September 12

Isaiah 10:1-11:16, Corinthians 12:11-21, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 23:6-8 

Pray: “This I know: God is on my side!” (Psalm 56:9). What a great and comforting thought. The psalmist penned these words even as he considered that his enemies were coming after him. Are you dealing with some tough decisions, difficult people, or even outright persecution from enemies who are trying to tear you down? Know this: God is on your side!!! In your prayer time, share with the Lord your concerns, but also (and perhaps more importantly) give praise to the God who never leaves you nor forsakes you and is always on your side.

Read: We recently had some trees removed from our yard and we were certain we didn’t want stumps left, so we had them ground up. After all, nobody wants a yard full of stumps, right? It’s a reminder of what used to be, it looks incomplete, it’s out of place. Yet, we find that something incredible can come from even a stump. “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot - yes, a new brand bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him…” (Isaiah 11:1-2a). What is God trying to cut out of your life so that He can grow something new, something far better?

Edify: How do you get ahead or even manage day-to-day life? Isaiah 10 asks important questions: “But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk by itself?” (v 15). It’s important to remember the real source of strength. These questions, though rhetorical, remind us that the ax, saw, rod, or cane are powerless unless they’re in the hands of one who can use them. We are gifted and skilled in a variety of ways. Yet, it makes all the difference in the world (and for the world) when we remember the source of our strength is the Lord God. We are the ax, the saw, the rod, the wooden cane. It is only when we place ourselves in the hands of God that we can do anything useful.

Practice: The lesson from Proverbs today, and many days, is one to which we should pay careful attention. It’s all about the types of people we allow into our lives. Study upon study, and our own common sense, tells us that we become like the people we surround ourselves with. We lecture young persons about choosing friends wisely, but somehow we forget that applies to us as well. With whom do you spend your time? Is he/she a positive influence and adding value to your life? If not, maybe it’s time for a change.