Weekly Bible Readings – July 26 – August 1

26 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34
Romans 9:25-10:13
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 20:2-3
27 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
Romans 10:14-11:12
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 20:4-6

28 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7

29 2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 20:8-10

30 2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
Romans 13:1-14
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 20:11

31 2 Chronicles 29:1-36
Romans 14:1-23
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 20:12

01 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21
Romans 15:1-22
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 20:13-15

Waiting on God by MaRita Teague

Before I got married, I remember praying and waiting for the Lord to bring the man He had for me into my life. To be honest, the waiting was excruciating at times. Thoughts of doubt would invade my mind and rob me of the peace and joy I knew He wanted for me. I’d imagine myself a lonely ninety year-old woman in a little house until I centered myself on the Lord and the promises in His Word, which would never allow me to settle for less than what the Lord had waiting for me.

Over the years I’ve seen so many women do what I was tempted to do. Panicked, tired, or frustrated, they settle for less than what the Lord would have for them in a mate out of fear and end up in misery. However, we have to always be mindful in every situation to wait upon the Lord to move or for change. He always has our best interest at heart and waiting on Him is the only guaranteed way we can we experience real peace and joy.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “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.” Just as Isaiah is speaking to Israel’s captivity with these words, we too can feel like we are in captivity while we are waiting, but we must wait on the Lord because He will renew our strength.

I’ve discovered that we must be clear that our desires line up with what He desires for us, and if so, we must be willing to wait for His perfect timing. So many times I have asked the Lord for things, desperately and secretly longing for His will to line up with mine, which is certainly contrary to the Word and will of God.

It is very important to know the Lord and trust Him. Knowing Him requires action. We must read and study the Word. We have to pray and seek Him. He can’t just be first. He has to be the center of everything we are, say, and do. The more we know Him, the more easily we can trust Him.

In turn, when we trust Him, we can wait on Him, knowing that He will give us the strength to endure and to wait. Habakkuk 2:3 explains that “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come.” When we’re truly waiting upon the Lord, we should be in a posture of expectation. At our appointed and set time, it will happen. Until then, He will provide us with the supernatural strength we need to rise above life’s difficulties and demands, enabling us to wait patiently for His answer.

I often think about Job’s afflictions and how he handled the trials he faced. Despite Job displaying his human frailty at times with pessimism, he says in Job 14:14, “all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes.” In utter despair, he still had hope that the Lord would change his situation, and of course, He did.

Through times of waiting on the Lord, He has built my character and faith in ways that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I’ve learned that we can say all the right things sometimes. We can study, pray, and have intellect or head knowledge about the things of God, but the tests refine us and yes, can even help to define us, by showing us ourselves and where we really are.

I’ve heard that during a drought, the roots of a tree dig deeper to find water. Similarly, when we’re experiencing a trial that requires us to wait, it can drive us beyond the superficial to depth in relationship and dependence on God.

So, what are you waiting for? Is it your healing? Maybe a job? What about a mate or a spouse? Something else? No matter what it is, Isaiah 40:29 says “He giveth power to the faint.” How are you waiting for it? Are you anxious, depressed, or stressed? The second part of that verse says, “to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Lean on Him and trust Him, knowing and believing that He will renew your strength until your change comes.

Blessings and Love,

MaRita Teague

Hear my prayer

Every time we pray about something, every time we sincerely take something to God, God handles it and God deals with it. ~ Max Lucado

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.  In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me. (Psalms 86:6-7)

Am I a hypocrite?

This is the question that has been plaguing me for a while.  Am I hypocritical in the way I live my life?  Am I serving God for the wrong reasons, using Him as a cover for things I do “in the name of the Lord”?

I sincerely hope not.  But is that what the world sees when they see me or hear me proclaiming “thus sayeth the Lord”?  I take my Christian life and doing the will of God very seriously, and if the Bible gives specific instructions on a certain subject matter, then I do my best to follow those instructions.  Of course, I mess up.  I’m human and I’m not perfect and yes, sometimes I let worldly influences affect me.

Each day, I will take stock of my life and the way I live it.  If I am wrong in any thing that I do, then Lord, I ask for your forgiveness.  I want to be like You in every way.

If you are reading this, and you have been struggling with this same issue, then why don’t you join me in examining our lives closely, and if there is any cause for doubt about our sincerity, take it to the Lord in prayer and ask that He help make us pure and blameless in our service to Him.

Weekly Bible Readings – July 19 – 25

19 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30
Romans 5:6-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 19:18-19

20 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17
Romans 6:1-23
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 19:20-21
21 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11
Romans 7:1-13
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 19:22-23

22 2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10
Romans 7:14-8:8
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 19:24-25
23 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19
Romans 8:9-25
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 19:26

24 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22
Romans 8:26-39
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 19:27-29
25 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14
Romans 9:1-24
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 20:1

Today’s thought

Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God. Look around and serve God. Look within and find God. God closes doors no man can open and God opens doors no man can close.

Weekly Bible Readings – July 12 – 18

12 1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17
Romans 1:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 19:4-5
13 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36
Romans 1:18-32
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 19:6-7

14 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17
Romans 2:1-24
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 19:8-9
15 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30
Romans 2:25-3:8
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 19:10-12

16 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32
Romans 3:9-31
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 19:13-14
17 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11
Romans 4:1-12
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 19:15-16

18 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34
Romans 4:13-5:5
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 19:17

Waiting on God by Kimberly Cash Tate

“Yet those who wait upon the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31 NASB).

Whenever I read this verse, my eyes like to skip to the really good part-the gaining strength, mounting up, tireless running, and weariless walking part. I see myself soaring despite the difficulty, rising high above it.

But there are a few words before the really good part, conditional words-”those who wait for the LORD.” Yep, that one word says a whole lot: wait.

I did a word study on “wait” once-you guessed it, during a trial-and found it all over the Psalms. Here are a few examples: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20). “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 62:5-6).

You’re probably getting the same picture I got as I studied that word. “Waiting” is an indispensable part of the journey. But if we had to be honest, it’s not exactly fun! It means we’re hoping and expecting, but we’re also in the midst of, feeling the pain, crying out, and wondering why. I’ve waited in tears, with fear and doubt threatening to overwhelm me. I’ve waited with an incredible feeling that things would never change, waking up in the morning to anxiety nipping at my heels.

But as we wait-hoping, expecting, and even crying out to God-something happens. We draw closer to Him. We learn our deep need of Him. We begin to behold His power and His majesty and His sovereignty. After all, in that same chapter in Isaiah, He tells us He’s the One who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand (40:12). He’s the One who created the stars and calls them all by name (40:26). He’s the One who sits above the vault of the earth (40:22).

And yes, He’s the One who, as we wait, will indeed cause us to gain new strength, to mount up with wings like eagles, to run and not get tired, and to walk and not get weary.

The waiting may not be easy, but the rewards are divine.

Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God. You are sovereign and You are mighty. When trials enter my life and threaten to overwhelm me, help me to wait for You, and in the midst, to seek You. I thank You for Your promise that I will be strengthened, and I will soar, and I will be able to run this race, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Weekly Bible Readings – July 5 – July 11

05 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17
Acts 23:11-35
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 18:14-15

06 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4
Acts 24:1-27
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 18:16-18
07 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17
Acts 25:1-27
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 18:19

08 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81
Acts 26:1-32
Psalm 6:1-10
Proverbs 18:20-21
09 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:40
Acts 27:1-20
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 18:22

10 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14
Acts 27:21-44
Psalm 8:1-9
Proverbs 18:23-24
11 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18
Acts 28:1-31
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 19:1-3