The Daily Word: Wednesday, July 31^st, 2019
2 Chronicles 29:1-36
Romans 14:1-23
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 20:12
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.” – 2 Chron 29:11

Hezekiah’s first order of business was to restore worship in Judah. He repaired the Temple at Jerusalem, and called the priests and Levites together to remind them of their calling. “Do not be negligent now,” Hezekiah said, “for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him.” Hezekiah reminded them of their purpose. They were chosen by God! And from that moment forward they had the strength to do what God had called them to do.

Don’t give up your calling. Do not be negligent! The Lord chose you. He doesn’t make mistakes! If you don’t stand and do what He has called you to do, something God wants the world to see will be missing.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for this reminder that I didn’t choose my destiny; You chose it for me. Give me the strength I need to stand before You and serve You. I want to fulfill every ounce of my calling, in Jesus’ name!   

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, July 30^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
Romans 13:1-14
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 20:11
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Rom 13:9

I always love a good summary. A good summary saves time. A good summary gets right to the point. A good summary provides context so you can go back and read the fine print, properly understanding the heart of the matter before you dive into details.

Here, Scripture provides a good summary:

…and if there is any other commandment, [all are] summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v 9).

If it doesn’t convey love, it doesn’t matter. You can be phenomenally anointed and wonderfully talented, but if the things you do for God don’t have the motive of love, you are just “a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1). You can have a successful career and a model family, but if you don’t learn to love in the process, what’s the point?

The Bible tells us many things and provides many details on how to live our lives, but the purpose of it all (according the Romans 13:9), is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Does the way you’re reading the Bible inspire you to love people better? Does the way you’re praying allow you to love people better? Does the life you’re living leave time and space for you to love people like their very lives depend on it?

Prayer:

Father, teach me how to love. I want to love my neighbor as myself! But I need Your help. Show me whom and how to love today. Help me to understand that everything Your word says is meant to help me love more: to love deeper, and to love better, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Monday, July 29^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 20:8-10
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. – Rom 12:1

Scripture argues that presenting our bodies as “a living sacrifice” to God is our “reasonable service.” In other words, God expects every believer to submit – to present as an offering – our bodies to Him.

Do you agree with Scripture that giving your body to God is “reasonable?” Or is it a bit of a stretch for you? That means you don’t get to sleep with whomever you want. That means you don’t get to fill your body with whatever you want. That means you don’t get to abuse your body, because it’s His, and not yours! How can Scripture possibly expect us to receive this verse in 2019, when the dominant culture tells us we get to do whatever we want with our bodies, whenever we want?

Your body is actually not yours; it’s God’s. It doesn’t belong to you; it belongs to Him!

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. – 1 Cor 6:19-20

If you’ve given your life to Jesus, you are His. He is the Groom, and you are His bride! That might sound like a huge responsibility (it is!); but much more than that, it is an awesome privilege. Because what God calls His, He cares and provides for.

Do you need healing in your body? Do you need strength, renewal, rejuvenation and refreshing? You belong to Him. He will take care of you! Give everything you are to Him: not only your body, but also your life! And He will take you places you never dreamed possible.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for caring for me. Thank You for buying me at a price! It is my reasonable service to glorify You: in my body, and in my life! All that I have is Yours – no questions asked – in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Sunday, July 28^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! – Romans 11:33

There is always more of God to discover. More of His character! More of His nature! More of His goodness! There is always more of God to experience.

Is your posture towards God one that says “never enough?” Are you always asking for more of God? Or does your stance towards God communicate that you’ve “had enough,” with a hurried approach to prayer and a tendency to seek God only when it’s convenient?

God is deep. His judgments are unsearchable. His ways are past finding out! Would you really want to worship a God you could fully understand? Would you really want to walk with a Savior who was possible to predict? Thank God that His wisdom and knowledge run deep! Thank God there is always more to understand, and more to experience.

Prayer:

Father, make me excited to seek You like never before. I pray I would never be content with my level of understanding Your word. I pray I would never have “enough” testimonies of healing and deliverance! I want more of You than ever before, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Saturday, July 27^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
Romans 10:14-11:12
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 20:4-6
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. – 2 Chron 20:2-3

Jehoshaphat was afraid. And rightly so! Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah found themselves face to face with complete annihilation. The Moabites, Ammonites, and many more were coming up to Judah to make war. But Jehoshaphat did something with his fear! He turned his fear into worship. He converted his emotional response into zealous praise and worship for the Lord! He immediately set himself to seek God, and proclaimed a fast for all God’s people.

What is your response to fear? Do you panic and try to figure everything out on your own? Or do you “set yourself to seek the Lord:” fasting, praying, and doing whatever you can to position yourself to hear from Him?

Prayer:

Father, when I’m afraid, I want to worship. Help me to drive out fear by setting myself to seek You. Whenever I find myself in uncharted territory, I want to seek Your face with all my heart, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Friday, July 26^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34
Romans 9:25-10:13
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 20:2-3
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Jehoshaphat [Asa’s] son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. – 2 Chron 17:2

You have to protect the territory God has given you. Don’t let the enemy take back the areas God has given into your hand!

Have you experienced healing in your body? You protect that healing and close off your body from sickness and disease through prayer.

Did you experience breakthrough in your family relationships? You protect that breakthrough and keep the enemy from sowing seeds of doubt and division through prayer.

Have you experienced increase in your finances? You protect that increase and come against holes in your pockets through prayer.

Has God given you victory? Hallelujah! But your work is not yet done. You must protect what your Father has taken; and you do it through prayer.

Prayer:

Father, remind me to protect everything You have given into my hand. Thank You for breakthrough, increase, and provision; and now help me to protect everything You have done in my life by taking prayer seriously, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, July 25^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14
Romans 9:1-24
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 20:1
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God… [for] He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. – 2 Chron 14:2, 4

Seeking God is different than observing His commands. God is more than the sum of His commandments! Asa did well because he “commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment” (v 4). If seeking God simply meant observing His commandments, Asa would not have had to tell people to seek God too!

So what does it mean to seek God? To spend time with Him. To learn His heart and His character. To receive the love He has for you: not only when you find yourself in an emergency situation, but every single day of your life!

Aren’t you glad “seeking God” means so much more than simply following rules? Your Father in Heaven loves you! He desperately wants you to know Him. Will you say yes?

Prayer:

Father, today is the day! I am going to seek You like never before. You are my Rock, and I am so grateful that You always want the best for me, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Wednesday, July 24^th, 2019
2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22
Romans 8:26-39
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 19:27-29
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah. – 2 Chron 12:12

Rehoboam had a pride problem. He refused to work with the people of Israel to lighten their burden. He was hard-headed in establishing his kingdom, and lost significant territory as a result. But eventually, Rehoboam humbled himself. He chose to lay down his pride, and start listening to God. And when he did, everything changed.

When Rehoboam humbled himself, God turned his enemies away. When Rehoboam humbled himself, God showed him how to succeed. When Rehoboam humbled himself, the Kingdom of Judah was strengthened. The best part? Rehoboam’s decision to humble himself not only benefitted him; it also benefitted the people around him! Because Rehoboam adopted a posture of humility, the entire nation of Judah was blessed.

Are you willing to humble yourself before God? Are you willing to ask the Holy Spirit to expose areas in your life where you’ve become so proud that you no longer rely on God? Will you humble yourself, so God doesn’t have to humble you?

Prayer:

Father, keep me humble. I pray Your Holy Spirit would expose areas in my life where I have gotten too proud. Show me the places where I no longer rely on You! I choose to humble myself, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Tuesday, July 23^rd, 2019
2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19
Romans 8:9-25
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 19:26
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And, according to the order of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for so David the man of God had commanded. – 2 Chron 8:14

His father had commanded it; so Solomon did it. And what was the result? The entire nation of Israel was blessed!

Simple obedience is the difference between hell and heaven on earth. What has your Father called you to do? Do it. Simply obey, and everything else will fall into place.

Prayer:

Father, help me to simply obey! I pray obedience wouldn’t be hard, but simple. Help me to do what You’ve asked me to do – plain and simple – in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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

The Daily Word: Monday, July 22^nd, 2019
2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10
Romans 7:14-8:8
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 19:24-25
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near…” – 2 Chron 6:36

In this verse, Solomon is praying to God. He is dedicating the beautiful and ornate temple at Jerusalem which had just been completed. Solomon is asking God to remember His people, and to hear their prayers, especially when they sin. Notice that Solomon does not pray, “If they sin against You,” but he prays, “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin)” (v 36).

You will sin against God. No man or woman is exempt! But what will your response to sin be? When you sin, what will you do? Will you turn from God? Or will you cry out to Him and ask Him to forgive you and change you?

Solomon finished his prayer like this:

 …yet when they come to themselves …and repent, …and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul …, 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 6:39

When you confess your sin to God, He is faithful to forgive your sin (1 John 1:9). When you turn back to Him with all your heart and all your soul, He forgives you, no matter how serious the sin!

You will sin. But when you sin, how will you respond?

Prayer:

Father, change my response to sin. When I mess up, I run from You. But I don’t want to do that anymore! I want to run to You, knowing that You will forgive me, and that You are still my biggest fan!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

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