Kristi Burchfiel

VERSE:Joshua 3:5–Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”TRUTH:To consecrate means to set apart as holy and pure. We say we want to see God move in our lives, but are we willing to take the time to examine our lives and ask forgiveness for the areas that aren’t up to God’s standards?RESPONSE:Lord, I want to see Your wonders in my life. Take my life, forgive me, and help me change so I am ready to experience You.

VERSE:Joshua 2:9–and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.”TRUTH:Rahab had heard all that God had done through the people of Israel. Instead of running from God in fear, she turned to Him. When we are confronted with the truth of who God is, do we embrace it, or run in terror?RESPONSE:Lord, help me to respond like Rahab and turn to You!

VERSE:Joshua 1:9–Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.TRUTH:Strength and courage come from the presence of the Lord. He is with us and His presence gives us what we need to be able to be obedient to all that he has for us.RESPONSE:Lord, thank You for the strength and courage to do all that You have for me. I will not be dismayed for You are with me!

VERSE:Obadiah 3–The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock. In the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to earth?”TRUTH:Our feelings can deceive us and we experience pride and arrogance thinking that we are over everything. We are not above God, no matter what we think of ourselves.RESPONSE:Lord, help me not to be deceived, but to humble myself before You.

VERSE: Acts 28:31–preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. TRUTH:Paul is under house arrest. He is confined, yet described as open and unhindered. Are we defining ourselves by our circumstances or by our relationship to Christ? Through Christ we are free and unhindered and open to do all that He calls us to do regardless of our circumstance. RESPONSE:Lord, help me always view my circumstances in light of who You are, not what I actually see.

VERSE:Acts 27:25–Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.TRUTH:What does it mean to have faith? It means to act in the knowledge and confidence that God will do exactly as He promised, even if we can’t see it at the time. God keeps His promises to us!RESPONSE:Lord, Your promises to me from scripture are amazing. I know that You will do everything You have said.

VERSE:Acts 26:18–to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.TRUTH:These are the rewards of surrendering our life to Christ: open eyes, forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance. Are we living in the reality of all God promises and provides?RESPONSE:Lord, I pray You will help me understand more fully all You provide for me and that I will share that with others today.

VERSE:Acts 25:19–but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.TRUTH:Even though Festus didn’t understand the argument against Paul, he picked out the main issue, Jesus. When sharing Christianity with someone, don’t be side-tracked by the details, remember that the key is Jesus Christ and who He is. Who do you say He is?RESPONSE:Lord, everything is about You. Help me know You more so I can share You with others.

VERSE:Acts 24:16–In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.TRUTH:Paul was always mindful of what he said and did so that he would be an effective witness for God. Could we say the same thing or do we get too focused on ourselves?RESPONSE:Lord, I pray that I will be so focused on you today that the only thing people can accuse me of is being obedient to You.