Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes

Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. The wise and the foolish share the same fate – they both die. All of our hard work, everything we have earned or acquired, we leave behind to someone else. We cannot take it with us when we die. Most people are motivated to succeed because they envy their neighbors. This is meaningless — like chasing after the wind.

These are the thoughts of King Solomon after devoting himself to the search for understanding and exploring everything being done under the sun. The more wisdom he gained, the more grief he experienced; the more Solomon knew and understood, the more he grieved the realities of life. He discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” – Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

King Solomon initially comes across much like Winnie the Pooh’s friend, Eeyore. But, in the midst of Solomon’s cynical and negative rant, he offers us some great words of wisdom to live by. He teaches us how to relax in some of these negative realities and enjoy the life God has blessed us with.

EVERYTHING IS FROM GOD

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are GIFTS FROM GOD. – Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

Today is a great day to recognize God’s blessings in our lives. Even though there is trouble and sorrow in this world, the evidence of God’s provision is everywhere. He is preparing a wonderful place for us to spend eternity with Him — more beautiful than we can imagine — but He is also blessing us with people and opportunities that bring us joy now. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. Let’s find the beauty in today, recognize the beauty in yesterday, while living in hope for tomorrow.

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless – like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 6:9

WHY DO WE FEEL SORRY FOR OURSELVES WHEN WE ARE SURROUNDED BY GOD’S BLESSINGS?

It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life — this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. – Ecclesiastes 5:18b-20

King Solomon is not giving his readers permission to participate in what the world defines as fun. When he says to “enjoy life”, he is not giving us permission to serve our sinful nature. Those who choose their own course, who are not careful to do what is good, have no hope. Find joy today, but know that there is no joy in choosing sin. There is joy in trusting in the God who loves us and knows everything about us.

IT IS WHAT IT IS, SO TRUST GOD.

That seems to be what Solomon is saying. It does no good to worry about what will happen in life. Instead relax in God’s plan and enjoy what He gives you today, not worrying about tomorrow. Remember Him, fear Him and obey Him. There may be sinful people around you who seem to be having a better life than you, but you know where you will spend eternity. You know there will be a day when you give an account to God for everything you do in this life.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

Remember Him and rejoice in every day of life. Don’t spend your youth worrying about what you have no control over. It is what it is, but that is okay because God is who He is and we can trust Him with whatever comes our way.

Ecclesiastes has the potential to change our perspective on life. Every time we make our way back to this familiar book of wisdom, we are given the opportunity to step back and see how our life has evolved from season to season. It is okay to grieve the chapters that have come to an end, but I believe God wants us to look ahead with hope. Every chapter of our lives has come with its unique blessings, and this next one will also. So rejoice in where God has you today, and allow him to use you. Live with the confidence that this earthly life is nothing in comparison to the joy we will experience for an eternity when we place our hope in Christ Jesus.

LIVE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE STILL AHEAD.

Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.
Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. — Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:1a

Life is meaningless, but find satisfaction in it. This life God has given you is a gift — find new ways to show your appreciation for each opportunity He gives you. Yes, the day will come when our earthly chapter ends, but our life will not. When we take our last breath of humanity, we will experience Jesus like never before.

One chapter ends and another begins, and there is beauty to be found with each turning page.

Today’s Reading: Song of Songs

There are many different interpretations of the beautiful, poetic story told by Solomon in the Song of Songs. Taking it at face value, you might think it is a love story about a man and a woman. This passionate young couple is in love and enjoying the sexuality given to them by God. We can see that God created us to love in this way.

Now consider the possibility that this book written by King Solomon is about how much God loves us and how He provides intimacy when we purposefully spend time with Him. This relationship with God is different from, yet can also be compared to, the intense love of a man and woman. I can see that God loves me strongly, and I can become passionate about my spiritual relationship with Him. But relationships require attention and care; they cannot be ignored or taken for granted — neither human relationships nor our relationship with God.

My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards,
so I couldn’t care for myself – my own vineyard. – Song of Songs 1:6b

How often are we so busy doing things for other people that we fail to take care of ourselves? We are so busy working in the vineyard — living life, maybe even doing ministry — that we fail to make time to slip away into the quiet God is calling us to.

Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love,
the grapevines are blossoming. – Song of Songs 2:15

The grapevines are blossoming. We are growing in our relationship with God and there is fruit in our ministry, but beware of the foxes. Beware of the little things in life that creep in and prevent us from experiencing intimacy with God. They become distractions and they seek to ruin the vineyard. We become so focused on the foxes that we find ourselves feeling once again distant from God. We look around and wonder where He is. We have lost our focus and need to find it again.

One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover.
I yearned for him, but he did not come.
So I said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city,
searching in all its streets and squares.
I will search for the one I love.”
So I searched everywhere but did not find him.
The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, “Have you seen the one I love?”
Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! – Song of Songs 3:1-4a

Where is God? We have all found ourselves, at one time or another, asking that question. We have faith to believe He is present, but we also have a strong need to feel His presence because of our circumstances. We yearn for His touch. We slip away to a quiet place, searching for comfort and peace.

WHEN WE SEEK GOD, WE WILL FIND HIM.

When we search for intimacy with our Savior, He will come to us and provide a place for us to be strengthened and refreshed by Him. Picture it. His left arm will support your head, giving you rest when you are weary or comfort when you are mourning. His right arm will embrace you. You will feel the arms of God holding you up in even the most difficult of situations.

Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men.
I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit.
He escorts me to the banquet hall; IT’S OBVIOUS HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME.
Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. – Song of Songs 2:3-6

God’s love feels just like King Solomon described. It feels like being wrapped in the strong arms of your Father – it feels safe, warm and comforting.

I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling:
“Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one.
My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”
But I responded, “I have taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again?
I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?” – Song of Songs 5:2-3

The One who loves her more than she can even imagine is calling out for her to come to Him and she is counting the cost. Counting the cost — something we are probably all guilty of. God has created us for an intimate and personal relationship with Him, but we count the cost. Do I have the time to spend with God; do I have the energy after a long day? We often find ourselves too busy or too tired to spend time with the Lover of our Soul.

But when we consider how much He loves us…
When we consider how much He has done for us…
When we consider how he died for us…
When perfume is dripping from our hands and myrrh from our fingers (5:5)…
When we consider how much our salvation cost Him, we run to the door!

OH, HOW HE LOVES US!

When you have wasted time counting the cost, He loves you! When those around you have left you wounded and scarred, He loves you! When you have fallen to temptation and need forgiveness, He loves you! He is jealous for you and welcomes you with grace in His eyes. Oh, how He loves you! You cannot waste time maintaining regrets when you step into the presence of a God who loves you THIS much – who is calling you to intimacy with Him. He calls you to dwell in the garden. He longs to hear your voice (8:13). Let Him hear your voice.

Today’s Reading: Proverbs

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair. – Proverbs 1:1-3

King Solomon asked the question, “Who, by himself, is able?” (1 Kings 3:9). I know I am not. I know that I could use a generous outpouring of wisdom and understanding from God. So yes, Solomon, I take you up on this offer to be taught wisdom and to be given insight. I will listen to these proverbs in a desire to become wiser. I come humbly to the giver of all good gifts, offering my gifts to Him, and asking for God to make me into everything He might want me to be. For who, by himself, is able?

Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. – Proverbs 2:3-4

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:1-6

My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will live a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life. – Proverbs 4:10-13

Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. – Proverbs 7:1-3

The way of the godly leads to life;
that path does not lead to death. – Proverbs 12:28

CHOOSE THE PATH GOD HAS MARKED OUT FOR YOU.

In his quest to help us find wisdom and in order that we might gain insight, King Solomon warns us to choose the path of righteousness and to run from sinful ways. I connect with his analogy of life as a path that we are walking. It makes sense to me and it is easy for me to apply to this life’s journey. There is a straight path that is safe, but to wander off of the road marked out for us is dangerous. We should avoid evil and everything related to it, especially in our speech. To choose a life of sin is unwise.

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed…
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:1-3,9

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? – Proverbs 20:24

PRAY THAT GOD WILL GUIDE YOUR HEART AND DIRECT YOUR STEPS.

My child, listen and be wise:
Keep your heart on the right course. – Proverbs 23:19

The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases. – Proverbs 21:1

What a beautiful analogy of the direction God gives us when we stop resisting His perfect plan for our lives and completely submit to His. God will guide our hearts — we will start desiring what He desires, we will display mercy to those in need, and our walk with God will be evidenced by His righteousness. There is no need for us to create our own righteousness or to try to produce a holiness of our own, because He is willing to give us His. And the evidence of a heart that is truly devoted to God and a life that bears fruit will be pleasing to God.

GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE EVIDENCED IN OUR LIVES.

When we choose to accept God’s free gift of salvation, which is available because Jesus was willing to die for our sins, God does a transformational work in our lives. He refines us and molds us into the person He created us to be. We start reacting in new ways and our lives become a reflection of who God is. This is not a learned performance, but the result of a Spirit-filled life.

Father God, thank you for your patient love that led us into a relationship with you. Thank you for the work you have begun and will continue to do in our lives as we daily walk in relationship with you. May your righteousness and mercy continue to be evidenced in the way we serve you by serving others, and may you be pleased with our lives. Give us wisdom, understanding and insight as we study your holy words of instruction. We submit to you today and allow you to lead us along your streams of water.

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. – Proverbs 24:3-5

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 1-11

Although God took the life of the baby conceived in David’s adulterous relationship, God chose to bless their marriage and gave them many more children. Out of all of his wives and all of his children, God chose the next son born to David and Bathsheba to be David’s successor as king. They named this son Solomon, but God gave him the name Jedidiah, which means “beloved of the Lord”. With this name, God expressed his special love for Solomon and revealed His plan to use this baby in a special way. Solomon would build God’s Temple — God would be his Father and Solomon would be God’s son.

David had some powerful words of advice for his son and for all of us who are called to do a work for the Lord: “Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors INTIMATELY. Worship and serve him with your WHOLE heart and a WILLING mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work…. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. HE will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” – 1 Chronicles 28:9-10, 20

TAKE COURAGE AND GROW UP. THE LORD HAS CHOSEN YOU. NOW BE STRONG AND DO THE WORK.

What great advice for Solomon and what great advice for us today. God may not answer every prayer the way we want him to, but take courage and grow up. We may fast and plead with God only to lose someone we dearly love. But don’t be afraid or discouraged — the Lord our God is with us! What He has called us to do, He will equip us for. What He has asked us to do, He will provide for – whether earthly materials or strength to face the day. He can give us the wholehearted desire to serve and obey Him, according to HIS plan and HIS will, regardless of the circumstances around us.

God offered him the opportunity to ask for ANYTHING and Solomon asked for wisdom. Solomon could have asked for something for himself and instead he asked for something that would help him serve God and his people better. Solomon’s request was selfless and generous. God’s response matched Solomon’s as He generously gave him very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore… He was wiser than anyone else (1 Kings 4:29-31).

Solomon took 20 years and many resources to build a gorgeous physical place for God to dwell and for God to be worshiped. Solomon knew that God was too big and too great to be contained in any one place, but he desired to CREATE A HOLY ATMOSPHERE where God would be honored. The Temple was completed, as well as the royal palace, and the Lord was pleased. God took this building made by men and set it apart as holy. God’s name would be honored in this place, and God would watch over it.

Solomon was a great leader and accomplished much during his reign as king. After taking twenty years to build the Lord’s Temple and his own royal palace, Solomon went on to rebuild the towns across the land. He assigned roles and responsibilities across the kingdom, establishing clear expectations and layers of leadership.

After hearing about Solomon’s wisdom and success, the Queen of Sheba came to visit. She brought spices, gold, and precious jewels, but she also brought a lot of hard questions. She was impressed with Solomon’s answers, but she was also amazed by his palace, the food that was prepared, the organization of his team, and the splendid clothing worn by his entourage. She gave praise to the God of Israel, recognizing that all of this was a gift from God.

Solomon’s wealth continued to increase over the years. He built a huge throne for himself out of ivory and gold. There were six steps going up to the throne; each step had a figure of a lion on each side. The grandeur of this throne was like no other that had ever been built.

God had given Solomon so much (wisdom, riches and honor) yet Solomon desired what God had not given him. The Lord had specifically instructed Solomon not to marry foreign women because they would turn his heart to their gods and away from the one true God. “Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord” (1 Kings 11:2b-3).

God is sovereign and He is good. We are meant to let Him take the lead in our relationship with Him. But like the Israelites and King Solomon, we often pull out of His arms in a desire to do our own thing or in a gesture of pouting over God’s response to our requests. At times He may bless us and at times He may take away His blessings in order to get us to once more call out His name, humbling ourselves and submitting to His lead (2 Chronicles 7:12-16).

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion. – Psalm 39:6-8a

LORD, RESCUE ME FROM MY REBELLION SO THAT I CAN DO THE WORK TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN CALLED.

Father God, you are the source of everything good in my life! You have my attention! Today I choose to follow you COMPLETELY. May I not insist on anything in my life that is not what You desire for me. Please change the desires of my heart to match what you desire. Please give me wisdom as I listen to what you tell me and follow your ways. Give me a spirit of obedience to do whatever YOU consider to be right. Lord, this morning I humble myself before you and seek your face. Please forgive me, open your eyes to me and be attentive to my prayer. May your name be forever honored through my life.

Today’s Reading: Psalms

Half of the Psalms were written by King David. The Lord gifted him with a poetic heart and he expressed his many emotions through his writings. He wrote psalms of praise, lament, thanksgiving, and confession, but my favorite words of David are those that spoke of his intimate relationship with God.

The book of Psalms is the place many of us go when we are struggling, when difficult times are upon us and we are wondering why God is allowing us to walk such a hard path. The Psalms remind us that God allows us to go through pain and experience problems so that we will long for His PRESENCE, recognize His PROVISION, and cry out for His PROTECTION. Over and over again you see this pattern in the poetry of the Psalms — this dance between man and God.

LONGING FOR HIS PRESENCE

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:8

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. – Psalm 5:3

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out everything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 139:23-24

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. – Psalm 17:6-7

RECOGNIZING HIS PROVISION

There is no pretending when it comes to our relationship with God. He knows our heart; God knows what we are feeling and where we are struggling. This God who created us understands us. He created us to need His hand to guide us and His strength to support us. He will not leave us alone. When we look back, He is there. When we look forward, He is there.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.
O Lord, my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them. – Psalm 40:4-5

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:22

CRYING OUT FOR HIS PROTECTION

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
You are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. – Psalm 3:1-4

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. – Psalm 16:1

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
And he saved me from my enemies. – Psalm 18:2-3

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. – Psalm 23:4

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them. – Psalm 145:18-19

Lord, we praise you for you are the essence of love and the purest example of grace. We thank you for the many ways in which you bless us each day. Thank you for your provision and for your protection, even when we are unaware of your presence. We choose to trust you — the One who knows everything about us yet loves us and cares deeply for us. Forgive us for our many transgressions and give us a new song today. Amen.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers –
the moon and the stars you set in place –
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them? – Psalm 8:3-4

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel

David built several buildings in the city of David, including a palace to live in. Then he said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!” Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” – 2 Samuel 7:2-3

David’s desire was to build a house for the Lord but that was not God’s plan for David. God loved the heart with which David served Him and He told David of His plans to build a house for David — a dynasty of kings. David recognized the magnitude of God’s blessing and was humbled at His words. He did not think too much of himself, but saw that God’s favor was a gift from God — something any man would be unworthy of. The gift was out of the righteousness of God, not David’s own righteousness.

His response could have been — This is exactly what I deserve; look at all I have done for God. Instead his focus was on all God had done for him as he recognized God’s unmerited favor. He could have reacted in disappointment that God’s plan would not grant the desire of David’s heart to build a temple, but instead he reacted in gratitude for what God would choose to bless him with.

David took a break from the battlefield and went up on his roof to walk around. From there he saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, taking a bath. At that moment, David made a choice. God told him to look away but the enemy told him to look closer. God was telling David you can’t have that and the enemy was telling David you need that, you deserve that – after all, you’re the king! This lie is one of Satan’s favorites and he continues to use it against us today.

This was the moment when David made a huge mistake – not an accident but a choice. He gave in to temptation and to his own fleshly desires instead of listening to the Spirit. David’s behavior was self-serving instead of God-serving. David did not fall into sin, he boldly stepped into it. When Bathsheba became pregnant with David’s child, David made another choice. Instead of confessing his sins, he tried to cover up his indiscretions through manipulation, lies and murder.

AGAINST YOU, AND YOU ALONE, HAVE I SINNED! REMOVE THE STAIN OF MY GUILT!

David thought he could have Uriah killed and no one would notice; he thought no one would care. But God cared about Uriah and God cared about the choices David was making. David confessed his sin and suffered greatly due to the consequences of his first sin, as well the many sins he committed in an attempt to cover up the first. God forgave David but there were consequences, and David’s baby lived only seven days. This is where the plot might end but David’s story continues. God forgave David; He still had a plan for David’s life.

God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right…
I will thank the Lord because he is just;
I will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. – Psalm 7:10,17

These are the words of thanksgiving David wrote as he finished his reign as king. Looking back on his life, there were so many difficult struggles. From King Saul’s attempts to kill David to his own son’s rebellion against him, from the violence against his daughter to the violence against his concubines, from the grief and loss of his friends to the grief and loss of his newborn son — David experienced more pain than most of us will ever know. Yet at the end of his life, David did the same thing he had always done — he sang to the Lord who had generously blessed him and saved him from his enemies.

Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. – Psalm 32:1-5

THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE — HIS UNMERITED FAVOR IN OUR LIVES!

Lord, thank you for hearing the prayers of a sinner, even though we are unworthy of your audience. We praise you for your plan of salvation — that you would give your Son as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We humbly come before you this morning praying for you to lift away the burden of our guilt and replace it with the joy of restoration. May you be glorified through our repentance and the cleansing of our unrighteousness. Purify me from my sins and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Amen.

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. – 1 John 1:5-9

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel

God saw Hannah’s heart — saw that it was out of love for God that she asked for something God would see as priceless and beyond the value of any other sacrifice. God, who knew He would one day offer His own son as a sacrifice, understood the cost. He understood Hannah’s heart and He answered her prayer for a son. She named him Samuel. After he was weaned, she started the journey back to the Tabernacle.

SAMUEL HAD A HEART THAT DESIRED TO OBEY AND GOD USED HIS OBEDIENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

Samuel knew the purpose to which God had called him and his heart’s desire was to live out that purpose. He knew his parents had given him to God at a young age — he knew where he came from and Samuel knew to whom he now belonged. He recognized that the heart of Israel had strayed from God, and he was willing to be used by God to help bring them back to a place of repentance.

Because Samuel was obedient and willing to be used by God in the lives of others, the Israelites found their way back to God. Samuel prayed for God’s people and led them in confession and fasting. His humble servant attitude led the people of Israel to know that it was not Samuel who could save them, but the God to whom Samuel prayed.

“Don’t stop pleading with the Lord our God to save us from the Philistines!” they begged Samuel…He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel and the Lord answered him. – 1 Samuel 7:8-9

SAMUEL LEARNED HOW TO LISTEN FOR THE VOICE OF GOD AND RECOGNIZE WHEN THE LORD HAD A MESSAGE FOR HIS PEOPLE.

Samuel was Israel’s judge for the remainder of his life (7:15). He served God faithfully and his leadership helped God’s people to return to Him. His mother, Hannah, had sacrificially given her son back to God, and God had faithfully used Samuel to make an impact on His people. Hannah let go of what the current culture said was rightfully hers because she recognized that her son would always belong to God.

Now God’s people were asking for something that was outside of His plan for them; they wanted a king like the other nations had. Samuel warned them they would someday beg for relief from this king they were requesting, or rather demanding (8:18). But God, being a merciful God, heard the cries of his people and gave them what they were asking for.

God is faithful even in the most unfamiliar of situations. But how often do we let the emotions of our new circumstances get the best of us, allowing fear and self-deprecation to set in? Saul did what many of us have a history of doing when God tries to stretch us — he told God He had the wrong person.

“But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” – 1 Samuel 9:21

WE CAN TRUST GOD TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE UNFAMILIAR.

God equipped Saul for what He was calling him to do because that is who our God is — He equips the called. Scripture says Saul was “changed into a different person.” Samuel encouraged Saul to do the thing God was calling Saul to do, for God would be with him. God gave Saul a new heart to go with his new “coat” and everything happened just as God had promised.

Doesn’t that sound just like the wonderful God we serve? He prepares us for what is ahead, equipping us with all that we need to step obediently into the position to which He calls us. He changes us, giving us a new heart and the wisdom we need to accept the calling He has placed on our lives.

Saul had been appointed by God, and God had blessed his reign as king. But Saul chose to do what he saw as beneficial to himself rather than keeping His eyes on God. Saul went from timidly hiding in the baggage to seeing himself as the hero, and he even went as far as to set up a monument in his own honor. He even had the nerve to lie to Samuel, telling him that he had obeyed the Lord’s command.

The search for a new king began. It was time to stop mourning the failures of Saul and move on. The Lord sent Samuel to a man named Jesse, telling him that God had selected one of his eight sons to be the next king. Taking one look at the oldest son, Samuel immediately thought Eliab would be the Lord’s anointed, but it was the youngest, David, whom God had chosen.

David had just been anointed king, yet everyone around him continued to define him by his age, appearance, and past. Instead of stepping into power, David became the harp player for the previous king. Saul was told that David was a brave warrior and that the Lord was with him, but Saul only saw a servant who could meet his needs.

After David killed Goliath, Saul no longer saw David as a humble servant but as a threat to his own popularity and throne. David spent the next few years running from Saul’s anger and attempts to kill him, a time when he possibly wrote many of the Psalms that now help us when we face hard times. Saul daily hunted for David, but God heard David’s prayers and kept Saul from finding him.

David led God’s people in battle against the Jebusites, capturing Jerusalem which is now known as the City of David. David became more and more powerful because God was with him (2 Samuel 5:6-10). While Israel’s first reaction was to celebrate what David had accomplished, David’s first reaction was to celebrate what God had done! He recognized his human abilities vs. the powerful and mighty strength of the God who called him. David knew that the battle belonged to the Lord and not to him.

GOD WAS WITH DAVID, GOING BEFORE HIM, AND GOD IS WITH YOU TOO!

Dear Jesus, I desire to have a servant heart, just as Samuel did. Give me ears to recognize your voice and the courage to respond in submissive obedience. Lord, take away any fear or doubt I may have and replace it with the boldness to be your voice in the lives of others. Help me to see the evidence of your presence and your power in the situations all around me so that I can learn to trust you with the next battle ahead. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Ruth

In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. – Ruth 1:1-2a

In a time of severe famine, when their family needed a place of refuge, God graciously provided a peaceful resting place for Elimelech and Naomi. But trouble and sorrow are often a part of everyday life and Elimelech died, leaving Naomi alone with her two sons. Contrary to God’s command for Israelites to not marry foreigners, Naomi’s sons married Moabite women – Orpah and Ruth. Ten years later, tragedy struck again and Naomi lost both her sons.

SOMETIMES GOD ALLOWS TRAGEDY IN OUR LIFE.

“…the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.” – Ruth 1:13b

These are the words of a woman with a broken heart, struggling to understand why the God who had provided so well for her over the years would now allow such tragedy to strike her family. She had praised God during times of plenty but now pitied herself during times of loss.

Naomi encouraged her two daughters-in-law to return to their families, but Ruth loved Naomi and begged to return to Naomi’s homeland with her, pledging “…Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God…” (1:16b).

When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited to see her. The women could hardly believe they were seeing their longtime friend, Naomi, returning home. It did not take them long to realize this wasn’t the same person who had left years before. Naomi had suffered tragedy and lost her joy for life. Naomi left seeking God and returned bitter towards God. She could not see beyond her pain to rejoice in what God had blessed her with. She only saw what she was without.

HOW OFTEN DOES OUR PRAISE TURN INTO PITY WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES?

We struggle to understand why the same God who has blessed us so generously could allow heartache and pain to come into our lives. We live in an imperfect world where death and disease are a reality, yet we blame God for not intervening and saving us from the worst pain we have ever felt. But it is important for us to know that we serve a God who cares for us when tragedy strikes. We have been redeemed by Christ and it is time to recognize that we are precious to Him; He cares about what we are going through.

During her time of discouragement and grief, Naomi was blessed to have the love and care of her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Returning to her homeland and her relatives without her husband and sons was difficult for Naomi. It was late spring, the beginning of harvest time, but no one had been there to care for Naomi’s land. This meant there was nothing to harvest, therefore nothing to eat. Ruth volunteered to go and gather any stalks left behind by those harvesting their fields.

Ruth found herself at the field of a relative of Naomi’s husband. When Boaz inquired about this woman who was gathering grain in his fields, he learned that it was the Moabite woman he had heard so much about. He knew she chose to leave her family behind in order to care for Naomi. He provided safety for her by inviting her to continue to gather grain in his fields and to drink from the water the workers had drawn from the well.

“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” – Ruth 2:12

Every day, Ruth returned to the fields of Boaz to gather grain. At the end of the harvest, Naomi instructed her to approach Boaz privately, asking him to “spread the corner of his covering” over her. Boaz treated Ruth kindly and sent her back to Naomi with 6 scoops of barley.

BOAZ HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FAMILY REDEEMER FOR NAOMI AND RUTH.

Boaz then went to Elimelech’s next of kin to ask if he was going to buy Naomi’s land and marry Ruth. When the family member voiced his concern over what it might cost him to redeem his inheritance, Boaz offered to purchase the land and marry Ruth. God blessed their marriage and Ruth gave birth to a son, even though she had never been able to have children with her first husband.

God saw the broken heart of Naomi and He was not done blessing her. Through a “family redeemer”, God provided Ruth with both a husband and a son. God showed His loving care of a grieving widow and her loyal daughter-in-law. The women of Bethlehem rejoiced and said to Naomi:

“Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. – Ruth 4:14b-17

TRUST GOD THROUGH THE TRAGEDIES. HE CAN REDEEM OUR STORY FOR HIS GLORY!

God knows the good things He has planned for us and our children. From Naomi’s grandson would come the first King of Israel, David, and then the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. What a great reminder for us to trust God through the tragedies — to let the hard times increase our faith and trust in the God who knows what is ahead and loves us enough to send His son to die on a cross for us — to become our ultimate Redeemer. Praise the Lord, who has provided a Redeemer for all of us!

But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.
Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice.
Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:16-17, 22

Today’s Reading: Judges

When I read the book of Judges, it reminds me of a superhero comic book. Over and over again, God’s people get themselves into a mess and He sends a superhero (or judge) to come in and save the day! God gave some pretty ordinary people some pretty extraordinary moments!

The superheroes in the Bible were not perfect, but superheroes rarely are. They were flawed, imperfect people with a desire to see God do something heroic. God called them into leadership and filled them with His Spirit so that He could rescue His people through them. The true Superhero in this book is God Himself.

THE HEROES IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES WERE REGULAR PEOPLE WILLING TO LET GOD DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY WITH THEIR LIVES.

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, God’s plan was to give them a peaceful and beautiful land but, because of their tendency towards disobedience, they needed to be rescued over and over again from the villains in their life. So God raised up “superheroes” to lead them out of the trouble they found themselves in over and over again.

First there was Caleb’s nephew, Othniel through whom God gave the Israelites victory after 8 years of suffering. Then there was Ehud, who was left-handed, which came in useful when he reached with his left hand for his dagger and plunged it into the king’ belly. The king was so fat that the dagger disappeared. Ehud locked the doors and escaped down the latrine (3:15-23).

After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad. — Judges 3:31

The next average-person-turned-superhero is Deborah – the Bible’s Wonder Woman. This woman of God would sit under what became known as the Palm of Deborah, and people would come to her for judgment. Obviously God had given her the gift of wisdom and trusted her with great responsibility.

When Barak led the warriors into battle, God caused Sisera and his warriors to fall into a panic. Barak and his men chased after the fleeing army and killed all 900 warriors, but Sisera had hopped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. Heber’s wife, Jael, invited Sisera into her tent. When he asked for water, she gave him milk. When he laid down, exhausted from his flight, she covered him with a blanket while she took watch for anyone approaching. But as soon as he fell into a deep sleep, Jael took action.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS, EVEN HARD THINGS, THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

Jael saw that God had strategically positioned her and she was up for this opportunity to let God do SUPER THINGS through her — she made the decision to do a hard thing! I believe God must have given Jael some extra strength as she picked up the tent peg and hammer, walked across the tent, and placed the end of the peg on Sisera’s temple. I believe God must have given her extra courage and superhero strength in order to drive the tent peg into his skull, killing the king and finishing the battle.

After Deborah and Barak led the Israelites to victory, there was peace in the land for forty years. But the Israelites began doing evil in the Lord’s sight, so he handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. When they finally cried out to God for help, he called Gideon to be the next judge or superhero.

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree of Ophrah…Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” – Judges 6:11-12

When Gideon asked for a sign that God was really calling him to take action, God gave Gideon the proof he asked for. Although he still experienced fear, Gideon now also had peace. That’s what God often does for us — He gives us the peace we need to obey Him, even when it does not make sense to us. At first Gideon followed through with God’s plan at night, out of fear, but then scripture says the Spirit of the Lord took possession of him (6:34a). Now filled with the MIGHTY SPIRIT, Gideon blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms. He sent messengers out, calling all of Israel’s warriors to come together to fight.

A great lesson for Gideon and a good reminder for me today is that God ALWAYS keeps His promises. When He sends us to do something, He equips us with the strength to be obedient. There is no need for Him to repeat Himself or to prove His faithfulness, for God can be trusted. I want nothing more than to blindly follow God wherever He leads, allowing my extremity to be His opportunity.

More judges came and went for the people of God – Tola judged for 23 years and Jair for the next 22 years. Next God used Jephthah, the son of a prostitute, to rescue the people of Israel. He was a great warrior because God chose to use him to give His people victory over their enemies.

NO MATTER WHAT IS IN YOUR STORY, THE GOD OF MERCY CAN USE YOU TO DO AMAZING THINGS IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

And lastly, we are probably all familiar with the way in which God used the strength and confidence of Samson. Samson’s biggest problem was that he consistently thought HE was winning the battles. He saw himself as the hero in his stories, missing who the true hero was. He did not recognize that his battles were won when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He thought he was avenging himself, but God was using this AVENGER to bring trouble to the Philistines, who were oppressing God’s people.

I may be the main character in my life production, but the hero of my story is God. Every victory experienced is for His glory, every battle won is to His credit. Thank you, God, for the gift of your Spirit in my life, giving me the strength to accomplish what you have called me to do. I make myself available today to be used by you — my Hero!

Today’s Reading: Joshua

“Be strong and VERY courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and very courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7-9

God’s instructions for Joshua were very clear — be strong and courageous, and be careful to obey all of my instructions. Joshua’s leadership was God-ordained, but he was never meant to lead out of his own strength and wisdom. God had provided Joshua with His word so that he could study it and meditate on it. All the instructions were there for him, just as God would provide the courage.

GOD GOES WITH US, PROVIDING THE COURAGE WE NEED TO SAY YES TO HIS ASSIGNMENT.

Leadership is hard. The moment Joshua stepped into the top leadership position, it may have seemed to others that he was living his best life. But leading God’s people had never been easy for Moses, it would not be easy for Joshua, and it is still not easy today. Leadership assignments come with stress and anxiety; they come with tough decisions and interpersonal conflicts. But God promises to be with us.

Joshua sent two spies ahead of them to scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially the walled city of Jericho. When they arrived, they stayed at the house of a prostitute named Rahab. But word got back to the king and he ordered Rahab to bring the two men to him. She deceived the king and told him the men had already left.

Then Rahab went up to the roof where she had hidden the two Israelite spies. She told them how the reputation of God’s people had arrived in Canaan way before they did. The people of Jericho knew how God had rescued them from the Egyptians; they knew how He had parted the Red Sea so that they could cross safely on dry ground. They had heard how the Israelites had already conquered and destroyed Sihon and Og, and were afraid of what would happen if this large army arrived at the gates of Jericho.

Our God is so amazing! He struck fear in the hearts of the people of Jericho. He started fighting the battle for His people even before they took their first step of obedience into the land God had promised them. He did this for the Israelites and He does the same thing for us today.

HE IS THE GOD WHO GOES BEFORE US — WHO CROSSES OVER, PREPARES THE WAY, AND GIVES US THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO RESPOND TO ALL HE IS ASKING US TO DO.

Joshua’s faith and obedience were going to be tested moving forward. God told Joshua – you have never been this way before, SO FOLLOW ME for tomorrow I will do AMAZING things among you (3:3-5). You do not have to figure out how to cross this river on your own; I am going to lead you.

When Moses had led the Israelites to the banks of the Red Sea, they were told, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today” (Exodus 14:13a). Moses had stepped forward with his staff, raised his hand over the waters, and the Red Sea had parted. The people walked across dry land to reach the other side. But this time, God was requiring those in leadership to take the first step into the rushing waters. They were about to see the mighty strength of their God on display, but they had to step out in faith first.

But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground. – Joshua 3:15b-17

It wasn’t until their feet touched the Jordan that the river parted and dry ground appeared in front of them. They chose faith and not fear, and therefore experienced many AMAZING things just as God had promised. They took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and carried them to Gilgal, where they would camp for the night. Then Joshua stacked twelve more rocks where the priests were standing with the Ark of the Covenant as a memorial of the miracle their God had given them.

GOD DID MORE! GOD DOES MORE! GOD IS MORE!

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” — Joshua 6:1-5

And this is exactly what happened! God did more than they expected Him to do, and He continues to do more than we give Him credit for today. God is more than we will ever need.

What is your battlefield today? How is life pressing in and in what ways do you need God to step in and take over? Let go of the fear and the worry, because panic just leads to us running away from the battle. Trust that God has gone before you, that He is with you, and that He will do more than you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly…Choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14-15

God, we thank you for your faithfulness and your daily presence in our lives — for this incredible opportunity to live in relationship with you. Lord, cause our love for you to grow so that our hearts naturally desire to obey you, to trust you, and to follow you. Help us to be content with what you have provided, and help us to call on you when life gets hard, knowing you will fight our battles for us. Today we choose to serve you and you only. Today we say an unqualified YES to you! Amen.