Quiet Walk

[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 give aid 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:.



November 25

Hebrews 4

As we labor to enter into God's 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)



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)

[Judy Harder]

November 28

Hebrews 11

A parade of heroic figures from the Old Testament depicts what it means to live by faith.

INSIGHT

Faith is the operative ingredient in the Christian life. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (v. 6). Faith is important because without it we cannot even begin to approach God. Simply put, faith is believing God and acting accordingly. All that is accomplished in the world to further the work of God is accomplished by faith. This list of exemplary faithful people shows that when God spoke, His people listened, believed, and acted accordingly. The words of an old hymn sum it all up: "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

PRAYER

Praise God that Jesus was willing and sufficient to pay the price for our sins:
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
"How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah (Psalm 66:1-4).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to hisways,
According to the fruit of his doings. . . .
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise (Jeremiah 17:9-10, 14).

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:
the development of an eternal perspective,
your spiritual goals,
your activities for the day.

Offer this closing 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]

November 29

Hebrews 12

Following the example of Christ, we are to endure the chastening of God in our lives.

INSIGHT

We don't mind suffering some things as long as someone else is suffering too; we don't like to be the only one. Few things make us feel worse than when everything seems to be going well for everyone else and we are in the throes of suffering. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to endure our present sufferings as Christians in this world by reminding us that Christ suffered for us and that we ought, therefore, to be willing to suffer for Him. One of Jesus' highest points of integrity is that He never asks us to do anything for Him that He is not willing to do for us.

PRAYER

The Word of God is alive, and we can use it to worship and praise the One who gave it:
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day. . . .
I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works (Psalm 71:8, 14-17).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me."
(Jeremiah 33:

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
(John 15:12)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater personal discipline,
Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, close with 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)

[Judy Harder]

November 30

Hebrews 13

We are to live righteously before our fellow man and to offer God the sacrifice of praise.

INSIGHT

Praise is good for the soul and pleasing to God. The writer of Hebrews says," let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (v. 15). Again, in Psalm 33:1, we read: "Praise from the upright is beautiful." If you want to do something that pleases the Lord, praise Him. In addition, however, our actions must follow: "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (v. 16). The praise of our lips must be followed with the godly pattern of our lives. Note that both praise and doing good are sacrifices with which God is well pleased.

PRAYER

Knowing that the Lord delights to hear it, offer Him your praise for who He is and what He has done for you:
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting (Psalm 93:1-2).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"Now, therefore," says the Lord,
"Turn to me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm (Joel 2:12-13).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
that others will see Christ in you,
the fulfillment of the Great Commission,
your activities for the day.

Close your time of worship with 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 1

James 1

Some trials come into a Christian's life to bring that individual to spiritual maturity.

INSIGHT

When we read "count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (v. 2), we can mentally assent to the wisdom of that. But in real life, when the duration and intensity of our trials goes beyond what we deem to be reasonable, we pass the point of caring. We begin to question the goodness of God. We question the rationality of the Christian life. We just want relief. By the grace of God we must accept that we are finally experiencing what James is talking about. Take courage. Be strong. God has not forgotten you. And as He is testing you, you will become spiritually mature - though you probably will perceive the growth only in retrospect.

PRAYER

Offer your praise to the God of love:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods (Psalm 95:1-3).

Pause for praise and adoration.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:5-6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
(Romans 8:29-30)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater wisdom for living,
needs of your immediate family,
your activities for the day.

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen (Jude 25).

[Judy Harder]

December 2

James 2

True Christian love will not discriminate against the poor.

INSIGHT

"Birds of a feather flock together." Trite as that may sound, it's one of the fundamental laws of social interaction. We are more at home with those who are like us than with those who are not. There is nothing wrong with this tendency. It is built-in and there is little value in denying it. But if that tendency prompts us to act unlovingly, the action is wrong. A tendency cannot be avoided; unloving actions can. James specifically warns us about discriminating against the poor, though it is also wrong to discriminate against anyone because of wealth, creed, race, age, or national origin. The royal law is to love your neighbor as yourself regardless of who the neighbor is.

PRAYER

Because the Lord loves us just as we are, we can praise Him that He does not discriminate against us:
All the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts. . . .
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earthbe glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness (Psalm 96:5-8, 11).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:11)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known (Proverbs 10:9).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater insight into God's holy Word,
the hungry around the world,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen
(1 Timothy 6:15-16)

[Judy Harder]

December 3

James 3

The exercise of genuine Christian faith results in controlling the tongue to speak good, not evil.

INSIGHT

Through the use of metaphors, James warns us about the tongue. There is nothing good or bad, right or wrong about a tongue; it is simply a few ounces of muscle. But the tongue articulates the contents of the heart. If a flask full of acid is bumped, acid will spill out. If a flask full of water is bumped, only water will spill out. Water will never spill out of a flask of acid, and acid will never spill out of a flask of water. In that sense, the tongue merely reveals the heart. Let the heart be bumped, and the tongue will reveal what is in the heart. In controlling the tongue, you must control the heart. If you want to change the words of the tongue, you must change the condition of the heart.

PRAYER

Offer your praise to the Lord who can soften our hearts and sweeten our tongues:
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 97:10-12).

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8-9)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:.

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater love for other Christians,
missionaries in Europe and Asia,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen
(1 Peter 5:10-11)

[Judy Harder]

December 4

James 4

While selfishness produces conflict, humility produces submission to God.

INSIGHT

Selfishness is the foundation for all conflict. When two hearts want different things - and neither is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the other - conflict arises. Selfishness is the cause of war, crime, and interpersonal conflict. By looking out for ourselves, we think we can get what we want from life. In contrast, the Lord teaches us that humility, not selfishness, results in satisfaction in life. Promote yourself, and wars and conflict result. Even God is against you (v. 6). But live in humility and wars and conflict cease, assuming all parties participate. And the Lord will lift you up.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord because He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble:
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:1-4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
(1 John 2:1-2)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
(John 6:35)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater faithfulness with your time,
the president and national affairs,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen
(Hebrews 13:20-2)