Scripture

“for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:16

Observation

Judah’s enemies were scared when they realized that the remnant that had returned to rebuild the wall had accomplished this great task. The enemies understood that what was accomplished was not simply accomplished with hard work and perseverance, but these were accompanied by God’s supernatural power. It was with God’s involvement that the wall was able to be rebuilt.

Application

God wants us to accomplish great things for him. When we do accomplish great things through him it should be obvious to those around us that it was through God’s power that we were able to complete the great tasks at hand. Our goal should be to make God famous as he empowers us to accomplish great exploits.

Prayer

Father, thank you that you want to use me to accomplish great things for you. I ask that you would be made known through the great tasks that you have called me and equipped me to complete. Let your name be glorified through all that I do.

Scripture

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:44-46

Observation

At this point in Jesus’ crucifixion, the veil of the temple of God was torn in two. This heavy veil separated the outer court of the temple from the holiest place in the temple that represented God’s presence with His people. No one was to enter this place except the High Priest of Israel once a year to make a sacrifice for the sins of the people. At Jesus’ death, all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, God’s sacrifice for our sin, have access to God. This was represented by the veil being torn in two.

Application

Jesus is the only way to personally access to God. He said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus provided for our access and personal relationship with God through His sacrificial death on the cross. Notice that He committed His spirit into the hands of God voluntarily, it was not taken from Him by any man. He died that we might live.

Prayer

Father God, thank You that I can have full access to You through the sacrificial death of Your Son Jesus on the cross. Thank You that He voluntarily died for me that I might have life eternally and I receive Jesus as my Savior.

Scripture

Zechariah 8:23 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”‘”

Observation

In this passage, the prophet Zechariah speaks of a day when Jewish people will know the Lord Jesus Christ as Immanuel, God With Us. Furthermore, people from all nations will be influenced by this truth.

Application

As a Christ follower today, I do not have to wait until the time prophesied by Zechariah for the world to be influenced by me through Immanuel, God With Us, because the Lord Jesus Christ is already with me through the good news of His birth, death, burial, and resurrection in my life. In fact, the gospel of Matthew states in Chapter 1:22-23, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, “God with us.”” In Christ, God is with me and His Kingdom is within me; therefore, I am given the authority and the power to influence the world around me for His glory through Jesus Christ – Immanuel – God With Us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Immanuel, God With Us! Thank You Lord for giving me the authority and the power in Christ to influence the world around me for Your glory. Strengthen me in Christ to do all things that You have called me to do in Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Scripture

Luke 11:5-8
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

Observation

In this passage Jesus gives us a scenario of 2 friends one of which is asking for food to give to a guest in the middle of the night. Jesus tells us that though the friend may not get up in the middle of the night because of their friendship, he will definitely get up because of the friends shameless audacity.

When we pray and ask God for things in our lives we must ask God with boldness. Not in an arrogant haughty fashion but with a faith that God is able and He is willing. The friend who was asking had the audacity to knock at midnight because he was just as it says, a friend. I believe that he asked with such confidence and boldness because he knew his friendship was never at risk it was just a matter of asking for help. It’s the same way with our heavenly father; God wants us to just ask. Sometimes we approach God with reluctance because we think that He has got bigger issues to deal with and that our problems are too small in comparison to someone else’s. It’s like when we allow the mom at the grocery store to cut in line because she has screaming kids and all we have is a bag of Doritos and a Coke. This is how we approach God at times. We feel like we are doing a good deed to those around us and that somehow God will like us more because we are not bothering him with our problems.

This is contrary to what the bible tells us to do. Jesus says to knock, ask, and seek. A lot of times it isn’t God’s willingness we doubt but our relationship with God that we are uncertain about. We say yes, God can do it for them but the question we have a problem with is can or will God do it for me. The answer is yes. God is able and willing. Just seek, knock, and ask because we are His children.

Application

Every day when I wake up in the morning I will think about and speak aloud the scripture about who God says that I am.

Prayer

God help me to see myself the way you see me. Give me the boldness you want me to have. Give me confidence to pray with persistence and without doubt. In Jesus name, amen.

Scripture

“Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” Luke 10:20

Observation

Jesus had sent out his disciples to do his work. When they returned to Jesus they were very excited because they had been used to powerful things in the name of Jesus. Jesus was glad that they performed miracles in his name, but he wanted to remind them about the most important thing when he said, “rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.”

Application

We must desire to be used by God to great things and make an impact on our world. However, the most important thing that we must desire is to be in a saving relationship with Jesus because that is what gives us eternal life. If we do great exploits for God, but lose our relationship with him, then we miss out on the most important thing we can have — eternal life.

Prayer

Father, thank you so much for sending your son, Jesus, to die and to be raised back to life so that I may have eternal life. Help me to constantly be reminded that eternal life in Christ is the most valuable thing that I can ever have.

Scripture

Luke 4:40
When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

Observation

Every single person who came to Jesus for help received help. Jesus healed every disease. If Jesus played baseball He would bat a thousand. If He played basketball His shooting percentage would be 100%. He never fails when people come to Him in faith, sincerely asking for help.

Application

With God we don’t just have to hope for healing and help. God is all-powerful so our faith is that when we call on Jesus for help, He will always hear us and will come through every time. No sickness or disease is stronger than the healing power of Jesus that is available to us as believers.

Prayer

Father, I thank You that You are great and never fail. I believe for 100% healing for all of my family and friends that are hurting today. Thank You for hearing all of our prayers and answering them according to our faith. Amen.

Scripture

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins
Luke 3:3

Observation

John the Baptist was a man that followed God with passion. John was not afraid to live a passionate life for what God had called him to do. He was willing to face the adversity and criticism that would be associated with living an eccentric and passionate lifestyle for God.

Application

Passion is something that is given to us by God to fulfill His calling for our life. Our passion for God grows as we pursue what God is passionate for. Like John the baptist, when I pursue God’s will for my life with passion, I will follow God anywhere He takes me.

Prayer

Lord, I pray that my heart is always passionate for what Your heart is passionate for. Forgive me for the times that I put my wants above Your heart. May my heart be submitted and sensitive to You and Your will for my life daily! In Jesus’ name, Amen.