Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes.

Zechariah 9:1-8

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. Zechariah 9:8

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 9:1-8, which the commentary outlines as the first of three divisions for the text 9:1-9:17 (9:1-8, 9-13, 14-17). The commentary starts by sharing how Zechariah chapter 9 and subsequent chapters (14 in all) are forward-looking, providing prophecies of the coming Messiah Jesus.  Today's text begins by describing "the oracle of the word of the Lord," and the commentary shares how this same word is used again in chapters 12-14.  The text prophecies God's judgement on Israel's neighbors and historical enemies that is ultimately delivered through Alexander the Great.  The commentary also notes how God protected Israel from Alexander as he marched to Jerusalem: "God spoke to the high priest in his sleep and told him to decorate the city with wreaths and to have the people of Jerusalem wear white garments, while the priests dressed in their holy robes to welcome Alexander. When Alexander approached the city, he was so impressed by the sight that he prostrated himself and offered sacrifices to the Lord, sparing the city (Josephus, Antiquities, XI, viii.3–5)." The commentary concludes by describing how the prophecy in v8 extends beyond Israel's current predicament (at time of writing), pointing to how Jesus' arrival offers refuge and protection as no other can.  Believers can take comfort in how the victory over sin and death is already won!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Father, You are an awesome God who is my refuge and my rock - I know that I can turn to You in times of trouble and that You are always with me.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You protect and provide refuge.  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 continue to 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.

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 5

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:13-21, focusing specifically on a review of the main idea for the entirety of the text, the commentary's introduction/overview for this text, and the second division - which is "We Can Know That We Belong to God (1 John 5:19)." This verse compares the assurance of believers knowing that we are from God (and all of the blessings that flow from this - see also Romans 8:1), with the concern that should befall those who are not in Christ as they are slaves to their sin and without hope.  This assurance for believers is more fully described in v19 where John describes how "the evil one" (Satan) is not able to "touch" believers or snatch away their salvation (see also post yesterday).  The commentary further elaborates on the influence of Satan on unbelievers, sharing "those caught up in the lies and futility of this world-system are controlled and captivated by the power and authority of Satan himself[.]"  We are referred to 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 13:4,9, Matthew 24:24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, and 1 John 2:15-17. The commentary continues by sharing that "[w]e are in a global conflict with an enemy that influences and in many instances controls cultures, societies, finances, and even governments. This “evil empire” under “the sway of the evil one” opposes with vehemence the advancement of the gospel, ministries of mercy, and care for the weak and helpless. He hates who we are and what we are trying to accomplish. This requires on our part a wartime mentality and commitment. Sacrifices must be made, and strategies bathed in spiritual wisdom must be created and implemented." If we abide in Him, He will protect us!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who protects from the evil one - giving me the full armor of God!  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of my salvation nor Your protection.  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 Your 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 you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

1 Peter 4

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today examines the extent to which believers are ready for persecution.  There are believers in the United States facing persecution, but whatever persecution we may face here pales in the comparison of the persecution believers elsewhere experience - go to the Voice of the Martyrs ministry website to learn more about such persecution.  John Piper challenges us to avoid anger as a response to persecution and instead we are encouraged to see our time here as Peter did as he wrote in 1 Peter 2:11 that we should view ourselves as "sojourners and exiles," and not grow too comfortable with the world.  Our citizenship and home is in Heaven - see also Philippians 3:20.  In light of this, we should become more bold in proclaiming our faith and the gospel.  Then, if we are to experience fiery trials (see 1 Peter 4:12) either in the form of insults, injury, or death we can take comfort from what Peter describes as the "Spirit of glory and of God that rests upon [you]". 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace, and comfort - giving us peace and protection when we need it most.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not not deserving of 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.

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you[.]

Psalm 31

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you[.] Psalm 31:19

I pause my studies of both Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen once again to John Piper's daily devotion Solid Joys on DesiringGod.com. Today's devotion is a promise of future grace for those who are desperate and helpless, and for those who plead to God, depending on Him for refuge.  God desires this dependence on Him - He does not want for us to be self-sufficient. Piper provides Psalm 31:19 as an expression of this promise, and Piper provides the following other scripture examples:

• None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)
• He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (2 Samuel 22:31)
• Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:12)
• The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7) 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great indeed and there are none like You.  Only You can the helpless find true and lasting refuge and protection.  Thank You Jesus!  I am certainly not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great, it is daily, and I am helpless in face of my sin - without You.  Help me turn from my sin, overcome it, and turn 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.

His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,” declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 30-32

His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,” declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem. Isaiah 31:9

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I started Lesson 12, moving to Day 3, which focuses on Isaiah 31. In Isaiah 31, God describes how it is futile to seek man's help during times of trial; God describes how both Egypt and Assyria will fall.  Once again, as we see throughout scripture - core to the gospel message - God is full of grace and compassion.  As I posted yesterday, God does hear our cries and He responds. V4-5 describe, using the analogy of a lion, how God is undaunted by any foe, and how He will protect His people - we simply need to repent and call on His name.  The final verse of this chapter describes how Assyria will "pass away in terror," and how God represents a consuming fire - one of warmth and love for His children, and one of destruction for His enemies.  See additional commentary on this last verse here. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and love me - despite my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion - my sin 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.

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

Isaiah 24-25

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. Isaiah 25:3

I return to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 9, Day 4, the focus continues with Isaiah 25, where we see - following judgement of the whole earth in the preceding chapter - messianic prophecies providing eternal salvation for the faithful. My commentary indicates that as part of God's perfect plan of redemptive history, God converts violent nations in Isaiah 25:2-3, and these verses describe the reverence of God as a response from the subdued violent nations. My commentary includes numerous examples of enemies of God converted by Him, including "Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34-35), the Roman centurion who crucified Jesus (Mark 15:39); [and] Saul of Tarsus, who began the day breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples and ended the day a Christian (Acts 9:1-8)." In fact, all believers were once enemies of God (Romans 5:10). My commentary continues: "[u]ntil the violent are converted, God must protect his beloved people from the storm of their vicious attacks, so verses 4-5 depict the refuge God is from their onslaught. The delight of his people comes when God at last stills the song of the violent by either converting them or crushing them, as he does at the end of [Isaiah 25]." These early verses in Isaiah represent a great example of how believers gain peace knowing that that the forces of this world (Satan) are no match for the King of Kings!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: You are indeed an awesome God whose plans are perfect and who protects and rescues the faithful from Satan from the dark forces of this world, providing salvation and victory over sin and death - glorious indeed!  I am not deserving of such blessings...my sin - of worldly distractions, etc. - 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.

In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.

Isaiah 14-18

In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense. Isaiah 17:7-8

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 7, Day 4 and 5, the focus is on Isaiah 17-18, where we see an oracle concerning Damascus and the land beyond Cush (Ethiopia). Once again, we see prophecies of God's wrath poured out on Israel's neighbors.  We also see God's disappointment with Israel (Isaiah 17:4-6, 10).  Within these prophecies, we see God's intent for Israel, that they should not seek alliances (as described in Isaiah 7:3-9, 2 Kings 16:1-6, 9) with neighboring lands for protection and not seek foreign gods and the altars of these foreign Gods, but instead look to the One True God - the Holy One of Israel.  With all that is going on in the world today, man is not where we should seek our refuge and assistance. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of love for me, who never leaves or forsakes me, and is my rock and refuge.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings - my sins continue - complaints, 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.  

Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Isaiah 3-4

Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:5-6

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  On day 7 of my study, where I proceed with Isaiah 3-4, the key takeaway comes from Isaiah 4 where God promises a remnant of Israel will survive his judgement. God promises that this remnant will not only survive, but also experience cleansing from their sins (see post yesterday), and how God will be with the remnant, protecting them.  We all need a Savior who will do these things - Jesus is this Savior. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me, who cleanses my sin, gives me life - to the full and for eternity - and protects me...all incredible blessings.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...daily...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.

Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.

Psalm 120, 121, 140, 143 and 144

Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path. Psalm 140:4-5

Day 113 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 focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

Today's psalms focus on prayers for deliverance from lying Gentiles who press war, praise for the Lord who watches over his people, prayers for protection from violent persons, prayer for preservation of life and protection against trouble, and for God's power.

As motivation to draw near to God, so we can draw upon the strength of God's promises and protect ourselves with a heart of gratitude, we should recognize that there is a battle raging for our soul over sin.  Satan is all around us and on the prowl.  David gets it right - we all need a savior.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

 

 My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who protects me - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your love and protection.  I continue to sin...primarily in the workplace but everywhere in my life.  Please forgive me Lord.  Help me 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.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me....As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord....The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever....Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 13, 17, 23, 26, 28, and 31 

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me....As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord....The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever....Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 13:5-6, 17:15, 23:6, 26:12, 28:8-9, 31:23-24

Day 108 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 focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

The psalms from my reading this morning reflect David's prayers for salvation and rescue from enemies, praise of God as the Good Shepherd, for redemption of the righteous and punishment for the wicked, and relief from pursuers and slanderers. What is apparent from these psalms is that while David does have moments of despair, worry, etc. - he does not remain in these moments.  With exception to Psalm 23 where the entire psalm is focused on praise, the other psalms move from cries to the Lord to praise and rest in the Lord and His faithfulness to rescue, comfort, and heal His children.  God is faithful - we can and SHOULD rest in His arms.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is always there to lift me up, comfort, heal, encourage, protect, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  You are MORE than enough - You are my all and all.  Yet I am undeserving of such a God.  I sin...daily, including worry, harshness with others, gossip, 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.

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

Psalm 18

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. v7

For believers, we know that God will never leave or forsake us - that He will be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  Yet I am not sure we take the time to reflect on the extent to which God will go to protect us - if we call on Him.

This Psalm gives us a glimpse of God's power and how it comes to our aid in times of trouble.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

 

For us to begin to appreciate this power, we need to be in relationship with God and to put on the "full armor of God".

Power indeed.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has not only created the Heavens and the Universe and everything in them, but also rules over all.  You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You came to save me, dying on the cross.  Thank You Jesus for saving me...daily.  I am not worth such love...I worry and am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus 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.

 

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

1 Chronicles 21

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. v1

Ever since The Fall, sin has been part of the world.  Even the greatest among us fall prey to Satan.  

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Our personal relationship with Jesus, The Word, the Holy Spirit, and our fellow believers all offer strong support for us to protect ourselves against sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is always with us and who protects us from sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I worry - far too much!  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 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.

Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.

1 Samuel 28

Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. v16-19

Saul is bent on killing David, even though he tells David that he will not.  Saul's life becomes what James predicts when we follow sin down the slippery slope: 

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

 

Lord Jesus, please help me stay near to You.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has protected me from many sins - 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.  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. 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. v9

In the first nine verses of Joshua, the Lord tells Joshua to strong and courageous three times (v6,7,9), including verse 7 where Joshua is told to be "[b]e strong and very courageous".   

God wants Joshua to be strong and courageous because He will be with us wherever we go (v9).  We are also to be strong and courageous because there is temptation and sin in the world and we will face difficulties.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

God give us His Son, the Holy Spirit, His Word, faith, the church, brothers and sisters in Christ who pray and support us, etc.  With all of this we have the armor of God.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who protects us and keeps us strong during times of difficulty - You are our Rock.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  My sin continues.  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 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.  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 not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Deuteronomy 20

Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” v3-4

The enemies in our lives are many including Satan.  We need protection and God provides such refuge - He will fight with and for us.

See also:
Exodus 14:14
Deuteronomy 1:30 
Deuteronomy 3:22 
Joshua 23:10 

Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides and protects.  You also teach, encourage, heal, guide, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  You are my all and all and You demand my attention - yet I am often distracted and I neglect my relationship with You.  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.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

Genesis 4

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. v7

Sin is indeed crouching at our doors.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

 

 We can protect ourselves by reading, studying and memorizing scripture.

See Proverbs 2, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 and other verses.  We can also protect ourselves by avoiding those who do not believe and consistently demonstrate willful sinful behavior - we must instead surround ourselves with other believers who can encourage us and be in prayer for us.

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 3:13

 

 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God who is able to beat sin and death.  You give me this same power and I am grateful Jesus!  Thank You.  However, I often lack complete trust in You and am taken away by sin.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me protect myself through faith and trust in You.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  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.  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 Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. v19

Habakkuk previously asks God to judge both Judah (1:1-4) and the Chaldeans (1:12-17) and God does both and Habbakuk in chapter 3 rejoices with a song of worship. 

The enemy lurks all around us (1 Peter 5:8) and we all need protection from God.  We should all proclaim that He is our strength.  It is only through Him that we can defeat Satan and sin in our lives. We also then have this freedom from sin to serve God in His plan and He will both direct us and protect our path.

 Just as Jesus calls on scripture for protection, we too must "lean not on our own understanding" (Matthew 4, Proverbs 3) but on God.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-4

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God whose justice is perfect and who is slow to anger and abounding in love.  You are my rock and my great encouragement, my hope and my truth.  You are my all in all.  Without You I can do nothing!  Thank You for laying down Your life for me and for being so patient with me...I am not worth such love.  I continue to be selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my 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. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 7

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. v7

There will be times of turmoil in our lives when we have personal tragedies, challenges, etc. or when we are surrounded by those in the world whose sin and influence gives us great fear.  My hope is that I don't give in to my fear but instead rest in the Lord.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 199:114

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Psalm 3:5-6

The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Proverbs 19:23

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who will never leave or forsake me even during times of trouble.  You are faithful and You are my refuge, strength, shield and rock.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I continue in my sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my 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.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Joel 3

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. v16

Ever since The Fall in Genesis 3, sin and all of its consequences entered the world.  The Israelites failed to love, trust, and obey God as He commands us.  So God sent His one and only Son (John 3:16).  While we will have trouble in this world (see John 16:33), we CAN take heart as God is our refuge and stronghold and He is with us always (Matthew 28:20).

This world is not easy, yet He encourages us, protect us, teaches us, equips us, and gives us peace and joy.  God is power, hope and He will help us overcome all things - as He provides the Holy Spirit, the same power that rose Jesus from the grave:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

My Prayer: Lord, I KNOW You are with me and You are incomparably great and give to me a glorious inheritance!  You bless me beyond what I deserve as I am selfish, lazy and disobedient - please forgive me 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 and cure Lisa of her cancer and the from the side effects of chemo.  Help myself and Lisa lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

Proverbs 7

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. v1-5

Although this Proverb speaks specifically about the danger of lust, these scriptures speak just as much to the lure of all sin, how easily we are ensnared, and how God's protects us.

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3

 

See also this post. 

My Prayer: Lord, You are great and You are the Great Protector.  I have felt Your hand in my life as protection from sin - which is greater than any other harm that can come to me.  Thank You Jesus for Your protection.  I am not worth such mercy, grace, and compassion.  I worry, and I have other sin in my life.  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, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.