The Daily Word: Wednesday, May 31^st, 2017
2 Samuel 17:1-29
John 19:23-42
Psalm 119:129-152
Proverbs 16:12-13
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, “Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.” – 2 Sam 17:16

Absalom wanted to destroy David! Absalom’s advisers wanted to strike David at his weakest moment and finish him off, once and for all. But God positioned an inside man to intervene and protect David.

Hushai was David’s friend on the inside. He warned David of all the enemy’s plans before they unfolded. David knew exactly what his enemy was up to. He knew when to hide, and when to get ready and fight, because his inside man warned him in advance.

Jesus is your Inside Man. Whenever the enemy wants to finish you off, His Holy Spirit will warn you. Whatever the enemy is up to, He will tell you! You don’t have to wonder what the enemy is up to. Trust in Jesus, and, “…He will tell you things to come” (Jn 16:13)!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for telling me the enemy’s plans in advance! Thank You for warning me when I need to be warned. Thank You for protecting and positioning me for everything coming my way, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, May 30^th, 2017
2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
John 18:25-19:22
Psalm 119:113-128
Proverbs 16:10-11
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” – 2 Sam 16:10

As David and his men retreated from Jerusalem, a man named Shimei , “…went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust” (2 Sam 16:13). One of David’s men wanted to go over and cut off his head! But David couldn’t have cared less.

There is no freedom like being free from the opinions of others. Who cares what other people say! Shimei cursed David, and threw stones at him as he retreated along the road! But David was unfazed. He knew that no man can curse what God has already blessed! He knew he had nothing to worry about, and stopping to even address this man would have been a waste of time.

You have more important things to do than worry about what other people think. You have the call of God on your life! You have a destiny! Get to it, and forget the rest.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be free from the opinions of others! I don’t want to be subject to their thoughts any more. Make me free, in Jesus’ name! I don’t care what the haters say; I only care what You have said!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, May 29^th, 2017
2 Samuel 14:1-15:22
John 18:1-24
Psalm 119:97-112
Proverbs 16:8-9
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward… – Jn 18:4

Judas came to arrest Jesus with a detachment of troops. Jesus knew what would happen to Him: he would be tried, scourged, and crucified. He would face a painful death as He died once for the sin of all.

But He didn’t shrink back from His fate; He went forward. Courage means remaining faithful to God’s plan, even when the road isn’t easy. Courage means doing whatever is necessary to set others free, even if it costs you everything.

We are not those who shrink back. We are filled with God’s Holy Spirit; and that means when adversity comes, we go forward, never backward.

Prayer:

Father, help me to step forward into Your calling over my life. Help me never to back away from the tough things You ask me to do. Help me to be faithful and obedient, no matter what, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, May 28^th, 2017
2 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 16:6-7
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. – Ps 119:81

Are you led by your emotions? Or are you led by the word of God?

Hope comes from the word of God. Your emotions will change: you may be overjoyed one day, and underwhelmed the next. But God’s word never changes. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8); and He holds His word above His name (Ps 138:2)!

Long after your emotions fail you, the word of God remains. Don’t believe in what you can feel; believe in God’s word.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that Your word is fixed in Heaven: it never changes! You are good; and Your goodness never ceases. Help me to hope and trust in Your word, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, May 27^th, 2017
2 Samuel 12:1-31
John 16:1-33
Psalm 119:65-80
Proverbs 16:4-5
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. – 2 Sam 12:13

David messed up! But he immediately repented. As he admitted his fault, God put away his sin.

God’s continued favor on David’s life was perfectly dependent on David’s initial response of repentance. He took responsibility for his actions, and accepted the consequences of his wrongdoing. He didn’t try and convince Nathan that what he had done wasn’t wrong. He didn’t try to rationalize, and talk his way out of blame. He admitted his faults, and fell at the feet of God for forgiveness.

We will all mess up. It is only by openly admitting and confessing our faults that we grow and change!

Prayer:

Father, help me to openly admit my faults! I know as soon as I confess my shortcomings, You are faithful to forgive them. Help me to be honest and open with You, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, May 26^th, 2017
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 16:1-3
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. – Jn 15:11 

In John 15, Jesus repeats one word to His disciples ten times: abide. Abide in Him (v 4). Abide in His love (v 10). When we abide in Him, and His love, Jesus’ promise to us is that His joy will remain in us, and our joy will be full!

The key to a joyful life is abiding in Jesus. So what does it mean to abide? To “abide” is the Greek meno, which means to “be present and not depart; to remain and wait.”[1] When we learn to spend time alone with Jesus – with no agenda, and no strings attached – we find joy. Better yet, we are filled with His joy.

Are you missing joy in your life? Abide in Jesus. Abide in His love. Take your eyes off your problems, and fix them on Him. Spend time with Him for no other reason than to abide in His love. Drop your prayer list and simply enjoy His presence! When you abide, He will fill you with joy.

Prayer:

Father, fill me with Your joy! Give me more time to spend with You: abiding, with no hidden agenda, and no strings attached.

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, May 25^th, 2017
2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
John 14:15-31
Psalm 119:33-48
Proverbs 15:33
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

And I have been with you wherever you have gone… – 2 Sam 7:9a

David had experienced victory! David had also experienced defeat. Wherever David went – good or bad – God was there.

It probably didn’t feel like God was there when Saul was throwing spears at David’s head. It probably didn’t feel like God was there when David had to run from Saul for his life. It probably didn’t feel like God was there when David was hiding from Saul in a cave, wondering how he would ever become king! But God was with him wherever he went.

God is with you: wherever you go, and whatever you do. He is one breath away. Call on Him, just like David did! He will lift you up, and make you great.

…and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. – 2 Sam 7:9b

Prayer:

Father, thank You for never leaving my side. You were there! And you are here. Help me to lean on You like never before, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, May 24^th, 2017
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 15:31-32
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. – Jn 13:34

Under the Old Covenant, your responsibility was to, “…love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18). As if that wasn’t hard enough, Jesus ups the ante under the New Covenant! Now, your responsibility is not only to love others as you love yourself; it is to love them, “…as [Jesus has] loved you” (Jn 13:34).

Loving one another as Jesus loved us means being willing to lay down our lives for each other. It means putting your neighbor’s best interests ahead of your own! It means laying down your opinions for the sake of making someone else feel heard.

But the only way we can do that is by relying on God’s Holy Spirit. If you try to love people like Jesus without God’s help, you will fail; but if you simply let God love people through you, you will be fulfilled!

Prayer:

Father, help me to love other people like You! I am not perfect; but You can always love perfectly through me. Help me to lean on You like never before, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, May 23^rd, 2017
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. – 2 Sam 3:39

David was finally king! But he still acknowledged his weakness. He admitted he was weak before the Lord! And he admitted he was weak before others.

Vulnerability demonstrates we have nothing to hide. When David was happy, he danced for everyone to see (2 Sam 6:14). When David was upset, he wept (2 Sam 3:32). David was willing to demonstrate his weakness, and the people loved him for it! He refused to lean on his own strength, and leaned on the Lord’s instead. His vulnerability made him the best leader the world had ever seen.

Prayer:

Father, help me to lead from vulnerability. Help me to be bold and know You have anointed me to lead, regardless of what other people think! I am bold as a lion, and strong as an ox, because Your Holy Spirit lives in me!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, May 22^nd, 2017
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. – 2 Sam 2:4

This was the reward for David’s faithfulness. He didn’t have to take the throne; he simply waited, in faith, and God gave it to him.

David had two chances to kill Saul and take the throne on his own terms, instead of waiting for God’s plan to unfold. In both instances, David’s friends encouraged him to take the bait! But David knew killing Saul would mean rushing his destiny. He knew that if his reign started with bloodshed, it would end the same way. He waited patiently; and the Lord gave the Kingdom of Israel into his hand.

What are you waiting on? What has God promised you that hasn’t unfolded yet? Don’t rush into your destiny by taking it prematurely; let God give it to you, and it will stand the test of time.

Prayer:

Father, help me to wait in faith as my destiny unfolds! I submit to Your perfect will, and I thank You for Your perfect timing, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.