FEB 16 / Sunday – Read 1 Kings 9:9-18 / 2 Kings 6:8-23 / Numbers 22:1-3
Overview: Our eyes are often blind to our true situations when we think it’s “us against the world” and God is nowhere to be seen. What peace would come to us if we looked at our situation from God’s perspective?
17 / Mon – Partial information | Read 1 Corinthians 13:12 / Proverbs 3:5-6
Have you ever thought you had all the facts to make a decision but later discovered you did not? These verses remind us that only God sees the full picture. It is humbling and shows we need God’s help to see from His perspective, as Proverbs recommends. How frequently do you consider this? Has this advice kept you from making mistakes in the past? Is there a time when you did not ask for God’s view of things but wish you had? You can learn from both kinds of situations.
18 / Tue – Same facts, different conclusions | Read Numbers 13:1-3 and 26-33
Bible scholars believe it took 3-4 months after the Exodus for the Israelites to reach Mt. Sinai where they stayed a year as God revealed His way to live. A few months later, they were at the border of the promised land and Moses sent 12 men in to explore. What report did they bring back? They all saw the same things but came to two different conclusions. Why did some believe they could not conquer the land (v33)? Has something stopped you in the past from going where God was leading you? What would have been different if you had looked at things from His perspective?
19 / Wed – Confidence despite circumstances | Read 1 Samuel 17
You know the story – a young boy defeats a military giant with only a slingshot – but have you considered what gave him the confidence to face this frightening enemy? Read his words to King Saul in v34-37. And how did David answer Goliath in v45-48? Where do you put your confidence when you face insurmountable challenges? Does David’s declaration in v47 encourage you? Notice how his words/actions affected the Israelite army in v51-52? Your example can help others step up.
20 / Thu – Even if? | Read Daniel 1:7, 19-20 and 2:48-49 and 3:8-30
Daniel and his three friends were deported to a foreign country. They were given new names and their integrity caused them to be given responsible positions in the king’s service. They were faithful in all things except one. They refused to bow down to any idols. What gave them the confidence to disobey the king’s command (3:17-18)? They believed God could protect them, but they also knew He might have other plans for them. What about you? Will you choose to trust God even if He allows difficult things in your life?
21 / Fri – A cloudy future | Read Hebrews 11:7-8
Noah had probably never seen a flood or, at least, never one like God told him was coming. Yet, because he followed God’s instructions, he and his family were saved. God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit an unknown land so he left home. These men are just two of many people in scripture who could not see what lay ahead but trusted God and obeyed. How might this apply to you today? Do you trust God enough to follow Him into an unknown future?
22 / Sat – What is really going on | Read Heb 11:1 / Rom 8:24 / 2 Cor 4:16-18 / Eph 6:12
We know that there is an unseen world around us. Our hope is based on God’s promises which we do not yet see. We also know we don’t wrestle against other people but against unseen evil forces that use unaware human beings to advance evil agendas. With that in mind, where do you focus your attention? Do you look only at what is in front of you or do you consider what’s going on behind the scenes? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what God sees and that can make all the difference in the world. Literally.
