S – The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. 

9 The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made

Psalms 145:8–9 CSB

O – Commentary:

David then wrote of the marvelous nature of God, affirming that He is gracious and compassionate (cf. 111:4), slow to anger, and full of loyal love (the identical statement, in Heb., is given in Ex. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Pss. 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2

 “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The Old Testament states and reaffirms God’s nature throughout the years.  His character of patience and mercy draws us to him as we recognize our character.  The good and bad in our own lives meet his unchanging love.  We are transformed to be more like him.

R – Heavenly Father, we love you.  Help our character to align with yours.  Thank you for your grace and mercy as we grow closer to you.

S – Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their walk: ³⁰ a lion, which is mightiest among beasts and doesn’t retreat before anything; ³¹ a strutting rooster; a goat; and a king at the head of his army

Proverbs 30:29–31 CSB

O – Those that appear noble in their bearing and walk. These include the lion, from whom people and other animals retreat because of its strength, the strutting rooster (lit., “girded at the loins”), a male goat with its arrogant appearance, and a king who may strut with pride as he is seemingly invincible with his army in his presence. In God’s order of things, some creatures are small and in humble positions and others are more prominent

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

Heavenly Father, we worship you as the one, true God.  Help our attitude to be humble and confident in you.  We do not need to walk in fear. We can be resolved in the gifts, talents and abilities you have blessed us with.

S – Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, or I will be like those 

going down to the Pit. ⁸ Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. 

Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you.

Psalms 143:7–8 CSB

O – We are engaged in a spiritual journey in physical bodies.  We get impatient and we wonder how it will end.  We seek God’s intervention and presence in these times.  This is the crucible where faith grows.  Out of these moments comes renewed purpose and direction.

A – This is how we grow in God.  Some challenges and failures produce growth and faith.  The key is in these times to stay close to God and continue to believe in his love and character.

R – Heavenly Father, we love today.  We invite you to intervene on our behalf in all our challenges.  We are physically limited to solving them.  Yet, you are unlimited.  Nothing stops you from accomplishing your will and purpose in us.

S – So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Armies

Zechariah 4:6 CSB

O – Commentary:

…The angel prepared for this conclusion by relating the vision to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah (cf. Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; 2:21). The angel suggested that he would finish the temple (Zech. 4:9) through the abundant supply of the Spirit of God. Thus the oil for the lamp is associated with the Holy Spirit. By His enabling the temple would be completed (v. 6) and every obstacle (mighty mountain, v. 7) to rebuilding would be removed. Military strength (might) and human manpower (power) could not accomplish the task, but Spirit-empowered workers under the direction and leadership of Zerubbabel would do so.

“Zechariah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We can look at our might and power and think we have abundance or lack.  In the end, the Holy Spirit makes the difference for the believer.  When we invite the Holy Spirit to empower both, plus our own gifts and talents, God’s purpose will be accomplished in a way that honors Him.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you.  We invite the Holy Spirit to lead and equip us to accomplish your purposes today.  We are limited in our own gifts and talents.  You will empower us.

S – But my eyes look to you, Lord, my Lord. I seek refuge in you; do not let me die.^, 

⁹ Protect me from the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers.

Psalms 141:8–9 CSB 

O – We can look to God:

To be a place of refuge:  châçâh, to flee for protection; to confide in:— have hope, make refuge, (put) trust

To protect us:   shâmar,  to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; gen. to protect, attend to,

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – In God’s unlimited power, He is also intimate enough to know our need for protection and relationship.  Confiding in him our hearts pain and joy create a genuine hope and faith in Him.  When He moves to protect and attend to us, we are safe.  We can see that physically but the peace and contentment in our hearts gives us the strength to keep taking steps forward.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy, just and unlimited in your character and abilities.  Meet us where we are at in our journey.  Minister your peace and contentment to us.  Let us feel your protection and presence as we abide in you.  We desire that level of intimacy today.

S – Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God 

and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death. 

 Revelations 12:10–11 CSB

O /A – We have an enemy who is the devil and all of his fallen angels.  He accuses those who follow God day and night.  Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection conquered the devil by shedding his blood for our sins and resurrecting his body for our victory over death.  As followers of Christ, we walk in victory over the devil’s schemes using our relationship with him, the character of God and the presence of God through the Holy Spirit daily.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one God with no rival and who is victorious over the devil.  Please help us to walk in victory today by maximizing our relationship with you.  Empower us by your word and presence in our lives today.

S – ¹³ For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

¹⁴ I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.^, Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.

Ps 139:13–14 CSB

O – “Remarkably” – yârê˒,  to fear; mor. to revere; caus. to frighten:— affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence (-end)

“Wonderfully” – pâlâh,  to distinguish (lit. or fig.):— put a difference, show marvellous, separate, set apart, sever, make wonderfully

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A—Using Hebrew, we see that God created each of us in a way that awes and uniquely identifies us. We are not random. God knows us intimately before birth and fashions us with a purpose.

R – Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of you.  Thank you for creating and knowing us before we were born.  We desire intimacy with you.  Help us to walk in a way that demonstrates our love for you.

S – “…but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

Revelations 10:7 CSB

O – Commentary:

Announcement was made that the seventh … trumpet would bring about the accomplishment of the mystery of God. This mystery had been previously announced to God’s prophets. The reference, therefore, is not to hidden truth but to the fulfillment of many Old Testament passages which refer to the glorious return of the Son of God and the establishment of His kingdom of righteousness and peace on the earth. While God’s purposes are not necessarily revealed in current events where Satan is allowed power and manifestation, the time will come when Satan no longer will be in power and the predictions of the Old Testament prophets will be fulfilled. Then all will know the Lord and the truth about Him (Jer. 31:34). Here again is evidence that the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowl judgments of God’s wrath described in Revelation 16.

 “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A –  The connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament is amazing.  God revealed the mystery of the Messiah and the Kingdom of Heaven being established.  All of it points to God being known in fullness and in truth.

R – Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of you – you are the one, true God.  Continue to reveal your mysteries to us.  We want to know you in fullness and truth.  We want to draw closer to who you are so we can reflect that to others in our relationships with them.

S – The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets 

so one may easily read it

Habakuk 2:2 CSB

O – Commentary:

Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets. The revelation (lit., “vision”) was to be recorded on tablets of baked clay so God’s Word would be preserved and, even more important, publicized-so that a herald could run with it. This phrase has been mistaken by some to signify that the messenger should be able to read the tablet on the run. On the contrary, the point is that the messenger would read it and then run to spread the news to others.

“Habakkuk,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We are called to be God’s messengers in our words and actions.  To do this, we need clarity of who God is to us and who we are to God.  We are his creation and he desires a relationship with us.  He is our God and we want a relationship with him.  The gospel is the good news we can share with everyone.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you as our God.  We recognize that you are God who holds all things past, present and future.  Your desire for relationship with us was fulfilled in Jesus going to the cross and resurrecting from death.  We will share the good news of salvation and personal relationship with you today!

S – Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; 

feed me with the food that is needful for me, ⁹  lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” 

or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God

Proverbs 30:8–9 ESV

O – Commentary:

Agur makes two requests of God. First, he asks God to keep him from falsehood (see Psa 19:13 and note). Falsehood stands in contrast to the true words of God (Prov 30:5). Second, Agur asks God for a life of moderation that includes neither wealth nor poverty. He asks for this in order to keep from profaning God’s name by stealing or being too satisfied with his wealth (Deut 8:11–14).

Faithlife Study Bible 

A –  We need to live a life of truth and contentment.  Standing for truth can be painful, but people will never doubt your integrity or character.  Contentment is a battle for yourself because it keeps faith and envy in its proper places.  Your trust in God grows satisfaction and less concern for things you don’t need.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship you alone today as our provider and Lord.  Thank you for your provision today in all things.  It is enough for today.  Please give us the courage to walk with integrity and character.  We want all that you have for us.