Month: June 2024

2 Kings 17:1-18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 18:6-7

God really does not require that much from us. Think of it like a business arrangement (not that it is). God gives us life, health, strength, the ability to prosper, a purpose, destiny, and everything we could ever need. All He asks is that we worship him and obey him. To worship Him is to put Him first. To obey is to do what He says to do.

If you balance the scales, it appears that all God has given us far outweighs what He requires of us. When you look at what God did for Israel as a nation, His request seemed so insignificant. Put me first and do what I instructed you. At every turn, they did the exact opposite; with the end result being that the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into exile in Assyria. Because God is gracious, He gave Israel opportunity after opportunity to get things in order but they never did. I suspect that when the Assyrians came, the Israelites wondered, “Why is God doing this to us?” when in fact, God had been warning them.

You don’t have to miss what God has planned for your life. If you have been receiving warnings from God, please heed them. Don’t frustrate His grace. He loves you too much to just let you walk into trouble without a warning. Make whatever adjustments you need to. There is too much at stake.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Acts 21:1-17; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8

2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5

Life is choice driven. This is a fundamental truth that we must all understand. We will rise or fall based on the decisions we choose to make. We all get the same 24 hours each day. If we choose to do the wrong things with that time, it will derail our destiny.

As you look at the life span of all the kings of Judah and Israel, each had a choice to make. They would either use their reign to serve God or ignore His righteous commands. Each one paid the consequences for his actions. Their behavior either caused blessings on the people or brought destruction through invading armies.

What choices are you making with your life? You only get one life on this earth. How are you using it? Are the decisions you make about how you use your time ones that glorify God? If not, use today to make a change. One righteous decision can alter the course of your life. Let that day be today so that it will be written of you that you served God with all your heart in your generation.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 17:1-18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 18:6-7

2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3

Are you willing to go all the way for God? Don’t give a hasty answer. In our heart, we say, “Yes” but our actions say, “Maybe”. No one ever starts out saying, “I will go most of the way” and then quits. We start out with the intention to finish and then something happens that causes us to lose our resolve to keep moving forward. When God gives you an open door, take it!

Elisha was nearing his last moments on earth and King Jehoash came to visit him. He wanted one last word from God that this great prophet would speak. He gives him a simple instruction: “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” (2 Kings 13:18) In a timid manner, Jehoash only strikes the ground 3 times thus limiting the victory he could have had against his enemies.

Jehoash didn’t know what was at stake. He didn’t know that God was giving him an open door to victory so he didn’t give it his all. In retrospect, I know he wished he struck the ground repeatedly until he had no more strength. When God gives you an opportunity put your whole heart into it. You don’t know what other doors it will open.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20; Acts 19:13-41; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 18:4-5

2 Kings 10:32-12:21; Acts 18:1-22; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 18:1

The devil’s plan is simple: to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). He has not changed his game plan from the beginning. When he sees something that is moving in God’s direction and fulfilling its purpose, he will do whatever he can to stop it. He will use people to be a part of his assassination squad.

Athaliah tried to stop the rightful succession to the throne of Joash, the son of King Ahaziah. She was ready to destroy her own grandson so that she could stop what God had purposed. The good news is that as much as the devil is trying to “steal, kill and destroy”, God is protecting, providing and prospering those who will stand for Him.

What she tried to kill, she couldn’t. God will preserve and protect your life from premature death. At every point in human history, the devil has particularly targeted the children because he knows if he can kill the children he can destroy the next generation. Be a protector of children because you don’t know how God intends to use them in the future. One thing is for certain, God does plan on using them to do big things. You could be the one who helps preserve their lives so that they fulfill their purpose in life!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3

2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28

God’s justice is not limited by our lifetimes. He will see that justice is done even after we have died. Naboth was viciously killed by Jezebel because Ahab wanted his vineyard. It was wrong and God judged it. At the time God said that Ahab, Jezebel and their entire family would be punished because of the injustice done to Naboth.

Like clock-work, God’s Word came to pass by the hand of King Jehu. You see, evil cannot win. In movies and TV shows, evil may win but not in a world where God lives. It may look like evil wins but when the dust settles evil loses every time. It may seem like it is taking some time but rest assured, God will not be mocked.

You may know of an injustice that happened to your family and there were some things unfairly taken. Don’t just let it go! You stand in faith that anything that was taken from your family line will be returned. Time does not matter to God. If it was taken unfairly from you or an ancestor, you believe God to get it back in your generation.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 10:32-12:21; Acts 18:1-22; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 18:1

2 Kings 8:1-9:13; Acts 16:16-40; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 17:26

You can never forget that God is a just God! He will never let your righteousness be taken advantage of. When you have lived your life for God, nothing is ever lost. God is a God of Recompense and you will always be repaid for anything that has been taken away.

The woman whose son had been brought back to life had left the area because of a famine. When she returned, her land was in someone else’s hands and they refused to give it back to her. She appealed to the king for her property. But something interesting was taking place when she entered the palace. Gehazi was telling the king about her and the miracle that Elisha performed.

Everything that she had lost was returned to her and even the profit from her crops was restored as well. Don’t ever accept that you have lost. God can and will turn it around in your favor. If you are willing to stand and believe God’s promises, He will even make the devil pay you interest. Purpose today that whatever was stolen from you will be recompensed 7 times. It must be so!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28

2 Kings 6:1-7:20; Acts 15:36-16:15; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 17:24-25
How long does a turn-around take? Conventional wisdom says that we have to wait a respectable amount of time for a real change to take place. But, that is using human reasoning not the power of God.

Israel was besieged and resources were very scarce. It had become so bad that people were eating their children to survive. No solution was imminent and they could not wait for a turn-around. They needed God to intervene immediately!

Through His Prophet, God told the King that their economic plight would change within 24 hours. It seemed unbelievable and to some it was. But, what the Prophet said came true. God caused the Armenians to abandon their camp and flee. God knows where resources are that can meet your needs in abundance. Trust Him today to change your situation in one day. He can do it for you. Begin to expect God to be a God who answers quickly and you will see change manifest immediately.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 8:1-9:13; Acts 16:16-40; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 17:26

2 Kings 4:18-5:27; Acts 15:1-35; Psalm 141:1-10; Proverbs 17:23

Miracles were a common occurrence in the Bible. God likes to demonstrate His power so that people will know that He is God. In a world where people are looking for something real, it is important that God is willing to show Himself in ways that people can acknowledge Him.

Naaman had leprosy. He thought it was incurable until his servant told him about the man of God who lived in Israel. Naaman went to the prophet but the prophet told him to go wash in the Jordan River. He saw this as an insult because of his high status. (You see, God uses the foolish things to confound the wise.)

Naaman obeyed the Prophet’s request and received his healing. He declared that Israel’s God was the true God. God can meet a doubter right where they are and show Himself as a miracle worker. As a Believer, you should expect miracles to follow you everywhere you go. Expect miracles in your life because you serve a God of miracles.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-7:20; Acts 15:36-16:15; Psalm 142:1-7; Proverbs 17:24-25

2 Kings 3:1-4:17; Acts 14:8-28; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 17:22

If you have ever been in a situation when you did not have enough, the story of the widow touches a special place in your heart. Her husband had died and she was rearing her children alone. To make matters worse, she had debts that she couldn’t pay and that threatened her security.

Thank God that He will always send people into our lives to point us to His supernatural system of supply. The Man of God helped her see that even though she was in a desperate situation she was not completely destitute. She did have something that she could leverage.

So often we overlook what God has given us as a seed for our future. It does not take much for God to make abundance. Everything starts with a seed. She had to be willing to give in order for her to receive God’s supernatural supply. For whatever lack you may be facing, look around and see what you have. Start there and watch how God can bless it and multiply it abundantly. This woman’s need was met and yours will be too!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 4:18-5:27; Acts 15:1-35; Psalm 141:1-10; Proverbs 17:23

2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 17:19-21

When you have the real thing, why look for counterfeits? Ahaziah was a King of Israel. He had prophets, the Temple and the Ark of the Covenant at his disposal. Why was it that when he found himself battling a physical infirmity, he turned to the false gods of another country?

God speaks to Elijah and tells him to remind the king that there is a God in Israel and He knows the future. When Ahaziah gets the Word from God, it is not pleasing at all to his ears. So, he desires to destroy the messenger. But, he does not succeed. God’s Word cannot return to Him without accomplishing what He sent it to do. Plus, God would not allow his messenger to be ashamed for trusting and speaking God’s word!

You have all the answers you need in Jesus. You do not need to consult palm readers, tarot card mystics, psychics or even horoscopes to get your answer. Jesus is your answer to every question. Will I be healed? Yes! Will I bounce back after my marriage failed? Yes! Will I ever own a house after the last one was foreclosed on? Yes! Will I ever see my dreams become a reality? Yes, in Jesus’ Name!

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17; Acts 14:8-28; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 17:22