2 Chronicles 22-23, Ecclesiastes 2:1-17, Matthew 15:21-39

What God said to me – Have you ever wondered how the disciples could have been so dense?  How didn’t they get it even when they had seen Me feed the five thousand with a few fish and loaves of bread and heal the lame and crippled and mute and blind and cast out demons?  Even though they had seen and experienced all of these things firsthand, when I told them that I wanted to feed another large crowd of people, they were at a loss as to how it could be done.  In the midst of the circumstance, they floundered.  Rather than connect the dots by looking back at their past experiences with Me, they were overwhelmed by their present dilemma.  Your walk with Me – this lifelong conversation – is a brick-by-brick building of your faith and growing you to maturity in your faith.  So, when you are faced with something that is seemingly impossible and you can’t see an answer or a way out, stop – quit looking at the circumstances and go back and look at all the times I have been faithful and how I answered your prayers.  Don’t look at the trial you are in but look to Me and trust that I will be faithful again.

2 Chronicles 20-21, Ecclesiastes 1, Matthew 15:1-20

What God said to me – Have you ever noticed that you seem to fight the same battle over and over – face the same enemy – struggle with the same sin?  How are you to overcome and finally be victorious?  Look at the example of Jehoshaphat.  The first time he faced the king of Aram was in the battle where he was almost killed, and Ahab was killed.  He was in a place he should never have been because he followed ungodly men rather than Me.  So, he went home and purposed to follow Me, and he began to seek Me and follow Me in earnest.  The next time the king of Aram was about to attack, Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he called the people together and they fasted and prayed.  He pledged to stand with Me and trust Me no matter what – to trust Me for his deliverance and not himself or others.  Then he did what I told him to do.   That’s the key – trust and obedience.  When you face any trial – whether its persecution, illness, temptation to sin, facing an enemy – whatever it is – cry out to Me and then do what I say.  Sometimes I say to do nothing and let Me fight for you – sometimes I tell you to stand and fight – sometimes I tell you to go to others for help – whatever it is you must trust Me and obey.  “I AM” faithful.

2 Chronicles 19, Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 14

What God said to me – You are to be in the world but not of it and this command is for your own protection – so you can walk in a manner worthy of your calling.  It is so much easier for you to stay true to your commitment to Me and to do the right thing when you are associating with godly people with the same commitment.  Does this mean you are not to associate with unbelievers or spend time with them?  Absolutely not!  My Son, Jesus, spent most of His time in the company of “sinners”, but He was careful to keep His focus on Me and ministering when He was with them.  He was also careful to withdraw from them to spend time alone with Me, to hear from Me, and to be refreshed and strengthened.  You have the opportunity to build relationships with unbelievers in your family, in your neighborhood, at work, and socially, but stay alert and listen to My direction.  Remember you represent Me so be careful not to cross the line into coarseness or raunchiness or other ungodly behavior.  Show kindness and compassion and the joy you have in Me and you’ll be surprised at the impact you make and who I draw to you.