Month: May 2023

Scripture 1 Chron 26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him.

Observation: This is part of a long genealogy and distribution of duties however only Peulthai was said to be blessed by God. It doesn’t state why he was picked out as being blessed and I’m sure the others have been blessed by God for they were Levites. I wonder what he did to have this distinct honor. He must have served God better than the rest and had a heart for the Lord and God wanted him to stand out to show others if you give your life to the Lord he’ll reign down blessings. I’m not sure if that’s it, but it sure sounds like my Lord, grow nearer to God and he’ll draw closer to you.

Application: I deserve no blessings. I lived most of my life far apart from God and even now that I have drawn closer to my Lord I still sin each day, but He blesses me so much. I need to try harder to be faithful to my God. I’ll never earn His blessings or be worthy, but He deserves the best I have no matter what I receive in return, because this beggar deserves nothing from the King, but He deserves all that I am.

Prayer: My King and my Lord I thank you for all of the many blessings this lowly servant as received out of you love for me. I need help staying on course of what you desire. I will never be worthy Lord, but help me be the man that pleases you, a man after your own heart.

Scripture 1 Chron 25:7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.

Observation: I would love to be able to sing or play an instrument, but that isn’t my skill. My voice is far from a joyful noise, maybe just a noise. However I do have other skills God has blessed me with, I can cook and God has blessed me even with the ability to teach others how to cook, I have organizational skills and have been in management all of my life and God has blessed me with imagination and the ability to visualize things. These are the skills I’m to use while I’m here on earth to glorify God. When I get to heaven I believe I will be able to do things I couldn’t do here, but my service always to the Lord are the skills and gifts He has given me here on Earth.

Application: Instead of worrying about what I don’t have I need to be using the gifts I do have for God’s glory. I shouldn’t take them for granted because they come so easy to me, that is how God gifted me as He has everyone else. These are the skills I’m to use to help others and to be a part of the body of Christ. I need to keep using them and improve them as I grow closer to using them for all eternity in service to my King.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for the skills and talents you have blessed me with. Guide me in how to use them for your service and to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. May the talents you have given me multiply to you and that I would be a good investment of your love, mercy and grace.

Scripture 1 Chron 24:19 This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the LORD according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

Observation: When you do as the Lord commands things go well for us. In the old testament you see it over and over again. When the Israelites followed the Lord things went well, but as soon as they rebelled situations went bad. The same is true today. If we follow God’s commands and obey His laws things will have a purpose and God will watch over us no matter what the situation, but when we decide to stray and not follow God’s commands God will leave us to our own destruction until we return to Him.

Application: I need to always be in God’s will and listen to Him. I need to get rid of this pride that holds me back and humble myself before Him. I need to recognize God as my Master and as His servant I need to listen to each command and serve Him with my whole heart every day.

Prayer: My Lord I am an unworthy servant, but I come before you in hope that you will change me. Give me that heart of flesh and an obedient spirit that I may serve you in the way that will please you. I love you and want to honor you as your servant each day.

Scripture 1 Chron 23:30 to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening;

Observation: This scripture is part of the duties of the Levites, but this section is for all of God’s children. We should get up each morning and go in prayer thanking God for all that He has given us and praise Him for the wonderful Father that He is and then in the evening we should be in prayer before we go to sleep and thank Him for that days provision and protection. That is the minimum of our duties and it should be much more of a simple desire then something expected. This is something we should be doing out of love and overwhelming feeling of affection for our Lord.

Application: I need to expand my duties for my Lord to so much more than He asks of me. I should be doing everything out of my love for Him and not for self-gratification. My life should be all about my Lord’s desires for me and what pleases Him. This life is His given me on loan to see how it may glorify God.

Prayer: Lord help me glorify you. Rid me of this laziness and guide me on the path that will please you. Show me your ways and desires and command me in the duties you have placed aside for me to do. May I glorify you by the way I attend to my duties in glory in honor to you.

Scripture 1 Chron 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.”

Observation: We need to set out heart and soul to seek God. It needs to be a very purposeful desire to seek God. We can’t halfheartedly seek God on our terms, it needs to be our purpose in life that no matter what we do we set our heart and soul to find Him. We will never accomplish what God has designed us to do unless we seek Him and ask of Him what He desired. If you want to have a completely fulfilled life you need to go to the creator and ask what He desires of you.

Application: I need to avoid being distracted during prayer. I need to be focused on my Lord no matter what I’m doing and do it for the glory of the Lord. My only purpose here to fulfill God’s plan for my life and I can only do that if I’m in His will and to be in His will I must seek what He desires of me. The scripture tells us if we grow closer to God He will grow closer to us. We need to make the first step we must with our whole heart and soul desire to seek Him and to please Him.

Prayer: My Lord I dearly want to know you better and know what you desire for me. I get distracted all of the time and my mind wanders, help me please stay focused on you and the purpose you have created me for. May my life glorify you each day and that I will be a light in this dark world shining on the path that leads to you. I love you Lord.

Scripture 1 Chron 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

Observation: Throughout the Bible Satan is trying to get God’s people to sin and is very effective except for Jesus. Satan over and over again tried to tempt Jesus with no success. So to say that Satan is tempting me is no excuse as it was for David. David had to still pay the penalty for his sin. We always have a way out from Satan’s temptations is that is to go to God in prayer and to have Him fight for us. Joab tried to talk David out of counting the people because he knew it was a sin against God and I believe God might have put Joab in David’s path to prevent David from doing just that. Satan is always on the prowl like a lion waiting to see who devour next, do not take this lightly it will draw you away from God and His will for our life.

Application: Realize that each day Satan and his demons are trying to draw me away from God and His purpose for my life. That this life is a fight and I can’t win on my own that only my Lord can defeat this enemy and to be aware of his schemes. I can’t give in to my temptations because I believe these temptations are coming from the enemy and there will be a price to pay if I do give in. If I’m going to glorify God I must listen and obey Him only. I must have only one Master.

Prayer: My Lord you are my Master and my God and you alone rule me life. Help me Lord for I am weak and can’t fight Satan on my own strength. I need you always to be victorious in this life, the enemy is too strong for me and I want to bring glory to your name. You deserve the best I can give, please take all distractions away.

Scripture 1 Chron 20:7 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

Observation: Israel were God’s children and walked in His way at that time. God protected Israel and David a man after God’s own heart. God proved over and over that He would protect them as He continued to give them victory over their enemy no matter what the odds where. God continues to give His children victories even against greater odds God is faithful to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies. Today our great enemy is Satan and our Lord will protect us from his fiery darts if we stay close to Him. We are under His protection as long as we follow Him into battle, but if we stray and not listen to our commander we will find ourselves in danger of attack.

Application: God wants to protect me but I need to stay under His command. He also wants to strengthen me for battle so I will endure testing from time to time, but I will never be alone. As soon as I stray from my Lord’s protection I must run to Him and ask what His commands are for my life. I need to stay close always as I read His word daily, get close to Him in prayer and follow His guidance each day in my life.

Prayer: My Lord you are my Master, Lord and my Commander. Command this worthless soldier and take me into battle with you. Give me the strength and courage to be victorious for you. May I not shy away from battle but listen to your commands and rule this servant of yours that I may bring you honor and glory each day. I love you my Lord may others see that in the way I live.