Foundations November 30, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Judges 1-2
INTERCESSION

John 17:20-21; I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their
word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in
Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

This was Jesus’ prayer for all future believers. He prayed that all those who would eventually put
their faith in Him through the words of the apostles would find unity in the body of Christ. He prayed
that we would work together as a body, being one with each other and one with Him – that is, we
can do nothing on our own, but we can carry out God’s will with Christ in us, empowering us by the
Holy Spirit.
It is incredible to imagine Jesus praying for us in the Garden of Gethsemane those moments before
His arrest. It just drives home the fact that Jesus was going to the cross for you, doesn’t it?
We, also, can pray for the unknown – the believers in our nation and in faraway lands, and the
future generation. If we would set our minds adamantly against idleness, and pursue conversation
with the Spirit as much as possible, we would find ourselves praying at the most “random” times.
We would be driven to pray for the pregnant woman on the sidewalk, that her child would be born
healthy and would come to know the Lord. The babbling homeless man would not just be another
“lazy bum”; rather he would be a child in the eyes of God, in need of healing and restoration. The
news of upheaval around the world would draw us to our knees instead of to our morning coffee.
Let us be people of prayer! God told Solomon that if the people would only humble themselves
and pray, He would heal their land. Our land is drowning in the blood of the aborted, the lies of
unfaithfulness and the deadly waters of apathy. Let us bring our nation before the Lord!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to impress upon your heart something that He would like you to spend time in prayer
for. Ask Him to reveal His heart about the issue; then pray in line with His will.
2. Ask God to open your eyes to His will today. Commit to turn from idle and selfish thoughts,
and to set your mind on the heart of God. Ask Him to open your eyes to see people, situations,
words, etc in a different light. Be a person of prayer.

Foundations November 29, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 22-24
INTERCESSION

2 Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God does not want anyone to perish – to spend eternity in hell, separated from Him forever. But to
those who desire to live their lives in rejection of Him, that is their fate. This, Peter tells us, is why
the wait for Christ’s return seems so prolonged to some. For those who long to see the face of
Jesus, or to see loved ones in heaven, God’s timing may seem slow, but our perception is skewed.
God waits so that many more would repent of their sin and turn to Him.
Many of us live in a safe-zone, resting in the comfort that we know we have a solid relationship with
the Lord and are going to spend our eternity with Him, but in this zone, we lack an urgency to see
others come to know the Lord as we do. Fear, primarily, holds us back from blatantly sharing our
faith and laziness, among other things, keeps us from interceding for the lost.
Remember: God is a real being dwelling in a real place; He is almighty and sovereign. In prayer, we
communicate our hearts to him, and He communicates His to us, and in this communication our will
comes into alignment with His. And when we pray God’s will... wow!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you live your life in a safe-zone, not bothering to share your faith boldly? What stops you?
Ask God to show you why you don’t share your faith with more boldness, and how you can
take steps towards leading others closer to Christ in every conversation.
2. Ask God to show you one thing He would like you to focus on so that you can share your faith
TODAY.
3. Write down the names of a few friends/family who do not know the Lord. Ask God for insight as
to how you can best intercede for them. Ask Him to show you His heart for them, and take time
to pray that they would come to know Him.
4. Ask God to give a burden for the lost, a realization that hell is real and many will go there
because they oppose Christ and do not accept His salvation. Ask Him to help you feel the
weight of this, that it may spur you on to boldness.

Foundations November 28, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 20-21
INTERCESSION

Malachi 3:13-15; And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with
weeping and groaning because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favour from
your hand. But you say, “Why does He not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and
the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your
wife by covenant. Did He not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what
was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you
be faithless to the wife of your youth.

Infidelity and divorce is rampant in our society, and as a local church, we are attempting to
turn those tides by walking people towards healthy, Christ-centred marriages. Over 2000 years
have passed since the prophet Malachi spoke these words, but the state of the nations has not
changed, and his words are extremely relevant for us today.
We think that God will accept any prayer we toss up, while the Bible clearly says that the prayer
of a righteous man will be heard. Malachi boldly told the people that their prayers were falling on
deaf ears because they had broken their marriage covenant. Marriage is not a contract between
two people; it is a covenant between man, wife and God, sealed by the Spirit. This is a grave and
fantastic truth.
It is important that as husbands and wives, sons, daughters and grandchildren, we intercede for
our own marriages and the marriages of our family.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you the marriages He wants you to intercede for today (if you are married,
be sure to include your own).
2. Ask God to give you insight as to how to pray. Which tactics of Satan should you pray
against? How can you pray for each individual? What does God want to show you about
the state of the relationship? If you feel that some of these marriages are too far gone to
be redeemed, confess that to God, and ask Him to help you see that He has the power to
accomplish anything He wills.
3. Spend a good chunk of time praying the things God has shown you.

Foundations November 27, 2011

INTERCESSION

Matthew 5:44; Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

This verse is well-known; it just doesn’t apply to you, right? Wrong. When we stand before God
one day, painting a picture of our enemy and delving into the gory details of what he did to us will
not pardon our bitterness and unforgiveness. Jesus said clearly to love them and to pray for them.
We will finish off this month dedicated to growing godly relationships with intercession – pleading
in prayer on behalf of others. There are so many instances where we wish for change: if only
our parents would STOP _____ or our spouse would START_____! If we continue to feed our
disappointments in people with negative talk and complaining, hostility will grow in our hearts and
dissension in the relationship. They will become our enemy, and life under the same roof or in the
same class or cubicle as our enemy is no good.
We need to silence our complaints and curb our anger with intercession. Praying for change will
be much more successful than talking about what we wish would happen. Wishes go to the wind,
but our prayers go to the throne room of heaven where our God reigns in power and majesty! This
stark realization should impel us to get on our knees!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Who are some close friends and family members who have, or are starting to become
enemies? What is your complaint against them? What is it you wish they would or would not
do?
2. Can you entrust these people and your desires to the Lord? This means to push forward in
prayer and hold up on the grumbling. Can you do that?
3. Spend time in prayer for these people and your concerns. Tell God what you desire, and ask
for His will to be done in the situation, and in the lives of the other people. Ask God to give
you a desire to for the other person’s good. Commit to praying for them consistently, and
especially when the temptation to gossip or complain comes upon you.

Foundations November 26, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 18-19
LANGUAGES of Love

Song of Solomon 2:6; His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!

Song of Solomon is a poetic song about marital intimacy, doubling as an allegory of Christ’s love
for the church. There is much romance and physical intimacy in the story of two young lovers
which shows us a practical point (if we didn’t know it already) – physical touch conveys love.
We’re not just talking about sexuality, but shoulder-to-shoulder contact. For many, this is the
thing that will make them feel most loved.
Bodies are extremely personal – touch my body and you touch me, withdraw from my body and
you withdraw from me. For some people, just sitting arm to arm, or accompanying “hello” with a
hug gives them warm fuzzies. They feel valued and connected to.
Of course, there are many boundaries that come with this love language. Unwanted touch will
not be well-received, and inappropriate touch is… inappropriate. The church has a high calling
to purity, and to mask lustful desire or the desire for personal pleasure with a “hello hug” is
unholy. It would be entirely inappropriate to take the actions found in Song of Solomon and
apply them to our everyday relationships! But the book does point us to the human’s need for
intimacy and touch.
This love language comes naturally to those who possess it, and can be incredibly awkward
for those who do not. Sometimes our aversion or attraction stems from our upbringing – if
loving touch was the norm in our homes or not. Children need loving touch to become healthy
individuals. Let us practice the love language of physical touch within our families.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Does “physical touch” come naturally to you, or do you find the challenge here incredibly
awkward? If it’s uncomfortable to you, ask God to show you why. Perhaps He wants to
deal with past hurts.
2. Does your family know by your body language that you love them? Make an effort to show
your love with your body language this week through hugs, a hand on the shoulder, pat on
the back, etc.
3. Don’t be afraid of people! Go about your day with an open posture – refrain from crossing
your arms and legs and avoiding eye contact. Look at people, shake hands, smile, etc. You
can do it!

Foundations November 25, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 16-17
LANGUAGES of Love

1 Peter 4:11; If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

In the sense we are talking, service is to do anything that you know the other person would greatly
appreciate, especially if it’s done without having been told. It is sometimes seen as mundane, as the
acts of service could be as simple as to throw in a load of laundry, wash the car or dry the dishes.
An act of service, however, is not a hastily-bought gift card or a bunch of flowers, which may be
perfectly wonderful for the gift-lover. To serve requires thought, time, effort and energy, and quite
often, humility; we must be able to humble ourselves to do that which we would rather not for the
sake of the other person. For spouses, this may take a surrendering of the male/female stereotypes;
a great display of love for many wives and mothers is a husband who will touch the diapers and
grab a mop.
Service is perhaps the most directly Christ-like display of love. Jesus was the great Servant, willing
to do the things that no other would do. He sat with the prostitutes and ate with the tax collectors,
he washed dusty feet and showed patience towards His slow-learning disciples; He trod the path to
death and endured suffering for our sake.
The Bible tells us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” Our Lord had joy even in pain and death,
and this can give us strength. We can serve others, no matter how despised the task, and we can
do it joyfully because our Lord did greater things for us.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are some things could you do around the house that would be greatly appreciated by
those you live with? Commit to do one of these each day.
2. What if your efforts go unacknowledged? Sometimes it happens that our displays of love go
unnoticed, but this does not give us allowance to skirt our commitments, or to become grumps.
Meditate on the “joy of the Lord” and ask God to fill you with HIS joy so that you can be a
humble servant.
3. Meditate on 1 Peter 4:11 and ask God how He wants to speak to you through this verse.

Foundations November 24, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 14-15
LANGUAGES of Love

Matthew 7:11; So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.

We relate the giving of gifts to love. This is not to say that our love can be bought or
manipulated, but many people very much value the thought and effort that goes into a gift.
When we receive a gift, we know that we have crossed someone’s mind, and they have gone
above and beyond to respond to the thought with action!
Some people experience love primarily this way. A gift – big or small, extravagant or homemade
– spells love to them. And even if this is not everyone’s primary love language, most people will
appreciate a “just because” present every so often.
Unfortunately some take this to the extreme, thinking that material things, surprises and
opportunities will bring contentment in a relationship. But when this happens, the gift loses the
love and becomes manipulative. Love is the end, and the gift is one of many means that can
display that end.
We can look to God as our Demonstrator. He is a Giver, constantly giving gifts to His kids. But
David wrote of the Lord, “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is
fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The gifts of God are wonderful,
but the purpose of those gifts is to point us to Him. When we see the gift as the be-all-and-endall,
we’ve lost sight of the prize. FULLNESS of JOY is in His presence! Eternal pleasures are
found at his right hand! His gifts lead us to HIM! What incredible truth! Like Christ, we can give
of our time, energy, finances and creativity to others, pointing them to Him, and to the love that
we have for them.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Who is someone in your life whom you know would be totally blessed by a gift? Choose
something that you will do for them.
2. What excuses go through your head right now that make you feel exempt from showing
love in this way? Bring those things before the Lord and ask for His perspective.
3. Are you a giver at heart? What stops you? Confess greed and ask God to help you give
generously of yourself.

Foundations November 23, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 11-13
LANGUAGES of Love

Proverbs 18:24; Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

Close-knit relationships cannot be developed without good, quality time spent together. We can’t
truly know people if we do not invest time into the relationships. People like to know that they are
likeable, and that others find them worth spending time with. Most of us have experienced a onesided
relationship where we feel that we’re the only one putting effort into the thing. The common
mistake, though, is to victimize ourselves and say, “Ok fine! I will not call her again until she calls
me.” Eventually the friendship dies and is reduced to awkward nods in instances where contact
is unavoidable. This is wrong! When this happens, we have become entirely self-focused! We’ve
forgotten that, as much as we crave desirability, our friend craves it too, and we had the wonderful
opportunity of affirming them in that through our repetitive pursual! When we allow the friendship to
die, we succumb to the enemy’s destructive desires.
Let’s take the focus off of ourselves, and seek to invest in others – to love our neighbour as
ourselves! A loving friend can be as close as family, but we need to be willing to invest time into the
lives of others, to figure out what they need, and to give them that. You may be a talker who likes
to give all the answers, but your friend needs you to sit in silence. You may be a laid-back cautious
kind of guy, but your friend seeks adventure – give it a try! Paul said that he would be all things to
all people. Of course he wouldn’t engage in sinful behaviour, but he was willing to be what people
needed in order to bring them closer to Christ. Let’s strive to do the same.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How have you been selfish with your time, unwilling to give to others what they need from you?
Confess your behaviour to God.
2. How can you invest some quality time into your family, primarily? Think of one family member
that could use some quality time with you this week. What would they just love to do with you?
Make a plan to do this with them.
3. Ask God to speak to you about how you can lead people closer to Him just by spending time
with them.

Foundations November 22, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 9-10
LANGUAGES of Love

1 Thessalonians 5:11; Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…

In his book “The Five Love Languages”, Gary Chapman presents five common love languages –
ways people give and receive love.
To affirm is to tell with confidence that which is true. We need affirmation in order to succeed. We
need our worth affirmed through the kind and uplifting words of others. We tend to use weak and
vague words to encourage. We distractedly say “good job” after half-watching someone share their
talent with us. We say “thanks, hon” when our spouse does something meaningful. “Way to gos” and
“thank-yous” are a good start, but we need to be specific in our affirmation.
Are you frequently disappointed in people? Have you tried affirming them? We normally resort to
complaining and nagging when we feel that those close to us are not fulfilling our needs or following
through on their commitments. But this response is ineffective! In fact, Proverbs tells us that a
quarrelsome wife (and no doubt a husband, friend, son, etc) is like a constant drip.
One of the best ways to motivate people to step it up is to encourage and affirm them. Acknowledge
every good thing they do, and avoid badgering them about the rest. Learn what is important to that
individual, and encourage them in that area. And your tone will always trump your words. Sarcasm
and offense are not easily disguised – it is very easy to tell when affirmation and encouragement is
insincere.
Start making a deliberate choice to speak well of those whom you usually nag. Let everything you say
about them to others be affirming of their positive qualities. It will change your heart, and it just might
motivate them to action!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What does the Holy Spirit want to show you from today’s reading? Ask Him to show you
something that you need to grow in.
2. Have you spoken badly about someone because you are disappointed in them? Confess idle
words and a complaining spirit.
3. Write down the names of 3 people you will see today. How can you affirm them? Ask God for
specifics, and ask Him to remind you to affirm instead of complain.

Foundations November 21, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 6-8
Making the EFFORT

Psalm 145:7; They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

Celebration is an important part of Jewish culture. God instructed the Israelites in a number of
feasts and festivals to be celebrated each year. The people were commanded to REMEMBER the
great things God had done, and to ensure that this would happen, He instructed them in yearly
celebrations. At these festivals, the people would offer thankful sacrifices to the Lord for all He had
done, and they would celebrate with feasts.
We are to celebrate God’s abundant goodness, and to sing for joy of His righteousness. Every good
and perfect gift comes from the Father above – everything good that you have and have experienced
was a gift from the Father who loves you! We get so caught up in our disappointments and struggles
that we neglect to thank the Lord for the good He has done; in fact, we forget about the good He has
done! We need to habitually stop and remember the great things He has done to remind us that He
is still doing great things.
Celebration should be part of our relationships. It is no small matter when a friend or family member
commits, or recommits, their life to Christ. The prodigal’s father killed the fattened calf and called for
a celebration when his wayward son returned; should we not celebrate such events too? Or what
about life’s smaller successes? A new job, hard work paid off, a valiant effort, a game well played
– shouldn’t we build each other up by celebrating? Shouldn’t we come together and give heartfelt
thanks to the Lord for what He has accomplished through the person? Imagine how encouraged our
friends and family would be if we were quick to congratulate them and celebrate with them in their
victories.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time recalling great things God has done for you. Ask Him to jog your memory to
those you have forgotten. Give Him thanks and worship for being so good to you.
2. Does anything keep you from taking joy in the success of others? If so, ask Jesus to reveal why
this is. Pray that He’d help you change.
3. Who’s someone you can celebrate with this week? How’ll you do it?

Foundations November 20, 2011

Making the EFFORT

Mark 2:3; And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men.

We can be a catalyst to help our family and friends reach their greatest potential. It is good to try
new things, to take risks and to experiment with one’s abilities. David was the “sweet psalmist
of Israel” but what if he had never picked up a harp? Samson was called to be a judge of Israel
before he was even born, but what if his parents had not listened or instructed him in the ways
of a Nazarite? God told Noah that judgment was coming; what if he had never picked up his
tools?
These were radical individuals who fulfilled the call of the Lord, but surely they also had people
who stood behind them and encouraged them to soar. David was a steadfast lover of the Lord
who continually placed his hope in the Almighty during his twenty-year run from Saul. But the
accounts of Samuel tell of joyful times when mighty men pledged their allegiance to David and
banded together with him. The nameless man in this miraculous event recorded by Mark was
healed, but would never have experienced the healing had his four friends not brought him to
Jesus.
We need to inspire those around us to reach their full potential. Look for people’s strengths and
encourage them to develop those. If your child is artistic, ask her to draw your portrait; if your
friend is musical, encourage them to join a band or choir; if your spouse shows skill in a certain
area, fully support them in their attempts to further the gift. As parents, ask the Lord what your
children should be involved in and what your family should be pursuing. He has practical words
for you!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Do you encourage the gifts and abilities you see in your family members and close
friends? Ask God to show you something in a friend or family member that He wants you to
encourage them towards over the next week.
2. How can you inspire the people you meet to be the best they can be today and every day?
3. The paralytic needed friends to take him to the Lord. Ask God for the name of someone
who needs to be spiritually encouraged today. How does He want to use you to do this?

Foundations November 19, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 4-5
Making the EFFORT

Proverbs 17:22; A cheerful heart is good medicine

Joy is defined as “that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune,
the gratification of desire or some good possessed”. The Bible tells us that strength and joy are
in God’s very dwelling place. Joy, in the Bible, is always a result of the work of the Lord. There is
joy in rescue, joy in victory, joy in forgiveness, joy in provision and joy in His presence. We are
reminded in Scripture that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We can find great joy, at all times, in
the goodness of God.
Laughter is a good thing, though godly humour is hard to come by in this day and age. It seems
that most of the comedic material out there is crass, demeaning and sarcastic. Our humour should
never violate God’s law, which tells us to love others and to season our speech with grace. Still, it
is a wonderful blessing to experience joy and laughter, to laugh until your sides ache and tears run.
We should be quick to smile and laugh at ourselves and to let loose, that others might know us.
The Proverbs 31 woman is able to “laugh at the days to come.” She does not live in constant worry
and stress about the future of her household or of the economy. She seems to work wisely and
efficiently in the moment, and joyfully look ahead to the future.
Let us find moments to laugh in our day. Fearlessly push past your insecurities and be open
and vulnerable to those around you today. Allow yourself to laugh when you’re tempted to feel
embarrassed, to let go of pride. Be a cheerful heart in your home, your workplace and your school,
and you will bring medicine and refreshment to all you meet.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you an area of your life that you are taking too seriously. Literally open your
hands before the Lord in prayer. Place your control of this issue into your hands and give it up
to the Lord.
2. In prayer, ask God to fill your heart with the joy of the Lord. Our Lord was able to have joy in
even the most intense suffering, so we have no excuse today. Pray that His joy would overflow
into you, and that your joy would in turn overflow onto others.
3. Choose to smile at people today. Surrender your pride to God and ask Him to help you fight
embarrassment and insecurity today.

Foundations November 18, 2011

History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 1-3
RADICAL Love

Romans 12:11; Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Zeal is a feeling of eagerness to accomplish, and fervour is a feeling of great warmth and
earnestness. We are to be passionate people, never lacking in this heartfelt enthusiasm. God
created you with a unique quality like no other. Your personality, your tastes, the way that you think,
your abilities, the things you enjoy, and many other facets come together to form you. Of course
our sinfulness tarnishes our radiance, but as we consistently come before the Lord in repentance,
allowing Him to restore us, we will shine as unique and godly individuals created by a good Father!
There is no one else quite like you, and this is surely something to celebrate!
But we are warned not to be slothful. The Christian is never to be seen as a lazy, idle man. We
are to be fervent in spirit – to focus our minds to enthusiasm in whatever work we are doing. And
we are to regard ourselves as servants of the Lord. We have been given only one opportunity to
live on this earth, and we’re expected to use it well. To waste time on unruly passions and fruitless
activity is unwise, since we will be held accountable for every word and action. As a result of all
your uniqueness, God has wonderful and specific use for you in His kingdom. Set your mind
against worldliness and slothful behaviour and put your mind on Christ and His calling for you.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about your uniqueness. Ask him to show you what qualities He
delighted to create in you.
2. For each quality God showed you, ask Him how you can passionately use that in the areas
God has called you in (your job, role in the family, extracurricular activities, ministry, etc.)
3. Ask God to show you any way that you are being idle, or are wasting time. What does He
want you to change about your schedule and the way you

Foundations November 17, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 34
RADICAL Love

Philippians 2:20; I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.

Paul is boasting about Timothy, whom he takes great pride in. Timothy worked incessantly for the
gospel and while most others looked primarily after their own interests, Timothy looked after the
interests of Christ – namely people!
People love to talk about themselves. We love to know that someone else is interested in us and
what we do and like. It feels amazing to meet someone who genuinely wishes to know your thoughts
and opinions on a matter, not so that they can argue with you, but so that they can know you on a
deeper level. If we want to be radical in our love, we will become genuinely interested in others.
But what does this actually mean? Anyone can appear interested in others by making eye contact,
saying “uh-huh” and asking questions, but even those actions don’t ensure that they genuinely care.
To be genuinely interested is to sincerely care about another’s wellbeing – to desire their good, and
to make them feel valuable and loved.
Paul urged Timothy not to feel less-than the other believers because of his age; Timothy could set
an example for all believers through his life, his faith, his speech, his love and his purity. Timothy was
radical about advancing the kingdom. He did not let false-humility keep him from leading those who
were older than him; he was genuinely interested in building the church and spreading the gospel of
Christ.
Christ is urging us to love one another. The church will grow stagnant if we do not.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Who is someone that drives you nuts, someone you see frequently and try to avoid? Ask God
to show you how you can become genuinely interested in this person. Commit to practising this
next time you see them.
2. Make it your goal today that you will seek to get to know people you meet. Ask God to give you
a realistic goal that He wants you to accomplish today (such as introducing yourself to 3 new
people, having a conversation with a stranger, etc.). Ask for the boldness you need to obey.

Foundations November 16, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 33
RADICAL Love

1 Peter 4:9; Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Peter talks about the difference between those who live in worldliness and those who live for Christ.
One mark of a Christian is hospitality. According to the Noah Webster definition of 1828, hospitality
is “the act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind
and generous liberality.” This traditional definition differs from today’s definition of “a friendly and
generous reception and entertainment of guests.” The modern definition lacks the utter selflessness:
generosity without reward, even to strangers! In today’s society, many people are too paranoid to
look at a stranger, let alone welcome them into their home!
The hospitality of the first Century Christians enhanced the ministry of the apostles. Because there
were men and women willing to selflessly open their homes, the apostles were encouraged, and
thus the church as a whole was encouraged. Paul repeatedly boasts of how often he thanks the
Lord for the help and hospitality of the brothers and sisters.
This is why Jesus said that when you give food or drink to those in need you give food and drink
to Him. When the church extends her arms Jesus’ arms are extended too. When people see the
radical hospitality of Christians, they will see Christ and hopefully put their faith in Him.
We are guilty of making others out to be bother. We’re quick to come up with reasons to excuse us
from helping out: our house is too cramped to have someone stay, our shoulder too sore to help
someone move, our kids’ friend’s house too far to give them a ride home, our cooking too ordinary
to serve to important guests. In our mind they may seem valid, but to the Lord these things are often
acts of disobedience and disservice.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God how you can grow in hospitality. Ask Him for something specific that you can do this
week. Pray that He would give you immense joy as you follow through on this commitment.
2. Take some time to pray through your house this week. Perhaps you want to include your family
in this. Go from room to room and pray over your house, that everyone who walks through the
doors would feel the Spirit, and would feel at peace.

Foundations November 15, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 31-32
RADICAL Love

Jude 23; Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate
their lives.

There is clearly a fine line between accepting the person while renouncing the sin, and accepting
the person along with their sin. We are to be cautious while showing mercy. Though mercy is a
mark of a believer, it is not to be given at the cost of holiness.
Josh McDowell makes an interesting observation regarding a shift of meaning that has occurred on
certain words embraced by today’s youth versus the youth of the previous generation. One such
word is tolerance. In the adult generation, he says, tolerance means “accepting others without
agreeing with or sharing their beliefs or lifestyle choices.” Today’s youth, however, define the word
as “accepting that each individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal.” (The Last
Christian Generation, p 22)
This new meaning of the term is dangerous, creating a slippery slope of relativism, where “what’s
true for you is good for you, and what’s true for me is good for me.” If we lose caution while with
believers who are blatantly living in sin, we may quickly accept this belief of our culture. Our society
packages the person with the behaviour: if you dislike their action you dislike them. But the Bible
tells us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. This doesn’t mean that the persecuted
Christian shouts “Woohoo! Give me more!” in the face of torture! Neither does the one dealing with
sexual abuse give her abuser a big kiss on the cheek. We learn to love and forgive within safe
boundaries.
We are to lavish love on one another, but we mustn’t stand silently before unholiness, showing no
regard for it. If we are grounded in Christ, we will not be afraid to hold fast to our opinions that are
rooted in Biblical truth.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. How have you agreed with, or even encouraged a friend or family member’s sin by your
attitude or words?
2. Is there someone you are disappointed in because of the lifestyle choices they are making?
Ask God how you can love the person without endorsing and condoning the sin.
3. Ask God to show you any sin that’s contaminating your life. Confess.

Foundations November 14, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 29-30
RADICAL Love

Mark 12:30-31; Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind and with all your strength… Love your neighbour as yourself.’

If we seek to please the Lord, we will seek to follow the greatest commandment: we will love GOD
and we will love PEOPLE! Our love can be something radical – a love that is extreme and active.
We are to love our neighbour as ourselves. Self-respecting people take good care of themselves;
we take care of our bodies, look out for our health, and seek to have our needs fulfilled. Radical
love begins with selflessness – thinking about fulfilling others’ needs the way that we seek to have
ours filled. When we are selfless, we put ourselves out of the equation; our primary thought is,
“what do they need?” As you continue to deal with the pride and selfishness as addressed earlier
in the month, God will grow you in humility, and acts of selflessness will follow.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Make a list of at least 5 people you will come into contact with over the next three days
(include all those who live in your home and people you come across at school/work/
whatever).
2. Do some listening prayer about each one, asking God, “Holy Spirit, show me what this
person needs from me over the next few days.” Listen for concrete things that you can do –
we don’t want to take the easy road. It’s good to pray for people, or to say hello as you pass
by, but that’s not what you are looking for here. You’re looking for specific (and potentially
challenging) things God wants of you. Remember, you’re putting yourself out of the equation.
3. Write down what God shows you and make it a point to do those things. Perhaps you need
to tell someone your plan so that they can hold you accountable.

Foundations November 13, 2011

RESTORING Relationships

Psalm 130:3-4; If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there
is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

Even the most steadfast believer could not stand before God if He kept a record of our sins; God is
that holy. But because He forgives we CAN stand before Him, we CAN serve Him and know Him!
His forgiveness is not ethereal, nor is it just words; because He forgives, our relationship with Him is
completely RESTORED and TRANSFORMED!
This restorative and transformational forgiveness is what we, as forgiven sinners, need to extend
to those who sin against us. To forgive is to pardon, to overlook an offence and to treat the offender
as not guilty. That last part is the clincher, and the most difficult: treat the offender as not guilty?
Really? The thing is that our treatment of the offender is the test that proves the authenticity of our
forgiveness. We can say that we pardon the sin, that we no longer care about the offence, but if we
do not treat the offender as innocent, we show that we have not pardoned the sin or forgiven the
offence.
It takes daily surrender and firm confidence in the Lord to forgive this way, for we have to lay down
our desire for justice. We must determine that we will fully surrender this person to the Lord and
treat them as innocent even if they continue to sin against us, even if they never recognize their
wrong, even if they raise their hands in worship, even if God continues to bless their lives. God is
our Defender, God knows best. God doesn’t leave room for our “ifs”, “ands” and “buts” – forgive,
and you’ll be forgiven, He says. And He means it.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to remind you the things He’s forgiven you of. How has His forgiveness restored and
transformed your relationship with Him.
2. Who are you harbouring unforgiveness towards? How has it, or is it ruining the relationship?
Spend some time bringing the person and the offence before the Lord. Tell God how you feel
and ask Him to help put this situation in perspective. Ask Him to help you forgive as He has
forgiven you. Spend time praying for this person.
3. Repeat the process with other people you struggle to forgive.
If you find this incredibly difficult, why not set up a personal ministry appointment at the church, talk
to a cell leader or sign up for an Encounter.

Foundations November 12, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 27-28
RESTORING Relationships

Matthew 7:3; Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention
to the plank in your own eye?

Jesus told us that an evil heart would produce evil deeds. The outward sins we’ve dealt with
over the past few days – gossip, slander, arrogance, abuse – all stem from the inward pride and
selfishness of the heart. This pride and self-love blinds us to our own sin while our envy and hatred
amplifies the sin of others.
Many relationships have been ruined by judgement. A judgemental thought is what entices us to
gossip or spurs us on to slander. Judgement is subtle, but deadly, as it slowly changes our attitude
towards others. The enemy plants a suggestive thought – a lie – and we latch onto it. We are
suddenly suspicious of one who has been a good friend. The enemy likes to train us to champion
ourselves over others, to take delight in the moral wipeouts of our friends and relations. The flesh
takes comfort in even the pettiest of things: “she may be a beautiful singer, but at least I’m better
dressed.” The enemy will do whatever it takes to pin us down, and for some of us, vanity is the
easiest knock-out.
Sin is sin, putting us all on an equal playing field before God: sinful man before holy God. When
we judge someone, we place ourselves in authority to pronounce them as guilty before the Lord,
but we have not been given this authority. Our declaration is null and void and only plagues our
hearts and infects our relationships. And Jesus precedes this verse with a stiff warning: “With the
judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to
you.”

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God how He would like to convict you through today’s teaching. How does the final
paragraph put the fear of the Lord in you? Repent of judgemental behaviour and patterns in
your life.
2. Is the Lord your source of contentment in life, or is your happiness pinned on other people
and situations?
3. Ask God to heighten your awareness to your judgemental thoughts so that you can repent
and turn from the temptation. Ask Him how you need to redirect your thoughts when this
happens.

Foundations November 11, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 25-26
RESTORING Relationships

2 Timothy 3:2; For people will be... proud, arrogant, abusive...

Talk about behaviour that destroys relationships! Pride is a high and unreasonable opinion of oneself
and one’s abilities. When one shows off this elevated opinion of himself in a way that offends and
belittles others, he has become arrogant. The natural effect that his pride and arrogance has on his
relationships is one of abuse – harm, injury and offence to his brother.
Pride is a nasty instigator – it is a sin that brings many other sins on board with it, and it always
grows if we do not deal with it. Like cream, pride rises to the top and encourages us that we might
just be better than the others. And since we are indeed better than them, we have certain rights;
we deserve power and position, attention and recognition! This pride-turned-arrogance now turns
abusive. Be it the “classic” male/female abuse, bullying on the schoolyard, or neediness and control
within friendship, the abuser always works to remove the dignity of the abused in order to control
them.
This is not friendship. It is destructive. We need to strive for humility in our relationships. The best
way to engage in conversation with someone is to ask them about themselves; find out what they
are passionate about, ask them about it and watch them light up! The quickest way to get someone
to disengage is to ramble on and on about yourself without showing any concern for them and their
interests.
Be warned that pride can be subtle. Scripture tells us that pride goes before the fall: it doesn’t
announce its arrival into our hearts with a big crash. Let us be rigorous to check our motives and to
practice humility.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you small and subtle areas of pride that are starting to grow in your life.
Confess, and turn from these things.
2. Have you been the victim of a relationship ruined by pride, arrogance or abuse? Ask the Lord
to help you to forgive. Or have you been the prideful, arrogant and abusive one? How is God
asking you to confess your offence and restore the relationship?
3. Ask God to point out any way you are being controlling in specific relationships. Ask how you
can relinquish that control today. How can you actively trust God in this?

Foundations November 10, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 23-24
RESTORING Relationships

1 Timothy 5:13; ...they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle,
but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.

Gossip is defined as idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of
others. Interestingly, Paul was instructing Timothy on what to do with the young widows when
he penned the words above. We all know that gossip tends to be a primary problem among
women, but don’t be so naive as to think that it is a non-issue for men!
Proverbs 20:19 tells us, “The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone
with a big mouth.” It is gossip to share the things others have told you in confidence because it
seems “newsworthy.” With gossip, you may very well be telling the truth about somebody, but
the intent of your heart condemns you; the words are sin. Gossip stems from idleness – laziness
and inactivity. How many times have we resorted to gossip because we cannot think of anything
else to say? We would rather talk about someone else’s news than sit in what might be awkward
silence. Gossip spreads quickly, not just amongst talkers, but within one’s own heart. The devil
has a way of instilling smugness with gossip; we come to like being the person who always has
a bit of news to share. Somehow having something to tell brings a feeling of importance. And
since humans have a longing in their hearts to be important, we settle for the false significance
that gossip brings.
It’s tragic, because God has so much better for us than that! God wants to use us in powerful
ways to build up His church. God has a message for us to share that is one of importance and
usefulness. His word is not idle. The prophet Isaiah tells us that God’s word is so powerful; not
a word God says returns to Him empty, but it will always accomplish its purpose. Wouldn’t you
rather be a part of that than of idle chatter?

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Are you a gossip? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you on the subject and convict you of
anything you need to confess to Him.
2. Do you have a relationship that has been ruined by gossip? Ask God to show you your part
in the restoration process.
3. What has God done in your life that He wants you to share with others today? Choose to
focus on this and proclaim it to others.

Foundations November 9, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 21-22
RESTORING Relationships

Leviticus 19:16; You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand
up against the life of your neighbour: I am the LORD.

To slander is to speak falsely about someone with a malicious intent to defame, or disgrace their
character. The spread of rumours would classify as slanderous: “Well, I heard from her brother’s
brother-in-law that she…” Such talk is unfounded and unnecessary, convenient only for spreading lies.
When we speak of things we have not heard firsthand, we are slandering our brother, and in doing so,
we maim the image of Christ. It is slanderous to speak to people of the opinions we have developed
about others. Quite often, these opinions are judgments due to our own insecurities, hurts and fears.
And covering these slander-sessions by saying we are “confiding in our friends” does not make us
innocent before the Lord. We should tremble to know that our God hears everything we say. And
neither does God does honour the “prayer requests” that are shared with the intent to slander.
It’s interesting that God couples slander with deliberate acts that endanger your neighbour’s life. But
it’s true isn’t it? We see it far too often in cases of alleged sexual abuse. One false accusation from
a malicious accuser can damage the life of the accused forever. Slander stands up against the life of
those whom we speak against.
We need to be men and women of integrity, who do not ruin our relationships with slander. Abraham
Lincoln said: “Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.” Our God is the God of truth. He
loves truth and He rejoices when the truth rings out. We need to be truth-bearers. We need to be the
first to refute slander and speak truth about people in order to build them up. If we spent half as much
time praying for people as we do slandering them, imagine how God would work!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you specific instances where you have slandered people. Ask Him to show you
the damage it has done and repent.
2. Who are the people you slander. Take time to pray for them now; commit to praying for them
when the temptation to slander arises.
3. Is there a relationship in your life that has been ruined by slander? Ask God how He wants you to
make it right on your part.

Foundations November 8, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 19-20
RESTORING Relationships

2 Timothy 3:2; People will be lovers of themselves…

Scripture tells us that as we grow closer to the return of Christ, godlessness will greatly increase.
The first sign of this godlessness, Paul tells us, is to become a lover of self. Normally, when
we hear the word lovers, we imagine a man and a woman in love – heady romance and great
intimacy. There is something grotesque about the term lovers of self. It warps the natural picture
of lovers: instead of a man and woman walking hand-in-hand, we see a person walking alone,
gloating and primping in the reflection of mirrors, store windows, and puddles.
We were made for relationship, first and foremost to be lovers of God – to have a relationship of
intimacy, familiarity, wonder and affection with our Maker. All other relationships stem from that
purpose. Because God is relational, we need relationships. We are born into relationship, with a
basic need for nurture, and also for love and acceptance. We want to feel that we are a significant
part of the lives of others. We were created to love and to be loved, and without this, we are
stilted. When we become lovers of self neither our needs, nor the needs of those around us are
met.
When we are lovers of self, we become infatuated with our needs, our wants, our desires, and our
will. We seek to fulfill ourselves in every conversation and situation. God created us with needs
that are ultimately fulfilled in Him, but He uses others as catalysts. In selfishness, we lose sight of
Him, and therefore we lose sight of others. In doing so, we walk in opposition to the humility and
love required to be a member and a mover of His kingdom. Let’s seek to be lovers of others.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask the Lord to show you how you have been a lover of self. How is this affecting your love
for certain people? Take time to confess.
2. How can you become more of a lover of God? Take some time to meditate on His word
today, especially some of the Psalms. Ask God to expand your picture of Him.
3. Is there a relationship in your life that God wants to restore through selflessness? Lay your
pride down before the Lord and ask Him to show you specific acts of selflessness that you
need to do in order to restore the relationship.

Foundations November 7, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 17-18
GODLY Relationships

Matthew 5:13; You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty
again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

We have a unique calling to be “salt of the earth.” Interestingly, the Christian life has often been
accused of being boring. But what is food without salt?! Bland! This world without Christ and
Christians is bland! It is remarkable when you take time to learn about all the things in our world that
trace themselves back to Christian beginnings – charities, hospitals, science, education, labour, and
the value of human life in general. Our world as we know it would not exist without these things, all
marks of Jesus’ teaching lived out.
Does that inspire you to make a difference? You are salt! You add the flavour to your workplace, your
classroom and your dinner table! The apostle Paul encouraged believers to let their conversation
always be full of grace, seasoned with salt. (Col 4:6) Salt makes food wholesome and tasty, so our
conversation should be wholesome and agreeable. One commentary suggests this to mean that we
speak in an interesting, stimulating and wise way.
We all have numerous opportunities to engage with others. Let us do so enthusiastically and
interestingly! God gave you a voice and an opinion, and it is good to share your thoughts with others
in a wise and humble way. We are way too afraid of what others may think of us, but God would have
us act confidently in who He has made us to be. Of course to speak flippantly is unwise, but it is godly
to have gracious and flavourful speech.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to speak to you about this comparison of Christians to salt. How are you salt?
2. Have you lost your saltiness at all? It is impossible for salt to naturally gain back saltiness, but
with God all things are possible. Pray that you would regain your flavour and your positive impact.
3. Meditate on this idea that we are to have gracious conversation, seasoned with salt. What could
this mean? Dialogue with God about it and how it can be applied to your life.

Foundations November 6, 2011

GODLY Relationships

2 Timothy 3:2-5; People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without selfcontrol, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

As Christians, we are called to be godly amidst worldliness. We are to live Christ-like, Spirit-filled
lives in a world where so many are under the control of their sinful nature.
Christians are often deemed “hypocritical” for their mistakes, but perfection is not the thing that
distinguishes godly relationships from worldly ones. The primary difference between the two is
that of redemption. To redeem someone is to pay off their debt, therefore delivering them from
their bondage. We look to Jesus for our ultimate picture of redemption – He saw us in our sin and
guilt, yet He chose to take the penalty of death on our behalf, that we might be reconciled to God.
When we apply this picture of redemption to our relationships, we will create an environment where
people feel safe to show themselves for who they are, to admit their fears and shortcomings.
Redemptive relationship offers restoration for those who make mistakes; when we stand for
redemption as friends and family, we will be quick to confess our own shortcomings and forgive
others theirs. We will willingly walk out a journey to restore trust and reconcile the relationship
within godly boundaries when a wrong has been done. We can speak and act like we love the
Lord, but if we do not create this atmosphere of redemption, we only have a form of godliness, and
we deny God’s power to restore.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What has God redeemed you from? Take some time to meditate on how Jesus redeemed you
from a life of slavery so that you could stand in a right relationship with Him.
2. With this in mind, how could you stand to grow in creating an atmosphere of redemption in
your relationships?
3. How have you been a selfish and worldly friend, spouse, parent, etc? Repent of this
selfishness and ask God to grow you in humility and love.

Foundations November 5, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 15-16
Getting it RIGHT with GOD

Hebrews 5:12-14; You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the
word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their
powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Because God loves you, He desires to see you mature. If you are a parent, you can understand and
appreciate this truth. A parent may love the newborn stage, but no parent would truthfully desire
their child to be stuck there forever. A newborn is precious to behold, to cuddle and nurture, but we
also want to see that child develop personality, to discover what they can do, to find their voice and
to take their first steps. It is hard, but rewarding, to see our children through the stages of life from
early years to adulthood. These stages are good and they are necessary.
Be they four or forty, your children will always be your children, and so you will always be God’s
child. But God does not wish to see you remain in spiritual infancy either! An infant knows very little;
neither her parents nor God expect her to be patient when hungry or just walk to the toilet when she
needs to go. But as she grows, these things become requirements, as do many other things such as
chores and good attitudes. God sees where you are, and He sees where you can be. He has given
you the tools for maturity – the Holy Spirit, and the availability to trust Him – but you need to take
hold of that and walk in obedience. Like a child growing and learning right from wrong, we need to
grow in discernment and righteousness, that we may grow strong in the Lord and make an impact
for His kingdom.

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to show you an area that He has been calling you to mature in. Ask Him to show you
how your immaturity affects your relationship with Him and your impact for His Kingdom.
2. What steps do you need to take in order to mature in this area? Spend some time committing
yourself to the Lord in prayer, and asking Him to walk with you on this journey.
3. What is an area of your life that you would love to have total victory in? Ask God for a word/
picture of what He can do in you.

Foundations November 4, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 13-14
Getting it RIGHT with GOD

Isaiah 43:1; But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O
Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.”

Read the verse again, but insert your name for “O Jacob” and “O Israel.” What a trusty declaration!
Think about who is saying this. The One who declares these words is not a weakling; He is not a
wizard of Oz hiding behind a facade of power. Scripture tells us that God is incomparable – His
power, majesty, love, sovereignty, holiness, beauty, knowledge, ingenuity – all unfathomable and
without equal. This is the God who has called you His own! This is the God in whose presence you
can find rest and shelter!
You know your fears and insecurities, your weaknesses, and areas of struggle. Unfortunately our
fears and insecurities always affect our relationships. Many of us fear what others think of us, and
these fears and judgements always affect the way we think about, and act towards those people.
Your insecurities about your body will affect your marriage. Your fears about how others perceive
your personality and quirks will keep you from fully engaging in conversation. Dwelling on your
weaknesses without bringing them before the Lord will only enhance them!
But God sees you – even at your lowest – and He cherishes you! He genuinely likes you and
wants to be around you! Of course He doesn’t cheer on your sinfulness, but He does desire your
good and He does call you His own!

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Lay down your fears and insecurities before the Lord. Tell Him about those character issues
and weaknesses that you struggle with. Ask Him to show you how these things are getting in
the way of your relationships with others.
2. Who does God almighty say you are? All fears and insecurities aside, who does GOD say you
are? Ask Him to speak His truth into your life.
3. How will you consciously act out of who God says you are instead of who you think and fear
you are? How do you need to act or think differently so that you can live by His truth?

Foundations November 3, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 11-12
Getting it RIGHT with GOD


Romans 8:15-17; but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The
Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are
heirs...

Because you belong to a spiritual family, where God is your Father and you are His child, you have
been immensely blessed! With this position, you have been made an heir to all of the things that
Jesus has inherited as the Son of God.
Hebrews tells us that God appointed Jesus as the “heir of all things” – the One to inherit all creation
as His own. Before man’s relationship with God was marred by sin, Adam, too, was given authority
over all creation in the Garden of Eden. Already in the beginning, God had a plan to bless His
children and to include them in His work! Like a father bringing his son to work and teaching him the
ropes, God is bringing us along with Him, teaching us His ways; and this instruction will be of great
use to us! One day Jesus will return and establish His kingdom on the earth. As coheirs with Him,
the sons and daughters of God will rule alongside the Son and govern the earth with Him. What a
day to look forward to!
But our sonship has benefits now! Our inheritance allows us direct access to the Father; we are
able to come before His throne freely and confidently at all times! And as coheirs with Christ, we
have received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph 1:3)! As Jesus was in constant
communion with the Father, knowing His will, following His guidance and experiencing His pleasure,
so we can walk in the Spirit. Our inheritance entitles us to a life filled with the Spirit and the fruit of
His work (Gal 5:22).

PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Are you partaking in the blessings that come as a child and heir? Ask the Holy Spirit to show
you any blessing you are missing and why.
2. You are God’s child, and He wants to take you to work with Him. God wants to teach you the
ropes of His ways. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a picture, word or thought about what He
wants to teach you and show you today. Commit to walk alongside Him all day.
3. Who can you encourage with the things God is teaching you? Ask God to give you direction as
to how you can encourage them today.

Foundations November 2, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 9-10

Getting it RIGHT with GOD
Psalm 103:13-14; As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on
those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.

When you gave your life over to the Lord, you were ushered right into God’s family, and this is where
you belong. You are a dearly loved child of a mighty and good Father. We have been adopted by the
Father and HE is the One we must go to for all our identity questions; when fully submitted to His
lordship, we will fulfill the purpose we were created for.

We must learn to see ourselves as God sees us – children who belong! Too often we beat ourselves
over the head for our mistakes and failures. In shame we hide from God, or we slink back to Him
with our tails between our legs, expecting Him to beat us over the head, too. But that’s not His
nature. God sees our failures – in fact, He knows about them before they happen – and He longs
for us to return to Him in humble repentance and surrender. If it’s the first time or the 500th time,
God wants you to turn your eyes towards Him, and take the saving hand He offers. God cares that
we seek Him, not that we instantly reach perfection. In fact, when we refuse to go back to Him and
instead allow our shame and self-condemnation to be our punisher, we devalue the grace of God.
To think that self-inflicted discipline will make us worthy of being saved is a refutation of the Gospel.
As if we could ever make ourselves worthy! You stand before God as a redeemed person who has
a place in His family. So in daily repentance, let us turn back to the Lord – the only One who has the
power to forgive, heal and restore us.

PRAYER & MEDITATION
1. What is your view of God? Not what you know is true about God, or what you know you should
believe. Evaluate the truths and lies you believe: What do you honestly think about God and
His character? (Ex. I don’t think God cares; I don’t think God can change me, etc.)
2. Ask God to speak the truth about Himself. Let Him redefine, refresh, refine and refocus your
view of Him.
3. Have you hidden from God because of shame? Have you put yourself through self-inflicted
punishment rather than repentance? Surrender to God and confess your pride; let Him heal
you.

Foundations November 1, 2011

The Law in 90 Days: Deuteronomy 7-8

SCRIPTURE READING
Getting it RIGHT with GOD

Genesis 1:27; So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.
This month of Foundations is dedicated to building strong relationships. As Christians, we are called
to cultivate relationships that look radically different from the relationships of the world. Unfortunately,
the differences, for many of us, are scarcely noticeable.
Perhaps the problem lies in our own identity. Many of us place our worth in those around us. In the
teenage years, a shift occurs where youth move from dependency on parents to dependency on
friends. Friends – and their opinions – become everything. It becomes a circle of chaos: we place our
worth in what we think or feel others think about, and feel towards us, and they do the same! But the
comparisons are futile, because we are all comparing ourselves to other sinful human beings! This
is why God calls us to compare ourselves to Him alone. Holiness is our aim, and He is the only One
who can make us holy!
Before trying to sort through our relationships, we must settle our roots into our relationship with the
Lord and ground ourselves there. Here we will be firmly planted in the profound truth that we have
been made in the very image of God. God didn’t fashion us after other creatures, rather we are
designed to reflect Him – our very Source of life! Whatever the implications of this are, we can trust
that we were made with a vision: infused with life and purpose! The diversity we see, the ability to
have relationships, to experience emotions, work passionately – these things all reflect the beauty of
the Lord!

PRAYER & MEDITATION
1. Meditate on the verse in Genesis and the truth that you were made in God’s image. Ask God
how can this truth change the way that you find your self-worth?
2. How have you looked to others’ opinions of you to define your self-worth? Ask the Lord to reveal
how this actually damages your reflection of Him. Respond to any conviction with repentance.
3. Ask God to speak to you about who you are. What purposes has He created you for? What does
He love about you? How have you made Him proud in the past week?