Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV

This is one of the hardest verses for me, the lord is so merciful and so gracious that even when we sin or when we are struggling he tells us to come boldy to him and he won’t turn me away but, give me mercy and grace. But, when that happens my pride gets in the way saying things like “I don’t need that” or “I can do this myself”. The enemy tries so hard to get me from applying this verse to my life and He does everything he can from coming to my loving dad who wants me to be near and close to him. It hard thing to learn but, this lesson is what the lord is really trying to show me. I think in order to do this I have to accept that I cannot pardon my sins on my own, there was generation after generation who tried to do it on their own and tried to live by the law and ultimately failed and couldn’t do it. Jesus had to come down to earth and live the perfect life and rise on the third day for me so I could become free. But after acknowledging that I can’t dit on my own I have to die to self and run to Jesus. Jesus knows that I can’t d it on my own, He is not shocked when I figure that out, he is not looking at me with disappointment but, with compassion. He looks at me and opens his arms and ask me to run to him. This blows my mind, but it is a beautiful truth that lord gave me to view him as a loving dad who cares about my dearly. It fills me with awe just thinking about it.

Application:
Today I will memorize this verse.

Psalms 51:16-17

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. ESV
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. NKJV
How can you give someone who has everything , something? The answer is you can’t. The lord is maker of the heavens and the earth in psalms 8:3 says “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,” the lord made everything, I can’t give him something he doesn’t already have. Is psalms 50:12 says ““If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.” The world is his, he is not Interested in what I can give him or the sacrifices I make, He wants me. He wants my life and my heart. In Matthew 21:44 “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” The lord wants my broken heart so much he ask for me to fall on it but, off I don’t he will fall on me instead because He wants me to be near and transform in his image. I struggle with not being able to give to the lord as much as I want too, so in return I start to become works oriented and I forget about Jesus did for me on the cross and I forget who I’m doing it for. Then the lord reminds me that he just wants my heart, He just wanted me to become broken at his feet so I can become more like Him. He wants a relationship with me and not what I can or cannot give him. 

Application:
For the rest of June I will get up a half-hour earlier so I can sit at the feet of Jesus and just thank him for who Is.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

Give praise to the Lord , proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. NIV

The lord is good, and I have every reason to praise him. Not only because of the things he has done in my own personal life bit, just because of who He is. God chose me before the foundation of the world knowing who I am and what I would do. Also God sent his son Jesus down to die on the cross and resurrect on the 3 day that way He could spend all of eternity with me. Jesus willing laid down his life for me  and took my place and washed me with his blood. But also the lord  saved me from a lot of pain and hurt but also saved me from myself and is continually saving me from things that I didn’t know I needed saving from. He has given me a family that I love and allowed me to do work for his name when I do not deserve it. And he is coming back for me to take me home. The lord has done so much for me all because he loves me. That is the whole reason why I do the work that I get to do, it’s not give my name glory but, to proclaim his name. Proclaim what Jesus on the cross and the resurrection. It’s all about Jesus and nothing else. If what we do in the name of the lord is not about him than it’s all in vain and is counted as dirty rags. For me that has been really been convicting because it’s easy for me to change what it’s all about when it’s al about him. Everything is about Jesus because his name is worthy to be praised.

Application
I will spend 10 minutes evert night for a week thanking and praising God for what he did and for who he is.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ESV
This verse in context is talking about food and clothing and God providing needs for everyday life. In this Jesus is telling us not to be worries about such things because God loves us and will take care of us. But, I know for me I used this verse as a means to an end. I use this verse to get what I want instead of seeking Jesus. In the book we would see Jesus by Roy and Revel Hession it talks about how Jesus is the end. How everything will end up with Jesus and nothing else. And a story that the use is the story of the 10 leapers. He heals all of them and nine of them went on their way but, one stayed and bowed at Jesus's feet. For the 9, Jesus was a means to health, but to the 1 it was a means to Jesus. I have been Guilty of using Jesus as a means to an end. I used Jesus to find purpose in life instead of going to Jesus. I know I wanted to have a ministry that is used for Jesus and to be able to do radical things for Jesus instead of just having Jesus. Jesus is not interested in what I can give him but he is interested in me and having a relationship with me. The lord will provide everything I need in life, He said he would and Jesus can’t lie.

Application:
Today I will ask for forgiveness for making Jesus a means to an end and thank him for who he is and say thank you to the people that God has put in my life in order to bring me closer to him.

Exodus14:14

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” NKJV

This verse is both encouraging and difficult for me. It’s encouraging in the fact that I know the lord will remain faithful even when I am faithless but, it hard because that means I have to stop striving on my own. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the lord and Jesus over and over again tells us to rely on trust in him. But it’s hard to let go in hard situation and let him fight or let him take control. I never liked letting someone else fighting my battles cause I always thought I could do it myself. But, the Lord has called me to be weak and let him take the wheel. For in my weakness I am strong but, first I have to let go and let God fight for me cause ultimately if I tried to fight the battle without the lords help I will ultimately lose or win in vain. I want to glorify the Lord in every situation but I have to let go and stop striving every time I fail which is a lot if I was to be honest. The lord is not calling me to fight on my own, He is calling me to rest in him and let my father fight for me so, I may get the victory.

Application:
Today I will memorize this verse so that I might use it when I am tempted to fight.

2 corithians 12:9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. NKJV
This truth is hard for me to understand. How can I be weak? I have to be strong, I will get trampled on, people will take advantage of me, says the lies of the enemy. Grace is a beautiful thing, it can only take place when a person has failed or is weak. Gods grace toward me a beautiful mystery and the only way to understand that mystery more and more is to receive it more and more. I'm already a weak person, this verse is just asking me to accept that truth, and to run to God who is my safe retreat and who has an abundance of grace waiting for me to job into. The bible talks about how I need to run boldly to the throne of grace. I’m weak, I’m not man that I’m supposed to be and I cant become I want to be without God and his grace. I can change, I can be the man I'm suppose to be but only through God and only God can change me and the only thing I can do is come to him and fall on my face and say “God I’m weak” and then he will make me strong in him and not me. My body is finite and wicked and it takes a holy savior to make me righteous and holy. I need Jesus, I need his spirit to come inside me and change me from the inside out.

Application:
Today I will write weak on my hand to show that God is my strength and is grace is sufficient.

Isaiah 48

This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.
NIV

This was said to the Israelites by the
prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was called by God who was sent to Israel that they would turn back to God and remember the creator who made them a great nation. In the beginning its says “your redeemer, the holy one of Israel.” Its personal, God said “Your” and “The HOLY ONE of Israel.” Israel again back slid and the lord is saying that I’m your and I’m the God of Israel. Later in the verse it talks about how God knows best and how he teaches you what’s best. And how he will direct which way that Israel should go. The lord will be involved with them day to day he won’t just leave them and stop teaching and directing them he loves them and want a personnel relationship with Israel. Israel only had to do one thing, the only thing that they had to do was “Paid attention to my commandments” they only had to listen to God. What God told Moses through the law they would have to obey. If they did God promises 2 things; “peace like a river” and “Well being like the waves of the sea”. God heart seems to be blessing upon blessing all they have to do is follow God. It would be really easy for me to condemn the Israelites but, if I did that then I would be a hypocrite. I do the same thing, I chose to Go after dump thing and decide that I know what is best and that “I don’t need God” and I may not say it in words but, I do so it in actions. I think if I was to live by and follow Gods word then I would get the same peace and well-being that the Israelites got. And to remind myself, it doesn’t say easier it says peace. God gives us peace but, doesn’t all the time make the situation any easier. But, he does promise peace and well being which is more that I deserve. And he is personal, He wants to be my God, and He wants to be my God everyday not just on certain days.

Application:
Starting today I will read through Isaiah and ask the lord to show me Him as I read.