August 1st 2012, Genesis 19-21

Genesis 19:14 “So Lot rushed out to tell his daughter’s fiancés, ‘Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is going to destroy it.’ But the young men thought that he was only joking.”’

O. The men didn’t believe Lot, they thought that he was joking and only mocking God. He had become such a part of that society that he didn’t even seem like a man of God.

A. Do people know me as a follower of Christ, or do I blend right into society? Lot had begun to blend so well into the world that when he finally decided to make a stand nobody believed him. We must be different than the environment that surrounds us.

P. I pray that I don’t blend into society, but rather stick out like a sore thumb for everyone to see because I know God. I pray that I exude your love, grace, and compassion. I pray that words won’t be needed for people to know I am your child, but rather just the way I carry myself and the actions that follow.

Genesis 19:26 “But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following along behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

O. Lot’s wife LOOKED BACK

A. We cannot look back. We must keep our heads forward towards the life and plan God has for us. Mistakes happen, life happens, but we can’t dwell on what was yesterday, for today is a new day. We can’t let life’s ruts take ahold of us and bring us down, but rather take those moments to help build us up to all that God wants us to be. Even when following God we can’t begin to look back. Lot’s wife was “following along behind” she was right behind Lot, he was guiding her and bring her out of the place that was going to destroy her, but it was because she looked back, because she strayed from following in every footstep Lot had planted in front of her, she turned to salt. God is the same way. He guides us and plants us in the right direction, but it is only when we choose to step-by-step, day by day follow him that we will end up in the right place. God’s hand is upon us, but it is our decision to walk in those steps.

July 31st 2012 Genesis 16-18

Genesis 16:8 “The angel said to Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you been and where are you going?... Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.”

O. Hagar ran away learning that she had become pregnant with Abram’s son and she was mad at Sarai.

A. 1. Hagar needed to return to the problem and face it head on. She needed to go the direct cause in order to seek comfort and peace. She needed to work on her attitude towards authority. 2. Submit to authority. No matter how justified we feel it is running away from our problems will never solve them. Face them head on and ask God to help.

P. God help me to face my fears and tribulations head on. I don’t want to beat around the bush, I want to go full speed ahead knowing that I can with the strength that comes from only you.

 Genesis 18-9-10 “Where is your wife Sarah? They asked. In the tent Abraham replied. Then one of them said, About this time next year, your wife will have a son.”

O. God was keeping his promise to Abraham even though Abraham was still in disbelief.

A. God did and still does keep his promises to us. He follows through on everything he says he will do.

P. Lord, help me to remember all of your promises over my life. And that I not only remember them, but believe in them.

July 30th 2012, Genesis 12-15

S. Genesis 12:9 “Tell you what we’ll do. Take your choice of any section of the land you want and we’ll separate.”

O. Abram and Lot’s herdsman were fighting over the land and pastures and Abram needed to find a solution. Upon Abrams request, he knew very well that he could be cheated out of the best of the land, but did it anyways.

A. Abram knew we could be cheated, and he was. He was given the lesser of the land, but because of his response to the feud, God blessed and honored him. Take the initiative in resolving conflict. Let others have the first choice and put your family’s peace before your own personal desires.

P. Lord, help me to put my own desires second and peace first. I pray for more strength in dealing with those I have difficulty dealing with. I ask for more peace and an ability to respond correctly even I am provoked to act another way.

S. Genesis 15:6 “And Abram believed in the Lord and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith.”

O. Abram knew he could trust God and because of this his actions were natural by-products.

A. It was simply Abram believing in the Lord that pleased the Lord. Even though Abram had his doubts in the situation, he knew it was basically impossible for him and his wife to bear a child, he still chose to have a faith and trust in God. A right relationship with God is based on faith- the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions will follow naturally as by-products.

P. I trust you God. I want to trust you. I choose to trust you.

July 29th 2012, Job 40-42

S. Job 40:4 “I am nothing- how could I find the answers”

O. Job had finally realized he didn’t have the answers. He kept asking and persisting on answers that God wasn’t giving him, instead of truly trusting all that God was.

A. We argue with God. We demand answers that aren’t ours to have. We say, “ How could this happen?”…or… “Why me God?!” When we do this, we stop trusting God: we stop trusting that God has a complete and wonderful plan for our lives. We cannot know everything and because we can’t sometimes we get mad. BUT we must learn to choose between anger and trust in God. Everything happens for a reason. Find the reason for the season that you are in. Again I say, we aren’t the best until we have gone through the worst depending on God.

P. Lord, help me to trust you. Help me to know when to ask questions and when to shut up and tune my ear towards you. Help me to find the reason in each and every season that is front of me. 

July 28th 2012, Job 38-39

S. Job 38-39

O. God begins talking and asking Job all sorts of questions about Earth. He asks about the animals, about nature, the weather, about everything; all of which Job had no answers to. God didn’t anticipate any answers though, just acknowledgement from Job that he doesn’t know everything.

A. I am not God. Why do I try to be God? I don’t know what God knows, so why do I seek answers I know I can’t find? God was trying to get Job to recognize that he doesn’t know it all. God was trying to get Job to submit to his power and sovereignty. Only then could Job hear what is was God was trying to say.

P. I pray to submit to God’s power. I pray to acknowledge that I don’t have all the answers and don’t know everything. I pray to have a better ear for what it is God is trying to convey to me.

July 27th 2012, Job 35-37

Job 35:13 “But it is wrong to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. And even more false to say he doesn’t see what is going on. He will bring about justice if only you wait.”

O. We often only ever cry out because of our own selfish pride. We think there is nothing we could have done to deserve the ruts in life, and we cry out to God because our last resort. That’s completely backwards.

A. God loves us deeply, deeper than we could ever imagine or even hope to imagine. He wants the absolute best for us, but we can’t be our absolute best until we have gone through the worst depending on him. We must fight what is in front of us with God. Job 36:9, “He takes the trouble and shows us the reason.”

P. Help me to not have pride in calling out to you. I pray that you are my first resort. I pray you are the first thing I cry out to in the morning. Through the worst and the best, I pray that you are the one I call to.