© 2021 Youth Ministries
United Pentecostal Church International
General Youth President: Michael Thomas
General Youth Secretary: Jeremy Stafford
Director of Promotion: DJ Hill
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PA R T 1
EXPERIENCES ON
THE MOUNTAIN:
S P I R I T U A L LY D E F I N I N G M O M E N T S
IN OUR WALK WITH GOD
And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the
MOUNT
ARARAT
ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy
sons’ wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every
living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of
fowl, andDAY
of1: GENESIS
cattle,
and of every creeping thing
8:15–21
And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark,
that creepeth
upon
earth;
that
they
thou, and
thy wife, the
and thy
sons, and thy
sons’ wives
with may breed
thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with
abundantly
inall the
earth,
fruitful,
and
thee, of
flesh, both
of fowl, andand
of cattle,be
and of
every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may
multiply upon
the in
earth.
And
Noah
went forth
breed abundantly
the earth, and
be fruitful,
and multiply
upon the earth. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and
and his sons,
and
his
wife,
and
wives with
his wife,
and his
sons’
wives with
him: his
every sons’
beast, every
creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth
the earth,
after their
kinds, went forth
out of theand every
him: everyupon
beast,
every
creeping
thing,
ark. And Noah builded an altar unto the lord; and took
every clean beast, and of
every clean fowl, and
offeredthe earth
fowl, andofwhatsoever
creepeth
upon
burnt offerings on the altar. And the lord smelled a sweet
savour;
and the went
lord said inforth
his heart, I will
not again
after their
kinds,
out
ofcurse
the ark. And
the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of
man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite
Noah builded
an altar unto the Lord; and took
any more every thing living, as I have done.
of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl
and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And
the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said
n his heart, I will not again curse the ground any
more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s
heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again
ARRIVING AT THE
PEAK OF PROMISE
Day 1 // Daily Reading: Genesis 8
Do you ever find yourself amazed when a promise from God comes
to pass? I sometimes wonder how life and the circumstances it brings
can so easily commandeer what I know to be true to the point that I
have to remind myself that God always keeps His promises. But David
encouraged himself in the Lord, so I think it’s ok when we, too, have to
remind ourselves what we know to be true. To help me do that in 2021, I
started journaling the promises of God found in His Word. Whether it is
once a week, once every few days, or even once every couple of weeks, I
take some time to write down a promise found in His Word that I know
to be true regardless of what circumstances might be influencing me to
believe.
Noah spent 370 days in the ark of safety; talk about an extended
quarantine (I almost didn’t make it fifteen days). If we could sit down
with Noah today over a cup of coffee and ask him about his experience
in surviving the flood, I guarantee he would admit to us that there were
tough days and he, too, had to encourage himself in the Lord. This ark, or
boat, of safety Noah found himself in during the storm and turbulence
of the Great Flood was not a Disney Cruise experience. Have you ever
thought about the stench with all of those animals? Think about the
daily chores, the responsibility to care for hundreds of animals and also to
keep them calm during such turbulent conditions. Not to mention, being
in close quarters with just your family (and you thought quarantining
with your family for two weeks was a challenge). Regardless of the daily
grind that could have so easily caused Noah to lose sight of the promised
ending for his story, he did not give up on the promise of God. He trusted
while in the middle of the storm, he survived the turbulence, and when
it all finally ended, he experienced complete peace as the waters that
once surrounded him began to retreat.
Storms are going to come. We cannot get a free pass exempting us
from the storms of life. Therefore, it is vital to proactively prepare ahead
of time, in order to be ready when the storm arrives. Noah built the ark,
Page 5
followed God’s plan (not his), endured criticism, and yet still preached
with every choice he made. And when the storm showed up, it didn’t
take him out! He had prepared adequately. Daily inviting God into our
decisions, our choices, and our desires will allow Him to outline His plan
for us as we are building our lives after the specifications He has laid out
for us individually. This is what will keep us when the storm shows up! We
would miss out on so much if we were to only ask God to show up during
the storm. He wants to walk with us in peace too. That’s when our world
is silent enough for us to hear His whisper.
What’s important is that we always hold to the promises of God when
going through the storms of life. So when the storms we are required to
“grow” through are finally over, we come out stronger, more faithful to
God and His Word and our calling, more connected to our Source, and
not so surprised when the rainbow appears in our circumstance! Wow!
God kept His promise to me—I’m not surprised! Because that is who He
is—a promise keeper!
Page 6
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and
MOUNT
MORIAH
said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son
And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but
where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And
Abraham said,
My son, God will provide himself
DAY 2: GENESIS 22:7–12
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said,
a lamb forMyafather:
burnt
offering:
soAnd
they
and he said,
Here am I, my son.
he said,went both
Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for
a burnt offering? And
Abraham
said, came
My son, God
will the place
of them together.
And
they
to
provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went
both of them together. And they came to the place which
which GodGodhad
told him of; and Abraham built
had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there,
and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son,
an altar there,
and
the
wood
in order, and
and laid him
on thelaid
altar upon
the wood.
And Abraham
stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his
son. And
the son,
angel of and
the Lord laid
called unto
him out
of the altar
bound Isaac
his
him
on
heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said,
Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad,
upon the wood.
And Abraham stretched forth
neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that
thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,
his hand, and
took
the
thine only
son from
me. knife to slay his son. And
the angel of the Lord called unto him out of
heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said
Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the
lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now
know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast
THE PLACE OF
GREAT SACRIFICE
Day 2 // Daily Reading: Genesis 22
When God asks for a sacrifice from His people, He is ready and able to
give us more in return for our sacrifice. It seems that every time Abraham
faced a situation where he felt he was losing that thing he was giving up,
God showed up to reassure him that he was indeed not losing anything,
but rather God was giving Abraham an opportunity to receive a great
blessing. Consider the journey Abraham took to an unknown land, away
from his family and home, which resulted in a covenant promise from
God. There was the famine that drove Abraham and Sarah to Egypt,
which they departed from with great possessions. Even Abraham’s
separation from his nephew Lot granted him an incredible opportunity,
a renewal of God’s promise.
Although God will be faithful to us, just as He was to Abraham, this does not
mean that our sacrifices will not hurt. In fact, if we consider the ultimate
sacrifice made by Christ on our behalf, how could we expect anything
else? It should come as no surprise to us that Abraham would be asked
to sacrifice that which seemed to be the very promise from God, his son
Isaac. He and Sarah had waited twenty-five years for Isaac’s birth, after
God had assured Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.
They struggled with doubt and frustration while they waited, even taking
it upon themselves to “help” God out in their desperation. Despite their
wavering faith, God reassured them and renewed His promise to give
them a son. He delivered on this promise because God’s promises always
come to pass!
Ultimately, God wasn’t content to just bless them. He wanted Abraham
to be fully persuaded so that his faith in the Blesser would be unshakable
and not dependent upon the blessings. Abraham was instructed to offer
that promised son back to God on an altar upon Mt. Moriah. I imagine
that Abraham began to question everything he thought he knew.
Perhaps he was distraught and slightly disillusioned, and yet, Abraham
didn’t allow the despair he felt to take over. God was asking something
of him that didn’t seem to make sense, that he couldn’t see any possible
Page 8
benefit to, and that seemed to be meant to harm him rather than help
him. However, Abraham determined in himself to make the sacrifice God
was asking him to make willingly. He believed that God knew what was
best for both him and his son, and that he would return with Isaac when
all was said and done. When God intervened by supplying the ram in the
thicket on that mountain top, I’m sure Abraham’s relief did not outweigh
his confidence in God.
How often do we find ourselves in a place where God is calling us
to sacrifice treasured things so that our confidence in Him can
be strengthened? It may even seem that He is asking for us to lay
down something He has given us, walk away from something He has
brought us to, or even step down from a position He has put us in.
There will be times when these sacrifices will only be temporary and
will be restored to us, like Isaac was to Abraham, and there will be
other times when they will be permanent. Regardless of the duration
of the sacrifice, we must remember that what God asks of us is always
meant to benefit us in the end. God may be looking for an opportunity
to strengthen our confidence and trust in Him, as He did for Abraham,
He may be trying to call our attention back to Him if we have lost our
focus, or He may even be trying to draw us closer to Him so that He
can speak to us and work through us more powerfully.
Examine your heart today. Is there anything in your life that you are
unwilling to let God have? Release it so that He might do something
incredible in you and for you.
Page 9
And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest
MOUNT
SINAI
unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not
let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet
thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast
DAY 3: EXODUS 33:12–23
also found
in my
sight. Now
therefore,
Andgrace
Moses said unto
the Lord,
See, thou sayest unto
me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know
pray thee, if
I have
in
thy
sight, shew
whom
thou wilt found
send with me.grace
Yet thou hast
said,
I know
thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my
me now thy
way,
thatI Ipray
may
thee,
sight.
Now therefore,
thee, know
if I have found
grace that I may
in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know
I maysight:
find grace and
in thy sight:
and consider that this
find gracethee,
inthat
thy
consider
that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence
shall gopeople.
with thee, and IAnd
will give thee
And he My
said presence
nation is thy
he rest.
said,
unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not
up hence.
For wherein
shallIit will
be knowngive
here that
I and
shall go with
thee,
and
thee
rest. And
thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that
thou him,
goest with
so shall
we be separated,go
I andnot
thy
he said unto
Ifus?
thy
presence
with me
people, from all the people that are upon the face of the
earth. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing
carry us not
up hence. For wherein shall it be
also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in
my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech
known here
that I and thy people have found
thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my
goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name
grace in thy
sight? is it not in that thou goest with
of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom
I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will
us? so shall
we be separated, I and thy people
shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for
there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said,
from all the
people that are upon the face of
Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon
a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth
the earth. And
said
I will do
by, that Ithe
will putLord
thee in a clift
of theunto
rock, and Moses,
will cover
thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away
this thing also
that
thou
spoken:
mine hand,
and thou
shalt see hast
my back parts:
but my for thou
face shall not be seen.
hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee
FACE TO FACE
WITH GOD
Day 3 // Daily Reading: Exodus 33
There is a phenomenon that occurs with celebrities. People who have a
favorite actor, singer, or sports figure tend to follow that person’s public
life very closely. They pay attention to every press conference, tweet, or
news report about that celebrity. They soak up every piece of information
they can learn.
Over time, as we consume more and more details about a person’s
public life, we come to believe that we know that person intimately. Many
celebrities have been in the uncomfortable position of meeting a superfan who believes he has a personal relationship with the public figure,
even though that public figure has never met the fan.
This can also lead to a great deal of disappointment. When you inevitably
discover that the people you have admired from a distance are not
always the same in their private life as they are in their public life, it can be
deeply disturbing. A misstep or a bit of indiscretion comes to the surface,
and your opinion of that person plummets. It turns out you didn’t really
know that person after all.
Moses met with God many times. He saw God manifest as a burning
bush. He watched as God hewed His own stone and inscribed the Ten
Commandments. He witnessed every plague and every miracle. He
talked with God face to face. Yet, there was still a burning hunger inside
of Moses to know God more deeply. He felt like, though He seemed to
know God well, there was still more to know: “Please, show me Your glory”
(Exodus 33:18, NKJV).
Moses wanted more than to see what God could do; he wanted to see
God as God was. He didn’t just want to talk to God face to face; He wanted
God to reveal His innermost being. Something transpired in Moses in that
moment for which he may not have bargained. In the next chapter, we
learn that Moses’ face shone brightly as a result of his exposure to God’s
glory. Moses walked away from that experience completely changed.
You can’t get that close to God without it impacting you.
Page 11
You would think that his fellow Hebrews would be excited about his
experience, but Moses quickly found that this was not the case. When
they saw the way his face shone, they actually asked him to cover up God’s
glory! They were afraid and unsettled by the change that took place in
Moses. Unfortunately, some people are more comfortable experiencing
God’s mercy and miracles than they are His might and majesty.
What about you? Do you want to see God’s glory? Are you hungry for
more and more of Him? Is your heart’s desire to know Him as deeply as
you possibly can? Or are you content just to see His hand in your life?
There are depths in God’s presence that we can only reach if we pursue
His glory. There are some things we cannot experience unless we reach a
deeper place of intimacy with Him. Beware though; you won’t leave His
presence the same way you came. He will change you, and others may
not appreciate it. His glory will cost you something, but what you gain in
return is worth it!
Page 12
And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before
MOUNT
SINAI
all thy people I will do marvels, such as have
not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation
and all the people among which thou art shall
see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible
DAY 4: EXODUS 34:10–16
thing that And
I will
with
he said,do
Behold,
I makethee. Observe
a covenant: before all thy thou that
people I will do marvels, such as have not been done
which I command
day:
behold,
I drive
in all the earth, thee
nor in anythis
nation: and
all the
people
among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord:
it is a terrible
thing
that I will do with
thee. the
ObserveCanaanite
out beforeforthee
the
Amorite,
and
thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive
out before and
thee thethe
Amorite,
and the Canaanite,
and the Hivite
and the Hittite,
Perizzite,
and
the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the
Jebusite. Take heed to thyself,
lest thou
a covenant lest thou
and the Jebusite. Take
heed
tomake
thyself,
with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest
it be for a snare
in the midst
thee: but ye shall destroy
make a covenant
with
theofinhabitants
of the land
their altars, break their images, and cut down their
groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord,
whither thou
goest, lest it be for a snare in the
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: lest thou make
a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go
midst of thee: but
ye shall destroy their altars
a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their
and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; and
break theirgods,
images,
and cut down their groves: for
thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their
daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy
thou shaltsons
worship
no other god: for the Lord
go a whoring after their gods.
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: lest thou
make a covenant with the inhabitants of the
land, and they go a whoring after their gods
and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call
COVENANT
RELATIONSHIP
Day 4 // Daily Reading: Exodus 34
Molokai served as a quarantine colony from 1866–1873. Officials
quarantined men and women with various incurable diseases to the
island, but the most insidious disease was leprosy. Banished to an island
to die, the colony devolved into a lawless society. Physical brutality,
robbery, drunkenness, and gross sexual immorality ran rampant. People
acted like animals because they had no hope.
A priest, Father Damien, served in Hawaii in 1864. He felt helpless over
the years as officials banished parishioners to Molokai. After a decade of
feeling powerless, Father Damien decided to visit the colony. His leaders
and parishioners urged him not to, but he was determined.
In April of 1873, Father Damien first arrived at Molokai. The sights and
smells left him gasping for air. The first person he encountered was a
young girl, half-eaten by worms. Corpses were strewn across the island.
No one cared enough to provide proper burials for the deceased.
Father Damien began by working to restore dignity. He built a church,
held services, and provided funeral services. Initially, Father Damien
avoided physical contact as he administered aid to the diseased. The
lack of physical contact made it difficult to express his love for others. So,
over time, he slowly began touching the lepers as he cared for them.
Father Damien built meaningful relationships with the diseased. He
shared meals at their table. He showed them Scriptures and reminded
them of life. He even taught two lepers to play the organ with the ten
remaining fingers they had between the two of them! Through all of
these efforts, Father Damien restored dignity, joy, and hope.
Eleven years passed on the island of Molokai when a fateful day occurred.
Father Damien prepared a meal for his leper friends as usual. In the
course of doing so, he accidentally spilled boiling hot water on his legs.
He watched in horror as his leg blistered, but he felt no pain. He realized
at that moment that he, too, had become a leper.
Page 14
Father Damien passed away on April 15, 1889. The Molokai islanders
deeply mourned his loss and honored him with a funeral ceremony fit
for a king. Before he passed, a friend questioned him as to why he had
made this his life calling. Father Damien replied in the letter, “I make
myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.”
In Exodus 34, Moses met God on Mount Sinai. God established his
covenant with the people of Israel while Israel engages in gross sin
and idolatry. Even in their sin, God was merciful and spared the people
because of the prayers of Moses.
The people never fully honored their part of the covenant and would
always need a mediator like Moses. Thus, God came in Jesus Christ to
offer a better covenant. Jesus “is also Mediator of a better covenant,
which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6, NKJV).
Our Creator became a part of creation to mediate a better covenant.
“God,” as Paul explains, “was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them” (II Corinthians 5:19, NKJV). In other
words, God made himself a leper with the lepers to gain all to himself.
And now, like the lepers of Molokai, we have hope.
Page 15
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the
MOUNT
CARMEL
number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto
whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel
shall be thy name: and with the stones he built
DAY 5: I KINGS 18:31–40
an altar in
name
of the Lord:
and he made
Andthe
Elijah took
twelve stones,
according to the number
of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of
a trench about
the
great
the Lord came,
saying, altar,
Israel shall be as
thy name:
and with as would
the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he
contain two
ofas great
seed.
And
made ameasures
trench about the altar,
as would
containhe put the
two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and
cut the bullock
in pieces,
and laid
him onbullock
the wood, and in pieces
wood in order,
and
cut
the
said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt
sacrifice,
and on
the wood.
And he said,
Do it thesaid,
second
and laid him
on
the
wood,
and
Fill four
time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the
third time.
And they did it
the thirdpour
time. And the
ran the burnt
barrels with
water,
and
itwater
on
round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with
water. And
came towood.
pass at the time
of the
offering
of
sacrifice, and
onit the
And
he
said,
Do it the
the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near,
and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be
second time.
And they did it the second time. And
known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy
and that I have done all these things at thy
he said, Doservant,
it the
third time. And they did it the
word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may
that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast
third time.know
And
the water ran round about the
turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell,
and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the
altar; and stones,
he filled
the trench also with water
and the dust, and licked up the water that was in
the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their
And it came
to pass at the time of the offering of
faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord,
he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets
the evening
Elijah
the
came
of sacrifice,
Baal; let not one ofthat
them escape.
And they
took prophet
them:
and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and
near, and said, Lord God
of Abraham, Isaac, and of
slew them there.
srael, let it be known this day that thou art God
GOD’S POWER
ON DISPLAY
Day 5 // Daily Reading: I Kings 18
Elijah ascended Mt. Carmel and took a seat on the visitor’s bench all
by his lonesome. He looked across the field as the home team filled up
the home team’s bench. He counted 450 Baal jerseys and 400 Asherah
jerseys. Baal and Asherah were different gods, but you could worship one
or the other. Not so with Elijah’s God. Yahweh will have no gods beside
Him because there is no god beside Him. Or above Him. Or like Him.
Although he was outnumbered 850 to 1, Elijah let the other team go first.
This was sudden death. Whoever scored first won. Elijah was facing off
against 850 all-stars, but he didn’t even ask for a coin toss. “Go ahead.
You boys go first. Put a sacrifice on the altar and do what you do best.
And when you’re all done and your sacrifice is still room temperature, I’ll
put one on the altar and do what I do best. And the God who answers by
fire, He’ll be God.”
They took the field early in the morning and danced around their altar
and called on the name of their god. “Baal, hear us. Baal, hear us.” But
Baal wasn’t picking up the phone. Around lunchtime, they were getting
hangry. They jumped up on their altar, hoping their god would answer,
but still no answer. Elijah had all he could handle. He started talking trash.
“Hey maybe your god doesn’t care about you. Maybe he’s on vacation.
Maybe he’s asleep and needs you to wake him up.”
They ran into the locker room and came back out with knives and lancets.
They cut themselves until blood ran like water, but still—no answer. The
sun was casting long shadows onto the summit of Mount Carmel. And
the Bible says, “There was no voice, neither any to answer, nor any that
regarded.” Neither Baal nor Asherah answered when they prayed.
As Elijah stood, 850 disappointed, disillusioned, bleeding prophets gave
up and sat down. Elijah walked right over to the broken-down altar and
repaired it. He knew it takes an altar to get God’s attention. He barked
out orders, “Alright, pour four barrels of water on the sacrifice.”
Page 17
The servants raised their eyebrows. “Whatever you say, boss.” They poured
four barrels of water on the sacrifice.
Then Elijah demanded, “Four more barrels.”
They protested, “All due respect, Rev., we’re in a drought.”
Elijah wouldn’t budge. They poured four more barrels.
“Four more barrels.”
This didn’t make sense. They tried to reason with him. “Elijah, we’re trying
to set this thing on fire. There’s no way you will ever set a soaked sacrifice
on fire.”
Elijah smiled and pointed toward Heaven. “You’re right. I won’t. He will.”
He barely prayed a few words, and the fire of the Lord fell from Heaven,
burned up the sacrifice, and Shop-Vac’ed the water in the trench. The
nation bowed down in worship and sang this song, “The Lord He is God.
The Lord, He is God.” Elijah didn’t even get past his opening prayer as
people flooded the altar. Greatest revival ever. And he started the day
outnumbered 850 to 1.
Elijah knew what we should all know. God doesn’t have to be in the
majority to be the majority. Even if you’re the only Apostolic in your school,
at your job, or in your neighborhood, stand for God. Live for God. You will
find out what Elijah found out on the summit of Mount Carmel: God will
stand with those who stand for Him.
Page 18
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a
MOUNT OF
BEATITUDES
mountain: and when he was set, his disciples
came
and
unto
taught
him: and
them,
he
opened
saying,
his
mouth
Blessed are
the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are
they that mourn: for they
DAY 6: MATTHEW 5:1–12
And
seeing
the
multitudes,
he
went
up
into
a
shall be comforted.
mountain: and when Blessed are
he was set, his disciplesthe
came meek: for
unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them,
Blessed are
the poor
in spirit: for
theirs is the
they shallsaying,
inherit
the
earth.
Blessed are
they
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for
they shall beand
comforted.
Blessedafter
are the meek:
for
which do hunger
thirst
righteousness
they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do
hunger be
and thirst
after righteousness:
for they the
shall merciful
for they shall
filled.
Blessed are
be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain
mercy. Blessed
are the pure
in heart: for
they shall see God.
for they shall
obtain
mercy.
Blessed are
the pure
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted
n heart: for
they shall see God. Blessed are the
for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
peacemakers:
for they shall be called the
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
children of
God. Blessed are they which are
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before you.
persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs
s the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye
when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely
for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
THE GREATEST
SERMON EVER
Day 6 // Daily Reading: Matthew 5
We know that being a vessel for God and His kingdom is an honor and
a privilege. It is also true that the honor of being used by God doesn’t
just mean big, important jobs, positions, and all the highs that come
with those things. There are some incredible highs right in the center of
Kingdom work, but there is another side of that mountain.
Have you ever asked God to use you to be an instrument for Him? Think
about that. We normally don’t like being “used” because it can be painful
and unfair. The reality is, allowing God to “use” us can also feel painful and
unfair. Following Him requires us to suffer affliction if we are to receive
the weight of His glory (II Corinthians 4:17). In Matthew 16:24, we read
the words of Jesus as he taught His disciples, “. . . if any man will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” It’s
not really a warm, fuzzy thought—to deny yourself and willingly suffer
for the sake of following after God. Through an interesting perspective,
the apostle Paul even counted it a privilege to suffer alongside Christ
(Philippians 3:8–10).
When Jesus walked the earth, people loved to follow Him as he performed
great miracles, but when He sat down to teach about the willingness to
suffer in order to be His disciple, the audience was much smaller. The
call is for all, but only a few are willing to pay that price. The beginning
of Matthew 5 shows us this scene. Jesus gives a clear picture of what it
looks like to serve Him, but He also assures us that He will reward those
who choose this journey.
•
•
•
•
•
Humility is first, a requirement to be a part of this Kingdom
service.
There will be loss, but as you mourn, He will comfort you.
Don’t fight for your rights; let God do that.
Be hungry and thirsty for righteousness and you are sure to
be filled.
If you want mercy, give it first.
Page 20
•
•
•
•
•
Pursue purity instead of self-satisfaction and it will bring God’s
glory to you.
Make peace, not chaos; this marks you as His child.
The kingdom of Heaven comes through persecution.
Rejoice when you are insulted, lied on, and persecuted.
Rejoice because in Heaven a reward awaits you.
The other side of being used of God may not always be honor, abundance,
and grand mountains. It will also be pain, hurt and betrayal. It will be
giving to others what they don’t deserve. It will be silence when you have
the right to speak. Sure, there’s no fun in that, but your reward is worth
more than any momentary comfort.
Jesus taught us how to be like Him: how to love Him and love people with
our whole lives. As we read through the stories of men and women who
followed the call and began the trek up the mountain of their ministries,
we also read of great trials and pain. They could have quit, but instead
blazed on in faithfulness, carrying their cross with them. It’s not easy
and rarely has an earthly prize waiting at the end. Yet, being right in the
middle of where God wants you to be is worth every hard step. That’s
the beauty of the Beatitudes; there will always be promises that follow
your pain. Walk in those promises as you ascend up the mountain of
your calling.
Page 21
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness
MOUNT
CALVARY
over all the land unto the ninth hour. And
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is
DAY 7: MATTHEW
27:45–53 why hast thou forsaken
to say, My God,
my God,
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the
land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus
me? Some of
them that stood there, when they
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
heard that,
said, This man calleth for Elias. And
me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that,
said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of
straightway
and
themone
ran, andof
tookthem
a spunge, ran,
and filled
it with took
vinegar, a spunge
and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said,
let us see
whether Elias will
come put
to save him.
and filled Let
itbe,with
vinegar,
and
it on a reed
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded
up theto
ghost.
And, behold, the veil
of the temple
was Let
rent
and gave him
drink. The
rest
said,
be, let us
in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did
quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened;
see whether
Elias will come to save him. Jesus
and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and
came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went
when he had
cried again with a loud voice
into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the
temple was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks
rent; and the graves were opened; and many
bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came
out of the graves after his resurrection, and
THE GREATEST
SACRIFICE
Day 7 // Daily Reading: Matthew 27
The One who hung the stars came to hang cabinets in a carpenter’s shop
in Nazareth. He lived thirty-three years getting ready for one Friday. On
the Sunday of that week, God was right where He should have been—in
the middle of a one-float parade, surrounded by worshipers. Four days
later, everything changed. He heard footsteps and voices. The night sky
was ablaze with torches. Armed guards were everywhere.
They approached Jesus, one hand on the handle of their sword, but
Jesus didn’t put up a fight. A familiar face came to the forefront. One
of Jesus’ own hand-picked followers stepped up to Him and kissed Him.
The guards surrounded Jesus as if besieging a city. They bound Jesus’
healing hands in rope, grabbed Him by the arms, and paraded Him off
to the governor, Pilate. Pontius Pilate was handsomely paid to convict
and condemn criminals, but after all His interrogating, Pilate cast this
verdict, “I find no fault in Him.” Pilate pawned Him off on Herod, but
Herod couldn’t get anything out of Him, so he returned Him to sender.
God stood silent in the courtroom as sinful men He created passed their
judgment on Him.
The mob was growing and growing louder. They screamed for Jesus to
be crucified, but Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. He tried to quench their
bloodthirst another way. He ordered Jesus to be beaten. The soldiers tied
Him to a whipping post, crammed a crown of thorns on His head, and
beat Him nearly to death. When they untied Him, they yanked His broken
body back up. Pilate was hopeful that brutal act would satiate them, but
it didn’t. They would not go home until they had seen Jesus crucified.
Exasperated, Pilate ordered Jesus to be crucified.
They led Jesus away to a mountain called Calvary. He could barely walk,
much less carry a wooden, rugged cross. The few followers who wanted
to get close to Jesus were forbidden. Soon He fell under the weight
of that wooden cross and the weight of our sins and our sorrows. For
Isaiah wrote, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows”
(Isaiah 53:4 NKJV).
Page 23
After they ascended Mount Calvary, the soldiers laid Jesus on the cross
He carried. They nailed His hands and feet to those beams. You can still
hear the blows of the hammers on that rugged timber and the sneers
of the guards as they thought they had finally caught Him. They hoisted
Him in the air for any and all ages to see. People He created walked
up to the tree He grew and spit on Him. They laughed at this man who
thought Himself to be Messiah who just ended up on one more rugged
Roman cross.
The holy God of Heaven bore our sins in His own body on the cross, for
every man and woman, every child, every teenager who would ever
sin. For anyone who would ever start the ascent in their walk with God
and fall back down, He was wounded for our transgressions. He was
bruised for our iniquities. This isn’t a guilt trip; it’s the gospel. Jesus died,
He was buried, and He rose from the grave. If you ever wonder what
you’re worth, don’t look at your social media stats. Take a long look at
the summit of Mount Calvary and listen. You might just hear Him say,
“Look what I paid for you.”
Page 24
Then opened he their understanding, that they
MOUNT
OF OLIVES
might understand the scriptures, and said unto
them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved
Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the
8: LUKE 24:45–53
third day: DAY
and
that repentance and remission
Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is
of sins should
be
in his
among
written, and
thus preached
it behoved Christ to suffer,
and toname
rise
from the dead the third day: and that repentance and
remission
of sins should beat
preached
in his name among
all nations,
beginning
Jerusalem. And
ye are
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses
of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my
witnesses of
these
Father
upon you:things. And,
but tarry ye in the citybehold,
of Jerusalem, I send the
until ye be endued with power from on high. And he
them
out as far as
to Bethany,
and he
liftedtarry
up his
promise ofled
my
Father
upon
you:
but
ye in the
hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he
blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up
city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power
into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the
temple, praising
Amen. out as far as to
from on high.
And and
heblessing
ledGod.
them
Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed
them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them
he was parted from them, and carried up into
heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually
THE ASCENSION
Day 8 // Daily Reading: Luke 24
It is difficult to imagine the depth of emotion that gripped every follower
of Jesus on the day that the Lord disappeared in the clouds.
Many there had walked and talked with Him almost every day for the
past three years. When difficulties arose and situations became tough,
the tough ran to Jesus and expected Him to save their skin.
Jesus multiplied the fish sticks and cornbread to feed thousands of
people. He calmed the storm and cast out demons. Jesus attracted the
crowds and taught with authority. They had recently endured the pain of
seeing Him crucified and survived three days without His presence; now,
what will happen since He is leaving again?
Others had recently joined the crowd of those following this miracle
worker who had “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible
proofs” (Acts 1:3). They heard Him speak of the coming kingdom of God
and were promised to be the recipients of a power unlike anything
humanity had ever experienced.
Now Jesus turned to all assembled on the Mount of Olives and basically
said, “Here are the keys to the car; don’t wreck it!”
The Bible tells us that once Jesus had disappeared in the clouds,
the people assembled with Him on the Mount of Olives “returned to
Jerusalem with great joy” and could be found “continually in the temple,
praising and blessing God” (Luke 24:52–53). They were determined to
follow His instructions; they would receive the power and then spread the
gospel throughout Jerusalem and Judea, into Samaria, and eventually
all the way to the ends of the earth.
The most difficult portion of the instructions given by Jesus may
have been the waiting. They were all excited about receiving power
and advancing the Kingdom, but few enjoy the waiting that so often
precedes the promise of God coming to pass. The most difficult aspect of
the mountaintop experiences in our relationship with Him are often the
valleys that soon seem to follow.
Page 26
Most biblical scholars estimate the eyewitness of the ascension to number
upwards of five hundred based upon the Apostle Paul’s assertion that
the resurrected Christ “was seen of above five hundred brethren at once”
(I Corinthians 15:6). The Bible then records the number assembled in the
Upper Room to be “about an hundred and twenty” (Acts 1:15). That means
that approximately three hundred who witnessed the ascension were
not willing to tarry for ten days to be a part of the outpouring of the Holy
Ghost in Acts 2.
Perhaps they were in the crowd to hear Peter preach later in the day,
or maybe they became part of a future revival. But they missed out on
the original plan that God had for their lives to be there from the very
beginning. That does not have to be your story.
As an Apostolic in the twenty-first century, Jesus has ordained for you to
be born “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). He has now given you the
keys to the car. He has called you to advance His Kingdom. He has told
you that it is your turn.
Consider the mountaintop experiences of your life as preparation for
walking through the valleys. What promises in your future are you
tarrying for today?
Take a moment to pray, asking the Lord for strength to tarry through the
valleys of life until you receive the power He has promised.
Page 27
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant
CALEB’S
MOUNTAIN
of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy
out the land; and I brought him word again as it
was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren
that went up with me made the heart of the
DAY 9: JOSHUA 14:7–12
people melt:
wholly
Fortybut
years Iold
was I when followed
Moses the servant the Lord my
of
the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the
God. And Moses
Surely
land; and sware
I brought himon
wordthat
again as day,
it was insaying,
mine
heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me
made the heart of thy
the people
melt: but
I wholly trodden
followed
the land whereon
feet
have
shall
the Lord my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying,
Surely the land whereon
thy feet
have
trodden shall be
be thine inheritance,
and
thy
children’s
for ever
thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because
thou hast
whollywholly
followed the Lord
my God. And now,
because thou
hast
followed
the Lord my
behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these
forty and
five years, even
since the Lord spake
this kept
word
God. And now,
behold,
the Lord
hath
me alive
unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in
wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and
as he said, the
these
forty and five years, even since
five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in
the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then,
the Lord spake
this word unto Moses, while the
even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out,
and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain,
children of Israel
wandered in the wilderness
whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest
in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the
and now, lo,
I am this day fourscore and five years
cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will
be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as
old. As yet Ithe
am
as strong this day as I was in the day
Lord said.
that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even
so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and
to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain
A GREAT
REQUEST
Day 9 // Daily Reading: Joshua 14
God simply doesn’t make promises that He doesn’t intend to keep.
I’m a high school English teacher, and I am, thus, contractually bound
to be the indentured servant of my students. Think about it: I’m actually
obligated to their intellectual growth. I know that in essence I assign
them homework and quizzes and tests, but in reality I’m the one who has
to grade it all. We collaborate in an exchange of energy and effort and
emotion. Essentially, we participate in an economy of work in which they
meet my demands, and I, then, meet their demands: and I give them
grades, and they give me a smile or a scowl.
Anyone who has ever occupied a public-school classroom knows that
negative interactions are common. It is with fear and trembling that I
give some marks to some students. I’ve been yelled at and cursed at.
Many an angry student has slammed a door or aggressively packed
a bag in a fleeting moment in which they’re caught “in their feelings”
after a poor academic outing. Occasionally, though, the inverse scenario
occurs: you give a good student an A, and rather than shaking their fist
and muttering unintelligibly about how much they hate you, they thank
you for doing your part.
The exchange happens like this:
Student: “Mr. DeAngelo, thank you so much!”
Me: “A grade is an indicator of what you’ve learned. This A is a
reflection of all your hard work. You shouldn’t be thanking me: I should be thanking you!”
In Joshua 14, we’re privileged to see the response of a good student who
had waited a long time to get some feedback on his private successes.
When Joshua and the Israelites finally emerged from the Wilderness,
they went about the business of dividing their inheritance. It was the end
of the grading period; report cards were out, and the patriarchs of each
tribe had assembled to find out what they’d earned.
Page 29
For the student of Scripture, the character of Caleb is memorable. Caleb
was one of the twelve spies sent to scout out Canaan in preparation
for the Israelite invasion. Caleb, however, is notable among the twelve,
because he was one of only two who were able to see past the challenges
of Canaan to the land’s potential. Caleb had passed the test of faith
because he’d believed the power of His God exceeded the power of the
land’s giants.
So Caleb came to collect in Joshua 14. He asked for the payment God
promised him more than forty years before. It would have been quite an
ambitious request, had he not already proven his worth: “now therefore
give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day.” So instead of
responding as though the request were ridiculous, “Joshua blessed him,
and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance”
(Joshua 14:12–13).
Covenant is a term often used to describe our relationship to God. A
covenant is a contract—an agreement of sorts. If one party does one
thing, the other party will reciprocate. It turns out, however, that God
doesn’t hand out ordinary A’s to star students: He gives out mountains.
He divvies out callings and destinies that are beyond comprehension
and imagination. We should thank Him for it, but we shouldn’t discount
our own contributions to the relationship. When we’ve passed the test
of faith, we shouldn’t be surprised when He does all of the things He has
promised us.
Page 30
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare
THE ENEMY’S
MOUNTAIN
his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the
garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be
that the Lord will work for us: for there is no
I SAMUEL 14:6–12
restraint DAY
to10:the Lord
to save by many or by
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his
armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of
few. And his
armourbearer said unto him, Do all
these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work
for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by
that is in thine
heart: turn thee; behold, I am with
many or by few. And his armourbearer said unto him,
Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with
thee according
to thy heart. Then said Jonathan
thee according to thy heart. Then said Jonathan, Behold,
we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover
Behold, we
will pass over unto these men, and
ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, Tarry until
we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and
we will discover
ourselves unto them. If they
will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up
unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered
say thus unto
Tarry
until
come
to you
them into us,
our hand:
and this shall
be a signwe
unto us.
And
both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison
then we will
standand
still
in our
place,
and will
of the Philistines:
the Philistines
said, Behold,
the
Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had
not go up hid
unto
them. But
say thus, Come
themselves.
And the men ofif
the they
garrison answered
Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to
up unto us;us,then
we
will
goAnd
up:
forsaid
the Lord
hath
and we will
shew
you a thing.
Jonathan
unto
his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the lord hath
into theour
hand of Israel.
delivered delivered
themthem
into
hand: and this shall
be a sign unto us. And both of them discovered
themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines
and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews
come forth out of the holes where they had
CALLED UP FOR
DESTRUCTION
Day 10 // Daily Reading: I Samuel 14
Have you ever been driving and suddenly you realize you are speeding
because “Something Happens When I Call Your Name” is playing
on Apple CarPlay causing you to put the pedal to the metal? All of
a sudden, you feel victorious! You are reminded, “I’ve got the power
of the name!” And you start singing to the top of your lungs until you
look over only to see the person next to you staring in disbelief at the
victory dance coming from your car. We’ve all been there! It’s amazing
that the beat, coupled with the words, of a song has the ability to
immediately change our mood, alter our mindset in just one moment,
while also decreasing our ability to follow the speed limit. Influence: it’s
a powerful thing.
Friends can have a tremendous influence on our lives. “You are who
you hang with.” If I had a dollar for every time my momma told me that
growing up, I’d need the opposite of a Ramsey solution to know what to
do with all of my money! Looking back, my mom was right. Influence in
the context of friends; it’s a powerful thing. We can see that played out
in I Samuel 14. Jonathan headed to battle, but he didn’t go alone. He
said to his armor bearer, “Come let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison
that is on the other side.” In other words, let’s go fight together and
let’s win! Jonathan displays a boldness in his belief that they will be
victorious. And his armor bearer, who was a friend, companion, and
a help said, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you,
according to your heart.” Now, that’s a good, supportive friend! Willing
to fight alongside Jonathan, willing to believe that against all odds,
they would win.
As you navigate your teen years or life as a young adult, you must
surround yourself with the right people and the right influences. Who
you allow to speak into your thoughts, tailor your emotions, alter your
decisions, and influence your actions could determine whether or not
you are victorious when the war for your life, your future, and your eternity
rages on. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NKJV) tells this about the value of a friend,
Page 32
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their
labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is
alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Would those you
surround yourself with strong enough in their walk with God to pick you
up when you are down?
The reality of life is we all face an enemy. And yes, we have to be victorious
ourselves and not solely rely on our friends to get the victory for us.
However, we do need to choose friends who are strong enough to fight
alongside of us and walk into the fight by faith and not fear. One of the
responsibilities of an armor bearer was to kill the enemy wounded by
their master. When the enemy fights against everything you know to
be true, it’s vital to have friends in your corner that help you destroy the
enemy of your soul. Surround yourself with friends to say to you, “You do
what God has put in your heart. And I’m here to help you fight for it!”
That’s a good friend right there!
Page 33
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the
MOUNT
PISGAH
mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over
against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the
DAY 11: DEUTERONOMY
34:1–4
land of Gilead,
unto Dan, and
all Naphtali, and
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the
mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against
Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead,
the land of
and
Manasseh,
and all the
untoEphraim,
Dan, and all Naphtali,
and the
land of Ephraim, and
Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost
sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho,
the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto
land of Judah,
unto the utmost sea, and the south
him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto
Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I
have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt
not go over
and the plain
ofthither.
the valley of Jericho, the city
of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto
him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham
unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it
unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with
A VISION
OF PROMISE
Day 11 // Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 34
I had a pretty good idea of who I wanted to be when I was very young. I
was different than most kids in this, however. While many would entertain
imaginations of lucrative careers as professional athletes, as astronauts
and politicians, I never gave any serious consideration to being anything
other than a preacher. That was it: no grandiose plans, no inkling of all
that it all might include, I just wanted to preach the gospel.
I can boast of a single virtue in my journey from adolescence to
adulthood: I was always observant. It was with an analytical eye that
I watched the examples of functional adulthood around me. Through
gentle evaluation, I considered my parents and teachers, adults both
strange and familiar. What I found was this: when it came to navigating
conflict, in decorum and mannerism, in all matters of fashion and drip, I
wanted to be most like my pastor.
Any progress I made in the early stages of my spiritual development
was found in shallow and ordinary imitation. The suits, dimpled ties, and
pocket squares were easy to emulate, but replicating my pastor’s habits
of prayer and praise were a bit more challenging. Over time, I learned that
in acting upon what I saw, I began to actually grow spiritually. As I grew,
I discovered that it wasn’t merely my pastor that I wanted to emulate, it
was the example of Christ that he’d dedicated himself to imitating.
In II Corinthians 3:18, Paul says that, by the Holy Ghost, we literally
look at the image of Christ, and as we look at Him, we’re progressively
transformed into His image. Here’s some profound advice: if you want to
see great things, keep your eyes open. When you keep your spiritual eyes
open, God will show you great things that, if acted upon, He will help you
ultimately realize. This is a function of His calling on your life.
Page 35
In Deuteronomy 34, Moses stood upon Mt. Pisgah, overlooking the entire
scope of His people’s promise. It was God’s calling on his life that had led
him to this place in time. Prior to that, he had seen the Hebrew, identifying
with him rather than the Egyptian taskmaster. He’d desired kinship with
Jethro and not Egypt’s Pharoah. He’d led millions of Israelites out of
Egypt in search of a land that he had seen only in his mind’s eye: a place
God had promised would “flow with milk and honey.” And finally atop
one final mountain, he literally saw it all for himself, just before the next
generation went on to inherit it.
Here’s some encouragement to the one in the process of becoming
what they’re called to be: if you keep your eyes open, you’ll eventually
see your imaginations realized. God’s intent is to prove to you that He
is able to show you every inkling and idea that He has placed into your
head and heart.
Moses wasn’t perfect, but Moses was singularly obsessed with performing
God’s will. His eyes were open. He’d played his part—pocket square,
dimpled tie—and before it was all said and done, he had grown so close
to God that he was said to speak with Hd’s promises for your life come to
pass. If you keep your eyes open, and you are following His example, you
too will see what He sees in His imaginations and plans for you.
Page 36
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried
HIGH
PLACES
him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned
n his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten
years. And Asa did that which was good and
DAY 12: II CHRONICLES 14:1–6
right in the
ofwith
the Lord
God:
he took
So eyes
Abijah slept
his fathers, and his
they buried
himfor
in
the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In
his days the land was quiet ten years. And Asa did that
away the altars
of the strange gods, and the
which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his
God: for he took away the altars of the strange gods,
and the high places, and brake down the images, and
high places,
and brake down the images, and cut
cut down the groves: and commanded Judah to seek
the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the
commandment. Also he took
away out of all the cities
of
down the groves: and
commanded
Judah
to seek
Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom
was quiet before him. And he built fenced cities in Judah:
for theof
land their
had rest, and
he had no warand
in thoseto
years;
the Lord God
fathers,
do the law
because the Lord had given him rest.
and the commandment. Also he took away out
of all the cities of Judah the high places and
the images: and the kingdom was quiet before
him. And he built fenced cities in Judah: for
the land had rest, and he had no war in those
TEAR DOWN
THE HIGH PLACES
Day 12 // Daily Reading: II Chronicles 14
In Scripture, the term “high places” refers to places of pagan worship.
As their name suggests, these were shrines built on top of mountains
or in elevated places dedicated to the worship of false gods. This was a
common practice among many nations, but God very clearly commanded
Israel to “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in
his name” (Deuteronomy 6:13, NIV). The Old Testament recounts Israel’s
struggle with conformity to the practices of pagan nations. Rather than
worshiping the one true God, whom they knew and whose power they
had experienced firsthand, Israel fell into a cycle of idol worship and
judgement. In II Chronicles 14 we read the story of Asa, a descendant
of King David, who turned his heart to the Lord and tore down the high
places in the land of Judah. Asa’s actions were pleasing to the Lord and
are a powerful lesson for us.
As the great-great grandson of King David, Asa came from an impressive
lineage. David was faithful to God and led Israel to serve the Lord. His
son Solomon became king but did not follow the Lord fully. Solomon
tolerated high places and idol worship in Israel, which opened the door
to sin in the land that would not be easily uprooted! I Kings 14 and 15
tell us that Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord by engaging in idol
worship at these high places. But when Asa became king, he destroyed
the high places and “commanded Judah to seek the Lord.” II Chronicles
14:2 says that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his
God” (NIV). Because he followed the Lord’s commands, the entire land of
Judah experienced peace during his reign.
Twenty-first-century high places may look quite different than ancient
high place, but their intention is very much the same. In the United
States we may not pray to idols or have stone altars built to foreign gods
in our homes, but we all encounter things that have the potential to turn
our hearts from the Lord. We learn from Israel’s struggle with conformity
that tolerating sin is always a mistake. Let us not forget that in biblical
times, high places were simply ordinary places; they held no true power
Page 38
or authority. They were counterfeit altars built to inanimate idols that
could not see or hear, puppets of Satan used to lead people astray. The
enemy’s tactics have not changed!
Take some time today to look at the high places in your life. When we
tear down our high places—things that steal our time, affection, and
attention away from Jesus, we make room in our lives for God’s blessing,
provision, and peace (II Chronicles 14:6). When we hold onto our way with
tight fists and set up gods we can control, we rob only ourselves. God
cannot put blessings into closed hands. We learn from Asa that we need
nothing more than we need God. When we fully turn to the Lord with all
of our hearts, we will experience His best. Who in your life needs you to
ascend to some high places and tear down counterfeit altars? When you
commit to serving the Lord, you will be blessed. Fix your eyes on Him and
seek to serve Him in all you do. The peace and provision of God will flow
to you and through you. God is faithful to His promise.
Page 39
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and
MOUNT OF
TRANSFIGURATION
John his brother, and bringeth them up into an
high mountain apart, and was transfigured before
them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his
DAY 13: MATTHEW 17:1–13
raiment was
as
the
light.
And,
there
And white
after six days
Jesus
taketh
Peter, James,
andbehold,
John
his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain
appeared unto
them
Moses
and
Elias
talking with
apart, and
was transfigured
before
them:
and his face
did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the
him. Then answered
Peter,
and
unto Jesus
light. And, behold, there
appeared unto
themsaid
Moses and
Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said
unto Jesus,
lord, it
is good
us tohere:
be here: ifif
thou
wilt,
Lord, it is good
for
us
toforbe
thou
wilt, let
let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one
for Moses,
and one fortabernacles;
Elias. While he yet spake, behold,
a for thee
us make here
three
one
bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out
of theMoses,
cloud, which said,
This isone
my beloved
Son, Elias. While
in whom
and one for
and
for
he
I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples
heard it, they fell
their face, and
were sore afraid.
And
yet spake, behold,
aonbright
cloud
overshadowed
Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be
not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they
them: and behold
a voice out of the cloud, which
saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down
from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the
said, This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well
vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from
the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then
pleased; hear
ye him. And when the disciples
say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus
answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come,
heard it, they
fell on their face, and were sore
and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is
come already, and they knew him not, but have done
afraid. And
Jesus came and touched them, and
unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the
Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood
said, Arise,that
and
beunto
not
afraid.
And when they had
he spake
them
of John the Baptist.
lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus
only. And as they came down from the mountain
WE MUST
BE CHANGED
Day 13 // Daily Reading: Matthew 17
At the height of Jesus’ ministry, He was remade, transfigured in the
presence of His disciples. Jesus had been about the work of His heavenly
Father, and in that moment, all expectations were realized. Jesus
emerged from a cloud of glory to pursue the final act of becoming our
salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection. As with all things
Jesus did, His transfiguration serves as an example of the transformative
process we undergo as believers. It is necessary that we are changed by
His presence in such a way that His mark on our lives is unmistakable.
Growing up, I felt like I was just like every other Apostolic kid. I slept under
pews as my mother hammered away on the organ most Sunday nights.
I attended revivals and youth rallies, and I experienced a church that
loved me and supported me in my growth as a young Christian.
We moved when my dad took on the role of pastor far away from
everything I knew, everything familiar. Whether I want to admit it or not,
my life changed in the midst of all of that change. My new friends weren’t
like my old church friends. The new music I listened to wasn’t even in
the same conversation as those old gospel hits. The parties I attended
weren’t just birthday parties any longer either; every aspect of my life
and my walk with God had moved in the wrong direction.
I wasn’t destructive or overly sinful. I didn’t touch drugs or alcohol, but the
anger that lived within my heart persisted, and well into my Bible college
years that anger ate away at my heart. It eroded the relationships with
my parents and family, so much so that I can distinctly remember the
night my dad told me I shouldn’t even bother coming home. I was lost to
sin, lost to the bad habits that fueled my disappointment and anger in
a cycle that felt unbreakable. I was lost and I didn’t have the means to
get out of it. I couldn’t find a way to mend the broken relationships in my
family, relationships I had shattered.
Page 41
God’s grace is sufficient though, and after years of me feeding the sin in
my heart, the Holy Ghost that had filled me when I was seven years old
surged deep within me. It feels like it happened overnight, but God began
to make a way, restoring me in ways I thought lost and impossible. He
reached down into my darkness and, firmly gripping my heart, pulled
me from my darkness into a cloud of the Holy Ghost that changed me so
completely until I would never be the same. Relationships were repaired
and hatred and anger were washed away. Because of His grace and His
sacrifice, I too was changed.
Our stories are all drastically different. While we struggle in different
ways, the one thing that remains the same is Jesus. His Spirit, His Word,
and His love for us are immeasurable, and if we let them permeate every
inch of our lives, He will do incredible things for us and our families. Jesus
is looking to change you, to remake you in His most beautiful image,
an image that glorifies Him in your every word and deed. Come to the
mountain of His love and let your life be changed forever.
Page 42
PA R T 2
SONGS OF ASCENT
THE JOURNEY OF DISCIPLESHIP
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
MOUNT
ZION
n the city of our God, in the mountain of his
holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of
the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides
of the north, the city of the great King. God is
DAY 14: PSALM 48
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city
known in her
palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the
of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful
for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion,
on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God
kings wereis known
assembled,
they
passed
by together
in her palaces for
a refuge.
For, lo, the kings
were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it,
and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted
They saw it,
so
marvelled;
away.and
Fear took
holdthey
upon them
there, and pain, as ofthey were
a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish
with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in
troubled, and
away. Fear
took
the city hasted
of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our
God: Godhold upon
will establish it for ever. Selah.
them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an
east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen
n the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of
THE PATH TO
JERUSALEM
Day 14 // Daily Reading: Psalm 48
The ongoing theme of the Songs of Ascent is that we are pilgrims,
journeymen and journeywomen who experience tragedies and blessings
on the journey that is our own spiritual walk. It is a process and an ongoing
experience that causes us to look to God as our help in time of need and
to see Heaven as our final destination and true reward.
Mt. Zion was a physical representation of that spiritual future to the Jewish
people. When the old kings saw its beauty and majesty, they understood
why God chose it as the place where His physical dwelling would be built.
This mountain was their beacon and place of hope that they could look
to when all else seemed lost. The people of God cherished this mountain
and staked everything in order to simply travel to this place that God has
established, because above all else, they desired to be in that glorious
presence of the most-high God. It required a deep love for God and a
depth of discipline to make this treacherous journey to the Temple Mount,
but because they valued this experience and understood the prize that
was the presence of God, they willingly submitted themselves to danger
to simply entertain God’s glory.
Discipline, above all else, requires time. It is not something that can be
hurried or expedited. Discipleship cannot be paid for or picked from a
YouTube tutorial or from the chapter of a good book. People are always on
the move to experience the next big thing or to hear the next big spiritual
guru. Too often, the true treasures of the Scriptures are tossed aside and
replaced by things that are just skin deep, a novelty of Christianity that
missed every part of a real relationship with Jesus. This journey for us to
meet with God and experience His perfect love and glory is long, and it
is going to be difficult. There will be times we don’t feel like we have the
strength to press on, or we may feel like our only option is to abandon this
journey. God is calling us, here and now, to take heart and look to Him
and this mountain of eternity before us that we might draw strength
and press on.
Page 45
There will be no greater relief, no sweeter release than when we see Jesus
upon His throne in eternity. Everything we have fought for and everything
we have lost along this journey of discipleship will be worth it if we are
committed to running this race. His peace and joy are waiting to greet
us at the city gates. His love awaits us behind the doors of that great
temple. The sounds of worship and praise will be there to greet us when
we push through the crowd and into His presence. Every tragedy and
every loss we experienced along that long road of faith will be washed
from our mind as we look to the Son who shines so brightly. Just as Jesus
illuminates this great city, so does He also illuminate our hearts and
minds as our spirit is lifted and our hope strengthened in Him.
The journey will be long, but if we hold to the hope of Jesus and His
kingdom here on earth, if we look to that mountain from a long way off
and simply think of everything we will experience when we finally step
into His presence, He will renew our strength. For just as He called us to
begin this journey in the first place, Jesus will sustain us every step along
the way. We must simply keep walking.
Page 46
n my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me
PSALM 120
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a
deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee?
or
what
DAY 15: PSALM 120
shall
be
done
unto
thee,
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a
thou
deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? or what
shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows
of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Woe is me, that I
sojourn in Mesech,
that I dwell
in the tents of of
Kedar! My
false tongue?
Sharp
arrows
the mighty
soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am
for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
withcoalsofjuniper.Woeisme,thatIsojourninMesech
that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath
long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am
PEACE AND WAR
Day 15 // Daily Reading: Psalm 120
Words matter; this lesson could end with that simple thought. What you
say to and about others is a big deal! Think with me for a moment, back
to a time when someone lied about you. Yes, white lies and half-truths
are still lies. There is no wiggle room in the definition of lying. Saying
something that is not true is lying! The slightest misrepresentation of
someone’s character can be damaging to their success in life.
In Psalm 120, we find the psalmist in distress. In the opening verse, he
cried unto the Lord, and the Lord head him! In verse 2, we discover the
reason for the distress. He had encountered lying lips and a deceitful
tongue. He went on to use metaphors for being away from home when
he said, “. . . I sojourn in Mesech . . . I dwell in the tents of Kedar!” (Psalm
120:5). For context, Mesech was an enemy of God and Kedar represented
people of war. The writer had wandered from home and found himself in
hostile territory, dwelling among people who were enemies of God, haters
of peace, and who only spoke of war. Sounds like an exciting place to be.
Have you ever found yourself far from home, family, and friends because
of what someone said about you? Words matter! Many cliché statements
can be made about this situation. “Birds of a feather flock together.”
“You are what you eat.” “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks.” Wait a minute . . . that last one sounds like the words of Jesus.
One translation says, “What you say flows from what is in your heart”
(Luke 6:45, NLT). Outer influences matter to inner thoughts.
Why was the psalmist in a place where someone else’s words affected him
so deeply? A better question may be why have you been in that place?
Often times, we don’t realize that we’ve strayed so far from safety. What
we watch, who we listen to, and what we read can inch us away from
where God wants us to be. If we are not careful, we could find ourselves
surrounded by the very enemies of God and those who only speak of
war and never peace. We must be diligent to guard against things that
can lead us astray! This can be accomplished by anyone who disciplines
Page 48
themselves by studying God’s Word, setting boundaries around media,
and evaluating their close circle of friends.
Let’s go back to the psalmist in distress. He compared the lies about him
to sharp arrows and coals of juniper—a broom plant known for hot, longlasting flames. The words said against him had not only pierced him,
but also felt like an unrelenting flame. I’m sure that you felt something
similar due to the words of someone else. Isolated, hopeless, striving for
peace but only encountering war. This is no walk in the park!
How then can we get out of this war-torn, hostile territory, back to a place
of safety? The answer is at the beginning of the Psalm. “...I cried unto the
Lord, and he heard me” (Psalm 120:1). We may not know exactly what
was done for the psalmist; we only know his problem was solved because
God heard him. You see, God is always the resolution to our problems. We
don’t need to see the specifics of how the psalmist was rescued, but we
can take solace in the fact that God heard his cry.
The question is simple: what are you saying and what are you hearing?
After all, words matter.
Page 49
will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from
PSALM 121
whence cometh my help. My help cometh from
the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He
will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that
keepeth thee
will not slumber. Behold, he that
DAY 16: PSALM 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence
cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which
keepeth Israel
shall
neither
slumber
made heaven
and earth.
He will not suffer
thy foot to be nor sleep
moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold,
he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Lordkeeper:
is thy keeper: the Lord is
the Lord is thy shadethy
upon thy
The Lord isThe
thy
shade upon
right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the
moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy
thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day
going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and
nor
even for evermore.
the
preserve
moon
by
thee
night.
from
The Lord
all
shall
evil
he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall
preserve thy going out and thy coming in
THE LORD
IS MY HELP
Day 16 // Daily Reading: Psalm 121
The psalmist found relief and comfort in the Lord. He recognized that
with Israel on God’s side, they had hope that would continually sustain
them. Time after time, and when all seemed lost, the psalmist saw the
salvation of Israel from the attacks of Israel’s many enemies. The writer
seemed composed and poised by the knowledge God had never let them
down, and he was certain God never would. This thought lifted up the
psalmist and encourageed him along his relationship journey with God.
This passage represents an assurance of safety and security. If we
struggle with worry and doubt, God can keep us and give us a place to
feel safe. If our minds are under attack, God promises peace that passes
all understanding. If we are under physical attack by people who are
supposed to love and care for us, God is our refuge and gives us strength
to reach out for help from people God enables to aid us. This is a psalm
of hope, a psalm of certainty that no matter what, God is there beside us
to help us through whatever is looking to tear our lives down around us.
The Lord is our help and our firm foundation!
Throughout Scripture, God came to the rescue of His people when they
were in trouble or in need. There are even times where God came to the
rescue of people who did not know Him but were simply willing to call
on Him for help. God is merciful, and when we are in need, He will show
up right on time to help and save us from whatever is hurting us. When
Daniel cried out from the lions’ den, God was there. When Moses was
pursued by the Egyptian army to the banks of the Red Sea, God made a
way. When Leah was hurting because her husband constantly rejected
her, she called on God, and He blessed her. Regardless of the situation
in which these people of God found themselves, no matter how dire the
circumstance, God was there to supply all of their needs and deliver them.
Page 51
I assure you; the Lord will not let you down. Everything you are feeling
and dealing with in your life and situation is no match for our loving and
merciful God. Keep your eyes on Him and God will supply every need. There
is hope in His name and deliverance ready and available for anyone who
is broken and hurting. His love is a great love. His love for you, His child,
is greater than any force in this world. When you put your trust in Him
and your hope in His ability, you can be sure that He will not disappoint
you. He will help you and give you everything you need to survive. Trust in
God; don’t lean on your own understanding of how this world works, but
know that above all else, God is in control and He is watching out for you.
Page 52
was
glad
when
they
said
PSALM 122
unto
me
Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet
shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem
Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact
together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes
of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel
DAY 17: PSALM 122
I was glad when
they said
unto me,
Let us go
into the Lord
to give thanks
unto
the
name
of
the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy
For
the
gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that
thereis compact
aretogether:
set
thrones
of
whither
the tribes go up, the
tribes judgment
of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks
unto the name
of the Lord.
For therehouse
are set thrones of
thrones
of
the
of
David
judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the
peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Pray
for
Peace
the
peace
of
Jerusalem
be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy
palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will
they
now say, Peace be within
thee. Because of the house
of
shall
prosper
that
love
the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
thee.
Peace
be
within
and
prosperity
within
my
brethren
and
will
now
say,
thy
thy
palaces.
companions’
Peace
be
walls
within
For
sakes
thee
Because of the house of the Lord our God
LONGING FOR
JERUSALEM
Day 17 // Daily Reading: Psalm 122
The psalmist celebrated the joy and excitement that came with going
up to Jerusalem and to the Temple. For the ancient Jews, going to the
Temple was an event, a grand affair. If a Jew actually got the opportunity
to go, this was special. This was how they were able to enter in to the
presence of God. We can apply this same excitement and expectancy to
going to the house of God.
On Sunday or whatever day we go to church with our local congregation
we should feel that same anticipation. Acts 2:46–47 records that the New
Testament believers met together in the Temple. Corporate worship is
such an important part of being an Apostolic. Coming together with other
believers to magnify the name of the Lord and to hear the preaching
of the Word is such an important part of our spiritual growth. Church
should never be a drag or feel like an obligation. Let’s have the same
excitement, expectancy, and gladness that the Jews had when we go
to our local churches. God can and does do great things in our church
services. Let’s expect miracles to happen and people to be filled with the
Holy Spirit every time we come to church!
This psalm also has a deeper level of application for us. While there
is nothing that can quite compare with coming together with other
believers to worship together, the presence of the Lord is not limited
to just a physical building that we attend on Sundays. For Christians,
any place where we worship God can be His presence (Revelation 21:3, I
Corinthians 3:16–17). The house of the Lord can sometimes be your own
bedroom, office, or car. Being in the presence of God should always
make us happy and leave us feeling fulfilled. The house of the Lord can
be anywhere. His presence surrounds us (Psalm 139). We only need to be
more aware of Him.
Page 54
Just like there is excitement and happiness when we come into the house
of the Lord, anytime we come into the presence of the Lord we should feel
excitement and expectancy. That means anytime you open your Bible to
read His word or anytime you bow your knees in prayer, you should have
gladness. Sometimes prayer and daily devotion can feel like a discipline
and a duty. However, we need to breathe some fresh life into our time
with God and the place where every prayer, every devotion is a joy to us.
Verse 7 speaks of peace and prosperity being within the walls of
Jerusalem. One of the benefits of being in the presence of the Lord is the
peace it brings. We get this peace by fixing our minds and thoughts on
Jesus and on good things (Philippians 4:6–8). The verse also pronounces
a blessing of prosperity on those who love the Lord. It is easy to worry
about the cares of life: money, relationships, school, work, or sickness.
But when we focus on God and loving Him, He will take care of all of our
needs (Matthew 6:25–34). May we truly desire to be in the presence of the
Lord and to find rest in His peace!
Page 55
Unto
thee
lift
I
PSALM 123
up
mine
eyes
O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the
eyesofservantslook untothehandoftheirmasters
and
unto
as
the
eyes
of
a
DAY 18: PSALM 123
the
hand
Unto thee lift
I up mine eyes, of
O thou thather
dwellest in
maiden
mistress
the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto
the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden
unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon
so our eyes
wait upon the Lord our God
until
the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have
mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are
exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly
filled with
that are at ease,
and with us.
that
hethe scorning
haveof those
mercy
upon
Have
the contempt of the proud. I will seek thy good.
mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us
for
we
contempt.
are
Our
exceedingly
soul
is
filled
with
exceedingly
filled
with the scorning of those that are at ease
WAIT ON
THE LORD
Day 18 // Daily Reading: Psalm 123
The psalmist saw himself as a servant of God, ever waiting on the action
of the Master. He was faithful and patient because He understood
God is a good Master, and He loves us all. When life is uncertain and
confusing, the best thing anyone can do is wait on God. If you are feeling
lost and alone, wait on God. If you are given a choice between two great
opportunities, wait on God. It might seem cliché and repetitive, but our
willingness to wait on God and seek out His will for our lives will always
result in our benefit.
Like the writer, we encounter many moments when our faith is challenged
by people who want to harm us or tear us down. When we are faithful
and true to God’s plan, it feels like situations, experiences, and especially
people show up wanting to tear us down and undo all of the good that
God has allowed to happen in our lives. With sin and the world constantly
working against us, we can all relate to the psalmist when he expressed
his frustration with these seemingly unending attacks.
It is easy to lose sight of our hope and our future when we are always
surrounded by tragedy and opposition. It makes sense that when you
have to deal with the constant stress and pressure of people tearing you
down, you might lose sight of God from time to time. But just because
something is understandable does not give us an excuse to keep living
our lives in anxiety and depression. God is calling us to higher places and
a deeper relationship with Him. If we take the time to focus on God and
the things of God, like prayer and His Word, He will rescue us from every
situation that seems like it has the power to destroy us. There is no one
and no thing bigger than our God, so when the psalmist calls God our
Master, he is assuring us that no matter what comes against us, God has
complete control over our lives.
Page 57
When we wait on God, we are not just sitting around and wasting time
until God comes to save us. Waiting on God represents action: action of
faith and trust in who God is as our Father and almighty Creator. When
we wait on the Lord, we meditate and draw strength and inspiration
from Him. We are literally remade and rejuvenated when we take the
time to wait on God. Remember, you are a child of God. Remember, you
have been given power by His blood, sacrifice, and Spirit. Remember,
Jesus promised a generation was coming that would do greater things
than He did while here on earth. You are chosen, anointed, and set apart
for such a time as this. You are strong because you are royalty, and in
everything you do, God is with you.
Page 58
f it had not been the Lord who was on our side
PSALM 124
now
may
been
the
Israel Lord
say;
who
If
it
had
not
was
on
our
side
us:
then
when
men
rose
they
had
swallowed
when
their
wrath
DAY 19: PSALM 124
us:
then
the
then
over
who
their
bird
up
against
us
was
up
quick
kindled
against
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may
the
waters
had
overwhelmed
Israel say; If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed
us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
stream
hadhad overwhelmed
gone us,over
our
then the waters
the stream had
us
soul
gone over our soul: then the proud waters had gone over
our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a
the
proud
waters
had
prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of
the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are
escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,be
who made
our
soul. Blessed
the
heaven and earth.
hath
not
teeth.
out
of
given
Our
the
us
as
soul is
snare
of
a
Lord
prey
escaped
the
gone
as
to
a
fowlers
the snare is broken, and we are escaped
Our
help
is
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
IF IT HAD NOT BEEN
FOR THE LORD
Day 19 // Daily Reading: Psalm 124
Have you ever heard a story about modern-day Good Samaritans? These
are inspiring stories about real-life heroes. Typically, these stories are the
result of someone being in the right place at just the right time. Because
that Good Samaritan was there, and she was willing to intervene, a
disaster was avoided.
One such real-life hero was a seven-year-old boy with cerebral palsy
named Michael Martinez. He is confined to a wheelchair, but that did
not stop him from acting when the carbon monoxide detector went off
in his family’s home. When the alarm went off, he climbed out of bed
and crawled on the floor until he reached his parents’ room. He woke
them up and warned them about what was happening. It turned out
that the family’s stove was leaking gas. Michael’s bravery and quick
action resulted in him saving the lives of his entire family. His family
could rightly say, “He’s our little hero.” If it hadn’t been for Michael, they
all could have died!
David twice expressed in Psalm 124, “If it had not been the Lord who was
on our side. . . ” He then went on to express in great detail just how tragic
it would have been for him if God had not been present with him! David
remembered times that he felt cornered by his enemies. Perhaps he felt
like there was no way out of his terrible situation. Yet, just in time, God
stepped in and made a way where there seemed to be no way. Because
of God, David and his friends were not consumed by their enemies.
Because God was on their side, moving and working on their behalf, the
snare of their enemies was broken and they escaped harm.
Perhaps you can think of a time where it seemed as if you were in great
danger. Perhaps someone was trying to harm you. Maybe you were
being bullied or mistreated. It could be that your parents were driving
down the road and miraculously avoided a terrible collision. Whatever
the case may be, on the other end of the trial, you could look back and
be amazed at the grace and mercy of God who stepped in just in time.
Page 60
Yet, even more important than the ways that God has delivered us
physically are the ways that He delivered us spiritually. The enemy of our
souls sought to destroy us. He wanted to bury us in our sin and destroy
us with his wickedness. Jesus wouldn’t allow that, though. He died on the
cross to make a way for us to be saved. If it had not been for God being
on our side, we would be lost, confused, broken, and hurting; instead,
He opened up a door for us to experience deeper relationship with Him.
He broke the hold the enemy had on us. We don’t have to worry about
what would have happened “If it had not been for Jesus!” He is with us
always, protecting us from destruction and setting us up to make an
eternal difference in our world.
Page 61
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion
PSALM 125
which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem
so
the
from
the
rest
Lord
is
round
henceforth
about
even
for
his
people
ever. For
DAY 20: PSALM 125
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion,
rodwhich of
the
wicked
cannot be removed, but abideth
shall
for ever.
not
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so
the Lord is round about his people from henceforth
upon
lot
the
even for the
ever. For the
rod of theof
wicked shall
not rest righteous
upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth
their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O Lord, unto those
lest the righteous
forth
their
hands unto
that be good, andput
to them
that are upright
in their
hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked
ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of
niquity. Doiniquity:
good,
O Lord,
unto those
that be good
but peace
shall be upon
Israel.
and to them that are upright in their hearts. As
for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways
the
with
Lord
the
shall
lead
workers
them
of
forth
iniquity
GOD’S
PROTECTION
Day 20 // Daily Reading: Psalm 125
Each of us is on the same journey. We all face similar pressures, situations,
and stresses. We walk similar streets and breathe the same air. It may
look different at times, but we all have the same goal in view: Heaven. On
our way, the Lord promises that when we trust in Him, we are afforded
promises. My doubts will never take those promises away. Psalms 125:2
states that God will be to us like the mountains round about Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was strategically placed in a location that allowed it a defense
by the seven mountains that surrounded it. This geological significance
should establish our confidence that God surrounds us in the same way.
He is always protecting, always looking out for us!
Because I trust in Him, He not only protects me, but He also allows a
determination in my spirit. Verse 1 states that when we put our trust in
Him, we shall be immoveable. In my life, I have seen God allow me to
have an unshakeable spirit—just as we need in our world today. I grew
up in a home of unbelieving parents, and at twelve years old, I decided
to live for God. I will forever be grateful that this Psalms 125 has shown
itself as truth. I trusted in the Word of God when the things like alcohol
influenced the home I was in and often put my life in danger. There was
abuse, yelling, unpredictability, and a lot of fear involved in my childhood.
I cannot explain it fully, but when I did not have anything else to believe
in, my desperation found peace and strength in God. Even though I faced
persecution from time to time for going to church, sacrificing finances,
dressing modestly, and going to early morning prayer—God promised
that these persecutions would not be forever.
Psalms 125:3 describes how God will allow loss, or persecution, but His
promise is that this will not be lasting. He will keep us if we stay faithful
and trust Him. The danger is when we find ourselves buckling under the
pressure and giving in to the ways of the world. When we choose to step
out from the provision of God, we step out from the care and blessing of
God. I choose to trust, even when I cannot see. Verse 4 is the psalmist’s
prayer that God will do good to those who stand upright and holy. I have
Page 63
never seen the righteous forsaken. Any tribulation we face here will pale
in comparison to the glory we experience on the other side. I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me!
The way of the Lord is a straight path. Psalms 125:5 describes the ways
of the wicked—they shift from thing to thing, looking to deceive, but this
path only yields misery and disappointment. The path of God is straight.
It may involve struggle from time to time, but the result is peace and
purpose. I choose to trust the way of the Lord!
This journey will be full of good days and bad. We will all face struggle
and blessing. But as the psalmist David depicts in this chapter, when we
trust in the Lord, He promises protection, that the oppression will not last
always, and that there will be peace along the path of righteousness.
Page 64
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion
PSALM 126
we
were
was
like
our
and
mouth
our
then
them
said
that
filled
tongue
they
dream.
Then
with
laughter
with
singing
among
the
heathen
DAY 21: PSALM 126
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we
The Lord were
hath
done great things for them
like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled
The
with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said
Lord
they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great
hath
done
great
things
things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us;
for
us
whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord,
as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall
whereof we
are
glad.
Turn
again
ourcaptivity,
O Lord
reap
in joy.
He that
goeth forth
and weepeth,
bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.
as the streams in the south. They that sow
n tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth
forth
and
weepeth,
bearing
precious
seed
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing
bringing
his
sheaves with
him
FREEDOM FROM
CAPTIVITY
Day 21 // Daily Reading: Psalm 126
Have you ever been delivered from a situation in which you felt trapped?
Do you remember the instant and explosive joy you felt upon realizing that
you were free? No matter how many times you have imagined being set
free, nothing can prepare you for the incredible reality of true freedom.
Psalm 126 gives us an inside look into the heart of what it feels like to be
delivered; it speaks of the joy that overflows at the moment of deliverance.
The psalmist says that it felt like a dream. After being oppressed and
held captive in Babylon for seventy years, the Israelites were desperate
for deliverance. Seventy years is nearly the average lifespan of a person in
the United States. For seven decades, the Israelites lived in an unfamiliar
and unwelcoming place that was hostile to their God and their way of
life. It would have been a constant battle to serve God in a place like that
and to remain in covenant with God under the Law. Foreign gods were
everywhere, and violence was a way of life. Sounds a lot like our world,
doesn’t it? Israel did not have the freedom to worship the Lord as they
had in Jerusalem and holding onto the promise of deliverance had to be
a struggle. Sadly, their captivity was a result of their unrepentant sin, and
God warned them of the coming judgement (Jeremiah 25).
Though the cause of Israel’s captivity was their own sin, during the seventy
years of judgement they were faced with two choices: either learn to rely
wholly on God and grow or continue to serve unto captivity and death. In
their time of captivity, Israel learned to trust God. In learning to trust God,
we are perfected, meaning we become mature in Him.
Maturity is God’s desire for us. Today we may not be in physical captivity
by governments or oppressors, but sin is an unseen and silent oppressor
whose consequences are painfully visible. We are each faced with the
same choice as Israel: to rely on ourselves or to wholly lean on Jesus. As
Psalm 126 shows us, only one of these choices leads to deliverance and
joy unspeakable! If today you find yourself in a struggle, turn to God. Rely
completely on Him and He will deliver you. You may feel like it’s taking
seventy years, but trust that He will perfect and complete the work He
Page 66
began in you. You will find that what you “sow in tears” during your time
of struggle you will indeed “reap in joy.” God always follows through on
His promises, and He delivers beyond expectation.
Like the psalmist, you will declare that “the Lord hath done great things
for us; [whereof] we are glad.” I challenge you today to put your trust
in Jesus and declare that your deliverance is coming. Turn to the Lord
and He will turn your situation around. Remember what God has done
for you and be encouraged today. Declare that what you are currently
sowing in tears in this season of your life, God will turn to joy before your
very eyes. And you will sing with a joy that cannot be contained. You have
a reason to rejoice.
Page 67
Except
the Lord
build
PSALM 127
they
labour
in
vain
the
that
house
build
it
except the Lord keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up
early, to sit
up late, to eat the bread of sorrows
DAY 22: PSALM 127
for
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that
so
build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman
he
giveth
his
waketh but
in vain. It is vain
for you beloved
to rise up early, to sitsleep.
Lo
up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his
children
beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
are an
heritage
of
the and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in
the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Lord
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they
shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the
and the fruit
of the womb is his reward
enemies in the gate.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man
so are children of the youth. Happy is the
man
they
that
hath
shall
his
quiver
not
full
be
of
them
ashamed
A LIFE BLESSED
BY THE LORD
Day 22 // Daily Reading: Psalm 127
I don’t need to sell you on sleep. If you’re a growing teenager, a college
student, or even a parent with small children, you know the importance
of a good night’s rest. Crying children, cramming for finals, or even
staying up too late playing video games can deprive you of your rest.
But perhaps the primary culprit is worry. Lay your head down, and you’re
assaulted by an army of anxieties and troubles: How am I going to study
for all my exams tomorrow? How are we going to pay the rent? What if
my crush doesn’t like me? What, why, when, how?
Considering the value of sleep, should it surprise us to discover that the
Bible addresses the issue? Psalm 127:2 says, “It is vain for you to rise up
early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved
sleep.” In other words, “Why are you killing yourself trying to solve all your
problems on your own? Let the Lord give you rest.”
You see, any human venture is worthless without the blessing of the
Lord. Without Him, all our efforts are in vain. The heading to Psalm 127
tells us it was written for King Solomon. As the leader of God’s people,
Solomon would have needed a constant reminder that all his attempts
to rule would fail without God’s blessings. Perhaps, like us, Solomon spent
many nights lying awake worrying about the affairs of the kingdom.
Perhaps on those nights, the words of Psalm 127 would flow into his
mind, bringing peace to his thoughts as it reminded him to trust in the
blessings of the Lord.
As a song of ascent, Psalm 127 would also have comforted weary pilgrims
as they journeyed to Jerusalem, toiling up mountains, dodging bandits,
and camping along unfamiliar roads. When the city came into view, the
words of the psalm would have reminded them that even Jerusalem,
rising in splendor like a fortress above the hills of Judea, was as vulnerable
as the smallest village in Galilee without Yahweh’s protection.
Page 69
Psalm 127 is a promise of blessing to those who acknowledge the
sovereignty of Christ. We must submit to Him our cities, families, our
plans, and yes, even our sleep. Learning this is a lifelong process, but here
is a great way to start: pray before you sleep. Even if you do your devotion
at a different time of the day, say a prayer before you close your eyes.
Ask God to give you sleep, protect you through the night, give you sweet
dreams, and help you wake rested with Him on your mind. Try it. I did,
and I found myself sleeping easier with less nightmares and waking with
the Lord on my mind.
You are God’s beloved; if you ask Him, He will give you sleep. Learn to
submit your sleeping hours to Him, and you’ll be well on your way to
living a life blessed by the Lord.
Page 70
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord
PSALM 128
ways. For
shalt
of
that
walketh
happy
eat
in
the
shalt
his
labour
thou
be,
thine
and
thou
hands
it
shall
be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a
DAY 23: PSALM 128
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh
fruitful vine by
the sides of thine house
in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy
wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
thy children
likelike
olive
plants
round
thy children
olive plants
round about
thy table. about thy
Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth
the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou
table. Behold,
that
thus
shall
shalt see
the good
of Jerusalem
all thethe
days ofman be blessed
thy life.
Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace
upon Israel.
that
The
and
feareth
Lord
thou
shall bless
thou
Jerusalem
the
all
shalt
thee
shalt
see
the
days
see
thy
out
the
of
Lord
of
good
Zion
of
thy
life. Yea
children’s
children
FEAR OF GOD
Day 23 // Daily Reading: Psalm 128
The psalmist tells us that everyone who fears the Lord and walks in His
ways is blessed. In our culture today, fear is commonly used negatively.
We may associate fear with things that we are afraid of, like spiders or
snakes, but the psalmist in this chapter describes that if we fear the Lord,
we are blessed. So, what does it mean to fear the Lord? When we look
at the meaning of the word fear in this context, this word means to have
reverence or deep respect for the Lord. If we take this meaning of the
word fear, the psalmist is saying that everyone that has deep respect for
the Lord and walks in His ways is blessed.
There are many paths we can take in life. Every day we are faced with
paths that can lead to career, education, relationship, and ministry
opportunities. We must make decisions daily that set us up for the future
we desire: decisions such as choosing to go to church even when you are
the only one going in your family, choosing sports and extracurricular
activities that don’t take away from church, choosing a career path where
you can share God’s love and truth with everyone you work with, and even
choosing to have relationships in your life that glorify God. These are just a
few of the many decisions we make daily. In our humanity, when making
these decisions we can overthink them, experience indecisiveness, and
even feel anxious. Sometimes we might even think, “Wouldn’t it be nice
to have a guarantee that everything is going to work out great?”
Thankfully, God knows us in our humanity and gave us this promise in
Psalm 128, “Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in
his ways.” In this one Scripture, God promises to bless everyone that has
deep respect for Him and walks in His ways. In every decision, in every
day, if you follow God and fear Him, He will bless you!
The psalmist even goes on to explain in Psalm 128 the blessings that you
will see in your own life and in the lives of the people around you. In Psalm
128:2, we are promised that when you do God’s work and follow His will,
you will be prosperous and happy. This is such an incredible promise for
Page 72
young people going into colleges, careers, and business opportunities.
By choosing to follow God, the business you create, the job you choose,
the book you write, the podcast you start, whatever it is, God promises to
make you prosperous and happy!
The promises described in Psalm 128 are not just for you, but also for
your family and for the people around you. In this chapter, the psalmist
describes that a person that fears the Lord and walks in His ways will
see his family blessed, his country blessed, and even his children’s
children blessed.
So many blessings, so many promises, and it all depends on one decision:
Will you fear the Lord and follow Him? By saying yes to this one question,
you are saying yes to following and respecting God in everything you do,
you are choosing a God that will bless every other decision you make, and
you are saying yes to the blessings He wants to give you. You are not only
choosing to be blessed, you are choosing for your family, your coworkers,
your friends, your business partners, and even your children’s children to
be blessed. Making this one decision to fear the Lord and follow Him will
bless every area of your life.
Page 73
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth
PSALM 129
say:
many
they
me
from
may
Israel
afflicted
yet
me.
now
they
The
have
not
plowers
a
time
have
my
youth
prevailed
against
plowed
upon
my
back
DAY 24: PSALM 129
theymadelong
theirfurrows.The Lordisrighteous
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may
Israel now say: many a time have they afflicted me from
my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. The
he hath cut
asunder the cords of the wicked. Let
plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their
furrows. The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder
cords of the wicked. and
Let them
all be confounded
them all bethe
confounded
turned
back that hate
and turned back that hate Zion. Let them be as the
grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it
groweth
up:as
wherewith
the mower filleth
not his
hand;
Zion. Let them
be
the grass
upon
the
housetops
nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. Neither do they
which
which go by say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you:
withereth
afore
we bless you in the name
of the Lord. it
groweth
up
wherewith the mower filleth not his hand
nor
he
Neither
The
that
bindeth
do
they
blessing
of
sheaves
which
the Lord
go
be
his
bosom
by
upon
say
you
THE ENEMY WILL
NEVER WIN
Day 24 // Daily Reading: Psalm 129
One of the most beautiful truths found in Scripture is the revelation that
the psalmist speaks of in Psalm 129. The psalmist recognized that while
he had faced many troubles since his youth, his enemy had and never
would prevail. According to the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, the word
prevail means, “to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority.”
Biblical scholars believe that these songs of ascent (Psalm 120–134) were
sung as the Jews made their way to Jerusalem for the three pilgrimage
festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). For the Jewish people, the
songs of ascent were a reminder of what God had delivered them from,
from their bondage in Egypt. For us today, we may find ourselves in
bondage to a certain enemy. But the truth of the Scriptures reminds us
that just like the Israelites, we don’t have to remain in bondage to the
enemy. Whether your enemy comes in the form of depression, anxiety,
an unexpected family situation, financial loss, or a health crisis, you can
raise your voice and sing in victory. Just as God rescued the Israelites
from their bondage in Egypt, God will rescue you and me from whatever
we are facing today. Through worship, God gives us the ability to ascend
above our situation as we keep our focus on Him.
Paired alongside worship, speaking the Word of God aloud brings victory
into our lives. I remember a time in my life when I was in desperate need
of a miracle. Feeling pretty hopeless, I sat in my car and had nowhere
else to turn but the Word of God. Silencing all the other voices, I pulled
out my Bible app and began to read from the Psalms. As I did, tears
began to stream down my face as I felt the power of God in a way like
I had never experienced before. In the middle of the storm, on the brink
of wanting to give up, God revealed Himself to me in a whole new way.
I may not have seen any change in my personal situation that night,
but something changed inside of me. I got a revelation of the power of
God’s Word in our lives. With whatever you are facing today, pull out the
Scriptures and begin to verbally declare them over your life. Through
God’s Word, He gives us the ability to ascend above every fear, lie, and
doubt that comes our way.
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As a child of God, we should not be surprised by the attacks of the enemy.
From the very beginning, the enemy has done and will continue to do
whatever he can to bring defeat into our lives. But for the child of God,
there is no reason to be afraid. Yes, the attacks of the enemy will come,
but we have power and victory through His Word. This is why our enemy
tries to keep us out of the Word of God, because he knows the truth, that
he will be defeated when you and I begin to activate the Word of God in
our lives. It holds all power and authority in the earth. When less than
ideal circumstances take place in our lives, we can stand on the Word of
God and sing the same words as the psalmist, knowing that the enemy
has already lost the battle. As the psalmist reminds us, though we endure
many things in this life, the enemy has not prevailed, nor will he ever
prevail. Victory belongs to our King.
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Out
of
the
depths
have
I
cried
unto
PSALM 130
hear
let
thine
the
voice
supplications.
thee,
O
thou,
O
Lord.
Lord,
Lord,
ears
of
be
my
shouldest
Lord,
who
DAY 25: PSALM 130
my
voice
attentive
to
mark
iniquities
shall
stand?
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
But
Lord, hearis
my voice:
let thine ears be attentive towith
the
there
forgiveness
thee
voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest
mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there
that
If
thou
mayest
be
feared.
is forgiveness
with thee, that
thou mayest
be feared.
I
wait
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his
word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more
for
the than Lord,
my
soul
they that watch for the morning: I
doth
wait
say, more
than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope
in the Lord:
for with
the LordMy
there
is mercy, and with
and in his word
do
I hope.
soul waiteth
for the
him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem
Israel from all his iniquities.
Lord more than they that watch for the morning
say,
the
for
more
morning.
with
than
Let
the
they
Israel
Lord
that
hope
there
watch
in
the
is
for
Lord
mercy
and with him is plenteous redemption. And he
HOPE IN
GOD’S MERCY
Day 25 // Daily Reading: Psalm 130
The psalmist remembered his sin before God and was wounded at
the pain he caused God in his unbelief. Yet, he rejoiced in God because
His mercy and forgiveness were abundant and unwavering. God had
redeemed him and Israel. There is hope to be found in the mercy and
grace of God. Regardless of our past, our present and future rests in the
hands of a loving God if, like the psalmist, we are willing to find forgiveness
at His feet.
If you are anything like me, you must stop and think, from time to time,
how often you let God down with your thoughts, words, and actions. I
can think of at least one moment each day when I reflected on the ways
that I’ve come up short and it starts to eat at me that maybe I am not
so deserving of the great things that God has done for me. I lose sight of
God’s goodness and instead lift up my own mistakes as if they are bigger
than God and His plan for me. Sometimes our worry and disappointment
in ourselves is a bigger problem than the sin that we committed in the
first place.
As we grow as Christians and believers, we can change the way we
think; we have to change the way guilt affects us on a daily basis. Yes,
sin and temptation are difficult, and giving in to those things is bad for
our well-being, but it was never God’s intention for our guilt to freeze us
with shame and weigh us down for days on end. Guilt is a tool of God’s
character in us that helps us to find a place of repentance: to see our
mistakes and make amends with God and the people we have sinned
against. When used correctly, guilt is a means for us to be set free from
our sin because we understand our sin was wrong, and God is willing
and able to forgive us.
When we change our thinking around the tool that is guilt, we open the
door to understanding the love and mercy of God that overflows and
covers us completely. No longer do we have to spend hours upon hours
seeking forgiveness. God’s grace is sufficient for us. That means that
when we sincerely ask for forgiveness, God’s blood washes us clean in an
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instant. The path to repentance through that feeling of guilt can be swift
and definitive. That is what motivated the psalmist; he hurt knowing
he had caused God pain, but when he asked for forgiveness, the love of
God was instantaneous and complete in such a way that the psalmist
worshiped and rejoiced in the next moment.
Yes, there will be times when our guilt is overwhelming and times where
we aren’t ready to forgive ourselves so quickly, but like the psalmist, we
can grow in our understanding of God’s perfect grace, knowing fully that
when we ask for rescue, God is right there to deliver us. In a moment
with Him, we are granted freedom from sin, sufficient grace, and love
everlasting from our Creator and Father.
Page 79
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty
PSALM 131
neither
matters,
do
or
I
in
exercise
things
DAY 26: PSALM 131
myself
too
high
in
great
for
me
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither
do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high
for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a
child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a
weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth
and for ever. behaved
Surely I have
and quieted myself
as a child that is weaned of his mother
my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel
NECESSARY
HUMILITY
Day 26 // Daily Reading: Psalm 131
One moment in what feels like an impossible place will highlight the
weaknesses of our humanity, but it will also prove the undeniable power
of God. No matter how high the mountain peak may be, the reality of our
limitations meets us in the valley. Our desperate need for a big, powerful,
loving Savior is irrefutable when faced with the tragedies, crises, and
challenges of life. It’s easy to think we are enough with our abundance,
talents, and intellect. In fact, our culture pushes the idea of self-sufficiency
and self-promotion. Yet, what happens when all of our resources and
comforts come up short? What is money when modern interventions are
unable to give answers? What is abundance when you have a broken
heart? What good is talent in the face of losing everything?
Perhaps the most sobering reminder of humanity’s limits rests in nature.
Standing on the sandy shores of a vast ocean feeling the pull of each
wave as it recedes back into the depths, we see the magnificent power
of God’s hand. We are but a small speck of life amidst the grand power of
the universe. Humans, in all of our intelligence and talent, have only been
able to discover a painfully small part of this gigantic universe. There is so
much that is unknown to us.
The psalmist says in this passage, “Lord, I am not focused on my ability.
This is all too big for me. I rest in your ability, not mine. My hope is and will
always be in you.” That kind of trust doesn’t require any grand spirituality.
All that is needed is simply humility: a realization and acceptance that
we are only able to breathe because God says so. If He controls the ocean,
moves the heavens, and provides food for the sparrow, He can most
certainly handle my life. Humility says, “Yes, I lack, but God is enough for
what I don’t have, and I am nothing without Him.” It is not self-degrading,
but it is a confidence in a big God. He made us. He equips us. Therefore,
we will have enough for whatever life brings. However, without Him,
we cannot do anything. Our very existence remains on this earth only
because of His will. What a God!
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In application of this principle, how do we live life humbly and not fall
prey to pride? Humility is not seeing yourself as less in value. It’s also not
seeing yourself as weak in a broad sense. However, it is knowing that He
is more powerful than you. You aren’t weak as in completely helpless, but
you are weaker than God. You have limitations. He has the final say and
final authority. Humility is not having confidence in your ability alone,
but in the abilities that are given and empowered by God.
Walk into your school and your job with confidence, step onto that
platform with confidence, or teach that Bible study with confidence. Not
confidence in yourself, but confidence in the God who called you, loves
you, and equips you to serve. As David said, stepping up to the seemingly
impossible task of fighting a giant, “The Lord will conquer you, but He will
use me to do it. This is so that He will receive the glory” (I Samuel 17:46,
paraphrased). Remember, God is big enough to do anything by Himself,
but He wants to use you. Trust Him for whatever He asks you to do.
Page 82
Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions
PSALM 132
how he sware unto the Lord, and vowed
unto the mighty God of Jacob; surely I will
not come into the tabernacle of my house
norgoupinto
my
bed;
DAY 27:
PSALM
132 Iwillnotgivesleeptomineeyes
Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: how he
or
slumber
to and vowed
mine
eyelids,
sware unto the Lord,
unto the mighty
God of
Jacob; surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my
find
an
a
place
for
the
mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a
Lord
place for the Lord,
an habitation
mighty God of
habitation
for
thefor themighty God
of
Jacob. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in
Jacob.
we
out
house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to
until
wood. We will go
into his
Lo,the fields
weof theheard
of
ittabernacles:
at Ephratah
we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, into thy
thou, and
ark of thyfields
strength. Let of
thy priests
foundrest; it
in thethe
the
be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout
wood
We
thy servant
David’s sake turn
the
willfor joy. For
go
into
hisnot awaytabernacles
we
he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy
willunto David;
worship
at
his
footstool
face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth
body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep
Arise,
my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them,
O Lord,
into
thy
rest
their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his
thou, andFor
the
ark of thy strength. Let thy
habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I
have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will
priests
be
clothed
with
righteousness
satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests
and
let Therethy
saints
shout
for
will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained
with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
joy
For
a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with
sake
turn
thy
servant
David’s
shame: but upon
himself shall his crown flourish.
not
anointed.
away
The
Lord
the
face
hath
sworn
of
in
thine
truth
GOD’S CHOSEN
DWELLING
Day 27 // Daily Reading: Psalm 132
We often picture a lofty heavenly place as the most desirable for God to
dwell. Indeed, “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament
shows his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). If we were to imagine a place God
would want most want to reflect his glory, it would likely be the heavens,
not earth.
In another psalm, though, the psalmist declares the heart of God in Zion,
“This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it”
(Psalm 132:14, NKJV). God seeks to display His glory among His people.
The psalmist recognized that God’s Word is true and set in stone. The
promise of His dwelling among His people is certain; they must make a
place for God to dwell. The Lord dwells in Zion, in His church, and in the
temple of our hearts that we prepare for Him.
The New Testament builds on this understanding, and Luke provides a
startling revelation in Stephen’s sermon just before his martyrdom. (See
Acts 7:44–50.) God provided the plan for the Tabernacle in the wilderness
and instructed Moses to create it according to strict specifications. God
confirmed His presence among the people through mighty victories in
the Promised Land. During his reign, David realized he lived in luxury, but
Yahweh only had a tabernacle among the people. So David sought to
build Yahweh a place of matchless splendor, and his son Solomon would
see the plans through to fruition. Then, Stephen shared an astounding
insight into the limitations of temporal temples: “However, the Most High
does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven
is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me?
says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all
these things?’” (Acts 7:48–50, NKJV). Ironically, the one who participated
in Stephen’s death would later echo his sermon. Paul preached to the
crowd at Athens, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since
He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with
hands” (Acts 17:24, NKJV).
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Any splendorous temple we attempt to build looks pathetic when
compared to the glorious splendor of His creation. But there is a temple
in His creation, not created by human hands, in which He ultimately
chooses to display His glory. It is more breathtaking than the majestic
mountains around the world and more mind-boggling than the universe’s
incredible expanse. Paul reveals the temple of God in the letter to the
Ephesians: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners,
but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building,
being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you
also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”
(Ephesians 2:20–22, NKJV).
Of all the places and dimensions God could dwell in, He chose the
heart of humanity. (See also Hebrews 8:2, 10.) Think about this
incredible honor today. God chose us to display His glory in the world.
“Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”
(I Corinthians 6:20, NKJV).
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Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
PSALM 133
for brethren to dwell together in unity! It
DAY 28: PSALM 133
s like theBehold,
precious
upon
how good and ointment
how pleasant it is for
brethren the head
to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious
ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the
beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the
skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as
that ran down
the beard,
even Aaron’s
beard
the dewupon
that descended
upon the mountains
of Zion:
for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life
for evermore.turn not away the face of thine anointed.
The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not
turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy
that wentthrone.
down
to the
skirts
ofand
his
If thy children
will keep
my covenant
my garments
testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall
also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath
chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired
as the dew
of Hermon, and as the dew that
it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy
her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with
salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There
will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a
lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with
descendedshame:
upon
the mountains
but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
of
Zion
for there the Lord commanded the blessing
A UNIFIED BODY
Day 28 // Daily Reading: Psalm 133
Psalm 133 is a celebration of unity that is deemed both good and pleasant
when located within the body of Christ. This description of unity is a stark
contrast to the picture painted in Genesis of God visiting the earth to
confuse the languages of the people to prevent them from being unified
for a purpose different than what He had in mind.
The psalmist provides two poetic pictures that reveal truths about the
proper kind unity: the anointing oil that flowed down Aaron’s beard and
the dew that descends from Mt. Hermon onto Mt. Zion.
The “precious ointment” poured on Aaron’s head when he was anointed
as the first high priest was a combination of the fragrant spices of myrrh,
calamus, and cinnamon (Psalm 133:2). It was a recipe given by God and
reserved for use only in sacred ceremonies. It was first placed upon the
head of the man chosen by God as the spiritual leader of the nation of
Israel, and it flowed down his beard, all the way “down to the skirts of his
garments” (Psalm 133:2).
Unity in the body of Christ must also come directly from a recipe based
upon the will of God. We must not only pray “Thy will be done in earth
as it is in heaven;” we must act according to those words (Matthew 6:10).
Only when we are unified according to God’s purpose will we accomplish
what He desires. It is God that gives direction for His body, and it is the
leader that God chooses who first receives the anointing that then flows
down all the way through the body of Christ.
A second picture that teaches us a principle of unity is seen in the dew
that descends upon Mt. Hermon and then upon Mt. Zion. This second
picture again emphasizes the singular source of true unity; dew must
come from the heavens and onto the ground, not from the earth to
the heavens. Moreover, the dew falls first upon Mt. Hermon and then
cascades down to Mt. Zion.
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Additional insights about unity can be seen in the selection of dew as a
symbol. Just as the dew falls every day, the Bible declares that the mercies
and compassion of God are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23).
We must likewise be willing to show such mercy and compassion upon
our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Just as Jesus commanded
His disciples to forgive “seventy times seven,” we must be prepared daily
to both give and receive grace (Matthew 18:22). Our willingness to daily
seek after unity through the giving of grace will allow our churches to be
fruitful, just as the land of Israel produces a harvest.
God provides these pictures to His people because He understands that
unity is both vital to the success of His body and a difficult task to achieve.
Take a moment today and challenge yourself by asking: Am I seeking my
will or His will? Am I building my kingdom or His Kingdom? Am I actively
participating in unity by seeking the flow of anointing from my pastor to
me? Am I willingly giving and receiving grace?
Page 88
Behold,blessyethe Lord,allyeservantsofthe Lord
PSALM 134
which
by
night
stand
in
the
house
of
DAY 29: PSALM 134
Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord,
which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your
hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that
made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
andblessthe Lord.The Lordthatmadeheavenandearth
BLESS
THE LORD
Day 29 // Daily Reading: Psalm 134
If you’ve ever participated in a Pentecostal worship service, you’ve likely
heard the worship leader urge the congregation to “bless the Lord.” This
is scriptural language, as we see from passages such as Psalm 134:1–2.
But for some of us, we are left with the question, ”How do we fulfill this
command?” How do mere humans “bless” the God who already has
everything and can do anything He wants? Isn’t that impossible?
The explanation for this frequently heard phrase is found in the meaning
of the biblical word bless, which is translated from a Hebrew word that
means “to kneel.” As the New International Commentary on the Old
Testament notes, it is “a sign of acquiescence to another.” Stated more
simply, we bless God by submitting to His commands.
True worship involves much more than physical actions such as singing,
raising or clapping our hands, jumping, or dancing. Those activities
certainly have their place in a worship service, but for true worship to
occur, our lifted hands must be accompanied by a surrendered heart.
Without a submitted heart and spirit, these outwards signs of worship
are little more than Pentecostal calisthenics.
It is fitting then that Psalm 134 is one of the final songs of ascent.
According to the aforementioned commentary, it describes the
concluding moments of worship as pilgrims prepared to depart from the
temple in Jerusalem to return to their homes. As the people obeyed the
command to “lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord”
(verse 2), the priests who were leading worship would respond by saying,
“The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion” (verse 3).
The entire experience had been building toward this moment, when the
worshipers would leave God’s presence transformed by their encounter
with the divine. They were leaving with a blessing they did not possess
when they began their journey toward Jerusalem.
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Only after we have spent time in worship bringing our spirit into
submission to the Holy Spirit can we expect to experience His favor and
blessing on our homes and daily activities. This is why we make regular
“pilgrimages” to God’s house, our local church. Worshiping alongside
other “pilgrims” and building relationships every week with those people
will help us connect with our Almighty Father in a way that just isn’t
possible when we choose to be alone.
This is clearly demonstrated in Acts 2 when Jewish pilgrims gathered
to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. The approximately 120 believers
“were all with one accord in one place” (2:1), obeying the command of
Jesus to “wait for the promise of the Father” (1:4). Their submission to
that command allowed them to experience the greatest blessing any
human could ever receive—the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They came to
Jerusalem with doubts and questions, but left in the power of the Spirit.
As you prepare to attend your church and walk into worship this week,
ask God to help you “bless” Him with your complete obedience and
submission. When you do, expect His blessings to come raining back
on you.
Page 91
Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord
PSALM 135
praise
Ye
n
him,
that
the
O
stand
ye
servants
of
the
Lord
Lord
in
the
house
of
the
courts
DAY 30: PSALMof
135
the
house
of
our
God
Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord;
praise
the
Lord;
for
the
praise him,
O ye servants
of the Lord.
Ye that Lord
stand in the is good
house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,
praiseunto
the Lord; for
the Lord
is good: sing
praises it
unto is pleasant
his
sing praises
his
name;
for
name; for it is pleasant. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob
unto himself,
and Israel
for his peculiar
treasure.
For I
For the Lord
hath
chosen
Jacob
unto
himself
know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above
all gods. Whatsoever
Lord pleased,
that did he in treasure
and Israel
for the
his
peculiar
For
and
heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
I
He causeth thethat
vapours to ascend
ends of the is great
know
thefrom the
Lord
earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth
the wind out of his treasuries. Who smote the firstborn
that
our
Lord
is
above
of Egypt, both of man and beast. Who sent tokens and
gods.
that
all
wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh,
Whatsoever
the
Lord pleased
and upon all his servants. Who smote great nations, and
mighty kings; Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og
did slew
he
in
heaven,
and
in
king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: and
earth
gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel
n the seas,
and all deep places. He causeth the
his people. Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy
memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
For
vapours to
ascend from the ends of the earth
the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent
he
himself concerning his servants. The idols of the
maketh
for
the
heathen arelightnings
silver and gold, the work of
men’s hands.
rain
They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they,
he bringeth
the
wind
of
treasuries
but they
see not;
they haveout
ears, but
they his
hear not;
Who
both
neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that
smote
the
make them are
like
of
firstborn
of
unto them: so is every one that
trusteth in them. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless
man
and
beast.
Who
sent
the Lord, O house of Aaron: bless the Lord, O house of
Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. Blessed be
Egypt
tokens
the Lord into
out of Zion,
which dwelleth
at Jerusalem.
and wonders
the
midst
of thee, O Egypt
PRAISE
THE LORD!
Day 30 // Daily Reading: Psalm 135
I went through a season of my life where I was an avid runner. Although
I still run occasionally, I have not participated in races like I used to. I
vividly remember my first half marathon. It was the smallest race I ever
ran in—a grand total of about twenty runners. Most people blazed past
me in the first couple of miles. I felt pretty lousy being that I knew I was
in last place for most of the race, but I was motivated to finish. With
music blaring in my headphones, I pressed on. It was a small race, so
they didn’t have mile markers set up. Before I knew it, I saw they had one
mile marker set up: Mile 10. Three more miles to go! I remember clapping
my hands and saying “YES!” I hadn’t realized how long it had been and
how far I had come. The last three miles were fueled by adrenaline, and I
crossed the finish line prouder than I ever had been.
In Psalm 135, the psalmist talks about how far he has come on his journey.
God had delivered him from the enemy, sustained him, protected him,
and blessed him abundantly. When he took a step back and looked at
everything God had done for him, the only reasonable response was
worship. He had to take a moment to praise God for His goodness. As we
navigate difficult seasons of our lives, there will be moments when we do
not have a clear picture of reality. We can often focus too much on the
challenges and not enough on God’s goodness. The reality is this: God
has protected, provided, forgiven, and blessed you in more ways than
you can even count. So, when compared to the infinite joy of knowing
Him and seeing the reality of His goodness, our challenges we face fall
desperately short of all-consuming. Yes, what you’re journeying through
is important. Yes, what you’re facing is real. Yes, your feelings matter. But
when we follow our heart, we’re following something that is deceitful
(Jeremiah 17:9).
When we do some fact checking and realize that we are chosen and
favored by God, and understand He is walking alongside us through every
journey, our only reasonable response is praise. When we focus exclusively
on our feelings, we can get lost. When we focus on biblical facts, we see
that God is a good God and we can be confident that all things work
together for good (Romans 8:28). Take inventory of your life today.
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Grab a sheet of paper or open your notes section in your phone and write
down a few things that God has done for you and try to identify how far
you’ve come over the last week/month/year. When you see the goodness
of God so clearly and see how far He has brought you, our response should
be praise. Take time to offer praise and worship today to a God who loves
you and desires to spend time with you.
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And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God
HEAVENLY
ZION
Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And
the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did
lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24
And the nations of them which are saved shall
walk in the light of it: and the kings of the
earth do bring their glory and honour into it
DAY 31: REVELATION 21:22–27
And the gates
of it shall not be shut at all by
And I saw no temple therein: for the lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no
need of the
sun, neither
of the
moon,
to shine in
it: for the And they
day: for there
shall
be
no
night
there.
glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the
lightthe
of it: and
the kingsand
of the earth
do bring their
shall bring
glory
honour
ofglory
the nations
and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut
at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they
nto it. And
shall
inof no
wise
enter
into it
shallthere
bring the glory
and honour
the nations
into it.
And
there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:
any thingbut that
defileth,
neither
they which are
written in the Lamb’s
book of life. whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they
OUR DESTINATION
AND FINAL REWARD
Day 31 // Daily Reading: Revelation 21
Our great hope and the dreams of eternity are recorded in John’s vision
of that beautiful, heavenly Zion. The wonder of this version of Zion is
amplified a hundred times over when compared to that of the earthly
Zion and the wonder of shining golden streets, pearly gates, and a city
adorned with precious jewels and metals. Most of all, there is no sun,
only the Son of God who radiates pure light, illuminating the city and the
temple alike. I imagine that there was nothing more glorious or beautiful
than what John was seeing in that moment: a vision, like nothing else, of
the eternity and the mountain believers have looked to as their source of
hope for so long.
Whenever we begin a journey or adventure, whether it’s a long walk, a
hike, or something like a road trip, there is always anxiety. We can never
really know what is coming next and that goes for both our positive and
negative experiences along the way. If we didn’t have a destination in
mind when starting this journey, think about how easy it would be to lose
focus and become sidetracked by the good and bad things that happen
along the way. Maybe we would be persuaded to stay where we had a
flat tire and a group of people who were kind and generous helped us.
The only thing that prevents us from giving up on the journey we are on
is the hope and promise of what we find at our destination.
It’s important that we look at the destination of eternity in Heaven and
make sure we want those things just as much as God wants those things
for us. When our motivations are less than perfect, it is easier for us to
lose sight of the ending and find contentment in our present. So, we
have to be on this journey for the right reasons and ask God to show us
His desires along the way.
There are just a few things necessary for this journey we are on, and it’s
important for us to take stock constantly, check our supplies, and make
sure we have enough to get to our next location along the way.
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We require prayer. Without this, we will lose sight of our destination and
our directions just won’t make sense. Only with a constant connection to
our Father and Creator will we be able to understand the right paths and
turns to take to reach our final destination.
We require faith. God’s plan and His path are perfect, but when we lose
sight of the road or find ourselves somewhere He never intended, He
works to get us back on track. In that moment, we may not understand
how anything could work for our good, but if we have faith and are
willing to trust His plan, God will set us back on track, no matter how
unbelievable our circumstances.
We require obedience. In much the same way God speaks to us through
prayer and helps to direct us when we have lost our way, we must have
the strength to be obedient in all things. Without obedience, prayer and
faith in God’s plan will be unable to save us. We must be willing to take
obedient action ifor God’s plan to come to pass and for us to reach our
final destination.
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