Day 212: A Pure Heart

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Sunday, July 31^st, 2016
2 Chronicles 29:1-36
Romans 14:1-23
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 20:12
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1rRFeCx
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. – Ps 24:3-4

David very thoroughly outlines the requirements for blessings and righteousness. Any man or woman who wishes to enjoy God’s presence must have clean hands and a pure heart. He or she must live a life that is idol-free, and never lie. We must be perfect to enter into God’s presence.

But guess what? It’s impossible to be perfect! Every single one of us has sinned, and every single one of us has idols. Try as we might, sometimes our hands get dirty, and our hearts are impure. We all have idols, and we all tell lies.

All of us come up short; and that is why we need Jesus. When we put our faith in the finished work of the Cross, we are clothed with the righteousness only Jesus deserves! God looks at us and sees His Only Son Jesus Christ; and just as Jesus will be welcomed into His presence for all eternity, so too shall we be.

Invite Jesus Christ into your life, and accept the glory and honor only He deserves.

Prayer:

Father, I know the blood of Jesus gives me clean hands and a pure heart! Thank You for the Cross. Thank You I am Heaven-bound! Thank You I am free from sin, in Jesus’ name!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-212-by-faith/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-212-hearing-from-god/

Day 211: You Are Prepared

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Saturday, July 30^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
Romans 13:1-14
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 20:11
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/UCpxki
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones. – 2 Chron 26:14

Uzziah would never send his army into battle without proper equipment. He got them helmets, armor, swords and shields: whatever they needed. Neither will God send you into battle without the armor you need! He will not call you to take territory in His name without proper protection.

You have the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. The helmet of salvation will guard your mind, and the breastplate of righteousness will protect your heart (Rom 6:14-17)! Whenever you face darkness, you can “put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12). God has made you protected and prepared!

Spiritual warfare can be a misnomer if we think our victory is ever in question. You are not fighting for victory; you are fighting from victory! Jesus already won the battle. The King invites you to help Him against the enemy. The battle is His; and it is our privilege to help Him in the fight.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for protecting me! I know I have nothing to fear. No enemy can harm me, because the blood of Jesus gives me all the protection I need!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-211-respecting-leaders/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-211-god-is-love/

Day 210: Blessing and Praying

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Friday, July 29^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 20:8-10
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1qpGEiZ
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. – Rom 12:14

Be ready to bless people at all times! Scripture gives us unusual instructions for dealing with people who persecute us:

1) Bless Them

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. – Rom 12:14

To “persecute” means to harass, trouble, or drive away (Strong’s G1377). Paul tells us that when someone makes us want to run the other direction, we shouldn’t; we should stand still, and bless them instead. When someone elbows you in the subway, do you bless them? When someone says something rude, do you bless them?

2) Pray for them.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you… – Matt 5:44

The mark of a true Christian is one who will love those who deserve it least, bless those who curse in return, and pray for persecutors. When your boss treats you unfairly, do you pray for her? When a guest overstays his welcome, do you love him all the more?

None of this is possible without the Holy Spirit’s help. God is good at loving people; and the Holy Spirit will love people through you! Ask God to strengthen you to see people as He sees them, love people like He loves them, and serve people as Jesus served all mankind!

Prayer:

Father, strengthen me to love other people well. Remind me to bless people who persecute me, and to pray for them without ceasing. I know I will find blessing in their blessedness!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-210-valuing-his-word/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-210-total-makeover/

Day 209: Beneath the Surface

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Thursday, July 28^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1tTNX50
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

…and if the root is holy, so are the branches. – Rom 11:16b

In the world, appearances matter. We work our whole lives to pursue wealth and success. We spend hours every day preparing our personal appearance. Man looks at the outside!

But God looks at the heart. If the root is holy, the branches will also be holy. If you focus on the inside, you will see evidence on the outside. If you place a priority on your emotional and spiritual health, your whole life will benefit. If you pore over God’s word, your whole life will become a reflection of His glory!

Don’t focus on the branches; deal with the root. Every problem you are facing in your life has spiritual roots. Take those roots to God, and ask Him to make them healthy. As He does, your whole life will bear witness to the work He is doing inside of you!

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Sam 16:7

Prayer:

Father, help me to focus on what’s really important in life. I want to deal with any root issues. I ask that You would Illuminate them to me so I can heal from them: once and for all!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-209-says-who/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-209-getting-at-the-root/

Day 208: Praise Your Way to Victory!

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Wednesday, July 27^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
Romans 10:14-11:12
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 20:4-6
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1oxsoGR
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. – 2 Chron 20:21-22

When you praise, the Lord defeats your enemies.

Judah was scared. An enemy army was approaching that was far more powerful than anyone they had ever faced. But they sought the Lord. They gathered for corporate prayer and fasting, and God spoke. He told them to be still, because He had already won the fight! He told them to praise before the victory had even been won!

The people of Judah praised their way to victory. Because of their praise, they didn’t have to lift a sword. They praised in advance of the victory, and God delivered their enemies into their hand.

No matter what you are going through, praise Him! As you lift up your voice and praise God, He will deliver your enemies into your hand.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for victory over every adversary! Whenever I feel threatened, remind me to praise. I know that when I praise You, You will cause me to be victorious in Jesus’ name.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-208-stand-still-and-see/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-208-do-it-for-god/

Day 207: The Gospel Is Simple

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Tuesday, July 26^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34
Romans 9:25-10:13
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 20:2-3
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1rK6mlf
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Rom 10:9-10

The Gospel is so simple! Jesus already demonstrated exactly what God requires. No one has to ascend to Heaven to ask God what He needs from us (v 6); and no one has to descend to Hell to figure out how to conquer death (v 7). Jesus already did all that! He took on the punishment we deserve, so that we can inherit the eternal reward He earned!

Jesus finished the hard work so you and I can know exactly what God requires: belief in your heart, and confession from your mouth. Righteousness comes through belief, and salvation comes through confession. When you believe Jesus with your heart, and confess Him with your mouth, you will be saved!

Prayer:

Father, thank You that faith is so simple. I believe Jesus with all my heart. I’m going to tell everyone about Him, everywhere I go!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-207-what-must-i-do/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-207-heart-and-mouth/

Day 206: Keep Me from Evil

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Monday, July 25^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14
Romans 9:1-24
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 20:1
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1tab4uA
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. – Ps 19:12-13

David knew that no matter how much he worshipped, how much he praised, and how much he loved God, he was still made of flesh. As long as we are made of flesh, we are still susceptible to sin. Our prayer every day should be that God would keep us from sin. We are never immune; but He has already overcome. Pride in our ability to resist temptation on our own will result in a fall; but faithful reliance on Jesus will result in the firm foundation we need to accomplish our destiny.

True humility means understanding you always need God to protect you from sin and deliver you from evil. The most dangerous thought you can have when someone around you falls or fails is, “I would never do that. That will never be me.” As soon as you say it could never happen to you, the enemy has an opening to make you his next target.

Take heart. Jesus has already defeated all evil; and the way we walk out that victory is by trusting in the Cross. God reveals our secret faults so He can cleanse them. No matter how bad it gets, He will make us whole!

Prayer:

Father, I pray that You would keep me from evil all of my days. Cleanse me from my secret faults. Keep me from sin. Protect me, in Jesus’ name!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-206-to-and-fro/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-206-he-could-have-been-healed/

Day 205: Spirit-Filled Prayer

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Sunday, July 24^th, 2016
2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22
Romans 8:26-39
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 19:27-29
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/UuwNP8
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. – Rom 8:26

When you are weak in prayer, the Holy Spirit is strong. When you don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit does. When you can’t make adequate intercession for yourself, the Holy Spirit makes groanings on your behalf!

Praying in your heavenly language – in tongues – is so important. When you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit prays through you: He partners with your spirit to pray exactly what you need in that moment. Scripture wants us to grasp the fact that we “do not know what we should pray for as we ought.” That’s why we need God’s Holy Spirit praying through us!

When you pray in tongues, God’s guarantee is that your prayer aligns with His will (v 27). Do you want to pray powerful prayers? Pray in tongues!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for blessing me with the gift of tongues. Help me to never forget to use it! I know that when I pray in my prayer language, the Holy Spirit is praying powerful prayers through me.

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-205-power-prayer/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-205-the-worlds-best-intercessor/

Day 204: Kingdom Administration

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Saturday, July 23^rd, 2016
2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19
Romans 8:9-25
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 19:26
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1otAdgI
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed. – 2 Chron 8:16

God’s plan was accomplished by proper administration. I cannot recount how many times I have seen someone fail to fully participate in God’s plan for his or her life because of poor administration. God promises something great, yet we often drop the ball because we aren’t prepared, or don’t have time to count the cost and plan accordingly.

“I’m just not administratively talented,” you might say. But administration is a gift!

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. – 1 Cor 12:28

The same way you can pray and ask for any spiritual gift (1 Cor 12:8-10), you can pray and ask for administrative acumen! It’s already in you, because you are filled with God’s Holy Spirit; but the gift has to be activated!

Without proper administration, the temple would not have been built; but because of proper administration, Israel thrived! Ask for the gift of administration! Your destiny just might depend on it.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be well-organized and thoughtfully motivated. I pray that You would activate the gift of administration in me: here and now!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-204-wise-counsel/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-204-one-encounter/

Day 203: Never Too Far Gone

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Friday, July 22^nd, 2016
2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10
Romans 7:14-8:8
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 19:24-25
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1sKLZ9d
Get your Daily Word on Periscope! https://www.periscope.tv/PMikeWhite/

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

…and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, … and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, …then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. – 2 Chron 6:38-39

You are one prayer away from complete forgiveness! God is, “…faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9) when we turn to Him with our whole heart! So what are you waiting for?!

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done: there is forgiveness at the foot of the Cross. Turn to Jesus, and be forgiven!

Prayer:

Father, thank You that forgiveness is always one prayer away. I know there is nothing I can ever do to permanently separate myself from Your presence. I am making the decision today to turn to You with my whole heart!

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-203-no-condemnation/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-203-cant-help-myself/

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