Arise and Abide

Reading 1 Kings 18:16-40. We have this picture of the people of Israel who are wavering, hobbling back and forth between: Is it the Lord that is God, or is it Baal? We also have this picture of a God who hears and a God who answers, versus these idols who obviously can't do anything because they're manmade. We see that the heart of God in this contest is to bring the people back

Reading Psalms 87. The imagery of foreign and oppressive nations being counted as citizens of God’s Holy city is prophetic. Reminiscent of the account in Acts 10 Peter’s vision and God telling him not to call unclean what God has made clean. Being told to kill and eat was to prepare his mind to go to the gentiles and participate in what God was doing. the place where God's na

Reading 1 Kings 18:1-15. The drought had been going on for three years and times had gotten desperate. King Ahab and Obadiah searching the land for the kings’ animals to have water. This is the turning point. These two servants of the Lord who are in this hard situation and responding very differently. Obadiah who did something amazing for the Lord. He risked his own life, his

Reading Psalms 86, a psalm of David. In verse 11, “Teach me your ways. Oh Lord, that I may live according to your truth, grant me purity of heart so that I may honor you.” David is looking to God for discipleship. In verse 15, he's speaking to God's character. “Oh Lord, you are a God of compassion and mercy, slowly get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.�

Reading 1 Kings 17 in the New Living Translation. Elijah declares that as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives the God. I serve, there will be no do or reign during the next few years until I give the word. Ahab had married Jezebel and they had started serving Baal who was a god who was supposed to bring the rain. God is faithful, God grows our faith and uses that growth

Reading Psalms 85 in the New Living Translation. Start your day as the psalmist begins this psalm, with praise and worship. Being intentional with our thoughts and placing them before Jesus. To follow Jesus, we must stop talking, and listen. Verse 13, Righteousness goes as a Herald before him preparing the way for his steps. When we are in right relationship with God, He can more

Reading 1 Kings 15:32-16:34. God gave people free will in the garden and humanity has continued to choose their own way. As people continue in this pattern we move farther and farther away for the righteous standards of God. Omri did more evil than any king before him, until his son Ahab becomes king and outdoes his father’s sins. I see this picture that God is the one who plac

Reading Psalms 84. Recognizing God’s goodness in life. It is in the presence of God that we experience the good life. We enter through repentance. Change perspective in the hard times back to the goodness of God. The picture of someone who wants to draw near to the LORD. The imagery of provision and protection. God’s heart is for people, and for people to experience the fullnes

Reading 1 Kings 15:9-31. In this reading, we see a picture of two kings, one of Judah, one of Israel. Nadab who had a short-lived reign or reign of only two years compared to Asa who had a reign of 41 years. Nadab did what was evil in the Lord's sight and followed the example of his father. King Asa made a choice to follow after God. They thought they had come up with the soluti

Reading Psalms 83. Written around the time of the exile in the tension of war and hardship. Wanting God to destroy God’s own enemies while making themselves an enemy of God. The tension of needing the Savior to come. The call for the nation of God to realize they serve God alone. Israel was called to represent God, now disciples are called. The need for believers to remain in the