real life. real relationships. real purpose. in writing.
READING & JOURNALING:
What did the Scripture readings this week reveal to you about how the people of God followed and trusted Him and His Word?
Similarly, what did the Scripture readings reveal to you about how well you follow and trust the Word of God?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 16 & 17
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
God’s Word is clear in saying that one day, each and every one of us will give an account for our actions (see Romans 14:12, Revelation 22:12). This isn’t because God wants to shame us, but is more so that God can reveal to us just how much our own ungodly choices impacted our relationship with Him and others.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, we read a line that is quoted many, many other times throughout the Bible: “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” God is more interested in us trusting and obeying Him than He is interested in sacrifices. He doesn’t need anything we can offer. We make sacrifices as an act of love and obedience. But when those sacrifices are hollow, they’re meaningless to God. They’re nothing more than lip service without real trust.
For Saul’s disobedience, he will lose the title of ‘king.’ The LASB notes, “God wasn’t rejecting Saul as a person; the king could still seek forgiveness and restore his relationship with God, but it was too late to get his kingdom back.”
As you read today, consider this: Be honest: is there an area of your life in which you’re paying lip service to God?
READING & JOURNALING:
Saul said that he wanted what God wanted, but his actions showed otherwise. Be honest: Is there an area of your life in which you’re paying lip service to God? An area in which you may say you’re fully trusting God, but your actions show differently?
Take the opportunity to write out a personal prayer to God, acknowledging your lack of trust in this area. Ask God’s forgiveness, and pray for wisdom in how you can be intentional to grow in this area of your life.
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 15
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Today’s prayer is to be written on your own (see above).
Think about a time when you were a child and your parents told you that you needed to finish something (perhaps your homework or some household chores) before you could do something else you really wanted to do. But as the time dragged on, you really struggled to follow through. Your favorite TV show was coming on, and even though your homework wasn’t completely finished, you felt like it was finished enough that you could justify turning the TV on.
What happened? Chances are, you got caught. And the punishment was far more severe than you anticipated.
In 1 Samuel 13, Saul finds himself and his troops in a bad situation. The prophet Samuel had given Saul specific instructions on what not to do (1 Samuel 10:8), but Saul disobeyed. He felt under pressure to do what needed to be done, so he trusted in himself instead of the instructions God had already provided. The lesson he learned is clear: How we accomplish a goal or task is more important than completing the task.
As you read today, consider this: Read 1 Samuel 13. Would you have responded any differently to the situation than Saul?
READING & JOURNALING:
1 SAMUEL 13:1-23, DEUTERONOMY 12:4-14
Would you have responded any differently to the situation than Saul?
Why do you think Samuel was so displeased with Saul’s decision? (See also, Deuteronomy 12:4-14)
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 11 & 12
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I confess there are many times in which I want to see something get done, and that I’m more concerned about it being done than I am concerned about how it was accomplished. Saul’s story is a reminder that how something is done is much more important. Father, my desire is to complete the projects and tasks before me with character and integrity. Reveal to me my character defects, and break me and make me into the person You most desire me to be. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
What’s one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of ancient kings? For many, it’s that kings were warriors. They didn’t just stand towards the back of the battlefield and direct the troops. Instead, a king was on the front lines. He wasn’t just willing to go into battle, he was willing to lead the rest of the soldiers in battle.
During Saul’s lifetime, the nation of Israel was surrounded by other people groups who could invade their lands. Saul knew that as a king, he would be required to show that he was more than a soldier. He would need to show those who supported him, and those who didn’t, that the nation could have superior military strength. In 1 Samuel Chapter 11, Saul does so, and proves that he has the military prowess to be king. As a result, all 12 of Israel’s tribes agreed to support him, and the people offer God a peace offering (1 Samuel 11:15). For now, they’re still following God. But this will not last.
As you read today, consider this: What is the large ‘battle’ you’re currently facing in life? What’s holding you back from turning your fears in confidence?
READING & JOURNALING:
Peel back the layers: What would you say is the large ‘battle’ you’re currently facing in life?
What’s holding you back from turning your fears in confidence?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Job 40, 41, & 42
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I recognize there are many times in my life in which I don’t want to appear confident, because confidence can also have the appearance of arrogance. Today’s reading has been a great reminder that it’s OK to be confident as long as it doesn’t lead to be cocky or arrogant.
As such, I simply pray today that You will turn my fears into confidence, and that I may rest in knowing the largest battle has already been won. I thank You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Imagine that one day you’re sent on a very important errand. For example, the President of the U.S. hands you a sealed envelope and entrusts you to deliver this envelope to another world leader. You’re not to mail it, and the contents must not be seen by anybody else. You and you alone have been entrusted with this information, and it’s essential that you deliver it. But upon your arrival, this other world leader refuses to see you and sends you away. The next day you’re supposed to be meeting with the President to give him a summary of everything that occurred. What do you do?
We may respond to difficult circumstances like Saul does in 1 Samuel 10, by giving into fear or our own feelings of inadequacy. It’s here that Saul learns he is supposed to be the first ever king of Israel. But when the time comes, he hides. Chances are, he feels completely inadequate for what he’s been called to do, or he’s simply afraid to fulfill the role.
As you read today, consider this: What is one situation in which you were afraid to have a hard conversation or fulfill a challenging task? How did you respond?
READING & JOURNALING:
What is one situation in which you were afraid to have a hard conversation or fulfill a challenging task? How did you respond?
Where do you think these fears or thoughts of inadequacy come from?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Job 38 & 39
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that I live in a period of time in which fear isn’t something people like to talk about. But I know I have fears, and I recognize these fears impact me much more than I would like. This week, I pray that You would reveal to me the depths of the fears I have. But instead of allowing these fears to rule my life, may I instead remember that in Christ, I am accepted, significant, and secure! I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
READING & JOURNALING:
What did the Scripture readings this week reveal to you about how Saul, Samuel, and/or the people of Israel followed and trusted Him and His Word?
Similarly, what did the Scripture readings reveal to you about how well you follow and trust the Word of God?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Job 1 & 2
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
Have you ever had a dog (or other pet) wander away from home, and you had to spend hours roaming the neighborhood to find it? Something similar happens to Saul in 1 Samuel 9. The donkeys owned by the family wander off, and Saul’s father sends him out to look for them.
We can imagine what Saul may have been thinking. Stupid donkeys. This is the third time this year they’ve wandered off! And of course, he covers miles and miles of land looking for them, to no avail. As a last ditch effort, he and his servants go to a man of God, Samuel, to ask for his help. But Samuel doesn’t just give them information about the lost animals. He tells Saul that he’s going to be the king of Israel!
The Life Application Study Bible notes, “Often we think that events ‘just happen’ to us, but as we learn from this story about Saul, God may use common occurrences to lead us where he wants. It is important to evaluate all situations as potential ‘divine appointments’ designed to shape our lives.” As you read today, consider this: Can you think of a time when something ‘just happened’ but it turned out God had a bigger plan?
READING & JOURNALING:
Can you think of a time when something ‘just happened’ but it turned out God had a bigger plan?
Like Saul, God has a plan for your life. If you could write it out in just one sentence, what would you say God’s plan for your life is?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 8 & 9
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I confess that today’s question about Your plan for my life is one of the most challenging questions I have wrestled with throughout my life. And even though I can write what I think may be Your plan for my life, I still have some doubts or fears about what exactly that means and how to live it out. As such, I pray today for Your tremendous wisdom. That You will continue to lead and guide me to not only know Your will, but to live Your will. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Have you ever gone along with the choices of others, even though something deep within you knew it wouldn’t be wise to do so?
Throughout the story of the Old Testament, it’s clear that God had called Israel to be different. His desire for His people was that they would rely on Him and Him alone as their God, Lord, and King. In 1 Samuel 8:5, the people came to Samuel and said, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
All in all, their desire to have a king was not wrong, but the reason they wanted a king was wrong. They wanted to be like the other nations surrounding them, even though God had called them to be different from all other nations. In short, the people of God decided it would be better to build their nation under the rule of a king than it would be to build their nation under the rule of God.
As you read today, consider this: From where do your values and/or decisions come from? (Is it pleasing others? Working hard? Physical appearance? Something else?) Or do your greatest values truly come from God?
READING & JOURNALING:
From where do your values and/or decisions come from? (Is it pleasing others? Working hard? Physical appearance? Something else?) Or do your greatest values truly come from God?
Why do you think the people of Israel wanted to be like other nations?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 6 & 7
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, Today I acknowledge that even thought I may not regularly think about what I most value in life, I recognize that I live and act based on what I most value. Like the people of Israel, I, too have valued things which are insignificant to You. So today I simply pray that You will reveal to me the things that are most important to You. May these also become what’s most important to me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Think about it: On a scale of 1-10, how well do you listen to the voice of God? How well do you listen to others?
For most of us, we don’t listen very well. When we listen, we often do so while thinking about how we’ll respond, not to understand. We listen to hear what others are thinking, but not to understand their heart. If we were being 100% honest, we would all admit that we can grow in our ability to listen.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 3, young Samuel finds himself in a position in which he hears God, but doesn’t recognize His voice. Samuel is young and inexperienced, and likely expected God to communicate more directly with Eli than with himself.
But this is one of many situations throughout the Scriptures in which God shows He will speak to and/or through unexpected people in unexpected ways.
As you read today, consider this: Do you take intentional time to listen for the voice of God? How well are you able to recognize His voice?
READING & JOURNALING:
Do you take intentional time to listen for the voice of God? How well are you able to recognize His voice?
How may God be inviting you to speak into the life of a family member, colleague, or friend? Have you considered God may use you in unexpected ways to tell others about Him?
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 3 & 4
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from “7 Arrows”, (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I confess that I don’t always spend time being intentional to listen for Your voice. I commit this day to Your will. And I pray that You will lead, guide, and direct me on the path before me. As I listen to Your voice today, I invite You to use me, God, to speak into the lives of others. Provide me words of encouragement and affirmation to share with others, in the same way You speak words of affirmation to me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Have you ever made a promise you weren’t sure you wanted to keep? Something like, “God, if you would just get me out of this situation, then I promise I’ll never do anything this stupid ever again?”
Guess what? You’re not alone. In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, we learn about Samuel’s mother, Hannah. Hannah was unable to have children, and she so desperately wanted a child that she prayed to God, saying, “…if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.” (1 Samuel 1:11 NIV)
God heard Hannah’s prayer, and He answered it. As a result, she had to give up the one thing she most wanted. She desired a son, and God gave her a son. But to fulfill her promise, she had to give her son back to God. The lesson for us: God keeps His promises. And we must be prepared to keep ours as well, no matter the cost.
As you read today, consider this: What is a promise you’ve made to God (or someone else) that you didn’t want to keep? Did you end up fulfilling your end of the promise or not?
READING & JOURNALING:
What is a promise you made to God (or someone else) that you didn’t want to keep? Did you end up fulfilling your end of the promise or not?
Is there ever a time when breaking a promise may be OK? Explain.
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
Read: Genesis 1 & 2
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from “7 Arrows”, (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, today I simply want to offer my thanks that You have always, and will forever, keep Your promises. I also pray that in the same way Hannah was willing to sacrifice something she dearly loved to You, that I will also be willing to sacrifice things that I love for You. May my devotion to You grow stronger and stronger, so that I may better know You, and better understand who You’ve made me to be. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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