March - Day 17

Deuteronomy 6-8 - Be diligent to obey God.  If we will put our efforts to loving God with our heart, soul, and strength, it will be seen in our commitment to God's commands.  Obedience demonstrates our love for God.  As parents, we are commanded to teach our children to follow and obey God.  It is not up to them to find their own way, but our responsibility to lead them to the way.  When God blesses you, don't forget that he is the one who has blessed you and given you what you have.  God did not choose Israel because they were the biggest and best, but because of his love and promise to Abraham.  We need to remember that we did not earn God's love, but God chose to love us because of his goodness, not ours.  God wanted Israel to destroy those living in the land he was giving them because he didn't want the people to tempt them to sin.  We have no reason to fear what is ahead of us if we are fully following God because we can know that God is with us and he will do what we cannot.
- God humbled Israel in the desert so they would learn to trust him and would understand that they need more than just bread to survive.  They needed God more than they needed food.  We need God more than we need physical sustenance.  His words are truth and they bring real life. 
- God disciplines us for our own good.  He knows sin will keep us from his best and destroy our lives so he disciplines us to try to get us to repent and turn back to him.  
- God is the one who gives success, so we should never lose sight of that and take credit that belongs to God.

Psalm 64 - God is our shelter who can protect us from the enemy's attacks.  Run to him for protection.

Matthew 26:36-56 - Jesus' desire was for God to not make him go through what was ahead, but he said - not my way but yours.  He yielded his will to God's.  This is what faith looks like - trusting God's way over your own.  Jesus wants us to know that our fight is not a physical fight but primarily a spiritual battle.  It is possible to fight the right fight the wrong way.  The disciples slept when it was time to fight the fight though prayer and tried to fight the physical battle when the soldiers came.  Jesus told them that living by the sword means dying by the sword. When Jesus was arrested and led away, it fulfilled the prophecies.  

Romans 11:1-24 - Abundance can become a trap that blinds us to the spiritual realities.  Prosperity is not necessarily a sign that things are good.  Jesus came for the Jews first, but they didn't accept him so salvation was offered to the gentiles which is good news for us!  God is kind and severe.  He is kind to those who trust in him and severe to those who reject him.  Those who trust in him will experience real life.