After Jesus had risen from the grave and had appeared to His disciples, they found a new level of commitment to living lives that praised and thanked Him for what He had done for them.

“They worshipped him, and turned back to Jerusalem with great joy, and spent their days in the Temple, praising and blessing God.”  (Luke 24:53)

Let’s practice the continual state of praising and blessing Him all throughout the day.  He’s been so good to us.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in heaven, I thank You for Your redemption plan to bring me to Yourself through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  I will never cease to praise You and abide in Your presence.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 4-6; Acts 1

Life can be overwhelming at times.  The Psalmist said, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”  (Ps. 56:3,4)

When I looked at the roster of the football team we are playing tonite and saw how big their linemen are, I began thinking of this verse.  Our boys don’t have enough time to gain nearly a hundred pounds each, so we all need to TRUST GOD.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we will trust You when it looks as if the odds are stacked against us.  We trust You and Your way of doing things.

DAILY READING:  Ex. 1-3; Luke 24

Every morning I hold a carafe under the water dispenser in the fridge door to draw enough to make coffee.  While the carafe is “waiting,” it is being filled.  That’s the same concept the Old Testament means when it says “Wait on the Lord.”

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  (Is. 40:31)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, as I wait in your presence, fill me with Your Spirit, Your power, Your strength, and Your wisdom.  Let me make a difference in the lives of those around me today.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 47-50; Luke 23

Since finding the Lord, we are NEW.  Old things are passed away, all things are new.

We are no longer a slave to sins and habits of the past.  Instead of allowing our mind to linger on past failures or temptations, replace that thinking with God’s righteous substitute … His Holy Spirit for alcohol abuse … His peace for drug dependency … His blessings for cursing … His promises for discouragement.  The enemy’s decoys become the pavement of our ascent as we rise to walk in a new life.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we have failed miserably in the past, but thank You for giving us salvation from our sin and removing its hold upon us.  Be Lord of this day.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 44-46; Luke 21,22

Paul realized that it was ultimately the Lord who needed to be pleased concerning our efforts here in this life.

He stated, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”  (Col. 3:22-24)

Whose reward would you rather have, God’s or man’s?

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, help me to imagine Your eyes being on me today as I fulfill my earthly responsibilities.  I want to please You in all that I do.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 41-43; Luke 20

God is the GREAT WORKER. “The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament showeth His handywork.” (P . 19:1)

What are WE working for? If we work to build our kingdom, it will be a mess.  If we work to build the Lord’s Kingdom, we have the ultimate “Rest” awaiting us.  God’s Kingdom is His people.  Work with His people, build His Kingdom, and He will give rest to your soul.  (Matt. 11:28,29)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, so many of our earthly efforts have been misdirected.  We have worked hard for our own profits.  Redirect our focus to Your Work so we can labor for the eternal.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 39,40; Luke 19

When reading the names of Jacob’s descendants, we can imagine our names being written as having significance and belonging. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (Eph. 2:19)

You and me, we are included in God’s registry of family members,  What a comforting thought.

DAILY PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, assist me to walk today as a representative of Your family.  You are my father, I am your child.  Heal your children who need a miracle.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 36-8; Luke 18

Jacob feared his brother Esau, yet he had few other options but face him on his journey home.  (Gen. 33)

He cowardly sent his gifts, wives and children ahead of him, but ultimately did the right thing by facing the man he feared.  Meanwhile, God had tempered Esau’s heart toward his brother.

I have found that once I made the decision to do the right thing, God would pour in His grace and courage to follow through on my commitment.  Grace is God working in us, “Both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  (Phil. 2:13)

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for my lack of courage to do what’s right. I WILL DO YOUR WILL with the strength and courage You give me today. Father, in Jesus’ name, touch Rebecca Bryan today with Your comfort and healing.

DAILY READING:  Gen.33-5, Luke 17

God spoke to Jacob through dreams and even wrestled with him. These encounters changed Jacob and were turning points in his life.

After wrestling with “The Man,” Jacob was bent on the outside but straightened on the inside.  Encounters with God leave us more Godly and more blessed than before.

Nighttime takes on a whole new significance.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we need Your visits in the night. Let Your rest, strength, instruction, and blessings come to us each night.  We need you.

DAILY READING:  Gen.31,32; Luke 16

Jacob’s father-in-law, Laban, was deceitful with him, thereby reinforcing God’s law, “Whatever a man sows, that’s what he will reap.” (Gal. 6:7)

When instructing children, this is a wise principal to keep in mind.  It can be a healthy deterrent to inappropriate behavior when they are warned of the consequences to their actions.  

DAILY PRAYER: Father in Heaven, give me the wisdom and guidance of Your Holy Spirit as I conduct the tasks of this day.  Stir me to sow seeds of righteousness and teach others to do so.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 29,30;  Luke 14,15