S – John 12:42-43 “Many people did believe in Him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”

“Well done, good and faithful servant…”

O – Many people were not open about their faith in Christ.  Why?  “They loved human praise more than the praise of God.”  “They wouldn’t admit it for fear.”

A – I must be bold about what I believe.  I cannot let human praise be what drives me.

P – Lord, give me a deep love for Your praise that surpasses my love for human praise.  Give me boldness to move forward without fear of human response.

Who are you trying to impress?  Whose praise do you seek?

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 – 1 Samuel 23:16 – “Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.”

O – Jonathan went looking for David.  Jonathan encouraged David to “stay strong in his faith in God.”

A – I have a life-long true friend.  I want to “find him” today and “encourage him to stay strong in his faith in God.”  I also want to be intentional about pursuing more true friendships.

P – Lord, help me to be the kind of friend who pursues and encourages other men to stay strong in their faith.

Who do you need to find and encourage today?  Be a true friend.

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 8:31 “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings.

O – The test of discipleship is obedience.  He goes on to say.  “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

A – I want to walk in the freedom of obedience.  Specifically, I want to look for opportunities to apply God’s Word / Truth / Teaching.

P – Lord, thank you for your grace and forgiveness.  Through the power of the Spirit you have given, I have the opportunity to remain faithful to your teaching.  I want to be a true disciple.

Are you truly a disciple?  Obey.

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 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” – Jesus

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

O – Some people search the Bible because they think It will give them eternal life.  The point of the Bible is Jesus.

A – I don’t want to search the Scripture and miss Jesus.  Today, as I get to spend some time in Bible study, I want to look for Jesus.

P – Lord, help me to find the real point of the Scripture.  Make Jesus alive on every page.

Bible study cannot be fulfilling apart from Jesus.  He is what the Scriptures point to.

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 14:26-27 – “Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children. Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.”

I Stand In Awe of You

O – Those who fear the Lord:

1. Are secure
2. Are a refuge for their children
3. Are in a life-giving fountain
4. Are escaping the snares of death

A – I want to live today in the fear (reverence and awe) of God.

P – Lord, You are Holy!  Increase my fear of You.

Are you secure? 

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 2:16 – “And He (Jesus) told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.'”

My Father’s House…

O – Jesus commands those who sold the pigeons to not make His Father’s house a house of “trade” or “money-changing” (v. 15). We know from Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17 and Luke 19:46, that Jesus also quoted Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples,” when driving out money-changers from the temple.

A – Today is the National Day of prayer.  I will spend most of my time in a church at the Catalyst Conference.  I want to use my time to pray for all nations.

P – Lord, I pray for all nations.  Bring salvation.  Restore the hearts of Your people to You.  Push the church around the world to take away trade and bring in prayer.

On the national day of prayer, will you stop to pray for all nations right now?

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 90:14 “Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”

O – David is praying for a spiritual filling from God every morning.  The result will be joyful praise that will last a lifetime.  Piper writes: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

A – I want to make sure I am connecting with God in a real way each morning.  Today, I want to focus on letting the unfailing love He has shown me come out in joyful songs.

P – Lord, satisfy us (me, my family, those in my community) each morning with Your unfailing love.

Have you experienced soul satisfaction today?  Find a time to be exposed to God’s unfailing love.

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 89:7 – “The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.”

Flying into the Rocky Mountains of Idaho to raft the Snake river.

O – Even the angels are in “awe of God!”  He is “far more awesome” than everything else in HEAVEN.  A few verses prior (v.5) we read: “All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.”  In our Joshua reading (22:16) we read: “How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?”

A – Worship is my response to God for Who He is and what He has done.  I want to look for his glory today and respond with praise.

P – Lord, show me your glory!

Are you in awe of God?  If not, you are not seeing Who He is.

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 – Joshua 14:12 – Caleb speaking: “So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”

O – 45 years after spying out the land, Caleb’s heart is still courageous.  Notice where his courage comes from: 1. “the Lord promised me.”  2. “if the Lord is with me, I will drive them (The descendants of Anak – great warriors) out… just as the Lord said.”  Courage is a function of faith.

A – I want to take the land that God has promised me today with great courage.  If God has promised and He is with me, I cannot fail.

P – Lord, increase my faith.  I want to be a man of courage like Caleb.

How can you live like Caleb today?

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 84:2 “I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.”

Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. – Romans 1:20

O – David is longing to be with God.  He is declaring that he will shout joyfully to the living God with his whole being – body and soul.  God has been teaching me about worship over the last three weeks.  Real worship happens from the inside out.

A – Today, I will (claiming the truth that David did) shout joyfully to the living God with my body and soul.  I will focus on Him (soul) and speak of Him (body).

P – Lord, I long to worship You.  As I spend time with You, help me to respond to You with worship from the inside out.

How can you worship God with your whole being right now?

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.