September 4

Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18, 2 Corinthians 7:8-16, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 22:17-19



Pray: Dear Lord, help me remember what a difference it makes when I make time with You a priority in my morning. Awaken me in body and spirit each day with a desire to meet with You and to hear You speak words of affirmation, assurance and wisdom over my heart as I prepare to go into my day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Read: Have you ever heard anyone say that sometimes we have to learn by making our own mistakes? As we continue in Ecclesiastes we read Solomon’s thoughts on the importance of wisdom and the limits of that wisdom. He also writes to the future generations about the importance of obedience and the inevitability of death. Solomon’s efforts in these chapters of Ecclesiastes are meant to help people understand the way the world works so that people could learn from his wisdom and experience gained by his successes and mistakes rather than learn by making their own mistakes. In spite of this vast amount of knowledge that has been shared with us by the wisest man in the world, I see so many people ignoring his teachings and doing life without consulting the Book of Life. Are you one of them?  

Edify: Wisdom is so important yet so neglected. Solomon could have asked for anything in the world and he chose wisdom. To be wise is to understand the way that the world works and interacts with itself. Our culture today glorifies beauty and riches and ability, but to be wise is to understand all of those things and to understand all of those things not only allows you to obtain them but to also have dominion over them. Solomon was wise just in his wishes which boded well for him in all areas of life.

Practice: Today, take a moment to listen to the words of someone you consider wise. Hopefully, there are people that you interact with that you consider wise. Just listen and learn. Ask questions, and listen some more.

September 3

Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7, Psalm 47:1-9,Proverbs 22:16



Pray: It is good for us to praise You Lord! You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory. May we make time today Lord to sing songs of worship and praise to You! Amen.

Read: Have you ever wished you could get away from it all? People get on your nerves, circumstances ruin your plans and the best solution seems to “go it alone.” As Solomon looked at the problems of life, he saw adversity and inequality, but he realized no one can make it alone. Maybe you have been avoiding joining a life group? Now would be the perfect time in this new season to join with other like-minded followers of Jesus.

Edify: Believers in the church were compromising with the world and not walking separate. God longs to have a closer fellowship with us, but He will not share our fellowship with this world. It is one thing to ask God to cleanse you, it is another to try and put away those things in your life that defile. Sometimes cleaning means surgery - cutting out of you that one thing that is causing you to doubt the love of God in your heart.

Practice: A reminder to care for the poor and not be partial to the rich is in our Proverb today. What practical step can you take today to help someone in need?

September 2

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Psalm 46:1-11, Proverbs 22:15



Pray: God, You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble! May we remember this awesome truth today that You are always ready to come to our aid, if only we would call out to You for help. Amen.

Read: When Solomon begins Ecclesiastes he is convinced that life is meaningless. Have you ever felt that way? Keep reading! Vanity of Vanities! Solomon’s big mistake is that he was looking everywhere for meaning except at God. God has broken into this meaningless existence and given it meaning through the person of Jesus Christ!

Edify: It is easy to forget the sacrifices others have made so that we can know the Lord. Paul never spoke about his sufferings unless his words helped to protect the ministry. Do you take your church for granted? Do you thank those around you at church and those who came before you to make your church what it is? Gratitude to a fellow brother or sister in Christ goes a long way to continue to build it up!

Practice: A reminder today from Proverbs is how important it is to discipline your children. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of discipline drives it out!

September 1

Job 40:1-42:17, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 22:14



Pray: Your throne oh Lord, is forever and ever, the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness. You, Lord, have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. You have anointed us with the oil of gladness. May we rejoice in Your unfailing love for us today. Amen.

Read: God finally gave Job the one thing he wanted most, the opportunity to meet Him in court and defend his case. What if God gave you that opportunity? What would you say to Him? Would you rather meet God in the court room or at His throne of grace? The more you meet Him at the throne of grace the less likely you will want to meet Him in court.

Edify: This building is our new body that we will receive when we see the Lord because God saves the whole person. Creation is groaning and God’s people groan desiring for the Lord to come again. We do not want to die and leave our houses. Paul’s spiritual motivations for service included the judgment seat of Christ, the love of Christ, and the power of the gospel. What motivates you today to do His will?

Practice: Sobering words from Proverbs that it is a terrifying thing for the Lord to be angry with us. Let us remember the continual commandment in scripture to fear the Lord today.

August 31

Job 37:1-39:30, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 22:13

Pray: Lord, You know better than I do. Keep me from being too talkative and thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Keep me from trying to straighten out everyone else’s issues. Teach me the beautiful lesson that occasionally it is possible that I am wrong. Make me thoughtful and not moody or bossy. Amen.

Read: The storm finally broke on the five men seated on the ash heap, and God spoke to Job out of the storm. We do not enjoy it when the storm comes, but if we listen to His voice, the storm will accomplish good things in our lives. When the storm was over, Job was ready to meet God and help his friends. God’s word is light but too often our words bring darkness.

Edify: Jesus suffered and turned that suffering into glory; by faith, we can do the same thing. It is not wrong to care for the outward person, so long as you recognize that it is perishing. Concentrate on the inner person. It is the invisible that is imperishable. The best is yet to come!

Practice: It seems that our Proverb today is reminding us not to make excuses for the work we must accomplish. The sluggard says “There is a lion outside I shall be killed in the streets.” Whatever excuse you might be making for what needs to be done today, put it aside and remember how important it is that we do what we are called to do.

August 30

Job 34:1-36:33, 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 22:10-12



Pray: Oh Lord, it is Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face that You save us, for You delight in us. You are our King. May we speak of Your name today to others of Your glorious works in all the earth! Amen.

Read: Elihu must have been a good listener because he was able to quote Job’s words. However, Elihu listened with ears and not with his heart, which made his speeches harsh and unkind. He was too sure of himself and kept reminding Job and his friends to listen to him. It was the same old argument: God is just and therefore cannot be accused of sin or partiality. God sees all we do and judges sin righteously. How important do you think you are before God? Job was important to God, so much so that God and Satan had a discussion in heaven about him! The greatness of God does not mean that He is far from us, I have to remind myself of this truth. He is great in love and mercy!

Edify: Unlike the legalist who had invaded the church in Corinth, Paul had nothing to hide. The Jewish religious system veiled the Gospel, but Paul sought to reveal the Gospel. There is a similar image in Genesis 1 when God brings light into the darkness. Paul paid a great price for his ministry and the legalists were about collecting honors. We are vessels, the treasure of the Gospel life within is important. As vessels we must be clean and available for His use.

Practice: We see today in Proverbs how important our words can be. It says “He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.” May we be careful that our words are gracious today.

August 29

Job 31:1-33:33, 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 22:8-9 

Pray: Lord, You are the God in whom I take refuge, send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy. May we not be downcast today Lord, may we hope in You, our salvation and God.

Read: The first verse of our Old Testament reading today is a verse that I was told to memorize when I was younger to help me fight the battle of purity. I would encourage all men to memorize Job 31:1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes that I will not look upon a woman to lust after her.” In times of temptation reminding yourself of this verse can be a lifesaver. The youngest and wisest of Job’s friends speaks truth to him from God and reminds Job that “He redeems my soul from going down to the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.” God breaks so that He may restore.

Edify: In the second letter to the Corinthians today we are reminded of the difference between the law and the spirit. The law brings death, meaning we are reminded by God’s law that we are law breakers and unable to be perfectly right before God. But God’s perfect spirit makes us right as we read earlier in chapter 1 that the Spirit is our guarantee!

Practice:  Proverbs reminds us today that a man who is generous will be blessed. Think of one act of generosity that you can do today to bless someone else and then wait to see how God blesses you in time.