August 13

Nehemiah 5:14-7:73, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 21:8-10



Pray: The psalmist today will encourage you to sing. Why not start your time with Him by singing a song? What’s the first song of praise that comes to mind? Perhaps turn on the Christian radio station and sing along. Sing out, unashamed, with joy to the Lord as is fitting for Him (Psalm 33:1).

Read: Psalm 33:10-11 promises that God will frustrate the plans of those who stand against His plans, and that His intentions can never be shaken. Read today in light of that promise.

Edify: Notice the enemies in Nehemiah tried to thwart God’s plans with false accusations and lies. Also, notice how quickly Nehemiah picked up on the lack of truth in the story and exposed the lies. Finally, the people actually responded with greater determination to participate in the Lord’s work once the lies were exposed. The enemy today still uses lies to condemn, frustrate, confuse, and discourage us. However, we are armed with Christ’s work on the cross which cancelled the charges against us and disarmed and shamed the spiritual rulers and authorities that come against us! (Colossians 2:13-15) We, like Nehemiah, have to be aware of God’s intentions and plans in order to expose the lies and continue the work.  

Practice: What has been a source of discouragement for you recently? Expose the lie, so you can disarm the enemy. Remember that the psalmist reminds us that God’s word is trustworthy and true, He does what is just and good, and His unfailing love fills the earth. Shine light on the lie that’s persistent in your heart right now, and fill it with confidence in the sovereignty and unfailing love of God.

August 12

Nehemiah 3:15-5:13, 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, Psalm 32:1-11, Proverbs 21:5-7

Pray: Ask for the Lord’s guidance this morning. Thank Him for His protection so far.

Read: Today’s reading is full of situations demanding decisions and desired courses for action. Take note of what is considered, what is valued, and what strategies are employed in each situation.

Edify: When desiring guidance for any situation, journey, or project it is important to get an honest assessment of the situation. We have to define reality as Paul poses the question, “What relationship decision will help you serve the Lord best with as few distractions as possible?” Nehemiah had to define reality for everyone with the opposition coming against the people of God as they took on what was already an enormous task. Further, he had to define reality for the community as the most vulnerable among them were being crushed by interest rates from their own people which endangered many children. Defining reality is the beginning of knowing the path of how God is calling you to go from “here” to “there”. 

Practice: What is the prominent decision you are facing over the course of the next month? Whether it has to do with work, relationships, or ministry; take a moment to define reality (current issue demanding an answer, your values, the possible directions, and any Scripture that must be considered). Finally, take comfort in the promise of God, “I will guide along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8). 

August 11

Nehemiah 1:1-3:14, 1 Corinthians 7:1-24, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 21:4 



Pray: What is the last news story locally or globally that caught your attention and moved you to sorrow or tears? Recall or pull up that news story and begin to pray specifically for the people affected.  It’s okay to identify with God’s heart by sitting and weeping, while also trusting that He can make things right as you intercede for those involved.

Read: Consider the value of protection and shelter that the Lord provides as you read today.

Edify: The Word of God gives us an interesting dynamic when considering the entire reading. Paul is saying to stay in your situation and honor God in it when it comes to relationships. Nehemiah has a holy discontent where he is situated in the king’s palace and goes to rebuild the wall “on the frontlines” where the danger is. There seems to be a tension as to whether God is calling you to contentment in staying put or discontentment in action. The answer…be faithful to God’s commandments where you stand as Paul urges, be consistent with God’s will and promises while on your knees in prayer like Nehemiah, and finally being both loyal to God and courageous to follow His voice in the process of life (Psalm 31:23-24). Nehemiah’s heart was aligned with God’s promises, courageous to speak up when the king asked about his sadness, and obedient to walk through the door of opportunity the Lord had provided. This is to be both content and patient with the process and discontent until wrongs are made right.

Practice: It took months for an opportunity to arise consistent with Nehemiah’s passionate prayer. It shows him “content” in as much as he fulfilled the duties to the king faithfully in the waiting. What is a bold prayer, consistent with God’s heart and promises in Scripture, that you can begin praying now for someone who is vulnerable (like the wall-less people of Jerusalem)? Pray for them, prepare your heart for action, and be faithful to God where you are in the waiting.

August 10

Ezra 10:1-44, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 21:3



Pray: Spend time imagining how life is different in a month, in 5 years, and in 25 years from today. Pay attention to what is prioritized in your thoughts and what fears and joys emerge. Then join the psalmist in declaring “I am trusting you, O Lord…My future is in your hands” (Psalm 31:14a, 15a)

Read: Read the Proverb first today, and then consider how its truth is reinforced and illustrated through the rest of the reading. 

Edify: There’s a clear call to not forget “who” you are and “whose” you are despite life circumstances or temptations. Ezra calls a nation that had been ripped out of their land to confess how they had strayed, remember who they are, and to make things right. Paul urges forgiveness and reconciliation among believers that have disagreements. On what basis? They belong to God and are to be witnesses to His goodness. In each case, in sinful rebellion or disagreement, there is confession and calling upon the name of the Lord involved. Paul urges those tempted to “remember that you do not belong to yourself, but God has bought you with a high price…and you are the temple with the Holy Spirit!” Don’t forget who you are and whose you are before turning your back on what is “right and just.” 

Practice: Both Ezra and Paul remind us the high value that our bodies hold in the eyes of God. In what ways are you abusing your body or sinning with your body that houses the Holy Spirit? Food or diet? Lack of exercise? Avoiding going to the doctor for a physical or some nagging issue? Giving in to physical temptations? Confess to God, then take a cleansing action like the people of Israel demonstrated. 

August 9

Ezra 8:21-9:15, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 21:1-2 

Pray: An incredible promise in the Psalm today is that “the Lord cares about the anguish of my soul.” What is it that grieves your soul today? Begin by sharing your anguish with the Lord and rejoicing in His unfailing love.

Read: See how sin grieves the heart of God and the heart of spiritual leaders. Take note of how serious sin is and unrepentant sin in particular. Finally, as you read today, take note of how sin is ultimately a heart and worship issue.

Edify: It’s clear that the apostles understand the Church to be the New Israel promised throughout the Old Testament. And Israel, God’s people, are to be holy and set apart. This is why the intermarriage that has Ezra pleading with God for mercy is a faith and holiness issue, rather than primarily a racial issue. To belong to God’s people isn’t to be sinless, however it is to be growing in grace through repentance and faith. Paul warns about the “wolf” in the “sheepfold” that is unrepentant and drawing the entire community into sexual sin. Paul’s words are no doubt harsh about casting them out of the community, because there is so much at stake with sin. It cannot be contained, but instead infects everything. Christians cannot honor Jesus or even fully rejoice in our salvation without an accurate view of how sin separates and destroys fellowship with one another and with God.

Practice: How are you coddling your own sin or sin within the community that is nurturing your faith? How can you firmly and lovingly confront it through receiving or providing accountability in the immediate future?

August 8

Ezra 7:1-8:20, 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, Psalm 30:1-12, Proverbs 20:28-30 



Pray: Paul asks a tremendous question in today’s reading, “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” Take time to consider all the gifts that God has given you, including that breath you just took. Enter today’s reading with humility and a hunger to know the giver of those gifts. 

Read: The New Testament, Old Testament, and Psalm readings are all in the shadow of trials, difficulty, and suffering. Whether it’s picking up the pieces from exile, conflict resolution, or health issues, what do you learn about the Lord through the brutally honest situations you encounter in today’s reading?

Edify: Ezra lived in a difficult time with a people who had forgotten who they are after 70 years of exile in Babylon. Despite a difficult life, he was quite aware that “the gracious hand of his God was on him” (Ezra 7:9) and that his purpose was to “study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel” (Ezra 7:10). It’s one thing for the Israelites that returned to build the temple, but quite another for someone like Ezra to rebuild their faith in God.  Much like David in the Psalm, although people disappointed him repeatedly, he praises God for His “unfailing love” demonstrated towards him.  Similarly, Paul observes that “we apostles have been put on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die” (1 Corinthians 4:9). Paul lived a difficult life, became a spiritual father, and was often disappointed by the way he was treated. However, he persisted in the sharing of the Good News despite how it was received or the obstacles in the way. Despite having the gracious hand of the Lord upon them, these great and fruitful leaders displayed grit and perseverance within their clear calling.

Practice: What is that God-honoring, but difficult, action that you have been putting off? Who do you need to have a crucial conversation with or need to apologize to? Show grit by leaning into the difficult, but God-honoring path while remembering that God’s gracious hand is upon you. 

August 7

Ezra 4:24-6:22, 1 Corinthians 3:5-23, Psalm 29:1-11, Proverbs 20:26-27



Pray: Look back and ask God to reveal times when you’ve been used to spread seeds of the Good News of Jesus and times when you’ve been able to water or tend the growth spiritually in someone. Thank God for His grace to allow you to participate in His work and ask God for more opportunities to spread seeds and water, and ask God for the chance to see Him make the seed grow.

Read: Look for the ongoing revelation from Old Testament to New Testament reading of what a temple is, what the foundation for that temple is, and the implications of the location of the dwelling house of God.

Edify: Is Jesus the foundation from which all of your life, decisions, interactions, and desires are built upon? As if that question isn’t big enough, take a moment to evaluate it by your interactions. Paul says that he purposefully invested time and attention as an expert builder to build a foundation in the Corinthian believers. But he did not take credit for it, because the most important thing is that foundation IS Christ. The challenge from Paul in our interactions with others is to not lean on our own wisdom, and as the NIV version puts it in verse 19, our craftiness; but to rely on the wisdom that is found in Christ. When you are close enough to speak into someone’s life foundationally, it is only the foundation of Christ that will allow that person to withstand any storm, situation, or suffering in this life. Speak Christ, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness!

Practice: Thank a leader in your life that has foundationally spoken Christ into your life. Do it today with a simple text or phone call. Then begin making plans to situate yourself where you can speak Christ into the life of others through a life group or regularly scheduled coffee with a friend.