Monday March 15 - Day 27

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to intervene to bring forth justice.

“Oh Lord, reshape our minds to value Your goodness. Penetrate our hearts with Your compassion.”

So we express our faith by presenting the same appeals for justice before Your court, day after day.” Page 42.

Please look at the circle at the top of the page 42. Today is “day 2” of the theme “Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities.” Please notice that the city in the circle is in darkness and the light is off to the side and partial. Each day the light moves to the center toward the top of the buildings and becomes brighter.

The lesson we can graphically see from this illustration is that one prayer on a topic most often is not enough. God is a God of persistence, and we are called to be like Him. Daniel prayed ‘through’ for 21 days and finally an angel from heaven arrived with his message. The angel messenger needed help from Michael, one of the chief princes. Daniel was participating in warfare in the heavens. (…Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth…) We are called to the same perseverance, day after day.

Another illustration of perseverance is found in II Kings 13:14:19. Elisha told King Joash to strike the ground with the arrows in his hand. The King struck the ground 3 times “and the man of God was angry with him.” “You should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it.” (total victory)

Don’t hold back! Go for total victory in your prayer life! As the circle at the top of each illustrates, let us ‘strike the ground’ with the arrows of prayer that we hold in our heart and speak with our mouth….day after day until the picture the Lord has given us is clear, bright and complete.

Charles Daugherty
Serve The City

Saturday, March 6 – Day 18

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…for God’s light to bring abundant life.

I appreciate today’s reading about light. In Sunday School one day I gave our youth group black duct tape and – after turning off the lights—I told them to try to cover every bit of light in the room. They diligently covered the cracks around the doors, the LED lights on the sound system, the illuminated exit signs (don’t tell the fire marshal!), etc. until everything was completely dark. Once our eyes adjusted we were in total awe of how very dark it was. Suddenly someone’s cell phone lit up and we were all stunned at how much one little phone lit up a very large room.

This shows why light is the perfect metaphor for the Christian life. Darkness never creeps into a lighted place—it has no power to do so. Only light can creep in. It overcomes the darkness. Just a tiny amount of light penetrates and makes a difference.

Today’s NT verse, John 8:12 reminds us that in Christ’s light we don’t have to walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. That should keep us from stumbling around. Let’s spread that light around so others can join us in the abundant life!

Mark Forstrom
New Covenant Bible

Sunday, February 28 – Day 12

Seeking His Light to Awaken The Lost
Seek God....for the light of the Gospel to Shine

Once in my lifetime I traveled all night. Leaving Kansas City about 9 P.M. I arrived at my destination at the break of dawn. It was a long and lonely trip. The red Eastern sky just before daybreak was most welcome. This experience reminded me of the dark world with evil, immorality and sin on every hand. However Jesus said "I am the light of the world". Eventually this Light will dispel the darkness. The Eternal Light will shine forever more.

Dr. Forrest Whitlatch
First Church of the Nazarene

Sunday, February 28 – Day 12

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God….for the light of the gospel to shine.

I didn’t think I needed the light. I thought I could make it on my own…

It was a Friday night. We had just recently moved to Maquoketa from Ohio and were still getting settled in the parsonage. The bathroom drain was clogged, so I went down in the basement to get the plunger. After climbing down the stairs, I reached around for the string in order to turn on the light, but with no success. Oh well. I didn’t need the light.

I could easily make it across the room in the dark… Before I knew it, I was on the ground, writhing in pain. I ended up with two broken elbows that still bother me twenty years later.

The people who walk in darkness… are a lot like I was; thinking I did not need the light, thinking I could make it on my own. The problem is, in the darkness we are all headed for disaster. Often though, when in darkness we do not even realize the problem.

Christ calls us to be the light of the world. He commands us not to hide our light, but to let our light shine so that those living in darkness might come to the Light of the world. After breaking both elbows, I could not do anything for myself. If I was going to eat, someone had to feed me. If I was going to dress, someone had to dress me. If I was going to the restroom, someone had to take me. If those walking in darkness are ever going to come to the Light, someone – You and Me – must take them.

Today, pray for the Light of the gospel to shine. Pray for those living in darkness. Pray for God to let YOUR light so shine before others that they might come to the Light through you.

Shine, Jesus, shine, Fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze; Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light.

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Jim Goodrich
The Church On Northland