S – But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”

Exodus 14:13–14 CSB

O – “You must be silent” – chârash,  to scratch, to engrave, plow; hence, (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); fig. to devise (in a bad sense); hence, (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence, (by impl.) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness):

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

Why would God ask them to be silent?  To prevent them from creating words lacking faith in God.  They could talk themselves out of allowing God to be their salvation.

A – We do this too.  We face a situation and instead of inviting God to work on our behalf, we create a “story” in our head.  It can be of God’s lack, his delay in helping or even how we can do it better than Him. Being “silent” is to quiet the noise so our faith can raise up in Him.

R – Lord, there are many challenges we face.  We invite you to move powerfully and for our behalf.  Help us to “quiet the noise” we can create in our own minds.  Help us to allow you to do what only you as our Heavenly Father can do.

S – The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he reveals his covenant to them.

Psalms 25:14 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Intimate fellowship with The Hebrew noun used here, sod, can mean “council” (Jer 23:18); it refers to a close relationship of confidence (Job 29:4; Prov 3:32). Those who fear Yahweh will enjoy His friendship.

Faithlife Study Bible 

“Fear” – yârê˒, yaw-ray’; from 3372; fearing; mor. reverent:— afraid, fear (-ful).

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Word

A – We can have a “close relationship of confidence” when we approach God in awe and honor.  Intimacy with the Creator of everything is an amazing concept.  We must be reverent of Who God is but intimacy eliminates distance and inauthenticity.  Just as we should honor our parents at any age, relationships eliminate formality.

R – Heavenly Father, you are big.  Yet, you draw as your child close to you to walk together today.  Let us walk in the confidence of our relationship while recognizing that You have no limits.  

S – They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them

Exodus 12:7 CSB

O – Commentary:

God could not simply exempt his people from this plague as he had preserved them from the other plagues. Death reigns in the world because of sin, and in light of God’s justice, sin cannot be ignored; it must be either punished or atoned for. Since the blood represents life (Lev 17:11), it alone is acceptable for the forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22). As Deut 6:9 suggests, doorframes represent the totality of life as the place of going in and coming out.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – The blood is the difference maker in this situation and in our lives.  The blood of Jesus was our sacrifice.  It was given for our sins.  When we accept Christ as God’s son, who came as a man, was crucified on a cross, resurrected back to life and ascended into heaven – His blood supernaturally does the work we cannot do.  It is the sacrifice for our sins.

R – Lord, thank you for the work of the cross and the blood that Jesus shed on our behalf.  We accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  In doing so, we can access your forgiveness of sins through Him.   Help us to walk in that confidence in humility and gratitude for what Christ has done for us.

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.