Judges 4-5, Luke 22:35-53, Psalms 94:1-23, Proverbs 14:3-4

What God said to me – You can learn a lot “people watching” – what to do and what not to do.  If you’ve ever sat by a skating rink watching people skate, you almost always see a dad teaching his child to skate.  The dad holds tightly on to his child and when the child cries out that he’s going to fall because he’s slipping and sliding, you hear the dad say, “It’s okay – I’ve got you – straighten up and calm down, I won’t let you fall.”  It’s only when the child goes off on his own that he crashes and burns.  Learn from this observation – when you fall, it’s because you let go of Me and went off on your own.  As long as you are walking with Me – holding on to Me, you may slip and slide, but I will not let you go.  My mercy will hold you up.  When you panic and think you are about to fall, when your anxious thoughts multiply within you, cry out to Me and I will calm you and console you.  “I AM” your stronghold and your rock of refuge.  “I AM” a Father who will not let you fall – hold on to Me.

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.