so that all the peoples of the earth may know

1 Kings 8-9, Luke 20

^8:41 "In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, ⁴² for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, ⁴³ then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name. ... ⁶⁰ Then people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other.

Heavenly Father, I pray that my life will be a testimony of your Name.  May my body be a pure and holy temple, filled with the presence of your Holy Spirit, and may you be honored as I live a life of sacrifice to you.  I pray that other people will be able to see and experience the love of Jesus Christ through me, so that all nations may know you and experience your goodness and love.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

the Lord's kind providence

1 Kings 6-7, Luke 20

In spite of my immaturity and general knuckleheadedness, the Lord has kindly given me favor with my new employers, and they have approved my request for start-up resources!  Praise the Lord!  This seems to me simply one more powerful confirmation that the Lord is guiding us to El Paso.  I was praying this morning that the Lord will give Brandi and me a clear vision of the ministry that He has for us there.

Heavenly Father, you are so kind, and your love never fails.  Lord, you are so gracious, in spite of my immaturity and hard heart.  Lord, may I be softened to listen attentively to your voice, and may I move in harmony with your Holy Spirit.  Your Word says, "To whom much is given, much is expected."  Lord, may I be faithful with the resources you have given, and would you please bless my efforts to leverage them for your Kingdom.  I pray that I will be focused on Eternity according to your perfect will.  May you be pleased with me.  I am your servant, may it be unto me according to your Word.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

wisdom and knowledge

1 Kings 3-5

^3:5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" ... ⁷ "Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around. ... ⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?" ...
^4:29 God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. ³⁰ In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. ... ³³ He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. ³⁴ And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.

I feel like Solomon: too young and unqualified to be a professor.  But I know that the Lord has given me this position so that I can be an example of Christ's love and teach the truths of physical and spiritual realities.

Heavenly Father, I know that you have given me talents and gifts to be used for your glory.  Please deliver me from fear, and give me a powerful ministry in the science and engineering communities.  Please give me knowledge and understanding, and may I be humble so that people will be drawn to you.  Lord, may I be used by you to show others the Love of God in Christ.  Please use me to touch the Nations that have never heard about your Love.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

learning by experience

1 Kings 1-2, Luke 19

Last night we specifically thanked the Lord for Beau sleeping well recently, and we asked the Lord to let Beau sleep well and to give us good rest.  We also prayed that the Lord would give us good dreams that honor Him.  Well, Beau woke up with uncharacteristic screaming about 3am and wouldn't go back to sleep, so Brandi tried to feed him and ended up sleeping on the couch.  And I had a wicked, evil dream about vampires.  So, how is this "prayer" thing supposed to work again?

I guess that's what I get for reading the parable about the persistent widow last night.

Heavenly Father, I am really confused, and it is difficult for me to believe that you answer my prayers.  I know that we are supposed to grow through testing, but to do the very opposite of what we ask for is a little steep, don't you think.  Can  you please give us a boost?  I feel like I'm running a treadmill into the ground.  I need your strength, Lord.  I need your life to flow through me, because this weak, selfish, and prideful flesh is driving me crazy.  Lord, please be gracious to us.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ, and I am trying to believe.

sacrifice

2 Samuel 23-34

King David committed a sin of pride by counting his army, and the Lord punished Israel for it.  (This is a picture of Adam and the rest of humanity, respectively.)

^24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing." So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.

What will it cost to follow Christ?  The price is your life.  This includes time, money, and energy - paid every single day.

Also, this passage gives a beautiful picture of Christ and His Ultimate Sacrifice:  the consequences of sin is a plague of death, but because of the Sacrifice outside of Jerusalem, the plague is stopped.

Heavenly Father, may I grow more into the image of Christ today, and may I be a genuine disciple of Christ.  Thank you for the sacrifice of Christ so that I can be reconciled to you.  May my life be spent serving you and leading others to know your grace and mercy.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

consequences

2 Samuel 16-18, Luke 17

King David committed adultery and murder.  Then his son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar.  Then his son Absolom murdered Amnon in revenge.  King David didn't ever deal with any of this stuff, so it just kept growing underneath.  So when Absolom incited a coupe and attacked King David's loyal army, Absolom was killed.  It's too bad that it didn't end there; King Solomon got mixed up with a bunch of women and tore up the nation of Israel, even worse off than his father David.

If sin is not dealt with (i.e., acknowledged, confessed, repented, and replaced by righteousness and virtue), then it cascades and magnifies, in your own life and in subsequent generations.

Heavenly Father, please deliver me from evil. Lord, please expose the wicked desires of my heart and mind so that I can confess, repent, and experience your healing Life to transform me more into Christ.  Please show me how I can begin to discipline and instruct my son in a Life abiding in you.  Lord, I need you!  I am so far from you!  Please save me, and save my family!  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

reconciliation

2 Samuel 14-15, Luke 17

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible:

^14:14 All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

Heavenly Father, you have made a way for us through Jesus Christ.  You have offered forgiveness, healing, and true life to those who come to you by grace through faith.  Lor,d, my life is like water spilled on the ground, may I spend it wisely by investing in your Kingdom.  I love you, and I want to serve you.  Please purify me so that I may be a vessel that you use to dispense yourself into others.  Please use me to take your Gospel to the nations, and please bless the persecuted Saints around the world.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.