Week of April 29, 2019
Photo by Ben White
MONDAY
Blessing Your City
Proverbs 11:10–11 (NIV)
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
You are a follower of Jesus, which means you are righteous in God’s sight (2 Cor. 5:21). So according to Proverbs 11:10–11, when you prosper, everyone prospers. You are a benefit to your entire city.
Your city needs you. Don’t be quiet and hide, thinking you have nothing to offer the people around you. Instead, look at Jesus and listen to the still, quiet voice of the Holy Spirit in every situation. Your city needs people who are filled up with God and listen to Him.
Pray this way: Father God, thank You for Your incredible patience with me as I grow up in You. Help me to hear Your voice and see the opportunities You bring to love the people around me. I want to be a blessing to my marriage, my family, my business, and my city. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Monday be blessed!
TUESDAY
Look at God, Not the Problem
1 Kings 18:43–45
“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.
What are you struggling with today?
When faced with a problem, many of us tend to stare at it. We look at the illness, at the overdue bill, at the relationship that is falling apart—we look at the problem instead of the One who is the solution.
But in the middle of a terrible drought, Elijah looked to Heaven. He knew where the answer to his prayer would come from. And even though the cloud was small, he knew what it meant—it was time to announce that the situation had changed.
Whatever your circumstances today, look up and believe in God. Don’t look down at the problem, because the answer you need will always come from Heaven.
Pray this way: Lord, thank You for having an answer for my every need. I put my problems in Your hands and choose to believe that Your rain of blessing is already on its way. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Tuesday be blessed!
WEDNESDAY
Cast Your Cares on the Lord
2 Kings 2:19–21
The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
“Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’”
Do any areas in your life feel sterile, dried up, barren, and unproductive?
The city in 2 Kings 2 was in a good place—it should have been prospering—but the water was unhealthy and turned the land barren.
Maybe that’s how you feel today in your marriage or dating relationship. If that’s true, don’t give up.
Your heavenly Father loves you, and you are the center of His attention. It’s His will to bless you, so if you’re in trouble—if something is not working out the way you know it’s supposed to—turn your eyes to God. Give Him the situation that’s causing you pain and worry because He cares for you (Ps. 55:22).
He works miracles all the time.
Pray this way: Father God, I ask You to purify my “waters” and make this situation productive for me. Please release the abundance of Heaven in my relationship, and help me to keep my eyes on You in all things. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Wednesday be blessed!
THURSDAY
Choose to Believe
Mark 9:21–26
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
What seems impossible to you right now?
Do you want to be married, but there’s no one you’re interested in?
Are you married, but you and your spouse are fighting or maybe having trouble getting pregnant?
Is there a job you want? Or something you want to do for your community, but the walls surrounding your goal are bigger than you expected?
Just as Jesus told the father of that young boy, “Everything is possible for one who believes,” choose to respond in faith to what seems impossible to you.
What has God told you? Remember His promises and repeatedly speak them aloud, reminding yourself of the truth. Approach Jesus and trust Him to bring an answer for what has no human solution.
Pray this way: Lord, I believe everything is possible for You. Please help me overcome my unbelief in this area: ___________. May I see Your goodness quickly. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Thursday be blessed!
FRIDAY
Following God’s Voice
Leviticus 25:18–19
Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.
When insecurity, fear, and worry bombard us, the promise of God in Leviticus 25:18–19 brings peace and hope.
But the promise comes with a stipulation—we need to follow the Lord’s decrees and carefully obey His Word.
Obey the simple direction of God that comes into your life every day as you seek Him. Apply His Word in your work or business, in your home and in your town. Joyfully invite the safety and blessing of God into your life and family.
Pray this way: Father God, thank You for Your Word. You promise abundance and security to those who follow Your commandments. This very day, I choose to set aside all other voices and follow only Yours. Help me to make decisions according to Your leading. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Friday be blessed!
SATURDAY
Chasing After God
Exodus 34:1–2
The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain.”
The words of God are a blessing to His people. You and I live better lives when we hear His voice and follow it wholeheartedly.
But we aren’t perfect. We make mistakes, and sometimes we even choose to set God aside for a time so we can chase after other things.
But God invites us to come running back to Him, to throw ourselves in His arms and ask for His forgiveness. We get to have His words not on tablets of stone but on our hearts, written there with love.
No matter where you are in your relationship with Him today, you have the opportunity to step even closer to Him.
Pray this way: Lord, thank You that I get to be with You today. I know what it’s like to do my own thing—it hurts my heart, and I don’t want to do that anymore. Please forgive me and wipe me clean, and give me a heart to understand and know You, that You are the Lord. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Saturday be blessed!
SUNDAY
On-the-Job Training
1 Corinthians 1:26–28
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
The culture of the earth is very different than that of Heaven. When we’re thinking about hiring someone for a job, we want their résumé, work history, education history, references, etc.
But God does the opposite. He doesn’t ask us if we’re fit for the job He has for us—He just trains us to do it and patiently works with us until we get it right.
Put yourself in His hands. Trust His guidance and let Him teach you.
As you trust Him and follow His leading, you will be amazed at what He does in your life.
Pray this way: Father God, thank You that I am not working alone! Thank You that I get to be with You even when I’m doing small, everyday tasks. Please help me to hear Your voice more and more. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Sunday be blessed!