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.

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.