SCRIPTURE/FOCUS – Week Of July 11 – 16, 2016
FOCUS OF THE MONTH
“We the People,” of God
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 7:6
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Overview: Let’s not complain and become doubtful about our situations. Instead, pray to God to forgive us and allow Him to change us. We must learn to be content and trust God for the outcome. Though, God may allow us to go through a desert experience where He’s maturing us along the way, we can trust Him to lead and care for us no matter what the outcome may be. We must be sure to come aside in prayer to find strength and whatever has disappointed us in life, stay focused, have a receptive mind and listen to God’s instructions. He is able to move us from despair to rejoicing. The future is uncertain, however, God is faithful, so let’s be joyful as we go forward with great expectations. In the meantime, continue to do the unexpected, as we follow Jesus’ example of sacrifice. We too, must lay down our lives for the brethren as we live for Christ.
Monday, July 11, 2016 – A Lesson Learned – Philippians 4:10-19
Focus: In difficult areas of our lives where we are doubtful and constantly complaining, we must ask God to forgive us. Let’s allow Him to change us in that situation and we must learn to be content as we trust Him for the outcome.
Scriptures: 2 Corinthian 12:1-9; Romans 8:18, 28
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 – The Easy Road? – Exodus 13:17-22
Focus: God may allow us to go through a very hard desert experience to mature us along the way. We must trust Him to lead the way as He cares for us, no matter what we may face.
Scriptures: Psalm 23; Isaiah 43:2, 19
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 – Something I Should Know? – Matthew 14:22-36
Focus: Something that all believers should know is to come aside in prayer to find strength. In that quiet place, let’s be focused, have a receptive mind, and be willing to listen to God’s instructions for our lives.
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 3:8-10
Thursday, July 14, 2016 – From Mourning to Dancing – Isaiah 61:1-4
Focus: Whatever has disappointed us in life, faith and trust in God’s faithfulness can move us from despair to rejoicing. Let’s thank God that our identity is in the Lord Jesus Christ and not in what we do. Therefore, we can face our uncertain future with joy and expectation.
Scriptures: Lamentation 3:18-26
Friday, July 15, 2016 – Unexpected – Matthew 10:35-42
Focus: The unexpected, ultimate sacrifice of Jesus laying down His life to save us from our sins should cause us to do the unexpected by laying down our lives for the brethren in deed and in truth. This should be our way of living for Christ.
Scriptures: 1 John 3:16-18
Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson – Even Jesus needed a desert experience before He started out on His ministry — His true calling. He needed the desert to give Him what a life of comfort and luxury could never be able to give. God leads most believers into a desert at one time or another. When we are in the desert, it can feel like God is not doing anything or that He has abandoned us. But God is always at work. He uses desert experiences in many ways.
Lessons from the Desert
· It is in the desert, we learn to be content whatever the circumstances may be.
· Our God is faithful and we can trust Him to lead us and care for us no matter what we face.
· Take time to be with God in the desert to find strength to change mourning into dancing.
· A desert is a place without expectations. But the expected can occur because the presence of God is there with you.
Most people never come to the realization of their true calling because they have not allowed themselves to experience the desert — the emptiness that comes before being filled by the presence of God.