Father, I ask for clarity and encouragement from the scripture before us. Help us to learn what You have for us today. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Fact 1: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, Meaning 1: God will spiritually refresh and fill us with Him and the food of His word while our enemies are awaiting a time that they can get to us. We do not have to fear them as we have time to sit and partake of His word and goodness. Question 1: Do I spend enough time in the word as to trust God will all my needs and the table he sets out before me? Am I focused on what God is doing and not the enemy? Fact 2: You anoint my head with oil Meaning 2: The anointing of the head was a show of caring, weary travelers would have oil and spices in it put on their head. It was a good fragrance for those who had walked a long time., especially when they could not jump in the bath or shower. Question 2: Do I show respect to others that come into my house? Do I offer up refreshments and love when others visit? Fact 3: My cup runs over. Meaning 3: Our cup runs over with blessings and joy when we are obeying and focusing on God in our lives. The more we give the more He fills within us. Question 3: Do I give enough to be given to? Am I doing the good things we are supposed to do out of love rather than out of the duty? Take Away!! I need to focus on what God wants from my life and not what I want. I need to sit down at His table and not be thinking of the enemies out there that are trying to tear me down. Father, thank You for reminding us to stay focused on You. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
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Father, I come to You today and say that I want to serve You more and live my life pleasing to You. I am so thankful that You always watch over me. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Fact 1: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Meaning 1: We all walk through the valleys in our lives. God is talking about the spiritual at this time, but it can be a comfort for physical death as well. We all go through hard times which spiritually is a valley and sometimes a shadow of death. Question 1: Do I know when I am walking through the valley? Am I aware of how God protects me from things being far worse? When I go through the valley do I stand stong in God's arms? Fact 2: I will fear no evil. Meaning 2: Again, this is talking spiritual again, but we do not have to fear anything. All that happens to us is filtered through God's fingers and He is in control when everything is out of control. But, if you are saved, then the problems on this earth mean nothing in the big scene of life. When life on earth is done, we will go to heaven. Question 2: Am I holding onto the lifeline that God gives me as I go through things? Do I know that He is in control, and we do not have to fear anything on this earth? Will I hold on and live this life knowing we have lift with God forever? Fact 3: For You are with me. Meaning 3: We know that in Spirit, God is always with us. The Holy Spirit watches over and protects us. When we are saved. And Jesus lives in us trying to influence our hearts in the right way and saving our soul. He is always there no matter what we are doing. Question 3: Am I holding on knowing that God is always with me? Do I know in my heart that no matter what I go through, "You are with me?" Fact 4: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Meaning 4: In the old times when the shepherd watches over the sheep, they used their rod and staff to lead the sheep, protect the sheep and discipline the sheep. God uses His spiritual rod or staff to do the same to us. He does what He knows it best to bring us back around to Him and life in its fullest. Question 4: Do I obey God so that I do not have to have those kinds of consequences in my life? Am I allowing Him to lead me in the way He desires each day? Take Away!! I need to be open to obey and walk with the Lord so as not to need to have punishment like a parent gives a child. Father, thank You for the word You have given us and for us to know that sometimes when that rod or staff has to grab us and pull us back into the fold. And at times it has to hurt to get our attention. You do it because You love us and do not want us to go off on a worse life than with Him. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, please be with us this morning and help us to strive to grow and change each day to be more like You. Let us love others and not judge them. To be Your hands and feet on earth. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Fact 1: He restores my soul, Meaning 1: When we are feeling like we cannot go on in life, we can call on God and He will fill your heart and soul with a peace that no one can understand. When we come to Him in good or bad, He is there to restore our lives and make them greater. Question 1: Do I go to God to have Him restore my soul? Am I walking with the Lord and allowing His work in my life? Fact 2: He leads me in the paths of righteousness Meaning 2: When we follow God, He will keep us walking in righteousness. We will not fall by the wayside when we are holding onto God. Allow God and only Him to lead us. Question 2: Do I allow God to lead me where I am supposed to go in His will for my life? Am I a follower of God? What can I do to give more of me to the Lord? Fact 3: For His name's sake. Meaning 3: Jesus loves us all and His name is the name that is above all and when He is leading us and giving us peace, we get it for His name to be proclaimed great and loving. Question 3: Do I live my life for Jesus' name's sake? Am I standing in Jesus' name to live and serve Him knowing how much He loves us? Take Away!! I need to make sure that all my life is pointing to God and that I will allow Him to walk me where He wants me to go and that I will follow Him in all things. Father, Thank You for reminding us that we are to follow God and then we will have that peace and our souls would be restored and whole to take on another day. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, I ask that You will be with us and hold onto our hearts as we learn more about Your love and care for us and the things that You do in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Psalm 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. Fact 1: He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Meaning 1: If we follow God into the life that He has for us we will be like the sheep safe in the green pastures and with God at our side. He will always lead us to the rest and peace in Him if we will just follow His leading. He provides the spiritual food in those pastures and desires to continue to care for us. Question 1: Do I follow God when He directs me? Am I taking up the rest that He gives us when things are good or not? Do I spend time in His word that is our spiritual food? Fact 2: He leads me beside the still waters. Meaning 2: We also need drink with everything, we are not led to a rough part of the river to drink by God. Sometimes we get there on our own, but when we follow Him, our spiritual water is smooth and calm and easy to drink from. His word holds us up. Question 2: Do I follow what God is telling me, so that I am being led to that peaceful water and life? Do I focus on Him in my life so that I am standing with God and not running away. Take Away!! I need to make sure I keep my spiritual life as well as my physical life going towards the desires God has for me. Father, thank You for once again keeping us together with You and reminding us that our spiritual rest and food are the most important part of life. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, I ask that You give us understanding and love through this time in our lives and help us to remember what You show us. In Jesus Name, Amen! Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Fact 1: The Lord in my shepherd. Meaning: When people raise animals that they shepherded in times past it was a lot the same as how God has taught us to follow Him, and He will discipline us to make sure we are walking in Him too. But all in all, He has love for each of us and takes care of us just like shepherds take care of their flocks. Question 1: Do I take for granted that God is always there, and forget that He knows what is best for me? Am I focusing on Him taking care of all my needs? Fact 2: I shall not want. Meaning 2: This phrase is not that we will not want for the things we see and want, but that God will be there to fill you up inside with all you need to get through life on earth when you turn to Him and follow Him. He will meet the needs and the more we follow and get close to Him the more we see the things that He wants for us too. Question 2: Do I realize that I do not get everything that I want from life, but I have the needs met as I walk with Him? Do I want the things that God wants for me and my life? Take Away!! I need to focus on the wants that God desires for me to have and thereby gives me freely when I ask. Father, thank You for a great start to Psalm 23. It is good to remember that as our shepherd You alone are in charge of our lives, and we need to hold on and do our best. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, today I come and ask for a good help to us and more knowledge than we had yesterday about how much You love us. Thank You Lord for loving a misbehaving people. In Jesus Name Amen!! The Lord the Shepherd of His People A Psalm of David. Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Just read this morning and we will start through it Monday morning. It can be soaked in today. Father,
Father, I ask today that we focus on what You did for Israel when they called out to You. Their captivity gave them a need for You. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Judges 7:16-22 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!’ ” 19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” 21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. 22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zarreah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. Meaning: Gideon followed a good plan that put 100 men in three different places around the encampment. They were given a torch with a pitcher over the flame and a trumpet. That was a weird thing to be given for a fight. But God had other plans. When the time came and the broke the pitchers and the light shown all around the camp, then the trumpets blew and the men yelled, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon". The men in the camp fought themselves and destroyed the camp without the Israelites lifting a finger to fight. God won the fight not the men. Question: Do I allow God to work in situations that confound me and allow Him to do His work? Am I pulling things back from Him and wanting to do them myself rather than wait on Him? Take Away!! I need to remember that God is in control and that He alone can solve every problem, we just need to rest in Him and pray. Father, thank You for the reminder that You are a great and powerful God who always wants to do what is best for us even when we get in the way and do the wrong things. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, we pray today that You will speak to us through the story and that we would see Your work in this remembrance of what You do for us all. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Judges 7:9-15 9 It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 11 and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. 12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. 13 And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.” 14 Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.” 15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” Meaning: God sent Gideon into the mass of the enemy to hear a dream. God was showing Gideon that he could trust God to take him through the encampment with no harm to remind him that God is with us. Question: Do I need that assurance at times that God is really there and in charge of my life? Am I willing to trust Him in all things? Take Away!! I need to trust and obey God when He is showing me where to go and what to do as He is the one in control of our lives. Father, thank You for reminding us that when You are allowed to be in control of our lives then You will do things that we cannot expect in our lives too. In Jesus Name, Amen! !
Father, I ask that You would be with us and hold onto us as we study Your word and learn more about Your ways and fight for us. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Judges 7:4-8 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise, everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. 7 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.” 8 So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. Meaning: God wanted to test the men, if they were on their knees drinking the water and not watching around them, God had Gideon send them home. Those who put their hand in the water and watched around them while they drank out of their hands were kept for the fight. They went down from 10,000 to 300 men to fight a large encampment of men. Question: Do I feel unqualified to what God is asking me to do? Do I find strength in numbers rather than strength in God? Am I strong enough to take the step that God has called me to? Take Away!! I need to remember that in my life God gives the victory and He alone fights my battles. Father, Thank You for reminding us that we need to be ever watchful for the enemy and trust in You alone and not in us. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
Father, Thank You for another blessed day in our lives, we ask that we learn much and retain what we learn from You. In Jesus Name, Amen!! Judges 7:1-3 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. 2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. Meaning: Gideon called men to go with him to fight the Midianites on the north, He took many men from Israel. But God wanted them to know that He saved them and that it was not their own fight. When Gideon told all the men who were afraid or fearful of what they were doing to go, he lost 22,000 men, and only had 10,000 left. That is a lot of guys bailing on the Lord. Question Do I bail because of fear? Am I knowing that God has already given us the victory and that we do not have to fear? Take Away!! I need to trust God to do what He says that He will do in my life. Father, thank You for reminding us that it is You who fills the purpose of our battles in life. We can defer to You and allow You to work the blessings. We need to work with You but trust You. In Jesus Name, Amen!!
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HaniniyaI am Haniniya and I am from Bethlehem, Judea, Israel and I love the Lord and walk in His Word. I want to share His Word with You each day. Past Studies!!
July 2024
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