Psalm 81 - the lord wants to hear from me during my distress, he wants me to reach out to him, to humble myself, to ask for help. He wants intimacy with me and part of that is humility enough to go to him when I’m overwhelmed. Acts 25 - Paul has no problem dying, but also knows his mission is appointed and will stay on earth as long as he needs to finish his mission. He appeals to Caesar and is granted that request. Paul has been prevented multiple times to go to Rome and evangelize but Jesus promised him he would, and this is the start of that fulfillment. God is faithful to his promises, sometimes we get there in chains rather than our own will, but he always comes through. 2 kings 12 - king after king just disregard the lord, this is a dark period in the history of Israel. Kings taking money that was reserved for the temple repair, and funneling it to their own interests. Kings being executed and assassinated. “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord” over and over this is the way these Kings have been described.

Psalm 80 - Revive me lord that I may take strong root, and provide fruit to others passing by. Restore me lord, strengthen my faith and shine your spirit on me. Acts 24 - Paul being put on trial and defending himself to the Roman governor, Felix. The religious elites providing false testimony, it all feels so similar to the trial of Jesus. How often do I continue to make the same mistakes and sins? A little time passes and I forget, or i choose to forget consequences. When conviction hits on those moments it’s so much deeper, Lord create a clean heart in me and warn me in conviction long before my flesh takes over.

Psalm 80 - A plea for restoration. I’ve had this prayer frequently lately and I see god paving so many paths and roads in front of me. He’s providing options and outcomes and I’m being proactively patient with next steps. Thank you lord for taking care of me and my family. Acts 23 - more plotting against paul to take his life but he doesn’t stop spreading the gospel. Jesus visits him while he’s imprisoned and he assures him he will continue his mission and speak the gospel in Rome. Paul is living by faith at this moment, knowing that his fate is in Gods hands. 2 Kings 8 - Judah is not following the lord at this point either, they have gone the way of Israel yet the lord keeps them intact because of the promise made to David. Civil frustration is now breaking out in Judah also. When the Lord isn’t present the evil of humans prevail.

Proverbs 16 - sometimes I look at my accounts and think, if i only shifted my priorities around I could have much more financial stability, it’s a lie from the enemy. Better to have a little with righteousness, than much gain with injustice. It can be tempting to set your morals aside and pursue payouts, the world is built on it. I took a hard look at the way I ran my real estate career about 4 years ago, I felt sick about it and almost left the business. I made a firm choice to run it differently, to the shock of most of my colleagues. I stick to my conviction. Acts 23 - paul could’ve changed his fate by denying Jesus, just as Peter did in the square. But he says “I have fulfilled my duty to god in Good conscience “ - no conviction about not doing the right thing, facing interrogators and immediate flogging, he stayed loyal. 2 Kings - nothing is outside of the lords ability, even inflation… the king was livid at Elisha because of the state of the economy, stating that the Lord was creating hard times for them and couldn’t believe Elisha when he said the Inflation problem will be solved tomorrow… he placed human restrictions on what God can do, I’m guilty of this daily.. what is logical and reality to us is not the same playing field God uses.

Psalm 79 - what is it about destruction or devastation that brings people to prayer? There are so many stories of People who claim no belief in God, yet turn to prayer as a last resort when something shakes their world. God is going to win, one way or another he’ll be acknowledged either on this earth or during judgment. What’s beautiful is how many opportunities he gives the lost to find him, and immediately wraps them up in his arms when they humble themselves to seek him out. Acts 21 - paul is taken by a crowd of Jews and beat up, badly. They were trying to kill him until Roman guards stepped in. Paul’s mission spread much further, and the Lord intervened to ensure that he’d make his way to Rome as previously stated by Paul, and the Lord used an arrest from Roman guards to accomplish his will. He’s always working, he’s always making a way, he’s always paving paths. 2 Kings 5 - Faith. Naaman had kept it and tried everything to get rid of it. He seeks answers from Elisha and is told to wash in the Jordan 7 times. He’d already tried a bunch of things, including washing so he was angry, he felt that God would have some magic and profound way of clearing his condition but that’s not how god works. There are times He has us do small, repetitive, mundane tasks that gain momentum and speed in order to accomplish mighty things. Be disciplined to the small tasks, the ones that are easiest to put off can be the ones that build into the most powerful engines.