Proverbs 2:6 NIVUK

Scripture
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Observation
We live in a world where we equate knowledge to power. However we can fail to realise the importance of understanding and wisdom.

Application
We must take our knowledge and allow God to teach us, from this teaching and knowledge will come understanding. Once we begin to understand what we know we will begin to see how to apply this knowledge which is wisdom. One with knowledge talks, one with understanding does but with wisdom listens first.

Prayer
Teach me to listen, to listen to you and use the knowledge and understanding you give me to act wisely.

JD

Romans 11:33 NIVUK

Scripture
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Observation
The knowledge and wisdom of God can seem daunting, we may not be able to fathom why God wants us to do something, it may not be clear past the next step God wants us to take. However we can rest assured that the depth of God's knowledge, wisdom, power, love, grace and mercy is unfathomable and greater that we could ever need.

Application
We need to lean not on our understanding and abilities but instead remember to rely on our all powerful Father, our God who loves us.

Prayer
Teach me to trust and rely on you and your infinite knowledge and wisdom. Teach me to rely on you and not on myself. Lord give me what I need to do what you want me to do.

JD

Jeremiah 32:17 NIVUK

Scripture
‘Ah, Sovereign Lord , you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Observation
It can be easy to set limitations for God in our own minds. Because we cannot conceive a possibility or because we are unable to grasp at an understanding we can imagine that God is unable to do something. We must never forget that the God who created the universe is able to do anything He wills. There is nothing to hard for our God.

Application
Instead of allowing ourselves to be limited to what we can see, imagine or do we need to rely fully on God to do His work in us. We need to take this faith and ask for what we need and trust in what we cannot understand.

Prayer
Help me to dream big and follow your plan in my life. I will trust you Lord to help me do what you ask, for truly you are the God who provides.

JD

Romans 10:9-10 NIVUK

Scripture
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Observation
It is easy for us to go through our day to day lives and not talk to anyone about our faith. We can be worried about starting conversation with strangers, worried about causing offence or even afraid to look stupid.

Application
Our proffession of faith can not just be through our actions, it can not just be through our relationships. We must declare with our mouths that indeed Jesus Christ is our Lord. Yes the faith in our hearts is important but we must look out for the daily opportunities to evangelise to those around us.

Prayer
Give us daily a bold soul that we might seek out those opportunities to declare our faith in you Lord. Give us each day those people who need to hear Your word and the words to say at that time. Lay your Spirit on us to burn with a passion for you, to be bold for you and to declare daily that Jesus Christ is Lord.

JD

Colossians 3:13 NIVUK

Scripture

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Observation

We often think that we have forgiven people for the small slights and the little annoyances but do we? These may be brushed off and "forgotten" about but the collective weight builds up behind a dam of resentment. We need to learn to truly forgive, to forgive and not count the cost. To love like God is to forgive like God. But we can not love unless we forgive. It is not a chicken and egg problem, we must love and forgive and forgive and love in an ever increasing measure.

Application

We need to let go of the resentment that we hold on to and practice true forgiveness. By letting the frustration and repeated perceived slights "brush off" we are not actually forgiving and loving as God intends us to.

Prayer

Lord teach us to forgive and love as you have. Teach us to forgive and love as you do. Help me to be more like Jesus in all I do so that His love is seen in my life and the forgiveness He has shown will be my guide and example.

JD