June 6

1 Kings 1:1-53, Acts 4:1-37, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 16:24



Pray: Father, would You earnestly teach me from Your Word today. May I not read for any other reason than to know You more. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit as I read and seek to draw closer to You. Amen.

Read: It must be humbling as leaders to be led and Nathan and Bathsheba did it wisely. David had given up the sword and now he must also surrender the scepter. A wise leader knows when to step aside. God had made it clear that Solomon was God’s choice for the throne.

Edify: Interestingly, Adonijah fled to the altar for safety, not for sanctity. Religion was something he used only for personal profit. Unfortunately, some insincere people today do the very same thing. Our motivations in coming before God must be authentic.

Practice: What do you do when they tell you to stop sharing the Gospel? What did the apostles do? Certainly they recalled the words of Jesus and depended on the Holy Spirit to help them. May we rely fully on the Holy Spirit today.

June 5

2 Samuel 23:24-24:25, Acts 3:1-26, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 16:21-23 



Pray: Lord, in today’s readings there is a beautiful picture of Your mercy. David cries out for Your mercy and trusts in Your mercy over the injustice of man. We see Your mercy working among the crippled man who Peter heals. May we look for evidences of Your mercy today as we pray, “Lord, thank You that Your mercies are new every morning.”

Read:  “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

¹⁵ So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days.  A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. ¹⁶ But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” Again we read of the Lord showing mercy. David knows that if it is between relying on the Lord for mercy or other men, he will choose the Lord.

Edify: ⁶ But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!”

⁷ Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. ⁸ He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them." The theme of mercy continues as Peter shares the love of Christ with the lame man and offers him an undeserved gift.

Practice: May we practice the mercy of God in our lives today both in word and in deed. The proverb today says “sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." We must remember that we can be merciful with our actions and with our words. A kind word or sometimes restraining our mouths can be an act of mercy.

June 4

2 Samuel 22:1-23:23, Acts 2:1-47, Psalm 122:1-9, Proverbs 16:19-20



Pray: Father God, help me to love my coworkers deeply. Remind me that we are far better together. Help me to pour myself out for them. Before we wage war help us to build relationships.

Read: 2 Samuel 23:13 finds David reflecting about an experience he had years earlier. During a harvest season David was hiding with his men at the cave of Adullam from the Philistine army. David remarked to his key men how he would love some water from the well just outside of Bethlehem. But there was a problem. The well was in Philistine territory. Nonetheless, his key guys risked their lives and broke through enemy lines to bring this coveted water to David, who refused to drink the water and poured it out as an offering to the Lord. He saw this well water as something three of his men were willing to die on his behalf to give him.

Edify: To say that David’s men loved him and would gladly give their lives for him is an understatement. But David loved them right back by refusing to drink the very water they were willing to die to provide. David understood a leadership principle that is still very true today. “Win their hearts and one day they will win you wars.”

Practice: Practice recognizing just what others have done for you. Celebrate with them just how much they mean to you. Don’t fear expression. Vocalize appreciation.

June 3

2 Samuel 20:14-21:22, Acts 1:1-26, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 16:18



Pray: God, get me ready to turn things that I head up and lead over to others. Help me to perceive the times, the seasons, and the circle of life.

Read: David and his men were at war throughout Israel. But David had aged over the years. On more than one occasion he had almost been killed. His young leaders urged him “to stay home.” He was too valuable to be lost in battle. Great men of God do get older, they do get tired, and they cannot continue at the pace they kept as young men. At first, David would not step aside. But as time passed David realized that his young leaders were right. He represented stability and the blessing of God.

There comes a time where we must yield…whether it is to younger leaders or our own children. Knowing when to do so and how to do so, well, no seasoned leader finds it easy. But yielding allows those that will one day rule get some hands-on experience with wise oversight.

Edify: The Lord watches over you now and FOREVER. We are not temporary. We are eternal. We don’t have a beginning and an end. We have a beginning followed by forever. Death is just a transition. The psalmist simply shares that God watches over us now (in this life) but also forever (in the next life). The psalmist is affirming that forever is real.

Practice: Practice delegating authority. Let others step up and begin to make decisions. And after they make decisions practice sitting down with them and evaluating what they did and why.

June 2

2 Samuel 19:11-20:13, John 21:1-25, Psalm 120:1-7Proverbs 16:16-17



Pray: I am a work in progress Lord. Help me to keep my eyes on what You are doing in me while not getting caught up in what You might be doing in others. It is not wise for me to compare myself to others. You have a purpose and a plan for my life. Help me to be laser focused on that.

Read: Jesus said to Peter, “When you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go. Jesus said this to let Peter know by what kind of death he would glorify God.”

Historical tradition tells us that Peter was crucified like Jesus. Some report he was crucified upside down. So he indeed had others stretch out his arms and put him to death. Peter didn’t deny Christ when he, himself, was the offering. There were all kinds of works of grace and preparation of heart that took place in Peter’s life preparing him for death. Tests we fail when we are young can be passed as God gets a hold of us and grace grows in us over time.

Edify: Our past mistakes and failings need not haunt us. Peter made some huge mistakes. His enthusiasm often raced ahead of his character development. But after Pentecost a different Peter began to emerge. He began to let go and let God. Rather than confess who he was and what he would do, he began to voice who Christ was and what He would do. Folks, it isn’t about us. The sooner we make life all about Him the sooner we come into purpose and fulfillment.

Practice: Practice self-examination. Has this past week been about you or about Christ? If the pangs of self-promotion start to sweep over you, simply ask for forgiveness and tell the Lord that you want a fresh start.

June 1

2 Samuel 18:1-19:10, John 20:1-31, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 16:14-15



Pray: Father, help me to think in terms of character and not in terms of talent. Help me choose friends and yoke myself to coworkers who have first and foremost…CHARACTER. Help me to discern passive aggressive behavior and correct it before it destroys.

Read: 2 Samuel 18:14 finds David’s general, Joab, shouting, “Enough of this nonsense!” King David had commanded his soldiers to spare the life of his rebellious son, Absalom, should they come across him in battle. During the battle Absalom got caught in a tree and was soon discovered by David’s men. But instead of saving him alive Joab plunged three daggers into Absalom and had his armor bearers finish him off. Joab felt he knew best. He served one of the greatest military leaders spanning the history of Israel yet, he knew better than his master. There is no doubt that Joab was a great general, but he was passive aggressive. He felt that he knew better than his master. As leaders we select leaders. And all too often the leaders are selected because of their great skills and not because of their great character.

Edify: Select your leaders with their character strengths being foundational and fundamental. As much as you might need a great worship leader or a gifted salesman be careful that their character supersedes their gifting. Poor character or even undeveloped character is very dangerous when building God’s kingdom or even your business.

Practice: Talent, gifting, and even beauty or strength impresses easily. Practice saying “no” to these charms. Dive deep. Look for character. Look for tenacity. Look for faithfulness. Look for flexibility. Look for teachability.

May 31

2 Samuel 17:1-29, John 19:23-42, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 16:12-13



Pray: God, help me to be a true friend. Help me to step up and step into adversity being experienced by friends and family. Remind me that emptying myself not only refreshes others but also makes room for me to be filled by You.

Read: David and his men were fleeing Absalom in 2 Samuel 17:27. The future did not look bright. Politically, it looked like it was over. Militarily, David and his troops were weakened greatly. Who are your true friends? Who is there for you when everything is going wrong? “When David arrived at Mahaniam, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash….They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those with him. For they said, “You must be hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.” None of us like adversity, but in adversity we discover our true friends.

Edify: Are you a fair weather friend? Or, are you right there being a friend when it costs you much and gets you little? Far too many marriages break up when things are not going well. Far too many churches split when things are not going well. Friends are born for adversity. Be one.

Practice: We are connected by God to our spouses, our churches, and our communities. Practice stepping up rather than stepping away when things head south. Friendships are made to be tested. Expect testing.