Diamonds Are Not God’s Best Friend

Diamonds are precious and beautiful. They are also the hardest naturally occurring substance. So when Zechariah describes the hearts of the people as like diamonds, it is not a compliment.

“They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 7:12 ESV)

A diamond heart is stubborn and resistant. It refuses to hear and to heed the word of God. If your heart is going to be precious in God’s eyes, it must be soft and shaped by His word—like clay in the potter hand.

Submit your heart to God and heed His word today.

Reading: Zechariah 4-7

Running On Empty

Do you feel like you’re not getting anywhere? Does life feel like a full speed treadmill and you’re running out of energy?

“You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:6 NIV)

The captives who had returned to the land were worn out. It wasn’t because they had exhausted all their efforts honoring God—serving others, being a godly parent or sharing the gospel. They were running on empty, because they were neglecting God. They were chasing the things that don’t satisfy.

What are you chasing? If you’re pursuing being God filled, you will never be running on empty.

Reading: Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1-3

Have Some Pity

Are you easily frustrated with people? Does your demeanor drastically shift at the slightest provocation? You’re not alone.

Jonah had shown his frustration with people, so God gave him a test. He sent a plant to offer Jonah some relief. When the plant withered, Jonah lamented the death of the plant. He showed more pity for the plant than people.

Here are four powerful lessons from Jonah to shape your attitude toward people:

1. Your anger isn’t good.
2. Consider the possibility of their ignorance.
3. Don’t preside in God’s judgment seat.
4. Share God’s grace.

Reading: Obadiah; Jonah 1-4

Stars

Escape from the city lights. In the tranquil dark, look beyond the trees. You will see stars, constellations, planets, galaxies stretching farther than the eye can see. It is the handiwork of God.

“He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the see and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is His name.” (Amos 5:8)

I’m content with myself when I can put together a piece of furniture, but God assembles the universe and speaks galaxies into existence. Comparing strength with God is no contest.

So I will put my trust in Him today. I will lean on His strength and give Him the glory He is due.

Reading: Amos 4-9

Blind In The Best Way

Reading: Joel 1-3; Amos 1-3

God doesn’t define you by your age, sex, race or bank account. He is blind in the best way.

When promising to send His Spirit, He said he would pour it out on all flesh. He includes sons and daughters; so your sex doesn’t matter. He includes old men and young men; so your age doesn’t matter. He even includes male and female servants; so your level of prosperity doesn’t matter either.

Peter said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” (Acts 10:34 niv). And aren’t you grateful, because that means God loves you too?

Be blind in the best way. Then you will see others through God’s eyes.

Next reading: Amos 4-9

Out of Egypt

Reading: Hosea 8-14

Remember the days your children were born? You counted fingers and toes. You looked for family features. More than anything, you were just thankful for God’s miracle of life.

This is especially important to remember when they grow up, argue and frustrate you to no end.

God’s people have been rebellious, but He looks back to the early days when their nation began—the day He called them out of Egypt. God also looks forward. This is a prophecy about Jesus, the Son of God, going to Egypt when He would be very young.

Next Reading: Joel 1-3; Amos 1-3

Hurting Hearts

Reading: Hosea 1-7

You can’t stay mad forever; you love them too much. No matter how selfish or silly they have been, you find it in your heart to forgive them. And they all lived happily ever after.

If only it were that easy.

Hosea experiences in the most vivid way the pain of loving the faithless. He marries a woman who was unfaithful to him. He experienced both the anguish and the determination of love.

That’s the kind of love God has for you. His heart is torn to pieces by your unfaithfulness. But he is determined to love you anyway. He makes a promise of forever and faithful love for his people.

So be faithful to Him.

Next reading: Hosea 8-14

You Don’t Have To Be Ashamed Anymore

Reading: Daniel 7-12

Sin is shameful. The guilt can be unbearable. But you don’t have to be ashamed anymore.

Daniel cried out to God on behalf of the people. He knew they had been stubborn, rebellious and depraved. So he knew the punishment they had received was just. So he confessed their trespasses and all that he had contributed.

Then God forgave them.

It sounds too simple. Repent, confess and be forgiven. But that’s how simple it is supposed to be. Here is the hard part: be ashamed. Be broken hearted over your sin. God can’t mend what isn’t broken. So offer Him your broken, contrite heart.

In His forgiveness you will find, you don’t have to be ashamed anymore. Just be proud of His grace.

Next Reading: Hosea 1-7

But If Not

Reading: Daniel 1-6

Daniel and his friends constantly courageously stand for their faith. They are unrelenting and unapologetic in their commitment to God. Even at the crucial moment when Nebuchadnezzar had ignited the furnace and threatened them with death, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not budge.

They recognized God’s power to save them, but boldly told the kind, “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)

Be bold in your faith today.

Next Reading: Daniel 7-12

Living Water

Reading: Ezekiel 46-48

Well that would look weird. The temple did not exactly have indoor plumbing, but it was flooding. In fact it was waist deep, forming a river flowing down the mountain and going to the sea.

The people would have certainly been scratching their heads.

But something amazing was happening. Everywhere the river went it brought life. The fish and vegetation flourished and the salt water became pure.

Maybe you are also scratching your head wondering what on earth this means. Jesus makes it very clear. He alludes to this verse and says, “’Whoever believes in Me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’’ Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:38-39).

Be Spirit filled. Let streams of living water flow from your heart, bringing life wherever it flows.

Next Reading: Daniel 1-6