Day 31: A Memorial

The Daily Word: Sunday, January 31^st, 2021
Exodus 12:14-13:16
Matthew 20:29-21:22
Psalm 25:16-22
Proverbs 6:12-15
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. – Ex. 12:14

God asks us to do physical things to remember spiritual victories. He asked His people to keep the Passover as a memorial to the victory He gave them over Egypt. He asks us to practice communion as a memorial to the victory Jesus won over the grave. God asks us to get baptized to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

God never asks you to do something for nothing. As you do what He asked You to do, He will move! He will remind you of His faithfulness. He will fill you with hope, and move you to believe like you haven’t in years, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for physical reminders of spiritual truths. Thank You for baptism! Thank You for communion! Thank You for the Passover. Remind me to make important to me, the things that are important to You, in Jesus’ name.

Day 30: Tell Them

The Daily Word: Saturday, January 30^th, 2021
Exodus 10:1-12:13
Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 6:6-11
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’” – Matt. 20:6-7

We have work to do as the Church! Many of us are sitting around idle. We go to church on Sundays, attend small groups every week, and maybe even pick up our Bibles once in a while. But we are not sharing the Gospel in our everyday lives. We aren’t opening our mouths and telling our families and friends that Jesus is real! We aren’t using our time to sound the alarm that Jesus is Lord.

There is no time left to be idle. Consider yourself hired by God to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! There is a harvest that needs to be taken in to heaven. Hearts all across our nation and our world are soft and ready to hear the good news that Jesus is Lord! Somebody has to tell them. Will you put your hand up to be mightily used by God?

Prayer:

Father, make me a mobilizer for Your Church. I want to share the Gospel with the world. I want to preach all over my city! Give me at least one opportunity today to tell someone else about You. I want to make Your name famous! And I will stop at nothing to let the world know who You are.

Day 29: What Do I Lack?

The Daily Word: Friday, January 29^th, 2021
Exodus 8:1-9:35
Matthew 19:13-30
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 6:1-5
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” – Matt. 19:20

The rich young ruler’s response betrays his arrogance. There was no way this young man had kept Levitical law from his youth! Had he never told a lie? Had he never allowed anything (money!) to obstruct his relationship with God? Had he never coveted his neighbor’s stuff, or violated the Sabbath?

Of course he had. The young man was guilty! He had failed in keeping the law. But he pretended he was innocent. He tried to convince Jesus that he had been on perfect behavior for his entire life! So Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give up the one thing that had really become his god: “Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and…come, follow Me.”

God has a right to enforce the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:3). Whenever you cling to something or someone else in your life more tightly than you cling to God, He has the right to ask you to give it up! You cannot trick Him into believing you love Him more than you actually do. It’s time to drop the act. Give up your idols, and lay your life down to worship Jesus! And as you do, you will be “perfect…and you will have treasure in heaven” (v 21).

Prayer:

Father, I will give it all up for You! Whatever You want, and whenever You want it: it’s Yours. I give my life to You, in Jesus’ name! I will have no other gods before You. Come and have Your way, in Jesus’ name.

Day 28: Now You Will See

The Daily Word: Thursday, January 28^th, 2021
Exodus 5:22-7:25
Matthew 18:21-19:12
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 5:22-23
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” – Ex. 5:22-23

God made Moses a promise; but it didn’t look like it was coming to pass. God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that Pharaoh let God’s people go! But things got worse instead of better. Pharaoh punished God’s people for their request instead of granting it!

So what did Moses do? He returned to the Lord. He brought his questions and frustrations directly to God and asked God what was going on! He didn’t hide from God and let his anger fester! He approached God and made his frustrations known. And guess what happened as soon as Moses returned to God?

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” – Ex. 6:1

Now you will see – after you have come to Me with your anger and frustration instead of keeping it to yourself – what I will do to your enemies! Now you will see how I stretch out My hand and show My glory to the world! Now you will see how I work miracles when you trust Me and come to Me!

Your breakthrough will come when you return to Him. Don’t assume God doesn’t want to do what He promised anymore. Don’t assume there is some deficit in you that is preventing God’s will from coming to pass! Only assume that God loves you and wants to be with you! Come to Him, and you will see the glory of the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that I can always come to You! Help me to never hide from You or Your presence. I need Your miracle-working power in my life! And I know I will see it like never before when I simply come to You, in Jesus’ name.

Day 27: What Was Moses’ Job?

The Daily Word: Wednesday, January 27^th, 2021
Exodus 4:1-5:21
Matthew 18:1-20
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 5:15-21
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” – Ex. 4:21

God sent Moses back to Egypt. Moses’ job was not to convince Pharaoh of anything. His job was simply to show Pharaoh the power of God – “all those wonders before Pharaoh” – so the miracle-working glory of God would be put on full display. God told Moses in advance that Pharaoh wouldn’t listen! But it was still Moses’ job to show him God’s miracle-working power.

In the same way, Jesus has sent you as a light into dark places. And your job is not to convince anyone to receive Jesus. Your job is simply to show them the power of God – the miracle-working glory of Jesus Christ! – so they see Him for who He really is. Some will accept Him! And some will reject Him. But your job is to step out in radical faith and declare that He is the God of miracles.

Show them the power of God! And don’t forget to pray. All the miracles in the world cannot convince anyone to receive Jesus unless God also softens his heart! You do your part, and God will do His.

Prayer:

Father, please show miracles through me. I know no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him (jn. 6:44)! I am contending for salvation for friends, family members, and other acquaintances; and I pray You would make Yourself real to them through me, in Jesus’ name.

Day 26: Prayer and Fasting

The Daily Word: Tuesday, January 26^th, 2021
Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” – Matt. 17:19-21

A man brought his son to Jesus’ disciples to be healed. His son was an epileptic who suffered “severely” (v 15). But the disciples “could not cure him” (v 16)! Out of frustration, the disciples went and asked Jesus why their prayers weren’t working. So Jesus told them: “Because of your unbelief” (v 20). And eventually He added, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (v 21).

The disciples lacked faith for healing! But Jesus didn’t leave them in the dark. He wanted them to grow in their faith, so He told them how. They needed to live out a lifestyle of prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting go hand in hand! One always enhances the other. And according to Jesus, there is no better way to get ready for miracles than by praying and fasting. As you pray and fast, God will increase your faith! You will hear His voice like never before, and you will discern His agenda like never before.

There is a world out there full of people who need to see God’s healing touch in their bodies and their lives. Don’t wait until you’re presented with a crisis to pray and fast about it! Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer and fasting starting today. Seek the Lord like never before starting now! And when people come to you in need of an impossible miracle, you will be ready.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the power of prayer and fasting! Thank You for showing me that prayer and fasting is the best way to increase my faith. I am excited to pray for miracles in Jesus’ name, and I believe that people will be healed as I lay my hands on them!

Day 25: Just As He Had Commanded

The Daily Word: Monday, January 25^th, 2021
Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. – Gen. 50:12

Jacob made Joseph promise him something before he died. “Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,” Jacob said (Gen. 48:29). And Joseph agreed. So after Jacob died, Joseph did what Jacob had commanded him to do. This was his way of honoring his father: by carrying out his word. So Joseph and his brothers “carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre” (Gen. 50:13).

Jacob left Joseph specific instructions, and Joseph carried them out. In the same way, Jesus left us – His church – specific instructions and asked us to carry them out. He asked us to preach the gospel to “all the world” (Mk. 16:15). He asked us to care for the widow and the orphan (Jas. 1:27). He asked us to love our neighbors as He has loved us (Jn. 13:34)! And the way we honor His death is by carrying out His command.

I pray the Holy Spirit would strengthen us today to honor Jesus by doing what He asked us to do. It is one thing to make the promise. It is another to lay down your life for its fulfillment.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. – Jn. 15:13

Prayer:

Father, strengthen me! Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to do everything You have called me to do. I want to honor you in word and deed! And I can only do it with Your help, in Jesus’ name.

Day 24: Take the Blessing

The Daily Word: Sunday, January 24^th, 2021
Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.” – Gen. 48:21-22

Jacob was blessed. God had blessed him! But Jacob also had a role to play. He “took [his portion] from the hand of the Amorite with [his] sword and [his] bow.”

You are blessed. God wants to bless you! But you will have to take your inheritance from the enemy. But your enemy is not physical; he is spiritual. You won’t need a sword and bow like Jacob! But you will need the “shield of faith…the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:16-17).

The battle is before you. Did you think the enemy was just going to let you waltz into your inheritance? But God has already given you the victory. Now it is time to take the blessing, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer:

Father, I am ready to fight for my blessing. My family will be saved. My friends will be saved! I will share the gospel with boldness, and take back territory that belongs to You. I will take my blessing in Jesus’ name!

Day 23: Mouth and Heart

The Daily Word: Saturday, January 23^rd, 2021
Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. – Ps. 19:14

David didn’t just want his words to be pure; he wanted his heart to be pure. Here’s why:

1) Your heart condition determines your speech. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21)! But the “meditation of your heart” – what you dwell and focus on – will determine what comes out of your mouth. So if you want to have clean speech, clean up your heart.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. – Matt. 15:8

2) God doesn’t just hear your words; He already knows what’s in your heart.

“I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” – Jer. 17:10

God already knows what you’re thinking! He already knows what you’re feeling. And if He already knows what’s in your heart, why are you hiding? Why are you pretending He doesn’t see, instead of asking Him to help you change?

God wants to change you from the inside out. But if you want Him to have access to your heart, you have to let Him in.

Prayer:

Father, I want to change! I want my heart to change so the rest of me will be changed. But I know that You Lord are the only One who can change me. I pray that when You look into my heart, you would see a genuine desire to love other people as You have loved me, in Jesus’ name!

Day 22: Slow to Speak

The Daily Word: Friday, January 22^nd, 2021
Genesis 44:1-45:28
Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:11-13
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” – Gen. 44:8-9

Joseph’s brothers left Egypt with grain. But they didn’t know that Joseph had hidden his “silver cup” (v 2) in Benjamin’s bag. When Joseph’s servant overtook his brothers, they made a rash oath: “With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die!” But they didn’t know that, with their words, they would condemn their brother Benjamin. Benjamin was found with the cup, and because of their own words, Benjamin could have died and they all could have become slaves.

No matter how sure you are that you’re right: don’t make a promise too quickly. Joseph’s brothers had no reason to respond the way they did. Why make an oath when you don’t have to? Why swear to your death when it is not required? We do this all the time. We say dangerous things like, “I swear to God.” We say silly things like, “I swear on my mother’s grave.” And none of it is necessary or wise.

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. – Matt 5:37

Be slow to speak. Don’t make promises too quickly! Don’t pledge something you’re not ready to freely give. For a servant of Jesus, a simple “yes” or “no” is enough.

Prayer:

Father, make me a man of my word! And make me a man who is slow to speak. I know that death and life are in the power of my tongue! Help me to use it wisely, and not rashly, in Jesus’ name.

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