Psalm 138:7
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”
 
While we hide ourselves in Him, the Lord does so much more than just protect us from harm.
 
He revives.
He sustains.
He restores.
He encourages.
He fights.
He gives.
He heals.
He preserves.
He strengthens.
He cares.
He comforts.
He delivers.
 
David, a man after God’s own heart, expected to walk through his troubles because he knew the Lord was by his side. 
 
We know that we will face days of persecution, turmoil, regret, and dismay.
It is not a matter of if, but rather when those days will happen. 
 
Though we cannot prevent or avoid these days, we can choose how we endure them.
 
James 1:2-3
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
 
Job 13:15
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
 
Nahum 1:7
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
 
David repeated chose to encourage himself in the Lord in the midst of his trouble.
 
1 Samuel 30:6
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
 
Encourage yourself through His Word today. 
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 41-42   |    Proverbs 14

Psalm 27:5
“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”
 
When trouble arises, our flesh responds in one of two ways. 
Fight or flight.
 
This is a psychological reaction, an acute stress response, that prepares us to either stay and deal with the situation or run and hide.
 
What we often fail to realize is that we choose from the same two responses on how we deal with things spiritually. 
 
Do we attempt to fight the battle on our own?
Or run and hide?
 
The difference is the psychological and the spiritual “run and hide” have two very different meanings. 
 
One is avoidance.
The other is dependence.
 
Do we run and hide to avoid the situation? 
Or do we run and hide “in the secret of his tabernacle”?
 
One is fleshly. 
The other is wise. 
 
Psalm 119:114
“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”
 
Choose to run and hide in Him today.
Seek safety in His pavilion.
 
Proverbs 18:10
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
 
There you will find a Rock.
“…he shall set me up upon a rock.”
 
That Rock is Jesus.
 
Psalm 61:2
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
 
In the time of trouble, run and hide in Him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 39-40   |    Proverbs 13

Psalm 91:3-4
“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
 
The secret place is where we find things that cannot be found anywhere else.
When we spend time alone with the Lord, we find He is just what we need.
 
Abiding under His shadow causes our perspective to change.
Psalm 91:1-2
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
 
Acknowledging Who He is encourages us to trust in Him instead of depending on our own abilities.
 
He is Able to deliver us from any situation.
No matter how bleak.
No matter how chaotic.
No matter how confusing.
No matter how discouraging.
No matter.
 
Run under His wings today.
His wings can cover you with comfort and peace.
 
We have no need to fear when we are under His wings.
 
Psalm 91:5-6
“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”
 
Sometimes He stirs up our nest so that we are reminded of the shelter and safety that is found under His wings.
 
As our Buckler, He literally surrounds us with His presence as the Truth of His Word supplies the Answer to every problem.
 
Whatever your need today, you can find it under His wings.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 37-38   |    Proverbs 12

2 Kings 4:5
“So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.”
 
There can be many reasons to shut the door behind you once you have entered into a particular place.
 
Safety. Privacy. Security. 
To rest. To hide. To avoid. To focus.
 
Shutting the door places a barrier between the inside and the outside. 
It also creates a boundary that must be crossed to enter or exit.
 
In the Scriptures, we see several instances where a door is shut.
 
God shut Noah and his family inside the ark. 
 
Elisha instructed a widow to shut the door and pour out her oil into borrowed empty vessels.
 
Elisha later shut the door of the Shunammite’s house to pray unto the Lord.
 
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preached to the multitudes that when they should shut the door before they prayed to the Father.
 
Matthew 6:6
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
 
There is one thing in common with these examples of shutting the door. 
His presence.
 
When was the last time you shut the door so that you could spend time with only Him?
 
The secret to being with Him in secret is that many things can only be found when we shut the door to everything else around us, and focus solely on Him.
 
Psalm 91:1
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
 
Intentionally shut the door and abide with Him in secret today, and every day.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 35-36   |    Proverbs 11

1 Samuel 12:23
“Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”
 
When Samuel was reminded that the Lord will not forsake His people, it reminded him of his responsibility to others.
 
“Moreover as for me…”
 
He knew he was to teach the people “the good and the right way”, yet he calls neglecting to pray for the people a sin against the Lord. He took his responsibility that seriously to intercede for the people.
 
None of us are a prophet like Samuel was, yet we all still have a responsibility to carry out the purpose God intends for the life that He has given us. From the very breath in our lungs to every single thing we have or possess, it is because of Him. 
 
Should we not also evaluate and remind ourselves from time to time what we should be doing?
 
“Moreover as for me…”
 
Pray for others.
“God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you”
 
When was the last time you purposefully prayed for the needs of others? Maybe there is not a specific problem or situation, but have you ever intentionally prayed for the day to day aspects of those you claim to love and care about? 
 
Take a day or a week and pray specifically for someone else. 
Pray for their marriage. Pray for their children. Pray for their ministry. Pray for their health. Pray for their needs. Pray for their job. Pray for them to reach souls. Pray for them to have a child. Pray for them to be a blessing to someone. Pray for them to receive a blessing. Pray for them to be encouraged. Pray for them to have courage. Pray for them to have wisdom. Pray for them to ___________________.
 
Whatever the situation…pray for them.
As you pray, watch and see how God answers. 
 
When you see Him at work, it will encourage you to continue to pray for others.
 
Jesus Christ prayed for others much more than He prayed for Himself. 
 
John 17:9
“I pray for them…”
 
May we follow His example and pray for others today, and every day.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 33-34   |    Proverbs 10

Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
 
Eyes do not speak so that we can hear.
An eye does not point like a finger to tell us which way to go.
 
Yet…
“I will guide thee with mine eye.”
 
How can we be guided by His eye if we are not looking at Him?
 
Hebrews 12:2
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
 
While we may feel we know which way to go or what is the best solution to our problem, if we only consult ourselves, we are doomed to fail.
 
Remember what happened when Peter took his eyes off Jesus as he was walking on the water? He began to sink.
 
The same thing happens to us when we take our eyes off of Him.
 
Proverbs 16:9
“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
 
Our eyes must be upon the eye of the Word of God.
 
Where are you looking today?
Why make a move without His direction?
Why take a step of faith without Him guiding the way?
 
True direction only comes when we are completely yielded to Him.
 
Proverbs 3:6
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 31-32   |    Proverbs 9

Isaiah 30:18
“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”
 
Have you ever rushed around trying to get wherever you were scheduled to be and found people waiting for you? Maybe they waited patiently, maybe they need to extend more grace. Regardless, they were expecting you.
 
Oftentimes when we are late for something the reasons turn into excuses and sometimes, we even shift the blame to someone else in order to subtly plead for the mercy of the one who had to wait on us.
 
Read today’s verse again. 
 
Has the Lord ever waited on you?
Convicting thought when we realize just how much at applies to our lives.
 
He waits to extend His grace upon us.
He waits to be exalted so that He can show us mercy. 
 
Through His grace and mercy, He waits for us to wait for Him.
 
Psalm 86:15
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”
 
Through His longsuffering, He patiently waits for us…
to believe on Him.
to confess to Him.
to call upon Him.
to hear Him.
to trust Him.
to choose Him.
to follow Him.
to serve Him.
to praise Him.
 
Instead of making excuses, seek His forgiveness.
Rather than running in the opposite direction, fall at His feet.
Is He waiting on you today?
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 29-30   |    Proverbs 8

Isaiah 40:31
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
 
Some pay their bill the day it arrives, others wait until the day its due.
To some, 10 o’clock is past their bedtime, others see a few more productive hours.
Some plan months in advance, while others wait until the last minute. 
Some need to schedule out their strategy, others work best under pressure.
 
Regardless of whether or not you consider yourself a procrastinator, there is one matter that is always pays to procrastinate…
 
Psalm 27:14
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
 
No one likes to wait. 
We want things now. 
 
Our timing is rarely, if ever, His.
 
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
 
Until He leads…
Until He directs…
Until He guides…
Until He provides…
Until you have peace…
Wait on Him.
 
Lamentations 3:25-26
“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
 
The best form of procrastination is always waiting on Him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 27-28   |    Proverbs 7

Isaiah 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
 
Everybody desires peace. 
God promises “perfect peace” to those “whose mind is stayed” on Him.
 
There is no perfect peace to be found, outside of the Lord.
 
This perfect peace is only found when rest completely in Him. 
When we acknowledge that we are sustained and supported only by Him.
When we admit there is nothing we can do on our own and become entirely dependent upon Him.
 
When we fully trust in Him alone that is when perfect peace can be found.
 
Although storms may rage...
Mark 4:39
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
 
Although enemies may try to break through a garrison...
Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
 
Although we are fearful…
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
 
Regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, we can choose to determine to trust in Him. Each trial is another opportunity to display our faith in Him.
 
Perfect peace only comes when we trust in Him at all times.
 
Isaiah 26:4
“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:”
 
When we trust in Him, He gives us strength to continue to trust Him…everlasting strength.
 
Psalm 62:8
“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
 
Determine today to keep your mind stayed upon Him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 25-26   |    Proverbs 6

2 Corinthians 5:14
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”
 
From time to time it is good to stop and reflect on what motivates us.
What motives, if any, do we have?
Why do we do what we do?
 
The Apostle Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth, writes of the urgency that he felt because of the love of Christ.
 
He was motivated by His love.
 
When we evaluate ourselves with the questions above, is the love of Christ considered?
 
His love for us.
2 Corinthians 5:15
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
 
Our love for Him.
1 John 4:19
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
 
If we are not motivated by both directions of the love of Christ, there is something or someone that has taken His place.
 
Romans 8:35
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
 
Are you motivated to serve Him?
Tell someone about what He has done for you.
Encourage a friend you know is struggling by pointing them to Him.
 
Remind yourself and those around you of the love of Christ today.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 23-24   |    Proverbs 5