Numbers 27:12-28:15; Luke 3:1-14; Psalms 62:1-8; Proverbs 16:19-20

NT: “…God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins… He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:2b-3, 7-9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Before Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist (upon hearing the word of God) began preaching and preparing the way for Jesus. John’s message was a message of repentance unto forgiveness. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. It means a change of mind. Repenting involves turning away from anything that doesn’t line up with God’s word, will, and ways, and turning toward everything that does. It involves turning away from wrong and sinful thought patterns and actions, and turning your gaze to God to receive His way of thinking and His instructions for living. John said it wasn’t enough just to give repentance lip service… it wasn’t enough to just say you were repenting. John said you need to produce fruit that proves that repentance has actually occurred. Repentance is a change of heart that should produce a change of decision and direction. Repentance is a change of thought  patterns that should produce a change in attitude and action. The good new is that when we truly repent and turn away from sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions, and turn to God to receive His thoughts, attitudes and actions; He will give us sufficient grace to walk in His word, will, and ways.

Psalms: “I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering fence? They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Selah Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. Selah” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62:1-8‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

One of the fruits of true repentance is complete rest in God. Although there were times in David’s life when he had sinful thoughts which led to sinful actions, he quickly and sincerely repented of those thoughts and actions and turned to God. His accounts before God were clean because he was a rapid repenter. So even in times when David was being physically and emotionally attacked by enemies whose only desire was to completely take him down, he could be at rest in God because his relationship with God was clean. He didn’t rest in God plus something else… he didn’t take rest in God plus his intellect or skill as a warrior. He rested in God alone, for God was the source of any skill or strength that he had. When he repented and turned to God… and kept his eyes on God, God filled him with all the peace, rest, ability, and intellect he needed to do what God had called him to do.

Numbers 26:52-27:11; Luke 2:41-52; Psalms 61:4-8; Proverbs 16:18

NT: “Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it… After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:41-43, 46-52‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

At the age of 12, Jesus was already well-studied with a good understanding of the scriptures. He also had a compelling desire to be about the Lord’s business. The Jewish coming of age for boys (bar mitzvah) occurs at 13. Jesus was 12 and was still fully under the responsibility of His parents. Instead of chasing after His calling at His earliest compelling, He submitted to His earthly parents, returned to Nazareth, and increased in wisdom and stature. One thing that I often see in the church, especially with young men or women who feel called to leading worship, is a stronger commitment to their “calling” than obedience to the Lord. Once they get a sense of what they may be called to, they barge in and out-kick their coverage, instead of trusting the Lord, embracing His process, and submitting to His timeline. Obviously, Jesus, at the age of 12 had a good understanding of His calling. He was also obviously anointed for the call and incredibly gifted – to the point that He held the professionals of His day in amazement. Yet, it wasn’t time. There was more the Father needed to do in Him before He was released to ministry. There was more maturing that needed to occur. There was more life that Jesus needed to experience as a young man. So instead of barging in on His calling, He humbled Himself, submitted to The Father, and remained obedient to His parents. 18 years later, He was fully released. While it is true that God can use anyone at anytime, we must always be wary of out kicking our coverage and extending ourselves beyond our current level of grace.

Proverbs: “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Among many things that pride leads us to do, it causes us to think more highly of ourselves that we ought. It causes us to trust more in “our anointing” than in the grace supplied by the Lord as we submit to Him. It causes us to be more committed to our calling than obedience to the Lord and trusting in His timing. Arrogance leads us to believe that we have everything we need to pursue our calling, and we don’t need the input of those who have gone before us so that we can stand on their shoulders and reach higher than we can on our own. God does not grace the proud. He only graces the humble – so no matter how “anointed” you may be, that anointing will only get you so far without God’s grace and the safety that is found in submitting to God and good and Godly counsel. So, as the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.” Otherwise, you are headed for a fall.

Numbers 26:38-51; Luke 2:36-40; Psalms 61:1-3; Proverbs 16:16-17

NT: “There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:36-40‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

While Simeon was singing out his praises, another person came up and joined in. This person was Anna, an elderly woman who was also a prophetess. Not only did she join Simeon in lifting up praise and thanksgiving, she also began to tell others the good news. We see in Luke’s account that Joseph and Mary were very devout followers of the Lord. They were very intentional and took special care to make sure they followed all that was required of them in the law. Through Matthew’s account, we know that Joseph, Mary and Jesus did not immediately return to Galilee. Some time after Jesus’ dedication in the temple, the Maggi came to pay them a visit; and then they fled to Egypt to save Jesus from Herod’s slaughter of sons in the area 2 years old and under. It was after they returned from Egypt that they ended up settling back in Galilee. As Jesus grew, He submitted Himself to His earthly parents as well as to His Heavenly Father – and in so doing was filled with wisdom and covered by God’s grace. Joseph’s and Mary’s devoted submission to God and to His law was undoubtedly taught to their Son, and through His obedience and submission, He grew into the man He was sent to be.

Proverbs: “Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver. The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:16-17‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Jesus grew in wisdom by submitting to His parents, submitting to the Law, and submitting to His Father in heaven. As we submit to righteousness, we intentionally watch over our lives, and through the grace of God that comes through humble submission, we avoid evil. We don’t just follow our whims and desires… we don’t primarily pursue our own happiness. Instead, we surrender our “right” to pursue happiness and submit primarily to the Lord, His word, His will, and His ways. In doing that, we are filled with wisdom and graced with peace and joy… and we become all that we were created to be.

Numbers 26:1-37; Luke 2:21-35; Psalms 60:6-12; Proverbs 16:14-15

NT: “There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples — a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel. His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed — and a sword will pierce your own soul — that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:25-35‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

When Jesus was 8 days old, He was circumcised and given His name. When He was 40 days old, His parents brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate Him as their firstborn son. While Joseph and Mary were in the temple that day, and old man came in and took the baby Jesus into his arms and began praising God and prophesying. That old man was Simeon. Simeon was devoted to God and had been promise that he would see the Messiah, the hope of Israel before he died. That day, Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple, and by the Holy Spirit, knew that the one month old baby was the promise he had been waiting for. What struck me as I read Simeon’s song is that Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, proclaimed that Jesus the Messiah was for all people. He wasn’t just Israel’s Messiah. He was the savior of the World. He was the Glory of Israel, but would also be a light to all the gentile nations of the world to lead them out of darkness and into the revelation of God. He also, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, prophesied to Mary that the child would reveal hearts, be opposed, and be a stumbling block to many… but He would also cause many to rise to their destiny in the Lord. Jesus is for all people – not just people like us… not just people who look like we do or believe like we do or act like we do. He is the savior of the world. Is that a stumbling block to us, or will we allow Jesus to lead us, by His Holy Spirit, out of darkness to rise to our full destiny in the Lord?

Numbers 25:1-18; Luke 2:1-20; Psalms 60:1-5; Proverbs 16:12-13

NT: “Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:4-14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This, of course, is the well known account of Jesus’ birth. Joseph, along with Mary, had to travel from Galilee to Bethlehem to be registered in his city of origin. While they were there, Mary went into labor. Because all of the guest rooms in the town were full, she gave birth in a stall and laid Jesus in a manger. At the same moment, Heaven announced the glorious arrival of the Son of God to a group of lowly shepherds who were camped out in the fields as they cared for their sheep. Jesus later referred to Himself as the good shepherd. He was also to be known as the Lamb slain for the sin of the world. It was no mistake that the Angels appeared to shepherds watching their flock of lambs (some of which would probably be used as sacrifices at the temple). The message of the angel was to the shepherds, but it was for the whole world. It was a message of good news and great joy… that God had sent a savior for all mankind… and as the chorus of angels proclaimed, this Savior would bring peace on earth and God’s favor to those who place their faith in Him. People may look around at the world and say, if Jesus came to bring peace, He didn’t do a very good job. One thing we can definitely see all around us is a lack of peace. Jesus Himself later said that as we grow closer and closer to the end of days, wars and rumors of wars will increase… there will be a lack of peace in the world. The peace He brings on earth is to men (and women) who place their faith in Him and allow their minds to be renewed by His Holy Spirit. Those people will have peace in the midst of unrest… and because they have peace, they can make peace with others through the grace of God. Peace comes to earth through people who are at peace because they have been transformed by the Prince of Peace. Am I… are we willing to have our thought patterns and deep seeded fears and anxieties transformed by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit as we fully submit ourselves to God and present ourselves to Him for His service? True peace can’t be forced. It can’t be legislated. It can only come as we allow ourselves to be transformed into people who are truly at peace… and only God through Christ can do that.

Numbers 24:1-25; Luke 1:67-80; Psalms 59:14-17; Proverbs 16:10-11

NT: “Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant — the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant that we, having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:67-79‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

When the angel Gabriel announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a son, Zechariah didn’t know if he could believe the angel; and because of that, Zechariah was struck speechless. For nine months, Zechariah watched as his wife conceived and his promised son grew in her womb… and he couldn’t say a word. His son was born, and still Zechariah couldn’t express his joy. It wasn’t until 8 days later, when his son was circumcised and dedicated to the Lord. As soon as Zechariah wrote that his son was to be named John, suddenly his tongue was loosed, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and out of the depths of his heart… after 9 months of watching God do the miraculous, he proclaimed this prophetic song of praise. He was there when Mary visited them and lived with them for 3 months. He heard Mary’s story of the same angel visiting her. Not only had he seen his wife’s pregnancy – he had witnessed the first trimester of Mary’s pregnancy, and couldn’t say a word until now. The first words that he uttered were praise for the miracle child growing in Mary’s womb – the promised Messiah who would redeem God’s people and bring a victorious salvation from their enemies. His son, John would prepare God’s people to receive the coming Messiah by reminding them of God’s mercy and forgiveness and announcing the dawning of a new day that would bring light to a people lost in darkness. That is what Jesus does. He redeems us (pays our debt with His blood), He saves us through defeating the enemy of our soul, He shows us mercy and forgives us, and He shines light into our darkness and leads us to peace. What the world needs now is a new day. What the world needs now is Jesus.

Psalms: “But I will sing of your strength and will joyfully proclaim your faithful love in the morning. For you have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble. To you, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold — my faithful God.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭59:16-17‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

While David sat in his home at night, with Saul’s men watching his house waiting for the opportune time to kill him, David proclaimed these praises. He was not afraid and he knew that he would see the dawning of a new day… and when the day dawned and God had saved him once again, he would joyfully proclaim God’s mercy and faithfulness to anyone who would hear. This is the same David who also wrote that weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. Through Jesus, darkness has ended for those who place their faith and their trust in Him. For those who surrender their lives and accept what Christ has provided, light has come… it’s a new day! In His light, we can be led to peace. To walk in the Light of a new day is so wonderful… and I will sing His praises.

Numbers 23:1-30; Luke 1:57-66; Psalms 59:1-13; Proverbs 16:8-9

OT: “God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill? I have indeed received a command to bless; since he has blessed, I cannot change it. He considers no disaster for Jacob; he sees no trouble for Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and there is rejoicing over the King among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he is like the horns of a wild ox for them. There is no magic curse against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said about Jacob and Israel, “What great things God has done!”” (‭‭Numbers‬ ‭23:19-23‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

As Israel was nearing the promised land, they camped just outside the borders of Moab. This made Balak the King of Moab quite uneasy. To defend himself, he hired a prophet named Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam informed Balak that he could only say what God gave him to say, and when it came time to pronounce a curse on Israel, Balaam blessed them. Frustrated, Balak moved to another location, where they could only see the outskirts of Israel’s camp, and asked Balaam to try again. This was Balaam’s second response. God doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t go back on His promises. When God has said He will bless, nothing or no one can reverse that blessing. The true blessing that Israel received was that God was with them and God was fighting for them. His presence with them was the source of all blessing. The same is true of us today if we are His by faith.  Through Christ, we are able to abide with Him, and He aides in us through His Holy Spirit, and there is no curse that can overcome the blessing that flows from His presence.

Psalms: “Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Rescue me from evildoers, and save me from men of bloodshed. Because look, Lord, they set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine. For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position. Awake to help me, and take notice… I will keep watch for you, my strength, because God is my stronghold. My faithful God will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my adversaries.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭59:1-4, 9-10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

David wrote this psalm during a time when Saul set an ambush for him while he was in his house. See the faith that David had in his Lord. He didn’t wonder if God would rescue him. He knew that God would rescue him, and he stayed up watching for the hand of the Lord. He knew that God is faithful and that God would meet him in his hour of need. As we remain faithful to the Lord, nothing and no one can revoke God’s faithfulness to us.

Numbers 22:21-41; Luke 1:39-56; Psalms 58:10-11; Proverbs 16:6-7

NT: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!” And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:41-55‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Once Mary received the news of Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy and the announcement of her own, she was compelled to visit Elizabeth so the two of them could rejoice together – and rejoice they did. The Holy Spirit was at work at their meeting. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied over Mary, calling her blessed: blessed among women, and blessed because she believed the word of the Lord. The unborn John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb and leaped with joy. Mary was compelled by the Spirit to lift up a song of praise to the Lord. Her song is called The Magnificat (Latin for magnify). She doesn’t magnify herself nor her miraculous conception. She magnifies the Lord for what He has done… what He has done for her, what He has done for the people of the world who fear Him, and what He has done for Israel by remembering His covenant. Those who believe the Lord and open their lives to His work are blessed among the people of the earth… and in blessing His faithful people, God is magnified above all.

Numbers 21:31-22:20; Luke 1:26-38; Psalms 58:1-9; Proverbs 16:4-5

NT: “In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth — even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:26-38‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Six months after the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple, he appeared to Mary in the overlooked backwoods town of Nazareth. The message that Gabriel brought to this insignificant young lady was that she was highly favored by God. That announcement completely took Mary by surprise and totally threw her off guard. She, of all people, wasn’t expecting that at all – which even goes to show the level of humility she walked in. Mary, who in the eyes of the world was a complete nobody, was favored by God and chosen to give birth to and raise His Son, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world. Mary’s question of “How can this be,” wasn’t a question of doubt. It was a question that came through her faith. She didn’t doubt that it would happen – she just wanted to know how it would happen, and Gabriel gave her the answer. What a pleasure it is to God when we have faith like Mary… when He calls us to do something that is far beyond our ability to do, instead of doubting, we respond with, “That’s amazing! How are you going to do it?” With God, nothing will be impossible. If He can take a poor, insignificant young woman from nowhere’s-ville Israel and make her the most significant woman in history, then He is well able to do in us what He desires to do as well. We just need to respond the way Mary responded: “I am Your servant, may it happen to me, just as You said.”

Numbers 21:1-30; Luke 1:8-25; Psalms 57:4-11; Proverbs 16:1-3

NT: “At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:10-17‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God was about to send His Son into the world. He wanted to make sure there were people prepared to receive Him and His message. To fulfill scripture, He anointed a prophet to prepare the way. That prophet was John the Baptist. John the Baptist’s parents were Zechariah and Elizabeth, a faithful couple who had served the Lord their entire life, but were without children. God had been preparing them and setting them apart for His anointed time – and His time had come. When the Angel Gabriel announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth’s prayers would be answered, he described the son that they would have: His name would be John (Jehovah is gracious), he would be fully dedicated Nazarite to the Lord his entire life, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb, and he would launch a national revival that would turn God’s people back to Him. One thing that this world-wide pandemic and 2-month quarantine has done is turn the hearts of fathers to their children… and the hearts of children to their fathers. Is the Lord making people ready? As He is using a world-wide crisis to turn hearts from the frivolous and unnecessary to what is important and vital, could He be preparing a people? Could we see, not just a national revival, but a world-wide revival of people turning to the Lord? Are we prepared? Have we allowed our hearts to be turned? Or will we go back to busying our lives with the frivolous and unnecessary and forsake, once again, the things that are most important?

Psalms: “My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises. Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭57:7-11‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

David wrote this psalm when he had to hide in a cave as he was fleeing for his life from King Saul. His confidence didn’t come from his ability to defend himself. His confidence came from God’s faithfulness to defend him. His confidence was placed in God’s checed (mercy, goodness, covenantal love toward him) and faithfulness that exceeded all understanding. David was a man who remained prepared to receive all God had for him by keeping his eyes ever on the Lord and remaining ready to praise the Lord at all times. He wouldn’t allow a day to start without giving God the praise that He deserved – even if he was hiding in a cave… especially if he was having to hide in a cave.

Proverbs: “All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs motives. Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:2-3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

We can easily be deceived into thinking we are doing good when we are not. How often do we give ourselves a pass because the ends justify the means. If our “intentions” are good, then we don’t judge our actions or lack of action. God doesn’t get deceived. We can remain on the righteous path, prepared for all He has for us, by committing everything we do to Him. If we lay everything before Him and submit fully to His leadership, He will direct our paths and plan our day. Then the things that we do will be established by the Lord.