Don't Let Me Pull Another Balaam!

Numbers 22:32

"Why did you beat your donkey those three times?" the angel of the Lord demanded. "Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me."

Lord, is there any area in my life where I'm stubbornly resisting you? Help me to not be blinded by my own fleshly desires, but always be able to see your will for me. I could easily want something so badly that I start misinterpreting what you are saying to me, or ignoring you all together. In fact, I have done that very thing!

Years ago I needed a car to get to and from work. I had only $500 to spend. My friend took me car shopping, but of course there wasn't much available for $500. I was shown a car that looked nice on the surface. But I ignored the Holy Spirit's prompting to take it for a test drive. I was blinded by my desire for that car. I laid down my $500, signed the papers, and the deal was done.

As I drove that car home there was a smoke screen following me the whole way. It turned out that there were serious problems with the engine. I never even got to drive that car after I got it home. Eventually it had to be junked. That was a VERY tough lesson for me. If I had just listened to the Holy Spirit, then I would have saved myself from buying a complete lemon.

Lord, help me to listen closely to your promptings so that I don't pull another Balaam in my life!

Thank you for the tough lessons that still smart when I think about them!!

In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Help Me to Choose the God Who is Love Over the god of War

Numbers 22:29

"What sorrow awaits you, O people of Moab!

You are finished, O worshipers of Chemosh!

Chemosh has left his sons as refugees,

his daughters as captives of Sihon, the Amorite King."

Chemosh was a god of war. However, the God who IS love defeated him!! I read about one of his defeats in this passage. But his true defeat was when Jesus allowed himself to be nailed to that cross.

The question I must answer is, "Do I live like Chemosh has been defeated in my life??" My first response when I'm being attacked is not to love, but to get defensive. Defensiveness is a posture of war. I even rehearse battles in my mind. This does NOT bring me life and peace, but only more and more turmoil. 

Chemosh ALWAYS leaves his followers as refugees and captives! The God who is love ALWAYS leads his followers to life and peace!

Lord, when I am feeling defensive or catch myself rehearsing battles in my mind, help me through the power of the Holy Spirit to turn from my sinful nature and its evil deeds! (Romans 8:13) It may happen in the middle of a conversation. In fact, that is when I am most likely to feel attacked. When this happens, help me to pray in my mind and ask YOU to help me. Perhaps I will need you to shut the mouth of my attacker or I may need to get over my pride and seek forgiveness from both you and the person I've wronged. Either way, Lord, help me to choose the God who is love over the god of war. In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Help Me Look At You, LORD!

Numbers 21:9

So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!

This picture is borrowed from http://www.eternallifeblog.com/nehushtan/

Lord, I've never understood why a snake? Now I get the bronze part. Bronze stands for judgement. I praise you for being lifted up to save me from my sin! Now I don't have to suffer from the poison of my sin.

Help me to look to you anytime I'm feeling the effects of my sinful nature. Last night I was feeling that for sure. I did pray and I did ask what voices I was hearing. I should have actually written them down as well as what you wanted to say to me instead. I did ask you to forgive me for engaging those other voices and I did find life and peace, or at least I wasn't feeling so crabby and out of sorts.

Thank you for being the lover of my soul!! I'm so glad that you give me a way to escape when I'm feeling so icky. Please help me to be quicker to run to you when I feel like that and not make excuses for feeling that way. I love you so much! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Lack of Trust as a Root of Disobedience

Numbers 20:12

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!"

Lord, you said that Moses and Aaron's mistake was not trusting you. That lack of trust displayed itself in disobedience. When I am tempted to disobey you perhaps I need to take a look and see if there is a lack of trust in you at the root.

Lord, as much as I love you, I know there will be times when my faith is weak. If Moses had a time like that, then who am I to be exempt from that? When those times come, help me to cry out to you without holding back.

I love that you are holy, Lord! In you there is no darkness at all. I'm so glad for that! I don't think I would be able to wholeheartedly follow a God who wasn't holy like you. Thank you for proving your holiness again and again, so that when our all too human hearts question your holiness, we have a multitude of examples to quiet our questions.

I love you, Lord!! Please continue to increase my faith!! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Don't Treat the Holy Gifts as Common

Numbers 18:32

"But be careful not to treat the holy gifts of the people of Israel as though they were common. If you do, you will die."

Lord, I don't want to treat the gifts you have given me as common. Help me to use those gifts to the best of my ability to help further your kingdom.

Lord, I really want to go on that mission trip with D. But I'm not really sure that I'm wanting to go for the right reasons. If this is something you want me to do, then please help my motivation to be right. I trust that you will provide the money and everything else if you want me to go.

Thank you, Lord for that job that came in yesterday at work. Please keep bringing in the big jobs like that. Thank you for the possible answer to the problem I was dealing with yesterday. I pray that this solution will work.

Lord, I praise you for being just. You know how to give consequences yet temper them with mercy. You in no way relax your standards and yet you are still able to extend mercy and grace at the same time. I love you so much!! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Make Me Fruitful

Numbers 17:8

When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!

Lord, may I be this fruitful for you! I want my life to produce continual fruit for you, no matter the situation or season I'm in. The only way I can produce any kind of fruit is by remaining in constant fellowship with you.

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Lord, you are the one who produces the fruit. I thank you that it is not up to do that. If it were, the fruit I'd produce would be small, rotten, bug ridden, and worthless. Help me to remain in you and trust you to produce the fruit you desire in my life. In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Proverbs 7:2-3
Obey my commands and live!

Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.

Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart.
Proverbs 7:2-3

2 Corinthians 4:4

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4

Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:14-15

No Room For Prejudice

Numbers 15:15

"Native-born Israelites and foreigners are equal before the Lord and are subject to the same decrees. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation. "

There is no room for prejudice in living for God. Lord, I like to think that I am completely free from any attitudes of prejudice, but if I am honest with myself, there is still some lurking in my heart. Not toward people of other races. No, that is not an issue for me. It's toward people who are extremely liberal in their thinking. Yes, that is where my struggle is.

When I see a "coexist" bumper sticker or hear some liberal view, this prejudice raises it's ugly head in my heart. Help me to cut the head off this nasty attitude!! Help me to see these people as you see them. Not as my enemies, but as lost souls who desperately need the love of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for not allowing me to go off on that other rabbit trail I wanted to follow this morning. You wanted to show me this sin in my heart. You are answering my prayers from Psalm 19:12-14 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. I continue to pray this for myself. I love you, Lord!! In Jesus' name, amen. <3

MEMORY VERSES

Proverbs 7:2-3
Obey my commands and live!

Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.

Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart.
Proverbs 7:2-3

2 Corinthians 4:4

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4

Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:14-15