What does a persons eyes say about them? Can you tell if someone is sad from their eyes? Can you get a sense of a persons character by observing their eyes? Our eyes are always telling a story of our emotions, interests and thoughts to those who we encounter. What are your eyes telling about you? “Behold, as the eyes of a servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He is gracious to us.” Psalm 123:2 Is the servant expectantly awaiting to serve their master at a moments notice, looking for affirmation or a reprieve from duties? No matter the motivation of the servant, their eyes are fixed upon their master who holds their lives in his hand. Just as these servants, we need to fix our eyes upon God and trust that He will provide for every need we have. Will you fix your eyes expectantly upon God and await His grace to deliver you? Continue Reading…
Fix your eyes on God awaiting His gracious deliverance: Psalm 123
The joy of a life surrendered to God: Psalm 16
What is your most treasured possession? Where is your joy and fulfillment found? Is the foundation of your life a bulwark that cannot be moved? There is great joy found in David’s Psalm 16 as he expresses the delights of God. He delights in the Lord and in Him he placed his hope. He found an immense joy in God that could be found nowhere else.
David desired to follow in the footsteps of the people of renown from generations past? Do you look upon the people who have walked this road of faith before you and long for a fraction of their faith. The faith of generations past seems like something to desire but that faith was developed through many difficult circumstances that shaped each person through some dark moments of life. Your faith is uniquely blessed because God has brought you through many different circumstances to build you up. Embrace the faith that God has bestowed upon you and move forward encouraging those around you. Continue Reading…
Shine your light of hope to the world around you: Psalm 15
How do we cling to God? How does someone love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, soul and strength? Do you ever feel lost in your walk with God? There is no magical solution that will cause our faith in God to grow but we do have a roadmap in God’s Word. What are the character traits of a disciple of God? David gives a brief look at what an upright man in Psalm 15. We need to strive to walk in the truth, speak with wisdom and be above reproach. If we stand upon the foundation of God’s truth we will be unmoved no matter what happens.
What kind of impact will wholly devoted followers of Jesus Christ have on the world? We will bring healing to the people around us as we seek to imitate Jesus Christ. We will be a sign post pointing to the hope the world is craving. What a blessing we have been given to proclaim the wondrous glory of God as we are used by Him to help those around us. Rejoice and embrace the work God has for you to love Him and love those around you with the same love God has bestowed upon you.
Hope in God despite trouble, trials, and tribulation: 2 Samuel Summary
What type of leadership is necessary within your family? How do you react to someone who has hurt you and betrayed your trust? How do you survive through life when trouble, trials, and tribulation seem to engulf you? These are some of the questions of life that are answered in 2 Samuel. The book of 2 Samuel builds upon the previous books of the old testament by showing us what clinging to God looks like in life. I found hope to make it through the difficult moments in life as I looked at the life that David lived. He was far from perfect and marked by many faults and failures yet God was completely faithful to David. Continue Reading…
Contrasting characters of Joab and David in 2 Samuel 19 and 20
How is true restoration after conflict and disagreement achieved? When the bonds of friendship, family, and love have been strained or torn asunder how do you move on towards reconciliation? In 2 Samuel 19 and 20 this question of restoring trust and fellowship is faced by the people of Israel. Joab and David exhibit strong leadership during the conflict between Absalom but one follows his own way to achieve what he deems best while the other shows a consistent dependance upon God in all ways. Continue Reading…
Waiting for deliverance from God refines character: 1 Samuel 23 and 24
How often do you want to take revenge into your own hands because of the wrongs that you have faced? Do you ever feel that when you seek to do what is true and good you only find yourself in moretrials, tribulation, and problems? Does life teeter on a scale of equality and fairness that always need to be balanced out if situations do not seem fair? In 1 Samuel 23 and 24 David seeks to honor God in his choices and actions as he faces problems by seeking out what God would want him to do even if it was contrary to the natural inclination of men. Continue Reading…
David fights Goliath as a jealous Saul looks on in 1 Samuel 17 and 18
Is it easy to become too familiar with stories in the Bible causing us to not reread them to discover the truths they hold. In 1 Samuel 17 the story of David fighting Goliath is retold but it was easy for me to want to read the story with less attention to detail because I know the story? The story of God using a small shepherd by to kill the champion of the Philistines exemplifies God using strength found in weakness to bring down the powerful but what else is conveyed in the story of David and Goliath? What were the thoughts and feelings of the men in the army of Israel as they were facing Goliath? What changes are evident in Saul’s leadership of the people? Did Saul’s lack of dependance upon God transfer into the men he led causing them to become fearful? Continue Reading…
