Scripture to read today:
Esther 3; Esther 4; Esther 5; Esther 6; Esther 7; Esther 8; Luke 18
Scripture to focus on today:
Esther 4:14b
For who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Observation:
I studied Esther in depth last spring, and this verse keeps resonating in my mind. Esther was a Jew who just happened to be chosen to be the queen of Persia. She was in a position to eventually bring about the salvation of her people. God puts people in places that, though we may not understand why we are where we are, He can use us to bring about something He has planned.
Application:
I’ve always believed that I am where I am for a reason. I’ve spent the last 17 years raising children who are now mostly grown men. As Savannah gets older, I wonder where I’ll be and for what purpose. I’d love to have a crystal ball and be able to see 10 years into the future. Where will I be? What will I be doing? Whatever it is, I know that God has a plan and it will be good.
Prayer:
Lord, lead me where you want me to be. I want to be your servant and follow the plan you have for my life. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16
Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 138:8
The Lord will work out his plans for my life- for your faithful love, O Lord,
endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Observation:
The Lord made me and he has a plan for me. This verse tells me that he
will work out his plan for me because he loves me and is faithful. He will
not abandon me.
Application:
I still get many questions about my relationship with Scott. Are we dating?
When I say no, just enjoying a wonderful friendship, people want to know what we are
waiting for. But what they don't see is there is a lot of good in having him for a best
friend. I enjoy sharing dreams and thoughts with someone who loves me
unconditionally. But as to a future? Who knows but God? That isn't for me to
decide. I firmly believe that God has plans for us both that we don't know yet.
But so far, His plan has been pretty good. I'm willing to hang out here until He shows
me what the next step should be.
Prayer:
Lord, I know I tell you what I want so much of the time. Please keep me
willing to sit back and see what plans you have and not become impatient.
Also, give me the wisdom to recognize those plans and the courage to move
forward with them. You've been faithful to me and I know you will not abandon
me. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ezekiel 29; Ezekiel 30; Ezekiel 31; Ezekiel 32; Revelation 11
Scripture that spoke to me:
Revelation 11:13
At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Observation:
This is a prophecy of the end times. The seventh trumpet is blown and the end of the world is near. Here there is an earthquake that caused a lot of destruction, but the people gave glory to God in heaven. This seems oxymoronic, but we can praise God and give Him glory at all times!
Application:
I’ve heard people say “why did God let this happen” many times when something goes wrong. This verse reminds me that God isn’t here just to make our lives easy and happy. He is here to fulfill His promises and see His plans completed. That may mean that we have some earthquakes in our lives… shaking so violent that all we can do is drop to our knees and praise God. That doesn’t mean His plans call for destruction. If you’ve ever made bread, you know that you have to knead the dough and pound it with your fist in order to make it rise right. If all you focus on is the beating (and not the fact that you end up with risen dough) then you aren’t looking at the right thing. Look for the end result- because if God is there, you can bet it will be good.
Prayer:
Lord, help us look for Your purpose in all things, and be ready to give You glory, even in the worst of storms. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 37; Jeremiah 38; Jeremiah 39; Psalm 79; 2 John 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 39:16
“Go and tell Ebed-Melech the Cushite, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes.
Observation:
The Lord says “my ways are not your ways” ((Isaiah 55:6) and here we see that the Lord is using disaster, not prosperity, to bring about His ways. We usually think that the Lord is all happiness and good times and that He will show Himself through good things only. But His ways are not our own, and sometimes He uses calamity to get our attention.
Application:
Looking back through my life, God has used the tough times to draw me closer to Him. Seems like when things were good, I didn’t lean on Him as much. When life got tough- or even when life was about to change (even for the good- like in marriage, children, etc.)- I drew closer to Him. I don’t believe that God will miss a chance to be closer to us. He’ll use the bad things that happen to bring about His purpose just as much as the good. Sometimes, it might even work better!
Prayer:
Lord, please use every experience in my life, good and bad and all those in between, to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 28; Jeremiah 29; Jeremiah 30; 1 John 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
Jeremiah 29:11-12
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Observation:
God has a plan! He knows why each of us have been put here. We all have a purpose- something to do to fulfill a need. We are worthy of life, and we are worthy of God’s love because He made us with intention.
Application:
Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a goal right now- or maybe more accurately that the goal I have (which is to get these children raised and out into society as functioning adults) isn’t very noble. I wonder if I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing. But God has a plan for me! And I’m sure He will tell me what I’m supposed to do next if I only keep praying and listening.
Prayer:
Lord, let me fulfill the plans You have for me. Lead me in the way I am supposed to go and open the doors of my future ahead of me. Oh, and let me not be unsure of the direction. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 23; Jeremiah 24; Jeremiah 25; John 19
Scripture that spoke to me:
John 19:21-22
The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
Observation:
Pilate is an interesting character to me. He had absolute power over what happened in Jerusalem. He could do whatever he wanted. If he truly didn’t want to crucify Jesus, he didn’t have to. I wonder if Pilate was made to look better in history books (like some of our own historical figures) or if deep down, Jesus cracked his armor a little bit. Whichever way, it does appear that Pilate knew who was before him and who he was crucifying.
Application:
We are a stubborn people. We set our sights on something and don’t let much get in our way, even though we may have second thoughts. We don’t change course for fear that we will appear weak, or at least wishy-washy. We need to be able to re-examine our goals on our way to them, to see if they are still worthy of our efforts the closer we get to them.
Prayer:
Lord, help me do things that are worthy. Let me remember to always examine my heart for Your will. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 63; Isaiah 64; Psalm 107; John 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Observation:
There are many scriptures that speak of the Creator- and how the creation is not as important as the One who created it. But this one takes it further- we are His creation, but we are also being shaped every day by the Creator. He didn’t make us and put us on a shelf- He continues to work on us every day.
Application:
That means that there is always a chance to do better! I’m glad of that. Today is a new day, and maybe God will smooth down that rough spot I’m having a tough time with. Right now I’m not having fun trying to stay with my exercise routine. It’s hot, I’m busy… I have lots of excuses… but today is another chance to do better. I’m sure there are other rough spots that need attention, too. Fortunately, the Creator is still at work in me!
Prayer:
Lord, continue to mold and shape me into the person You would have me be. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 50; Isaiah 51; Isaiah 52; Psalm 92; 2 Peter 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
Psalm 92:12-14
But the godly will flourish like palm trees
and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
They flourish in the courts of our God.
Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
Observation:
Following the Lord means that you have eternal life, transplanted into the Lord’s own house. You bear fruit even into old age, and are a vital part of life in the kingdom.
Application:
This made me think of my 92 year old grandmother. She has been dead for 17 years now, but was such a dear person and had such a strong, sweet faith. Even into her 90’s, she was still able to shine the light of Jesus and help others along the way. I wonder now about my 87 year old grandma with Altzheimers- what her role in life still is? She mostly eats and sleeps. Maybe she touches the life of a nurse, or there is something that her family gets from going to see her. I know that God has a plan for all of our lives- all our life, so I’m sure there is a good reason that she is still here (although she isn’t all “there” anymore.)
Prayer:
Lord, take my life and use it to the fullest, until the very end. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 46; Isaiah 47; Isaiah 48; Isaiah 49; 1 Peter 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
Isaiah 49:4
I replied, “But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
I will trust God for my reward.”
Observation:
God asks us to do things sometimes that don’t seem like they make a difference. A day helping someone rake leaves, just to see more fall. A meal taken that will be eaten and gone. Sometimes work seems like it doesn’t have a purpose- but God has a big plan, and our work is but one tiny piece of some whole picture that, when finished, is truly spectacular.
Application:
Have you ever worked a 1000 piece puzzle to find that one piece is lost? And it is probably a piece that looks like 50 other pieces. But that one piece is important! That is how God works. You get your one piece to work on that seems insignificant- just like a hundred others- and you think that whatever you do with it will not matter that much. But imagine the big picture without that one piece. It loses its whole look. It isn’t finished. I need to remember that I don’t have (and probably don’t want to have) half of the puzzle to work on, so I can’t see just how significant my tiny piece is!
Prayer:
Lord, please help me remember that Your kingdom is vast, and I know only a small part of it. Help me care for my little part well. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Ecclesiastes 10; Ecclesiastes 11; Ecclesiastes 12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
Observation:
Scientists work hard to understand how God made things and how they work. Solomon points out that there are some things we just cannot understand. We are not our own Creator, and we do not have the knowledge of all He knows.
Application:
I try to remember this when something happens that I don’t like. God has a plan- He is in control. And I don’t have the big picture. I have to trust that what He has set about will be good in the end. Some of you know our cat died this week (I closed it in the garage door- freak accident.) My heartbroken but wise daughter said “Mom, I wonder what good is going to come from this? Whenever something bad happens, something good usually happens, too.” How smart she is!
Prayer:
Lord, let me always be able to see the good, even looking back on it, that comes from everything around me. Amen.
