Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

Josh‬ua ‭6:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

This week, we are sharing on the topic of long obedience. As a Christian, this is walking with God daily, staying focused on the path God has for you. Joshua is a perfect example, marching around Jericho for seven days. On this Fruit Friday let’s keep going. As Walt Disney said “We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” We may not always feel like God is near or that the path we are on has purpose. God will bless our obedience. In God’s perfect timing the walls will come down or he will open another door.

In this song; Do it Again by Elevation Worship some of the lyrics sing; “I’m still in your hands, this is my confidence. You’ve never failed me yet”. Will you stay the course of long obedience in the same direction? You are in God’s hands. Keep going! 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for guiding me even when I can’t see what is ahead. Help me to keep moving forward on the plan You have for me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

1 Thessalonians 5:18 — give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This week, we are sharing on the topic of long obedience. As a Christian, this is walking with God daily, staying focused on the path God has for you. Looking back four years to our son Trevor’s college orientation, one of the speakers encouraged the students to practice gratitude. As he embarked on his new journey, I thought this was great advice. They say it takes about 21 days to create a new habit if you make it a daily practice. In this verse from Thessalonians, giving thanks in all circumstances is like practicing gratitude.

In this song I’m So Blessed by Cain, the lyrics sing, “On my best day, I am a child of God. On my worst day, I am a child of God.” If you are struggling to find gratitude today, remember that you are a child of God. I encourage you to watch the video; it is a funny way to give thanks in all circumstances. 

One of my favorite ways to practice gratitude is to be outdoors and experience God’s beauty. I am especially thankful for another day to be a child of God. How will you practice gratitude today? 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for so many ways to find gratitude. I am so blessed to be Your child. Open my heart and mind to see all the beauty in today. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

This week, we are sharing on the topic of long obedience. As a Christian, this is walking with God daily, staying focused on the path God has for you. What is the greatest form of obedience?

‬‬Matthew 22:37‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

What is the second greatest form of obedience?

Matthew 22:39 NIV —“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Jesus said he would bless us for carefully following His commands. Do you strive to obey Him?

Deuteronomy 28:1 NIV — If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

On this Water Walking Wednesday, let’s get back to the simplicity of God’s commands. Stepping on the shoreline is the greatest form of obedience because the first step is the hardest step taken. Walking on water should naturally follow, just like loving others.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for loving me so that I can in turn Love others. I seek to obey You all of my days. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

Genesis 2:1-2 NIV – Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. 

This week, we are sharing on the topic of long obedience. As a Christian, this is walking with God daily, staying focused on the path God has for you.  Take time today to remember how your journey began. We are all on different journeys and in different seasons of our lives. I started thinking about the first journey that ever took place, when God created the heavens and the earth. You can read the full passage in Genesis 1: 1-31; 2: 1-2. Today, we will focus on our key verse, in which God carved out a day of rest on His journey of creation. We may not be able to take a day of rest from cancer, grief, or any other trial, but we can surrender those things to God’s time. 

The days can seem long and the weeks short. We must continually find time for rest and trust God along the journey. Notice, God finished the work and then rested.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for my time of rest with You. As I reflect on my past and current journeys, may I find both strength and rest in Your faithfulness. You know both the current and future needs. I surrender them all to Your timeline. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

This week, we will share long obedience. As a Christian, this is walking with God daily, staying focused on the path God has for you. I encourage you to meditate on this week’s scripture verses. God will bless your long obedience.

Genesis 2:1-2 NIV – Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. 

Matthew 22:37‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Matthew 22:39 NIV — “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Deuteronomy 28:1 NIV — If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV — give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Josh‬ua ‭6:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

This week we will share long obedience. As a Christian, this is walking with God daily, staying focused on the path God has for you. Some words that come to mind when referring to spiritual obedience are stillness, prayer, listening, submission, humility, faith, and action.

Take some time today to worship God through the song, You Lead Me by Lauren Daigle. The music video contains clips from the series, “House of David.” King David was not perfect but a great example of long obedience. Some of the lyrics sing, “I don’t know if I’m walking on water or sinking sand.”

God doesn’t always do things the way we think or imagine. Worship as you wait with Wait On You by Elevation Worship. Some of the lyrics sing, “I’m gonna wait on You. I’ve tasted Your goodness. I’ll trust in Your promise. I’m gonna wait on You.”

Through long obedience, God can shape us for His glory. Worship with Fruit Takes Time by SEU Worship. Some of the lyrics sing, “Hold me, shape me, change me daily. Find me faithful, good fruit takes time to grow. Break my heart if that’s what it takes.”

Today’s thoughts are by Deborah Ard.

Jeremiah 30:1-3 NIV — This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.” 

In today’s featured scripture, God tells Jeremiah to write down the words He speaks. This week I am sharing with you my experience with journaling and the benefits I have found with journaling.

Recently I ran across some of my early prayer journals. I have enjoyed looking back through the journals and seeing how my journaling has evolved over the years. I have realized there is no one size fits all way to journal. The way you choose to journal is dependent on what works best for you.

My first journal was a spiral notebook. It was nothing fancy, but practical. I believe it was a notebook I already had so I didn’t even make a special purchase. Over the years, my journals have taken many forms. From the notebook I moved to a small, pretty, hard bound journal. I have also had a larger, leather bound journal and even a hard bound, spiral journal. The point is, whatever you choose to use as your journal is up to you, based on what works for you. I do suggest that whatever format you choose, be sure it is somehow kept together. For example, if you choose to write on loose leaf paper, I would suggest you store it in a three ring binder. 

Do you currently journal? If so, what format do you use? If you haven’t journaled before, I encourage you to consider journaling.

Let’s pray. Dear God, guide and direct me as I write down my thoughts with You. May the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

@biblegateway @youversion