Jacob was a deceiver.  Under his mother’s guidance, he stole the birthright from his brother, Esau.  (Gen 27)

Educators sometimes feel they have some “Jacobs” in their class.  Although he began as a little deceiver, he turned out to be a great man and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.  He was actually given the name Israel, which means “Prince with God.”

A prince is a king in the making.  As educators and parents, we are training up little kings and queens.  Let’s be patient and allow God’s design for their lives to be in the driver’s seat.  He sees their end, while we only see how they are now.  DON’T GIVE UP!!!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, give me the necessary patience to keep pouring into my students and my own children.  Let me see the potential You see.  Thank you for allowing me to be an influence upon them.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 27,28;  Luke 13

When possible, try praying out loud.

It must have been David’s practice when we read, “My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, Lord.  In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee.”  (Ps. 5:3) “Evening, morning, and at noon will I pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”  (Ps. 55:17)

I’m not advocating waking up the entire household.  Try praying aloud in your vehicle.  Then, some day, try singing your prayer.  It’s amazing!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want my prayer life to please You.  Thank You for the amazing way You invite us to communicate with You.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 26,27;  Luke 13

Abraham sent his trusted servant to the homeland to find a wife for Isaac.  As the servant was in the process of asking the Lord to let a specific sequence of events happen for Isaac’s future wife to be identified, Rebecca’s actions were simultaneously answering his prayer.  (Gen. 24)

God knows what we need before we ask.  His pipeline is in place and the perfect answer is already on the way.  Such love and care is nearly incomprehensible.  Glory to God.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, Your care and ability to send answers to our prayers overwhelmingly shows us Your love.  Thank You.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 24,25; Luke 12

When God gave Abraham a ram to offer instead of Isaac, He established Himself as our Great Provider.  The name Jehovah-Jireh was hereby introduced to give His people another revelation of His identity.  (Gen. 22)

This powerful and moving story also prefigured the ultimate Sacrificial Lamb, Jesus.

The essence is that God has already given us everything we will ever need.  Spiritual maturity is living in the full breadth of God’s provision.  It’s the Father’s good pleasure to give us His Kingdom.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we are so grateful for Your love shown through Christ and all that you provide for us.  Thank you!!!

DAILY READING:  Gen. 22,23; Luke 11

King Abimelech had taken Sarah to himself, thinking she was Abraham’s sister.  Because he had a clear conscious and led an innocent nation, he qualified to hear God’s voice, warning him of committing adultery and sparing his life.  (Gen.20)

David said, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee.”  (Ps. 25:21)

Living within the bounds of God’s blessing is the only way to go.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, lead me in paths of righteousness today.  I need the guidance and strength of Your Holy Spirit.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 19,20,21;  Luke 10

James said, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”  (James 3:9,10)

Again … “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another,” (4:11) and “ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.” (5:9)

Our tongues can speak death or life.  Today, let’s monitor our words.  Are they building people, or destroying them?  Ouch!!!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, please forgive me for shooting out words that kill or destroy.  I really don’t want to do that, nor do I want it done to me.  Help me to speak words that heal, instruct, forgive. In Jesus’ name.

DAILY READING:  Gen. 17,18,19;  Luke 9

As Christians, we are more aware of the nearness of the Lord’s return than others. Even though times may be frightening, we can have confidence in the keeping power of God.

To the Thessalonian church, Paul said, “Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you.” (1 Thess. 5:23,24)

We can face these times with confidence in God.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, thank You for your keeping power. I trust and rest in You, and commit all my loved ones to You.

DAILY READING: Gen. 15,16; Luke 8

Jesus said, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.” John 16:24

This is one of my “GO TO” verses. So often we try everything else before we ask the Lord. Let’s reverse that! Let’s call on His name FIRST.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for putting other solutions ahead of You. Teach me to always call on Your great name first.

DAILY READING: Gen. 13,14; Luke 7

Jesus indicated that “our house” was our life.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” Matt. 7:24

Life is tough enough. It gets hard on your house, sometimes. Let’s be wise and build for the storms.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for building on wrong foundation elements. I hereby want to replace them with Your words. Your words bring eternal life.

DAILY READING: Gen. 11, 12; Luke 6

Not only is our body designated as the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” (1 Cor. 6:19) but throughout scripture a predominant theme is that we are the house God truly desires to live in. (Ps. 84, 132)

He has chosen to live in the house He has built and paid for, the lives of Christians who have been purchased by the blood of Jesus, His Son.

The Church is not the building, it’s the people in it.

DAILY PRAYER: Lord, thank you for purchasing me to be a part of Your eternal kingdom. Live in my life by the power of Your Holy Spirit everyday.

DAILY READING: Gen. 9,10; Luke 5