Day 18

Hello everyone, I'm sorry that I've been so far behind but I've had a lot going on and then I couldn't find my Bible. But in that time when I was so worried about finding it and doing these blogs in a hurry, I feel that God told me it's ok and He would rather me do them late than not at all or in a rush where I may miss the entire message that He wants to bring across to you all. I still apologize for the delay but hopefully I'll be able to get back on track.

The verses for January 18th are: Genesis 32:1-33:20; Psalm 10:13-18; Proverbs 3:1-2; Matthew 12:9-37

In the Genesis verses discusses Jacob wrestling with a man all night. I had always heard the story of him wrestling with an angel but this bible says a man. Anyway I never understood the significance of this story until now. Can you imagine wrestling with someone until all night until the sun comes up? I would imagine that you would be very tired and probably extremely sore. Plus Jacob was all alone with no one to help him either but he continued to wrestle with him. Now the most significant part of this story comes in Genesis 32: 27 when the man asks Jacob what his name is and he tells them. Now for me I thought nothing of this because considering they were wrestling all night asking their name seems like nothing out of the ordinary, but it is.

You know how throughout the bible people's names are changed (i.e.-Abram to Abraham) and there is usually some significant meaning behind the name change. When stating your name in biblical times (and even now) it has a significant meaning to it and imagine that your name was less that wonderful and you had to reveal that to a complete stranger....how would that make you feel?

When I read this I felt that at times we 'wrestle' with God, fighting Him with all our might in hopes that He will see us the way we feel we ought to be perceived when it should be the other way around. We should be trying to see what God wants us to be instead. Remember how tiring I said wrestling could be, it's just like when we try to get God to see things our way and then get frustrated or upset when it doesn't work out the way we want it too. Or maybe your way of 'wrestling' is that you go through life striving for a perfection that you'll never reach, pretending to be someone you're not in order to live up to this specific ideal that you were never meant for.

All of this can become very exhausting both mentally and physically but my real question is why do we feel we have to 'wrestle' with God? One regardless of how we think our lives should go His will is going to be done anyway and two, He knows exactly who we are so what's the point in pretending? He knows we'll never be perfect and He doesn't expect us to be so why do we try to hide our flaws from Him? He made us and He knows us inside and out and top to bottom. So just tell him your name.

And I mean really telling Him, for example my name would most likely be "impatience." As much as I try to pretend that waiting for certain things don't bother me, they do to no end! I am one of those "instant satisfaction" people as someone very close to me always says. I don't want to wait for it I want it right then and there. I've even questioned God as to why I have to wait when it seems like no one else has to. Can you just imagine that, me demanding anything from the Lord and two being all up in someone else's blessing that God has for them when it has nothing to do with me...yes I'm ashamed but like I said no need to hide it when God knows exactly who I am...we have some real talks :)

But do you understand? When Jacob told the man his name, he was in a vulnerable position after wrestling him, which could potentially seem like less than flattering behavior. But then the man gave Jacob an even better name (Genesis 32:28). This made me think of no matter how bad we may feel or how much we have tried to make God see things our way, or even when we flat out mess up to the point where we feel we can't get over it, He will still mold us and change us into the best that we can be. We just have to be willing to reveal our true selves to God and be honest and understand that we cannot do anything without Him.

Prayer

God, help me to tell You my name-my real name. Help me dodge no longer, the game is up. Take out of me the spirit of demandingness. Change my name and my character. Save me from myself. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Further Study

1 John 1:1-9; Ezra 10:11; 2 Samuel 12:13

What are we to do with our sin?

How did Nathan respond to David?

Thank you all so much for sticking with me during this journey, it is definitely an interesting one, but again I want to thank each and everyone of you and I pray that you all stay blessed :)

Day 17

Hello hello, good people. Hope you all are having a blessed day :)

Today's verses come from Genesis 31:1-55; Psalm 10:7-12; Proverbs 2:20-22; Matthew 11:20-12:8

As I've said before I sometimes find it hard to believe that God loves me just for me. There are plenty of times when I feel unworthy of His love because there are a lot of times that I'm so undeserving of it, but then again I guess that's the point isn't it? Jesus said "come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28) Maybe it's just me but it sometimes feels strange to take all your problems to someone because I feel like I'm burdening them. But when I say this I am thinking pf it from a human standpoint, meaning that I feel like I would be bothering God if I take all my problems to Him, especially when I feel like I don't deserve to do so. However, God is so much more than a mere human and I shouldn't even try to compare Him to our human standards.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though we stumble or feel at our lowest God is still there to take on how we feel even when we feel unworthy of His covering but He loves us and only wants us to have the best even when it seems like everything is against us.

Prayer

O Father, help me come to the quiet time expectancy-expectancy that here my weakness shall become strength, my doubt become my faith, my fears become courage, and my sin become redemption. I ask this for Your own dear name's sake. Amen.

Further Study

Jeremiah 15:1-16; Deuteronomy 8:3; Job 23: 12; Psalm 119: 103

What was Jeremiah's experience?
What did the children of Israel have to learn?

I truly enjoyed this prayer because I often have a lot of weakness, doubts and fear and I forget that God can transform my weaknesses and turn them into something so much greater and better than I could even imagine. Thank you Lord for all you do for me

I hope you all stay bless and safe :)

Day 16

Happy Sunday everybody!

Today's verses are from Genesis 29: 13-30:43; Psalm 10:1-6; Proverbs 2: 16-19; Matthew 11:1-19

On the suggestion of a friend I decided this time I would ask some questions for the verses. Enjoy :)

1. How do you feel about Laban tricking Jacob into working 14 years for Rachel?

2. How do you feel about Leah and Rachel giving their slaves to Jacob to conceive their children?

3. What do you feel about those who are wicked?

Prayer

My Father and my God, I have gathered some wisdom on my journey through life, but now I pray for the kind of wisdom that is greater and sharper than all earthly wisdom-Your wisdom. Make me a wise person, my Father. In Jesus' name. Amen

Further Study

Proverbs 2:1-3:35

What are we not to let out of our sight?

What do the wise inherit?

I hope you all had a great day. What questions do you all have for the verses? Be blessed everyone :)

Day 15

Hello everyone!

For today's verses are Genesis 27: 30-29:12; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 2:11-15; Matthew 10:21-42.

Prayer

O Father, I am so grateful that You have recorded in Scripture so many illustrations of the truths You want me to know. I see so much of myself in Jacob. Help me from this day forward to be less and less like him in this. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Further Study

Luke 15:11-32; Matthew 20: 1-16

How did the prodigal's brother display demandingness?

How did Jesus illustrate it?

So as you can see today's lesson was just the verses and a video. Well that's for a few reasons. Mainly because I wait so late to do these and I do apologize for that because it isn't fair to you all who are following this because it puts you behind as well. So my intention is to start doing these at a decent hour so you all can keep up with it and so I can fully get my thoughts out and not rush like at times like this. Also because when I did read the verse this song came to mind and I felt that it just went with it...what do you all think? But again I apologize greatly and will definitely do better from now on because God's word should work on His time and not mine and I want to be bless by it as much as I pray that you all are blessed by this as well.

Ok everyone I hope you all had a blessed day and have a blessed Sunday as well.

Day 14

Hello wonderful people. I hope you all have enjoyed your Friday.

The word of the Lord today comes from Genesis 26:12-27:29; Psalm 9:7-12; Proverbs 2:9-10; Matthew 10:1-20.

Do you ever get tired of looking at the news or opening up a newspaper just to see that something tragic has happened? I know for me it can get down right depressing to see some of the tragedies that take place in this world. As sad as it may seem God prepares us for times like this with his word. He knew the sin that would take over and in His word He makes sure that we are well equip for the trials ahead.

In the verses in Matthew, Jesus prepares His 12 disciples for going out into the world and warns them that even though they may come across those who won't listen to them, they shouldn't worry because "but when they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you" (Matthew 10: 19-20).

I found this to be a great comfort because there are plenty of times I am faced with a difficult situation and I don't know how I will address it and somehow God helps me get the right words across to those so they may hear what I have to say. I'm so glad that God stays with us in these trying times and it wonderful to know that where we lack He will do the rest.

Prayer

O God, I am so grateful that I am not an orphan in this universe. I have a homeland, the kingdom of God. And because nothing can hinder the establishing of that kingdom, I have a peace that nothing can disturb. I am so grateful. Amen.

Further Study

Psalm 24:1-10; 2 Chronicles 20:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 19:6

What picture does the psalmist give us?

What is his exhortation?

I pray that you all have a very safe and fun weekend. Be blessed everyone :)

Day 13

God is good isn't He everyone? Hope your days have been blessed and full of favor. Just waking up this morning showed me that mine is :)

The verses for January 13th are: Genesis 24:55-26:11; Psalm 9:1-6; Proverbs 2:6-8; Matthew 9: 18-38.

From what I gathered from these verses, it is all about praising God. In the Genesis verses it showed the blessings that God had granted to Abraham's family even after he had passed away. Psalm and Proverbs verses tell about how God blesses those who follow Him by protecting them that follow Him and Matthew showed how Jesus healed so many that they couldn't help but share how He had blessed them and just had to praise Him.

Now I know for me it's a lot easier to praise Him when things are going well for me but as soon as things get tough I tend to pray a little bit more in hopes that He will bring me through. How messed up is that? It's like having a friend call you only when they need something. I know how annoying that is when someone does that to me and I really don't want to treat God that way either.

Praise Him when things are at their very worst. Why? Well I know how easy it is to throw yourself a pity party and get so down because things just don't seem to be going your way, but you can't forget the things that God is doing for you. Such as waking you up in the morning, being able to see, walk, hear, sit or stand, things that you may take for granted. Even in the midst of hard times God continues to bless us even when we hardly notice it. It could be something as simple as giving us someone to talk to who will listen to what we are going through or anything like that that we may not even recognize. Just be sure to praise Him just because He is God through it all, plus it'll really make the enemy mad :) And despite our circumstances, our belief that God will bring us through and our faith in God guarantees us a place in Heaven so the things of this world look a bit trivial compared to a lifetime in Heaven. So be sure to give God the glory and honor.

Prayer

Father, I am utterly amazed when I realize You have not only taken me out of Satan's kingdom, but You are using my prayer, when in is in line with Your pattern, to demolish his kingdom and re-establish Yours. Help me participate with all my might. Amen.

Further Study

Ephesians 1:17-2:7 and 6:1; 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 11:3

What is Christ's position?

What is our position?

Have a blessed and wonderful day everyone :)

Both the prayer and further study have come from the Everyday with Jesus Bible: A One-Year Reading Bible by Holman Bible Publishers with Devotions by Selwyn Hughes)

Day 12

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your middle point to the week.

Today's verses are Genesis 24:1-54; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:1-5; Matthew 8:28-9:17

Truthfully, I have little to say about these verses so instead of giving you all this long interpretation of what I thought (mostly because I really don't have one today) I'd much rather hear your interpretations of the verses. But I would like to leave you all with a few questions that I'm curious about: Why do you think it's so hard to forgive someone? When we ask for forgiveness and get it, why is it so hard for us to forgive ourselves?

Since the some of the verses pertained to forgiveness, I figured I would ask these questions because over the past few months I have struggled with forgiving myself for some of the things that I have done to those I cared about most and it has kind of gotten to the point where it eats me up inside because I feel so guilty about how I treated them, especially since I know I can't go back and change any of it. However, I am learning to let that stuff go and even though I do still bad about it, I'm so glad God can forgive me.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, not only have You forgiven me, but You keep on forgiving me. Help me realize, however, that though Your forgiveness is free, it is not cheap. For You had to die in order to bring me forgiveness. Help me never forget that. Amen.

Further Study

Matthew 26:17-30; Acts 2:38 & 13:38; Hebrew 9:22

Why is forgiveness available?

Seek forgiveness for your sin today.

Stay warm and blessed everyone :)

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(Both the prayer and further study have come from the Everyday with Jesus Bible: A One-Year Reading Bible by Holman Bible Publishers with Devotions by Selwyn Hughes)