What’s so Precious about Heaven?

Today’s reading is Proverbs 11-15.

“Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it” (Proverbs 15:16, ESV).

God is more than enough. If He blesses us with treasures, we use them to His glory. If He does not, we have no need to chase them. That way only leads to trouble. And yet money is perhaps the chief opponent of God (see Matthew 6:24). Remember the old joke that gold is merely pavement in heaven; the truly valuable and precious gem of heaven is God. God is more than enough.

Tomorrow’s reading is Proverbs 16-20.

Life’s Tough, Then You See God

Today’s reading is Psalm 146-150.

It is pretty impossible to actually give a definite description of the order of the Psalms, though that hasn’t stopped people from trying. The best explanation I’ve ever heard is that the order of the Psalms mirror life. In one moment, our satisfaction in the Lord is so deep we can’t help but sing His praises. In the next, some news or struggle has us wondering what on earth God is doing; but then a clear path is before us, and we are back to praising Him. One thing is certain, our lives will end with a powerpack of profound praise. For all the ups and downs of life, we are on our way to being in the presence of God where the praises will be never ending just like the final sections of the Psalms. Spend some times in those final poem/prayers and be amazed at the praise. Sure, life is tough, but then you go see God. Won’t it be wonderful? Praise the LORD!!!

Monday’s reading is Proverbs 1-5.

Search Me, O God

Today’s reading is Psalm 136-140.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV).

My favorite passage in all the Bible. It used to scare me because I thought David was saying, “Search me and see how awesome I am.” I was certain I could never measure up to this passage; that if God searched me He would find the real me, be disappointed, and cut me off. But, that is not the request. David is admitting there are still parts amiss in his heart, but the only way to overcome is to enlist God as the cleanser. Instead of waiting until we’ve cleaned up our hearts and then asking for God’s searching, we can ask God to get in the nooks and crannies. He won’t cut us off, He’ll clean us up. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 141-145.

Breathe and Praise God

Today’s reading is Job 32-37.

“If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust” (Job 34:14-15, ESV). Do you feel like God has abandoned you? Take a breath. Do you feel like God hasn’t been blessing you enough lately? Take a breath. Do you wish God would do more for you? Take a breath. Then remember that if God were to remove His Spirit and breath from you, you would perish and return to dust. There is but one encouragement for us today. Breathe and praise God!

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 38-42.

The God Filled Perspective for Enduring Sorrow

Today’s reading is Esther 8-10; Job 1-3

Being God Filled doesn’t mean living a life of sunshine and blue skies, waltzing through a park. In fact, it means living a life under attack from Satan as he tries to convince us God doesn’t care and isn’t looking out for us. And Job (the book) teaches us that God allows us to face these hardships even when He could stop them. That presents a huge challenge for us. Yet, in the beginning of Job’s struggle we see a great God Filled approach to these attacks. Job said, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10, ESV). The God Filled recognize the supreme sovereignty of God and understand that His grace is sufficient (cf. II Corinthians 12:9). Whatever God is letting us face, whether good or evil, in the end it will be for our good and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). As the rest of the book of Job will demonstrate, this doesn’t necessarily make suffering easy to endure, but it does give us perspective so that we can endure. Whatever you’re facing, hang on to God; He really is there, and He really does care.

Tomorrow’s reading is Job 4-7

What Makes Being God Filled So Awesome?

Today’s reading is 2 Chronicles 6-10.

“But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant…that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house…that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place…And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive” (2 Chronicles 6:18-21, ESV). Herein is what makes being God Filled so awesome. Rather than a God Filled building some place in the world, we are God Filled people. We do not have to turn toward Jerusalem, we can simply turn on the spot toward God who fills us. His eyes are open toward us day and night that He may listen to our prayer. When we pray, He hears from His actual dwelling place in heaven and forgives. What a great God we serve. Praise the Lord!!!

Tomorrow’s reading is 2 Chronicles 11-15.

A Prayer for Us Adapted from Solomon

Today’s reading is 1 Kings 6-10.

A prayer for the God Filled:

“Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less these hearts that we have within us. Yet have regard to the prayer of your servants and to our plea, O LORD our God, listening to the cry and the prayer that your servants pray before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward us, the people of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servants offer toward You. And listen to the plea of your servants and of your people, your church, when we pray to You. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.”

Adapted from Solomon in 1 Kings 8:27-30, ESV.

Praise the LORD!

Tomorrow’s reading is 1 Kings 11-15.

Cling to the LORD

Today’s reading is Joshua 21-24.

“But you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day” (Joshua 23:8, ESV). Does anyone remember Jacob clinging to God in the wrestling match at Peniel? (cf. Genesis 32:22-32).  Despite the fight, Israel had clung to the LORD and now they were receiving the blessing. Jacob was renamed Israel; these Hebrews were now becoming the nation of Israel. Sometimes it is like that. The blessing comes only after the struggle. Whatever you are struggling with, don’t let go of God. Cling to Him. The blessing will come.

Monday’s reading is Judges 1-5.

 

Don’t be a Stubborn Mule

Today’s reading is Deuteronomy 25-29.

“Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart'” (Deuteronomy 29:19, ESV). Or, as God says under the New Covenant, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV). The self filled want a Burger King religion: they think they can have it their way and still receive God’s blessings. The God Filled know God’s blessings are found on God’s path. Don’t be a stubborn mule.

We’d love to know what you got out of today’s reading or if some other part of it struck you. Let us know in the comments section.

Tomorrow’s reading is Deuteronomy 30-34.

 

Never Forget

 

Today’s reading is Deuteronomy 5-9.

“Take care lest…your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:11, 14, 17). How easy it is to enjoy the blessings of God when we surrender to His way of life and then after a while forget that those blessings are by God’s power and grace, not our own power and work. How easy it is to enjoy the blessings of God and then eventually take them for granted as just the way life is supposed to be instead of as an amazing daily gift from the Creator. Never forget your deliverance, victory, freedom, and blessing were purchased by Jesus on the cross. Never forget. Especially don’t forget that today.

We’d love to know what else you got out of today’s reading or if another part of the reading struck you. Let us know in the comments section.

Monday’s reading is Deuteronomy 10-14.