Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

May 8
Judges 1

The tribes of Israel do an inadequate job of vanquishing the aliens living in the Promised Land.

INSIGHT

The book of Judges is a pathetic chronicle of a weak and willful people. Soon after Joshua's death, the Israelites begin to fall short of the directives he gave them. They fail at the most crucial point and tolerate the presence of immoral idol worshipers among them. The story which follows is one of sexual immorality, murder, idolatry, corruption, and greed. The depths to which the Israelites plunge is truly disgusting- reminding us of the warnings given by Moses and Joshua.

Turning your back on God always has tragic consequences. When we read about the Israelites, their foolishness seems so clear. Yet when we are faced with temptations today, it doesn't seem so clear. We can learn from the past, however. The consequences can be just as grave for us. A wise man walks with the Lord and is saved.

PRAYER

· Because we can be delivered from bondage to sin, offer your praise for the Lord's goodness:

O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions . . .
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord
(Psalm 104:24, 34).

· Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

He is despised and rejected by men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. . . .
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all
(Isaiah 53:3, 6).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater faithfulness with your time,
· the president and national leaders,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

The Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
(Psalm 84:11-12). 

[Judy Harder]

May 9
Judges 2

The Israelites begin worshipping Baal, a god of Canaan.

INSIGHT

There is a distinct pattern of events that begins to unfold in Judges. The children of Israel fall into sin and begin worshiping other gods. Sin is followed by servitude. The Lord causes other nations to rise up in judgment and enslave Israel.

Israel cries out to God for deliverance, and the Lord delivers them by raising up a judge to lead them to victory. Then the land has rest until that judge dies and the cycle begins again: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. Sin is always followed by bondage. Repentance frees.

PRAYER

· Because God always honors our obedience to Him, we praise Him:

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. . . .
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in His works.
May sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more. . . .
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 104:1-2, 31, 35).

· Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

There is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength"
(Isaiah 30:15).

· Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater wisdom for living,
· the needs of your family,
· your activities for the day.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer
(Psalm 19:14). 

[Judy Harder]

May 10
Judges 6

Gideon is chosen to rule Israel.

INSIGHT

God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them because of their devotion to Him. This is true in times of apostasy when God sometimes calls His mightiest servants from places of obscurity and gives them faith to believe Him. He works great deliverance through them.

This is certainly the case with Gideon who exclaims that he is from the weakest family in Manasseh and is the youngest in that family. Yet he is devoted to the Lord and, therefore, usable for God's purposes.

PRAYER

· Praise the Lord for the privilege of following Him fully:

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).

· Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust
(Psalm 103:8, 13-14).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now 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 (Romans 3:23-24).

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

· growth in all areas of your life,
· fulfillment of the Great Commission,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
(Revelation 5:13).

[Judy Harder]

May 11
Judges 7

God uses Gideon's 300 men to rout the entire Midianite army.

INSIGHT

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit" is the work of the Lord accomplished (Zechariah 4:6). Few stories illustrate that principle more clearly than that of Gideon and his army of 300. God wants prepared men to fight His battles with His weapons in His way. His weapons are not earthly but spiritual. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We want to offer God our strength and our weapons and our insight but He does not need them. We need Him. Rather than trying to get God to accept our plans, strategies, and goals, we ought to strive to understand His. His way is the way of victory.

PRAYER

· Because the Lord is our victory, we praise Him and rest in His care:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord
(Psalm 105:1-3).

· Pause for praise and thanksgiving. 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 his ways,
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. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater commitment to the Lord,
· the work of specific Christian ministries for which you are concerned,
· your activities for the day.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

This is the day which the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it
(Psalm 118:24). 

[Judy Harder]

May 12
Judges 14

Samson desires a Philistine wife.

INSIGHT

Some people are strongly gifted and seem to see results, regardless of their personal worthiness. This is true of Samson. It is difficult to imagine a more unworthy vessel for the work of God. It is a challenge to decide if he carelessly disregards wisdom and the Word of God or whether his decision-making ability is somehow impaired. Nevertheless, in spite of his exceedingly foolish escapades, God uses him to bring judgment on the Philistines who have flaunted their hostility toward Jehovah.

PRAYER

· Give God praise that He uses His people even though we are all unworthy vessels:

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
(Psalm 8:1-4).

· Pray this confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in 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. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

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

· greater appreciation of God's mercy,
· your activities for the day,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Finally, offer this closing prayer:

Teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom
(Psalm 90:12). 

[Judy Harder]

May 13
Judges 15

Samson uses foxes to burn the Philistines' crops and kills 1,000 men.

INSIGHT

A list of the sins of Samson:

1. Fraternizing with pagans
2. Marrying an unbeliever
3. Disobeying his parents
4. Touching a dead animal
5. Murdering innocent people
6. Visiting a harlot
7. Lying

We are often tempted to disregard the truth. We weary of being good and fighting natural inclinations. But one look at Samson's life reveals the consequences of giving in to that weariness. We must wait on the Lord and have our strength renewed.

PRAYER

· Give praise to God that He forgives our sins and uses us to accomplish His purposes despite our iniquities:

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 personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared
(Psalm 130:1-4).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

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).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· greater appreciation of God's mercy,
· a favorite ministry,
· your activities for the day.

· Finally, offer this closing prayer:

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm
(Song of Solomon 8:6). 

[Judy Harder]

May 14
Judges 16

Samson is subdued and later dies in his final act of resistance.

INSIGHT

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7). Samson's lustful foolishness finally catches up with him, and in a profound example of bad judgment, he discloses the secret of his strength to a woman who had betrayed him repeatedly.

He violates his Nazarite vow, and all his power leaves him. His eyes are gouged out and he dies, not avenging the Lord against the Philistines but avenging the loss of his own eyes. It is a heartbreaking conclusion to a life that is tragic-tragic not only because of what it was, but even more for what it could have been.

PRAYER

· Thank the Lord and give Him your praise. By His grace, we can escape consequences similar to those Samson experienced by living for Him:

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. . . .
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever
(Psalm 111:1, 3, 10).

· Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed
(Isaiah 53:4-5).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to 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, pray for:

· greater love for the lost,
· mission work in Africa,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Finally, offer this closing prayer:

Now 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]

May 15
Ruth 1

A Jewess, Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law lose their husbands.

INSIGHT

In Ruth, we see one of the most stirring examples of loyalty in the Bible. In spite of Naomi's urgings to the contrary, Ruth stays with her, looking not for personal fulfillment or material comfort but longing merely to maintain the relationship with one whom she loves. This loyalty comes from a pure heart, and it is not surprising that it extends not just to Naomi but also to the Lord.

In stark contrast to Samson, Ruth's selflessness leads to beauty, fulfillment, and seeking the good of others. We should take instruction for our own lives and live as Ruth, not as Samson.

PRAYER

· Because we can have the beauty of the Lord in our lives, give thanks and praise to Him:

Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord's name is to be praised. . . .
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? . . .
He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 113:2-3, 5-6, 9).

· Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord;
Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me
(Psalm 40:11-12).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

"He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· faithfulness with your talents,
· your state and local leaders,
· your activities for the day.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

To Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began . . . to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen (Romans 16:25, 27). 

[Judy Harder]

May 16
Ruth 2

Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem in hopes of fostering a livelihood.

INSIGHT

When Boaz, a noble and godly man, hears of Ruth's noble and godly actions, he is moved with appreciation for the kind of person she is.

When he finds her gleaning in his fields, he bestows kindnesses on her. Ruth asks why he should take notice of her since she is a foreigner. Boaz replies that it is because of all that she has done for Naomi. The way we live our everyday lives communicates a "life message" to others. When we live for the Lord, that message is a beacon of light to others.

PRAYER

· Praise the Lord for His sovereignty and for the fact that He works His will regardless of the failures of His children:

Praise the Lord!
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?
Who can declare all His praise?
Blessed are those who keep justice,
And he who does righteousness at all times!
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 106:1-3, 48).

· Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities
(Psalm 51:7-9).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).

· As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

· the renewing of your mind,
· the needs of your extended family,
· whatever else is on your heart.

· Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:

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 103:21-22). 

[Judy Harder]

May 17
Ruth 3

Boaz, a close relative of Naomi, agrees to marry Ruth.

INSIGHT

The custom in the Old Testament is that when a relative dies without leaving a male heir, the next nearest relative marries the surviving spouse to preserve the family name and property rights. Naomi thinks Boaz is the next of kin; therefore, there is nothing forward in Ruth's actions. Boaz exercises admirable restraint, knowing that there is closer kin. His concern for Ruth's good name again shows his nobility of character, for he is surely attracted to Ruth already.

PRAYER

· Offer your praise to the Lord who renews our strength when we wait on Him:

O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth
(Psalm 108:1-5).

· Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:

O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord
God of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me,
O God of Israel
(Psalm 69:5-6).

· Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to 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, pray for:

· the Lord's leading in your life,
· opportunities for evangelism,
· your activities for the day.

· 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).