It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Proverbs 25-29

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Proverbs 25:2

I wrap my study of Proverbs week 9 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 25-29.  My focus for today is the commentary provided at the end of the lesson to assist in the review and understanding of the entire text for the week (Proverbs 25-29).  The commentary provides seven (7) takeaways, using the following text (and other references) as basis for application:

• Proverbs 25:13 (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 3:1-3, Mark 1:1-3, Luke 1:76-79) points to a faithful messenger and other scripture clarifies how the OT pointed to Jesus as this faithful messenger.
• Proverbs 28:13 (1 John 1:6-9, Exodus 34:6, Hebrews 4:16) shows how God is full of mercy for those who repent and receive His forgiveness. 
• Proverbs 25:4 (Jeremiah 18:4, Romans 9:21, Hebrews 12:7-11) encourages us to see how God sanctifies His people through the refiner's fire.
  
• Proverbs 25:26 (Ezekiel 34:18-19, Revelation 3:15-16) warns believers against lukewarm faith.
• Proverbs 28:14 (Exodus 4:21, 7:3, 8:15, 9:12, 34, 10:20, Romans 9:1-18, Hebrews 3:7-12) encourages believers to guard against influences that may harden our hearts.
• Proverbs 25:2 (Deuteronomy 29:29, Romans 11:33) seeks for us to appreciate the mystery of God.
• Proverbs 29:25 (Jeremiah 17:5-10) describes how seeking the approval of men (over God) is a snare and idolatry.

Proverbs 25:2, in particular this morning, encourages me to continue to press into my Bible study.  This DesiringGod.com post indicates "[v]ery often, God is not interested in merely handing us the truth; he instead wants us to hunt for it[.]" Believers should relish the hunt!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and Your thoughts and ways are a mystery but You bless those who seek wisdom.  My search for wisdom continues and will will continue until I am home with You but You bless me as I search for truth.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Proverbs 25-29

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11

I continue my study of Proverbs week 9 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 25-29.  My focus for today is questions 5-7 from my workbook, which cover (1) how the lack of self-control leads people into the hands of Satan (Proverbs 25:28, Galatians 5:16-24); (2) how believers can recognize and respond to a fool (Proverbs 25:28-26:12, 2 Peter 2:2); and (3) warnings about being a sluggard (Proverbs 26:13-16).  The themes and teachings of question (2) and (3) for today are particularly striking this morning for me as the workbook emphasizes how we are to learn and grow in our journey with Christ and how being "wise in own eyes" stymies learning and growth.  We must remain humble to avoid such traps and to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ. Key to this growth and maturity is to draw (and stay) near to God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You provide Your Word, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the church, and the Holy Spirit, all as means to help me grow and mature in my journey with You...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10

...[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on Piper's (and God's) call for all believers to draw near to God.  Piper refers us to Psalm 16:11 where we see a great promise that results from our nearness to God:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

There are many promises in scripture that discuss the blessings of nearness to God - examples include:

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

 

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73:27-28

 

Piper wraps the devotion for today by stating: "[God] does not need us. If we stay away, he is not impoverished. He does not need us in order to be happy in the fellowship of the Trinity. But he magnifies his mercy by giving us free access through his Son, in spite of our sin, to the one Reality that can satisfy our souls completely and forever, namely, himself."

 

Comment and discuss this post here.

 

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who blesses me as I draw near to You.  You and Your Word are a lamp to my feet - I am lost without You and I am blessed by Your direction.  Thank You Jesus for entering my heart and life.  I am not deserving of Your love, blessing, and salvation.  My sin of worry persists, as does other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Matthew: Redefining God's Family*".

*Title of lesson seven from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day three starts with Max Lucado highlighting how Matthew was not content to simply meet then follow Jesus; he immediately wanted to know more about Jesus so invited Him to spend more time with him at his house. Lucado also points us to the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 where we see another tax collector, shorter in stature so desperate to see and meet Jesus that he climbs a tree to see Him and gives half his belongings to the poor.  Jesus recognizes that Zachhaeus is willing to "lose his life" to have Jesus in his.

...[God] rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Lucado then turns to the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. This man sought "a quick fix" or a "checklist" from Jesus vs a relationship with Him.  He wanted validation that he was doing all the right things - he wanted to be justified.  We must recognize that there is nothing we can do to deserve salvation. None of us deserve it - instead the "wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23). However, God freely provides salvation for those who truly seek it.  We must hunger and thirst for righteousness and be willing to deny ourselves and glorify God.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who freely gave me salvation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift and for the many blessings You pour out for me.  I continue to sin - worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Genesis 25, 27, 30, and 32

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Jacob: Wrestling with the Past*".

*Title of lesson three from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day four starts with Max Lucado discussing how our past sins cause all of us to wrestle (just as Jacob did) with guilt, shame, and fear of consequences at some point in our lives.  Lucado asks us to look at the stories of Samson, David, Elijah (1 Kings 19), and Peter, all of who struggled with guilt and fear. Some, like Jacob run from their past, yet Lucado wants us to understand the true power of repentance and pursuing God.

Psalm 32 offers a number of verses on the power of repentance. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have shown me the power of repentance with a changed life - a life more oriented towards You...and You have blessed me in ways I cannot imagine.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin continues.  Worry, etc. Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Hebrews 6:13-10:18

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:26-27

Day 358 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - today I continue with the book of Hebrews. Today's scripture reading has the author describing Christ as a perfect priest, and the superiority of Christ's covenant and sacrifice. 

As I posted yesterday, we have a God and a Great High Priest who can empathize with us and He is approachable - He wants a relationship with us.  Today's scripture includes verses that strengthen and re-emphasize these points by highlighting how God meets our needs.   This post from DesiringGod.com provides additional commentary using these verses from Hebrews and other scriptures.  

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always near to me, always available to me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of a God who loves me as You do.  I often neglect my relationship with You or fail to place You as a priority in my life - please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high[.]

Job 15-17

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high[.] Job 16:19

Day 255 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Job as Eliphaz once again addresses Job to seek to comfort him, and to help him understand his suffering. The MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates that "[Job] had no one to turn to in his sorrow, except God, who was silent and had not vindicated him".

As I posted a few days ago, suffering might suggest an absence of God in our life, but God is always at work. We must lean into God as He promises that if we

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that comes near to me as I come near to You - and I know that You will never leave or forsake me....and You saved me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin continues - harshness in my words and actions - many times directed towards Zach and others close to me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 1-6, 2 Kings 15, and 2 Chronicles 26-27 

Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 2:5

  

Day 174 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my study of Isaiah, as Isaiah describes God's anger and impending harsh punishment for Judah, who has "rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 5:24). Isaiah's warning is clear that it is directed towards those who "forsake the Lord" (Isaiah 1:18-20, 28 and 4:2-6).  He implores (Isaiah 2) Judah to stop clinging to idols and to stop trusting in "mere humans" that cannot save as only God can.  There are ample references to the end times and the conflict and destruction that will occur (Isaiah 1-3).  Of course during the end times God for the final time overcomes sin and death: "[t]hough [our] sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isaiah 1:18-20)". Isaiah describes spiritual restoration for those who believe - salvation.

My commentary* goes back to Israel for a brief focus (2 Kings 15) on the "political upheaval" there as the throne of Menahem comes to an end and succeeding kings continue to do "evil in the eyes of the Lord". 

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

My study* this morning concludes with a return to Judah (2 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 26-27) as Uzziah dies of leprosy and his son Jotham assumes the throne. Jotham "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices". Isaiah also has a vivid vision of the Lord from the end times (Isaiah 6:1-13).  An interesting aspect of my study's conclusion is how my commentary* notes how Jotham rebuilt and repaired the temple but earlier it is stated that Jotham "did not enter the temple of the Lord".  The final words of my study* this morning are how "Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God".

While Jotham did walk steadfastly before the Lord, he also allowed sin to creep into his own life and into the lives his citizens.  I am reminded how we must use fear of the Lord as a preservative against sin and drive us into His arms.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me beyond question and doubt - You came to save me from sin and death and You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God and such love.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your messages for me today and every day. 

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”

Judges 19-21

 Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?” Judges 20:26-28

Day 82 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the Israelites continued sin, this time of the Benjamites, and to a certain extent of the other tribes whose methods to forgive, restore and reconcile the Benjamites to all of Israel, according to my commentary* demonstrated "extremely questionable moral judgment". 

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Unfortunately, this is what sin does if we don't stop - in infects not just us but it can easily spread to the others around us and it can often lead to great internal strife - as it does here where the acts of a few lead to thousands of people dead.  The attempts and methods by Israel to forgive the tribe of Benjamin are not any less sinful and are reminiscent of other Biblical accounts to either cover up sin or make things right in our own eyes.  Judges 21:25 sums up (once again) this sad state of affairs: In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit (see also post yesterday).

Within today's reading, there ARE however glimmers of hope for what we SHOULD be doing - going to God for forgiveness and counsel when we are either dealing with sin in our own lives or in the lives of others.  This occurs several times in Judges 20 (v1,18, 23, 26); v35 captures God's will be done and stands in contrast to what my commentary* indicates how "the nation of Israel has sunk to a low ebb in which moral authority is no higher than self-will".

We should not stray from God and if we DO, we must repent and turn to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has forgiven me of my sins and given me victory over the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such an amazing gift.  I continue to sin - help me repent and turn to You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

James 4

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. v4

All of us believers live in the world but the challenge of course is not to become OF the world in the sense that we want to avoid "conform[ing] to the patterns of this world" (Romans 12:2).

The anti-dote lies in our desire to come near to God so that He can transform our heart and life from the inside out.  James indicates as much in verses 7-8:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who came to nail my sin...and the sin of all humanity, to the cross...You willingly laid down Your live for me so that I would no longer be slave to sin - thank You Jesus that You did this and SO MUCH MORE for me.  I am grateful.  Of course I am undeserving.  I sin...daily...sometimes much more than I often am willing to admit.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. v12-13

We don't want to turn away from God but instead away from sin and towards God.  Others in our sphere of influence (i.e. children) may be tempted so our role should be to encourage others and we can do so by modeling Jesus - the more others see (and hear about) Jesus in us, the more likely they will desire Jesus and turn towards Him.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, feeds me, and encourages me - I cannot exist without You and I know You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and such love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and to turn to and draw near to You.  I desire to become more like You.  Please help me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Luke 8

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. v47

Once again we have another event that is accounted for in all of the Synoptic Gospels.  While Luke's version does not include all details of her mindset, both Matthew and Mark include the following:

She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:21

She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Mark 5:26-28

I am reminded of scripture that talks about the power of even a little faith: 

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20  

See also Matthew 13:31-32.

We must move from wanting to believe to believing, and then acting on that belief to take the time to grow closer to God.  If we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond my imagination - my cup overflows!  Thank You Jesus - I am undeserving of such blessing.  I daily miss the mark and I am often distracted by worry and cares of this world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. v18

We often feel that God is not there or that God is elusive or far away.  Yet we should know that God never leaves or forsakes us (Matthew 28:20), and He gives us the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) and His Word (John 1:1).  

We can also see God in the church and in other believers.

God is real.  He has done great things in my life and He blesses me well beyond what I deserve.  Yet I often fall down, I sin...with worry, anger, etc.  Today's scripture is for me.  I must be daily, more often even, reminded of God's love and His presence.  I am reminded of my dear brother and sister in Christ Terry and Dave Monaghan from Newtonville, MA and how they shared the words of Brother Lawrence.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has filled my heart and transformed my life - blessing me well beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 73

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. v27-28

God wants us to be in relationship with Him - and this means we must worship, be in prayer with Him, and serve Him - daily.  When we sin, we must confess our sins and repent. When we do so, we are reconciled back to God.  Otherwise, as Psalm 73 states, we remain far from God.  We do not want to remain far from God as once sin catches hold we risk being "dragged away" by our own evil desires.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15

  
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loved me and died for me, knowing everything about my sin.  You always welcome me back with open arms when I confess and repent of my sin.  What a God of love and grace You are.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I neglect my role as father too often.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. v22

I worry - far too much.  God tells me not to worry (Matthew 6:25-33).  God wants me to depend on Him fully - 100% - to trust in Him vs self, others, etc.

My only thought this morning is to draw near to God.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

If I draw near to God, He will reveal Himself.  As God reveals Himself to me, I am able to cast my cares on Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who hears me when I cry out....You are always there for me and You never change or forsake me.  All of Your promises come true.  I can rest in You.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet many times I don't and I worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

2 Chronicles 20

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you. v17

Although Jehoshapat "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (v22), he sinned - as do we all.  See verses 35-37.

In the face of a grave threat from the Moabites and the Ammonites with some of the Meunites, Jehoshapat, with the people of Judah, sought the Lord's help (v3-4).

Indeed, on a daily basis, we will face the forces of darkness and Satan (see 1 Peter 5:8).  Yet we have God on our side (see Ephesians 6:10-20) and we should recognized that God will fight for us.

This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. v15

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  Exodus 14:13-14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who will never leave us or forsake and who fights for us - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

2 Chronicles 5

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. v13-14

Solomon "and the entire assembly of Israel...had gathered about him were before the ark" (v6) and worshiped God in the temple they had just built.  They sought God and God responded, "filling" the temple.

God wants us to invite Him into our hearts and lives, and He promises us that He will not only draw near to us if we draw near to Him, but that we will also be blessed and "filled" if we seek Him.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who Has filled my life with Your Word, Your Blessings, and Your Grace - thank You Jesus!  I am in awe of what You do every day.  I am not worth such love as I am selfish and I worry - I also am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.