Peter’s life was a glowing example of being Spirit-led.

Imagine seeing a doctrine-changing vision, and being given a read on men by God’s Holy Spirit to follow them. Imagine having an angel wake you up and lead you through several layers of guards, as though you were invisible. Peter, at times, would stand boldly and lend his voice to the inspiration of God to be a spokesperson for God’s visitation to His people.  Possible?  Yes!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be led by Your Holy Spirit like Peter was.  I want to be used to see the lives of those around me be touched for eternity.  Spirit of God, lead me today!

DAILY READING:  Ex. 35-7; Acts 12,13

The seemingly gruesome old system of sacrifices God told Moses to institute when He gave the commandments merely foreshadowed what He really had in mind … that Christ Jesus would not only be the ultimate sacrifice for sin, but that He would become our High Priest.

We would then become the new priests who would minister to the Lord daily instead of Aaron and his sons. David clearly saw this transition when he said, “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.  (Ps. 69:30,31)

Let’s give the Lord the sacrifices He really wants, the fruit of our lips as we sing His praise with thankful hearts.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we declare Your greatness today with a song of thanksgiving.  Thank You, Jesus, for being the One Who took our sins away by giving Your life on Calvary’s cross.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 31-34;  Acts 11

Both Cornelius and Peter had spent significant time praying.

Peter’s vision and revelation of God’s desire to reach the Gentiles seemed to actually be a result of Cornelius’s spiritual hunger which also warranted an angel visit.

Amazing things happen when we are hungry for more of God, when we are willing to spend quality time seeking His face.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, of all the activities I do during the day, I realize that prayer should have a greater place in my life.  Today, I seek Your face.  Today, I want and need a visit from Your Spirit.  Thank You Jesus.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 28-30; Acts 10

When considering the detail God gave Moses when He told him how to construct the tabernacle, it is apparent that God knows what He wants from and for us.  Specific metals, woods, dimensions, and amounts were all clarified to Moses.  God had even gifted certain individuals to perform the skilled tasks required in the preparation of the ornate tent where God would meet with His people.

He is no less clear today than He was back then.  One big difference is that the “Tabernacle of God is with men.”  (Rev. 21:3)  How we live our lives, our heart condition, and our daily walk are what He wants to build to His satisfaction, because we have this treasure in these earthen vessels.  (2 Cor. 4:7)

DAILY PRAYER: Father in heaven, I am amazed that You would chose to live in me.  Cleanse me, work in me, and use me for Your purposes today.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 25-27; Acts 9

“God is good, God is great, let us thank Him for our food.”  This was one of the first formal prayers I learned as a child.

The commercial sales community has introduced a good-better-best mentality to the consumer that degrades the true appreciation of what good is.  Essentially, it’s the absence of “bad.”  God is good, God is light, God is love.  How can you improve on these qualities.

The Psalmist declared, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”  (Ps. 84:11)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You have been so good to us.  We praise You and thank You as we become aware of the many ways You have been good to us.  We are mainly grateful for a loving Savior.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 22-24; Acts 8

Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses.  He observed that Moses had assumed too great a load of responsibility by attempting to judge the problems of the entire Israelite nation on a daily basis.  He declared, “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”  He wisely advised Moses to select leaders who had the same core values and give them authority to judge also.  Christian leaders commonly refer to this advice as “The Jethro Principle.”

God doesn’t want to crush us with the responsibilities of His Kingdom.  We wants us to empower capable leaders and discretely delegate authority to them to accomplish His purposes.  His Spirit is capable of directing them.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be a capable leader, but I want to see others experience Your power in their lives as they assume leadership responsibility in Your Kingdom.  Your Kingdom come, Your will be done!

DAILY READING:  Ex. 19-21; Acts 7

May I describe how I have found a verse to be so true?

Today’s verse of the day in Biblegateway.com is, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 NIV

I can heartily say I have personally experienced the reality of this verse.  I just turned 66, I have Multiple Myeloma (cancer of the blood plasma cells,) and have a job with many responsibilities, and my physical body doesn’t have the zip it used to.  Nevertheless, I so clearly sense the Lord’s assistance in everything I do.  He has surrounded me with capable leaders, outstanding teachers, and many other wonderful co-laborers who make TCS the school it is.  Can you see why I believe this verse?  Can you see why I love and trust Him so much?

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we are overwhelmed at Your goodness to us.  We don’t deserve Your love and provision, but we receive it as grateful sons and daughters.  We bless You and want to honor You in everything we do today.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 16-18; Acts 6

God made the hearts of the Egyptian inhabitants “favorably disposed” to give the Israelites what they asked for when they were about to depart from bondage.

God can turn hearts.  Whomever is under your responsibility today, ask God to make them favorably disposed to comply with His will. Teachers, parents, leaders … isn’t this what would help us communicate effectively?

DAILY PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, give Your grace to those with whom I deal today to do Your will.  Let me see Your influence rather than the influence of the enemy and the flesh.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 13-15; Acts 5

Rebecca, our faithful lunch provider at TCS for the past twelve years, is nearing the end of her earthly journey due to cancer. Please pray for her, her husband Mark, and her daughter Abigail. She and Mark have asked me to officiate her funeral which I am honored to do.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”  Ps. 116:15

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, comfort Rebecca in her final moments. Give Your strength to Mark and Abigail, and fill their hearts with Your presence.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 10-12;  Acts 3,4

The Sabbath was created for rest.  It is a spiritual room we can enter where we cease from our stresses and allow the Lord to be our focus.

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  He is so devoted to giving us this rest that He was even referred to as the Lord of the Sabbath.  The primary responsibility we have is to obediently “Come to Him.”

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I come to You today and I lay down all the cares of this life and just recline into You.  Thank You for Your care.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 7-9; Acts 2