1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 26-28; 2 Corinthians 10; Psalm 91

I am reminded that life does not just happen. There is spiritual warfare in my world.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NASB

My new reality today comes from a prayer meeting where Haiti was the focus of prayer. Here, Christians have resorted to picking up stones and machetes to fight against gangs moving into their community. They were killing them – kill or be killed. Taking the life of another became the solution to the problem. I get it – the problem was real, affecting their lives in the immediate. How do they take the thought of killing another captive to the obedience of Christ?

What did I offer to the people of Haiti when it came to my turn to pray? I offered Psalm 91. I am so glad my wife loves Psalm 91 as much, maybe even more, than I do, and it has been the go to Psalm for our family today.

One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”. – Psalm 91:1-2 NASB

I prayed they would find a place and time to be alone with God. God whispers truth there. Rest, peace and calm rise up strong, right in the struggling mess of life, and I am assured, He is in control. The hard times will be there, and He will be there with me – it might be in rescuing, it might be in protection or it might be in Him taking me home to be with Him.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
The Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will happen to you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent. – Psalm 91:9-10 NASB

I cannot tell of all the stories where I have walked without fear because God is my refuge and dwelling place. I have seen plagues not come near my home or touched the lives of my family. Not because I am special in any way, but because I have bought into spiritual warfare and have made my point clear to the enemy that I will be in a place with God that the enemy will need His permission to mess with me.

Because he has loved Me, I will save him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. – Psalm 91:14 NASB

What a promise when I love Him. I make the decision to love God by choice. I spend time with Him.

Father, Your promises are true. Keep my heart and mind on You and may these thoughts keep me walking in truth to myself, my family and my world. Thank You!

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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2 Samuel 24; 1 Chr. 21; 2 Cor. 8; Ps. 30

“That day God came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Sam 24:18-25 NLT

God knew David’s heart. He rewarded his obedience and answered his prayer.

“Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel and bring me a report so I know how many there are.” God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” 1 Chron. 21:1-8 NLT

David forgot that his strength came from God. He became prideful. He put his faith in the numbers of his army rather than in God’s ability to protect them. God even sent Joab to warn him and David didn’t listen. But, David repented and asked God for forgiveness. What are my motives? What am I putting my security in? A number or God’s protection and provision?

“Since you excel in so many ways-I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” 2 Cor. 8:7-9 NLT

Am I holding on tightly or living with open hands? Sometimes I can be like David & forget that it all comes from God.

“I will extol you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord, You kept me from falling into the pit of death.” Psalms 30:1-3 NLT

Dear Father, Thank you for rescuing me. And for the many prayers that you have answered. Thank you for your mercy & grace. I praise you for who you are. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

1 Chronicles 14-16; 1 Corinthians 16; Psalm 132, 106

I love the focus of our bookends today – celebration, thankfulness and praise. I remember a number of books written about praise when I was a teenager and those truths have remained with me till today.

He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel. – 1 Chronicles 16:4 NASB

Simply remembering is important and yet neglected. Spurgeon noted a number of ways that I can remember the great things God has done. One of them was to spend time alone so that I can meditate on those great things.

For I do not want to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. – 1 Corinthians 16:7 NASB

It is when I spend time alone with God – meditating, remembering, celebrating, being thankful and praising Him – then I have something to give away to those I meet during the day. What else do I have to give to someone – some talk, or some truths from a book I just read? I would rather give Jesus.

Behold, we heard about it in Ephrathah,
We found it in the field of Jaar. – Psalm 132:6 NASB

There are some who desperately are seeking Jesus. David here is looking for the ark. He found it. It reminds me of the challenge laid before me when it comes to the things of God – ask, seek and knock, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. When my heart is set on finding the place where God wants to meet me, cheering happens in that heart of mine and praise is a natural outpouring. That is why I think God instructed the people of Israel to build a temple that would travel with them – so His presence would always be with them.

Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting. – Psalm 106:1 NASB

It is amazing how stress and anxiety and the troubles of my world do not seem so bad when I am in praise. The anger I was feeling is no longer important. The temptation I was experiencing has somehow dissipated. What a miracle drug, if you will, to sing and thank God.

Father, I am in Your presence and there You are allowing me into Your safe place. I want to start crying because I have never felt love like that in any other place. I want to release myself completely to You and I know You will take me and heal me. I seek You and when I do not, send the Holy Spirit to come and get me. You are what I have been looking for my whole life.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

1 Samuel 27; 1 Chronicles 9; 1 Corinthians 10; Psalm 141

A strength of mine, when it comes to my walk with God, is worship. I had forgotten part of the employment of Levites were singers. I am not saying I can sing, but rather that I like singing as part of my worship to God.

 Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free of other duties; for they were engaged in their work day and night. – 1 Chronicles 9:33 NASB

I see worship as a way to take my mind off of my troubles and issues that rob me of my joy. I also turn to worship as a way of avoiding temptation. I learned not to fear temptation as long as I did not embrace it. Worship allowed me to face it and overcome it.

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB

As a guy, there is the enduring temptation in the area of sexuality. I remembered a sermon when I was sixteen on how to worship God for the amazing creation He created. That worship would not allow the temptation to go any further. I was thinking about King David going to the roof – was he going there to have some time alone with God? The idea of being alone with God was quickly changed with a moment of temptation. If David was going to write a new song or to pen a new poem to God, look how easily it was thwarted. I do not take lightly the gift of worship in my spiritual walk.

My alone time with God and the victory obtained there with worship bring me the strength I need during times of temptation.

Lord, I call upon You; hurry to me!
Listen to my voice when I call to You! – Psalm 141:1 NASB

Worship is not only singing, it is also prayer. “Hurry to me” expresses the immediacy of my temptations and needs. Help cannot come too late.

May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The raising of my hands as the evening offering. – Psalm 141:2 NASB

With a combination of singing, prayer and a posture of raising my hands to give and receive, I express my earnest and expectant thoughts in worship.

For my eyes are toward You, God, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. – Psalm 141 :8 NASB

My eyes are focused only on God, in Him I find my expressions of worship and He does not fail me.

 “In all times, in all places, on all occasions, I will cleave unto the Lord, and put my whole confidence in him.” – Clarke

Father, I love spending time in worship. Thank you for this wonderful gift that connects me with the Holy Spirit.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

1 Sam. 24; 1 Chr. 8; 1 Cor. 8; Ps. 57,58

“May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds, So you can be sure I will never harm you. May the Lord therefore judge which one of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!” 1 Samuel 24:12-16 NLT

Saul was hunting down David to kill him, but when David had the opportunity to take revenge on Saul he didn’t. He still respected Saul as God’s anointed King. And David had the courage to stand up to the group that was urging him to kill Saul. He knew who his advocate was. He placed his trust in the Lord for justice. Do I?

“When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you my son David?” Then he began to cry. And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.” 1 Samuel 24:16-20 NLT

When have I am wronged or betrayed, how do I react? It might not be as severe as David, but it hurts just as much. I’m thankful for a God that understands. And that I can go to him with all of my emotions and feelings.

“The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for this who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.” Psalms 58:10&11 NLT

Dear Father, I pray that my heart would be moved to compassion for others. And that I would seek forgiveness. I pray that like David, I will trust you to make things right. Help me to have a posture of humility. And to truly love others like you love me. I have a very real enemy who is after me. But, you already have the victory, Jesus. Amen.

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” Psalms 57:1&2 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)