Day 40 Thank God in Advance

 

9/20/2018

The highest form of faith is thanking God before you get an answer. You might be facing a difficult crisis right now. When are you going to start thanking God for the miracle you have been asking him for? When it’s over? Don’t wait any longer to say thank you. Say it now. When you thank God for something he has already done, that’s gratitude. But when you thank God in advance, that’s faith. Thank God for what he is going to do, even though you don’t know how he is going to do it. Sing victory songs before you see the victory.

 

		Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
		Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 39 | The Courage to Do Nothing

 

9/19/2018

Sometimes it takes more courage to do nothing than it takes to do something. Fear says, “Don’t just stand there! Do something!” But God says, “Don’t do something. Just stand there. Relax. I’ve got this.” There must be a sign in the throne room of heaven that says, “No freaking out!” When you put your life in God’s hands, your battles become his battles. If you think you have to fight all of your battles on your own, you are going to wear yourself out. It’s time for you to resign from being the general manager of your own little universe. God has been waiting for you to calm down and get out of the way so that he can do what only he can do. Remember, he’s God, and you’re not.

 

		Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you… Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
		2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 38 | God Is Never Overwhelmed

 

9/18/2018

God always knows what to do and when to do it. He is never stumped or puzzled by your dilemmas. God has never been overwhelmed. He has never scratched his head or shrugged his shoulders or wrinkled his brow. He has never even said, “Hmmm.” When you don’t know what to do—and even when you think you do know what to do—always turn to God in prayer. He knows what is best.

 

		You would not allow us to invade their territory when we came up from Egypt; so we turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us ... O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
		2 Chronicles 20:10-12

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God. Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 37 | Motivated to Pray

 

9/17/2018

Never let a problem intimidate you. Instead, let it motivate you to pray. Prayer must always be your first choice, not your last resort. Start by reminding yourself how great God is. Then remember what he has done and what he has promised. When you remember what God has done, it builds your faith for your current challenge. When you remember what God has promised, you can take him at his word.

 

		Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.”
		2 Chronicles 20:7-9 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.          Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 36 | A Problem of Perspective

 

9/16/2018

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember how great God is. Problems shrink when God expands in your life. Fear is always a problem of perspective. You fear your problems because your God looks small. If God looks small, it’s because he is far away. And if God is far away, guess who moved? Draw close to God in prayer, and see how your perspective changes. The closer God gets, the bigger he gets; and the bigger God is, the smaller your problems become.

 

		O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.
		2 Chronicles 20:6 (NIV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God. Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 35 | Do You Need a Breakthrough?

 

9/15/2018

Do you need a breakthrough today—in a relationship, or your finances, or your career, or a habit? Does it seem like you have been praying forever, and nothing has happened? Don’t give up. God knew about your need even before you did, and he has already started the process of answering your prayer. Though the answer has been delayed, it will come suddenly. Keep praying. Stay faithful. Stay watchful. Your breakthrough is on its way.

 

		While I kept on praying and confessing my sin and the sins of my people, and pleading with the Lord, suddenly the angel Gabriel appeared in my vision and said to me, “Daniel, I’ve been sent to help you understand God’s plan. The moment you began praying, an answer was given, and I’m here to tell it to you, for God loves you very much."
		Daniel 9:20-23

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God. Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 34 | The Two Sides of God's Mercy

 

9/14/2018

Prayer is not based on how good you are. It is based on God’s mercy. What is mercy? The dictionary defines mercy two ways. First, mercy is “refraining from harm or punishment.” And second, mercy is “unexpected kindness.” So there are two sides to God’s mercy. There’s the forgiving side and the compassionate side. The forgiving side withholds punishment, even though we deserve it. The compassionate side goes the extra mile to help us with unexpected kindness. It is because of God’s mercy that he invites you to ask for his forgiveness and help in your time of need.

 

		O my God, listen to me and hear my request … We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful.
		Daniel 9:18 (NLT)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.       Prepared by Saddleback Community Church

Day 33 | God's Number One Characteristic

 

9/13/2018

The world portrays God as a God of judgment. But God reveals himself first and foremost as a God of mercy. Mercy is his number one characteristic in the Bible. More than his sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, or any other fancy words about him; more than his anger or justice or judgment—more than anything else—the number one attribute of God in scripture is his mercy. All the way back, when he revealed his glory to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments, God said, “This is my name: The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6, NKJV). Notice the first characteristic is mercy. God did not say, “I am the Lord God, just and righteous,” or “eternal and all-powerful.” He said, “Do you want to know who I am and what I’m like? I am merciful. Everything I do for you flows from my mercy.”

 

		Lord God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you.
		Daniel 9:9 (CEV)

 

REFLECT

 

What did you hear?

What did God say to you as you read today's Bible passage? What word or phrase was most meaningful to you?

 

What do you think?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

 

What is your prayer?

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It's up to you. But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God. Prepared by Saddleback Community Church