Psalm 27 - 3.27.23

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”

Observation

In this psalm, David writes of his faith in God. David knows that whatever troubles come his way, he has a God who will never leave or abandon him. God has showed up for David time and time again. Why would God fail David now?..He won’t.

David wasn’t immuned from having trials and tribulations in his life. Even the Son of God himself, Jesus, wasn’t immune to it. So, what makes us think that we can go through life without experiencing any? The key for David and Jesus to be able to get through those tough times was their strong faith in God. Knowing that God is Almighty, that He is Sovereign, and that He loves His children was enough for them to know that God will give them everything they would need to overcome it. All glory and honor belongs to God!

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”-2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭

Application

With God on my side, what is there to fear?

For me, it’s almost like when you were a kid and you had that best friend or big brother that all the kids at school or in the neighborhood were afraid of. It gave you the confidence to walk around that you always had someone watching your back when things got dicey.

Well, with God on my side, I have the strongest and mightiest person fighting for me. Who better to have fighting in your corner than the One who created the universe?! He is undefeated. He is in control. He is…ALMIGHTY GOD!!!💪🏽

“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.” -Psalms‬ ‭93‬:‭4‬ ‭

Prayer

Thank You Jesus for being at the right hand of God, praying for me, intervening on my behalf. Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me. Thank You for Your faithfulness. I pray that I always remember just how mighty and faithful you are and that there is nothing in my life that You cannot handle. May I run to you for refuge and strength before I turn to anything or anyone else. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi‭‭

Isaiah 31 - 3.24.23

Scripture

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
    who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
    and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
    or seek help from the Lord.

Observation

What’s the problem with turning to Egypt for help? Imagine my 12 year old son Noah needs help carrying a couch up a flight of stairs. So he walks past me as I’m sitting at the dinner table and goes to get his friend from down the street to help him. His friend, who is also 12, talks about how he’s been working out and getting strong so Noah thinks this is the best option. But when they attempt to carry the couch upstairs, there’s a good chance that if they can even begin to lift it, someone is getting injured and crushed by that couch.

Israel has been walking right past their Father to get their shrimpy friend from down the street. They may admire their friend’s strength, but it doesn’t compare to their Father who is present with them, strong, and eager to help if asked.

Isaiah has been pronouncing some ‘woes’ against God’s people, and this one follows in line with the previous woe against those who make plans without consulting the Lord. Isaiah’s continual message to the people of Judah and Jerusalem is to stop trusting in human strength and wisdom, and instead to look to God! Seek God’s counsel, rely on his wisdom, pursue his strength, and ultimately put all your trust in him for everything you need.

Unfortunately the Israelites learned the hard way that Pharaoh was a “splintered reed.” They leaned on him like a staff, but instead of providing them strength and stability, he was a reed that splintered and pierced their hand (Isaiah 36).

Application

What ways do I walk straight past God and rely on my own strength or someone else’s?

-Last night I had a headache, and just now realized that I ran straight past God (didn’t pray) to grab the ibuprofen bottle.

-Other times, if my day is busy, the temptation can be to spend less time with God that morning because, “I don’t have time,” and just try to take care of my to-do list on my own.

-Or if I’m tired, there are times I run past God to an app on my phone or to the tv, trusting in those things to refresh me… and of course they never do like time spent with God.

Today, I choose to put this truth into practice by turning to God FIRST and asking for his help with everything happening today.

Prayer

God, forgive me for the ways I’ve ran past you, trusting in splintered reeds. You are all-powerful and my ever present help in time of need. I turn to you even now and ask that you would provide me with the strength, the wisdom, and all I need for today. Amen.

-Levi Thompson

2 Corinthians - 03.23.23

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 2:14b CEV

“God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.”

OBSERVATION:

Paul had experienced a number of unexpected setbacks and disappointments—yet—Paul’s Faith remained strong. He was confident that God was in control and working EVERYTHING for Good. Paul said, “Thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us as captives in Christ’s “Triumphal Procession”.

The imagery Paul is using here is that of a “Roman Triumph” Procession—a special tribute that Rome gave their conquering generals. This would be a Parade of the Commander riding in a Golden Chariot-surrounded by his officers as they follow down a special route displaying the “Spoils of the Battle” as well as the captive enemy soldiers. The Roman priests would also be in the parade carrying burning incense to pay tribute to the Victorious army.

The aroma of the Priest’s incense was the fragrance of Life and Victory to the Triumphant Soldiers—but to the captive enemy it was the stench and odor of death.

APPLICATION:

Believers are to be the very Fragrance of Jesus Christ—

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of HIM everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a NIV)

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

Your Word says “we are to Spread the Knowledge of You Everywhere”—and this is pleasing to You—it rises like a sweet aroma. I pray You will give me more and more courage and as the author of my faith—greater faith—to open my mouth and share—even when I don’t feel at my best—even when I feel weary, weak, and unclear—may my whole Trust be in You. May I remember I have the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit. My Trust is IN You, Lord.

“Though the mountains be shaken

and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

nor my covenant of peace be removed,”

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10 NIV)

Tina L Kudelka