S – 2 Chronicles 29:5 – “He said to them, ‘Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary.’”

O – The first thing King Hezekiah, a good king, did was call the nation to purify themselves and their worship.  Over a month ago, I was in a meeting with lay leaders at our church.  On man said: “The first thing the good kings did was tear down all of the idols.  If we are going to be good leaders, we need to be ready to tear down our idols.”  It has stuck with me.  Spiritual leaders clean house spiritually.

A – Lord, show me how I need to purify myself personally and our church corporately.

P – “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.”

Is there anything you know that needs to be purified in order for God to be worship in your life or in your church?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Romans 8:6 “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

O – Paul said in the previous verse: “…those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”  If we set our minds on the thing of the Spirit, live according to the Spirit, and find life and peace.”

A – I want to make a point not to think continually about or let myself focus on the stuff in this fallen world.  Instead, I want to focus my mind on the things of God.  I want to think about the gospel of Jesus Christ and what the Holy Spirit has enabled me to do.

P – Lord, transform me by the renewing of my mind.  Help me to set my mind on the Spirit.

Have you found life and peace?  Where is your mind?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalms 12:5 “The Lord replies, ‘I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.’”

A spot where I used to stop and pray at Pine Cove.

O – God sees our pain and hears our prayers. He is in the rescuing business.

A – At times I feel like God is silent in response to my prayers. I am reminded today that He hears my prayers and will rise up and rescue in His time.

P – Lord, thank you for seeing and hearing the needs I pray for.  Choose to rise up and rescue like you did for the people of Israel.

Do you believe that God hears your prayers?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Acts 26:28-29 – Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”  Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

O – Paul’s prayer was for everyone in his audience to become a Christian.

A – I must be on my knees – asking God to save!

P – Lord, bring salvation to the people I come in contact with.  Help me articulate the gospel clearly and through the Holy Spirit, make the gift of salvation real to their hearts.

Are you praying for God to save lives through you?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalm 141:3 “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.”

O – Under the inspiration of God, David prays for the Lord to take control of his mouth.

A – I want to follow David’s example.

P – Lord, “take control of what I say!”  “Guard my lips.”  I know that I am prone to speak my mind and I mess things up.  Please, be Lord of my mouth!  Say what You want to say through me.

Do you believe God can speak through you?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalm 128:3-4 “Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord ’s blessing for those who fear him.”

O – Fearing God (living reverently in response to God) will bring blessings to my wife and daughter.

A – With Father’s Day this Sunday, I have been thinking this morning about the gift God has given me in Rebecca and Anna.  I want to focus today on living with a great reverence for God.

P – Lord, increase my faith.  Through your Holy Spirit, help me root out the many areas of my life that are not living in response to You.

Men, what do you want for Father’s Day?  God wants to bless your wife and kids through your response to God.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Acts 4:11 – “For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’”

O – Jesus was rejected by men.  He now should be the cornerstone (foundation) of our lives.  The following verse continues: “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

A – It’s not about my ability.  It’s about my stability.   I want to evaluate what I am doing and make sure it is built on Christ and nothing else (self, family, finances, etc).

P – Lord, help me to build my life on Christ.

Is your life based on your ability or your stability?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

O – Pride (a haughty spirit) goes before destruction (a fall)

A – One of my four-year-old daughter’s primary fears is falling.  Last year she wore pants every day to protect her knees from falling.  The Bible tells me that pride (over confidence in or attention to my skills, possessions, position or accomplishments) leads to destruction.  I want to protect myself from falling. I need to praise God and not myself inwardly and outwardly.

P – Lord, keep me from attributing to myself the glory due to You alone.  Let me boast only in You.

Plan A for God is humility.  Plan B is humiliation.  What plan will you choose?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalm 119:143 “As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.”

O – Pressure and stress are bearing down on David.  In the midst of stress, he finds joy.  Where?  In the Word of God.

A – I need to find joy in the Word of God as I feel stress today.  Meditating on the Bible has proven to be a fountain of joy for me in stressful times.

P – Lord, thank you for Your supernatural, life giving, commands.  Through Your Spirit, help me to see above myself.

Are you stressed?  Find joy in God’s commands.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – John 13:17 – “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” – Jesus

O – “Now that you know” – head knowledge is important.  “God will bless you for doing them” – the blessing comes with application.  I have a friend who has often said, “The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in your life when you obey It.

A – I must not stop at information.  Every time I study the Bible I need to seek to apply It.

P – “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work…” Colossians 1:9-10

How can you DO what you KNOW?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.