Proverbs 6:16-19
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
 
It is no coincidence that all these things that the Lord hates revolve around the flesh, our senses, and our desires. These are what the devil seeks to control about us. He cannot have our souls, but he seeks to destroy our testimony in any way he can at every opportunity.
 
“A proud look”
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Do we see the pride within our own heart? Do we look prideful to others?
 
“a lying tongue”
Oh be careful little mouth what you say
Are we truthful? Can we be trusted to keep our mouth shut?
 
“and hands that shed innocent blood”
Oh be careful little hands what you do
Do we slay someone who is not guilty? Do we defend our friends or deceive them?
 
“An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations”
Oh be careful little heart what you feel
Does our heart try to convince us of something other than the truth?
What is our heart devising into “the truth”?
 
“feet that be swift in running to mischief”
Oh be careful little feet where you go
What is directing our steps? The flesh? Where are we running to?
 
“A false witness that speaketh lies”
Oh be careful little mouth what you say
Do we speak when we really do not know what is truthful?
 
“and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
God more than hate this, it is an abomination unto Him. We reap what we sow. Churches and Christians have been destroyed because of the discord sown by others. May we build up those around us instead of tearing them down.
 
Remember today those things that the Lord hates, and avoid them.
God will bless our efforts when we do not allow ourselves to be controlled by our flesh and our pride.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 35-36  |  Colossians 3  |  Psalm 93

Isaiah 45:3-4
“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”
 
As God called Cyrus by name, He did so for the Jews to know that He called their earthly redeemer by name. Cyrus would lead them out of captivity as their redeemer, as a type of Jesus as our Redeemer.
 
Throughout the Scriptures we see the words that Jesus Christ spoke pinned in red. He rarely called people by their name; however, when He did there is something personal we can learn from those He did call by name.
 
Simon Peter – Matthew 16:17-18 – He can use anyone to further the Gospel.
Martha, Martha - Luke 10:41 – He sees our service to Him.
Mary – Luke 10:42 -  He wants us to choose to sit at His feet.
Zacchaeus - Luke 19:5 – He sees anyone willing to come to Him.
Lazarus - John 11:43 – He can work a miracle in anyone’s life.
Thomas - John 20:29 – He cares even for those that have doubt.
Saul, Saul (Paul’s conversion) - Acts 9:4 – He can change anyone.
 
Could you imagine Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, speaking your name?
Though your name might not be pinned within the pages of Scripture, He knows your name just as well as those He uttered. You are included in Scripture as that “whosoever” that He spoke of so often.
 
Take comfort today that He knows your name.
​
He knew who I was when He carried my cross
He knew that I would fail Him but He took the loss
And He knows my name
Every step that I take
Every move that I make
Every tear that I cry
He knows my name
When I'm overwhelmed by the pain
And can't see the light of day
I know I'll be just fine
'Cause He knows my name
Annie McRae

​
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 33-34  |  Colossians 2  |  Psalm 92

Psalm 91:9-11
“Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
 
With Christ as our Guardian we have a refuge like no other. We must take the time to dwell in His presence; for it is there that we find safety, shelter, and salvation.
 
We can find safety in the shadow of His Wings.
Psalm 91:1
“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.”
 
We can seek shelter under His Wings.
Psalm 91:4
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
 
We can obtain salvation under His wings.
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
 
The Lord will sustain us, provide for us, protect us, and deliver us, for He is our Guardian.
 
“He that by faith chooses God for his Guardian shall find all that in Him which he needs or can desire.” Matthew Henry
 
Choose to make the Lord your Guardian today.


Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 31-32  |  Colossians 1 |  Psalm 91

Matthew 26:41-42
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
 
The moment that Jesus had come to earth for was approaching. His spirit was willing to endure the horrific scourging and crucifixion that was about to take place. He knew that He was the only One Who could pay the debt for the sins of the world. His spirit was willing, but His flesh was weak. He was God in the flesh, which meant He dealt with pain and exhaustion just like we do. The strength of His flesh was tiring, it wanted to give up and give in. Instead, Jesus Christ exchanged His will for the will of His Father. The exchange of His will for the Father’s led to our salvation. Where would we be today if He had given in to His flesh’s desire to quit?
 
When we exchange our will for His, we receive strength.
Luke 22:41-43
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”
 
When we exchange our will for His, we can reach souls for Him.
Luke 5:4-6
“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.”
 
We may not understand why things are happening the way they are because His thoughts are not our thoughts.
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.”

​We can trust Him today enough to exchange our will for His.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 29-30  |  Philippians 4 |  Psalm 90

James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
 
We can only be effective in our service to the Lord and ministering to others if our attention is on the right things. So often we spend our time, or frankly waste our time, on things that do not have any eternal value. When this happens we have allowed the devil to distract us from what God would have us to do.
 
2 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
 
An adversary has a plan, and in order to defeat them we must have a plan also. We must develop a strategy for defeating distractions so that we use wisely the time God has given us.
 
Resist the devil.
When we resist him, he will go elsewhere. What is the best way to resist him? “Submit yourselves therefore to God.”
 
Be aware of his devices.
He will use people, places and things to distract us. He will even use our thoughts against us if we let him. Do not allow him to get the victory! Be strong in the Lord and fight of his distractions by keeping your heart and mind fixed on Jesus.
 
2 Corinthians 2:11
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
 
Just focus on the important things.
Do not allow the devil to distract you away from your God given purpose.
 
  
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 27-28  |  Philippians 3 |  Psalm 89

Nehemiah 2:19
“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
 
The Plea
Nehemiah 2:17
“Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.”
 
As Nehemiah shared his burden with the people, he pleaded with them to help rebuild the wall. When we share our God given vision, He will send people to help us accomplish it.
 
The Preparation
Nehemiah 2:18
“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
 
There were people who wanted to help with the purpose of the task. They did not go into it unprepared; they strengthened their hands for the work ahead. We must strengthen our hands and our hearts for the work God has given us to do.
 
The Pessimists
Nehemiah 2:19
“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
 
Nehemiah ran into opposition as word began to spread about their God given task. Sanballat and his friends laughed at and despised the workers. They even asked this sarcastic question that was filled with scorn and disdain.
 
When we set out to do something for the Lord, there will be opposition. Nehemiah and his crew did not let it stop them, and neither should we. Oftentimes, the opposition comes from those we least expect. The devil knows that the people we are closest to have the most influence over us, and if he can get them to question our God given task he most certainly will.
 
The Response
Nehemiah 2:20
“Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”
 
The first four words of Nehemiah’s answer are exactly how we should respond to our opposition…”The God of heaven”. He did not respond with I or we because he knew that the task was not about them…it was all about Him. If God gives us a task to complete for Him, nothing can stop us.
 
Acts 5:39
“But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to
fight against God.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 25-26  |  Philippians 2 |  Psalm 88

Nehemiah 2:12
“And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.”
 
The wall of Jerusalem was broken down. When Nehemiah received the news he was broken as he “sat down and wept and mourned”. His burden drove him to fast and pray to the God of Heaven. Nehemiah put action to his burden. He set out to do something about it, yet he told no other man. He brought his burden to the Lord as asked for His help. God gave him to desire to do something. A God given task.
 
Mark 9:29
“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”
 
After he sought the Lord about the matter, he had the opportunity to speak to King Artaxerxes about it. He shared his burden with the king after he knew it was of the Lord. He received the blessing of his Heavenly King and then brought it to his earthly king.
 
What has God put in your heart for you to do for Him? Maybe you do not have something specific right now, but you desire to serve…ask the Lord to direct your heart towards what He would have you to do.
 
Ask the Lord for lead you.
Psalm 40:1-2
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
 
Allow Him to guide you.
Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
 
After the command is clear…trust Him.
Psalm 37:5
“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
 
Seek counsel from both the Word of God and the people of God.
Proverbs 11:14
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 23-24  |  Philippians 1 |  Psalm 87

Jeremiah 7:23-24
“But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
 
They were warned.
Jeremiah 7:3
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.”
 
They were told to obey & walk in His ways.
“Obey my voice”
“walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you”
 
They went backward because they did not listen and disobeyed.
“But they harkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”
 
We have been warned throughout the entire Bible of how we must amend our sinful ways by repenting and believing on Jesus by faith.
Mark 1:15
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
 
We have also been commanded to obey and walk in the way of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 13:4
“Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”
 
We will also go backward if we do not listen to God by reading His Word or ask Him to help us. On our own we will always go in the opposition direction from where He would have us to be. Neglecting prayer and Bible study will cause us to go backward.
 
If we are not striving to daily spend time with the Lord we are not walking forward, we are not even standing still…we are walking backwards. Progress and growth cannot happen if we are not walking with Him.
 
Which way are you walking today?
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 21-22  |  John 21 |  Psalm 86

Acts 4:10
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
 
When asked how all these things were taking place, Peter proclaimed that it was nothing outside of the Name of Jesus Christ. He took none of the credit. He did not want the glory or honor for he knew that it did not belong to him.
 
Even today we are constantly asked how things happen. Do we take the credit? Or do we make known unto all those around us that anything that happened was because of Jesus?
 
Acts 4:7
“By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”
Peter preached to the people when he was called upon. He was ready to give an answer. He was not only ready, he was full of the Holy Ghost and allowed Him to speak through him.
 
He made known it was by the Saviour. “by the name of Jesus Christ”
 
He made known it was by His strength. “by him doth this man stand here”
 
He made known that his stature was restored. “before you whole”
 
Before this questioning and proclaiming happened, Peter and John were cast into a holding place. They were in prison. It was not comfortable. They had not planned to be there. It was inconvenient, but God had placed them there. They suffered persecution, but there was a purpose for it.
 
Acts 4:4
“Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.”
 
Many not only heard the Word, but they believed the Word. They could have quit because of the opposition, but those five thousand would not have heard or believed. God used their sufferings for His glory and the furtherance of the Gospel.
 
After the persecution they were questioned, and Peter rose to his feet and made it known that all the glory belonged to Jesus Christ. Whether it was many or any that heard the Word and believed, it was worth the maltreatment.
 
When we suffer for Christ’s sake there is a purpose for it. It is worth our discomfort and inconvenience if many or any are reached with the Gospel.
Let us make it known to those around us that it is all because of Him!
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 19-20  |  John 20 |  Psalm 85

Isaiah 26:4
“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:”
 
We can trust in the Lord to supply that perfect peace when we fix our hearts and minds upon Him. If we trust in Him, we shall not only find that peace but we shall also receive strength, everlasting strength.
 
Because of the flesh, our strength runs out quickly. His strength comes from the Rock of Ages, which Jesus said He would build His church upon and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He is the LORD JEHOVAH, which was, which is, and which is to come. He never changes, and His strength never runs out.
 
We find strength when we trust in Him.
 
Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
 
We must exchange our strength for His everlasting strength.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
 
Choose today to trust Him.
Choose today to find everlasting strength in Him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 17-18  |  John 19 |  Psalm 84