lENT 2022 bIBLE rEADING PLAN
Week 5
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Monday, October 7
Four Life-Changing Words.
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“But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.” NLT Isaiah 40:31a
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You say: “that’s eleven words.” And I say: “that’s in English.” The original language gives us only four powerful, poetic, life-changing words: WAIT, LORD, RENEW, STRENGTH.*
The focus of the verse is on the second word: LORD.
Who is the LORD? The whole chapter points to our amazing LORD.
He is Sovereign (10) and Everlasting (28).
He is Creator and rules with awesome strength (10) and power (26).
He is our tender, caring Shepherd (11) and understands our needs fully.
What an awesome LORD!
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The first word is WAIT. The focus is on actively waiting on the LORD.
It is directing our full, focused attention on the LORD.
There is no hint of passive waiting, rather the thrust is on active worship of the LORD.
In the original language the two words are joined: WAIT (on the) LORD.
The third word is RENEW. RENEW is a complex present and future action. The LORD starts the RENEWAL within us. It then flows out into our daily life for all to see. There is absolutely no question: WAITING on the LORD brings RENEWAL.
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The fourth word is STRENGTH. The LORD’S inner work of life strengthening renewal is experienced in three ways. We receive new perspective on life’s challenges. Seeing and soaring like eagles. We experience new endurance to run life’s tough race. We revel in new yet ordinary life that now walks and lives with confidence.
Four words for daily living: Wait, LORD, Renew, Strength. I choose to make them my own today. Do you?
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Earl Habecker
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Tuesday, October 8
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“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Even as you read this, thoughts dart through your mind; “When’s that appointment? Did I leave the iron on?” (Wait, what’s an iron?) Unbidden thoughts crashing our devotional times, beeps and dings from our phones distracting us from prayer.
Let me introduce you to something you may have thought impossible: Mind Control. Yes, friend, you too, in the privacy of your own home, can...control your mind.
Paul tells us to “Fix our thoughts” on certain things and to “Think about” certain things. In other words, control what’s going on upstairs.
You may have noticed that other forces are fighting to control our minds. They are telling us to be angry, cynical, and feel threatened (and, by the way, send them money!). They lure us away from our spouses to other images. They lead us toward self-centeredness. They want to control our minds. Who’s going to win this battle for our brains?
The battle will be won by what we let in. TV on 24/7? Check your news feed every time it dings? Listening to social media wackos more than Jesus? Control your eyes and ears and you’ll control your mind.
I like the way this version says to “Fix your thoughts on...” Fix can mean “fasten,” but it can also mean “repair.” Both definitions answer the How To question:
1) Fasten your mind on the good stuff. Adhere your thoughts to the good stuff. When your thoughts detour to the darkness, steer them back to the good.
2) Repair your thoughts. Where they break, fix them. Repair your thoughts by returning time and again to things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Mind Control. Practice it. Place both hands in the 10 and 2 position of the steering wheel of your mind and control it.
David Roller
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Wednesday, October 9
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“When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” Psalm 104:30
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I love Michigan for many reasons. One reason is the very separate and distinct rhythm of spring, summer, fall and winter. God’s creation is, in my mind, so amazing and wonderful it alone is undeniable proof of a divine creation. Every season has its joys, it's wonders that make it unique and offer glimpses into our Creator. A reflection of the Divine. But none of them, in my mind, offer as much into the nature and character of God as Spring
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As breathtaking, pure and fresh as a cold, clear winter day is, the amazing transformation that takes place between the end of February and the middle of April offers a glimpse into the renewal I envision when I read "You renew the face of the earth." As wonderful as it is to watch the world bloom every Spring, how much more exciting to think of the body of Christ experiencing that same renewal? How beautiful to think of the Spirit of God renewing our souls the same way the earth is beginning to sprout, grow and beam with life? The old restored, and new created, hand in hand. A total transformation of the landscape of Creation, internally and externally.
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Lord, we pray your Spirit on our renovation efforts, our church body, our community, nation and world. May your Spirit create the renewal in our souls to match the wonder of the beauty of the life giving miracle that is Spring.
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Bobby Ganton
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Thursday, October 10
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Perfect Love Casts Out Fear.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18
I don't know about you but this inspiring verse doesn't inspire me - it condemns me but it's not supposed to condemn me. I think it's absolute statements like "there is no fear" and "whoever fears hasn’t been" that hit me so hard, because I do fear and I have not been when I should have been! But if those phrases weren't enough, up steps the most condemning word of all "perfect."
Ouch! I've never been perfect as defined: "freedom from any defect or flaw." And in the Greek original text this depressing word doesn't just mean perfect it means ‘whole,’ ‘unblemished,’ ‘full,’ ‘actualized,’ ‘efficacious,’ ‘mature,’ ‘supreme,’ and perhaps ‘dedicated.’ Perfect.
But notice the verse again because the word perfect is not attached to us - it is attached to love! It takes my 100% personal perfection off the table and puts loves perfection on the table. And love when 100% whole, full, actualized, maturing, supreme and dedicated has no space for fear.
Think about the moments in your life when you had significant fear and someone stepped forward to supply or encourage or be present with love. Didn't you literally experience fear being thrown ("cast out")from the room in that moment!
Do you realize the power of love? Do you realize the love that God wants to make through you? Today? To someone? Do you realize this is the kind of love that Father God had for you through the death of his son Jesus to take away your fear of death by giving you eternal life?
Read the verse again and think about love being perfect and not you being perfect and
John Maguire
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Friday, October 11
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In John 17:20 (NIV), Jesus prays, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
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This verse is a powerful reminder that Jesus was thinking about you, even back then. He prayed for you and your faith journey, knowing that you would face challenges and distractions.
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Life can be a whirlwind of activities, friendships, and responsibilities. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and lose sight of your faith. But this verse encourages you to re-engage with your faith, knowing that Jesus himself prayed for you.
Re-engaging with your faith means taking intentional steps to connect with God. It could be setting aside time each day for prayer or reading the Bible. It might mean joining a small group or finding a mentor who can guide you. Remember, faith isn’t just about attending church; it’s about building a personal relationship with Jesus.
Think about the people who have influenced your faith. Maybe it’s a parent, a friend, or a leader in the Church. Just as they have impacted you, you have the opportunity to influence others. Your actions and words can be a testament to your faith, encouraging others to believe in Jesus.
As you navigate life, remember that Jesus prayed for you. He wants you to stay connected to Him and to share His love with others. Re-engage with your faith, knowing that you are part of a larger story that Jesus himself prayed for.
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Chad Philson
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Saturday, October 12
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“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me”. Psalm 51:12
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In Philippians, the Apostle Paul commands his readers to “Rejoice in the Lord!” The expectation is that believers in Jesus rejoice when faced with all of life’s events, both good and bad. We choose joy.
That’s tough sometimes. When we face disappointment or heartbreak, it’s hard to choose joy. When we betray our own beliefs or sin publicly, we can be tempted to wallow in self-pity and sorrow for a while.
That’s why I like David’s approach in this Psalm. He gives us permission to ask for God’s help when it’s hard to choose joy. David may have written this Psalm after he caused a huge public scandal. The embarrassment and temptation toward self-loathing alone could overwhelm a lesser person.
He must have had some days when it was really tough to choose joy. Instead, he models repentance.
In Psalm 51, David pleads with God to do what David cannot do for himself. Using over ten verbs that refer to cleansing and renewal, He models complete repentance (v 7-12). Finally, as his culminating request, he cries, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation” (NIV).
In other words, beyond the foundational elements of repentance—confession and cleansing—our repentance remains incomplete until we let Jesus restore our joy. God wants you to have joy.
Maybe you feel that you have been disqualified from experiencing the joy of Jesus because of something that you have done, or something that has been done to you. David’s example of repentance suggests that we too can wholly repent—confessing, and receiving wholeness and cleansing—and ask God to return the joy that he desires you to have.
Living in joy restores the soul, and the joy of the Lord can be your strength. Ask God for joy today.
Glen Lorenz
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Sunday, October 13
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“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
Music speaks deeply to my soul. While I appreciate rhythm, harmony, and melody a song’s lyrics probe most profoundly. My parents love to tell the story of the exuberant joy I displayed whenever Glen Campbell’s Oh Happy Day played on their turntable. Evidently, I stood next to the speaker, my little hand steadying my uncertain legs, bouncing up and down proclaiming, “Happy, Happy, Happy.”
As I grew and my faith wandered, songs of the ‘70s and ‘80s filled my mind, emboldening and even defining my rebellious actions. At the same time the band U2 called to me with their powerful lyrics, pointing to a loving creator. During my freshman year in college, when my roommate looked me in the eye and asked me the ultimate question, “Brent, isn’t it time you get your life right with God?” I readily turned from my rebellion and fell into the open arms of our gracious Savior. My life transformed and set on a completely different trajectory.
The first song speaking to my soul, written by King David after his affair with Bathsheba, performed by Keith Green, provides the scripture for this devotional thought. Psalm 51:10, states, “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.” That verse became the prayer of my soul. Instead of emboldening rebellious action, a humble request for God’s action of cleansing and renewal shaped me. Create – the exact same Hebrew word from Genesis 1:1. I asked God to create in my own heart something out of nothing. Regardless of what currently comprises one’s heart, God can and desires to make it clean, restored to the condition of purity He desires for every human heart. All God requires is our humble request, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” He’ll take it from there.
Brent Ellis
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