Week 9 - Day 5

Deuteronomy 29-31; Psalm 51

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 29-31 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 51 YouVersion(NIV84)

“Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.”

God made it clear what His expectations were for the people, as well as what blessings would come if they followed them and what curses would come if they didn’t.  But ultimately it was a choice. 

Sometimes choosing to follow the Lord takes great courage.  Sometimes the task He sets before us will seem scary, uncertain, or even impossible.  But I love these words of encouragement spoken to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Week 9 - Day 4

Deuteronomy 26-28; Psalm 50

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 26-28 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 50 YouVersion(NIV84)

One might think, as the Israelites are about to finally enter the Promised Land after all this time, there would be lots of celebrating, but instead there is the feeling of doom. 

Moses knows these people, knows the temptations they will face, and knows the history of disobedience and rebellion to God.  His time as their leader is about over, and he tries desperately to get through to the people just how important it is for them to follow God ways with their whole heart. 

One might also think that after all the time God has spent preparing the Israelites that once they came into the promised land they would truly obey Him and be holy as He taught them to be.  Unfortunately, that is not exactly how it happens.

This made me wonder, why did God even go through the trouble of rescuing the people from slavery in Egypt when He knew they were going to fail?  Why did he spend 40 years teaching them His way knowing that ultimately they would not follow it?

And then God reminded me….Why did He send Jesus to die for me knowing that I would fail?  Why did Jesus suffer on the cross knowing I would not always succeed in following His way? 

Yet another lesson in God’s love and grace.   

Week 9 - Day 3

Deuteronomy 23-25; Psalm 49

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 23-25 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 49 YouVersion(NIV84)

“But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.”

“But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.”

“A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”

Our possessions don’t matter…they will not last forever.  We can’t be attached to our riches.  If I’m attached to my riches, or my “stuff;” if I care too much about material things, it can keep me from following where the Lord might lead.  It can keep me from giving to those in need. 

In Deuteronomy, as well as throughout the Bible, it is so apparent that God truly cares for the poor and weak.  Just as the people were instructed not to go over their crops twice when harvesting, but leave what was left the first time to those in need – we are not to cling to or hoard the blessings we have.  We have to be willing to let go of what we have to serve God and serve others.  Everything we have is from God anyway; it is not our own. 

All these thoughts today are much easier written down than lived out.  

Working on it….

  

Week 9 - Day 2

Deuteronomy 19-22; Psalm 48

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 19-22 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 48 YouVersion(NIV84)

“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

I know this is talking about the Israelites actually going to war, but today it got me thinking about who our enemy is today as Christians.  1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

Then I looked at the verse from Deuteronomy again in light of that… For the Lord my God is the one who goes with me to fight for me against the enemy to give me victory.

Several times in the Psalms God is described as our refuge or as our fortress. 

Refuge – Something providing shelter from pursuit, danger, or trouble

Fortress – A heavily protected and impenetrable building; a stronghold

Putting all my faith, hope, and trust in my God, my refuge, my mighty fortress! 

Week 9 - Day 1

Deuteronomy 15-18; Psalm 47

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 15-18 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 47 YouVersion(NIV84)

“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”

“Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.”

I love the presence of music throughout the Bible.  I love knowing that God is the one who came up with the very idea of music.  He gives us the ability to create it and also gives us the emotional connection with it.  I also love that He wants to hear us praise Him through music, and I especially love how His presence overwhelms me when I’m worshiping through music.     

Clap, shout, sing…for He is the King over all the earth! 

Week 8 - Day 6

Deuteronomy 11-14; Psalm 46

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 11-14 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 46 YouVersion(NIV84)

At least three times in Deuteronomy (in chapters 6, 10, and 11) we’ve seen the phrase ~to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.  Moses is reminding the people of God’s commands.  In fact, a lot is actually repeated from earlier books in the Bible.  But now there is a focus on loving God and to love and serve Him with everything. 

God wanted them to follow His ways, His rules; but more than that, He wanted their hearts.  When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment was, he answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

In Revelation 2, the message to the church in Ephesus started off by listing the things they had done well, their deeds and hard work.  But then it says this: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.”

Thinking today about what it means to really love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and strength.  Also taking time to remember my first love and what He has done for me.   

Week 8 - Day 5

Deuteronomy 7-10; Psalm 45

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 7-10 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 45 YouVersion(NIV84)

A couple things from today…

1 ~ Remember ~

Moses keeps urging the Israelites to remember all that God has done.  He knows that they will be tempted and wants them to stay faithful to God. 

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut. 8:2-3)

This was not only for the benefit of the Israelites to remember, but also still for us today.  Even Jesus quoted from this verse when Satan was tempting Him in the desert (Luke 4).

It was also vital that they remember that the good that God will bless them with was not because of their righteousness or their hands, but from God alone. 

Moses warns them, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’  But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth”  (Deut. 8:17-18 – my emphasis added).

2 ~ Prayer and Fasting Move the Heart of God ~

“Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water…” “I lay prostrate before the Lord those forty days and forty nights because the Lord had said he would destroy you.  I prayed to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, do not destroy your people…”  “…and the Lord listened to me…” 

Week 8 - Day 4

Deuteronomy 4-6; Psalm 44

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 4-6 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 44 YouVersion(NIV84)

“Watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deut. 4:9)

“I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Deut. 5:9-10)

“Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!” (Deut. 5:29)

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deut. 6:6-7)

“We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.” (Psalm 44:1)

These are the verses that stood out for me today.  I’m praying for a revolution in my own generation.  I’m praying for a revolution that we would impact not only the next generation rising up, but also those all around the world who for generations have not known the love, mercy, and truth of Jesus.  That we would truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. 

My friend Lindy has such a heart for this same thing…check out her blog here: http://101daystoarevolution.wordpress.com/

Week 8 - Day 3

Deuteronomy 1-3; Psalm 43

*Click here to read these passages:

Deuteronomy 1-3 YouVersion(NIV84)

Psalm 43 YouVersion(NIV84)

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.”

This is my prayer today.  God, I need your light and truth to guide me and bring me into your presence. 

Sometimes I get down and discouraged and don’t really even know why.  Doubts, insecurities, or frustrations at times cloud my view of God’s light and truth.  Of course when I look at the big picture, I know I have no real reason to feel down and discouraged and I have to remind myself to trust in God.  I love that this is in the Psalms too: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

“For I will yet (even still; nevertheless) praise him.” 

One of my all time favorite worship songs is Desert Song by Hillsong United.  Here are the lyrics, and if you have time, listen to it today.  Put your hope in Him and worship even if it feels like you are in the desert.

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

Week 8 - Day 2

Numbers 34-36; Psalm 42

*Click here to read these passages:

Numbers 34-36 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 42 YouVersion(NIV)

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?”

When I started this blog I named it “Thirsty” because that is how I feel about God’s Word and His presence.  Thirst is a need, but it is also a desire.  I need water to survive.  It replenishes me.  Without it, even for a little while, I can feel the physical effects of dehydration.  But I also desire it.  It is good.  There’s nothing like a glass of cold water when you are thirsty.

Taking time each day not only to read His Word, but to make myself be still and quiet, listening for what He wants to show me each day, is like water to my soul.  So that, “by day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me.”  This has honestly been a new experience for me.  Before when I’ve read the Bible, I would just read and sit it aside and go on to whatever else I needed to do.  Now each day I ask the Lord before I read to open my eyes to what He wants me to see.  Then I sit quietly and pray and listen and reflect.  There is something about writing it out too that helps me focus.

I want to encourage you to try it too.  It doesn’t have to be every day, but maybe at the end of each week, or even at the end of each book of the Bible, try writing out what God has been speaking to you or share it with someone else.  I’d love to share others’ reflections here on the blog as well.  If you ever want to share (anonymously or by name), send me your reflections at ejmushlock@gmail.com.  

Week 8 - Day 1

Numbers 30-33; Psalm 41

Numbers 30-33 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 41 YouVersion(NIV)

God has been preparing the Israelites to be His people and goes to great lengths to help them to stay pure and holy.  Before they enter into their new land that God has promised them they are to “drive out all the inhabitants…destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.” 

I’m just thinking today about how easy it is to get distracted and let other things get in the way of following God’s way for life.  How quickly we can just accept things in our culture as “the norm” even if it could be something with the potential to poison our thoughts or behavior.  God didn’t want the Israelites to be tempted or pulled toward anything but Him, so He had them get rid of anything that would. 

What can be equally dangerous in missing out on God’s plan is how easy it is to get comfortable.  This is where I’ve struggled more.  Things that aren’t necessary bad or sinful can cause me to hesitate or even say no to doing what God wants if I let them.  Once again, I have one life, I don’t want to waste it staying in my personal comfortable bubble.  I once heard someone pray the prayer, “God rescue us from all things too small.”

Week 7 - Day 6

Numbers 27-29; Psalm 40

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Numbers 27-29 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 40 YouVersion(NIV)

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

Every once in a while our church will do worship nights, which are special events devoted completely to worship.  This special event is called “Because.”  The last time we did this the whole day leading up to the worship night people got on Facebook and twitter and would put, “I worship God because….” and filled in the blank with their reasons.  It was so awesome to read through everyone’s “because.”

When I take a moment to remember the many things God has done for me, it quickly helps put everything else – any worries, fears, frustrations - into perspective.  The Psalm did that for me today.  I was reminded of all the times He has turned to me and heard my cry, how he lifted me out of darkness and gave me strength.  When I focus on what He’s done, everything else quickly fades away, and all that is left is what really matters.

Psalm 40 also challenged me today not to hide or conceal His love and truth; not to seal my lips, but to proclaim His righteousness…to share my “because.”

I believe in Him because….

I worship Him because….

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Week 7 - Day 5

Numbers 23-26; Psalm 39

*Click here to read these passages:

Numbers 23-26 YouVerson(NIV)

Psalm 39 YouVersion(NIV)

The first census was taken when the Israelites were in the Desert of Sinai.  The second census in chapter 26 was taken 40 years later and even though the number is about the same, the only ones left from the original group were Moses, Caleb, and Joshua.  (And we know Moses does not make it all the way to the promised land.)  This generation has become God’s people “who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.”  They are ready to trust and obey God. 

In Psalm 39 David writes, “Let me know how fleeting is my life….Each man’s life is but a breath.”  I have one life.  I was created by Him and for Him.  I want to spend my one life trusting Him and obeying Him.  I don’t want to imagine what I might miss out on if I choose to go my own way instead of His!

My church’s name, One Life, stems from this belief.  If you don’t have a church and want to know more, check out www.onelifechurch.org.

Week 7 - Day 4

Numbers 20-22; Psalm 38

*Click here to read these passages:

Numbers 20-22 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 38 YouVersion(NIV)

A few thoughts from each of the chapters from Numbers today:

~Chapter 20 – The chapter that pains me…the one that is kind of like when you’ve seen a movie before and know the ending, but yet you still are rooting for a different outcome.  Moses, the faithful humble servant of the Lord who has been in the very presence of God and who God has done so much through, fails at following God’s directions, and is told he will not be able to enter the promised land.  The Bible is not a fairy tale; It is true, and it is real.  Moses was a hero and a faithful man of God, but as all men are, he was flawed.  What does restore some hope though, is knowing that God wasn’t done with Moses.  Moses still saw some victories after this, and in the New Testament he shows up again when he talks with Jesus up on the mountain.

~Chapter 21 – The bronze snake.  As Jesus is teaching Nicodemus in John 3 he says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man [Jesus] must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” He is the cure from sin if we will look to Him and believe.

~Chapter 22 – Balaam.  At first I was a little confused as to why God was angry when Balaam went with the princes of Moab because God had permitted him to go.  But Balaam knew from the beginning that it was not God’s will for him to go, and God knew the intentions within Balaam’s heart and that he “loved the wages of wickedness.”  Somewhat similar with Moses and the water from the rock: God still brought forth the water, but it wasn’t the way God wanted Moses to do it.  The commentary in my Bible today (that was a little bit of a punch in the gut for me!) says that we need to distinguish between was God will permit us to do and what he tells us to do.   

Week 7 - Day 3

Numbers 16-19; Psalm 37

*Click here to read these passages:

Numbers 16-19 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 37 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 37 contains several verses that I’ve always liked, but reading it today in light of what I just read in Numbers, puts it in a new perspective.  First, there are things God wanted the Israelites (and us) to do:

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him…”

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret…”

“Turn from evil and do good…”

“Wait for the Lord and keep His way…”

Then there is also talk of how the wicked are punished just as God punished those in the desert:

“The power of the wicked will be broken…”

“The wicked will perish…they will vanish - vanish like smoke.”

“But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.”

There are so many promises for choosing to follow the Lord… inherit the land, enjoy great peace, enjoy plenty, will not fall, be protected forever…

That is what God desired for the Israelites and what He desires for us still today – good things – if we’ll just turn to Him, trust, and follow His way.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  What is really cool  - the more I delight in the Lord and draw near to Him and His word, the more the desires of my heart become the desires of His.

Week 7 - Day 2

Numbers 12-15; Psalm 36

*Click here to read these passages:

Numbers 12-15 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 36 YouVersion(NIV)

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)  *Numbers 12:3

I love this little verse in parenthesis.  We’ve been reading about Moses for a while now, and God has done some pretty amazing things through him.  This statement is almost like an afterthought….by the way, Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth. 

If you watched the video I linked to yesterday’s reading called “The Land Between,” Jeff Manion talked about putting ourselves in the characters.  (If you haven’t watched it yet, don’t forget to set aside time to!  Click here for the link.)  In chapter 12 I really hope I can be like Moses and not like Miriam and Aaron.  It seems that Miriam and Aaron have gotten a little jealous of Moses and are grumbling, saying, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?  Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” 

This is such a tempting attitude to have!  To compare ourselves to others and to have contempt toward others - especially someone else who is in a leadership position or who is doing something that, if we’re honest, we wish we were doing. 

If Moses was the most humble man on the earth, do you think that is maybe precisely why God chose him?  God needed the man who would completely forget about himself and fully trust in God.  That is the character I want to be!  

Week 7 - Day 1

Numbers 8-11; Psalm 35

*Click here to read these passages:

Numbers 8-11 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 35 YouVersion(NIV)

The journey through the desert to Canaan, the promised land, should have taken a couple weeks, but instead the Israelites end up wandering in the desert for almost 40 years.  God is telling them when to move and when to wait.  So why did He make them wait for so long?  They weren’t ready.  They didn’t trust Him. 

There was a message given at the 2010 Global Leadership Summit by Jeff Manion that I have never forgotten called “The Land Between.”  It is based on Numbers 11 and what is going on with Moses and the Israelites in the desert.  It made such an impact on me and really stuck with me.  I watched it again today, and I strongly recommend taking the time to watch it!  Even if you don’t have time right now, set aside a time later to watch it.  It is about 40 minutes, which may seem like a lot, but just watch it in place of a television show or getting on Facebook, or just stay up a little later before bed.  It is so worth it, and you will not regret it!

Click "The Land Between" to watch!

Week 6 - Day 6

Numbers 5-7; Psalm 34

Numbers 5-7 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 34 YouVersion(NIV)

I’ve mentioned before that I like to look for revelations about God’s character through scripture, and I feel like I got one of those today.  As I was reading the priestly blessing in chapter 6, it dawned on me that these were God’s own words….not something that Moses said, not a psalm of David, not lyrics written by a songwriter….but God’s words He wanted the priests to say over His people:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

A picture came to my mind of Jesus – The High Priest, as the New Testament calls Him – and I imagined Him saying these same words over one who has just decided to trust in Him as Savior. 

Then I read in the Psalm for today:

“Those who look to him are radiant” (His face shines upon you)

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry” (He is gracious)

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them”; “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (He turns His face toward you)

“He delivers them from all their troubles”; “And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (He gives you peace)

Praying this over some people I know who are crushed in spirit right now as well as anyone who might read this…praying for you to “taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Week 6 - Day 5

Numbers 1-4; Psalm 33

Numbers 1-4 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 33 YouVersion(NIV)

Numbers starts off with a census.  And by the way, any time there is a long list of names and numbers in the Bible, I totally think it is okay to skim through a little bit as long as you’re considering its significance. 

Here the Israelites have finished the work for the tabernacle and God is organizing them for the journey to Canaan, the promised land.  This is a very large number of people, an entire nation, and God is once again giving very specific and detailed instructions on what they need to do.  Each tribe has a specific placement, and the Tent of Meeting, or the tabernacle, is at the very center. 

God’s desire was to be with His people and for them to put Him in the center of everything. 

Week 6 - Day 4

Leviticus 25-27; Psalm 32

*Click here to read these passages:

Leviticus 25-27 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 32 YouVersion(NIV)

Well, we’ve made it to the end of Leviticus, the lawbook.  My reflections here on the blog are basically what I’m hearing from the Lord as I read the Bible; it is not an in-depth study of the Bible.  If you really study this book you’ll find a lot of it is symbolic and prophetic.  Our life group went through Chuck Missler’s book “Learn the Bible in 24 Hours,” which is really interesting if you ever want to dive in to some deeper stuff!

Looking back at the book of Leviticus, I think my main take away from reading all the detailed regulations and guidelines is that God wanted the Israelites to rebuild their lives around Him and His ways.  He wanted them to be different from the world – to be holy as He is holy. 

Even though we don’t have to live by the law in Leviticus because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, doesn’t God still want us to be holy as He is holy?  To be set apart from the world?  To build our lives around Him and trust His ways?  And are we failing at that?

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.....the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.”  

Week 6 - Day 3

Leviticus 21-24; Psalm 31

*Click here to read these passages:

Leviticus 21-24 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 31 YouVersion(NIV)

Reading in chapter 22 today about the unacceptable sacrifices reminded me that God wants our best, and for something to be a sacrifice or a gift, it has to cost something.  God wants us to give our whole heart and our whole life to Him…not just our Sunday morning, not just a few minutes of our time, not just a few dollars from our pocket, not just half-hearted attempts at following Him…He wants the best.

And He is worthy of the best!  Everything is His anyway!  This reminds me of another part of the Bible where King David is getting ready to make a sacrifice to God and a man named Araunah tries to give him everything he needs for the sacrifice for free.  David replies, “No, I insist on paying you for it.  I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24) 

And then there’s the story from the New Testament where the woman brings an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume (worth a year’s wages) and pours it on Jesus’ feet.  People around her began rebuking her for doing this, but Jesus said, “Leave her alone.  Why are you bothering her?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.”  “She did what she could.”  “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14)