September 8

Isaiah 1:1-2:22, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 22:26-27

Pray: Father, I have to thank You for looking beyond my faults and for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me when I fail to love others in the same way. Give me eyes to see the needs of the difficult people in my life, and show me how to meet those needs in a way that pleases You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Read: I’m sure you’ve never been in a church that questioned the authority of the pastor but it happened in the church at Corinth. Paul planted this church and left on a missionary journey, leaving it in the capable hands of others. In his absence, there arose a group, which began to question his authority saying that he was bold in his letters, but had no authority in person. Paul fights back against those claims in our reading today in second Corinthians. He reminded the people that he had been given authority by God and that it was God’s work and ministry that he was doing, not his own. Have you ever had your authority challenged? Has anyone ever accused you of hijacking the mission for your own glory?

Edify: When you are the leader, you will face challenges and adversity. It is vital for all leaders to always stay focused on the mission at hand and not listen to the nay-sayers in the crowd. When Joel Osteen was interviewed following the social media chaos over Lakewood’s alleged refusal to open the doors of the church to those displaced by the flooding of Hurricane Harvey, he was asked about all of the people who were talking so negatively about him (Osteen) and the church. He was asked if he had read the reports. Osteen’s response impressed me. He said, and I paraphrase, that there will always be people who talk negatively about you and that he didn’t read or listen to those reports. He said that there were more important things that needed to be done than for him (and the church) to listen to the voices of those trying to keep them from their task. 

Practice: Don’t listen to the negative voices around you that may be trying to tear you down or keep you from being focused on your task at hand. Remain focused on the mission that God has called you to in this season and on this day.  

September 7

Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15, Psalm 51:1-1, Proverbs 22:24-25

Pray: Father, today I ask for forgiveness of all the negative and harmful words I have spoken about myself. I do not want to abuse myself in such a way again. Transform my thoughts and let me understand how marvelously you made me. Change my habits so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Read: In Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, he reminds the people to fulfill their commitment that they had made to send money to the church in Jerusalem. Paul uses some powerful imagery to help the worshipers realize the importance of their gift and how God will provide for their needs. Have you ever been reluctant to give generously to the church for fear of not having enough to meet your own needs? Sure, we all have! Paul reminds us that if we plant only a few seeds then there will be only a small crop but if we plant generously then there will be a generous crop with a much greater return than our initial investment. Paul also reminds us that our heart toward our giving is just as important as the giving itself. We are to give with a grateful heart and with great cheer and not out of pressure to do so. 

Edify: It’s easy to look at a church and see them as doing nothing more than beggin' for money. However, the reality is that if it weren’t for the generous support of givers in the church, the mission and ministry of the church could not and would not happen. Scripture tells us that our giving to the mission of the church is yet another demonstration of our trust and faith in God. Paul reminds us today that it is not out of obligation or duty that we should give but out of a love and devotion to God and the mission of the church. There is a double edged sword that comes with giving… one is that it is absolutely necessary so that the Kingdom efforts can continue here on earth and the other is that we need to give to demonstrate our trust and faith in God.

Practice: Will you pray for our Vision 2:28 campaign? Will you pray for life change to occur during this campaign? Also, we ask that you will pray for how you can be a part of the campaign if you have not already been a part? What will your sacrificial gift be to the kingdom of God and to the future of God’s church through Christ Church? No matter where you find yourself financially, there is a place for you at the table of God and in Vision 2:28. We have said it often, and will continue to say, “It’s not about equal gifts, but equal sacrifice.”

September 6

Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16, 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 22:22-23

Pray: Lord, grant me tenacious, winsome courage as I go through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Grant me a cheerful spirit when things don't go my way. And give me courage to do whatever needs to be done. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Read: Saturated with stories of sexual escapades, secret rendezvous, and extramarital affairs, today’s media teaches that immorality means freedom, perversion is natural, and commitment is old fashioned. Sex, created by God and pronounced good in Eden, has been twisted, exploited, and turned into an urgent, illicit, casual, and self-gratifying activity. Love has turned to lust, giving into getting, and lasting commitment into “no strings attached”. There is much debate over the meaning of this song. Some say it is allegorical for God’s love of Israel and the church, others see it as a literal story of married love. Most say it is both. As we begin to read from Song of Solomon, remember that you are loved by God, and commit yourself to seeing life, sex and marriage from His point of view.

Edify: I love the practicality, the honesty that is practiced in the Bible. In second Corinthians we hear of “another brother” traveling with Paul and Titus. The churches that Paul and Titus were traveling to elected this man as an accountability partner for Paul and Titus as they deliver the large financial gift to Jerusalem. While there was never any accusation of wrongdoing, it was just a practice. Paul explained that by traveling together there could be no suspicion and people would know that the gift was being handled honestly. The church did not need to worry that the bearers of the gift would misuse the money.  

Practice: Take a few minutes today to think about your own accountability practices. What safeguards do you have in your life that keep you from “running aground” in even the calmest of weather? Do you have boundaries in your interactions with others? Do you have safeguards in place on your technology? What could you do better in an effort to ensure that no one could ever accuse you of not living above reproach?

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.

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.

August 28

Job 28:1-30:31, 2 Corinthians 2:12-17, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 22:7 



Pray: Lord, may we have today the fervency of the Psalmist in seeking You out. May our souls thirst for You, may we pour out our soul to You earnestly seeking to be found by You. In Jesus' name we ask it, Amen. 

Read: In Job we see him asking an important question “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?” The Bible seems to be abundantly clear that wisdom comes from God. James says, “If anyone wants wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.” Job answers his own question in verse 23 of chapter 28 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.” I have always heard that wisdom is the living application of God’s word. Let us seek to live what we read today.

Edify: Have you ever been around someone who stinks? Maybe it was just after a workout or sporting event or even worse around something that has died? It is evident by the smell that something has died. We have the opportunity today to be the fragrance of Christ unto God. To be a sweet smelling aroma in the nostrils of God with how we live and love others. Let us not be a stench because of sin, but let us be a beautiful fragrance for our Lord. 

Practice: Proverbs tells us today “the borrower is slave to the lender.” If there is a practical way today that you can pay down a debt or repay someone for something that you owe them do not hold off on it any longer.

August 27

Job 23:1-27:23, 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 22:5-6 



Pray: Lord, help me to do the hard things and take the painful actions that address sin. And help me to have complete restoration as my motive and goal when I discipline.

Read: In I Cor. 5 Paul addresses sin that is taking place in the church at Corinth. “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from amongst you. ….deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved." Paul’s first letter to the church rebuked them severely for allowing a man to have sexual relations with his mother while doing nothing about it. Paul had pointed out that allowing this not only defiled the man but also the whole church.

Edify: How do you handle correction? How does your church handle correction? Paul had corrected the church at Corinth. Correction is never easy. There certainly must have been a lot of hurt. But the church did take action. They removed the man, who was living in sin with his mother and wouldn’t repent, from the church. Paul writes II Cor. 2:5 and says, “I am not overstating it when I say that the man, who caused all the trouble, hurt all of you more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions."

Practice: Discipline should be meted out with the goal being complete restoration. The attitude of the church concerning the man sleeping with his mother prior to Paul’s severe rebuke was “this too shall pass”. Paul corrected the church. The sin had to be confronted and since the man would not repent, he had to be removed from church life. Time passed. The man repented. Paul once again took action. Even though the man had caused much pain, he had to be restored and loved on. Restoration is God’s plan. When you discipline is restoration your plan?

August 26

Job 20:1-22:30, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 22:2-4



Pray: Heavenly Father, perfect love casts out fears. Help me to keep my heart stayed on You. Remind me that You have not given me the spirit of fear. Rather, You have given me a sound mind and power. Thank You for the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Christ living in me. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. In my weaknesses Your strength is made perfect. Comfort me and may I voice my trust in You.

Read: In Psalm 40:12 the psalmist writes, “For troubles surround me---too many to count!" In II Cor. 1:8 the apostle Paul writes, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die."

Edify: Sickness, hardship, suffering, and persecution teach us to stop relying on ourselves and to learn to rely only on God. The more we suffer for Christ the more God will shower us with comfort through Christ. Our struggles and the comfort we receive during them become a well spring of comfort for others. Some even come to Christ and are saved as a result of seeing us both suffer and be comforted. The Holy Spirit has another name…The Comforter!

Practice: There is no such thing as trusting God too much. Practice turning each and every fear over to the Lord. Choose to rely only on Him. There is great torment in being afraid. There is great comfort in trust. Give voice to your trust.

August 25

Job 16:1-19:29, 1 Corinthians 16:1-24, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 22:1 



Pray: Father, help me to hang my hat on what You say and not cave in to what I feel. Help me to understand that You open doors but walking through the doors You open may not be easy.

Read: (I Cor. 16:9) There is a wide open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. The biggest opportunities are always coupled with the greatest opposition. Paul was at Ephesus and writing the Corinthian Church about his desire to spend extended time over the winter months with them. Paul was a seasoned soldier for Christ. He had learned that persecution and trials went hand in hand with taking spiritual ground.

Edify: I love the expression that proclaims loudly that “Winners never quit and quitters never win!” Opposition and resistance to what God is speaking for His church to do is to be expected. But far too many of us quit when the first winds of resistance start blowing. We say we “don’t want to offend” so we quit. We say the price is more than we thought “so we back off.” We say that “folks are suffering” so we stop. The children of Israel upon hearing the reports from the spies they sent into the promised land found themselves weighing the reports of giants in the land of walled cities to the reports of grapes the size of grapefruits. The opportunity was great but so was the opposition. Rather than say, God we are scared, they told God that their children would be killed so they couldn’t enter the land.

The children of Israel had been eyewitnesses of the greatest deliverance of a people in human history yet resistance caused them to shake in their boots. So, all those over 20 died in the wilderness while 40 years later their children took the land. And yes, there was resistance. Resistance and opposition increase our faith and strengthen our resolve.

Practice: The Word declares that if we are to reign with Him we must first suffer with Him. Just as a great athlete must train and get in shape, so must we face trials and adversity to grow in faith. Practice thanksgiving rather than complaining when life hurts. You will find yourself stronger than you ever thought possible.

August 24

Job 12:1-15:35, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58, Psalm 39:1-13, Proverbs 21:30-31 



Pray: Father, lay a solid foundation in me concerning the resurrection. Teach me why Jesus was the firstborn of the dead. Why did Jesus say He was the resurrection and the life? Show me why He descended into the lower parts of the earth before He ascended on high. Why were there dead men walking in Jerusalem after the resurrection? Show me the power of the resurrected Christ.

Read: (I Cor.15:32b-34 ) "...if there is no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, 'Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!' Don’t be fooled by those that say such things, for 'bad company corrupts good character.' Think carefully about what is right and stop sinning. For to your shame I say some of you don’t know God at all!" These verses demand some critical thinking. The center piece of Christianity is the fact that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. In other words, the resurrection was real and was bodily. There is life after death. Jesus proved it. But if it wasn’t really true then why get eaten by lions or get stoned to death for something that never really happened? Paul goes on to say that once you are convinced of the resurrection you should invest your time and energy with those who believe as you believe.

Edify: Ever hear someone say, “Birds of a feather flock together?” This passage is the Greek version of that expression. (Evil communications corrupt good manners.) Yes, God is love. But God is also holy! Holy means set apart. Too many young Christians return to old friendships thinking they will “win their friends”. All too often, they don’t, and because they are young in the faith they often return to old ways and old beliefs. Pursue holiness. When the time is right and the spiritual life is strong, you will be able to stand without yielding.

Practice: Learn why you believe what you believe. Practice sharing your faith with your friends.

August 23

Job 8:1-11:20, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 21:28-29



Pray: Father, sometimes I pray for things that I have no idea how much they cost Jesus and how much they will cost me. I need Your assurance that at the end I’ll say, “Wow, it was worth it!”

Read: "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me."

(I Cor. 15:10) God GIVES grace to the humble. Need grace? Choose humility. Seek to be last, least, servant of all. Be ready to love on your enemies, walk the second mile, and turn the other cheek. Be the first to grab a towel and wash feet. Be the last in line at the covered dish dinner. God exalts those who choose humility. And by the way, choosing humility is choosing to be broken. Choosing humility exposes pride and pride being broken is painful. Humility doesn’t come easily but it does come.

Edify: "My groans come from an anguished heart." (Psalm 38:8) Kind David is aging and very sick. But what he finds unbearable is unresolved guilt, grief over his decisions, and anguish. David feels he can’t go on but then he utters, “But I will confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.” (Psalm 38:18) Health can be hard to hang onto as we age. But physical health is not the real issue as we approach the end of our lives. The real issues are issues of right relationship with God and seeking forgiveness from those we have hurt, but healing and peace begin with confessing our sins.

Practice: Practice being least, last, and servant of all. The opportunities are all around you.

August 22

Job 4:1-7:21, I Cor. 14:18-40, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 21:27



Pray: Father, I don’t want to say no to something You want me to experience. So help me to study the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Then grow within me a hunger to say “yes” to whatever gifts might help me serve You and the body of Christ.

Read: (I Cor. 14:26) Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

Edify: The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to strengthen the body of Christ and also to convince those yet to belong of the real workings of the Holy Spirit. But these gifts are given to unite and strengthen. Order must be observed. All that takes place is subject to evaluation by those present.

Practice: The unknown and unexperienced gifts of the Holy Spirit tend to frighten. For this reason many “just say no”. But God has placed order and unity as boundaries to surround the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are real. God wants you to have those gifts that will enhance your service and ministry. Go slowly if you like, but I urge you not to say “no.”

August 21

Job 1:1-3:26, I Cor. 14:1-17, Psalm 37:12-29, Proverbs 21:25-26



Pray: God, help me to accept any gift from the Holy Spirit that You might want to give me. Cause me to learn and then prepare my heart to receive. Whatever gifts You choose to give me please remind me that it is given to honor You and serve others.

Read: "I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand." (I Cor. 14:15) Have you ever felt yearnings to talk to God or worship God but just couldn’t find the words? One of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives believers is the gift of speaking in tongues. The gift of speaking or singing in an unknown language should be done privately unless the gift of interpretation also is present to reveal to others what is being said or sung. The gift of speaking in tongues is real. But it is also often misunderstood. It is called the least of the gifts but any gift from God has purpose and may be used to edify.

Edify: Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! (Proverbs 21:26) No one wants to think of themselves as greedy, but greed has a distinctive voice. Greed says, if I had enough I would give but I don’t. Greed has a distinctive lifestyle. Greed is willing to give once its own needs are met. Only greed’s needs are never met. Every dollar gets spent and greed says, “If only I had more.” The godly love to give. They give their best. They give their first. They never say they can’t afford to give. They choose to do without so that they may give.

Practice: Practice giving the first 10% to God. Give it the minute you receive it. Ask God to bless the remaining 90%.

August 20

Esther 8:1-10:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 21:23-24 



Pray: We often pray with little conviction. We ask God to bless, heal or intervene but our requests are weak for our faith is weak. What if we believed that God did have our absolute best at heart? What if we believed that God is powerful and could bring about a supernatural work in our life or the persons we are praying for? Why don’t we pray like this now. Be bold, ask God for the miraculous to take place, ask God for His perfect will to be done. 

Read: Today’s text from Esther is about restoration and victory for the Jewish people. The king once again finds favor in Esther and allows Mordecai to send out an order, which the king's previous order cannot be revoked, which states that the Jews have a right to defend themselves against anyone who would kill them and to take any property from would be enemies. People now had to think twice before trying to kill the Jews for they could lose not only their lives, but if they lived all their property and net worth. God gave them victory and turned around a would be tragedy. What does God want to turn around today in your life?

Edify: Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth is famous as it is often read at weddings and other celebratory occasions. Yet, 1 Corinthians 13 is explicitly a letter of discipleship. For if we receive Christ, and ask the Holy Spirit to abide in us, then we have access to a supernatural love which enables us to live differently. We don’t have to live by the flesh, because we have access to love differently.

Practice: Now I want to challenge you for an entire month to practice this one exercise. Take the word Love out and place your name there in its place. So you would pray this pray, “4 Love(name) is patient and kind. Love(name) is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It(name) does not demand its own way. It(name) is not irritable, and it(name) keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It(name) does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love(name) never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”  What would happen if we not only prayed that way but lived that way? Your home would be different, your relationships would be different and your life would be different. Let’s start today.