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Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional.

Day 14 of 31 Days:

Prayer

Good morning.

I wished I had many more days to write on this one.

Without touching on other types of prayer, the one I want to meditate on today is the prayer that we do in our personal secret place. Having that time and space that we go to daily allows us to draw closer to God. Found in prayer is breath, joy, power, direction, peace, and more. Essentially, it’s communion with the Lord. Communion is an exchange. We give, He gives. Time with Him is of highest importance. If we miss this, we’ve missed everything.

Oftentimes, we only go to God with requests or frustrations, and we miss the life found in Him. We make it one-way. Yes, we should go to God as we are, but know we don’t have to remain as we are. Prayer is a two-way street. Again, there should be an exchange that happens. I walk in one way and out the other. No, our problems might not disappear externally, at least immediately, but internally, we will leave with greater clarity, courage, and peace. Only by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6). What an honor it is to have such instant access.

What is one step you can take to further your prayer life?

Jeremiah 29:12King James Version

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Going through the Bible a chapter a day.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2023&version=KJV

Two weeks of reviewing the chapters shared starting with chaoter 10 as I was unwell for a lot longer than I expected to be.

Photo I shared a while back resharing here of the Ten Plagues of Egypt.

Chapter 10: We see that two plagues came about when Pharaoh refused to let the people go as Moses and Aaron asked.

First they were hit with the locus in verse 13 and in verse 22 darkness. Chapter 11 Lord tells Moses He will bring one more plague that will force Pharaoh to drive them out of the land and that is of the first born of every living thing not just people but cattle too (chapter 12:29).

In chapter 12: To be spared the death of the first born the final plague; they were to take the blood of a male unblemish lamb a year old and place it on both sides of the door post and upper door post vs.7 vs 8 -10 is they should eat the lamb and how and what is left shall be tossed in the fire come morning. Chapter 12 is the Israel preparing the Passover and the Lord will execute His judgement and will see the blood and pass over. To be a day of memorial to keep throughout generations. Then, due to the out cry of the first born that the Lord had smite throughout the land of Egypt Pharaoh sent the Israel out.

Chapter 13: Verse 21 and 22 we see the Lord led them by a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Chapter 14: Pharaoh’s heart was harden against them and started to pursue them and the people of Israel cried out unto the Lord and unto Moses. Verse 13 Moses says unto them,”Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord,… and in verse 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. We see the Lord directs Moses to take up his rod and stretch his had over the sea to part it so that they may go through on dry land. The Egyptains hearts the Lord will harden and they shall follow them and then Moses stretched forth his hand again as instructed by the Lord and the waters returned and covered all that had followed them not a one remained.

Chapter 15: Moses and the children of Israel sing unto the Lord (Love verse 2). The Israelites couldn’t drink the water and cried out unto Moses so Moses cried unto the Lord and the Lord provided for them.

Chapter 16: Is murmurings of the children of Israel against Moses and Aaron and Moses informs them that it isn’t against them but that it is directed against the Lord. The Lord still provides for them (sustained by Manna) despite their murmurings.

They continue to murmur in chapter 17 the Israelites tempted the Lord saying Is the Lord among us, or not? in verse 7. Verse 8 comes Amalek to fight against Israel. (Amalek is a nation against Israel and a grandson of Esau). Moses tells Joshua to take men and go fight and that he (Moses) will stand on top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. Joshua takes men with him and Moses had Aaron and Hur with him and help hold his hands up so that they would prevail for when his hands went down they Amalek nation prevailed.

Chapter 18: Moses father in law had heard what God had done and came unto him and then witness the people coming unto Moses for judgement and his father in law said he couldn’t do this alone as he would wear away. It was too much of a burden for one person to do and to get help. Moses does as his father in law says and set up heads over them for all seasons the hard causes they brought to Moses the small they judged themselves.

Chapter 19: Moses on Mount Sinai and the Lord’s warning to those who draw near to it.

Chapter 20: The Ten Commandments was given unto Moses to give unto the Israelites.

Chapter 21: Laws Concerning Servants and Eye For Eye.

Chapter 22: Laws About Property and Just Treatment of the Poor.

Chapter 23: Sabbath Observance and Idol Worship Forbidden.

God bless you and your loved ones.

Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional.

Day 13 of 31 Days:

Initiative

Good morning.

There are those who make moves, and those who expect those to make moves. I believe it’s better to err on the side of doing too much than not enough. You can’t steer a parked car. In other words, it’s easier to redirect motion than it is to push someone into action. Taking initiative is executing a task the moment you have an opportunity to do so.

When it comes to Kingdom matters, we need to initiate action all the more. There should be a sense of urgency on the offense, and we should not sit idly by. Someone has to make a move, so why not us? Why not now?

What is one move you can make in that area that you’ve been apathetic in?

Proverbs 6:6-8King James Version

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional.

Day 12 of 31 Days:

Excellence

Good morning.

My pastor said this so well. Although Daniel was distinguished above the rest, we don’t live in excellence to compete or compare. We compare ourselves to our potential, not others. Our motivation is to do our best to bring God glory. Sure, a natural result of excellence is winning, but that’s not our drive.

Excellence reaches all people. Mediocrity will put a lid on us. Excellence glorifies God, reflects Jesus, and serves people. Rooted in the word “excel,” let’s be excellent.

What is one area of your life where you could engage in further excellence?

Matthew 5:16King James Version

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.