Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

December 19

2 John

False teachers do not confess Jesus Christ as God incarnate.

INSIGHT

The Bible teaches that Christians are to be tolerant, understanding, and compassionate. We are to go out of our way to be kind and loving to others; we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. However, how should we act toward false teachers who subvert our faith? The Bible teaches that while we should not be unkind, we should have no fellowship with them. John writes: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (salvation in Christ), do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (vv. 10-11).

PRAYER

Offer the Lord your praise that in His power and glory He still loves us:
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. . . .
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite. . . .
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy. . . .
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 147:1, 5, 11, 20).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving and seek to keep your life free from sin:
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1-2).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness.
(Romans 3:23-25)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
gaining an eternal perspective,
your spiritual goals,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 15:5-6)

[Judy Harder]

December 20

3 John

John praises and encourages Gaius for his "witness of . . . love before the church" (v. 6).

INSIGHT

Affirmation is a powerful force for good in the Christian life. We all long to be affirmed for who we are and what we are doing. We all like to hear: "Good job." In essence, that is what John writes in his third epistle. He affirms Gaius in several areas: for his knowledge of truth, for his application of that knowledge, for offering hospitality to fellow Christians and to strangers, and for helping to support traveling missionaries. Good job, Gaius.

PRAYER

The Lord has not left us without instruction but leads us to truth, and so we praise Him:
All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. (Psalm 145:10-13).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. . . .
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah (Psalm 32:5, 7).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
(Romans 8:15)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
personal discipline,
Christians who are persecuted for their faith,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

[Judy Harder]

December 21

Jude

Jude is challenged to earnestly contend for the faith against false teachers.

INSIGHT

False teachers were a major problem in the early church, and many of the epistles deal with them. Jude offers scathing rebukes and warnings to false teachers, but in addition he offers insights on how we can protect ourselves from them. In verses 20-21, Jude uses four phrases which are instructive: "building yourselves up" (studying and doing things to encourage your spiritual growth); "praying in the Holy Spirit" (cultivating a healthy prayer life); "keeping yourselves in the love of God" (monitoring your lifestyle and guarding against sin); and "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (cultivating an eternal perspective).

PRAYER

Thank the Lord that He is truth and praise Him that He leads the willing heart to know truth:
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works. (Psalm 145:6-9).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater desire to be like Christ,
local churches across the nation,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8).

[Judy Harder]

December 22

Job 1

After meeting with God, Satan receives permission to test Job.

INSIGHT

If God is all good and all powerful, then why do the righteous suffer? Throughout the book of Job, questions of the ages arise. Job is a righteous man, and while he does not curse God, he does wonder why these things have happened. These same questions form today in the minds of people who observe or experience suffering. It is not wicked to ask these questions. All people struggle with these questions sooner or later. But we learn from Job that we can struggle without sinning.

PRAYER

God is trustworthy and kind. Because we know that He loves us with an everlasting love, we can praise Him:

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.
(Psalm 17:6-9)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:

The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
(Psalm 18:4-6)

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
(Psalm 18:16-18)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

-- Health and strength
-- Guidance for local political leaders
-- Your pastor and his family

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
(Psalm 18:46)

[Judy Harder]

December 23

Revelation 2

Jesus sends prophetic messages to four churches.

INSIGHT

Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for the good work that they have done. Nevertheless, He commands them to repent and return to their "first love" (v. 4). Unless they seek forgiveness, they will experience the chastening of God. In the face of impending persecution, Jesus offers words of encouragement and hope to the church in Smyrna (v. 10). Addressing the church in Pergamos, our Lord warns the people not to tolerate evil. The same message is sent to the church in Thyatira. Unless they repent, Jesus warns that He will judge them quickly and severely.

PRAYER

Praise Jesus Christ for constantly watching over you, guiding you, and encouraging you:
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. (Psalm 34:17-22).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions. . . .
Cleanse me from my sin. . . .
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:1-2, 7).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders and the judgments of His
mouth. (1 Chronicles 16:11-12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
a willing attitude,
the ministries of your church,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
"Know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."
(Deuteronomy 4:39)

[Judy Harder]

December 24

Revelation 3

Jesus gives prophetic messages to three additional churches.

INSIGHT

To the church in Sardis, Jesus offers a strong rebuke. He calls them "dead" and warns them to recall their initial response to the Gospel and repent. However, He also commends those few who have not defiled themselves. The Lord also commends the church in Philadelphia for having kept His command to persevere. Because of that, He will keep them from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world. Perhaps the most frightening message goes to the church at Laodicea. Because their works are "neither cold nor hot" but lukewarm, Jesus says He will spew them out of His mouth. Their wealth has made them complacent and Jesus urges them to repent.

PRAYER

Thank the Lord that He cares enough not to let us drift and praise Him for His correction:
The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them. . . .
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever (Psalm 145:17-19, 21).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I will meditate on Your precepts.
Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed (Psalm 119:78-80).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:.

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
love for others,
missionaries in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific islands,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
To Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ . . . to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
(Romans 16:25, 27)

[Judy Harder]

December 25

Revelation 4

John describes an astounding vision of the throne of God in heaven.

INSIGHT

At Christmas our thoughts are on Jesus' birth, focusing on His humanity. By radical contrast, this Christmas Day we see the throne room of heaven and the surroundings which magnify His deity. In the center is a throne - behind which an emerald-colored rainbow arises. Dignitaries dressed in white robes and gold crowns are seated around the throne. The floor of the massive room is like crystal. Unusual looking creatures constantly give verbal praise to God and the dignitaries form a celestial choir, worshiping and praising God. This is the normal abode of God's Son. Yet we usually think of Jesus as a child in Bethlehem, a teacher on a hillside, or the One who bore our sins alone on a cross. Revelation balances that picture with a glimpse of Jesus' majesty and grandeur.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that He was willing to become what we are - that we may inherit eternal salvation:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. . . .
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God . . .
The Lord shall reign forever -
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146:1-2, 5, 10).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You." . . .
O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up . . .
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen (Psalm 41:4, 10, 13).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You" (Psalm 39:7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
faithfulness in sharing Christ,
the Lord's work in world and national affairs,
your activities for the day.

Close with this prayer to the Lord:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
(2 Corinthians 13:14)

[Judy Harder]

December 26

Revelation 4

John describes an astounding vision of the throne of God in heaven.

INSIGHT

At Christmas our thoughts are on Jesus' birth, focusing on His humanity. By radical contrast, this Christmas Day we see the throne room of heaven and the surroundings which magnify His deity. In the center is a throne - behind which an emerald-colored rainbow arises. Dignitaries dressed in white robes and gold crowns are seated around the throne. The floor of the massive room is like crystal. Unusual looking creatures constantly give verbal praise to God and the dignitaries form a celestial choir, worshiping and praising God. This is the normal abode of God's Son. Yet we usually think of Jesus as a child in Bethlehem, a teacher on a hillside, or the One who bore our sins alone on a cross. Revelation balances that picture with a glimpse of Jesus' majesty and grandeur.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that He was willing to become what we are - that we may inherit eternal salvation:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. . . .
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God . . .
The Lord shall reign forever -
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146:1-2, 5, 10).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"Lord, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You." . . .
O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up . . .
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen (Psalm 41:4, 10, 13).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You" (Psalm 39:7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
faithfulness in sharing Christ,
the Lord's work in world and national affairs,
your activities for the day.

Close with this prayer to the Lord:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
(2 Corinthians 13:14)

[Judy Harder]

December 27

Revelation 15

John begins a description of the earth's judgment that continues in the following chapters.

INSIGHT

One of the sobering realities of Scripture is the prophecy of judgment on mankind at the end of time. While theologians debate timetables and exact meanings, they generally agree on one thing: Judgment is a central feature of the end times. While the depiction of judgment in Revelation is shrouded in symbolism and mystery, it is clear that it is paralyzingly unpleasant. Accounts of judgment are accompanied by warnings to men to take heed and prepare themselves to meet the Lord.

PRAYER

We have such a glorious home and future with the Lord that we can praise Him now and throughout eternity:
Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands . . . the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work.
(Jeremiah 32:17-19)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight -
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge (Psalm 51:4).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly (Proverbs 2:3-7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
that the Lord deliver you from evil,
that the Lord send out laborers into His harvest,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
(1 Timothy 1:17)

[Judy Harder]

December 28

Revelation 19

John describes Jesus' return to the earth as the conquering King.

INSIGHT

Apocalypse: "The revelation of a violent struggle in which evil will be destroyed" (Webster's Dictionary). The second coming of Christ will be the apocalypse fulfilled. While the symbolism of the language in Revelation makes it difficult to ascertain exactly how events will unfold, it is clear that when Jesus returns again, it will be to confront evil and destroy it. The heavens will split and Jesus will descend upon the armies of the earth which have gathered in opposition to His return. In contrast to His past role as Savior of man, He will now come as King of creation. Whereas once He made Himself subject to men, now all men will become subject to Him. History will end and eternity will begin.

PRAYER

We praise Him that we can look forward to His appearing:
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp! . . .
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:1-3, 6).

Pause for a time of confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:1-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
(Romans 8:18)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
sensitivity to sin,
the ministries of your church,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen
(Ephesians 3:20-21)