Day 272 Bible Readings – Zephaniah 3: 9 (ESV)

Zephaniah 1-3, Philippians 1: 1-26, Psalm 145: 1-7

Zephaniah 3: 9 (ESV)

“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”

When I read verse 9 from Zephaniah 3, I thought of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came up the followers of Jesus and everyone started speaking in tongues. After the day of Pentecost, the followers of Christ travelled all over the world to spread the message of Jesus Christ so the world could all serve God and be unified. The gift from the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues is considered by many Christians a personal way to talk to God. Speaking in tongues allows a person of faith to say to God what cannot be said in the person’s normal language.

When I received the gift of speaking in tongues, I have no idea what I am saying but I know that God understands me because all the thoughts of my mind go into my speech. I feel closer to God when I speak in tongues, because it is my own personal language to talk to God. I can pour out thoughts and emotions into my speech to God, that I would be embarrassed if anyone heard me in native tongue. I love that I have my own language to speak to God. It makes me feel closer to him because only he can understand what I am saying. But any gift of the Holy Spirit will bring you closer to God, if you embrace it and take fully advantage of the gift.

Day 271 Bible Readings – Ephesians 6: 10-11 (ESV)

Nahum 1-3, Ephesians 6, Psalm 144: 9-15

Ephesians 6: 10-11 (ESV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

In verses 10 and 11 from Ephesians 6, Paul tells the Church of Ephesus to be strong and if needed to put on the armor of God to help stop from sinning and disobeying God. I like Paul’s advice. If we need help, why not think of our faith as an armor. If we feel we do not have the strength to face something going on in our lives, why not ask God to protect and help us by using our faith as armor.

We do not have to feel we are all alone in the world with no help. We have God to help and protect us. Our faith is like armor. It will protect us against sinning and repel all evils. If we need reminding of having God’s protection and help, we can read these verses to remind us that we are not alone. That God is always with us and will help and protect us.

Day 270 Bible Readings – Ephesians 5: 18-21 (ESV)

Isaiah 65: 17-25, Isaiah 66, Ephesians 5, Psalm 144: 1-8

Ephesians 5: 18-21 (ESV)

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Verses 18 through 21 from Ephesians shows Paul telling the Church at Ephesus that they need to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul tells them to not get drunk with wine, but to live a Holy Spirit filled life that is characterized by the Holy Spirit and full of gratitude to God. Paul doesn’t say you can’t drink wine, but do not drink so much wine that you are drunk. Alcohol clouds the judgement, so his recommendation makes sense if you want to always be mindful of God’s laws in your behavior.

I think if you contrast the way you feel when you drink too much and when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will see the difference. At least I do. That fun feeling you get by being buzzed is so short lived. When I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I experience the same level of fun and it feels like it can go for long periods of time feeling that amazing sense of joy. When I write about what I am grateful for in my life, I feel an immediate sense of wonder and amazement that God has been so good to me. And sharing my gratitude with my friends of faith makes the sensations last so much longer. I’ve had fun at alcohol filled parties, but I never experienced the same sense of joy that I felt when I am talking about God and my gratitude with my friends in faith. I’ll take a brunch with friends in faith any day over a crazy wild night party.

Day 269 Bible Readings – Ephesians 4: 29 (ESV)

Isaiah 63-54, Isaiah 65: 1-16, Ephesians 4: 17-32, Psalm 143

Ephesians 4: 29 (ESV)

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Verse 29 from Ephesians 4 shows Paul’s advice to the Church of Ephesus on how to conduct yourself as a person who is born again as a believer in Christ. Paul reminds us to make sure what comes out of mouth and watch our tongue. As a person of faith, we need to make that what comes out of our mouth will build people up, and not put them down. What we say needs to fit the occasion and give grace to the people who hear us. Frederick Fyvie Bruce wrote in his bible commentary on Ephesians that corrupting talk means “Not only obscene vulgarity but slanderous and contemptuous talk.”

Paul’s words are such good advice on how to get along with people, but also how to behave in a relationship. When I read these words, they remind me of the advice marriage therapists give to people who want to stay married. Do your words to your spouse build them up? Do they give grace to your spouse? Are your words to your spouse always kind? These are great questions to ask when thinking about how you communicate not only to your spouse, your best friend, a family member, or even random strangers. If we want to behave more like a person of faith, we need to think about what comes out of our mouth and follow Paul’s recommendations.

Day 268 Bible Readings – Ephesians 4: 1-3 (ESV)

Isaiah 60-62, Ephesians 4: 1-16, Psalm 142

Ephesians 4: 1-3 (ESV)

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

In verses 1 through 3 from Ephesians 4 Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus that since God called us, we need to lead our lives in a manner worthy of this calling. Paul tells us to have humility and gentleness, and to be patient. As people of faith, we need to always treat ourselves and other people with love in our minds so we can maintain peace and unity.

In the NKJV version of verse 2, the words are translated as “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love”. In the Enduring Word bible commentary on verse 2, the word “lowliness” can mean “that we can be happy and content when we are not in control or steering things our way.” I like this interpretation because I feel that in our obedience to God, we need to be happy and content to let God have control. But let’s face it, giving God control in how we deal with other people can be so hard. But to have peace in mind and in our world, I think we need to always ask God “what do you want to me do in this situation”.  And then we need to follow what God says if we want peace, even if it seems contrary to how we would handle the situation. God has a plan and can see things we cannot, so if peace is our goal then we need to do what God says in everything.

Day 267 Bible Readings – Isaiah 59: 1-2 (ESV)

Isaiah 57: 14-21, Isaiah 58-59, Ephesians 3, Psalm 141

Isaiah 59: 1-2 (ESV)

“Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Verses 1 and 2 from Isaiah 59 talks about why prayers are sometimes unanswered by God. When we sin and do not repent, we create a separation between ourselves and God. The separation is not on God’s part, but on ours. Our guilt separates us from God. The same thing happens when we quarrel or lie to someone we love. The quarrel or lie makes us feel guilty and the next time we see or interact with that loved one, our guilt becomes like a wall between us and the other person. We feel embarrassed to talk to them, or there is an awkwardness like how Adam and Eve felt after they at the apple and God called to them. If we do not talk about the awkwardness to confess the lie to the other person, the wall becomes bigger, and we no longer feel comfortable around them and avoid them.

We behave the same with God. If we do not repent of our sins, we will feel awkward with God. We might still pray to God, but that wall of guilt and sins will always be there. Deep down we will not feel worthy to have our prayers answered. But if we repent and tell God of our sins and ask for forgiveness the wall will disappear and God will be there ready to forgive and answer our prayers.

Day 266 Bible Readings – Ephesians 2: 8-10 (ESV)

Isaiah 55-56, Isaiah 57: 1-13, Ephesians 2, Psalm 140: 6-13

Ephesians 2: 8-10 (ESV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

In verses 8 through 19 from Ephesians 2, Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus that we must remember that because of our faith we are saved. We are not saved by anything we do or by our good works. Grace is a gift from God that is given to us because of faith in Jesus Christ. God created us so we can be adopted to him through our faith in Christ, to do good works to fulfill his plan for earth.

When I read these verses, I know that nothing I do will grant me God’s grace. I cannot by the sheer force of my human will get into heaven. I cannot get into heaven by tithing to the church, by doing many good deeds I do, or by following God’s law. It doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t tithe, do good deeds, or follow God’s laws. I am only saved by God’s grace. There is also a sense of relief because I do not need to be perfect to be saved. I don’t have to freak out because I sometimes fail to do the things I know I am supposed to do or have non-Godly thoughts. As long I keep trying and repent when I do not measure up and never lose my faith in Christ, God’s grace will be given to me.

Day 265 Bible Readings – Ephesians 1: 3-6 (ESV)

Isaiah 52-54, Ephesians 1, Psalm 140: 1-5

Ephesians 1: 3-6 (ESV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

I love verses 3 through 6 from Paul’s letter to the Church as Ephesus. I love the idea that a person of faith was predestined by God to be adopted to him as his child through our faith in Jesus Christ. These verses speak to me when I am in a “blue mood” or in a season of troubles, when I sometimes question why I was even born because I am in such misery. These verses help me to remember that God chose me before he created the world. That God had me in mind as a part of his plan and that he had my whole life mapped out, so that one day I would be adopted to him through faith in Jesus Christ. That God is with him in my “blue mood” or my season of troubles, waiting for me to come to him so he can comfort me. That he loves me so unconditionally that no matter what I think about him, he will always be there waiting for me patiently to come home to him.

I hope if you find and read these words, that they help to bring you comfort if you are experiencing “one of those days” when you throw up your hands and wonder why you were born. That these words help you to remember that God predestined you to be part of his plan, and that your life is not worthless but totally worthwhile because God chose you before he created the world to be with him as his beloved child.

Day 264 Bible Readings – Galatians 6: 9-10 (ESV)

Isaiah 49-51, Galatians 6, Psalm 139: 17-24

Galatians 6: 9-10 (ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Verses 9 through 10 from Galatians 6 spoke to me today. I know that it is so easy to grow weary of always doing and being good, and never feel like we are rewarded. Then we see those who aren’t doing good or cheating and they seem to be rewarded, and we get discouraged. Paul tells not to grow weary, because the promise of God tells us we will be rewarded if we do not give up. One thing I’ve found when I become discouraged by life, is to do volunteer work for a cause you like or for your church. When I am doing something good for those less fortunate than myself or doing something good for the environment, I feel good. The work takes me outside of myself and lets me forget my troubles because I am devoting my mind and efforts to a worthy cause.

But above all else, do not give up on God. Waiting is a test of one’s faith, a test of how much we truly believe in God’s promises. But if we look to the stories in the Bible, we know that God always fulfills on his promise in his time. But that is the key; it’s God’s timeline not ours. But God will not fail us. He didn’t fail the people in the Bible, and he won’t fail us either.

Day 263 Bible Readings – Psalm 139: 13-14 (ESV)

Isaiah 47-28, Galatians 5: 7-26, Psalm 139: 11-16

Psalm 139: 13-14 (ESV)

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

I love verses 13 and 14 from Psalm 139. God took care to make us while we were in our mother’s womb and gave us this amazing human body. The human body is an incredible thing with its own ability to heal. We have these wonderful brains and minds that can think and analyze, unlike the animals. I especially love the phrase, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

In a season of troubles, I know we sometimes forget that God gave us this incredible body that is strong and can do many things. God made our bodies and while it might not be the body we always want; God made us for a specific purpose to fulfill his plan. We need to look at our imperfections and think about how they can draw us closer to God. God gave them to us for a reason, and that reason I believe is so they can be used to draw us closer to him, to deepen our relationship with God. Whatever we think about our body, we need to believe that God made us for a purpose which will be revealed to us when we deepen our relationship with him.

Day 262 Bible Readings – Psalm 139: 1-4 (ESV)

Isaiah 45-46, Galatians 4: 21-31, Galatians 5: 1-6, Psalm 139: 1-10

Psalm 139: 1-4 (ESV)

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”

I like verses 1 through 4 from Psalm 139 because they tell us how familiar God is with us. He knows everything about us. He knows what we are thinking, what we will do, and what we will say before we say it. Yet even as God knows all of these things, he gives us free will to do whatever we want in in our life. God loves us so unconditionally that we can be free to disobey him, displease him, and go our own way. But like a good father, God will never abandon us. He will always await our return from our selfish ways and wanderings and welcome us back with open arms.

I think of my own journey with God. I was born into a religious home, and my parents did their best to instill a love of God within me. My mother would be glad to know that she was at least successful in giving me a love of God. But like any child, I had to find my own towards God. I was pointed in the right direction by my parents, but I still had to as an adult create my own relationship with God. And it’s been a roundabout journey with God sometimes being very prominent and sometimes being very absent in my life. But I know I can say honestly, God was always there in the background. I never quite left him or as I like to think of it, God never let me go no matter how much I tried to get away from him. And gosh darn it, did I every try! But now Holy Spirit is trying to once again deepen my relationship with God, and I am grateful that God never gave up on me. I am the prodigal child who has returned, and my father-God is celebrating my homecoming.

Day 261 Bible Readings – Galatians 4: 4-7 (ESV)

Isaiah 43-44, Galatians 3: 26-29, Galatians 4: 1-20, Psalm 138

Galatians 4: 4-7 (ESV)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Verses 4 through 7 from Galatians 4 shows Paul telling the Church of Galatia that God sent forth his son Jesus Christ at the right time in his plan, so the whole world could have the chance of becoming sons of God through adoption. After our adoption God sent Christ and the Holy Spirit into our hearts, so instead of slaves we are now sons and heirs of God.

I love how we can become heirs of God through our belief in Jesus Christ. When we become heirs of Christ, we are no longer slaves of our sinful nature. We have help and can rely not only on God, but also Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I know in this season of my life that Holy Spirit is teaching me to rely solely on God for my abundance. I cannot rely on myself or others, but to rely only on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I know I do rely on God, but not 100%. I also know that the times I haven’t relied on God didn’t always turn out so great. So I am grateful for the lessons, even though they are not easy. And I am looking forward to see what God has in store for me after this season is over.

Day 260 Bible Readings – Galatians 3: 13-14 (ESV)

Isaiah 41-42, Galatians 3: 1-25, Psalm 137

Galatians 3: 13-14 (ESV)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

Verses 13 and 14 from Galatians 3 shows Paul reminding the churches in Galatia that Christ was crucified for our sins so that the whole world (the Gentiles) could receive the blessings of Abraham through faith.  According to several Bible commentaries, the tree is a reference to verses 22 and 23 from Deuteronomy 21 – “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.” Jesus received our curses when he was crucified on a cross, which is the same as hanging him on a tree.

God’s original covenant with Abraham in the Old Testament was only for the offspring of Abraham but with Christ’s hanging on the cross, the covenant is renewed and now applies to everyone who believes in Christ. God will save us not because we live in obedience to his laws, but because we believe in Christ. I don’t think this means we should not follow God’s laws, because Christ did not say to not follow the laws. We still need to follow God’s laws because they show us the standards of behavior that God expects in his people. But with Christ, we are saved by God’s grace and not by strict obedience to God’s laws. We will never be perfect in our behavior, but with God’s grace, we do not need to fear that our human imperfections will prevent us from being saved.

Day 259 Bible Readings – Isaiah 40: 3 (ESV)

Isaiah 38-40, Galatians 2: 11-21, Psalm 136: 13-26

Isaiah 40: 3 (ESV)

“A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

When I read verse 3 from Isaiah 40 I immediately thought of John the Baptist preaching in the desert. The prophet Isaiah predicted the life of John as he did the birth and life of Christ. John the Baptist has always been one of my favorite characters in the Bible. John had a miraculous birth, and his life was so focused and one-pointed on preparing the way for the arrival of Christ. I also find it interesting the John the Baptist and Jesus both had miraculous births, were cousins, and therefore peers. Christ also came to earth with a mission, so his life was also focused and one-pointed.

I believe if you are a person of faith, God has a mission for all of us. Our lives might not be as focused as Jesus or John the Baptist, but we have a mission from God nonetheless to fulfill his plan on earth for all of humanity.

Day 258 Bible Readings – Psalm 136: 1 (ESV)

Isaiah 36-37, Galatians 2: 1-10, Psalm 136: 1-12

Psalm 136: 1 (ESV)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

When I first read Psalm 136 and I knew I had heard it before as a song, which makes total sense because the Psalms were song as songs. I listened to several song versions of Psalm 136, and this is the one I really like. I hope you like it too.

Enjoy.

Day 257 Bible Readings – Psalm 135: 15-18 (ESV)

Isaiah 33-35, Galatians 1: Psalm 135: 13-21

Psalm 135: 15-18 (ESV)

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.”

Verses 15 through 18 from Psalm 135 makes so much sense to me that if you worship an idol that is not God, you will become like the idol. These verses talk about idols made of silver and gold, which people used to worship when this Psalm was being written. These idols have eyes and ears, but they do not see or hear because they are not alive. But I think “idols” can also apply to more modern idols that are worshipped like money, prestige, or fame. If we worship idols other than God, we will become like these “idols”. We will not see, hear, and become dead inside like our “idols”.

Worshipping money makes our life easier and can answer material prayers, but the idol of money doesn’t care about us. The idol of money is not moved by our prayers and is an indifferent God. For people who belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we worship a living God. Our God has eyes to see our lives, ears to hear our prayers, and is alive and has powers to answer our prayers and shower us in miracles in our life if we need them. I am glad I worship a God who cares about me and only wants to the best for me in my life.

Day 256 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 13: 5 (ESV)

Isaiah 31-32, 2 Corinthians 13, Psalm 135: 1-12

2 Corinthians 13: 5 (ESV)

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Verse 5 from 2 Corinthians 13 shows us Paul’s recommendation to the Church of Corinth to ask themselves if they are really followers of Christ. Paul told them that they need to test themselves if Christ in within them. When I read the Bible commentaries on this line, I was struck by what Charles Spurgeon wrote about this verse. Spurgeon wrote that “The true Christian carries the cross in his heart; and a cross inside the heart, my friends, is one of the sweetest cures for a cross on the back. If you have a cross in your heart – Christ crucified in you, the hope of glory – all the crosses of this world’s troubles will seem to you light enough, and you will easily be able to sustain it.”

I never thought that having Christ in my heart meant to think about how Christ was crucified for my sins, and all the pain and agony he went through in his trial and his final death. If think about how Christ died and suffered, I can see why my own troubles would never compare to what Christ suffered and would seem paltry and insignificant. And if my troubles are that small compared to Christ’s troubles, then my own season of trouble could easily be sustained. I know we all tend to look at our troubles as so big and horrible, but when we compare them to what Christ went through then there is no comparison. I grew up Catholic and at Lent leading up to Easter we used to do walk and view the Stations of the Cross in our church on Fridays and meditate on the suffering of Christ. I never understood why we did this as a child, but now after reading Spurgeon I understand the reasoning behind the practice. The Stations of the Cross meditation needed to be performed so we could understand what Christ went through and remember that our sufferings were nothing compared to sufferings of Christ. I don’t remember ever being told why we did Stations of the Cross at my childhood church, but I wished they would have explained it using Spurgeon’s text. I might not have fully understood this explanation as a child, but it would have made some sense to me as to why this ritual was practiced and would have gotten more out of it as well.

Day 255 Bible Readings – Isaiah 30: 18 (ESV)

Isaiah 29-30, 2 Corinthians 12: 11-21, Psalm 134

Isaiah 30: 18 (ESV)

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”

Verse 18 from Isaiah 30 is Isaiah telling us to trust in God’s timing. Isaiah tells us that when God seems slow to answer our prayers, it always because he has a purpose behind that is in our best interest even if it may not seem like to us at the time. When we receive mercy from God, he is exalted in our eyes because he has given us his grace. God will deliver justice and answer our prayers, but only to those who are willing to wait on God’s timing.

I know for myself that waiting for God’s timing to answer prayers is a hard thing. But God’s timing in my experience is always perfect, even though I only see how perfect God’s timing is in hindsight a long time afterwards. Because we cannot see into the future, we need to trust in God’s timing. God sees our past, present, and future. So we need to always trust God’s timing and rely on his promise to us that he will always answers our prayers in a way that serves us for our ultimate good.

Day 254 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (ESV)

Isaiah 27-28, 2 Corinthians 12: 1-10, Psalm 133

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (ESV)

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Verses 9 through 10 from 2 Corinthians 12 shows God’s response to Paul when he asked him to take a thorn from him. Paul had begged God three times to take the thorn away. God’s told Paul that “my grace if sufficient for you.” Paul’s situation is something I think everyone has in their life - a “thorn” or some kind of problem that people of faith have been praying to God to take away in their life. That “thorn” can be an illness, lack of money or some kind of lack, a feeling of doubt against God, or any number of things. I have a “thorn” in my life that I have been praying about since 2018, and God has not taken the issue away.

I have read many bible commentaries on these verses, and they say the same thing that I am wresting with today. God sometimes does not remove the “thorns” in our lives, because he is trying to strengthen us and deepen our faith in his grace. Pastor David Guzik wrote on these verses that “We really don’t believe God’s grace is sufficient until we believe we are insufficient. For many of us, especially in American culture, this is a huge obstacle. We are the people who idolize the “self-made man” and want to rely on ourselves. But we can’t receive God’s strength until we know our weakness. We can’t receive the sufficiency of God’s grace until we know our own insufficiency.”

I know God is telling that me that only “God’s grace is enough for me.” I cannot rely on myself or other people; I need to only rely on God for everything in my life. This is a hard lesson for me, and I am relying on God’s grace to help me understand why knowing my own insufficiency is a good thing and not a bad thing. I know I need to rely only of God for everything in my life, and I pray to God every day to help me know that God’s grace is enough for me.

Day 253 Bible Readings – Isaiah 25: 4-5 (ESV)

Isaiah 24-26, 2 Corinthians 11: 16-33, Psalm 132

Isaiah 25: 4-5 (ESV)

“For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.”

Verses 4 and 5 from Isaiah 25 shows the prophet Isaiah praising God for his goodness to people who pray to him in times of distress. God has been good to people who are poor, those who are needy and in distress, those who are in the season of afflictions which seems like storms in their lives. Having God on your side is like having shelter I a storm or shade from the heat. God also will bring justice to those who are against God’s people.

I like how Isaiah describes all the ways we can expect God to behave if we have in him. God is always there for us in seasons of distress and troubles in our lives. If we have faith in God, we do not have to do everything ourselves because we will always have help from God. He will not abandon us or leave us to suffer. And we can expect justice from God on those who trouble us, although that justice always happens in God’s timing and not ours. I don’t know how people without faith go through a season of trouble. They must experience a terrible type of fear and anxiety thinking they are all alone with no one to help them. But people of faith have no such fear and anxiety since they know they can rely on God to help through a season of trouble.

Day 252 Bible Readings – Psalm 131: 1-2 (ESV)

Isaiah 20-23, 2 Corinthians 11: 1-15, Psalm 131

Psalm 131: 1-2 (ESV)

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

Verses 1 and 2 from Psalm 131 spoke to me today. In this psalm David renounces not only his pride and arrogance, but his ambition. David also says he has calmed his soul and is content with God and his plan and feels like a child who had been weaned from its mother. I feel that Holy Spirit has been convicting me this past week of wanting to be recognized and praised, instead of having a humble attitude of being called to serve God. God has given me gifts, and there is a part of me that constantly wants to be recognized and praised for those gifts. I found myself fantasizing this week of being recognized for my gifts and having Holy Spirit at the same time, telling me that I was indulging in the sin of pride. God is the source of all gifts, and he gives them to us to fulfill his plans on earth. I struggled all week with my ego fighting the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and it made for a very stressful week. My pride also made me realize I was trying to be somebody who I am not, which is a boastful and ambitious person.

When I read psalm 131, it gave me great comfort to know that David had the same struggles and I need to adopt how he calmed and quieted his soul. God is the source of everything in our lives, and if we remember that and not get caught up in pride or ambition, we will have a greater sense of peace within ourselves.

Day 251 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 10: 4-6 (ESV)

Isaiah 17-19, 2 Corinthians 10, Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 10: 4-6 (ESV)

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

Verses 4 through 6 from 2 Corinthians 10 shows Paul reminding the Church of Corinth that we are always in a spiritual battle, and that we always have help from God. God gives us power to destroy the strongholds in our mind, which are the thoughts and perceptions that are against God or that tell us that God is not real. God helps to us to destroy the arguments and opinions that we have, by examining them and realizing that they are false. When we give us these false thoughts and perceptions, what will be left is only those thoughts that are obedient to God. When we find these strongholds within our mind, we must discipline our minds and repent for having these thoughts. When we have repented, our obedience to God will be complete.

I know for myself that I often forget that the hardest spiritual battle in my life is the one with my own mind. I fight with my own doubts about God – doubts that he hears me, doubts that my prayers will be answered, doubts about faith that I have, doubts about everything in my life. The battle is daily, sometime hourly if I am in a particularly difficult season in my life. The only way I am able to win my spiritual battle is because I have help from the Holy Spirit. I know I cannot do it on my own. I’ve tried, but the doubts are strong and indeed like mighty fortresses that seem to rebuild themselves as soon as they are taken down. But with God’s help, I have the strength to combat my own doubts and win the daily battle with my mind.

Day 250 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 (ESV)

Isaiah 14-16, 2 Corinthians 9, Psalm 129

2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 (ESV)

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Verses 6 through 7 from 2 Corinthians 7 is Paul telling the Church of Corinth that when we give, we must give freely and not out of reluctance or compulsion. You cannot give in order to get something back, but to give because God wants us to give. Paul also tells us God wants us to give generously as much as we can, because someone who gives generously will receive many blessings materially and spiritually.

I think these verses also apples not only to money, but to giving of any kind. If we give our time, we must do so without reluctance or because we feel obligated to give our time. I think back to all the times when I gave of my time and was complaining the whole time. Those experiences were not fun for me because I didn’t want to give my time, but I felt obligated to volunteer my time to sometimes look good or because I felt it was my duty. I didn’t give cheerfully or out of generosity. Those experiences were miserable for me. I sowed sparingly and barely got anything back. It is better to give because you want to give, because you feel it in your heart to give, and you do not expect to get anything back. This attitude in giving will grant us the greatest gifts from God material and spiritually.

Day 249 Bible Readings – Isaiah 11: 6-9 (ESV)

Isaiah 11-13, 2 Corinthians 8: 16-24, Psalm 128

Isaiah 11: 6-9 (ESV)

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

I like verses 6 through 9 from Isaiah 11 which shows a future world where God reigns supreme on earth and we have peace on earth. The prophet Isaiah saw natural predators and prey together living in harmony with a child leading them. That child is the baby Jesus, who will come later as the Messiah. Everyone in this future world has knowledge of God including all the animals. Isaiah shows us an ideal world where there is no violence, not even the natural violence of a predator animal eating other animals for food. These verses remind me a painting I saw at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC by Edward Hicks called “Peaceable Kingdom”. But I’ve seen other paintings as well depicting these verses. You can find it here - Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks.

Is it possible that we will someday see our world with less polarity and less violence? Can places where there has been historical conflict like the Middle East be at peace? I pray every day that this world of peace manifests in our world.

Day 248 Bible Readings – Isaiah 9: 6 (ESV)

Isaiah 8-10, 2 Corinthians 8: 1-15, Psalm 127

Isaiah 9: 6 (ESV)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Verse 6 from Isaiah 9 is another prophecy from the Old Testament about the birth of Jesus Christ. This verse has been used in Christmas music so it sounds so familiar. I love how the prophet Isaiah had these different names for Christ which describe what God can mean us. God is a wonderful counselor who we can turn to for advice. God is also a mighty God who shows us how his justice in the world. God is also our everlasting father, the person we can always rely on take care of us as a father does with his child. God is also the prince of peace, whom we rely on to bring peace to the world.

I also love how Isaiah tells us the government shall be upon the shoulders of God. If God has plans for each of us and the world, it makes sense that government would also fall under God’s plans. We have to pray to God that our government officials are led by God, either to mirror how God would treat us or to be used by God to bring us closer to him through trials and afflictions.

Day 247 Bible Readings – Isaiah 7: 14 (ESV)

Isaiah 5-7, 2 Corinthians 7, Psalm 126

Isaiah 7: 14 (ESV)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Verse 14 from Isaiah 7 give us one of the most famous prophecies of the coming of Christ in the Old Testament. I love these prophecies of the birth of Christ in the Old Testament. It shows to me that God has a plan that sees far into the future what will be needed to save his people and save every one of us who has faith in Christ. I love signs. I know that we are not supposed to test God and look for signs, but I love signs. I always look for signs in my life of God’s guidance to me. They are almost all of the time small signs, but occasionally I will get a bigger sign. But to find the signs, I must always follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I have been doing intercessory prayers, and I’ve always wondered if I have been doing them correctly and prayed to God to give me guidance. I was invited to go to an event at my church this week, and while it wasn’t something that interested me the Holy Spirit told me to attend the event. When I went to the event, I found out that they are going to be studying a book on intercessory prayer. Was it a coincidence? Not for me. God heard my prayer, and I discovered inadvertently a book on intercessory prayer. Had I not followed the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I would never have found the book. God send me a sign and an answer to my prayer!

Day 246 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 6: 14 (ESV)

Isaiah 3 & 4, 2 Corinthians 6, Psalm 125

2 Corinthians 6: 14 (ESV)

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

Verse 14 from 2 Corinthians 6 is Paul’s reminder to the Church of Corinth to be careful to not themselves to be influenced by people who are not of the faith. This is a hard one for me as I have many friends who like Christ, but do not follow his teachings. They have nothing against Christ, but they have issues with religion and their own experiences with religion in their life. And it’s not just the Christian religion, it’s all forms of religion that are problems for them. You would need to have a very strong faith in God and know yourself very well to know if you are being influenced by a person who is not of the faith. I don’t think it makes sense to give up all your non-Christian friends, at least not for me. But there are ways to mitigate this issue that seem to work. Have many friends with your similar faith to balance out the non-believer friends. Rely on your friends of faith to advise you on the serious issues of your life. Most importantly, feel free to adjust your plans as needed. Don’t be stuck on any one way to do this. Finally, consult with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit first on any matter. Make God the compass of your life. God is your North Star and will always point you in the right direction for you and his plan for your life.

Day 245 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 5: 17 (ESV)

Isaiah 1 & 2, 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21, Psalm 124

2 Corinthians 5: 17 (ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

In verse 17 from 2 Corinthians 5, Paul reminds the Church of Corinth that anyone who believes in Christ has become a new person. The person they were before is gone, and with their faith in Christ they have become a new person. Pastor David Guzik from Enduring Word writes “However, being a new creation doesn’t mean that we are perfect. It means that we are changed and that we are being changed.”

I know for myself that I often forget that as a person of faith in Christ, I am a different person. I was born into the faith, so I have very few memories of not believing in God. Instead, I have memories of trying to forget God ever existed although it didn’t work seem to work for very long. So for me to think of myself as a new person, I need to forget that I was a person who had very little faith in God. I feel that Holy Spirit is training me, challenging me, to live my life as a person who complete faith in God. Faith that God is responsible for all things in my life, good and bad. Faith that everything in my life is from God and that it is all there so I can deepen my relationship with him. This idea is hard to grasp and will probably take the rest of my lifetime to understand. I always go back to the question most people ask, “Why did God allow bad things to happen me?” And I am trying to be okay with the answer that “all things word for my good.” I feel like the theme in my life is to always find the light in the darkness of my life, to always look for the positive side, benefit, in anything that happens to me. This is the new creation that God is working through me and in me.

Day 244 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 5: 6-7 (ESV)

Micah 5-7, 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10, Psalm 123

2 Corinthians 5: 6-7 (ESV)

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

We are reminded by Paul in verse 6 from 2 Corinthians 5 that the Holy Spirit gives us confidence and courage that God is always at work in our life. Paul also reminds that even though we are at home in our early body, we are away from the Lord, and that we must strive to always have faith in God in our daily life. I believe Paul brings this point up because it seems to be easier to have faith in God when we are going through a season on troubles times. We pray for miracles, and we see miracles in our lives from God when he fulfills his promises to us. But how often do we cherish God and our faith in our every day walk with God? Do we have faith even when we are going through the small and mundane tasks of our lives? Are we on autopilot just going through the motions of our life and not thinking about God?

I know for myself that when my life is good, God is not the focus of my life like he is when I am in a season of affliction. I want to change that. I want to have a laser focus on God no matter what I am going through in my life, because I think it will deepen my relationship with God and bring me more peace. If am always focused on God, then maybe, just maybe, when trouble finds me, I won’t get so off kilter. It will be like any ordinary day because I’m always focused on God, and I will have my peace.

Day 243 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 4: 11 (ESV)

Micah 1-4, 2 Corinthians 4, Psalm 122

2 Corinthians 4: 11 (ESV)

“For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Verse 11 from 2 Corinthians 4 shows Paul reminding us that living a life of faith may include suffering like Christ. Christ suffered much during his life when he was rejected by his people for preaching that he was the “son of God.” We have to know that when we proclaim ourselves as believers in Christ, we may experience the same kind of suffering that Jesus went through especially in the modern world. A person of faith does live a life of victory in many ways, but there is also much suffering in the call to follow Christ. I listened to a sermon today where the minister preached that to heed the call of Christ always involves a price that must be paid.

I was struck by this sermon because in my own my life in the last two years, I’ve been on a journey to deepen my relationship with God. Holy Spirit has been teaching me to be completely dependent on God for everything, and while this was something I thought I wanted, I did not know it would involve giving up my own spirit of independence. I prided myself on being independent, strong, and being smart enough to always figure everything out for myself. Giving up my independence has been so hard, and I still struggle with it. But I am learning that I can partner with God instead of having to do everything myself, and that I can always rely on God to help me. Relying on God makes things easier for me, but this is a new thing for me because I only asked God for help as a last resort. Now I am learning to consult with God first before I do anything. It’s a new thing, but I am finding that partnering with God makes things run so much smoother in my life. So yes, I have suffered in my pursuit of God but, I’ve also gained so many great things as well. Is it worth it? I think so, but I think each person of faith will have to make that decision for themselves.