This Is the Old Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we move from the Pentateuch into the second section of the Old Testament, the Historical Books.
What Is Judges? The book of Judges chronicles the period after Joshua’s death, which was characterized by an ongoing cycle of Israel’s sin, God’s judgment, and His deliverance. This deliverance came through twelve leaders, known as judges.
How Judges Fits Into the Story: Judges records how the nation of Israel survived the dark days of the judges entirely by the grace of God. In His mercy, God sent oppressors as reminders of their rebellion, responded to their cries, and raised up deliverers. Judges demonstrates the fundamental problem of the human heart—when God’s people forget His saving acts, they go after other gods. In the end, the book of Judges illustrates an eternal truth: in spite of our sin and rebellion, the Lord will continue to build His kingdom.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does God’s response to the destruction and disobedience described in today’s reading tell you about the nature of His kingdom?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
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73 thoughts on "Judges"
I am thankful that nothing can thwart God’s ultimate plan for his people. He provided a way of deliverance for His people even though they did not deserve it. He kept his commandments to the Israelites!
It is amazing the patience and mercy of God. Continuing to send judges to deliver the people even when they broke the commandment he longed for the most to desire after him and put him first. Judges is humbling it reminds me of Gods deliverance even when I fail and veer off track.
We see God’s grace in Judges because even though the people keep sinning and he does send judgment, he also keeps on delivering them over and over. His love and grace doesn’t depend on us, it’s who he is!
You phrased this beautifully! Amen!
God is a jealous God, demanding exclusivity for His children. However, He is also a God of immense grace.
The fact that God has not given up on us is a miracle. While He does send punishment and we do experience consequences, they are a means of His grace that direct us back to Him, to be restored. The world offers confusion and destruction, He offers wholeness.
Perfectly stated. It all points back to him!
God commanded us not to serve any other God but him
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So good!!
So familiar to today’s times. So many people worried about themselves that we forget to care about others. We really don’t need to worry about our “rights” but to follow God. We are here to serve others not ourselves.
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Hi friends! I’m currently using the book for this study and have hit a road block on question 1. Anyone else using the book? I don’t understand the question…
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
Responding late on grace day…. This verse has always haunted me to be honest. I struggle to see where God is leading me or what He wants me to do in certain situations and find myself frozen because of fear that my way is right in my eyes but not Gods. I like what she said in the judges explanation about forgetting His acts leads to rebellion. If I stay in His word, sincerely chase His heart, and act in faith that He will lead me I can have confidence. God help me trust You and to chase after You, putting the gods of this world out of my heart and keeping you in the forefront
Amen sister!
I am so glad to see that God still loves and cares for us even when we mess up. We see this through the whole story of the Israelites. This helps me see that God forgives and comes back to rescue us and show us his love
Judges is the tragedy of sin and the beauty of the coming savior. As each judge is raised up by God, they save the people from oppression, but then they die. It’s just one dead man after and another. And Israel continues on in sin and disobedience, unable to see their true deliverer.
Thanks be to God that JESUS is the final judge! He is no longer just another dead man, but a man (who was also God) who died on the cross taking on the full judgement of God for us. And the good news: He was RAISED. In His resurrection He conquered sin, judgement, and death for those who believe in Him. We are no longer stained by our sin, but covered in the saving blood of Jesus Christ! What a gift of grace!
Romans 5:8
No matter what you have done, God still loves you!
1. His plan cannot be destroyed by my sin, which is good news! But if I refuse to partake in His plan for my life, I miss that blessing.
2. He is quick to forgive. Difficult times in life can bring redemption.
Lydia I am praying for your dad and the whole family.
Mary Ann I pray that you will not succumb to your addiction.
Churchmouse and Alli son, I’m agreeing with you in prayer!
Sharon, I am praying for George’s family.
Jimin. I am praying for your husband’s salvation and your strength during this time.
I know I haven’t mentioned all of the prayer requests but am lifting them all before the Lord.
Blessings sisters.
Oh Kristen it must be so hard to watch your daughter suffer and not know how to help. I’m praying you will have wisdom when it’s needed, peace in your spirit even when you shouldn’t and that you would sit and watch your great God bring healing and wholeness to your daughter. May you as a family see the goodness of God together and rejoice in his restoration.
Thankful for your comments and insights, combined with our readings, the lesson that jumped out of to me loud is that true love accompanies harsh disciplines. I am thankful for the illustration that someone shares on her classroom, how being incredibly nice to the little children does not work! Thank you for that!! And the readings express the understated importance of teaching the NEXT generation about God, and how that simply falls within our hands, within the capacity of mothers like you and me. It just taught me how the role of all Godly mothers combined in changing successfully the course of a nation, by simply raising up future leaders into the fear and obedience of the Lord, so that even when they grow old they won’t depart from it. Just simply because we mothers in our homes first honor God and fear God even when no one is watching.
Joining our sisters with the prayer requests posted. Keep pressing into the Lord dear sisters until you see victories, keep giving thanks and praise until you see result. Fervent prayers in hardships build characters. God wastes no pain or tears. May you soon experience victories in Jesus’ name. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm (Exodus 14:14). May your day be filled with hope and strength from the Lord! Blessings and love to you all!
God just wants our hearts. ❤️ He wants us to love, follow and obey him. I love that he always searches after his kids.
Jennifer Anapol and Grace Rodriguez, I’m praying your moves will go well.
Free Indeed, I’m praying for your grandparents, especially your grandmother.
Caitlyn, SRT did a study on Judges as well many of the other book of the Old Testament. If you look under reading plans you can find them and read them along with the Bible.
Mari V., Corinne Gilardi, Cheryl Williams, Jane K. and Sheridan Covington part or all of your comment I would like to pass on if you don’t mind, especially to my sister.
Please pray for my nephew, Jake, he goes to court tomorrow. Apparently, he attacked some one. He is finally realizing he has some mental health issues and is willing to take his medicine. He is finally coming around which is easing a burden off my sister. Please continue to pray for her, Carol, and that she get the help she needs for her depression.
A couple years ago on a different devotional, a lady said that we must desire God’s character more than His actions. To desire the Creator more than His creations, the healer more than the healing. This reminded me of this generation in Judges. I’m sure some families still reminded their children of what God did for them in the past and His ongoing covenant, but these and many more probably did not know God for Who He is. This is what will keep us going during our darker and lonely periods. When we can’t see God, we trust in His heart is what another lady wrote. The Israelites ran around looking for everything else and only looked to God when His actions were convenient for them.
To be honest, I have never touched some Old Testament books because of their difficulty (Leviticus and Judges for example). I’ve been challenging myself to read the books we’re going through each day (because I have the time, and some books do carry on the next day), but I’m so thankful for this study because the Bible shouldn’t be scary to me, and I’m finding out that it really isn’t. I thought I would be bored out of mind while reading Leviticus but I was actually intrigued and now reading 7 books in a row, I have a better understanding of the Bible and its themes and New Testament connections. I hope if anyone has time in their day or Sabbath to read their Bibles because it’s so worth it.
That being said, I know I can make Bible reading an idol so easily and me becoming a Pharisee is a slippery path.
Ashley M that’s exactly what I saw today. A whole generation didn’t know the greatness of the God of the Israelites! Add to that the creeping in of the pagan cultures around them (because utter destruction—like God commanded—didn’t happen)…and the chosen people of God don’t know right from left, good from evil, Truth from lie. You better believe I went and grabbed my 10 year old and showed him this verse. We have to keep talking to our kids about God’s Truth. There’s too many sneaky tactics awaiting them from the Father of Lies.
Lydia V praying for your father.
MaryAnn Graves, I’m praying for you, addiction can be hard. I have seen several family members deal with it but with the Lord’s help and pray and help of family and friends you can overcome it.
Sharon, Jersey Girl, praying for George’s family. May God be with them in the coming days, weeks and years.
Alexis remember god has a plan for you. You may have to wait a little bit to find out what it is.
1. What does God’s response to the destruction and disobedience described in today’s reading tell you about the nature of His kingdom?
God shows His anger in His people’s lack of faithfulness and acts just and righteous towards them. God is God in that we will not step out of His character and covenant with His people to coddle them yet He is merciful and gracious to us when the consequences should be worse. God is about His truth and keeping His promise.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
God doesn’t make mistakes in allowing His people to have free-will. He wants what’s best for us (Himself) but if we do not choose God, or seek Him, and prostitute ourselves with other gods/pleasures of this world/idols that say we are all powerful to live our lives independent from God, then He has nothing to give other then optional mercy and reaping the fruits of our foolishness. My husband and I have been reading Proverbs lately and with our life right now we are seeing that God is setting us apart from foolish people that can potentially become a danger if we are not removed. God will always want to protect His children but He can not make His children want Him. Still don’t know how God pursues us yet allows things to happen as a result of our actions but He’s faithfully there. He is there to see it all happen is wants to be wanted and praised and obeyed and loved.
Carleigh Bright, I love that connection between a teacher discipline her students out of love and how God disciplines his children! I just graduated college and am changing direction a bit from my major, and am considering getting my masters and becoming an elementary school teacher. I feel like I would be prone to be a little too nice and not balance it with discipline when the time comes. It’s beautiful how God loves us so much to bring us back to him. It’s not a forced love, but he knows ultimately, that he is where the joy is. (Shout out to the Bible Recap ;)
Amen Taylor. I have similar struggles- the idols of my heart seem impossible to shake sometimes but I know that God who is faithful will complete the work of changing me
Sisters, first of all I want to say how encouraging all of your responses are! How beautiful is this community!
However, I’ve seen a few of you use “Gods” (capital G) when talking about false idols in your posts. Though your message is correct, it would actually be “gods” (lowercase g) when referring to false gods or idols. There is only one true God, everything else is a god. A little thing, but it matters when talking to non-believers.
I am so enjoying this study! Learning something new from every day!
Totally agree with you.
These passages also show what can be lost generation to generation if we aren’t intentional about passing along the greatness of God.
God is such a forgiving God. Time and time again the Israelites, His Chosen people, would stray but time and time again He would take them back. Time and time again I stray and time and time again He takes me back, all I have to do is ask for forgiveness and have faith in Jesus Christ.
Lord, help to do better. Thank you for forgiving me when I fall or stray. I praise Your name and rejoice in You, Your Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Be blessed my sisters.
Mary Ann, I am praying for you. ♥️
Thank you God for a reminder to live our lives in obedience. When I read this Bible, I felt that anything that we put before God can be our idol. For me, I think sometimes life gets in the way and there are so many things that I feel like I should do before I spend time with God and by the end of the day, I’m too tired to spend time with HIM. Lord I thank you that you are a God of redemption and that you never forsake us but instead gently call us back into your arms. Sisters, please pray for salvation of my husband, Daniel. Grateful to have found this community. Thanks you and God bless you all. May we walk together in one with our one and only mighty God!
ERB, so glad to see your comment. I am really rarely on facebook, but maybe email would be good. I process so much email at work that I tend to avoid it at home too. But we could study there. I am running behind today so have to make this quicker than normal. The start of ch 34 a proclamation to listen caught me. And the measuring line of desolation and the plumb line of chaos in verse 11. The owls were funny to me because I have always loved owls, but I have been staying with my sister Emily’s recently and their neighborhood owls, Orpha and Owen, have left the remains of several bunnies fo me to clean up, needless to say not as fond of owls right now. This retribution of Edom it says is to uphold Zion’s cause. So He is again fighting for Zion. I too love Isaiah 34:16-18. especially that His Spirit will gather us together. His joy to your day my friend. Keeping your brother and you in my prayers!
Mary-Ann: Praying for your addiction to wine. With God, nothing is impossible!
Lydia V: Praying for your dad and a successful surgery.
Free Indeed: Praying for your grandmothers surgery.
Tina: Praying for Ollie’s healing
Angie: Praying for your recovery.
I have a request to add as well: I need wisdom regarding my job. I need to be able to trust God with the outcome and know that He is with me through all this. Thank you <3
I can’t help but make the connection between our “Christian Nation” and Israel. This past Memorial Day our law makers neglected to remember and rather focused on the god of self. I fear we have entered a period of “judges”- and pray that we learn quickly and return to God. Personally as well as nationally.
Good Morning Sisters, thankful we can lift up each other’s prayer requests. He is faithful to answer us by His will. Knowing that He is fighting for us with eternity in mind brings peace to me. Praying Lydiav for Jesus touch and miraculous healing, the doctors’ wisdom and that they would get all of the cancer. God’s peace for him in it and healing rest after. Praying for your Grandma and Grandpa Free Indeed He is mighty, may she feel Him holding her and His love strong around her in this time. Mellissa H, praying for eyes to be opened and a heart to turn and find His freedom. Don’t give up, His love never fails. Sharon JG, praying for George’s wife and daughter. May our God pour out His love and provision on them. I am so sad when someone can not get the help they need. So sorry for your loss. Mary Ann, my daughter has been clean for almost 3 years and it is because of nothing else but Jesus. Praying for you, that you will get the support needed and know He is fighting for you. This line from the Hymn just came to my heart for you. Fix your eyes upon Jesus look full in His glorious face, and things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Hugs to you dear sister! Hugs All!!
We MUST teach God’s Word and His truths to the next generation so that He is not forgotten. As I read Judges 21:25 today, sadly, it reminds me of the state of the world today. So many believe that if it feels right to them, then it’s ok—- that is not right!!! We must boldly proclaim God’s Word and His Truth so that it is not forgotten. “For you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
The reading fromJudges brings to mind this prayer.It is fromthe Book of Common Prayer that we often use in our church
Almighty God,Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,Maker of all things,Judge of all men.We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,which we from time to time,most grievously have committed,by thought,word and deed,against thy Divine Majesty,provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.We do earnestly repent,and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings,the remembrance of them is grievous unto us,the burden of them is intolerable.Have mercy upon us,have mercy upon us,most merciful Father,for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,forgive us all that is past,and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life,to the Honour and glory of thy Name.Through Jesus Christ our Lord .Amen
One thing that stood out to me today in the reading is how it is to explained that when the people of Israel forgot Gods saving they went to other Gods. How often in our lives do we, maybe not seek other Gods, but look to our own wisdoms or others opinions when God isn’t moving on our time…but his? It’s so easy to sway from his love, but if we just have the faith that he wants us to have, in the end, we will be in that promised land as well.
MAURA, I just wrote you this whole long message… and it somehow got deleted (my fault for not saving it) before I sent it!! Bummer!! I will try and re-write…
I had little to no internet connection yesterday, so I just NOW got your message from yesterday… I too have pictured and hoped those same things about you dear friend!! I am blessed everyday by our friendship and thank God for connecting us the way He has!! And I look forward to the day when we will be able see/meet each other!! For now though, we have SRT, Facebook and email!! If you’d like to connect there as well, just let me know and we’ll make it happen! Whatever you’re comfortable with!! ❤️
Isaiah 33 …YES and amen!! I look forward to those days!!! No more pain and suffering just full and complete restoration, especially to our Creator Father!!!
I REALLY liked your insight on the “woe to you’s” and I think it’s pretty accurate!! When I read it.. what stood out to me was the second part of verse 1:
“When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.”
This made me STOP and take notice!! It’s definitely a warning!! I thought about pride and selfishness, the comparability of what’s happening in the world today, to back then… how haughtiness, arrogance and pride make us completely blind to what God wants us to see and what He wants to be focused on… I thought about how we sometimes don’t even realize the destruction and betrayal until it affects us personally!! The consequence of sin is death! And the “woe to you’s” seem to be a word picture of exactly that.
Isaiah 33:5-6 LOVED these verses!!! Especially the KEY!!! Very good insight to have and carry with me!!
Isaiah 33:10-17 …I don’t know about you, but I was completely PUMPED after reading these verses!!! I felt like I had just read this awesome inspirational speech and was fully energized!!! The promises and FAITHFULNESS of our God (once again) is INSPIRING!!!! 15 and 17 especially stood out!!! SO much to take in!!! And SO GOOD!!! Love it!!!
Isaiah 34 …verse 1 grabbed my attention “LISTEN & HEAR” ALL the earth (people, creatures, creation) STOP and pay attention!!! …Reminded me of a favorite quote “Listen to understand, not to respond”
Then verse 11… jumped right out at me!!! Owls… not too long ago I read/listened to a series of books by Kathryn Lasky called The Guardians of Ga’Hoole …the books go into great detail about owls and their character traits and how each owl is similar but that they also have very individualistic traits as well!! It was very eye opening to me!! The books are young adult adventure fiction, but wow!! There are SO many spiritual parallels!!! If you get a chance, you should definitely check them out!! …ok, get back on track Emily… anyways… verse 11 reminded me of all that I learned about owls… how their vision works, how aware they are, how fierce, loyal and confident they are, how territorial they can be, how they often use something hollow or dead to create new life and a home in… and also how ravens have a tumultuous but symbiotic relationship with them!! It was the PERFECT word picture for me!!! To hear of the devastation… but to also know that through the devastation there would be a new way of existing!!! It encourages me SO much!!! Lord, please burn away any chaff in me so that the old cannot exist anymore and so that new life may grow!! Here’s to a new way of existing!!! …hoping this all makes sense to you?
Here are the verses that stood out to me:
Isaiah 34:1-2
Isaiah 34:8-13
Isaiah 34:15-17
I also loved how it said that each would have its own mate, that they wouldn’t be alone… that they’d be protected “under the wings” this reminds me of the Holy Spirit and how He protects and keeps us!! That the “land” He promised will be from generation to generation… such HOPE in the midst of devastation!!!
May you have an incredibly blessed and beautiful day Maura!!! Love to all my wonderful sisters!!
❤️❤️❤️
Mercy
I’m amazed at the Lord’s continued mercy towards His people in spite of their sin and rebellion and going after other gods. He was firm with his boundaries but still provided Judges as a way out for them. I have a loved one in my family who has really turned from the Lord and it breaks my heart. But this passage reminded me of God’s continual offer of grace yet allowing them to go their own way. He’s always there waiting for them to return to Him.
Yes – be sure to include God into the lives of your precious babies – He is present whether we acknowledge it or not. It is SO important to equip them for life. My children were the first to begin kindergarten with computers, and technology has been a big part of their lives. All of their generation just see the world and their place in it through that lens, and are extremely vulnerable to the world and satan’s lies. And we totally included God in their upbringing! Proverbs 22:6 was a constant reminder and go-to for me as a mom, and true to His word, my now adult children have returned. It’s a scary world, and I can’t imagine living in it without Him or the support of sisters such as you amazing ladies here. Blessings!
Dear sisters, I am praying for all your prayer request from yesterday and today. Thank you, Maura and Ali, for your verses and prayers for my daughter. She is home today, so I will have an opportunity to share them with her.
The nature of God’s kingdom – God hates sin, He demands obedience. His kingdom is to be holy as he is holy. (I Peter 1:16)
“In spite of our sin”…God loves us, Jesus died for us, He faithfully cleanses us from all our sin – if we confess.
What a blessed thought to know that even though I still sin, even though I am not perfect – God still loves me so much, I am His and He is mine! (Song of Solomon 2:16)
May this be my daily prayer Father God – to love You with all my heart, with all my soul with all my mind, with all my strength.
Asking prayer for George’s family. He got covid, put off going to the hospital until it was bad because he didn’t have insurance. He got progressively worse and after a month in the hospital, he passed away on Friday. He had no other underlying health issues, was 47 and leaves behind a wife and college age daughter.
@Searching, continuing to pray that God will give the wisdom and direction that you need, and that He will answer soon!
@Mary Ann, I will be praying for you. I had a dear friend who also had an addiction to wine – she sent out a group text to all those she knew would pray, and she stopped cold turkey! It has been at least 3 months and she has not gone back to it. You’ve got this – you can do it with the help & strength of the Spirit that lives with in you!
@Lydav, I am so sorry to hear of your dad’s cancer. I will be praying for the surgery, the doctors and for God’s miraculous healing – if that be His will.
A blessed Tuesday to you all!
I’m convicted and inspired to share the LORD with the next generation. May the Lord weigh our hearts and the Holy Spirit be our justification.
This is indirect resemblance of what my heart is capable when I fall short with the LORD. God is a great Heavenly Father rescuing me when I don’t deserve. He is gracious and continues to forgive and dive in with open arms even when I turn away. Jesus was brought down for all of us to have that ability of salvation through him thanks to the LORD!
Praying that you will tap into that resurrection power today to know that Jesus is enough… He is all you need… HE IS EVERYTHING. Praying you will crave Him and Him alone today. You can do this!
1. During my first year as a middle school teacher I struggled with classroom management. I didn’t want to discipline kids; I wanted to give them unconditional love in the form of being incredibly nice to them. It was not a successful approach; kids skipped class, got in fights and had little learning happening in class.
A mentor of mine finally said “Do you think your parents love you?”
“Yes, unconditionally” I replied.
“Did you never get punished as a child?” He asked.
“All of the time.”
“If your parents loved you so much, why did they punish you then?”
“Because they loved me.”
I had answered my own dilemma.
We see this same form of unconditional love happening in Judges between God and His people. God loved His people soo much; but their sin was creating space between them and turning them away from Him. So He punished them as a way to bring them back to Him.
Gods discipline seems harsh, but the reality is He is showing Israel how much He loves. He loves them so much that He will not allow them to get away with worshiping other Gods.
2. Today’s reading shapes the story of redemption by reminding us just how much God loves us. Israel did all of these things to turn away from God. They worshiped other Gods and broke their own covenant between them and God…yet, He still loved His people so much that He eventually sent His one and only Son to die on the cross in our place.
How sweet it is to be loved and pursued by a God so passionately.
Praying for you this morning Mary Ann!
1. OUR PERFECT God cannot tolerate sin. THERE MUST BE PUNISHMENT
2. seeing the Isrealites walk away from God and become ensnared in a sinful cycle shows humanities need for Jesus. HE IS T
HE ONLY ONE WHO CAN ETERNALLT FREE US FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN
Lifting up all the prayers mentioned here this morning! Proverbs 21:2 really got me thinking how much I think my ways are right. I want to live a life wholly surrendered to the Lord and His will, but how often I am like the Israelites and go my own way and worship idols of validation through social media and relationships instead of the one God who loves me more than I could ever imagine. I am thankful for yesterday’s promise that the Lord will never leave us and is always with us. I’m currently listening to the song “Rattle” by Elevation Worship on repeat and it has been such an encouragement especially the two parts “Since when has impossible every stopped you” and the bridge that says “My God is able to save and deliver and heal and restore anything that He wants to” He is ABLE.
Allison—Felt convicted to be sharing all that God has done and who He is with my kids as well after reading that passage in Judges. Appreciate your encouragement. Thanks to everyone for sharing and lifting up these prayer requests ❤️
Yes, I will join you in prayer for your dad’s healing, LydiaV.
The Israelites had a problem understanding cause and effect. They seemed to think that their God was asleep, distant and that He couldn’t see what they were doing. Worse yet they seemed to think He didn’t care. A good father disciplines his children for their own good and so the God of Israel showed His love by disciplining His chosen people. Time and time again He redirected and refocused them. He sent them judges but the people did not listen. God sent foreign nations to prod them to call upon the name of the Lord for deliverance. From their oppression they called out and God came to their rescue. And then the Israelites drifted away from His commands again. It is not just the Israelites who got caught up in this sin cycle. We do the same. We overlook a little lie, an exaggeration. We have excuses for our less than Christian behavior. The expletives that spew forth are deemed “merely venting.” Yet we know that what is in the heart is revealed through our actions and words. God desires pure hearts singularly devoted to Him. Why on earth do we do whatever seems right in our little minds rather than following the God Who knows all things and loves us with an everlasting love? May today be a day for remembering all that the Lord has done. May we repent of our waywardness. And may we warn and encourage the next generation to follow the one true God.
I was really struck by verses 7 and 10: “the people worshipped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works he has down for Israel…after them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he has done for Israel.” As a mom to five littles this jumped out to me and stressed the importance of constantly sharing about God’s goodness and faithfulness in my life so that they will always know the Lord and what He has done for us. I have specific events that I can name as being answers to prayer and instances of clearly seeing God’s great work in my life and I’m convicted that I need to share, celebrate, and remind my children how much God has done for us, as an entire human race and, specifically for us, as a family. May the rising generation KNOW who God is because us “shes” are always declaring His majesty, faithfulness, and great works.
AND! When we are facing sufferings like the Israelites did when they wandered from God and the law, may we “endure suffering as discipline” knowing that it “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:7.11), running the race before us with endurance (Hebrews 12:1) and staying the course (2 Timothy 4:7). I just pray for all of you that we remain rooted in His word, strengthened by His humble sacrifice and the power of the Spirit, to continue in the Lord and to exhort the next generation to do the same.
God loves us so much that he wants us to join in with his kingdom work. He will not force us to join, nor will he allow us to prevent his work from happening. If I choose not to join, then he gives me over to my choices and consequences.
Thank you for your prayers to all my SRT sisters.
SHARON Jersey Girl – thank you! Sadly in this situation, no decision is a decision as well as it sets things in motion by another company … which starts a chain of events involving loss of jobs. Continuing to pray and appreciate you!
Belarus – praying for the persecuted and imprisoned.
SARAH JOY – praying for your brother, his fiancé and your sister and her children … and you.
GRACE RODRIGUEZ- praying for your move, grief and husbands job situation.
JENNIFER ANAPOL – praying for housing decisions
FREE INDEED – praying for grandma Lillian and grandpa Roger, for healing and comfort.
LYDIAV – praying for your dad.
MARY ANN GRAVES – praying for release from this addiction, for the Lord’s strength through this healing.
I absolutely love coming to this section of the app and reading how the Word has spoken to each of us. Thank you all for sharing. I wish there was a like button for us to use in response to each other’s thoughts.
The prayer requests have been added to my journal as well. I’m thankful that we can join in with each other virtually even though we don’t know each other personally.
FREE INDEED -praying for your grandmother’s surgery.
LYDIA V- praying for your dad’s surgery.
TINA- praying for Ollie’s recovery.
ANGIE- praying for your recovery.
1. The nature of God’s kingdom doesn’t depend on humans. He will bring His will to pass, with or without us.
It is His kindness that brings correction to turn our hearts back to Him.
2. There is nothing I can do to make God love me more, and there is nothing I do that will make Him love me less. Every aspect of my salvation and sanctification is in His hands. Left to myself I will turn from Him in a flash. His longsuffering, mercy, grace, and steadfast love keeps me and sustains me.
Mary Ann, I am praying that God will strengthen and deliver you from this addiction. LydiaV, I am praying for a miraculous successful surgery for your dad and comfort and peace for your family. Love all of you, my SRT sisters.
Please pray for me to end my addiction to wine. I need God’s strength and help. With God nothing is impossible!
Lydia’s I am praying for your dad, the nurse, doctors and your family. May God instill wisdom, patience, live and understanding on each. But especially may His loving, healing arms be wrapped around you and may He be glorified during this time.
Please keep us updated.
I can feel God’s sorrow in these verses how his people, who he has rescued and provided for, turned away from him and worshipped other gods. I am also convicted that I easily do the same
Dear sisters, please pray for my dad who will be having a surgery Thursday to remove esophageal cancer. Humanly speaking the surgery is difficult and even after that the prognosis is… not good. Could you join me in prayer for healing?
Prayers to be sure.. for God’s healing powers bestowed on your dad.
Wow. Those verses from Proverbs are what I needed this morning. Praying for the state of the world and specific family hardships has been difficult when no answer, solution, or “end” is in sight, but I do trust that God weighs on hearts and has the ability to change or bring glory to ANY situation. The Lord is our redeemer.