I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. v14

Solomon refers to earthly existence as empty and devoid of meaning - this is true apart from God.

God is in everything and apart from Him we have no good things.

 

 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

 

My Prayer:  Heavenly Father - You are a great God who has made the Heavens and the Earth and You made me in Your image, and You provided for all of my needs and You are always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am often 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.  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.

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Proverbs 30

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. v8

There are those days in my life where I feel beaten down and attacked by Satan and my only desire in these moments is to feel the presence of God.  These past couple of days have been like this.  I don't want to worry.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

 

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

 

I know You love me Jesus - thank You.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has sustained me through dark valleys and difficult times - thank You Jesus.  I know You are always with me and You provide in all circumstances.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I often have too much stress.  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.

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Proverbs 30

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. v5-6

It is important for us to understand God - it draws us closer to Him, and we can better understand His will for our lives (see also Romans 12:2) and we are transformed into more of His likeness.  We must understand what God has to say to us from both a head understanding (absolute) and a heart (personal) understanding - this post is a good start on this topic.

If we incorrectly interpret the Bible according to our own worldview of understanding then we run afoul of what Solomon warns us about in terms of adding to His words. Therefore we must ask God to help us understand His Word, and God will help us do so, providing others for example (Proverbs 27:17) who can "sharpen" our understanding. 

Once we have a head understanding, we should meditate and reflect on what God has said to us and how His Words have meaning in our lives and circumstances.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I continue to sin....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.  

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Proverbs 28

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. v26

As I posted a few days ago, I have struggled with arrogance - arrogance is not only a sin but in my view one the most significant stumbling blocks in our faith.  Humility is the starting point for our faith.  We must acknowledge that we are nothing without God and that we all need a savior.

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and patience for me - thank You!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am hurtful with my words.  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 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.

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Proverbs 27

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. v19

We are all made in God's image but it is sanctification process for God to mold our hearts and lives into what He designs for us.  We must be willing participants of this process.

Both Noah and Moses submitted to God's will.  Saul (Paul) ultimately submitted to God's will for His life.

Everyone has their own path to God - their own story but we must become as David does - men after God's heart.

We should ask God for a greater desire for him - a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Such a prayer will be answered by God because our faith is both from Him and through Him. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has developed a greater desire for You and a stronger faith - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a gift.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith 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.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. v17

I have benefitted greatly from the fellowship of others, including other believers and specifically other men in the church.  God designed us to live together with others - from the very beginning.  

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

See also posts here.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You formed the heavens and the earth and everything that inhabits them - You speak things into existence.  You created me and while I am broken You still love me and You chose to die for me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worthy of such a gift.  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.

Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Proverbs 26

Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them. v12

Arrogance is dangerous - I know as I possess this sin in spades.  God has helped me a great deal in this area but I know its danger.  See also posts here and here.

I must have humility and serve God.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

 

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn 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.