The Daily Word: Thursday, January 31^st, 2019
Exodus 12:14-13:16
Matthew 20:29-21:22
Psalm 25:16-22
Proverbs 6:12-15
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. – Ex 12:23

The instructions for Passover were as follows: God’s people were to kill a lamb – one for each family – and “strike” (v 22) their doorposts with the blood of the lamb. The people didn’t paint the lintel with the blood; they struck it. The lamb was struck so that God’s people wouldn’t have to be (v 23). If any household had the blood of the lamb applied to its doorframe, God promised He would “…pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into [their] house to strike [them]” (v 23).

Is the enemy trying to come into your house to strike you? Is Satan trying to wreak havoc in your marriage? Is he trying to turn your children against you? Is he trying to put holes in your pockets and bring you to financial ruin? Don’t let him! If your household is covered in the blood of Jesus, God “…will not allow the destroyer to come into your house to strike you” (v 23).

You don’t have to let the enemy do anything in your life. The blood of Jesus means you are safe and protected in the palm of God’s hand! Tell the enemy to get out, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the blood of Jesus over my house. I speak protection and provision over my entire house – and everyone in it – in Jesus’ name! The destroyer is not allowed inside: ever again, for as long as I live! Thank You for perfect deliverance, and divine protection, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, January 30^th, 2019
Exodus 10:1-12:13
Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 6:6-11
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. – Prov 6:9-11

Rest is good! But laziness is sin. We must root out laziness and procrastination. So, how do we do it? No one wants to be lazy. No one wants to procrastinate! But we suffer from it because of how we try and deal with it!

The antidote to laziness is not to get up and try to do that thing you don’t want to do. If you try and do it yourself, it will never happen. The answer is to ask God to move you. God, fill me up with a zealous desire to serve you. Fill me up with a hunger for more! Rid me of any hidden laziness and procrastination, and light a fire in my bones to serve You!

Don’t try to do it yourself. Ask God to do it through you!

Prayer:

Father, light my heart on fire for the things of God. I want to passionately read Your word every day. I want to recklessly pursue Your presence! Whatever You want for me, I want for me: and I will stop at nothing short of sin to get it, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, January 29^th, 2019
Exodus 8:1-9:35
Matthew 19:13-30
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 6:1-5
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. – Ex 8:29-30

Pharaoh asked Moses to pray so God would stop the plague. Moses knew Pharaoh would change his mind; but he prayed anyway! Just because you don’t think someone will change, is not an excuse to hold back your prayers.

A constant theme in Scripture is praying for people who don’t deserve it. Jesus tells us, “…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). Why? “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (v 45). God blesses us: not because we deserve it, but because He loves us! And our love of other people should so move us that we are willing to pray for the people who hurt us the most.

In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. – Ps 109:4

Prayer:

Father, give me boldness to pray for the people in my life who have hurt me the most. It’s not right for me to hold back my prayers. The bigger the offense, the more I’m going to pray, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, January 28^th, 2019
Exodus 5:22-7:25
Matthew 18:21-19:12
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 5:22-23
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. – Matt 18:21-22

Forgiveness has no limits. Peter was asking Jesus a fair question: how many times should we forgive someone before they don’t get another “second” chance? How often should we forgive someone before our patience runs out? If someone can’t get their act together, when is it time to just cut them off?

Jesus response was: more times than you think! There is no limit to forgiveness. Jesus answers by multiplying Peter’s expectation; but of course the implication is that even if we exceed 490 instances of forgiving our brother (“seventy times seven”), we should still keep forgiving him.

How many times have you “messed up” and owed God an apology? Is it more than seven? More than seventy times seven? The answer is more than once every day: tens of thousands of times!

Yet in spite of your imperfection, God forgives you. Shouldn’t we forgive others the same way?

Prayer:

Father, help me to forgive others. Your forgiveness is infinite, and I am so grateful. Help me to show the same level of forgiveness to others – even when they don’t deserve it! – in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, January 27^th, 2019
Exodus 4:1-5:21
Matthew 18:1-20
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 5:15-21
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” – Ex 4:10-11

Moses was not a good public speaker: he was, “…slow of speech and slow of tongue.” But God made the mouth.

David was not as big as Goliath: he was a “…youth, and [Goliath was] a man of war from his youth” (1 Sam 17:33). But God gave him strength.

Paul had a terrible past: he used to round up Christians and kill them for their faith! But God used him to write 13 out of 27 books in the New Testament.

What will define your destiny: God’s word, or your excuses? When God tells you you can do something; believe Him! Don’t talk yourself out of your destiny before God can even make it happen. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov 18:21). When God calls, say yes!

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… – Ps 139:13-14a

Prayer:

Father, help me never to doubt my destiny. If You tell me to do it, I declare I can do it: in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, January 26^th, 2019
Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. – Ex 3:19-20

God warned Moses that Pharaoh wouldn’t let the people of Israel go. It wouldn’t happen, no matter how hard Moses tried: “not even by a mighty hand.” But when God stretched out His hand, it would be a done deal.

Moses wouldn’t be able to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go; but God would move Pharaoh to obedience with His miracle-working power. You can’t do it yourself; but God can do it through you! If you try and do it without God you will fail; but with God, you cannot help but succeed.

What are you trying to do on your own, that only God can do through you?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your strength! Help me never to rely on myself. Help me never to do it alone! I want to lean on you, like never before.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, January 25^th, 2019
Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us a make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” – Matt 17:4

Jesus brought Peter, James, and John to a mountain. All of a sudden, “He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (v 2). Moses and Elijah appeared right in from of them, talking with Jesus (v 3). So what did Peter do? Did he sit back and take it all in? Did he marvel at everything he saw? Did he rest, knowing that he was in good hands with Jesus?

Exactly the opposite! Peter tried to stay busy. Peter offered to build “three tabernacles” to memorialize the occasion (v 4). This was an anxious, unnecessary response to a beautiful, sacred moment. God didn’t want Peter to do anything! But Peter couldn’t sit still; so he suggested he do something instead of just relaxing and taking it all in.

When God moves, sit back and watch. What is He doing in your life right now? How much time have you taken today just to relax and marvel at everything He’s doing in your life? There will be times when God calls you to action; but until then, rest. You don’t have to stay busy to earn a spot in God’s presence. He’s called you there because He wants you there, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your presence! I’m letting go of my need to be busy. I recognize I don’t have to earn my right to be in Your presence, because Jesus already purchased access for me! Help me to sit back and enjoy everything You are doing, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, January 24^th, 2019
Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. – Matt 15:30

In order for the sick to be healed, people had to bring them to Jesus! Who in your life needs healing? Have you told them that Jesus heals? Have you proclaimed to them that He is Lord? They might not be healthy enough to seek Him out on their own; but they will come when you bring them! When you lay them down at Jesus’ feet, He will heal them.

One way we “bring” people to Jesus is by physically inviting them to church! We trust that if they come, God will meet them there. Another way we “bring” our friends to Him is by “laying them at His feet” through prayer. If there are any in your life who are sick: bring them to Jesus! Invite them to church! Pray God would heal them! Their healing – and their eternal future – may depend on it.

Prayer:

Father, fill me with boldness and confidence to bring people to Jesus. I know You; but that is not enough! I want everyone around me to know You too, in Jesus’ name.

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, January 23^rd, 2019
Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy. – Gen 46:27

Seventy people went down to Egypt from Jacob’s household. Now flash forward to the Exodus, 430 years later. When Moses led God’s people out of Egypt, they had grown to 600,000 “men on foot, besides children” (Ex 12:37). Scholars estimate that would mean at least 2.4 million people, and perhaps many more!!

What happened over 430 years in captivity? Supernatural growth! God had called Jacob down into Egypt; and when you go where God calls you to go, He will grow you the way He promised you would grow!

So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.” – vv 3-4

Where is God calling you? No matter what you are starting with, trust that He will make you great in that place!

Prayer:

Father, give me faith for growth. All that matters is that I am the center of Your perfect will. If I go where You call me to go, You will go with me, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, January 22^nd, 2019
Genesis 44:1-45:28
Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:11-13
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. – Gen 45:25-26

God’s heart is to bless you so much that you have trouble believing Him!

Jacob had spent years believing that his son Joseph was dead. Now he was facing a two-year famine that showed no signs of letting up. Yet out of nowhere, he got good news that was too much for him to believe! Joseph was alive! Not only that, but God had made Joseph ruler over all the land of Egypt (v 8), and his entire family had access to all the land and all the food they could ever need, for as long as the famine lasted! God is good. In fact, He is really good!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  – Eph 3:20-21

Whatever you are expecting: dream bigger! God was so good to Jacob that Jacob’s “heart stood still;” and God will be just as good to you!

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. – Prov 10:22

Prayer:

Father, thank You for always surprising me with good news! You bless me more than I deserve! You love seems too good to be true; but I know it’s true, in Jesus’ name!

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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.