September 5

Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 22:20-21 



Pray: Dear Lord, I don't know who or what will cross my path today. But I do know that You are my Rock and my Fortress. You are my Shield and my Strong Tower. Help me to anchor myself to You today. Teach me how to stand strong in You and choose only Your way today. Help me walk by Your truth and not my feelings. Help me to embrace anything that comes my way as an opportunity to see You at work and as an opportunity to point others to You. Thank You that You love me and nothing can ever take that away from me! Even if I fail today and fall short, You whisper Your unconditional love deep into my soul and remind me that Your mercies are new every morning. That truly amazes me, Lord. Thank You for meeting with me today. Would You wake me again tomorrow with the same sweet whisper of Your love? I can't wait to meet with You again. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Read: Solomon continues to pour his wisdom into the future generations during these final chapters of Ecclesiastes. Many of the verses read like fortune cookies in their brevity and succinctness, yet they are powerful in their content and application. I wonder what the world would look like if all of God’s people would read through and apply the knowledge that Solomon is sharing on these pages? While much of it seems so much like common sense, the reality is that there are many people who lack that very thing. As followers of Christ, we are called to point people to Jesus but also to demonstrate a life that is governed by the love of God and even these seemingly simple, yet profound, truths. To live a life that is guided by these Ecclesiastical truths could dramatically change the way that we interact with the world.

Edify: In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he told them of the generosity that had been shown to him while on his journeys. He was hoping that the news of this generosity of the churches he had visited in Macedonia would encourage the Corinthian believers and motivate them to solve their problems and reunite in fellowship and ministry. The reality was that the church at Corinth excelled in everything… they had great faith, gifted speakers, knowledge, enthusiasm and love, but they were not great leaders in the area of giving. At Christ Church we can say that same thing. We are gifted in so many ways, even in the area of giving. There are many among our ranks that practice extravagant giving and for that we are eternally grateful. It is even more important that we embrace the power of giving when it comes to our Vision 2:28 campaign this Fall. As we experience God pouring out his Spirit upon all people, we must be generous in all areas of our lives, including giving, so that the work of the church can be expanded and multiplied!

Practice: Pray today that we will have 100% participation in the Vision 2:28 campaign. We can’t do the ministry that God is calling us to do without the necessary resources to do them with. It is our prayer that EVERY PERSON IN CHURCH will financially be a part of the Vision 2:28 campaign in some way! We serve a BIG God so we ask boldly for big things!

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.