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2 Samuel 8:1-9:13; Habakkuk 1:1-17; Romans 14:19-15:13

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 1 Samuel 8:3

Does this verse make you feel better about your kids? Some of the greatest burdens we bear, are when our adult children make decisions that dishonour the Lord. How do we handle this? First, we should be honest and not cover up the spiritual shortcomings of our children. Secondly, don’t cripple yourself with regret. Their failure is not an indictment of your parenting skills. Remember God is the best Father of all and His children often don’t walk in
His ways. We should not take undue credit when they succeed neither should we blame ourselves when they fail. Trust God! The last chapter of their book has not been written yet. —Sid Halsband

Simply trusting every day; trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all. —Edgar Stites

2 Samuel 7:1-29; Nahum 2:1-3:19; Romans 14:1-18

He (Elijah) arose, and went for his life…and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:3-4

Why did God allow Elijah to experience such great emotions? What Elijah had accomplished on Mount Carmel was one of the greatest solo triumphs in history. Elijah could have boasted of this for the rest of his life. God so hates pride that surely one of the reasons for Elijah’s downcast state of mind was to eliminate any such feelings. As the apostle Paul learned, it was God’s grace not Paul’s efforts, that was sufficient. —Brian Russell

Forbid it Lord that I should boast,
Save in the cross of Christ my Lord.
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood. —Isaac Watts

2 Samuel 6:1-23; Nahum 1:1-15; Romans 13:1-14

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. 1 Chronicles 28:9

What is a perfect heart? One that is just, characterized by peace and quiet. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, yet the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit can give us a perfect heart. Once that takes place we have the opportunity to serve the Saviour with a heart filled with love and compassion and a willing mind. —Wm. H. Gustafson

True-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Under Thy standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.   —Frances R. Havergal

2 Samuel 4:1-5:25; Micah 7:1-20; Romans 12:1-21

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:9

Here we have a surprising scene—Elijah, depressed, discouraged, and asking God to take him home. But God came to the cave and commissioned him to anoint two kings, and gave him a companion in service, Elisha, who would eventually succeed him. God showed Elijah that irrespective of how he felt about himself, He still had perfect confidence in him. There can be times in the life of God’s greatest servants when they feel like Elijah, but God knows
where they are, can draw near, minister to them, and restore them to service. —W. H. Burnett

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way,
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way. —B. Mansell Ramsey

2 Samuel 3:1-39; Micah 6:1-16; Romans 11:13-36

Even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. 1 Peter 3:1,  NKJV

Won without a word! More important than right words for sharing Christ, is the right attitude and behaviour in showing Christ. The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is not gender specific. Read 1 Peter 3 in its entirety. The standard set of graces for every follower of Christ includes creating harmony, showing compassion and love, having a tender heart and a humble spirit (v. 8). And when someone does ask us to speak-up, our response is to be gentle and respectful (v. 15). Peter calls it our “good conduct (behaviour) in Christ” (v. 16, NKJV). —P. Ramsay

May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.  —Kate Wilkinson

2 Samuel 2:1-32; Micah 4:9-5:15; Romans 11:1-12

Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Philippians 2:10

We come together today to behold the One whose “name…is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). Just to hear that name should prompt us to bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He was in the beginning with God and all things were made by Him (John 1:1-3) but our central passion for that name rests on the immutable truth that He has saved us from our sins. —Ken Gross

O Lord, how much Thy name unfolds to every opened ear!
The pardoned sinner’s memory holds none other half so dear.  —Mary Bowley Peters

2 Samuel 1:1-27; Micah 3:1-4:8; Romans 9:30-10:21

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23

To pray without ceasing is not going through life with our eyes closed and head bowed. Some suggest that it is an attitude of constant prayer, which is a good practice to follow. The prophet Samuel felt so strongly about persisting in prayer that he said it would be a sin against the Lord to cease praying. Pray about everything. Pray according to God’s will. And, whatever you do, don’t stop praying! Our repetition in prayer is not vain repetition. —Rex Trogdon

Don’t stop praying! The Lord is nigh; don’t stop praying!
He’ll hear your cry, God has promised, and He is true,
Don’t stop praying! He’ll answer you. —Edna R. Worrell

1 Samuel 30:1-31:13; Micah 1:1-2:13; Romans 9:1-29

When the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer…Othniel…Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:9

Othniel, meaning “Lion of God”, was the first judge of Israel! And in his youth, he surely faced “lions”. What were his credentials? He had a proven character (Judg. 1:12-13). Also, the Spirit of God was upon him (v. 10), and gave him victory over Israel’s enemy. Today, as never before, God is looking for godly young men and women to live and stand for Him. The challenges will be great, but we have a great God. “Study (be diligent, labour earnestly) to shew thyself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Give yourself unreservedly to the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2). —Jim Comte

Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known. —Philip P. Bliss

1 Samuel 28:1-29:11; Isaiah 66:1-24; Romans 8:18-39

Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1, NKJV

How did God do this training? Perhaps not as we think. Was it when David’s fingers wrote psalms of praise, as his hands played his harp in worship? It was then that David was being trained to look to the One who gives victories, the Almighty. As his hands ran through the wool of his sheep in search of injuries or irritations, David could picture the Lord’s hands searching his soul for those weaknesses that would cost him a battle. We too may train our hands for our battles—by writing out Scripture, by making music, by lifting them in praise, by doing the work God has given
us. Thus we too will call the Lord our Rock. —M. MacMullen

Take my hands and let them move,
At the impulse of Thy love. —Fanny J. Crosby

1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:10
The Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. 2 Timothy 2:12

It has been said that for believers, this lifetime is a training time for a reigning time. The children of Israel were tested by God for forty years in the wilderness in preparation for entering the promised land. Many other saints of God, like Job, suffered greatly during their times of testing (see Heb. 11). Let us remain faithful during our time of testing and training, knowing that it will be worth it all in the end! —E. C. B.

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ. —Esther Rusthoi