A 21 Day Spiritual Journey: Day 2

The Christ, By Thomas Eakins

What is your Jericho? What walls do you need God to knock down?

That question has been raging in my head all day. I awoke at 1 A.M. out of a sound sleep with it pounding in my brain; That is  not because I am having trouble finding a Jericho for God to knock down. Maybe a better question would be,  What’s not a Jericho?  

And there it is. As I meditated on the question in this morning’s devotion I suddenly realized I was viewing all my situations as Jerichos. I was viewing all my situations as overwhelming, not because they were but because I viewed them that way.

I need God to transform my mind in this area. The tapes that play over and over in my head are “You are too busy.” “This is too hard.” “You need to hurry up and finish!” “You can’t do this!”

Instead I should be hearing my quote of the day:

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ,  who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:12, 13

This morning in prayer I was led to pray for our national budget deficit and for our congress to be able to come to an agreement about the spending cuts and the tax hikes that are a certain part of our future. I do not look forward to these cuts or these hikes but there is no benefit in holding back the inevitable. We can never heal if we keep refusing to operate on the cancer because we’re afraid the surgery will be too painful.

I was also led to pray for Holy Ghost fire in our local pulpits and pastors.

These are the days when we will all be called to rise up not in fear but in faith.

“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” ― Mother Teresa

“God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.” ― Elbert Hubbard

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” ― Søren Kierkegaard

What has to happen for you to face your Jerichos…your life circumstances with greater boldness?

Pastor Wrinkles: Chapter Charts Pt. 138

The Lord’s timing is most definitely not our timing. The Lord’s promises come to pass most often by increments, not all of a sudden. David discovered this as he walked from the moment of his boyhood anointing to be king through 15 years of battle with Saul. Even after Saul’s death the promise of kingship over Israel was not a done deal as II Samuel 2 and 3 tell us.

Here is what I see in today’s chapters:

II Samuel chapter 2 sermon topics/titles

1.  Taking the Next Step: II Sam. 2: 1-3

2.  Never Be Discouraged By Echoes of the Past: II Sam. 2:4-11

3.  the Consequences of Refusing To Follow the Lord’s Anointed: II Sam. 2:30,31

II Samuel chapter 3 sermon topics/ titles:

1. The Reasons For Ishbosheth’s Slow Fade: II Sam. 3: 1-9

2. The Pride Of Abner: II Sam. 3: 4-30

3. God Removes the Kingmaker and Makes a King! II Sam. 3:30-37

 

Have you ever received on of God’s promises in increments like David did?

What do you see in II Samuel chapter 2 and 3?