As a father and an educator, I have learned that children must suffer consequences when they do the wrong thing. Mere scolding won’t always do. Who better to administer correction than parents and loving adults God has put in their lives? If they are not chastened early by those who love them, they will ultimately be more painfully reprimanded by either law enforcement or the damaging consequences of life’s tragedies.

“I will punish their sin with the rod … but I will not take my love from him.” [Ps. 89:32,33]

DAILY PRAYER: Father, give Your wisdom to parents and leaders so they can give effective discipline to spare children the painful consequences of sin.

DAILY READING: Ps. 88-91

When examined and considered, the blessings and advantages given to those whose lives are devoted to obediently hearing God’s voice are staggering. In the big picture, what God wants to do FOR His people is like the ocean, and what we think we must do FOR Him is like a drop of water.

As the Psalmist described, God wants to “Subdue all our enemies, and feed us with the finest of wheat and satisfy us with honey from the rock.” How’s that for a lifestyle?

One of the best ways to listen to God is to read through the Bible in a year.  Join me in each daily reading listed below.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, I want to hear You more clearly. Then, give me grace to be obedient to Your voice.

DAILY READING: Ps. 81-87

It’s a fearful thought … the Holy, Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe actually entrusts mortal men to be His representatives. You may know a Christian leader, and have found out the hard way that they’re very fallible.

And yet, God’s Kingdom keeps growing and changing the lives of sinners, and He’s doing it through such imperfect vessels who are also being transformed through His Word, His Spirit, and their faith and obedience.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of God and not of us.” [2 Cor. 4:7]

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my soul. Take complete control.

DAILY READING: Ps. 76-80

One of King David’s enduring qualities was seeking the Lord’s wisdom in his decisions. When he didn’t ie. adultery with Bathsheba, numbering Israel etc., he paid bitterly. God inspired Him to share some of the most glowing prophecies of the coming Messiah.

Jesus, the Messiah, was also a King who taught and embodied the principal of putting the Father first in all decisions. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God…” were His Words.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, I hereby desire to put You first in everything I do. Hear my cry. Answer me with Your wisdom. Jesus, You are my Wisdom.

DAILY READING: Ps. 71-75

“Let God arise [allow God to arise], and His enemies be scattered.” Ps. 68:1

When God is given His rightful place in our lives and in the world, our enemies will be handled in God’s way, not ours. It’s as if God is saying, “Just put me in the driver’s seat of your life and I will keep our enemies subdued.”

He’s infinitely greater than we realize.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for limiting You. Be exalted today over all the earth. Be exalted far above the challenges of this life. 

DAILY READING: Ps. 66-70

The Psalmist declared of God, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.” Jesus taught, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … [for] our Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

The blood of the Lamb has exempted us from the reward of the wicked (Hell), but at the Judgement Seat of Christ, “Every one [will] receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, give me grace each day to perform acts of goodwill and kindness to show Your love and build Your Kingdom.

DAILY READING: Ps. 60-65

David prayed, “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record? John the Revelator saw that the tears and prayers of the saints were contained in vials in heaven.

When we pray fervently and frequently, God is recording it and uses our heart cries to form His strategy of action.

Give Him plenty of prayer to work with.

DAILY PRAYER: Heavenly Father, hear our cries for help, healing, and wisdom today. Who do we really have to help us but You? 

DAILY READING: Ps. 55-59

In his confession and repentance process, King David acknowledged the hope he was given through the discovery of his sin with Bathsheba. God poured in joy and gladness, even though he figuratively broke the bones of David’s pride. In his despair, he discovered how mercifully healing God’s dealings were to him.

When broken, press in to God. His healing balm creates a clean heart.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for our presumptuous sins. Restore to us the joy of our salvation.

DAILY READING: Ps. 49-54

In 1988, I was serving as the Worship Pastor at Redeemer’s Church in Columbus, Ohio. When I saw a good friend on the TV news being arrested for peacefully demonstrating at an abortion clinic, I believe the Lord asked me, “What will YOU do about abortion?”

Consequently, I too participated in a peaceful demonstration to let my voice be heard about the travesty of murdering innocent babies in the womb. I was arrested, along with many others, and now have a misdemeanor on my record because I did something about it.

Thousands will conduct a silent march in downtown Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, from 11 til 2, to let our culture know how we feel about abortion.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, we love You, and You love the unborn children. Forgive our nation for this genocide.

DAILY READING: Ps. 43-48

The Psalmist said, ” I shall keep watch over my ways; so that I do not trespass with my tongue. And I guarded my mouth; when a sinner stood against me.” [Ps. 39:1]

The writer of Proverbs says, “A person who talks too much gets into trouble. A wise person learns to be quiet.” [Pr. 10:19]

Wisdom is characterized by discrete and timely communication. More is not better.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, help me keep my tongue when I should be quiet. I don’t want to offend with my words.

DAILY READING: Ps. 39-42