Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12‐8:10, Romans 7:14‐8:8, Psalm 18:1‐15, Proverbs 19:24‐25

Romans 7:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Observations:

• Context:  Holy Spirit in us has given us the power to live righteously… Following this verse we read: “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
• Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh
• Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

What is your mind set on?  Are you focused on your job?  Are you focused on gaining man’s approval?  Are you focused on what will happen next in your favorite TV show?

Apply:  I want to set my mind on the things of the Spirit.  Specifically for me today – taking each step by faith and having a worshipful heart.

What helps you set your mind on the things of the Spirit?

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 4:1‐6:11, Romans 7:1‐13, Psalm 17:1‐15, Proverbs 19:22‐23

2 Chronicles 5:14 …so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Observations:

• Context: After the temple was built, the ark was placed, the people sing, and the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud…
• Priest – those God through David had placed in charge of the temple worship
• Could not stand to minister – they could not lead worship like they had been trained
• For the glory of the Lord filled the house of God – God’s glory was over overwhelming when his presence filled the house

Apply:  “Lord, I want your presence to fall on my ministry with this much power today!  Knock me off my feet and show me and those around me your glory.”

Has God’s glory ever, truly, knocked you off your feet?

Today’s reading: 2 Chronicles 1:1‐3:17, Romans 6:1‐23, Psalm 16:1‐11, Proverbs 19:20‐21

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Psalm 16 in the reading today says: “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel… You make known to me the path of life.”

Apply: I need to truly seek God’s purpose for my life.  Only there will I find a plan that will stand.

How can you make plans in a Biblical way?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1‐29:30, Romans 5:6‐21, Psalm 15:1‐5, Proverbs 19:18‐19

Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Observations:

• Context: Paul is explaining how through Adam we have a body of sin, through Christ we have a body of righteousness.  
• Adam vs Christ
• Born vs born again
• Sinfulness vs righteousness
• Sin reign vs grace reign
• Death vs eternal life

Apply: I want to focus on my identity through Christ.  I want to live who I am through Christ and let grace to rule my life.

Which body are you living in?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 26:12‐27:34, Romans 4:13‐5:5, Psalm 14:1‐7, Proverbs 19:17

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.

Observations:

• Generous to the poor = lends to the Lord
• Lend to the Lord = God will repay you for your deed

Proverbs are principals and not promises

Apply: I want to look for ways to be generous to the poor.

Have you ever been impacted by someone’s generosity to the poor?  Share the story.

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 24:1‐26:11, Romans 4:1‐12, Psalm 13:1‐6, Proverbs 19:15‐16

1 Chronicles 25:7 The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288.

Observations:

• Context: David is organizing the worship for the temple.  This section is the musicians specifically. 
• They were trained in their craft – in this case, singing
• They were skilled at their craft

Most ministries allow untrained and unskilled people to lead just because they are nice people.  This is not the example that David sets for us as he organizes the temple worship.

Apply: I want to make sure I am placing the staff under me in roles that match their skill set.  I also need to give them the best training possible in their craft.

Have you ever been set up to fail by being asked to do something that you were not good at and/or had no training in?  What should you learn from that?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 22:1‐23:32, Romans 3:9‐31, Psalm 12:1‐8, Proverbs 19:13‐14

1 Chronicles 22:16  Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.

Observations:

• Context: Before David dies, he charges Solomon with building the temple.  Within this charge we read these words that he speaks directly to his son.
• If you are careful to observe the law = then you will prosper
• Be strong and courageous
• Fear not
• Do not be dismayed

I am seeking to speak intentionally into my daughter each day.  Currently we are reading the Jesus Storybook Bible – I highly recommend this for kids 5 and under.  Like my father did for me, each night I pray the Priestly Blessing over Anna (Numbers 6:23-27).  However, most of what I am teaching her in relation to her faith is not conditional. 

Apply: I want to look for ways to help Anna understand that part of receiving blessing in life (not salvation) is dependent on her obedience to the law.  I also want to speak the identity of courage and strength into her.

What resource (passage in scripture, talk, book, friend, etc.) has helped you understand the Biblical balance of saved by grace through faith and real faith is blessed because of its obedience?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 19:1‐21:30, Romans 2:25‐3:8, Psalm 11:1‐7, Proverbs 19:10‐12

Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Today I talked with two different men that openly struggle with anger.  I pray that God will give them and me good sense that will slow our anger.  I also pray that I will learn how to overlook offenses that are not dishonoring to God or hurting someone.

Apply: I need to look for the offenses that God is calling me to overlook.

What relationships are the most difficult to overlook offenses in?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:37‐18:17, Romans 2:1‐24, Psalm 10:16‐18, Proverbs 19:8‐9

I Chronicles 16:37-43 So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required…  to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, to do all that is written in the Law of the Lord that he commanded Israel…  and David went home to bless his household.

Observations:

• David put people in charge of worshiping the Lord
• David left them
• David went home to bless his household

David was able to delegate something extremely important – worshiping the Lord as was required and commanded.  David left as this was going on – trusting those he placed in charge to do it well.  David went home to bless his household – being with his family was a priority.

Apply:  I need to fully trust the ones that God has placed around me to lead the camp ministry.  I need to know that God wants me to leave at different times and go home to bless my family.

Is there anything you need to trust someone else to do so that you can go home and bless your family?

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 15:1‐16:36, Romans 1:18‐32, Psalm 10:1‐15, Proverbs 19:6‐7

1 Chronicles 16:29  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

Observations:

• Context: David’s song of thanksgiving after the ark was brought to Jerusalem.  It is the first appointed song of thanksgiving.  The song is filled with passionate worship.
• Ascribe: yahab – give
• Offering – giving, is part of worship.  Part of expressing glory and honor to God
• Holiness: qodesh – set apart, consecrated or dedicated thing

Several years ago I attended a liturgical service.  After the offering was taken up, it was brought back to the front of the sanctuary in a worship procession and laid at the foot of the cross.  It was a powerful example for me of the posturing my heart needs to have when I give.

Apply:  I need to focus on worshiping God through my financial giving.  I cannot allow it to become mundane or meaningless.

Are you able to focus on worshiping God as you give?  Why or why not?