2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Explanation:

Peter is speaking to his audience to remind them of the promise of Jesus’s return. Some dissenters had come into the church, and tried to convince them that Jesus was not coming back because He had waited so long. Peter encourages them to hold tight to the promise and be prepared, because the Lord’s timing is not like ours. Part of Peter’s reasoning is that the “slowness” of the Lord had allowed many of them to come to repentance and find life in Him. Peter calls his audience to patiently await the return of the Lord, to endure the trials and trust the promise.

Patience is difficult to embody, yet it is one of the most important principles of discipleship. Practicing patience is an acknowledgment of God’s hand in history and His role in your life. It takes a lot of trust to endure hardship and wait for a promised reward. This is why gyms fill up in January and empty by February. But God calls us to trust that He is present, He has a plan, and He will come through on His promises. When we are patient, we are saying that God is in control and He can be trusted.

Application:

1. What is one thing that stood out to you in today’s passage?

2. Can you identify something you are waiting on right now?

3. How have you felt in the waiting process?

4. Is there something you can do to make waiting easier?

5. Has God given you any promises in the waiting process?

6. What can you do to hold onto those promises while you wait?

Devo Plus:

For additional reading about patience in the process, read Genesis 15, 17, 18:1-15, and 21:1-7.

Prayer:

Jesus, we need Your help to be patient. When we must wait, it feels out of our control, and we don’t generally handle that well. Help us to trust You and remember that You are in control of our lives. We can trust Your timing with our desires, our lives, and what You are doing in and through us. We love You. Amen.

Hebrews 12:10-11 (ESV)

For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Explanation:

As a parent, I know that I get a short window of time to train and teach my child. One of the unique challenges this involves is discipline. Disciplining my child is not always easy, but I know in the long run, it is for her good. By choosing to discipline her now, I know I am setting the stage for her future. Discipline will train her, guide her, and help mold her to be a respectful, kind, hard-working, God-fearing person. It is not always easy to discipline her, but I always keep the goal in mind. My ultimate goal is for her to love God, to live her life for Him, and to share that love and light with the rest of the world. But I have to teach her and show her how.

Just as I discipline my daughter for her good, God does the same with us. Our loving Father cares about us and wants what is best for our lives. Because He loves us, He disciplines us. Discipline is never easy; it’s often a very hard process to walk through. It is uncomfortable because it exposes the sin and weak areas of our lives. But God doesn’t discipline us because He is trying to prove a point; He disciplines us because He knows it is for our good. When God disciplines us, it is to help us change and grow to become more like Him. Although painful and hard, discipline will always lead us to grow and to be better. If we will join God in the process of discipline, He will help us, grow us, and use the outcome for our good. When we embrace God’s discipline, our lives are changed and we become more like Christ.

Application:

1. Why is discipline (both giving it and receiving it) so hard?

2. What is your typical response to discipline?

3. How do you need to change your response to discipline?

4. What is the good that will come from God’s discipline?

Devo Plus:

Read Proverbs 3:11-12, Proverbs 13:1, and Proverbs 15:32 to learn more about God’s discipline.

Prayer:

God, we have a hard time embracing Your discipline in our lives. It is hard. But we are asking You today to help us look at Your discipline differently. Remind us that when You discipline us, it is always for our good. Continually help us to remember that when You discipline us, it is because You love us, and You long for us to be changed and become more like You. Please continue to lead us, challenge us, and guide us in all things. Amen.

Hebrews 10:36–38 (ESV)

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

“Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Explanation:

Imagine yourself standing in the middle of the store, and off in the distance you see someone coming your way that you don’t want to talk to. We have all had these moments before. How do you respond? Do you look around you and try to find the closest place to sneak into, where you hide away unnoticed? Do you turn around immediately and go in the opposite direction, hoping not to run into them somewhere else? Do you start walking quickly and just keep your head down, or try to disguise yourself in some way to avoid the awkward interaction? Or do you move forward boldly and confidently, past your initial thoughts and emotions, and choose to have the interaction, even if you know it may not be ideal?

This example is one of many challenges we can face in our relationships with others. This can also be a challenge we face in our relationship with God. We are very quick to come up with many reasons for pursuing God or not. This becomes even more true when we are faced with difficult seasons of our lives. Each moment we experience in this life is an opportunity to move forward and pursue God, or to avoid Him.

It breaks my heart when I see others go through challenging seasons, and it breaks my heart even more when they choose in these seasons to pull away from God. I too have been very guilty of this response, but as I grow in my faith, I have discovered there is never a good reason to avoid God…no guilt, no shame, no frustration, no hate, no nothing. Rather, it is always a time to seek Him in faith. God has not only communicated to us our desperate need for Him, He has also made Himself completely accessible in all seasons we face. He is the best source of strength, endurance, comfort, and encouragement. However, it will require you to come to Him in faith and assurance of what He has promised. God wants to meet any need you have, my friends. It gives Him great pleasure to do so. Don’t try to avoid Him; move past any opposing thoughts and emotions, and seek Him instead.

Application:

1. Have you found that you respond differently to God in different seasons/times in your life?

2. Why do you think you respond the way you do when those season/times occur?

3. How does knowing that God takes pleasure in caring for your needs change how you approach Him?

4. What needs do you currently have that you can consistently take to God?

Devo Plus:

Read Hebrews 4:16. What does this verse tell you about how to approach God in all seasons of life?

Prayer:

God, thank You for always being available for me to approach. I need You, yet I know sometimes I create reasons not to come to You. Holy Spirit, help me to remember Your word and to take my needs to You. Please forgive me for the times I have avoided You on purpose. I know now that You take great pleasure in caring for me, and I praise You that I can be confident in faith when it comes to Your promises for me.

1 Timothy 4:12-16 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Explanation:

All of us have our own unique insecurities that plague us when we think of impacting others for Jesus. We may think we have the wrong personality, aren’t articulate enough, have the wrong social standing, or suffer from lack of formal education. People form lots of defeating ideas when it comes to allowing God to use them.

In our passage today, Paul was mentoring Timothy in a culture that highly valued age. Older people were given more honor and respect…and Timothy was young. So Paul, who valued living for God and having purposed behavior, wrote to Timothy to break it down in doable steps, and helped build Timothy’s foundation of faith. He started by encouraging Timothy not to let his age make him insecure, but to put his focus on his actions and absorption of scripture. That will serve him well in the future God has planned for Timothy.

Paul gave Timothy the perfect advice by telling him what to focus on:

1. Studying the scriptures

2. Encouraging the believers

3. Teaching them what he learned

To further Timothy’s confidence, Paul reminded him that he had been given a gift from God to use. Stewarding that gift was Timothy’s responsibility. The elders had laid their hands on Timothy (which meant he had been acknowledged as a pastor), and Paul realized this could be very heady for a young man to be so gifted and recognized. He concluded by admonishing Timothy to guard his heart and life, because how he lived would be watched by those he taught.

Application:

1. The implication is that neglecting our gift is not a victimless offense. How are others affected when we aren’t good stewards of God’s gift to us?

2. What is your spiritual gift? Do you tend it and treasure it?

3. Can you pinpoint a lie you have believed that kept you from allowing God to use your life?

4. Who is watching your life?

5. Timothy honored God with very purposed behavior. I counted 15 things Paul told Timothy to do. How many of them challenge you?

Devo Plus:

Read Psalm 1.

Prayer:

Jesus...deliver me from false narratives in my mind, and set me free from lies I believe that keep me sidelined. Help me honor You with my life and purposed behaviors. Give me a hunger for Your Word. I love You, Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Explanation:

Perseverance. It’s likely a safe assumption that in 2020 each of us has struggled with perseverance of some sort. I know that I’ve struggled in many ways during this season, but especially in remaining disciplined in reading and studying God’s Word. It’s hard sometimes to motivate myself when I am in a rut and discouraged from all the “stuff” going on in the world. When I read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, I am encouraged and reminded that there is a work going on in my life and the lives of those around me that is much bigger than the “stuff.” I often find myself repeating a line in my head from “Finding Nemo,” an animated movie about a fish. On those tough days, I remind myself to “just keep swimming, swimming,” and I’ll get through with God’s help.

In this passage, Paul uses athletic metaphors, one of running and the other of boxing. I am neither a runner nor a boxer, but I embrace the deeper meaning of Paul’s message to us: run the race in a way so we will win the eternal prize of heaven. Even when it’s hard, we should work to achieve that prize, and spread the good news of Jesus everywhere we go. We are all given the task of running the race and boxing with heart, with the purpose of glorifying God. Paul tells us elsewhere in his letters that even when it seems like foolishness or folly to the hearer, we should continue to pursue the prize, and “not run aimlessly” as we persevere to the finish line. In the end, it’s truly worth the struggle.

Application:

1. Are you struggling to run the race right now? Take a moment and list three things you can do to refresh your perspective. (Reach out to another Christian friend, spend time alone in worship/prayer, go for a walk and take in all of the beauty of creation, and appreciate God’s provision, etc.)

2. What is one thing that stands out to you in this passage?

3. How can you use this passage to help those around you who may be struggling with perseverance or self-discipline?

Devo Plus:

For additional encouragement as we run the race, read Galatians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 4:8; Philippians 4:13; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Romans 12:12; Isaiah 40:29; and James 1:12.

Prayer:

Seek God’s guidance today to help refresh and renew your mind, body, and spirit. Ask Him to give you a fresh perspective on the race we are called to run. Reflect on His goodness and the things He’s provided for us.

1 Samuel 23:1-5 (NLT)

One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the Lord, “Should I go and attack them?”

“Yes, go and save Keilah,” the Lord told him.

But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!”

So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.”

So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah.

Explanation:

Today’s passage gives us the perfect example of how to overcome fear—take it to God in prayer. Our capacity to experience fear was built into us by our Creator as an alert that something is wrong and needs addressed. But fear is not an emotion God intended us to carry around like a backpack wherever we go. The Bible tells us more than 80 times to fear not.

When I ask God to help me overcome my fears, I don’t always experience the confidence of Christ immediately. At times, I need to keep praying, and seek God further for His guidance in the situation. The same was true of David’s army. This perseverance in prayer is how our soul connects with God’s character to find peace in fearful circumstances.

Much of what we need for successful Christian living is neither taught nor supernaturally imparted; we must work it out before the throne repeatedly until we have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). It takes time to paint a masterpiece, and it takes time to build faith that overcomes fear. Keep at it, and you will soon find that God meets you quickly at the point of your greatest fear. What God did for David and his men, He will do for you, too.

Application:

1. What is your first response when you are afraid?

2. Why doesn’t God just supernaturally bless us with attributes like patience, compassion, and boldness?

3. God’s plan was for David and his army to defeat the Philistines. Fear stood in the way of that plan. Is there something you fear that is standing between you and God’s will for your life?

Devo Plus:

Meditate on Isaiah 41:10.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to turn to You immediately when I am afraid. I trust that no weapon formed against me will prosper, and nothing will come my way that has not passed through Your loving approval for my life.

1 Samuel 16:13 (ESV)

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

2 Samuel 5:4 (ESV)

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

Explanation:

God needed a new king to rule Israel. He sent the prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse, to anoint the one He had chosen to replace Saul as king. David was a young shepherd boy at this time. When Samuel met David, the Lord instructed Samuel to pour oil over David to signify he would be the new king. The Spirit of the Lord filled David that day, but he would not become king until many years later.

We need to remember God has a plan for our lives. It may not currently feel like God is working in our lives, but He is! So often, we are caught up in the instant gratification syndrome, and lack patience and trust. At times, I feel frustrated waiting for God to answer a prayer or show me signs for guidance. But I trust in the process of determining the purpose of my life. Obedience during a season of suffering or hardship is challenging, and patience will be tested. I pray for you to humble yourself, remain obedient, and let faith lead you to purpose.

Application:

1. When has your obedience been tested in waiting for the things you want?

2. What behaviors challenge your obedience to God?

3. When have you been patient in trusting God’s plan for your life?

Devo Plus

Read Jeremiah 29:11. This passage reinforces God’s plan for each of us.

Prayer:

God, we know what a loving Father You are. You have provided a plan for the best life possible, yet our impatience and distractions challenge our obedience. God, please fill us with comfort and give us grace. During this season of change, let us be aware of the beauty in the changing.

Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Explanation:

Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the faith chapter, recounting many heroic acts from individuals in the Bible. The faith Noah lived out is no exception. Genesis 6 recounts the wickedness and evil in the hearts of all mankind who was on the earth; however, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. God commanded Noah to construct a large ark to save his wife, sons, their wives, and various creatures of the earth. Noah’s faith and obedience to God was seen as righteous in His sight. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Noah believed what God told him, and obeyed God continually throughout the process.

Most of us heard the story of Noah’s ark when we were little, how God told Noah to build a large boat, and gather two of every animal, along with his family, to save them. Then at the right time, God opened the heavens and it rained for 40 days and nights, while Noah sailed the earth until the waters subsided.

It’s a fascinating story, but what is often overlooked is the fact it took years and years to complete the project. Anyone who has built anything from wood knows there is a lot of preparation that would have to be done to build such a large vessel. (The task of finding the needed supplies and preparing the right materials makes my head hurt! Remember this was before power tools.) Over this long period of time, Noah had to have unbelievable faith in God, and the confidence that the flood was going to happen. I can imagine the jeers and ridicule Noah and his family heard from other people, while they were following the instructions God had laid out for them when building the ark. We have to understand that the ark was massive, and it was built on the ground near no large body of water. The family had to get into the ark with all the animals, have God close the door, and wait for the water to lift the ark above the mountains. Noah and his family accomplished this because they had a healthy fear of God and wanted to please Him, not man.

When the flood was over, God made a covenant with Noah that He would never again destroy man by water. Because of Noah’s faithfulness and obedience to God, mankind would now come from his descendants.

Application:

1. When Noah received God’s message to build the ark, we have no account of him grumbling or questioning God, only obedience. What do you think contributed to Noah’s faith in God? How can we use this story to relate to our own lives when God asks us to trust and believe in Him?

2. Noah’s belief in God’s plan was crucial for mankind to continue to exist on earth. We may never be called to such a huge task like this, but God still uses us for His glory and to accomplish His will. What steps can you take today to be ready to be used by God?

3. The Bible tells us that Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had an authentic relationship with God, and knew His voice. We now have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit (our Advocate from God) who speaks directly to us. Take some time to engage God, by listening to Him and His calling for your life.

Devo Plus:

Read the entire story of The Flood in Genesis 6-9.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to have faith in You when I can’t see You, and don’t always understand Your plan. When things in life feel out of control, remind me to stop and seek You. Help me to slow down and listen to Your voice. Love you, Lord Jesus!

Genesis 22:15-18 (NLT)

Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

Explanation:

God allows things to test us. Tests verify two things: our willingness to obey God and our level of trust in God. In this passage, Abraham has just passed the most extreme test ever given to a human, and he not only passed it… he passed it with flying colors. He had so much trust in God that he willingly laid his only son on an altar of sacrifice, because He knew whatever God asked of him was God's will, and therefore God’s plan. For any of you who are parents, you know it was mind-boggling trust Abraham demonstrated. His obedience not only verified to God that Abraham totally trusted Him, it also substantiated to Abraham that he indeed heard God’s voice.

Once God saw Abraham’s 100% obedience, it validated this was the man that God could use to establish His chosen people through. It is hard to think of Abraham without simultaneously thinking of faith...that is how much his obedience impacted the world.

What an exhilarating feeling obedience offers. Most of us have felt the opposite, when we absorbed the repercussions of our disobedience. It’s a sickening feeling. Obedience not only offers peace and rest for our minds and hearts; it helps us quantify growth. God’s will for our lives, immediate and long term, remains for us to walk with Him wherever He leads, and that only happens through listening and obeying.

Application:

1. Obedience opened the door for God to use Abraham in a marvelous way. If you are desiring to go beyond loving God to being used by God, learning obedience is required. What one way is God calling you to obedience?

2. It is good to remember that obedience means you are surrendering, because if it didn’t, it would just mean you agree with God. For instance, in my marriage, if I am submitting it means I have another opinion. If I don’t have another opinion, I am just in agreement. So there will be struggle in obedience, because you mentally, physically, or spiritually have a different idea than God. What ways have you found obedience to be a struggle for you?

3. It is only my imagination, but I wonder if Abraham got the chills with a serious set of goosebumps when God said, “All because you have obeyed me.” What blessings do you see in your life that are a direct result of your obedience to God?

4. Most of us tear up at the thought of pleasing God, but as with anything mastered, it’s all about the small steps first, that lead to the medium steps, that lead to the giant steps, that lead to the blessing! Where does God want you to start your path toward obedience? Wherever you find yourself today...start!

Devo Plus:

• Luke 1:45

Prayer Prompt:

Jesus, I want my soul to lay naked before You. Hear my longing. I believe. Help me in my unbelief and doubt. I not only desire but desperately need the blessings that accompany obedience. Help me develop a faithful heart that trusts You. I am thankful that I belong to You. I know You walk by me, and I hold Your promises true. Keep my mind away from hesitation, and help me embrace Your promises fully. Amen.

Joshua 6:2-5, 15-16, 20 (ESV)

And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”

On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.

So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

Explanation:

God consistently tests our faith in action. After 40 years wandering the desert, the Jews finally were approaching the promised land. But first, they had to get through Jericho, a city surrounded by a massive, impenetrable wall. Many invaders had perished trying. Joshua, having full trust and faith in God, was not intimidated by the size of Jericho’s wall or what was waiting for them on the other side. God clearly communicated a plan of action to Joshua. All he was required to do was lead and follow the directions…marching around the wall for seven days, trumpeting, and a shout that would not only tear down the wall but also conquer any opposing army on the other side. The logic behind the plan? Questionable, to say the least. But Joshua looked beyond his own understanding. He didn’t ask how or why, he just obeyed in full faith that God is a promise keeper, and conquering Jericho became an easy victory.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we now have our new promised land, eternity in heaven. The only thing standing in our way is how we navigate this life here on earth. We will face many challenges with the odds stacked against us. But what we can remember is that God is for us, not against us, and nothing is greater than Him. Too often, we can get lost in our own voice of reason, and not hear or act on the guidance of God. Taking the time to ask God for His will and plan, then acting on it without question, will give us our Jericho victories.

Application:

1. What challenges are you facing that seem unconquerable?

2. What do you feel like is holding you back from being able to get through them?

3. What action steps of faith are you needing to take to get to your easy Jericho victory?

4. Ask God to reveal His plan for you. Ask for specific direction. Write it down and follow it exactly without modification.

Devo Plus:

Read Joshua 5 to see how Joshua asked for God’s plan. Joshua asked a question that we all wrestle with when we feel oppressed.

Prayer:

God, too often we forget that You designed us and know the paths we will take. You know us better than we do; You knit our being into existence. Guide us daily in the ways that will lead us to Your promised land. Reveal to us the specific actions we need to take to have Jericho victories this week. Allow us to trust in Your plan and will, and not lean on our own understanding and strength. We seek You in all. Amen.