These are a few of our SOAP notes from today’s reading. We encourage you to read and journal on your own first, then join us in conversation about what God revealed to YOU today. Click HERE to go directly to the daily reading if you wish.
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Sacrifice | Kim Chipman
S~ But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. 2 Samuel 24:24 (NLT)
O~ David had been prideful and sinned by taking a census to revel in the size of his army and in his power. He wasn’t’ going to war so there was no need to know. Actually, even if he was going to war he had seen the Lord deliver them from unbelievable circumstances before! As punishment, God sent a plague. Then David received instructions to build an altar. Araunah was going to give David everything he needed, but David insisted on buying it.
A~ I truly sense that this heart desire pleases You. The desire David had to offer to You only that which cost him something – some self-sacrifice would need to be involved for him to feel right about presenting it to God. I wonder how often I miss the boat here. I offer You what is convenient and without cost to me. Does this please You? Maybe…but likely not as much as an offering that is sacrificial. That really costs me something personally. A give that isn’t just from my excess time, money, whatever…but that requires me to choose YOU instead of ME.
P~ Lord, help me to hear Your voice and obey it. Help me to die to myself and live for You alone. I love You.
Please Forgive Me | Joni Tyner
S~ Then David said to God. “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” 1 Chronicles 21:8 (NLT)
O~ Chapter 21 is about Satan tempting David to take a census of Israel. He wanted to do this so he could boast about his military strength. He fell to the temptation and did the census. He was following his own ambitions over God’s plan for his life.
In verse 8, David takes responsibility for his actions and asks for forgiveness to God.
A~ Like David, there are situations where I know what the right thing to do is, yet I do my own thing. This always ends up badly. I hear myself saying to my kids, “there are consequences for your actions.” Hey Joni!!!! Listen to that!! In order to restore intimacy with God and begin to receive blessings again, I need to repent and ask for forgiveness. It is important for all believers to take responsibility for our actions. Sin without remorse is living out of fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It is not a loss of salvation, but believers will experience minimal fruit in his life (including love, joy, peace, and patience, see Galatians 5:22-23).
P~ Dear Lord, living in this world is tough. There is so many confusing distractions, help me to keep my eyes on You and Kingdom work. I desire to be close to You, to receive Your blessings. Please forgive me for sin that has grieved Your heart.
Intentionally Grow | guest post
S~ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. Philippians 1:9 (NLT)
O~ Paul is praying for the Philippian people.
A~ I love how he prays for them to grow – grow in love, grow in knowledge, and grow in understanding. Everyone I know – ME being first in line! – has areas to grow in. I really see my walk with You as a daily process. I have felt like life is like being dropped in a river. Often the current is quite swift and it takes significant effort to get upstream where You are. Sometimes it takes all the effort I can muster to just not be swept away by the current…forget getting upstream…I just don’t want to drown! Other times it seems to calm a bit, but if I am not intentional even in those times the flow will cause me to drift. Without consistent effort TOWARDS You I will drift AWAY from You. I must INTENTIONALLY GROW in love and knowledge and understanding and pray Your Spirit imparts some wisdom along the way!
P~ Thank You for Your Word – the reminder today that no matter where I am in life there is room for growth. I love You!
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