Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

November 18

2 Timothy 4

Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word of God and offset the ministry of false teachers.

INSIGHT

We think of Paul as being one of the great spiritual giants of the ages. Because of this, most of us don't expect to receive the same reward that he will. However, we need to realize that the Lord does not reward talent or results - He rewards motive and faithfulness. At the end of his life, Paul wrote: "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (v. . That means you and me!

PRAYER

How wonderful it is to know that God will reward our simple faith:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world (Psalm 19:1-4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes (Psalm 119:124).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah (Psalm 3:3-4).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
purity in your thoughts,
love for the unlovely,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper (Psalm 1:1-3).  

[Judy Harder]

November 19

Titus 1

Paul instructs Titus to appoint spiritually qualified men to oversee the church ministry.

INSIGHT

The Bible is an enormous book that is difficult to master. It contains nearly 1,000 pages of information, none of which is insignificant. While it is true that new Christians can read and study the Scriptures on their own and gain spiritual truths through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is highly unlikely that anyone can grow to a mature understanding of the Bible without relying on teachers who know more about the Bible than they do. Herein lies a danger: We may not know enough about the Bible to determine if what is being taught to us is accurate. Therefore it is important to align ourselves with a church that believes and teaches the Bible. This type of setting will help safeguard us from being led into error.

PRAYER

Thank the Lord that He warns us about the danger of falling away from Him, and praise Him that He safeguards the faithful:
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory
(Psalm 63:1-2).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
(Hebrews 9:27-28)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater love for your family,
missionaries in North and South America,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this 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]

November 20

Titus 2

The book of Titus encourages people of all ages to live proper lives as Christians.

INSIGHT

The knowledge of Christ must effect a transformation in our lives so that our attitudes and actions will Òadorn the doctrine of GodÓ (v. 10). The words we speak will influence others only if our actions support our words. God has redeemed us from the slavery of sin, assuring us of "the blessed hope" of the coming of Christ (v. 13). Because we will one day be delivered from this world, we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, fixing our faith on the coming of "the blessed hope." This means we must be good stewards of the things of this world and live for the things Jesus would live for if He were in our place.

PRAYER

Because we can joyfully look ahead to a new life in another world, we praise our God:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. . . .
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
(Psalm 63:3-5, 7)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
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 41:10, 13).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
faithfulness with your finances,
revival among Christians in America,
whatever else is on your heart.

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]

November 21

Titus 3

Those who believe in God should be careful to maintain good works.

INSIGHT

It is difficult for us to separate our hope of heaven from our good works. We instinctively feel that we must be good to get to heaven. While God certainly wants us to live good lives, none of us can live a life good enough to get to heaven. One sin disqualifies us, and everyone has sinned more than once. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us . . . that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (vv. 5, 7). Salvation is a gift.

PRAYER

The Lord longs to mature us in Christ, the very thing for which we long, and so we praise Him:
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together. . . .
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:1-3, .

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,"
Says the Lord, your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
(Psalm 51:12)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater wisdom in decision-making,
needs of close friends and family members,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! . . .
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:1, 21-22).

[Judy Harder]

November 22

Philemon

Paul urges Philemon to have mercy on his runaway slave, Onesimus, who has become a Christian.

INSIGHT

If anyone is a servant of Christ, he cannot be a tyrant to men. Jesus taught forgiveness, compassion, and gentleness. Ñot harshness, anger, and retribution. Paul urges Philemon to forgive, receive, and restore his runaway slave, Onesimus, as a brother in Christ, now that he has become a Christian. The fact that this letter has been preserved indicates PhilemonÕs favorable response. Although we do not have slaves today, our employees, co-workers, associates, and neighbors deserve respect from us. Service to Christ requires a forgiving spirit.

PRAYER

Thank and praise the Lord that what He requires of us is something we are able to give Him:
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain. . . .
We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
In the midst of Your temple.
According to Your name, O God,
So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is full of righteousness (Psalm 48:1, 9-10).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

The Lord encourages us to come to Him with our concerns and desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
spiritual victory over temptation,
opportunities to serve the Lord,
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]

November 23

Hebrews 1

Because Christ is the Son of God, He is superior to angels in every way.

INSIGHT

Angels do not seem real to us. They are found in fairy tales, and we tell children about them; but we tend not to take them seriously. They are very real, however, and play an important role in ministering to us as believers. Throughout the Bible we only get glimpses of the work of angels in our lives, but one of those glimpses is found in today's chapter. We read here that they are sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation. Perhaps this is the passage from which the idea of a guardian angel has come. Apparently, angels can appear in human form, for some have "entertained angels" without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). They are also very active in world affairs. At present, they are much greater than men, but one day redeemed men will "judge angels" (1 Corinthians 6:3).

PRAYER

Angels are ministers who serve believers, and we can praise the Lord for them:
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:18-19).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Lord, I know the way of man is notin himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing (Jeremiah 10:23-24).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
(James 1:17)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
a stronger desire to be like Christ,
local churches across the nation,
your activities for the day.

Close with this prayer to the Lord:
He is the living God, and steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions (Daniel 6:26-27).

[Judy Harder]

November 24

Hebrews 2

Because Christ was man as well as God, He is able to Ògive aidÓ to us who are human.

INSIGHT

Jesus is God, but He was also man; Jesus was man, but He is also God. It is essential that Christ be both God and man. If Christ were not man, He could not have died for our sins. If He were not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the price for the sin of mankind. Christ was the perfect sacrifice. In fact, He was the only possible sacrifice able to atone for the sins of man and appease the wrath of God. As you continue to read the book of Hebrews, you will realize that the author's main point is simply this - the superiority of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

The Lamb of God was the perfect sacrifice for our sin and so we praise Him:
"I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them" (Isaiah 42:6-9).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
(Romans 9:20-21)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (Psalm 19:9-10).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
better listening skills,
wisdom for governing authorities,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah (Psalm 3:.

[Judy Harder]

November 25

Hebrews 4

As we labor to enter into GodÕs rest, we may call upon Christ for mercy and grace.

INSIGHT

The Word of God is energized by the Spirit of God. Whenever Scripture goes forth, it never returns without accomplishing the work it was intended to do. This is because the written Word of God is "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (v. 12). As we minister to others, the Bible must be central to all that we say and do. We must always remember that it is the Word which is alive, not our own insights, clever arguments, or interesting stories.

PRAYER

Because God has provided the Bible as our source of truth, we give Him praise:
I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope. . . .
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:7-9, 11).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2:10-12).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."
(Matthew 5:44)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
wisdom in interpreting the Bible,
missionaries in India,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . My beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
(1 Corinthians 15:57-58)  

[Judy Harder]

November 26

Hebrews 8

The old covenant, being imperfect, was replaced by the new covenant based on grace.

INSIGHT

All the major features of the old covenant, which existed on a literal, physical level, are found in the new covenant on a spiritual, heavenly level. The old covenant had a physical sanctuary, a human high priest, and used real animals for sacrifices. This covenant was inadequate in that it could only deal with sins temporarily; it could not remove sins permanently (v. 7). In the new covenant there is a spiritual sanctuary, a heavenly High Priest, and a celestial Lamb whose death provides permanent forgiveness of sin for an infinite number of people. It is a 'better covenant, which was established on better promises.' (v. 6).

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient for the sins of all humankind:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Psalm 90:1-2).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Israel, return to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Take words with you,
And return to the Lord.
Say to Him,
"Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips." (Hosea 14:1-2).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
(Revelation 3:20)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater love for others,
missionaries in the Middle East,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

[Judy Harder]

November 27

Hebrews 9

The old covenant of law is a picture of the new covenant of grace in Christ.

INSIGHT

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (v. 22). We are not told why that is true, only that it is. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Wherever there is sin, someone must die. We can pay the penalty for our own sin, which is our own eternal, spiritual death, or the death which Christ suffered can be placed on our account. His death can count for ours, and we do not have to die spiritually. Faith is the vehicle by which this transaction takes place. Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but will have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

PRAYER

Because God has allowed His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place, praise Him with the words of this psalm:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night . . .
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him (Psalm 92:1-2, 15).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
(John 17:3)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater faithfulness in sharing Christ,
national and world affairs,
whatever else is on your heart.

Close your worship time with this prayer to the Lord:
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)