Praying that the Spirit would intercede so that you will stay connected with the Lord in prayer, be thankful no matter what & let His joy be yours always. Praying for you…
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this time today
Read Romans 12:9-21
Building on our thoughts from last week on transformation. I was thinking that we could pray this week for God to work on a specific attribute in us. As you read through Romans 12:9-21 choose an attribute and ask the Lord to cultivate it in you. Try to pray continually throughout the day. Ask the Spirit to show you where you need to change the way you think, speak & act. Then, pursue Him & allow Him to change you.
Praying that the Lord would guide you as He works in your heart and mind to transform your life! It is not always easy to think we need to change, and certainly it is not so easy to actually change! But, you can be certain that what the Lord will transform you into is far better than where you are now. Praying for you!
Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read, ponder and write.
Read Matthew 1 John 1:5 – 1 John 2:2
“ If we say we have fellowship with him
while we walk in darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth.”
1 John 1:6
I’ve noticed something lately. We live in an age of moral relativism. Using this world-view we get to make up our own morality. We get to decide what is light and what is dark. What is sin and what is acceptable. I hear phrases like, “I’m not as bad as______” or “it’s not that bad…” or “it’s only a little lie”. Really?! Sin is sin! We have whitewashed sin and use others as our barometer of wrong-doing. But God’s word is pretty specific about both who we are as man (Romans 3:23) and who we are as believers in Christ (Romans 3:24-25, 1 Corinthians 5:17). It’s easy to disregard our sins, but as followers of Christ we are called to be “living sacrifices” and to change the way we think and live to be in tune with God’s word and His desire for our lives. I love what Romans 12:2 in the NLT tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” He loves us so much… he desires to transform our lives for our benefit and His glory! Now let’s dig into 1 John to see what God says about our problem with sin…
Praying this for us all today…
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24
Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read, ponder and write.
Read Matthew 14:13-33
“And after he had dismissed the crowds,
he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone…”
Matthew14:23
In Matthew Chapter 14 you will find two very familiar stories. Jesus feeds the 5000 and Jesus walks on water. But it is the little bit wedged between these two magnificent miracles that I want to focus on today. The story begins with Jesus trying to get some time alone. But, the people seek Him out and when He sees them – as only Jesus could amidst his exhaustion – He has compassion on them. He ministers to them, heals them, feeds them, pours Himself out for them, and then…
Praying that the example of Jesus will impact your heart today. May we all seek relationship with our heavenly Father the way that Jesus did. May each of us crave the fellowship that only our mighty God can provide. Praying for you!
pray write grow 