August 26, 2011 - Proverbs 20

S - ⁴ The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
⁷ The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.
O - David says here that the lazy man will have nothing but that the children of the righteous father will be blessed because him.
A - These two scriptures go hand and glove. If I am a man that neglects to do what I need to do to support my family, I and they will have nothing and beg for our needs. But it goes even further than this. I have not only been placed here to support my family but also to show them what it means to be righteous and to do what I have called to do. When I go to that level, not only will our needs be met but my children will be blessed because of it. I want to bless my children and future generations abundantly!
P - Lord, I come to you asking for help in these times to not only give me a desire and will to provide for my family but the ability and strength to be righteous and complete what you have call me to do. I pray for finances and for peace. Take away any of the anxieties that I have with our future and how we can provide for our family. I give you my body and spirit to do with me as you would please to further your kingdom.

August 24, 2011 - Proverbs 18

S - ¹ A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.
²⁴ A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
O - David is talking about two points above. First, taking counsel; and second, friendship.
A - A man who isolates himself is being selfish and seeking only what he wants. It is vital that I look to and follow the counsel of those that are more knowledgeable than me in a specific area in my life. Instead of the way I do it now, looking to only the very sharp and polished individual that I look up to and respect for counsel, I should be looking to everyone that I meet for their specific guidance in their area of expertise. This doesn't mean that I should blindly follow anyone but that I test the advice against what God says to validate it.
I also want to be a man that influences people and have a wealth of friends. However, I need to be friendly to generate and draw these friends to me. I need to be the one starting conversations and really caring about what these people are saying. Being understanding and granting grace and not looking down on them for something that may have been said or done. I need to be interesting and fun as well.
P - Lord, help me to really live a life of excellence and draw people to me for your glory and purpose. Put people in my life that I can look to for your word to come through. Help me to value every single person for the goodness that they have and as children of yours. Help me to be a person that people generally want to be around and know that they can call and I would be there to help them. Give me the desire to go out of my way for them and put my selfish desires behind their needs. Be with my family and me today and bless our actions.

August 23, 2011 - Judges 16

S - ¹⁵ Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” ¹⁶ She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
O - Samson loved this woman, Delilah, but she was trying to hurt him. He lied to her three times about how his strength could be squelched and three times she did exactly what he said would make him weak. The fourth time she comes to him pouting, nagging, and tormenting him.
A - There are people in our lives and those that we have not yet met that may at first look like they like us and want to be friends but we need to keep a objective eye open toward this relationship and see if they are truly acting in both their and our best interests. This doesn't mean that if someone screws up one time we up and leave them but in the case like Samson where if he were to step back and look at the situation, he would have seen three blatant attempts to hurt him and that would have been a good time to leave the relationship as it was clearly not in his best interest.
P - Heavenly Father, I praise you for what you are doing in me and my family's life. You truly are the giver of life and the enricher of life. Give me wisdom and discernment as I go through life and meet people to understand what their perspective is of our relationship. Help me to be bold and confident when there is danger and be able to do what is right for them and me. I love you. Thanks for always being with me.

August 16, 2011 - Joshua 6

S - ²⁰ So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat.

O - This is one of the great miracles that is recorded in the Bible. God has told Joshua that the city of Jericho would be given to the Israelites, but they would need to follow His plan in order to receive this promise. One thing that must have happened as all of these Israelites marched around the city for the previous six days is that the wall took a ton of vibrations and made the rocks unsettle. This was not the only reason that the wall fell on the seventh day but if Joshua would have short-cutted the plan, I believe the wall wouldn't have fell.

A - I too have a God-given plan for my life and the times that I have looked for a short cut all that I was doing was sabotaging the plan that I was to follow and my work was in vain. I need to continually look to the Lord for guidance on what I should be doing to ensure that I am following the plan that He has laid out for me. Without His guidance and help my actions my succeed but not nearly to the extent that they would by following Him.

P - Heavenly Father, I praise you for your wonderful works that you did for Joshua and continue to do for me and those that follow you. Please guide me in my daily actions and bless the work that I do so that I can achieve the plan that you have set out for me. Not for my glory but that my success can be that light on the mountain-top that others look at a wonder how I did this and I can be a testimony for you and your kingdom. Bless me and my family today and everyday. Amen

August 11, 2011 - Proverbs 16

S - ²⁶ It is good for workers to have an appetite;
an empty stomach drives them on.

O - David is talking here about having motivation to work. When he was alive there was probably the same types of wants and needs that we still have today that would drive people to succeed and/or live.

A - I need to always find what is motivating me and focus on that dream to help me to continue on and fight for what He has called me to do. Daily I should be looking to this dream to help me to stay focused and not to get bogged down with the day to day grind.

P - Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on the goal that you have set out before me. Place people and things in my life that will help me to stay committed daily to the work that I need to do to achieve this goal. I know that without you all of my work is in vain so I ask you now to bless my work today and everyday; not for my glory but so that I can be a shining light on the hilltop that proclaims your goodness.

August 10, 2011 -Psalm 15

S - 4 but honors those who fear the LORD;

who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.

O - David is talking about who will and will not be able to be in God's presence. He has just went through those traits that remove people from His presence. Now he goes on to talk about those traits that bring people into His presence. The theme of these positive traits is integrity.

A - Integrity doesn't mean to me that you can't still fight for what you want as this may cause someone else to not achieve what they want. What integrity means is that I am a man of my word, ALWAYS! If I say I am going to do it, regardless of the importance or if anyone is paying attention, I do it, ALWAYS. Integrity means standing up for those that can't stand up for themselves, even if it costs me something or is looked down on by others, ALWAYS. Integrity means doing the right thing regardless of the cost or the missed "opportunity" because it's right, ALWAYS!

P - God, Please give me the wisdom to know what is the right thing to do and give me the strength to do it even when there may be a perceived cost associated with it. You have promised that you will bless the righteous and take away from those that walk in corruption; I cling to that promise and want badly to be that righteous person daily.

August 7 - 2 Corinthians 12

S - My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

O - Paul was talking about how he pleaded with God to take away his thorn in the flesh and this is what God told him.

A - I too have many weaknesses and flaws and because of these I can see that the only way that I could stand in front of God and be certain of where I was going is through the grace of God. But in addition to that, God's grace is for here on earth. He has given me the ability and strength to face these fiery darts that the evil one throws against me to derail me from my purpose and to come out on top and be victorious. I need to always remember that I can't do things on my own without His help because as much as I might try; I can't be perfect.

P - Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace which is sufficient for me. Help me to daily remember what you have done for me and to look to you for strength when I face the challenges and weaknesses in life. I love you!

Amen

August 2, 2011 - 2 Corinthians 7

S - ⁶ Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us...

O - Paul is talking here about the conflicts that he was seeing in the world and the fears that he had on the inside but when Titus same and told the report of the Corinthians it gave him great joy. God used Titus' report to lift Paul's spirit.

A - There are and will be troubles, conflicts, and fears in my life but God is the only one that can bring comfort. Many in the world, and even myself at times, run to things that bring them happiness but only to find out that this type of happiness or fun seeking fades quickly. God's comfort and peace is long lasting and he promises to take all of our burdens on and that he cares for even the smallest of birds so why wouldn't He do even more for one of His children. I need to constantly run to Him for this peace and remind myself daily of His love, protection, and grace so that I don't run to pursue a thrill seeking experience that will just make me feel even worse once the adrenaline has worn off.

P - God, Thank you for your comfort, protection and peace. Help me to daily remember this and to look to you for guidance throughout life. You truly are amazing!

August 1, 2011 - 2 Corinthians 6

S - 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

O - The Corinthians had a special opportunity to hear the word of God from Paul who must have been quite the speaker as he was full of conviction. I wonder if there were some people, just like there is today, that believed what he said just because of the way he said it with so much confidence. However, when he left there wasn't a lot of knowledge to back up this decision they made and therefore they started falling away and/or doing nothing to spread this word.

A - I am no different than these Corinthians. I have heard the word of God from some very powerful speakers and from some passionate speakers and have answered God's call. I need to daily remind myself of this decision and regardless of what I may feel, I need to stay the course and praise God for His grace in my life. I should be propelled to spread His word and to fulfill His call on my life.

P - Heavenly Father. I thank you so much for speaking into my life and calling me to be one of your childern. Help me to daily remember your grace and to share this with others as I go about living my life according to your plan. Thank you for being with me and my family today and help me to lead my family in love and with protection always looking to you for strength. Amen.