I hope you have been enjoying your Daystreamers readings the last several months. We are just getting cranked up! I am taking a break this week for the holiday weekend, but will come back full force into select/awesome passages from Samuel next Monday. Take a few minutes and check out our World View podcast about “What They Knew” about Who Jesus would be when He appeared on earth, as well as the “three hearts” Book by Book reading of 1 Samuel. Should be a fun summer!
Just so you don’t go through withdrawal, here are some great passages to expand your mind and heart during our week away.
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I AM YOUR HEALER/Exodus 15:26
“If you will give earnest attention to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”
There is a place God wants to live. He wants us to experience freedom, peace, and recovery of what has been lost to us as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. Egypt is filled with cruel bondage. It is made up of lost things which God wants us to find. Let’s pray today for our friends and family to be free. To escape the cruel bondage of Egypt and enjoy the fruits of the security of who we are in Jesus. Join me in praying today for disease-free living of the heart.
27
WHAT WISDOM LOOKS LIKE/James 3:17
Do you ever wonder about your wisdom quotient? Just how solid are you when it comes to your thought processes and decisions? James (the brother of Jesus) had processed the evidences of living a wise life:
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
Think through each of these characteristics as you go about your day today. What do these look like at work? With your spouse? Your kids? Your friends? Praying for wisdom to shine around us is good for the soul of our city.
28
THE WAR AROUND US/Ephesians 6:12
Is there more going on around us than what we can readily see? Are there bigger purposes in play? Where do angels live? What do you believe about other dimensions?
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
God, help us to keep perspective today on the war in which we find ourselves. Help us to be wise and vigilant today, able to see with our spiritual eyes as well as our physical eyes.
29
SLOW TO ANGER/James 1:19, 20
All of God’s commands (advice, if you like) are given to set us free from the inside out. Because humans are imperfect we seem to produce huge amounts of agitation in relationship. Here is some of the most practical help you can use to guide you at home, at work, and for your heart.
“This you know, my beloved brothers. Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
God help me today to find what is right in your eyes. Help any anger to be Your anger, and help my anger to be submitted to Your Kingship.
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OWNERSHIP/Acts 17:24
Humans have this propensity to think we are the center of everything, and that ownership is either based upon the work we do or our birthright as a man or woman.
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.”
Most religions seem to get hung up on “place” when it comes to honoring our gods. The Living God transcends place – and most religious constructs. Lord – help us – help our neighbors to see Your presence in everything. Who is like you among the gods O Lord God of heaven and earth!?
1
WHO MADE THE WORLD? Hebrews 1:1
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, through whom He also made the world.”
Here’s a big one. Most think that Jesus is the founder of a 2000 year old religion. This is not the story of the God Story. While Jesus came to earth at a specific, chosen time (God With Us = Immanuel) He has existed eternally as the Son. No beginning. No end. Creator of the world and all it contains.
Let’s pray for our weary American heart to connect with the fullness of Who Jesus is. Let’s pray for the people we love to encounter God today in the middle of their every day.
2
THE MIND IS A POWERFUL THING/Philippians 4:8
If we can get our heads in the right place we can succeed from the inside out.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good reputation, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
This is how we can experience a satisfied mind, and have a deep impact upon our personal world.
God, help our minds to think the way You think – to care about what You care about – and to bring good things to our part of the world.