June 1 STRATEGY
Also, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Ephesians 1:11
Any soldier going into battle would do well to remember that the enemy has a general, and it is his job to figure out a way to defeat their army. It’s not just men running around, but there is a strategy to defeat their army. They should be aware of the strategy and how this can be countered. All believers in Jesus should be aware that their enemy has a strategy to defeat them. We are not simply living our lives. Our enemy has a play to cause us to be ineffective for God and to destroy us ultimately. We should be aware of his schemes. Are you looking to God for His strategy for your life?
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Lesson 22
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READING PLAN:
2 Samuel 18:1-19:10
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 16:14-15
June 2
CHOSEN
You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
John 15:16
Do you remember what it was like to be chosen to be on a team? In school, being chosen for the relay team or the math team felt so good. And if you were chosen first, wow! Do you remember what that felt like? Being chosen can give you such confidence and even make you a better player. There is no greater honor for a Christian than knowing that the King of Kings has chosen you. It wasn’t based on our ability, so we shouldn’t be prideful. Being chosen should give us confidence and change how we live our lives. How do you feel about being chosen by the King of Kings?
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Lesson 22
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READING PLAN:
2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
John 21:1-25
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 16:16-17
June 3 TEAMWORK
Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
Proverbs 21:1
Sometimes people feel they are so much better than everyone else that they don’t have to live by the same rules. They want to make their own rules. The belief is that their ability or position gives them the right to live according to their own wishes. The problem with this is that their right to rule is based upon a temporary foundation. God is the only one who has the right to make rules that last forever because His ability to rule and reign will last forever. And He can see how His rules impact other people. Who makes the rules in your life?
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Lesson 23
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READING PLAN:
2 Samuel 20:14-21:22
Acts 1:1-26
Psalms 121:1-8
Proverb 16:18
June 4 RULES
Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’
Luke 4:8
Sometimes people are given special privileges and are given gifts by other people who admire their abilities. This “hero worship” can sometimes cause those people to think that they really are special or better than other people. In truth, their abilities were given to them by God, so all they are really doing is using them. There is only one who is truly great and worthy of our worship. He deserves our admiration and devotion. We should be careful not to give praise that belongs only to God to the people whom God created. Who do you worship?
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Lesson 23
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READING PLAN:
2 Samuel 22:1-23:23
Acts 2:1-47
Psalm 122:1-9
Proverbs 16:19-20
June 5
GETTING INTO SHAPE
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Boot camp is something no soldier looks forward to. It is a time of severe testing of their physical and emotional abilities. Why then do they do this? Because they know in the end, they will be in better shape and will be able to perform at a higher level during the time they are enlisted. They know it only lasts a short time. What a perfect example of the suffering in the life of a Christian. It lasts for only a short time, but it tests us sometimes to the point, we think we will break. In the end, though, we emerge stronger and better able to live for God. How is God getting you into shape?
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Lesson 23
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READING PLAN:
2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalms 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23
June 6
RELATIONSHIP
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
John 9:31
One of the crucial characteristics of a successful unit is team chemistry. Not only do they work well together, but they enjoy being together. One of the upsides of these relationships is that you can ask things of each other, and because of the relationship, they will do them. Without these relationships, these requests would not get done. In our teamwork with God, the right relationship is just as meaningful. We can’t ignore God, live in violation of His laws, and expect Him to answer our prayers. How we live daily is so important. Would God hear your prayers today if you asked?
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Lesson 23
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 1:1-53
Acts 4:1-37
Psalms 124:1-8
Proverb 16:24
June 7 YOUR’RE ON THE TEAM
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
John 6:37
Applying for a job can be difficult. You want so much to worth there, but the decision is up to the boss. You can go and interview well and hope that it is enough. That moment when you are told you got the job is priceless. You belong. Now you have gone from an outsider to a member of the team. God has done that for us. And it wasn’t based on our performance, athletic ability, or our looks. It is based on His great love. If you come to Him, He will adopt you into His family, no questions asked. How does it feel to be on God’s team?
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Lesson 23
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 2:1-3:2
Acts 5:1-42
Psalms 125:1-5
Proverb 16:25
June 8 DID YOU HEAR THAT?
But He said, On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.
Luke 11:28
Sometimes, when we listen to someone speak, we want to make sure everyone heard what he said because we think it was important. Often we will use the phrase, “Did you hear that?” We don’t want other people to miss this important information. As important as that might be, there is another person who, when they speak, we all should listen. His name is God. Truly what He has to say is more important than anything any of us will ever say. We all should desire to make sure that everyone is hearing what God says. We should turn to the person next to us and say, “Did you hear that? What is God saying to you?
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 3:3-4:34
Acts 6:1-15
Psalms 126:1-6
Proverbs 16:26-27
June 9
GOOD REPRESENTA-TIVE
A wicked messenger falls into adversity, But a faithful envoy brings healing.
Proverbs 13:17
As a member of any group or team, you are expected at all times to remember that and behave in such a way as to bring honor and respect to them. When someone’s actions reflect poorly on the group, it is a moment of shame. Sometimes it leads to discipline. You are expected to behave a certain way. As a believer in Jesus, things are the same. As members of God’s family, our lives are to reflect His goodness to us constantly. When we make poor choices, it brings shame to us, our fellow believers, and the reputation of Jesus. What is in your life that, if known, would bring shame to the name of Jesus? __________________________________
Lesson 23
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 5:1-6:38
Acts 7:1-29
Psalms 127:1-5
Proverbs 16:28-30
June 10 FINALLY
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Musicians have been known to spend hours in practice trying to perfect a particular sound. They are driven by the desire to accomplish this goal. Then that moment comes when after much frustration and the skill is perfected. They stand in triumph, feeling like they finally have accomplished this. As a believer, we should be just as motivated in the pursuit of our relationship with God. We should be willing to spend the time to accomplish this goal. When we do this, there will come that moment when we can say, “Finally!” We will be walking in the joy of the Lord. How is your life magnifying God?
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 7:1-51
Acts 7:30-50
Psalms 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33
June 11 WON’T HAPPEN
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9
In the back of some people’s minds is the knowledge that they won’t be able to do what they are doing forever. There will come that dreaded moment when, because of age or accumulation of injuries, they won’t perform at the level they need to. They may think that it won’t happen to them, but it will. As a believer in Christ, there will never come a time when He will say that you are too old to serve Him. He will never cast us aside and say, “I do not need of you.” It won’t happen. He may move us around, but He will never get rid of us. What areas of your life do you need to trust in Him?
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 8:1-66
Acts 7:51-8:13
Psalms 129:1-8
Proverb 17:1
JUNE 12 CHEERLEAD-ING
Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
Luke 4:8
It is encouraging to hear people cheering for you. It is interesting to hear the cheers that declare the sure victory. Sometimes these are quickly silenced by the opponent or another competitor. Other times, they seem to go on continually as you move towards victory. This is a shadow of the praise that belongs to Jesus. He will never be defeated. We can sing songs of victory because of His great power. Singing of His greatness and glory brings joy to our lives. What should you be praising the Lord about?
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalms 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3
June 13
ENVY
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:16
One mistake common to many people is envy. When we watch a great person perform, we want to be like them. We try to learn their secrets so that we can be like them one day. This is a one-way trip to disappointment. We don’t all have that person’s unique abilities or experience. We should focus on developing our own unique skills and abilities. Christians have this same problem too. We shouldn’t want to be someone else; we should want to be the unique person God made us be. Be the best you, you can be. What areas of your life is God still wanting to make changes?
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 11:1-12:19
Acts 9:1-25
Psalms 131:1-3
Proverbs 17:4-5
June 14 FINAL WHISTLE
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Athletes are clock watchers. They know when it’s coming to the end of the game, and they push to give their last bit of energy to win. The drama is increased when you don’t know when the final whistle will blow. Games are often won and lost in these final moments. Some cheer, and others are sad when the whistle sounds. The same is true in our lives. Unfortunately, we don’t have a clock on our lives to watch, so no one knows just when our life will be over. Nothing can be done after the whistle to change the result. We all know it’s coming. Where will you spend eternity?
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 12:20-13:34
Acts 9:26-43
Psalms 132:1-18
Proverbs 17:6
June 15 REMEMBER
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20
Have you ever had an “off day?” We don’t wish to be remembered for that one day. In fact, we would rather you forget about that day and remember all the “on days” from the past. It’s not wise to judge a person on just one day. Sometimes we judge God when He doesn’t do as we wish. We should think back to the many times that God has taken care of us in the past. Sometimes we are judging God when He is not finished working. Knowing what God has done in the past, we should trust Him in the present. Are you reminding yourself of the faithfulness of God? Give examples.
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 14:1-15:24
Acts 10:1-23
Psalms 133:1-3
Proverbs 17:7-8
June 16 KEEP YOUR WORD
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:23
When a person commits another person, that person expects him to keep his word. A person’s future in a relationship or a company will often be determined by keeping his word. No one wants a mate or coworker they can’t count on to do what they promise to do. Unreliable people don’t last long. As Christians, we should be careful about making promises to God. Only make promises you can keep. How foolish is it to make promises to the One who knows everything if we don’t intend to keep them. Making a promise and keeping it is a path to blessing. What areas of your life do you struggle to keep your word?
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Lesson 24
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalms 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11
June 17 COMPLAINING
Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
Numbers 11:1
Few things upset people faster than other people complaining. When a person complains, they are focusing everything on themselves and not thinking about others. They must trust those in charge to do what is best for them. When it comes to our relationship with God, the same is true. God is more interested in our character than our comfort. When we complain, we are saying that God is not doing what is best for us. We need to trust Him. What in your life have you been complaining about?
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Lesson25
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalms 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
June 18 LIMITS
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:7
No one would want to say that they limited others or made them less successful than they could have been. There is something about us that wants to say we are winners. However, if we choose not to follow the instructions or the plan we are given, we can limit our success because we no longer follow the same plan. Even as Christians, when we choose not to follow God or work with other Christians, we will limit both God’s blessings to us and His work in other people’s lives. How could your life be testing God?
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Lesson 25
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 19:1-21
Acts 12:1-23
Psalms 136:1-26
Proverbs 17:14-15
June 19 NOT ABSENT
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2
At critical moments, it is important that someone step to the forefront. Sometimes the pressure of the moment or the fear of failure keeps them from stepping up. When this happens, those around them suffer from them not fulfilling the role. They are absent even though they are there. As Christians, we all will face challenging moments and will have to decide what to do. For some, the pressure of the moment or the fear of failure causes us to shrink back instead of step up. We should take courage because our God will always show up and take charge of the situation. Name ways that you are trusting in God when the going gets tough.
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Lesson 25
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Acts 12:24-13:15
Psalms 137:1-9
Proverb 17:16
JUNE 20 LEADERSHIP PART 1
For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
2 Corinthians 8:21
To be a leader, you should need to have certain attributes. One of these is integrity. To have integrity, you cannot have divided loyalties or competing agendas. A lack of integrity will destroy your credibility as a leader. It would be best if you lived what you talk. To be a Christian leader, this is also a must. It would be best if you lived out what you talk about. This gives you credibility when you speak. People will respect and follow your integrity. To influence people, your life should reflect exactly what you say. Then people will follow you. Are there areas in your life where you do not practice what you preach?
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Lesson 25
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READING PLAN:
1 Kings 22:1-53
Acts 13:16-41
Psalms 138:1-8
Proverbs 17:17-18
June 21 LEADERSHIP PART 2
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
2 Peter 3:18
Another prerequisite to being a leader is to know your “stuff.” A huge part of leading is teaching others how to do their job well. This requires time and effort in learning about your job. You can’t teach what you don’t know. A lack of knowledge will make any leader ineffective. As Christian leaders, we should spend time and effort getting to know God and the Bible. Then we can lead and teach others. Again you can’t teach what you don’t know. People will benefit as we share what we have learned about God. How are you growing in your knowledge of God?
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Lesson 25
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 1:1-2:25
Acts 13:42-14:7
Psalms 139:1-24
Proverbs 17:19-21
June 22 MOMENTUM
But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 4:14
Everyone wants to have momentum on their side, but there is no set way of achieving it. Momentum usually occurs when people do what they have been trained to do. It doesn’t happen by accident. However, momentum only rewards those who have put in the work and are ready for the moment. As a Christian, we should be even more diligent in our preparation. There will come a moment when our preparation will make the difference. When we do what we have prepared to do and see the results in someone else’s life, this will encourage us to keep working. What are you doing to get closer to God?
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Lesson 25
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 3:1-4:17
Acts 14:8-28
Psalms 140:1-13
Proverb 17:22
June 23
LOYALTY
Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.
1 Kings 8:61
When you join a company, you are expected to devote yourself to the success of that company. To go around praising another company would be considered disloyal. An employee is expected to show his loyalty by what he does and what he does not do. This is taken very seriously, and disloyalty is not tolerated. As a follower of Jesus, we should be devoted to the success of the mission of Jesus. We should show our loyalty both by what we do and what we don’t do. This is far more serious than employment. Is there an area of your life where you are not loyal to Jesus?
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Lesson 25
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 4:18-5:27
Acts 15:1-35
Psalms 141:1-10
Proverb 17:23
June 24 COMEBACKS
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
There may come a point in your life when things are no longer moving forward. To not do something would guarantee a further downhill slide. Sometimes people look for a new job, or they work longer and harder to improve their skills. They know the truth that to improve, they will have to change what they are doing. As Christians, there will be times we need to make some changes to continue to grow as we should. As we use renewed effort and work on the basics of our faith, we will grow. What changes do you need to make to get moving foward again?
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Lesson 26
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalms 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25
June 25 NOT FOOLED
This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.
Matthew 15:8-9
Have you ever know anyone that only did their best when people were looking or checking up on them? These people may have great talent, but they never accomplish much because those in charge are not easily fooled. What should have been a great career becomes a disappointment. For Christians, we can perform when people are around, but how about when we think no one is looking? The reality is that God is always looking, and He never misses anything. We should live our lives to please Him. What areas of your life might God not be pleased with?
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Lesson 26
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalms 143:1-12
Proverb 17:26
June 26 STANDARDS
As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid, So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; In the midst of his days it will forsake him, And in the end he will be a fool.
Jeremiah 17:11
Some people feel that they should get a different, easier standard than others. They believe all rules should be slanted to their benefit. Unfortunately, some are allowed privileges when they are younger because of their abilities or talents, and this lack of standards eventually destroys their lives. Fortunately for believers in Christ, the standards never change. They are consistent, which helps us to know boundaries that help us to live productive lives. The same standards apply to all. What standards of God have you recently applied to your life?
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Lesson 26
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 9:14-10:31
Acts 17:1-34
Psalms 144:1-15
Proverbs 17:27-28
June 27
AN ADVANTAGE
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose trust is the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:7
We are always looking for an advantage. In sports, it usually means playing at home. Everyone is sure that if you are going to play an important game, you want to do it at home. Some people feel like they have a lucky shirt. For Christians, there is nothing like being in the presence of the Lord. We live better and are truly happier there than anywhere else in the world. Our joy in life is tied to spending time with the Lord. How can you improve your walk with the Lord?
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Lesson 26
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 10:32-12:21
Acts 18:1-22
Psalms 145:1-21
Proverb 18:1
June 28 OPPORTUNITY LOST
For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:30-32
As a parent, the relationship with your child is important. It is a relationship built on trust. When a parent no longer has confidence that their child is listening and doing what is asked, the opportunities for special treats will deteriorate. The opportunity for those special treats will be gone. God is involved in a special relationship with us. He wants to teach us and guide us so that we can experience joy and bring Him glory. At times, we might not be listening to God, so He moves on, and our opportunity to walk in His favor is gone. Is there an area of your life where God is waiting on you to change?
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Lesson 26
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Acts 18:23-19:12
Psalms 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3
June 29 WAITING TO HEAR
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
John 10:27
For a child, there is no higher praise than the voice of his parent, for a student-the voice of his teacher, for an athlete-the voice of his coach. Other people may praise you, but when that certain person praises you, it is even more special. In a sense, we wait to hear what that certain person has to say before we really know how to feel about our performance. And praise is only given where it is due. For a believer in Christ, what the Lord has to say is more important than what other people have to say about our lives. We need to be listening so that we can be quick to obey and quick to celebrate his pleasure in our lives. What has God spoken to you recently?
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Lesson 26 __________________________________
READING PLAN:
2 Kings 15:1-16:20
Acts 19:13-41
Psalms 147:1-20
Proverbs 18:4-5
June 30
LEADING THE WAY
You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
Dueteronomy 13:4
New employees in a business or new students at a school always look to the experienced ones to show them how things are done in that business or at that school. They learn how everyone dresses, what procedures to follow, and even special things they do to motivate each other. By following their example, they begin to fit in much quicker. As a follower of Jesus, we look to how He lived His life. His example is there for us to follow. The more we follow Him, the quicker our lives are changed to please Him. What has God shown you recently as you follow Him?
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Lesson 26
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READING PLAN:
2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Acts 20:1-38
Psalms 148:1-14
Proverbs 18:6-7