Thank You Lord

 

Scripture Psalm 28:7-8 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

Mark 5:19 “Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

Observation The LORD, my Strength, my Shield, my Saving Refuge, my Helper . . . my heart trusts in You.

Application My heart will greatly rejoice in and tell of all the great things the Lord has done for me.

Prayer Thank YOU FATHER,  my Strength, my Shield, my Saving Refuge, my Helper, for all You have done for me. I would trust You with all my heart.

 

 

 

God's Strength and Peace

 

Scripture Psalms 29:11 The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 68:35, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 28:8

Observation God gives His people strength and bless them with peace.

Application I would draw upon God’s strength and be blessed with His peace.

Prayer Father, thank You for allowing me to tap into Your immeasurable strength and Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Family of God?

 

Scripture Mark 3:34-35 He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Observation Jesus came to open the door so that anyone could be part of His eternal/forever family.

Application Being a DOER of God’s Word, not just a knower/hearer, makes/shows us to be a member of God’s eternal/forever family.

Prayer Father, I would that my life, my actions, would show forth that I’m a member of Your eternal family. I want to be not just a hearer but a doer of Your Word.

Humble Heart

 

Scripture Numbers 12:3- Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.

Observation  Moses was the humblest, yet the most powerfully used as a tool in God’s hands.

Application I am most used as an instrument in God’s hands when I have a spirit of humility.

Prayer  Father, I, too would have a humble heart like Moses.

Purposeful Living

 Scripture-But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”- Mark 1:38

Observation/Application -Jesus came with a purpose and He has a plan/purpose for me.

Prayer-Open my eyes/heart to Your plan/purpose for me.

Jesus Prayed

 

Scripture Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.-Luke 4:42, 43  Matt. 26:39, 44; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:28, 29; Heb. 5:7   

Observation Jesus took time to be alone in prayer.

Application I, too, need to have a time and place to be alone in prayer.

Prayer Father, thank You for the gift of prayer and the example Jesus set. I would follow His example.

The LORD is my Light and Salvation

 

Scripture Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Observation The Lord is my light, salvation, and strength.

Application All I need is found in You, Lord.

Prayer Father, thank You for the gift of salvation. Thank You for being my Light and strength. Teach me, lead me, give me strength and courage, I pray.

Always and Forever

 

Scripture Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Observation Because of God’s goodness and mercy I  have forgiveness and a forever home with Him.

Application You are always with me, now and forever.

Prayer Father, thank You for Your love, goodness, mercy, grace, and a forever home with You.

Grace and Peace

 

Scripture Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

 Observation  We have a gracious Lord Who takes care of and blesses us. We have a Lord Who is always watching over us and desires us to have peace.

Application My body is God’s temple, He is ever-present with me, pouring out His grace and peace surpassing understanding.

Prayer Thank You Father for Your grace, peace, blessings, and constant abiding presence.

A Special Place to Serve

 

Scripture Numbers 4:49 According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, each according to his service and according to his task; thus, were they numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses

Observation The Lord was very specific in the place of service/task for each one.

Application God has a special place of service for me.

Prayer  Father, open the eyes of my heart that I would see my place of service for You and Your glory.

A Doer of God's Word

 

Scripture

Numbers 1:54 Thus the children of Israel did; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did.

Acts 24:14-15 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

Observation The children of Israel did as God commanded and Paul worshipped God, believing in and being a follower/doer of His Word.

Application I, too, put my faith and trust in, and seek to be a doer of God’s Word.

Prayer Father, thank You for giving me access to Your Holy Word. I put my faith and trust in and seek to be not just a hearer/reader of Your Word, but a follower/doer.

MY BODY IS GOD'S TEMPLE

 

 

Scripture I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. Leviticus 26:12, 2 Corinthians 6:16- what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Observation God is my constant companion.

Application My body is God’s temple. He is ever present with me.

Prayer Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to pay the price so that I could become a part of Your forever family.

JESUS CHRIST My SOLID ROCK

 

Scripture Psalms 26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.

Observation David knew he needed God’s forgiveness. He desired to be a man of integrity, trusting, walking on a solid foundation.

Application Jesus Christ alone offers the forgiveness we need, gives a solid foundation on which to walk, and helps us live a life of integrity.

Prayer Thank You, Father, for graciously forgiving me. I desire to be a man of  integrity, trusting You wholeheartedly, walking/standing on a solid foundation that only You can provide.

 

 

 

 

ALL FOR JESUS

 

Scripture Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.”- Acts 21:13

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

Observation Paul was ready, prepared, willing to lay it ALL, even his very life, on the line to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Application I need to be more aware of and prayerful for many out there today who are literally laying their lives on the line to share Jesus.

Prayer Father, thank You for reminding me today of the sacrifice of many over the years to spread the gospel and for those out there at this very moment putting their lives on the line in/for the Name of Jesus. Open my eyes to my part/role in advancing The Gospel Message.

ONLY JESUS

 SCRIPTURE-Leviticus 22:21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it.

II Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

OBERVATION-only the sinless Son of God, Jesus, can pay the price, make atonement for our sin.

APPLICATION-my faith and trust is in Christ alone for the forgiveness of my sin.

PRAYER-Thank You Father for giving/sending Your one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the price, to make atonement, for my sin. Thank You, Jesus, for being obedient to Your Father. Thank You both for loving me so. 

Loving Merciful Savior

 

Scripture Leviticus 19:18b . . . you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I AM the LORD.

Leviticus 19:2b-You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God AM holy.

Psalms 13:5 I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

Observation THE LORD OUR GOD is a loving, holy, merciful Savior.

Application I would be holy, loving, trusting, merciful . . . rejoicing in Your salvation.

Prayer LORD, today, I trust in Your mercy and rejoice in Your salvation. Today I would be holy and loving like You.

 

Jesus Paid it All

 

Scripture -Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Romans 3:22-26, Ephesians 1:7-In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Observation-All throughout Leviticus there is the repeated shedding of blood for atonement for the soul. However, Jesus Christ came to bring redemption, forgiveness, through His blood once and for all, by His grace.

Application-Jesus paid it all, once and for all, once and for always.

Prayer-Thank You, Jesus, for being my Redeemer!

Mercy and Grace

 

Scripture Leviticus 14:11Then the priest who makes him clean shall present the man who is to be made clean, and those things, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 18b . . . So, the priest shall make  atonement for him before the Lord. 31b . . . So, the priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before the Lord.

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Observation Only The Priest can make atonement for sin.

Application Jesus the Son of God is my great high priest, my merciful and faithful High Priest, He knows and understands the struggles and temptations I face and offers mercy and grace in my time of need.

Prayer Thank You, Father, for sending Your one and only son, Jesus, to do what only He could do, to pay the price, to be the sacrifice  for my sin. Thank You for being gracious and merciful to me.

Open The Eyes of My Heart LORD

 Scripture

Leviticus 10:3 “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me. I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’ ”.

Leviticus 11:44a- I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.

Acts 16:14b- The Lord opened her heart-Lydia- to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Luke 24:45 He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Observation THE LORD GOD IS HOLY. He opens the mind/heart and gives understanding- Proverbs 2:6

Application Do not take THE LORD lightly, He is to be held in reverence, so He alone can open my heart/mind to understand His Word.

Prayer Father God, I would have a tender/sensitive heart/mind to hear/heed Your Word/voice. Open the eyes of my heart LORD today, I pray.

GREAT JOY

 

Scripture Acts 15:3b they caused great joy to all the brethren . . . we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.- Acts 15:11

When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.- Acts 15:31-32

Observation The disciples caused great joy and brought encouragement through God’s Word. They exhorted and strengthened  the brethren.

Application Spending time in, and sharing God’s Word, and His gracious  gift of salvation brings  great joy, encouragement, strength, and exhortation.

Prayer Father, thank You for Your grace, through Jesus. I, too, would rejoice and be encouraged through Your Word and be one who causes great joy, encouragement and exhorts and strengthens others.

Jesus, My Great High Priest

 

Scripture So the priest shall make atonement for them/him, and it shall be forgiven them/him.- Leviticus 4:20b,31b, 35b; So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him.- Leviticus 5:10b, 13a, 18b, 6:7

Observation Repeatedly, 7 times, in these 3 chapters in Leviticus, the phrase about the priest making atonement for forgiveness of sin is used.

Application We, now, have a Great High Priest, Jesus, Who has graciously, once and for always paid the price, made atonement for our sin.- Hebrews 4:14-16

Prayer Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price, being the sacrifice for my sin, once and for always.

HOLY SPIRIT JOY

 

Scripture Acts 13:52 The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Observation The disciples were in a good place.

Application Joy, is a fruit of The Spirit at work in/through us. The joy of the LORD is my strength.

Prayer Father, I, too desire to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

AN OBEDIENT HEART

 

Scripture Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.- Exodus 40:16- . . . as the Lord had commanded Moses.- Exodus 40:19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32

So, Moses finished the work.- 40:33

Observation Moses was obedient to do all the Lord commanded him to do.

Application I, too, would be sensitive and obedient to what God would have me to do.

Prayer Father, I would have a tender, sensitive, obedient heart toward You.

A GOOD MAN

 

Scripture Acts 11:23-24 -When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Observation These verses are a description of Barnabas when he was sent out from the church in Jerusalem to Antioch.

Application I, too, would be a good man, an encourager, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.

Prayer Father, I thank You for Your grace. Let me be, this day, and every day that You bless me with, a good man, full of Your Holy Spirit and faith. May my life be an instrument in Your hands that others may come to know You.

A WILLING HEART

 

Scripture Exodus 35:5, 21, 22, 26, 29- Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord.-Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart-And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom.-The children of Israel brought freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing.

Observation God was looking out for and desired those who had a  willing heart/spirit, whose hearts were stirred (with wisdom), to bring a freewill offering to the Lord.

Application God has a work for me to be involved in if I would have willing heart.

Prayer Father, I would have a willing heart/spirit, stir my heart today, give me wisdom and guidance that I might do Your will and be involved in Your kingdom work, for Your glory and honor. I pray.

I AM A FRIEND OF GOD

 

Scripture So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.-Exodus 33:11a

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.- Exodus 34:6

Observation The LORD, my God, is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Application I too would be a man of compassion, grace, patience, love, and faithfulness.

Prayer Thank You, Father, for Your friendship, compassion, grace, patience, love and faithfulness.

I BELIEVE

 Scripture Acts 8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

Observation Salvation originates in the heart, believing with all your heart that Jesus is the risen Son of God.

Application There is no other Name given under heaven by which we may receive salvation.

Prayer Thank You Jesus for my salvation.

Glorious Forever Day

 

Scripture Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”- Acts 7:55-56

Observation These words, this event recorded in The Book of Acts causes me to think back on Jesus’ Words in The Gospel of Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. ”

Application Someday, one forever timeless day, I too will get to see God in all His glory and my Savior, Jesus Christ because He has given me the gift of eternal life.

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see and I look upon His face the one who saved me by His grace, when He takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land. What a day, glorious day that will be.-Jim Hill

Prayer Thank You, Jesus, for making heaven and the gift of eternal life possible. I look forward to that forever day when I will see You in all Your glory forevermore.

God's Temple

 I am currently on day 30 of reading and journaling my way through the Bible and thought I would revive my blog by sharing my daily entries following the format; Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Hope it is an encouragement to someone today.

Scripture Exodus 25:22 There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Observation God gave very specific instructions concerning where He would meet with and speak to the priests concerning God’s children.

Application Today, this moment, I do not have to go to a specific place to be in God’s presence, I can meet with my God and Father, and hear His voice, wherever I am because my body is His temple.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Prayer Thank You, Father, for Your ever abiding presence within me through Your Holy Spirit, wherever and whenever my body is Your temple.