S – Moses said to Pharaoh, “You may have the honor of choosing. When should I appeal on behalf of you, your officials, and your people, that the frogs be taken away from you and your houses, and remain only in the Nile?” 

¹⁰ “Tomorrow,” he answered

Exodus 8:9–10 CSB

O – When given the choice, Pharoah chose one more night with the stench and plague of the frogs.  Why would he want another night when it could have been remedied immediately?

A – Why would would choose one more day of anything opposing God in our life?  Fear and Pride are big culprits.  Staying in a place that is familiar is easier than moving into the unknown.  We can get used to the “stench” of our sins and actions and they are not “so bad.”  God waits for us to make the move today.

R – Lord, thank you for the power of the cross to transform our lives.  Give us courage today to look soberly at our lives and move toward you.  It may be uncomfortable or even challenging for us.  Yet, the alternative is staying where we are is no the answer.  Holy Spirit, lead us into a place of freedom today.

S – The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 

² He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 

³ He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake

Ps 23:1–3 CSB

O – Commentary: 

The first blessing David experienced was spiritual nourishment. As a shepherd leads sheep to fresh grass for feeding, so the Lord leads His people. One who follows the Lord does not lack any spiritual nourishment. Under-shepherds (cf. Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2) are expected to feed the flock (Ezek. 34:1–10; John 21:15–17) as well. Food for the soul is the Word of God (Heb. 5:12–14; 1 Peter 2:2).

23:2b–3a.

A second blessing that comes from the Lord’s leading is spiritual restoration. As a shepherd leads his sheep to placid waters for rest and cleansing, so the Lord restores or refreshes the soul. Here the spiritual lesson is clear: the Lord provides forgiveness and peace for those who follow Him.

23:3b.

The third blessing that comes from the Lord’s leading is guidance in the right way (paths of righteousness). A good shepherd knows the right paths on which to bring the sheep home safely. So too the Lord loses none of His sheep but guides them in the right way. He does so partly because of His reputation (for His name’s sake).

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

A – As believers in Christ, we have the daily blessing of spiritual nourishment, rest and cleansing and protection.  When we tap into these blessings, our lives are at peace.

R – Lord, thank you for Jesus going to the cross.  There are many benefits we receive in walking with you each day.  Help us to take hold of these today.  We can walk confidently as your children and in humility of all that you do for us.

S – Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 5:18 CSB

O – “Pleasure” – 

sâmach,  to brighten up, i.e. (fig.) be (caus. make) blithe or gleesome:— cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, × very.

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – Although there is a sexual undertone of wisdom in the verses leading up to this verse, the “pleasure” has a wider application.  After 35 years of marriage, the joy, elation and completeness that comes with a marriage centered on Christ has a wide application.  It isn’t perfect, but it encompasses all that we do together.  And, gives us a confident foundation when we are apart.

R – Lord, thank you for the gift of my wife.  I am grateful for the confidence and trust we have established over the years.  You are the center of our marriage.  You have blessed as a couple and in our individual walks with you.

S – “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground

Exodu 3:5 CSB

O – Commentary: 

The soil around the bush was holy ground, while the soil on the bottom of Moses’ sandals was common. The common cannot touch the holy without being transformed or destroyed (see “Clean and Unclean” at Lev 11:1–15:33, p. 213). At the outset of the Exodus, God was making it plain that he is absolutely “other” than his creation, a reality that cannot be overlooked in a proper divine-human relationship. The word holy occurs only a few times in the Bible prior to 3:5. It now becomes the central descriptor of God in the OT

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – We walk with God every day.  Do we treat our experience with our Holy Father with reverence and awe?

R – Heavenly Father, I never want to take for granted how perfect you are.  You have no fault, no limits – nothing is greater than you. Yet, you love me and know me intimately.  You are a great God.  I choose You today and surrender my will and desires to Your will and plan for me today.

S – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Matthew 16:24–25 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Carrying the horizontal crossbeam en route to crucifixion (where the upright stake sometimes already stood awaiting the condemned person) often meant enduring mockery and scorn on a path leading to death as a condemned criminal…“Follow” can be the language of discipleship, since disciples followed their teachers; here disciples follow to the cross.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Challenges take on many forms.  There are physical challenges but also mental, emotional, and even spiritual challenges.  Our whole lives are fair game for the enemy to attack.  And, we are on our journey of growth that we have to work through.  We can’t quit.  We must continue to follow.

R – Lord, I invite your Holy Spirit to strengthen our resolve today.  Give us the toughness and tenacity to work through the challenges to keep moving forward with you.  You never said it would be easy.  You said you would be with us.  That is enough.

S – Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

 Proverbs 4:23 CSB

O – “Heart” – lêb,  the heart; also used (fig.) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything:

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

We should guard our heart because it is the center of all aspects of life – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

A – If you look at your heart like a pendulum, there will be times when the extremes are necessary and healthy.  The majority of time is spent between these extremes.  We need to grow in our ability to know when to engage less or more of our heart to a situation or person.  That is good boundaries and guards the heart.  

R – Lord, I invite your Holy Spirit to lead me today.  You know all the situations I am going to face and I need your insight to know how to release and guard my heart so that I can honor you and love others appropriately.  Continue to help to me grow in this area.

S – May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, 

Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Psalms 19:14 CSB

O – Commentary: 

acceptable The Hebrew word used here, ratson, often indicates God’s acceptance of a sacrifice (Lev 1:3; 19:5; Isa 56:7). The psalmist offers up his words, hoping they will be pleasing to Yahweh.

Faithlife Study Bible 

A – What would our speech and thoughts look like if we thought of them as an offering to the Lord?  It doesn’t mean they would be all about God.  It does mean they would have God as the center.  We would think and speak from God first and not our being.  Our involvement with people and situations would reflect Christ more than ourselves.

R – Lord, thank you for today and the opportunity to walk with you.  We invite You to be the center of our thoughts and words.  This will allow us to grow in your character and reflect your love in an authentic, tangible way.  Give us the courage and strength to do this today.

– God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. ⁸ Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God.

Genesis 45:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary:  

God sent me ahead of you (45:5). It was not you who sent me here, but God (v. 8; cf. v. 9). The certainty that God’s will, not man’s, is the controlling reality in every event shined through as the basis for reconciliation. No doubt Joseph had consoled himself many times with this principle of faith. He who is spiritual can perceive the hand of God in every event, and therefore is able to forgive those who wrong him

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

A –  God is sovereign.  He will accomplish his purpose, even when the circumstances don’t look like it.  The Commentary brings up to good points.  While God is sovereign, we need to recognize that and activate our faith to grow through life’s journey.  Also, we need to forgive others who may have made the journey more difficult.

R – Lord, I thank you that you ar sovereign.  You hold everything in your hands.  I want to walk with you and activate my faith, even when it is challenging.  Help me to be stronger in my faith and ability to forgive others quickly.

S – God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. 

³¹ For who is God besides the Lord? And who is a rock? Only our God. ³² God—he clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Ps 18:30–32 CSB

O – Starts with God’s way is perfect and ends with our way is perfect.  How does that happen?  We elevate His word, take refuge in Him, have no other God besides Him and we allow him to work in our lives.

A – When we continue to grow in our relationship with God, we do all of these things.  One of the definitions of “perfect” is complete.  We are complete in Christ – He makes up the difference.

R – Lord, I invite you to work in me today so that I become more like you.  I won’t be complete on my own.  I need you to make up the difference where I lack.  I thank you for loving me enough to do for me today.

S – Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ⁹ Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies. You have come to see the weakness of the land.

Genesis 42:8–9 CSB

O – Commentary:

they didn’t recognize him: Joseph was a grown man, not a boy. He was not wearing a beard, was dressed in Egyptian clothes, and was in an unexpected position, speaking to them through an interpreter (42:23).

42:9 You are spies! The brothers had considered Joseph a spy for their father and had treated him roughly (37:2, 14, 18–28). Joseph was putting them in a similar situation to see how they would respond

 New Living Translation Study Bible

A – God’s plans will not be stopped.  Joseph speaks to them harshly but there is an underlying tone of inviting them into the conversation.  He knows the dream – the whole family need to be there to bow down to him so he can take care of them.

R – Lord, your ways and plans are not ours.  There are times things just don’t make sense.  Help us to continue to grow and trust in you whether we “see it” or not.  You will accomplish what you have purposed for us.