Week of July 8, 2019
Photo by Bethany Laird
MONDAY
A Good Day for Victory
1 Samuel 17:39–40 (NLT)
David put [the armor] on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
When the enemy army showed up to harass God’s people, it didn’t take an army or sophisticated weapons to stop them. Only two things were required: a stone in the hand of a shepherd boy and that boy’s trust in God.
If you’re facing a gigantic challenge today and need God’s help, maybe you should revisit the story of David. The help he needed didn’t come from conventional weapons—that is, he didn’t need the world’s help. He listened to God, stepped out of the box, and defeated his enemy.
Your trust in the Lord enhances your natural abilities. Cling to Him and the sound of His voice, and He will teach you how to defeat the dark forces standing against you.
Today’s prayer: Lord, today is the start of a brand-new week, and I choose to put my trust in You. Help me to see and hear You today as I stand in Your name. It is a good day to have a victory! In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Monday be blessed!
TUESDAY
Those Who Wait on God
Isaiah 64:3–4 (NLT)
When you came down long ago,
you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations.
And oh, how the mountains quaked!
For since the world began,
no ear has heard
and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for him!
What is your need today? Are you struggling with a persistent disease? Huge debt? A dream? A job that isn’t going the way you wanted it to? Or maybe no job at all?
Just as a farmer waits for the harvest and a mother patiently waits for her child to develop in her womb, sometimes we also have to wait to see God’s promises.
The Bible repeatedly talks about waiting on God. There are certain things we learn only when we’re waiting—when things take time. Trust in God grows deep inside our hearts as we’re waiting for Him to move.
God is extravagant in His help and His gifts. As we wait for Him, we will see Him move in ways that exceed our expectations.
Today’s prayer: Father God, I believe You when You say You’re good, and I fully expect Your Word to be fulfilled in my life. I let go of all my worries and choose to trust that Your response to me will exceed my expectations. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Tuesday be blessed!
WEDNESDAY
God Is Your Refuge
Psalm 62:8 (NIV)
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
What does it mean to take refuge in God?
Think about when those words were written. There were very few “rules” back then concerning war, invasion, and attack. Enemies could rise up and destroy you at any time. So you needed a safe place—a refuge you could hide in if and when the enemy came against you. This refuge needed to be stronger than all your enemies, so you would survive no matter what happened.
When we’re afraid, we can hide in God.
When we’re worried about something, we can take refuge in Him.
When we’re struggling, we can look to Him for help.
Don’t be afraid to put all your trust in your refuge today.
Today’s prayer: Father God, today I take Your hand in trust. Thank You for being a formidable refuge for me—the safe place where I can run. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Wednesday be blessed!
THURSDAY
Waiting on God
Joshua 14:10–12 (NIV)
Just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out… Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.
When we don’t see the results we’re hoping for, it’s easy to start feeling discouraged.
Many singles struggle with bitterness and loneliness because they don’t see the desire of their hearts coming to pass. “Why is this taking so long? Doesn’t God care? Everyone else is getting married but me.”
When faced with the “time dilemma,” all of us eventually have to ask ourselves the same questions: “Am I in this for the long haul? Will I KEEP trusting God even when the answer takes a long time in coming?”
Caleb waited forty-five years and never lost his strength—and he got what God promised him. Keep looking to God every day until your dreams come true. When your eyes are on Him, He will give you the strength you need to stand strong.
Today’s prayer: Lord, I believe You will fulfill Your promises to me. I will wait for You and watch for Your hand to move in my life. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Thursday be blessed!
FRIDAY
Battle Plan
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Are you facing a hard decision in your relationship? Or are you single and trying to deal with your future partner’s absence?
Instead of staring at the problem that’s gnawing on your heart, turn your attention to God. He will give you peace as You look to Him (Phil. 4:7). He is so very faithful to care for His kids, and your heart matters to Him—more than you think.
Here’s a good battle plan for whatever you’re facing today:
Stop worrying.
Pray about the issue.
Let God know what you need.
Thank Him for everything He’s done or will do in your life.
Today’s prayer: Lord, thank You for taking care of all my needs! I put my burdens and worries in Your faithful hands, knowing You will do exactly what needs to be done. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Friday be blessed!
SATURDAY
Thinking Rightly
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
How often do you catch yourself thinking “bad” thoughts? These are negative thoughts about yourself, your future, the people around you, your dating life, etc.
You don’t have to give these thoughts room in your head. Instead, you get to say, “I am a child of God. He loves me and has set me free forever. I am unique and special, and He has great plans for my life. I don’t have to listen to even one tiny thought that says I’m a failure.”
If you’re having an internal argument about who you are, your worth, or the special plans God has for you, don’t hesitate to take a stand. You get to demolish that argument—because it has set itself up against God and what He says about you.
Keep guard over your thoughts, and don’t allow darkness and heaviness to rule your thinking.
Today’s prayer: Lord, You have set me free from fear, shame, and sin, and I get to live a life of victory! Please help me become more aware of my thoughts, so I can say no to any thought that doesn’t tell me the truth about You and what You’ve done for me. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Saturday be blessed!
SUNDAY
God’s Big Plans—for You
Genesis 15:5 (NLT)
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
God is extravagant. He’s bigger than we think, greater than we expect, and more than we could imagine. His love is like Him—and so are His promises.
In a way, God takes each one of us outside and shows us the stars, like He did with Abram. He gives us promises that are beyond what we can understand right now. Think about how crazy-huge space is, and then compare it with God and His plans for you!
What He has promised you He is able to perform (Rom. 4:21).
Today’s prayer: Father God, thank You for the opportunity to trust You. Please teach me to look at You in faith, remembering I don’t have to rely on human limitations. I can expect You to act as God in my life—to be bigger and better, kinder and more loving, than I thought possible. In the name of Jesus, amen.
May your Sunday be blessed!
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