Day 17 - Solomon

I got to sleep in a bit this morning.  My alarm went off at 6:30 and I got out of bed. I did something this morning that I don't usually do, which I don't think is profitable.  I sat on my bed for 20 minutes scrolling through some social media sites.  I need to hold off on checking my phone until after my Bible study.

1 Chronicles 28:20

Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points:

- Solomon was chosen by God to build the temple (1 Chr. 28: 9, 10)
- It was huge task.  The details were delicate.
- Solomon appeared to feel overwhelmed and apprehensive.
- David said to Solomon:
     * Be strong and courageous
     * Do the work
     * God is with you
     * God will not fail you or forsake you
     * God will see that the Temple is finished correctly

3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) God chooses people to do work for Him.
ii) My tasks may appear bigger or smaller than someone else's, but everything God asks me to do is important.
iii) What God has chosen for me, He will see to it that it is finished correctly.
iv) I don't have to be afraid of what God has chosen me to do.  He is with me.
v) Don't focus on the fear - get to work!

4. Pose the question:

- What are some things God has chosen me to do?
- What has God chosen me to do that I find scary, detailed, and bigger than I can wrap my head around?
- Is fear stopping me from doing what God has chosen me to do?
- Do I believe that what God has chosen me for, He will equip me for, and He will see to it that it's finished correctly?

5. Plan obedience and pin down that date:

- Regardless of the fear or the size of the work, I must do what God has chosen me to do.
- Today I will take the time to chart my goals to get me to my dream - what God has called me to do.
- I will no longer procrastinate out of fear.

6. Pray:

God, thank You for choosing me to do Your work.  I'm sorry that I continue to procrastinate out of fear.  Help me to "do the work",  just like David told Solomon.  The end result is in Your hands.  Thank You for being with me.  I can be courageous because You are on my side and You will equip me.  Amen.

Day 16 - Eleazar

Another 5:30am morning.  My daughter and I are volunteering at the early Good Friday service, and I have grown to love my early Bible study time so I needed to get up earlier to get in my study.  I would rather sacrifice sleep than Bible study.  I have never said that before in my life!

1 Chronicles 11: 12-14

12 Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai,[d] a descendant of Ahoah. 13 He was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled,14 but Eleazar and David[e] held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.


2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points:

- Eleazar was the 2nd of David's mightiest warriors
- During on e battle against the Philistines, the Israelites fled - all except Eleazar and David
- Eleazar and David held their ground - they didn't run from the Philistine army
- Because they help their ground and didn't run in fear, the Lord saved them and gave them a great victory

3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) Even if all those around me are running away from the battle, I can stand my ground.
ii) I don't have to do what the crowd is doing.
iii) I am stronger if I have even 1 friend to stick around and fight with me.
iv) Because Eleazar and David held their ground and fought back (regardless of how they may have felt, and regardless of all their friends running away) the Lord saved them and gave them a great victory.
v) They would not have received the great victory if they would have run away - they had to fight for it.
vi) Fear doesn't have to stop me from taking a stand for God and standing my ground.
vii) If I am grounded, victory will come when I hold that ground.

4. Pose the question:

- Do I have at least one person left standing beside me when everyone else runs away?
- Am I left standing up for God when others take off?  Or, do I follow the crows and leave with them?
- What am I facing right now that I want to run from ?
- Do I believe that if I stand my ground, in spite of fear, and fight the battle that God will give me victory?
- How am I doing with facing my fears head on?

5. Plan obedience and pin down that date:

- I will stand my ground, and stand for God, regardless of what others around me are doing.
- I will not retreat!
- I will face my fears with God, head on!
- Find someone who will stand with me - supporting and encouraging me, holding my hand to the end.

6. Pray:

Thank You, God, for this lesson.  I find it easy to regrets and not keep fighting.  I do it all the time.  Give me strength, faith, and a friend to keep fighting.  When I stand for You, and not back down, victory is mine.  Amen!

Song:

Victory Shall Be Mine - The Hoppers

Day 15 - Jonathan

5:30am was the time the alarm began beeping this morning.  I have to be at an appointment at 8am, so I needed extra time.  I don't want to miss out on having time for Bible Study!

1 Samuel 14:6

“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points:

- Jonathan and the armour bearer are headed to the Philistine outpost - there was a rocky cliff on each side.

- Jonathan chose to lead them into the again land.

- Jonathan believed in the faithfulness of God, regardless of his situation.

- "Nothing can hinder the Lord."

3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) Jonathan stepped out on his own; he didn't ask anyone for guidance.  He thought his father would try to stop him.

ii) Jonathan chose to go through pagan land - he didn't take the safe choice.

iii) Jonathan knew God would be with him no matter which way he chose to go.  

iv) Jonathan chose not to fear.

v) "Nothing can hinder the Lord.  He can win a battle whether He has many warriors or only a few."

vi) God is not intimidated by the size of the enemy or the complexity of the problem.  He always has enough resources.

4. Pose the question:

- How is my decision making?

- Do I make the easy, safe choice or do I choose pagan land knowing that God is with me?

- Do I choose the safe was due to fear of the size of the enemy or the complexity of the problem?

- When was the last time I made a decision that was not the 'safe choice'?

5. Plan obedience and pin down the date:

- I will be more intentional about decision making.  Even if I'm afraid, I know God's Got This, and I can make the choice I want to make and not just because it's safe.  

- I will choose what I want and not just agree to make someone else happy or to keep them from getting angry.

- I will take action action, for nothing can hinder the Lord. 

- I can make decisions on my own and do what I think is right for me.

- I don't have to get other people's opinion - however, wise counsel is wise! - and I can move in the direction I want to go.

6. Pray:

God, I know You are with me.  Help me make good decisions for my life without needing approval from others.  I trust You to be with me even when I'm afraid.  Nothing hinders You. Amen.

Day 14 - Gideon

Day 14!!  Wow!! I didn't know my body could function without snoozing, and here I am after 2 weeks of no snoozes, and my body is doing just fine!  I am not more tired during the day, which I thought I would be with less sleep.  It's pretty amazing!

Judges 7:9-15

9 That night the Lord said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!10 But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah.11 Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.”

So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp. 12 The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count! 13 Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!”

14 His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord.[b] Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points:

- God gave Gideon victory over the Midianites.
- God acknowledged Gideon's feeling of fear and gave him a way to overcome it.
- Gideon followed God's prompting - a sneak peek - to help him overcome his fear.
- God helped Gideon overcome his fear - God didn't excuse Gideon from what He told him to do.
- The sneak peek - the option God gave Gideon that would overcome his fear - gave Gideon that courage he needed to get the victory God promised him.
- Gideon thanked God!

3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) God cares about our fears - and all our feelings - and provides a way to overcome them.
ii) God didn't force Gideon to take the sneak peek, but rather gave him the option.
iii) Having fear doesn't excuse us from doing what God asks us to do.
iv) God can use your enemies to encourage you - even if they don't know it.
v) Knowledge can dissipate fear.
vi) Always be thankful.

4. Pose the question:

- God told me to do something and I am afraid to do it.  Is He providing a sneak peek for me, where I can obtain knowledge, overcome my fear, and make me "eager to attack"??
- Do I follow God's suggestions?
- Do I thank God for what He provides?

5. Plan obedience and pin down the date:

- Keep my eyes and ears open! God can even use my enemies to give me knowledge that will ease my fear and give me courage to attack!
- Thank God all the time!

6. Pray:

God, thank You for caring about my fears and my feelings.  Thank You for providing ways for me to obtain the knowledge I need to overcome my fears and be eager to attack the calling You've given me and the dreams and desires in my heart.  Open my eyes and ears so I can hear from You.  Help me to obey You - even Your suggestions.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Day 13 - God's Pep Talk to Joshua

I thought by this stage it would be easier to get up when the alarm goes off.  But, it's not.  My old habit of snoozing wants to control my morning.  It is not a body game - it is totally a mental game.  I know I need to be more diligent at going to sleep at a decent time, which will help my body not to be tired, but I also need to keep working on taking every thought captive, like "I can snooze for a few minutes" or "My bed is so warm and cozy" or "I can skip one day of Bible Study."  Getting up instead of snoozing and spending time in God's Word has proven amazing every single day.  Today is no exception. 

Joshua 1:5-9

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points:

- God confirmed that Joshua would take the people into the promised land.

** God's Pep Talk
     - No one will stand against you!
     - I will be with you!
     - I will not fail you!
     - I will not abandon you!
     - Be strong and courageous!
     - I have chosen you!
     - Be strong and very courageous!
     - Obey the instructions - do not turn from them!
     - When you obey, you will be successful in all you do!
     - Study the Bible continually!
     - Meditate on it so you will be sure to obey it - then you will succeed!
     - Be strong and courageous!
     - Do not be afraid or discouraged!
     - The Lord your God is with you everywhere you go!

3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) God is on our side.
ii) He will equip us.

*** God is with us, no matter what, but if we want to be successful, we have to do our part - read the Bible and obey it.

iii) Reading, meditating on, studying, and obeying God's Word is the foundation for success.
iv) God is with us, period.  Our success depends on us.

*** Success - not the world's standard - but in God's eyes.

4. Pose the question:

- In the world's eyes, I am successful.  I am educated and I have a good job.  There are people trying to get to where I am...  YET, I am unfulfilled.  Jesus came to this earth so I could have abundant life.  The world's stand of success has not brought me abundant life.
- What do I need to change to have Godly success and an abundant, fulfilled life?
- I was listening to a Tony Robbins video last week and he said, "Success without fulfilment is the ultimate failure." - What can I do to be successful and fulfilled?

5. Plan obedience and pin down the date:

- Keep having morning Bible Study.  Get into God's Word as much as possible - listen for His voice to lead me to my next steps.

6. Pray:

God, thank You for practical Bible lessons.  Help me to read, meditate on, study, and obey Your Word more intentionally.  It truly is the greatest Book on earth.  It is living and I can find my life in it.  Thanks for the pep talk.  Amen.

Song:

Confidence by Sanctus Real

Day 12 - Israelites and Others

Monday morning... I woke up before my alarm today but I didn't dare open my eyes to look at the time.  I don't want to know if I have five more minutes to or two hours. As much as I would hope it would be two hours, I would feel disappointed if it was only five minutes.  How much longer I have to sleep is an unknown that I can live with. 

Deuteronomy 2:25

"...Beginning today I will make people throughout the earth terrified because of you. When they hear reports about you, they will tremble with dread and fear.’”

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points

- The Lord told the Israelites He will make people terrified because of them.
- They will hear reports and will tremble with dread and fear.


3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) "With God before us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 - this was the verse verse that popped into my mind after reading this passage.
ii) God goes before us in our battles.
iii) "Moses no longer had to worry about his enemies because his enemies were worried about him." (from the verse explanation in the Study Bible).
- The Israelites complained the whole way along, but God still chose to make them mighty.

4. Pose the question:

- Do I walk into battle knowing that God went ahead of me?
- Do I fear someone so much it makes me tremble?
- Will God turn that around in my life?

5. Plan obedience and pin down that date:

- Live life trusting that God is going ahead of my into battle - and there will be battles.
- When God is with me, which is always, I don't need to worry about the other side.

6. Pray:

God, help me to trust you and to walk into battle without fear because You have gone ahead of me and prepared the way.  Amen.

Day 11 - Israelites and Me

I went to bed last night excited about what God was going to teach me this morning... and He did not disappoint.  

Deuteronomy 1: 19-43

29 “But I said to you, ‘Don’t be shocked or afraid of them! 30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. 31 And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.’

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase all major points:

- The Israelites left Mount Sinai, as the Lord told them to do
- They travelled through the great and terrifying wilderness
- When they reached the land God promised them, they became afraid
- The sent scouts in who reported the land was good
- The Israelites refused to go in.  They let their minds make up stories - reasons to not go in.  They had fears - even though this was the land God promised them
- They didn't trust God - they thought God brought them there to be slaughtered
- They feared the Amorites - taller, more powerful, giants
- They worried about the towns - large, high walls
- Moses told them not to be afraid because God will go in ahead of them
- Moses said, "God will fight for you" just like He has done before
- God will care for them the way He did while they travelled through the wilderness - like a father cares for his child
- They still refused to trust the Lord
- The Lord got angry and told them they don't get the land because of tall their complaining and lack of trust
- They tried to fix it - to get themselves into the land by fighting on their own, but God wasn't with them and they failed

3. Pull out the spiritual principles:

i) The Israelites left Mount Sinai when God told them to.
ii) While they travelled through the great and terrifying wilderness, there is no mention of them complaining or not trusting.  They kept going.
iii) The Israelites allowed fear to take over - fear of what could be waiting for them in the new land - instead of trusting in the God who already brought them through so many hardships
iv) Moses told them:  - Do not be afraid
                                   - God will fight for you
                                   - God will take care of you
v) They still complained and refused to enter the new land - made the choice not to trust and reject God and His promises.
vi) The Lord took the land away form that generation - and from Moses
- The thought they could fight on their own and get it back - they didn't have God with them so it didn't go well.
vii) They repented and gave up.

4. Pose the question:

I journeyed through the great and terrifying wilderness for the 11 years I was married to my abusive ex-husband.  Since getting out, there has still been a lot of wilderness as I try to heal from all that hurt and pain.

Now I stand at the edge of the land God promised me and I am afraid to go in.  The people in the land are giants - more powerful than me.  I feel small and insignificant compared to them.  I am afraid to step into that new land - I just keep dancing around on the edge.

What am I afraid of?
Do I not trust God - even though He has already brought me through so many hard times and has never left my side?
Do I believe that God will fight for me?
Do I believe that God will take care of me?
Will the land be taken from me if I don't choose to take God by the hand and walk in?

5. Plan obedience and pin down the date:

Stop dancing on the boundary line!  I need to either step inside and enter the land, or walk away from it.

Which will I choose?

6. Pray:

God, I want to talk into - run into - dance into - the land You have sitting right in front of me.  I admit that I am afraid.  I can't do this alone - I need You to walk with me.  I know You have so many great things in that land waiting for me.  Thank You for being patient with me.  I want to go all in.  Like a father cares for his child, I place my hand in Yours.  Put your arm around my shoulder and let us walk into this new journey together.  I trust You, God.  Amen.

Songs:

Fighting for You
God Will Take Care of You