Joshua 24:1-33

Luke 21:1-28

Psalm 89:38-52

Proverbs 13:20-23

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/Qv1n9r

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15). The Lord has just finished bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. Now that their journey is complete, He offers them a choice: serve the One True God, or serve the gods of this world. When we fear God and serve Him in sincerity and truth, He promises us that He will give us “…land for which [we] did not labor…cities which [we] did not build… and vineyards…which [we] did not plant” (Josh 24:13). In other words, He will provide for us above and beyond our needs when we trust in Him; and what’s more, He will make it seem effortless. This is a promise worth trusting, especially in New York City. God is a God who delivers on all His promises.

Prayer:

Father, I declare that my whole house will serve You! I put my trust in You for complete and total provision. I know that when I do, there will be nothing lacking in my life in Jesus’ Mighty Name!

Joshua 22:21-23:16

Luke 20:27-47

Psalm 89:14-37

Proverbs 13:17-19

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1iazIk3

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Ps 89:34). If God has spoken it, it is true. God calls us ‘sons of God’ and says we are ‘equal to the angels’ (Lk 20:36). Are you living with confidence that can only come from knowing you are a child of God? Are you enjoying the freedom that springs forth from the realization that God values you as much as the choirs of angels in heaven? You are loved. It’s true because God said it, and He never lies.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that You love me as your own child! I know I’m not perfect, but you love me just the same. Thank You for Your grace!

Joshua 21:1-22:20

Luke 20:1-26

Psalm 89:1-13

Proverbs 13:15-16

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/Qwbr1N

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (Josh 21:45). God does not lie. He delivers on every single one of His promises. When I get to heaven, I don’t want to find out that everything I ever heard God promise me in this life could have been mine, had I only made the decision to trust Him. We have the blessing of being able to see how history played out for the Israelites. They went in and possessed every single speck of land God promised to them as an inheritance. If He promised it, it’s yours.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your promises! I believe in You, and I believe in everything You have for me. Help to me stand in faith and appropriate Your blessings in my life!

Joshua 19:1-20:9

Luke 19:28-48

Psalm 88:1-18

Proverbs 13:12-14

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1iAoPMP

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

We’ve been at this for almost four months now, so I wanted to take a day to pause and reflect. Reading the whole Bible as a whole church has been an amazing growth experience. As a church, we’ve grown in community from reading the same words every day. As a pastor, I’ve grown from asking God’s Holy Spirit to speak to me in new ways through every Scripture. Jesus truly is the Author of all Scripture. Every word in the Bible – Old Testament and New – points to the salvation Jesus Christ earned for us on the Cross. Revelation from God is readily available, much like the waters of an infinitely deep well; we just have to ask Him to draw it out for us, using us as His imperfect vessels. As we transition from winter into spring, let’s make the commitment as a church to ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate Truth to us as we read Scripture together. Let’s ask God to make the words jump off the page as we read, and watch as they point to the finished work of the Cross. Happy Easter!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the Gift of Your Son Jesus Christ! His work on the Cross is finished, and all that’s left for us to do is enjoy intimate relationship with You. Help us to re-center out lives around Your love for us this Easter in Jesus’ Mighty Name!

Joshua 16:1-18:28

Luke 19:1-27

Psalm 87:1-7

Proverbs 13:11

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1eZcoFE

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: ‘How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?’” (Josh 18:3). God had already given all of the Promised Land to the nation of Israel, but His people were slow to claim it. God will tell us what He wants us to have, but we have to partner with Him to get it. Joshua sent men out to survey the land, so that it could be divided into suitable parts for the people to inhabit it. Has God called you into a new career? A new city or state? A new level of financial independence? Do your research. Survey the land! Find out exactly what changes you need to make to get where God wants you to be. This life is a partnership: God will outline territory He has given into your hand, and you get to partner with Him to take possession of it!

Prayer:

Father, help me to survey the land! Lead me into knowledge of everything I need to know to possess that which You have already given into my hand. Thank You for Your provision!

Joshua 15:1-63

Luke 18:18-43

Psalm 86:1-17

Proverbs 13:9-10

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1hLL3vw

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven…” (Lk 18:22). The word ‘treasure’ here is the Greek ‘thesauros,’ which is where we get the English word ‘thesaurus.’ A thesaurus is a book that lists synonyms and related concepts for every English word: it gives us new vocabulary to describe that which we already know. When we put aside self and follow Jesus, He will show us new ways to love Him. We will have new vocabulary to describe that which we already know: that a Good God sent His Only Son to die for our sins. In place of intellectual understanding, we will gain experiential knowledge of His love! Give God the chance to show you His love for you. When we give up everything to follow Jesus, He will bless us with everything we could imagine in heaven – and so much more!

Prayer:

Father, show me new ways to love You! I want to hear Your voice more often and more distinctly. I want Your Holy Spirit to reveal Your Word to me like I’ve never seen it before. Bless me with new, amazing thing that I don’t even have the vocabulary to describe!

Joshua 13:1-14:15

Luke 18:1-17

Psalm 85:1-13

Proverbs 13:7-8

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/QnHaSz

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“…Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Lk 18:17). How do children behave? How do children receive? We have to be able to answer these questions if we are to know how to receive the kingdom of God as a little child. Children trust their parents unconditionally. Whenever they’re lost or afraid, they run to mommy and daddy. Whenever they receive a gift, they accept it (instead of turning it away with false humility). In a child’s mind, there is no corner of the world too remote to reach, no ambition too lofty to pursue, and no dream too big! If a child comes to a parent and tells him (s)he wants to be a surgeon, or a professional athlete, or the president, the parent’s response is always encouragement and support. Your Heavenly Father will support you in the same ways! He will comfort you when you’re scared, and give you good gifts because they bring Him pleasure. He will give you your dreams when you pursue them in prayer. He will encourage and support you with His Word and His Holy Spirit because of everything you mean to Him!

Prayer:

Father, help me to receive your kingdom as a little child! Help me to rely on You as a good, generous Father. I know you want the best for me: better than I could even think to ask for myself. Thank You Daddy!

Joshua 11:1-12:24

Luke 17:11-37

Psalm 84:1-12

Proverbs 13:5-6

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1t2QuKZ

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks” (Luke 17:15-16). Ten lepers were cleansed; only one returned to give thanks and praise God for what He had just done. When Jesus is the author of something miraculous, do you praise Him for it? Many times, we get stuck in a backwards pattern: when something goes well we take all the credit for ourselves, but when something goes poorly we ask God why He messed it up! Shouldn’t the opposite be the case? God wants you to be blessed. Praise Him unconditionally, and watch Him make it happen!

Prayer:

Father, teach me how to praise! Show me stories of men who know how to praise You in Scripture! Introduce me to men and women who know how to praise You all the time!

Joshua 9:3-10:43

Luke 16:19-17:10

Psalm 83:1-18

Proverbs 13:4

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CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“But they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them…” (Josh 9:14-15). As the Israelites invaded the city of Gibeon, their hands were tied. The inhabitants of the city had approached the elders of Israel and tricked them into entering into a covenant with them, and promising them peace. The elders, including Joshua, had been tricked because they did not ask counsel of the Lord. Whenever someone asks to be let into your life, ask God if he or she is someone He wants in your life! If you’re reading this, you probably are a compassionate person. God knows you’re compassionate, and He will put people in your life so you can help them. However, the enemy also knows you’re compassionate; he will try hard to put people in your life to distract you from your God-given purpose! So, ask God for discernment before you invest time and energy into relationships. He will not lead you astray.

Prayer:

Father, give me wisdom and discernment when it comes to who I allow into my life. I know you want all of my relationships to be blessed, and I thank You for promising me my life will be filled with good friends and family!

Joshua 7:16-9:2

Luke 16:1-18

Psalm 82:1-8

Proverbs 13:2-3

For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1kiX63M

CityLight Pastor Commentary:

“He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov 12:3). Our words are important. When you hear bad news, what is your first response? When you hear an idea presented that would take a miracle to come to pass, what is your reaction? Is it one of faith, or one of fear and doubt? If your first words are going to be full of fear and not faith, guard your mouth. God will respond when our first words are full of faith and life!

Prayer:

Father, help me to guard my mouth. I want my first reaction to any situation to be one of faith, and never one of fear. Mold my mouth into what You want it to be, and guard my words so I only say those things which you put on my tongue.