Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalms 92:1-93, Proverbs 14:1-2

What God said to me – A palm tree is a wonderful plant.  It thrives in the heat and arid climate when other plants are dying.  In a hurricane it bends and sways with the wind, but it doesn’t break – when the storm passes, it is still standing.  The dates it produces are a superfood that give nourishment and sustenance.  My word says that the righteous man will flourish like a palm tree.  During times of heat and drought your roots will run deep and draw strength from Me, the living water.  When others are fainting and falling around you because they have nothing to draw on, you will stand because you have Me.  When difficult storms come into your life, you will be buffeted about and bend to and fro, but you will not break because your hope and your strength is in Me.  The fruit of the Spirit that will grow out of your life will be like a superfood that will nourish and minister to those around you.  Walk with Me and you will be like a palm tree planted in My house, flourishing in My court, and bearing fruit even in old age.

Judges 1:1-2:29, Luke 21:9-22:13, Psalms 90:1-91:16, Proverbs 13:24-25

What God said to me – When Israel went into the promised land, I instructed them to totally destroy the people who were there and not to make any covenant with them.  I also told them to tear down all of the altars of their gods so they wouldn’t become snares for them.  Israel, however, did not obey totally, so the people and their gods became thorns in their sides and snares that trapped them.  Take heed to this example I have put before you.  When I saved you, you were born of the Spirit into a new person.  You are to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.  You are to tear down all the sin and strongholds of the old man and follow Me wholeheartedly.  If you don’t – if you tolerate some things as “not so bad” or “it’s not hurting anyone”, or “nobody knows”, then those things will become thorns in your side and snares that will continually trap you and cause you to fall.  Time is running out so let Me teach you to number your days, so you may present to Me a heart of wisdom and a life that is pleasing to Me.

Joshua 24, Luke 21:1-28, Psalms 89:38-52, Proverbs 13: 20-23

What God said to me – Abraham lived in an idolatrous culture when I called him and promised him a land and a people if he would follow Me.  I took his descendants into Egypt, and I brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  I sustained them for forty years during their wandering in the wilderness and brought them into the promised land.  I drove the nations out before them and gave them land on which they had not labored and cities they had not built.  As Joshua was about to die, he admonished them one more time to stay faithful to Me and he warned them of the dangers of turning away.  He told them to choose for themselves this day who they would serve, but he and his house chose to follow Me.  I admonish you with the same charge – choose today who you will serve – for it is a daily choice – a moment-by-moment decision to follow Me and to obey Me, to walk in a manner worthy of your calling.  Start each day with Me and commit to following Me and honoring Me.  As you go through your day, in everything you do and with everyone you encounter, involve Me, not just for advice and direction, but for fellowship.  Choose you this day who you will serve.