"Word of God Speak"

February 26, 2012 (Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “I pray to You, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if You are silent, I might as well give up and die.” Psalm 28:1 NLT

Observation: David is expressing the importance of having a prayerful relationship with God. David recognized God as his rock and the source of his protection. He pleads with God not to turn a deaf ear to his prayers because he understood what his life would be like without God near. In fact, he states that if God were silent toward him, he might as well just give up and die because life without God is a hopeless endeavor.

Application: Have you ever prayed with such intentness? Have you ever sought God in such a way that if you didn’t hear from Him you might as well just give up and die? David had experienced God move on his behalf many times and he knew without God he was as good as dead. David made many mistakes and committed many sins but he always brought himself back to a place of repentance. Why? Because he learned when he went astray after sin, God’s face was turn away from him. God cannot bare to see His children live in open sin and rebellion. Repentance turns God’s face toward us, restores our relationship with Him, and opens His ears to hear our prayers.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for this day You’ve made. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. You are the awesome God of the universe and above You there is no other. Father, You are my rock, and like David, I request You not turn a deaf ear to my pleas. For if You are silent, I too, might as well just give up and die, for without You life is meaningless and without purpose. But praise I give to Your name! I know You hear my prayers and You answer according to Your will. You provide and protect me with Your strong right arm and comfort me with Your Holy Spirit! You are my fortress and I put my hope in You daily! Thank You Father, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 25, 2012 (Numbers 17-18; Psalm 29; Mark 4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:25 NLT

Observation: Jesus is expressing the importance of listening to His teaching. Not just hearing it as if it were back ground music playing on a TV commercial, but listening intently as to change ones attitude and actions. He tells us to pay close attention because the closer we hear the more understanding we will receive. If we don’t listen intently and act on the understanding we receive, then even what understanding we have will be taken away from us. That sounds like a pretty clear warning to me! Pay attention!

Application: I often pray for God to give me understanding of His word and His will. This passage of scripture teaches me how to gain what I’ve asked for. I must listen. Listen intently to God’s word and meditate on it constantly. God’s word must become the one thing I hear speaking to me at all times, regardless of what’s going on around me. God gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason. I should strive to hear twice as much as I desire to speak. Sounds simple enough and easy to master; I am equiped with all the right tools, but often times I lack the ability to apply these simple truths to my life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day and for all Your wonderful blessings. Help me hear what Your word says. Teach me to listen to You intently and gain the understanding I need from Your word. Forgive me for speaking when I should be listening. Help me discern these times and act according to Your will. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 24, 2012 (Numbers 14-16; Mark 3)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.” Numbers 15:39 NLT

Observation: The children of Israel had a hard time remembering that God was suppose to be first. They often got of course and defiled themselves by their self-centered will that led to self-centered actions. So the Lord gave them the instruction to sew tassels onto the hem of their clothing with a blue cord. When they see the tassels it will remind them to put God first. The Lord had a list of commands the Israelites were to keep and constantly complaining was not one of them. Yet this seems to be what they were best at.

Application: So many times we get off track by doing our own thing and forget that God’s will is most important. Just like the Israelites, we often defile ourselves by following our own desires and then end up complaining about the situations we get ourselves into. God gave the children of Israel a list of commands to obey in order to keep them and to please Him; we fool ourselves if we think we have no commands to obey. The grace of God through His Son Jesus has often been misused to justify our disobedience, but in the end God will hold us accountable just as He did the Israelites.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily! You are the awesome God of the universe and greater than You is no other. Help me remember Your commands and place the desire within me to keep them. Forgive me for complaining so much in the past and help me trust and obey more in the future, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 23, 2012 (Numbers 12-13; Psalm 90; Mark 2)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.” Numbers 13:32 NLT

Observation: Moses sent twelve men to scout the land of Canaan. Ten of them came back with a bad report. Only two of the scouts looked at the situation and believed God could do just as He had said. The other ten looked at how big the giants were and failed to see how big their God was. In their eyes the giants of Canaan were bigger and stronger than their God. Once again the people begin to complain and longed to return to Egypt. Even after all God has done for them they still refuse to trust and believe in Him.

Application: Often times we look at the size of the giants we face and forget how big our God is as well. Like the children of Israel we can find ourselves longing for the days of the past that seemed so much better than what God has in store for our future. We must remember all the times God has delivered and provided for us when we could not see how He was going to do it. Our God is bigger than any obstacle or power that may come against us. He can subdue armies with a spoken word and hold back governments with just a simple utterance. When we trust and believe in Him, we experience a supernatural deliverance that only He can perform.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily. You are the awesome God of the universe and above You there is no other! You are bigger and stronger than any giant in my life and I believe and trust in Your provision and protection whatever happens. Help me Lord not dwell on the unknown, but rather trust in the proven. You have proven time and time again I am Yours and You are mine. Thank You Lord, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 22, 2012 (Numbers 10-11; Psalm 27; Mark 1)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated.” Numbers 11:10 NLT

Observation: God has delivered the children of Israel from the Egyptian slavery. He has delivered them from the Egyptian army through the Red Sea on dry ground. He has provided them manna to eat. He provided a cloud by day and fire by night to guide them, and is taking them to a land that He is giving to them. And what do they do? They remember how great it was to live in Egypt in slavery. They are ungrateful and unappreciative for what God has provided and their attitude has made God extremely angry!

Application: We are so much like the children of Israel it’s not funny. God has delivered us from the bondage of sin’s slavery. He delivers us from our enemies in miraculous ways. He provides the basic needs of life for us daily. His Son Jesus, willingly died in our place. He sent His Holy Spirit back to live within us, and He has given us a fruitful land that once belonged to the Indians. And we, just like them, stand whining in our doorways not satisfied with what God has provided. God open our eyes and forgive us! Burden our hearts with the desire for repentance and turn us back to You!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your blessings You freely give. I praise you for every ounce of provision You have provided for me. I praise You for the protection You provide with Your strong right arm. Forgive me for standing in the doorway You provided, whining about what all I don’t have, while ignoring what all You have given me. You are so awesome and patient. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me daily, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 21, 2012 (Numbers 8-9; Acts 28)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.” Acts 28:10 NLT

Observation: The people of Malta were blessed the day God washed Paul up on their beach. God, through Paul, healed all of the people who were sick on Malta. I think it was God’s way of blessing the people who would help His people. The people of Malta were so appreciative of all God had blessed them with that they made sure Paul and his companions had everything they would need for the remaining part of their journey. The scripture don’t tell us if the people of Malta received Christ or not, but their actions would make one assume so.

Application: I’m really encouraged by the way Malta’s people responded to the blessings they had received. Instead of acting as if Paul and his companions owed them, they not only provided for their immediate needs, but they provided for their future needs. People today act like God owes them. We receive the blessings of God with an attitude that demands it was owed us, rather than an attitude of humility. Maybe this explains the difference in our actions toward others when compared to the actions of the Maltaians. God owes no man anything and everything we receive from Him is a gift of His grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day You’ve made. Bless it and keep it holy for Your glory. Forgive me Lord for having an attitude that acts as if You are indebted to me in any capacity. You are the awesome God of heaven and above You there is no other! Every gift You provide me is of Your mercy and grace. The protection You afford me has not been earned or paid for by anyone other than Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your blessings. Give me the courage to live in a way that pleases You, whatever happens, in Jesus name, Amen!

February 20, 2012 (Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27)

From the life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.” Acts 27:32 NLT 

Observation: Paul warned them not to sail but they didn’t listen. So now they found themselves in a tight spot. The perfect storm had risen against them and they were beginning to panic. But the angel of the Lord came to Paul and told him to take courage everything was going to work out. Although they would indeed be shipwrecked, if all would stay in the boat until the very end they would be saved. So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Now they were about to witness God deliver them, like only He could.

Application: When we face the storms of our lives are we willing to cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away? That sounds insane! You find yourself out in the ocean, on a boat that is sinking, certain death is starring you in the face, and you cut the ropes to the lifeboat that was designed to save you in this situation! Yet when God tells you what to do, you must be willing to do just that, no matter what it may look like to others. Like Paul, we must take courage and believe God and know it will work out just as He said. He is our protection and our provision, and it isn’t over until He says so!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day, bless it and keep it for Your glory. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me on a daily basis. I’m so glad to know of Your faithfulness, I’m so happy to have experienced Your divine protection. You are indeed stronger than my largest enemy and You know just how to protect and deliver me. In the midst of the raging sea, give me the courage to cut the lifeboat free and trust You completely, in Jesus name, Amen!