Psalm 119:2-3

Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies and who (consistently) seek him and long for Him with all their heart. The do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.  

The best way to keep God’s favor is to keep His commandments. We do this by seeking the Lord through study, prayer, and listening to His word. It is easier for our minds to stay stable, focused, and close to God when we seek Him with all our hearts. Our focus and attention are maintained on God, and He will direct our paths. 

Judges 2:13-14

So they abandoned the Lord and served Baal (the pagan god of the Canaanites) and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands (power) of plunderers who robbed them; and He sold them into the hands of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer stand (in opposition) before their enemies.  

Our witness with our families is essential. The Israelites didn’t promote God as the one true God with their own people. The next generation that does not know God because they were not taught and finds another false god and turns away from God. They suffer for it! We are to teach our children about God and be representatives for God in our homes. We must tell them why God is important and all that He has done for us. 

Judges 2:10

Also, all (the people of) that generation were gathered to their fathers (in death); and another generation arose after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, nor even which He had done for Israel.   

The teaching of the next generation about what we know about God in our families is vital. Children will emulate their parents, especially when we make God important in prayer, study, and devotion. Feeding them the knowledge of God is an investment in their future. Knowledge that a relationship with God is possible is a powerful resource for them to help them overcome problems in the future. 

Joshua 24:19

Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord (if you serve any other gods), for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God (demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His). He will not forgive your transgression (of His law) or your sins.

A god can be anything in our lives that takes center stage of our love, time, and devotion over our focus on God. We can be overly focused on our family, children, work, money, and possessions. We cheat ourselves out of a relationship with God and His blessings in our lives. Our fulfillment in life comes only from God, and nothing on earth will ever satisfy.  

Numbers 13:30-31

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people (of Canaan), for they are too strong for us.”

Faith in God will show up in our decisions. If we believe that God is working on our behalf and sent us out to scout out our new possession that means it is ours. If we don’t believe in God, we will see all the obstacles that WE will have to overcome. Yet faith says to believe in God, and HE will work on our behalf. We do our part in believing, and God does His part in making it happen. 

2 Chronicles 20:21

When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Praise and give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.

Praise and Worship are powerful tools that God gave us to connect to Him. We were always designed to work together with God to thrive in this life, which means battles and successes. Praise establishes our focus on the redeemer and savior. Praise recognizes God for His abilities as we realize our limitations.

2 Chronicles 19:5-7

He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord who is with you in the matter of judgment. So now let the fear (reverent awe) of the Lord be on you (to keep from making unjust decisions); be careful in what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality, or acceptance of bribe.

Not all judges are the same or have reverent fear for right and wrong before the Lord. We need to pray that God appoints righteous judges to judge this country and its people fairly. When we do our part and keep the Lord at the center of our lives, communities, and families, He will act on our behalf. We have the power through prayer and intercession to change any influence of evil. 

1 Peter 2:15-16

For it is the will of God that by doing right you may silence (muzzle, gag) the (culpable) ignorance and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but (use it and live) as bondservants of God.

It makes a difference when we do right when others choose to do wrong. We set a standard and a line of character shining light amid darkness. Otherwise, darkness will prevail without a representative of God displaying what is good. Our choices and behaviors matter because God is counting on His people to overcome evil with good. 

James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours (with the same physical, mental and spiritual limitations and short comings), and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops.

One man, just like us, caused it to stop raining for three years. The devil does his best to try to convince the church that they are powerless and have no voice in making changes for the good in our families, neighborhoods, cities, and towns. Jesus died so we could break through barriers and destroy strongholds. When we believe and pray, the devil shakes and runs. 

James 4:8

Come close to God (with a contrite heart) and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your (unfaithful) hearts, you double-minded (people).

Being double-minded is a heart and a head issue. Somehow, we are not entirely convinced that God has our best interest at heart, and we see sin has something better to offer (fame, money, control, revenge). Sin tries to convince us that compromising the word of God will bring us more significant gain. We really need to ask ourselves. “What in Hell do we want.” Quote from Pastor Monte Knudsen