Encouraged daily

S Hebrews 3:12-14 NASB
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

O - Here God is telling us through the example of the followers of Moses who wandered the desert for 40 years that their hearts were hardened and they unbelief caused them to fall away from the living God who had saved them.   God gives us advice through the author of Hebrews that we are to encourage each other daily so that we won't be hardened and become lost in deceitful sin. 

A -  The application for me is to recognize that I have allowed unbelief to creep in and have not allowed encouragement on a daily basis from God, His word, the Holy Spirit and fellow believers to pull me away from hardening of my heart.   I need to continue to surround myself with His word, and His people in this time.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, I confess my faith is stumbling , not because you are any different because I have allowed my heart to fall away.  Lord I so desperately want to work my why back to you.  I know I can do all things with you and without you it is a great struggle.  I pray Lord that you strengthen me to walk back toward you, and belief in the truths that you are speaking into my life in times of devotion, and pray that you are with me throughout the day. I pray you help me run to those in my life you would have me look to strengthen my belief,  and be encouraged.

Jesus understands our suffering

S - Hebrews 2:14-18 NASB
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
http://bible.com/100/heb.2.14-18.NASB

O - Jesus was made man by God and sent here with a purpose.  He was with God in heaven, leading all the angels, and then was made flesh and sent to earth and became less than the angels, for a purpose.  His purpose was so He could come to earth, walk among God's people, understand their temptation and suffering, and then offer the ultimate gift of salvation through His death, and then ultimate shepherd ship through his resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit.   The last verse explains why we can trust in Him, because he has already proven His trustworthiness , by his faithfulness to God's calling, and His willingness to sacrifice all for my sake.

A - The application for me is to recognize that Jesus understands my pain and suffering, but even more important He is able to come to my aid in my own temptation to wander from God and His ways.    I must put my trust in Him, and give all my burdens and temptations to Him.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus.  Jesus please come to my aid today and begin lifting the burdens of my mind, and protect me from the temptations of the devil and those he has sent to discourage and distract me.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Christ in me

S- 2co.4.7-10.nasb

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

O   - Paul describes the life with Christ in us as Christians.   They are sobering words of encouragement, exhortation and the reality of who Christ is in us.   This paradigm so differs from the perspective the people had prior to Christ coming and dieing for us.  They had parallel experiences,  God in the Temple,  a priest who interceded on their behalf,  affliction and challenges.  Now this is the power of Christ, that He is our High priest,  lives in us,  guides us,  intercedes for us.  Once we have allowed Him in, He resides in us and does not let us go.

A - The application for me is an acknowledgement that it was not in my power that Christ came to dwell in me but a decision God made on my behalf, long before I was born.  I have chose to accept this sacrifice and invite Christ into my life and He is with and for me.   Though I may walk through circumstances that bring my spirit down,  His Spirit resides in me and interecedes on my behalf.  I belong to Him.  

P -  Lord thank you for your sacrifice, that you died for my sins and dwell in my heart, interceding with the Father on my behalf.  I pray Lord you lead me in this season to  your will, and strengthen me in your ways.  I pray that Lord you cast out the spirit of despair and replace it with your spirit of hope and love.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

The least of the members of Christ

S -  1 Cor 12:21-25 (NASB)
21And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25so that there may be no division in the body

O -  My observation is that God puts all his people together as a collective body and uses the most unexpected parts to perform significant roles.  God is our redeemer not just from sin , but he redeems every part of us for His glory.     Here we see the reason why behind God  using the less presentable members as equally important, it is so there will be no division in the body.   That doesn't mean we don't celebrate what God has gifted the body with talented and presentable parts, it just helps us if we are one of those more presentable we humble ourselves, and use God's gift to influence and encourage the less presentable and the lost.

A -  The application for me is to realize that I have low self esteem as to my part of the body.   I feel less presentable and qualified, speak Lord from a place of truth into my life so that I may know my part, embrace it, and raise my thought life toward Him who is worthy of praise, and can change my perspective.   I need to step down from a place of honor and recognition to a place of humbleness and dependence. 

P - Dear Lord you know the funk I am in,  I thank you for this word today as a reminder of who you are and the importance of planting your truth in my heart; allowing your spirit to work within me.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen

Submit myself to my wife

S 1co.7.4-5.nasb

 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.  Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

O -  Paul's exposition of marriage comes in context and from God's own truth about marriage.   I believe we can start with the fact that in heaven there is no marriage, but there is much love,  this affirms Pauls sentiment that not getting married, if possible is preferrred, but instead to be wholly devoted to God.   God recognizes during creation that it is not good for man to be alone and gives him a helpmate in Eve, so God acknowledges something special about man on earth being in need of companionship/fellowship with one other on very special terms.   Now we get to verses 4-5 of the scripture where Paul says it is good to get married because for most it is impossible to live the celibate life, therefore we are to give ourselves in marriage fully in a manner pleasing to God, and that enhances our relationship with God and not harms it.  

A - The application for me and my marriage to recognize the need to submit myself physically, emotionally, and in many ways spiritually to my wife.  Not to deprive her of her physical, spiritual and emotional needs. In this trying season, I must submit myself to here to love her in a way that honors God, and ensures the enemy has no foothold in our lives.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for keeping me in your word, I will continue to seek your face through prayer and your word, waiting on devine restoration, revelation, and healing in this season.  Despite my feelings, I am asking for strength to stay connected, to wait patiently on you Lord.  If there is any unrighteousness in me Lord I pray that you reveal it that I may repent of it and be slowly rebuilt in the image that you created me to be.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Gods wisdom should reign in me

S  - pro.8.10-11.nasb
 "Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold. "For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

O-I know here Solomon speaks from the voice of wisdom as to what to embrace , wealth, or fortune versus understanding and knowledge.   As he woo's us away from fortune to wisdom,   I believe God means to draw us near to Him and far from the enticements of the world.   "For wisdom is better than Jewels"  and God is the source of true wisdom.  Thoughts and knowledge of successfully rich and perverse men are the opposite of wisdom.

A - The application for me is to reject the perceived wisdom of the world. To lay down any previous thoughts or beliefs I may have hidden in my heart about what success is.   I must review and live by the wisdom and guidance of what God has planted in me.   I must dig out the weeds of old knowledge and put them to rest.   I must not mourn this lost, but mourn the effect of these possessions of old.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for not giving up on me.  I pray that today's wisdom from your word, would continue to weed out the untruth that lies in my heart.  I pray Lord to replace my past with your future, my thoughts with your wisdom, my desires with your purposes.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

He chose me because of weakness

S1 Cor 1:18-21, 26-29 (NASB)

18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside."

20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe

...

26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,28and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29so that no man may boast before God.

O - Paul here is really trying to turn the believers perspective away from their own foolishness, which is belief in their own wisdom, from their own strength which is truly their weakness, toward God who in His weakest is still stronger, and in his most simple things is wiser than our smartest things.   I think Paul knows that in Christ we gain a new confidence and that confidence can be turned against us as our pride begins to replace what God has done in us, a transformation from self reliance to God reliance, from individual led, to Christ led.  

A -  The application for me is to realize that I have allowed my life which I have professed a commitment to Christ,  to turn back toward my old ways of self reliance and personal wisdom.  I realize I have likely thought better of myself than I ought to have in the past, I am broken and flawed and confess I need a savior.  I had forgotten I had a savior because I couldn't be my own.  I also have to realize that it is in my weakness that He is strong, and that He has chosen me because of my condition, to share the Good News of who Jesus is, and how he can use even someone like me.

P - Dear heavenly Father,thank  you for Jesus, thank you that you died for my sins, and have called me to your side.    I pray Lord for a restoration and healing for my inequities that I might boast of you and be free from the temptations and negative thoughts of the enemy.  I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.