Solomon and helping your neighbor

2 Chronicles 4-6 and Luke 10

2 Chronicles 4-6

So in today's reading of, 2 Chronicles 4-6, we see God fulfill His promise to David, and we see that our heart matters to God.

Even though David couldn't build the temple because of David's heart, God allowed David's son to do what was in his father's heart to do.

Our heart matters.  Be sure to examine yours throughout the day everyday.

The other moving thing I saw in 2 Chronicles is the pleasure God gets when we, His children, worship Him with true hearts.  I loved reading about the cloud coming into the worship service and God being in the midst of it.

Do you worship in such a true manner that you know God is pleased and among your worship to Him?

Luke 10

Who is your neighbor?  How helpful and neighborly are you to those who are different from you?  It's easy to come to the aide of someone of the same faith, race, status, and what have you, but how eager are you to help someone who is totally different?

Ask yourself that question and examine your heart.

Remember we can fool others and sometimes we can even fool ourselves, but you cannot fool the true and living God.  He knows what's in your heart and He examines it.

Praying the Scriptures back to God, Psalm 73 and 74

Psalm 73-74

The last time we were together to read the Scripture passages from She Reads Truth yearly plan, I gave you the wrong month. Bear with me please as I figure out exactly how I will share so much of the Bible resources that I'm finding with you.

Today our Bible reading will come from Psalm 73-74.

Psalm 73

Self-pity, I don't know about you, but I've sure experienced my fair share of it.

This Psalm illustrates the results of allowing our faith in God to be buried under self-pity.

The psalmist became so depressed when he contrasted the seeming prosperity of the wicked with the difficulties of living a righteous life.

We start to see a shift in his attitude in verse 15.  He starts to look at life from the perspective of being under the control of a sovereign and holy God where he concludes that the wicked, not the righteous have blundered.

Psalm 74

The community express their agony of the people in the midst of the most excruciating of circumstances.  Their enemies have destroyed their temples, but worse, it seems, to the psalmist anyway, that God had abandoned them.

Do you know what this feels like?  To feel like God has abandon you and your enemies, the unbelievers are getting away and prospering for being in the state their in?

Have you ever felt the need to pray and "remind God" so to speak of what His Word says concerning you, His child?

That's what we see the psalmist doing here.  He reminds God of His bond with Israel, His past supernatural deeds in protection of Israel and begs God to save His covenant nation now.

I call this, "Praying the Scriptures."

Do you pray Scriptures often in your own life?

Beth Moore, how do we pray God's Word?

How do we learn to pray God’s Word? Simply put, praying God’s Word means speaking His language. It means talking to Him using His words. Don’t waste time looking for a “formula” or “right” way to pray God’s Word back to Him. This process comes from what is in your heart and on your mind.
To get you started on this road, I will share my approach. Whenever you read your Bible, watch for passages to talk with the Father about. Especially be on the alert for any Scripture that reflects the mind of Christ toward strongholds in your life.

When you are struggling with a specific issue, use a Bible concordance or topical Bible resource to search for Scriptures pertaining to your need. You may not find a detailed description of your stronghold in Scripture, but you will definitely find verses that apply. Ask God to guide you (Ps. 25:4-5) and to open your eyes to His Word (Ps. 119:18).

If you’re not sure how to use Bible resources like a concordance, ask someone to help you.
When a passage speaks to you, it’s time to pray God’s Word. You can reword the passage into a prayer in any way God leads you. Here are some examples. I have referenced the passages involved.

1. Restate God’s truth, affirming your faith: Father, thank You that You are always good and that Your love endures forever (1 Chron. 16:34).
2. Talk to God about passages you don’t understand: Father Your word says, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). I know that I do not live up to that standard. Please help me understand and walk like Christ.
3. Ask God for what you need: “‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24).
4. Confess sin and ask God to change your life: Father, I know that You hate pride and arrogance (Prov. 8:13); yet I see the ugly face of pride in my life. Teach me today to be compassionate and humble (1 Pet. 3:8).

Grab your sample of session 1

{This is an excerpt from Lifeway's Women Blog}

To see this article in its entirety, please go to Lifeway's Blog

What Love is, A Bible study with Kelly Minter

Here’s how this will work: Each week, you’ll come here and watch the video with Kelly Minter. The videos are about 5-10 minutes long and have some fresh insight from Kelly. She will lead us through the What Love Is study week by week. Once you watch the video, we have some questions for you to answer in your group or in the comments section of the post (or in both!).

We want this to be available to those who are studying together and those going solo. Some of the questions ask you to get to know your fellow Bible study participants and we hope the interactions you have will be both challenging and encouraging. Each week at the end of the video, Kelly will let you know the homework assignment for the next week.

You can do the homework in the What Love Is Bible Study Book.

We highly recommend you getting a copy for this study, since that is where most of the studying will take place!

The study will be seven weeks long (including this little introduction week).

Not sure if the study is for you?  Or maybe you don't have the money to get the book right away.  Try this free Living Room version of the first 5 days to get you started here.

Go to Lifeway's blog,