Day 236 Bible Readings – 1 Corinthians 15: 54-57 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 21-23, 1 Corinthians 15: 50-59, Psalm 119: 137-44

1 Corinthians 15: 54-57 (ESV)

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Verses 54-57 from 1 Corinthians 15 shows Paul talking about what we as believers in Jesus Christ have gained through his resurrection. Because Christ allowed himself to be sacrificed for our sins by his death on the cross and then rose three (3) days later, we need no longer fear death because when we die we will be with Christ in eternity. Death has no victory over us and we will be resurrected like Jesus when we die. This promise of eternal life gives people of faith a calmness and a peacefulness because death has no power over them. Why wouldn’t you want the calmness and peace of knowing that you need not fear death? Death is such a scary thing for all people. But with faith in Jesus Christ, we have the promise of resurrection after death. We have the example of Christ, who rose from the dead and later appeared and spoke to his disciples.  With Christ all things are possible, even the promises of victory over death.

Day 235 Bible Readings – 2 Chronicles 20: 15 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 18: 28-34, 2 Chronicles 19-20, 1 Corinthians 15: 35-49, Psalm 119: 129-136

2 Chronicles 20: 15 (ESV)

“And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.”

Verse 15 from 2 Chronicles is God’s answer to King Jehoshaphat when he prayed to God for help in the battle that was before him. The Lord told spoke through Jahaziel telling the king that they didn’t even need to fight, and they just needed to stand firm and hold their position. God kept his word and the king found that his enemies had fought against each other and killed themselves. I love how God kept his promise to the king. Before any battle we must always pray to God for guidance. I know for myself that I don’t pray to God first, but only as a last resort. But I have found over the years that this strategy doesn’t always work for the best. If I had prayed to God first, I might have had an easier time with some seasons of trouble I experienced.

I know my reasoning was always “God is too busy to deal with my little battle, and I can deal with it myself.” But I know I was wrong. God is never too busy to hear our prayers. If I had prayed to God first before any battle small or large, I would have heard God’s advice. Perhaps he might have said “You can handle it on your own”, or “I can help you” But I didn’t pray to God first. I just assumed what he would say. We can never assume to know God’s will for our life. We must always pray first, and when wait for his answer. Over the years I’ve found that if I prayed first to God, then everything always seemed to work out for the best. And when I didn’t pray to God first, my troubles seemed to last longer and weren’t as easily resolved. So now I pray first and wait for answer from God, which gives me more peace than I’ve ever had in the past.

Day 234 Bible Readings – 2 Chronicles 16: 8-9 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 16-17, 2 Chronicles 18: 1-27, 1 Corinthians 15; 1-34, Psalm 119: 121-128

2 Chronicles 16: 8-9 (ESV)

“Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

Verses 8 and 9 from 2 Chronicles were talked about in my pastor’s recent sermon. King Asa had always relied on God until the 36^th year of his reign, when Baasha king of Israel built Ramah fortress to prevent people going into and coming out of Juday Instead of consulting God as he did previously when he faced the Ethiopians and Libyans, King Asa decided to make a treaty with the King of Syria.  Because Asa did not solely rely on God, Hanani the seer told him he would now have wars instead of peace. King Asa had peace for over 30 years, and now he would be facing war without help from God. My pastor said God is always looking throughout the earth to find those people of faith who are faithful, so he can fully support them. My pastor asked us if we always fully rely on God.

I’ve been contemplating this question since his sermon and I realized that even though I think I am fully reliant on God, I question God’s wisdom every day. I know what God wants me do but when I wake up in the morning, I have so much doubt if God made the right decision on his plan for me. I ask God daily if he made the right decision / plan for my life. I never seem to be satisfied knowing that God’s answer is always “yes” to my question. By asking this question, I show my doubt that God knows what he’s doing in my life even though I have years of proof that God’s plans for my life have always worked out for the best. It’s been hard to stop from questioning / doubting God, but I am getting better at it. Today was the first day I stopped myself from questioning God. It was a big deal for me. I don’t think this will last battle I have with my doubt, but I know that I had a victory this morning. And I know I couldn’t have done it without God’s help. Even in my doubt, God helps me to overcome it because he Is a good God.

Day 233 Bible Readings – Psalm 119: 14 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 12-15, 1 Corinthians 14: 20-40, Psalm 119, 113-120

Psalm 119: 14 (ESV)

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”

When I read verse 14 from Psalm 119, I felt myself wanting to cry. I thought of all the times, I prayed to God for protection and safety. I asked God to keep me safe and I felt that he answered my prayers and made me feel protected and safe. But I also remember praying to God to help in times of stress and danger, so God became my shield in my time of affliction. God is so kind to us, his children. Like a good parent, we can go to God to hide from danger knowing God will protect us and keep us safe. When we are in trouble, God becomes our shield against those who would harm us. He is our father, our partner, the one who inspires us in times of trouble to be strong and do battle against our physical and spiritual foes. And when we have doubt, we can read the stories in the Bible of how God has always fulfilled his promises to those who have been faithful to him. These stories give us the assurance that if God was faithful to those in the Bible, he will be faithful to us if are faithful to him.

Reading the bible for me daily has become essential in my walk with God. I see myself in so many of the people from the Old and New Testament, who had doubts but still had faith in God. I also feel inspiration from the people in the Old and New Testament whose faith was so strong in God that they never wavered; their faith was unshakeable. Reading the Bible every day renews my faith in God’s word.