Day 40
Worship
Before reading today, spend a few minutes contemplating the idea of worship. What does worship mean? What does it look like? What are some ways that you worship?
Read Revelation 4:1-11.
In this passage in Revelation, John describes a vision he has of the throne room of the Almighty God. What stands out to you about His vision?
Read Revelation 4:1-11 again, slowly. Take in the details of the throne room of Heaven and the living creatures surrounding the throne.
What are the creatures doing? In verses 8-9, John explains what the creatures around the throne are saying and doing. They are worshipping God, giving Him praise. How long do they praise? It isn’t a 20-minute setlist or a 2-hour concert. They praise the Lord day and night; they do not rest from praising Him. How often to you spend time worshipping God?
Sometimes we get caught up in the stigma of worship. We think that worship is about singing the right songs and feeling a certain way. But worship isn’t about us. It isn’t a feeling or a lyric. Worship is acknowledging God for who He is and rightly responding to Him.
Spend a few minutes in worship of your Creator. Tell Him how powerful and awesome He is. Give Him praise for who He is and all that He has done.
When you’re ready, read Revelation 5:1-14.
No one is worthy of worship except God. He is the only One who deserves our time, efforts, energy, and adoration. What are other things in your life that you worship? Confess to the Lord your lack of praise and worship of Him. Spend some time praying through Revelation 4:8-11 and 5:9-12. Ask Him to draw you into His spirit and to raise you up as one who worships Him in spirit and in truth.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Script?
Essential Nate
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Day 39
Day 39
Wisdom
Read James 1:1-4.
According to James, what are the byproducts of the trials we endure? Why?
Read James 1:5-8.
James encourages the reader to ask God for wisdom, particularly in the midst of trials, but he says to ask a certain way. He says to ask in faith, with no doubting. What does it mean to ask God for faith without doubting? When you ask of God, do you doubt? Why should we not doubt when asking God for wisdom?
Read James 1:9-20.
How do you see wisdom played out in this passage? What does wisdom look like?
Spend a few moments focused on wisdom. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:19 that even the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Ask the Lord to show you what His wisdom looks like. Ask Him for guidance in discerning His wisdom in the world around you.
Read James 1:21-27.
Where do you see wisdom in these verses?
How wise are you living? James makes the point that we are to be doers and not hearers only of the Word. Wisdom isn’t just a lofty, intangible concept to think on; it’s a characteristic to embody and apply. Where do you see wisdom in your life? In what areas of your life do you need to ask God for wisdom and then apply it?
Spend some time in prayer. Ask the Lord for wisdom, and then do not doubt when He answers. Commit to following the Lord and walking in His wisdom, rather than man’s.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Wisdom
Read James 1:1-4.
According to James, what are the byproducts of the trials we endure? Why?
Read James 1:5-8.
James encourages the reader to ask God for wisdom, particularly in the midst of trials, but he says to ask a certain way. He says to ask in faith, with no doubting. What does it mean to ask God for faith without doubting? When you ask of God, do you doubt? Why should we not doubt when asking God for wisdom?
Read James 1:9-20.
How do you see wisdom played out in this passage? What does wisdom look like?
Spend a few moments focused on wisdom. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:19 that even the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Ask the Lord to show you what His wisdom looks like. Ask Him for guidance in discerning His wisdom in the world around you.
Read James 1:21-27.
Where do you see wisdom in these verses?
How wise are you living? James makes the point that we are to be doers and not hearers only of the Word. Wisdom isn’t just a lofty, intangible concept to think on; it’s a characteristic to embody and apply. Where do you see wisdom in your life? In what areas of your life do you need to ask God for wisdom and then apply it?
Spend some time in prayer. Ask the Lord for wisdom, and then do not doubt when He answers. Commit to following the Lord and walking in His wisdom, rather than man’s.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Day 38
Day 38
Faith
Before you begin reading today, stop and reflect for a few minutes. How would you describe your faith? What kind of faith do you want to have?
Spend a few minutes in prayer, asking God to grow your faith in new ways right now.
Read Hebrews 11:1-3.
How does the writer describe faith in the opening verse? What does he say that faith accomplishes? What is your faith accomplishing currently?
Read Hebrews 11:4-38.
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Baak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and many others are all mentioned as having great faith. Why? Who are your heroes of faith? Why?
Take some time to review the stories of these who overcame by faith. What stands out to you about their stories? How did their faith change their lives? How does your faith change your life? Spend a few minutes in prayer asking the Lord to change your life through faith.
Read Hebrews 11:39-40.
The writer of Hebrews clarifies that all of those mentioned as heroes of faith continued to be faithful to God despite the fact that they did not receive the promise of God in their lifetime here on earth. They didn’t live for His fulfillment in this lifetime, but rather, they trusted in the Lord and lived by faith that He would provide something better—completion and perfection—in the life to come.
Where is your faith? Are you trusting God for fulfillment and promise for this lifetime alone or are you setting your sights to the things unseen (vs 1-3)?
Read Hebrews 12:1-2.
Pray. Examine your life and your faith before the Lord. Ask Him for clarity and discernment in setting your faith in Him and in His provision. Praise Him for His faithfulness.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Faith
Before you begin reading today, stop and reflect for a few minutes. How would you describe your faith? What kind of faith do you want to have?
Spend a few minutes in prayer, asking God to grow your faith in new ways right now.
Read Hebrews 11:1-3.
How does the writer describe faith in the opening verse? What does he say that faith accomplishes? What is your faith accomplishing currently?
Read Hebrews 11:4-38.
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Baak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and many others are all mentioned as having great faith. Why? Who are your heroes of faith? Why?
Take some time to review the stories of these who overcame by faith. What stands out to you about their stories? How did their faith change their lives? How does your faith change your life? Spend a few minutes in prayer asking the Lord to change your life through faith.
Read Hebrews 11:39-40.
The writer of Hebrews clarifies that all of those mentioned as heroes of faith continued to be faithful to God despite the fact that they did not receive the promise of God in their lifetime here on earth. They didn’t live for His fulfillment in this lifetime, but rather, they trusted in the Lord and lived by faith that He would provide something better—completion and perfection—in the life to come.
Where is your faith? Are you trusting God for fulfillment and promise for this lifetime alone or are you setting your sights to the things unseen (vs 1-3)?
Read Hebrews 12:1-2.
Pray. Examine your life and your faith before the Lord. Ask Him for clarity and discernment in setting your faith in Him and in His provision. Praise Him for His faithfulness.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Day 37
Day 37
Church Conduct
Read 1 Timothy 4:12-16.
In his writing to Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy not to be shy or insecure because of his youth, but to set an example for the believers around him. Do you ever feel insecure because of your age? How does your age affect your actions as far as your faith is concerned?
Paul explains that Timothy should set an example for other believers in 6 areas of his life. What are those 6 areas? How do you personally set an example for other believers in those areas of your life?
Take a minute to stop and pray. Ask the Lord to help you be bold in setting an example for other believers through these 6 areas of your life. Ask Him to show you which areas you need to focus on improving as a leader and example of faith.
Read 1 Timothy 5:1-2.
Paul gives some specific instructions about how Timothy and his fellow believers ought to interact with one another. Does how you treat fellow believers line up with what Paul tells Timothy? Why or why not?
Read 1 Timothy 5:3-16.
How does Paul say that the church should care for widows? Why?
Read 1 Timothy 5:17-24.
Paul makes the point that elders in the church are to be treated with double honor. Is that the case in the church today? How do you treat those adults placed in leadership around you?
In his letter to Timothy, Paul outlines how the church as a body ought to treat one another. Spend a few minutes going back over these passages. Look for areas that stand out to you as needing improvement. Submit those areas to God in a prayer. Ask Him to help grow you in your respect and treatment of leadership and fellow believers, and also ask Him to grow the body as a whole.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Church Conduct
Read 1 Timothy 4:12-16.
In his writing to Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy not to be shy or insecure because of his youth, but to set an example for the believers around him. Do you ever feel insecure because of your age? How does your age affect your actions as far as your faith is concerned?
Paul explains that Timothy should set an example for other believers in 6 areas of his life. What are those 6 areas? How do you personally set an example for other believers in those areas of your life?
Take a minute to stop and pray. Ask the Lord to help you be bold in setting an example for other believers through these 6 areas of your life. Ask Him to show you which areas you need to focus on improving as a leader and example of faith.
Read 1 Timothy 5:1-2.
Paul gives some specific instructions about how Timothy and his fellow believers ought to interact with one another. Does how you treat fellow believers line up with what Paul tells Timothy? Why or why not?
Read 1 Timothy 5:3-16.
How does Paul say that the church should care for widows? Why?
Read 1 Timothy 5:17-24.
Paul makes the point that elders in the church are to be treated with double honor. Is that the case in the church today? How do you treat those adults placed in leadership around you?
In his letter to Timothy, Paul outlines how the church as a body ought to treat one another. Spend a few minutes going back over these passages. Look for areas that stand out to you as needing improvement. Submit those areas to God in a prayer. Ask Him to help grow you in your respect and treatment of leadership and fellow believers, and also ask Him to grow the body as a whole.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Day 36
Day 36
Pressing on
Trials are an inevitable part of life. Consider your journey right now. What trials are you experiencing currently?
Read Philippians 3:12-13.
Paul speaks about pressing on in the faith. Sometimes when we are under fire from the enemy in some area of our lives, we easily get discouraged. Paul says that he forgets things of the past and reaches forward to those things ahead of him. Are there things in your life from your past that you’re holding onto? What’s causing trials in your life and preventing you from pressing on? Spend a few minutes in prayer. Ask God to reveal to you those things to which you are clinging. Ask Him to help you let go of the things behind you so that you can press on to what He has in front of you. Thank Him for His endurance and steadfast love.
Read Philippians 3:14-15.
A major contributor to our discouragement is often where we set our sights. Setting our sights isn’t just about looking forward and not backward, but it’s also about looking upward and not around us. What have you been setting your sights on? Paul speaks of the prize as being in Christ Jesus. That is the reason we run this race: for Him and for Him alone. Spend a few minutes in prayer aligning yourself with how the Bible says we ought to run this race. Consider where your eyes have been fixed and commit now to fix your eyes on Christ as your prize.
Read Philippians 3:16.
It’s clear throughout Scripture that we were not created to run this race alone. We weren’t meant to endure hardships or trials on our own. Who in your life can you turn to when you’re discouraged in the midst of a trial? Who in your life may be needing to turn to you for encouragement in the midst of their trials? Spend some time in prayer. Praise the Lord for His provision and sustaining grace. Ask Him to reveal to you those people He’s placed in your life to share this race with. Ask Him to be your endurance and your sustenance as you press onward. Commit to setting your sights forward and upward.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Pressing on
Trials are an inevitable part of life. Consider your journey right now. What trials are you experiencing currently?
Read Philippians 3:12-13.
Paul speaks about pressing on in the faith. Sometimes when we are under fire from the enemy in some area of our lives, we easily get discouraged. Paul says that he forgets things of the past and reaches forward to those things ahead of him. Are there things in your life from your past that you’re holding onto? What’s causing trials in your life and preventing you from pressing on? Spend a few minutes in prayer. Ask God to reveal to you those things to which you are clinging. Ask Him to help you let go of the things behind you so that you can press on to what He has in front of you. Thank Him for His endurance and steadfast love.
Read Philippians 3:14-15.
A major contributor to our discouragement is often where we set our sights. Setting our sights isn’t just about looking forward and not backward, but it’s also about looking upward and not around us. What have you been setting your sights on? Paul speaks of the prize as being in Christ Jesus. That is the reason we run this race: for Him and for Him alone. Spend a few minutes in prayer aligning yourself with how the Bible says we ought to run this race. Consider where your eyes have been fixed and commit now to fix your eyes on Christ as your prize.
Read Philippians 3:16.
It’s clear throughout Scripture that we were not created to run this race alone. We weren’t meant to endure hardships or trials on our own. Who in your life can you turn to when you’re discouraged in the midst of a trial? Who in your life may be needing to turn to you for encouragement in the midst of their trials? Spend some time in prayer. Praise the Lord for His provision and sustaining grace. Ask Him to reveal to you those people He’s placed in your life to share this race with. Ask Him to be your endurance and your sustenance as you press onward. Commit to setting your sights forward and upward.
What has God spoken to you about as you’ve read and prayed through these Scriptures?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)