1 Chronicles 13, 14; James 1; Amos 8; Luke 3

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind. Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:5-8 (NCV)

As I think about the word wisdom, I am struck that wisdom is so much more than simply being intelligent. I can be educated, well-studied, but that doesn’t mean that I am wise. I can have common sense, street-smarts as it were, but it doesn’t mean that I have wisdom.

Wisdom is defined as the ability to apply knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight in a situation. It is using the education I have received through schooling and through life experience in the context of the circumstances I am living through right now. But it shouldn’t start there; it should start with a conversation with the Lord; it should start with His Living Word.

This verse in James reminds me that if I need wisdom in any situation, all I need to do is ask God and believe that He will give it to me. I need to trust that He will give me the wisdom that I require in every circumstance. He is all-knowing, all-seeing and desires to help me through all of the events of my life. He has all of the answers and is just waiting for me to ask Him for help.

David asked God, “Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.” 1 Chronicles 14:10 (NCV)

Soon the Philistines attacked the people in the valley again. David prayed to God again, and God answered him, saying, “Don’t attack the Philistines from the front. Instead, go around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then attack. I, God, will have gone out before you to defeat the Philistine army.” David did as God commanded, and he and his men defeated the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 1 Chronicles 14:13-16 (NCV)

Throughout David’s life, he consistently looked to God for wisdom and God gave it to him. He asked God for help. He asked God what he should do, what steps he should take. And, when he asked, God gave him instructions, detailed directives in everything, from how to slay Goliath when he was a youth to how to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem after he became king. Repeatedly, David asked for wisdom in how to defeat the Philistines in battle, and God never failed to share with him the way to gain victory over Israel’s enemy.

In Luke, as John the Baptizer began paving the way for Christ, he brought conviction to the hearts of the people. As John preached about changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins, the people began looking to him for answers. They asked him, “What should we do?” and because of His dedication to God, he was able to give them godly counsel to demonstrate their transformation.

The Lord God says: “The days are coming

when I will cause a time of hunger in the land.

The people will not be hungry for bread or thirsty for water,

but they will be hungry for words from the Lord. Amos 8:11 (NCV)

In Proverbs it shares that ONLY God gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I can look to a book, to education, or to another person, but the One who IS Wisdom, is the only one who can impart strategic wisdom for my specific situation. And I can receive that wisdom by asking Him and then listening to and obeying His response.

As I remember to look to God first for wisdom in every aspect of my life, He will help me apply the earthly knowledge that I have by giving me better understanding of the state of affairs by giving me directions, by guiding me in each step I need to take.

Yesappa, Thank You for providing for ALL of my needs, especially my need for Your wisdom for the various circumstances of my life. Lord, I ask for wisdom in what steps to take in managing my home well. I ask for wisdom in my relationship with my husband, my marriage. I ask for wisdom in parenting my children. I ask for wisdom to help me survive and thrive each day, to not feel overwhelmed in the day to day of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings – Julie (writing from Sholavandan, India)

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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2 Samuel 22; Galatians 2; Ezekiel 29; Psalm 78:1-37

David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. 2 Samuel 22:1 NLT.

The day we loaded up the kids’ play set in our real estate agent’s box truck, my husband set the radio to my favorite station. I had never driven a big truck like that, and it was intimidating to me. He turned it around so all I had to do was put it in drive and go. We were starting a new chapter of our lives in many respects. When I turned the corner that led to our next house, a song came on the radio: Move, by Mercy Me.

I laughed at the soundtrack life offered up.

That was the year I picked “worship” as a focus word.

That year, God taught me a lot about worship.

When I couldn’t think of a song to praise him, he gave me song. And when I couldn’t find the voice to worship him, he gave me tears. He showed me how to worship not just with my lips, but with my life.

There were other songs during that time I walked in the valley. And when I hear those songs today, I straddle a line of before and after, and I can praise God for his faithfulness, his provision, his protection, and his mercy.

I hung out with David a lot during that time. His mess, his faith, his fear, his cry–all taught me about worship and how to do it from the pit. My cave looked different. And my enemies did too. But my God is still the same: rock, fortress, savior, refuge.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
³     my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
    the one who saves me from violence.
⁴ I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:2-4 NLT

Alleluia.

Father, I learned so much those years in struggle and depression. Thank you for walking beside me.

Courtney (66books365)

Lev. 18; Ps. 22; Eccles. 1; 1 Tim. 3

Psalm 22

My idea on prayer has been changing greatly lately.  I’ve been reading a book that has revolutionized my thinking about how we pray.

My initial reaction to David’s prayer in Psalm 22 is “How can David say these things to God?” “How can he be so honest about his despair?”  I would have never prayed like that; I always felt that I needed to come to God and say all the things that I thought He wanted to hear.  David comes directly to God expressing his honest feelings with complete faith in God.

God wants me to come to Him in relationship.  He wants me to share myself honestly with Him.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

Jesus prays this same prayer from the cross (Matthew 27:46).  Jesus and David demonstrate honest communication with God.  It’s OK for me to tell Him how I feel.  How freeing!

The Psalmist also demonstrates that even in his despair he remembers, knows and trusts in a Sovereign God;

“You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.  Our fathers trusted You; they trusted and You delivered them.  They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in You and were not ashamed.”

Father, help me to direct my prayers to You honestly always remembering that You are sovereign and faithful.

Kathleen (guest on 66 books)

1 Chronicles 17,18,19; 1 Corinthians 13

1 Chronicles 17

1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent. ”

10 …..“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: ¹¹ When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. ¹³ I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. ¹⁴ I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever. ’”

1 Corinthians 13

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We see here why David was so successful.  His success did not go to his head.  He was not able to be content in a house of cedar while the Ark of God was in a tent.  I need to be more like David and look around at my surroundings before I plunge in to enjoy my success.  The first fruits of my success should go to perform God’s work, not my selfish indulgence. God is not concerned about a house for himself.  So he tells David he doesn’t want him building a temple.  Then he tells David the ultimate plan – how God will build a house for David using one of David’s own descendents.  It is a wonderful vision of the coming of Christ.

Much has been written about chapter 13 of First Corinthians.  It is used at some point, by almost everyone, during a wedding ceremony.  It will be quoted during any discussion of love.  You’ll find tons of Valentine cards containing bits and pieces of it.  Yet, I can’t help but think that Paul is probably not really referencing romantic love.  This seems like a colorful, picturesque display of what Jesus stated when asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Mat 22:36-40

So how do we know when we are loving like Jesus commanded us?  I have been told that one of the easy ways is to replace the word love with your name in verses 4 thru 7.  It will show you where you might be weak and need some help.  So here goes….. Ed is patient, Ed is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. He does not dishonor others, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. Ed does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I won’t analyze the results here, it would be too painful!

Father, open our eyes to the neighbors around us.  Open our eyes so that we may see their needs.  Open our hearts so that we may love them enough to take action and do the work that You have commanded us to do.  Strengthen our Faith, Encourage our Hope, Grow our Love for You and our neighbors.

Ed Sorrell

Psalm 4, 5, 6; John 7:1-27

I used to be one of those believers who went around thinking ‘now that I know Jesus nothing will ever go wrong again.’ I have come to realize in the journey of my Christian walk that, in many ways, life has actually become more difficult. Now, I have an enemy who seeks to destroy me like a roaring lion every moment of every day (1 Peter 5:8). Even though Christ won the battle at Calvary over 2000 years ago, the enemy still wants me spiritually dead – walking in sin – and even physically dead.

Because he wants me out of his way, I go through many trials that could completely break me, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I believe that God uses those circumstances to grow me and test me, to make me better tomorrow than I am today. I also believe that he uses that which the enemy intended for evil, for His good and the furthering of His Kingdom, not only in my heart but also within the world (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).

I am not alone. Neither are you. There are countless examples of men and women of God who experienced trial and tribulation in the Bible: Joseph, Job, Esther, Ruth, Paul, to name a few. David is another. He was the anointed King of Israel and yet, before he was fully given the throne, he was forced to run for his life, live as a fugitive for many years, and hide from King Saul who wanted him dead for fear of losing the crown.

Many of the Psalms were written while David was in exile, a wrongly pursued man. These Psalms help remind me of where my focus needs to remain while I am in the midst of what seems like never-ending ordeals.

• Be angry – but don’t sin. (Psalm 4:4)
• Meditate and be still in the Lord. (Psalm 4:4)
• Offer myself as a sacrifice of righteousness. (Psalm 4:5; Romans 12:1)
• Trust in the Lord – He has heard my weeping, my supplication, and my prayer. (Psalm 4:5; 6:8-9)
• Evoke gratitude – remember the goodness in God: His countenance upon me, gladness of heart, increase out of season, peace, sleep, safety (Psalm 4:6-8)

Psalms five and six also encourage me to cry out to God and know that He will heed me. He will hear my prayers and meditations, lead me, open my eyes to understand and see His direction, return to me, deliver me, save me, and have mercy on me.

“Use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right.” John 7:24 (MSG)

When in the midst of hardships, I have a habit of becoming very emotional, before settling down and thinking about things rationally or even looking to God for the answers or help. But He gave me Holy Spirit to walk with me and support me. As I trust Him and lean not on my own understanding, I am then able to discern the right path to walk on to walk me right through the trial (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It may sound a little cliché, but if I focus on Jesus, the mountain of problems I have will become a mole hill…if I am given lemons, I can always make lemonade…I can look at the glass half empty or half full. That doesn’t mean I can’t cry, or shout, or feel sorry for myself, but I need to get over it quick and put my focus back on God.

Yesappa, help me keep my focus on You during trials and tribulations, small or big. Help me to be overcome by Your presence, not overwhelmed by troubles. Help me to cast my cares upon you and lay my burdens at your feet. Help me walk in the garments of my salvation and to always rejoice in the Lord in good times and bad. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Blessings – Julie, Vadipatti, India