Lord, Please Bless and Protect Me–Numbers 6:22-27

March 1, 2011 in Blessings, Family, Numbers, Prayer, The 2011 Prayer Journey with 0 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 6:1-27; Numbers 10:1-36

Today’s Devotion: The Power of  the Blessing

Heavenly Father, I want Your special blessings, but sometimes I just don’t know how to pray.  Thank you for including prayers of blessings in Your Word.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’

Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27

Jesus, the Israelites could only receive this blessing when Aaron or his sons spoke it over them, but because of what You did for us on the cross of Calvary, Your followers are royal priests; we can speak this blessing over ourselves and our household.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Lord, bless me and protect me.  Lord, smile on me and be gracious to me today.  Lord, show me Your favor and give me Your peace today.  (Insert the names on your prayer list in the me space)

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!


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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 11:1-13:33

Is Your Ministry Carrying Loads? Numbers 4:31

February 28, 2011 in Christian Living, Discipleship, God Speaks today, Living a Life that reflects the Son, Numbers, Priorities, The 2011 Prayer Journey, The Hurting World, The Journey to Knowing Him More, Tough Times with 4 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 4:1-5:31

“I know God put me on this earth for a special purpose!”  “Who knows, I may be the next Billy Graham, Rick Warren or Beth Moore!”

Am I the only one who’s ever thought this?

I’m pretty sure God’s special purpose for me isn’t to be the next “anybody.”

He has plans that only I can fulfill.

But what if God’s purpose for me isn’t what “I” want it to be?

I wonder if the Merarites were disappointed when they were given their “special purpose”?

As we’ve learned in Exodus, the Levites were chosen by God to take care of the Tabernacle.  Today we saw the Lord hand out duties for the different divisions of the Levites. All the Merarites who were between the ages of 30 and 50 and eligible had one duty…one job…one ministry:

Their only duty at the Tabernacle will be to carry loads. They will carry the frames of the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the posts, and the bases; also the posts for the courtyard walls with their bases, pegs, and ropes; and all the accessories and everything else related to their use. Assign the various loads to each man by name.  So these are the duties of the Merarite clans at the Tabernacle. They are directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.” Numbers 4:31-33  (Emphasis mine)

What if my special purpose or your special in life is to carry loads?

Not like the Merarites, who carried the pieces of the Tabernacle but carrying the loads of the hurting, lost, orphaned, or widowed of our families, churches, communities or world.

It took strong backs for the Merarites to hand-carry the Tabernacle each time God said, “It’s time to pack up and move.”

What does it take to carry the loads of the lost, hurting, orphaned, or widowed?

Here’s the questions God asked me today:

  • Dianne, are you willing to carry the loads of the hurting?
  • Are you willing to suffer so that you can truly understand the pain of others?
  • Are you willing to walk a hard road so that your experiences will help someone who literally wouldn’t survive without you?
  • Is another person worth that much to you?

These are very hard questions.  I’m really glad God is carrying out His plans and purposes for my life without asking my permission. I most likely would have said, “No” to the hard times in my life, if I were given a choice. I’m just not that self-sacrificing.

Who do you know that needs a word of encouragement, a hot meal, some groceries, their house cleaned, to be taken to the doctor, to have a real friend…the list could go on and on.

Who do you know that needs someone to help carry their load?

Heavenly Father, I want to carry the load of those who are suffering.  Touch my heart.  Make me willing.  Give me eyes to see what You see!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 6:1-27; Numbers 10:1-36

Salvation is in the Details–Numbers 3:11-13

February 27, 2011 in Christian Living, Discipleship, Numbers, The Journey to Knowing Him More with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 2:1-3:51

The one word that keeps coming to my mind as we leave Leviticus and move to Numbers is details. It’s actually mind-blowing that the God of the universe cares about every detail of our lives.

Today’s discovery gives me sweet assurance that my Heavenly Father didn’t miss me when He was paying for the sins of the human race.

And the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me, for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord. Numbers 3:11-13

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the Lord. There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons,  collect five pieces of silver for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs). Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons. Numbers 3:44-48

Every first-born son was the Lord’s, set apart to be given to the Him at birth, but the Lord made a substitute.  He set aside the tribe of Levi to be dedicated to His service.  They took the place of all the first-born of Israel.

But

there was a problem.

There were more first-born Israelites than Levites.

With God being God, it’s easy to think that He would say, “This is a symbolic gesture, we don’t have to have it match p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y…”

But not the one and only true God.  He did the math.  He made sure EVERY first-born male was redeemed.

Friends, fast-forward 2000 years ago.  Every person ever born was destined for death because of our sinful nature.

God knew the exact number of past, present, and future humans.

He knew the exact depth of our sin.

He decided to make a way to redeem the human race but He had to find a substitute.

Who could cover that much sin?  No one.

Except

His Son.

Jesus, paid the price of every detail of our sinfulness. Our salvation is sure.  God did the math.  He paid the price, His first-born son—–>Jesus Christ.

There are a few additional details.  The only way we can receive this gift of salvation is to…

  1. Believe that Jesus
    1. is God
    2. was born of a virgin, suffered and died for our sins
    3. defeated sin and death and now is alive in Heaven making intercession for you and I at the Heavenly Father’s right hand
  2. Believe that we were born with a sinful nature
  3. Ask Jesus to forgive our sins and be the Lord of our lives
  4. Accept Him as our Savior

Heavenly Father, thank you for working out the details of my salvation!  I know my sins are covered because of the price Jesus paid for me.  I’m excited to know You are overseeing every detail of my life.  Use me to share the message of redemption with those who don’t know You.

IN Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 4:1-5:31

Lord, Show Me What Belongs to You–Leviticus 27:30-32

February 26, 2011 in Christian Living, Discipleship, Leviticus, The 2011 Prayer Journey, Trust with 3 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 27:1-34; Numbers 1:1-54

Today’s Devotion: Let Your “Yes be Yes!”

Heavenly Father, in Leviticus 27:30-32 you told the Israelites what belonged to You.

One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.  If you want to buy back the Lord’s tenth of the grain or fruit, you must pay its value, plus 20 percent.  Count off every tenth animal from your herds and flocks and set them apart for the Lord as holy.

Lord, this is the first time You’ve mentioned giving a tenth of everything a person possessed.  In today’s world possessions and “stuff” can sometimes seem like the golden calves of the Israelites days.  We don’t “see” You in our daily lives so we begin to worship the tangible, material things.

Jesus, help me to realize everything we have belongs to You.  Help me to hold onto my possessions loosely.  Help me to ask You each day what I’m to give away and what I’m to keep.

Holy Spirit, anoint me with a spirit of generosity.  I want to be the hands of God.  Use me to bless someone today.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 2:1-3:51

Lord, I Want to be Able to “Sleep With No Cause to Fear” Leviticus 26:6

February 25, 2011 in Blessings, Christian Living, Leviticus, Priorities, The 2011 Prayer Journey with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 25:24-26:46

Today’s Devotion: Evidence of Our Relationship

Heavenly Father, what an amazing promise You made to the Israelites:

I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land. Leviticus 26:6

Lord, fear and sleeplessness seem to go hand in hand. Statistics vary, but many say that almost 50% of all adults in America have trouble sleeping.

Heavenly Father, is Your promise in Leviticus 26:6 for today?

I believe it is.  Our problem is we want Your promises but we don’t want Your conditions.

Do the conditions You required of the Israelites to live in peace and have sweet sleep pertain to us today?

  1. Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the Lord your God.
  2. You must keep my Sabbath days of rest and show reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord. Leviticus 26:1-2

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will… Leviticus 26:3

Lord, many would read these conditions and say, “That’s the Old Testament, that’s not for today.”  Yes, Jesus You came to release us from the Law, but many of the requirements our Heavenly Father gave us in the Law were practical things that are still true today.  After all, You made our bodies, You made our minds.  You know what makes them work best. Our salvation may not be dependent upon it but these guidelines could be the missing link to our physical well-being and peace.

  1. Putting God first in our lives, trusting Him with our future, and believing He is in total control of the world in which we live brings peace.
  2. Taking time each week to unplug and unwind, and get away from the stress of the world makes for better sleep.

Lord, help us to see Your Word as the operator’s manual for the human body.  Holy Spirit, draw us to it daily.  Help us to see every word as valuable, even the details of Leviticus.  Teach us how to live in peace and have sweet sleep.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 27:1-34; Numbers 1:1-54

Lord, Teach Me to Rest–Leviticus 23:3

February 24, 2011 in Christian Living, Leviticus, Priorities, The 2011 Prayer Journey with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 23:1-25:23

Today’s Devotion: Be Assured

Heavenly Father, rest is so important to You.  You made us and You know our physical bodies need times of complete rest to be healthy and pleasing to You.

“You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord’s Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live.” Leviticus 23:3

Lord, why is it so hard for me to rest?  What does rest look like in the 21st century?

I don’t think rest is watching T.V. or staring at a computer screen.  Today’s world is so tired yet we spend many hours each day in activities that involve media.  Lord, what does rest look like to You?

Lord, you designed the Sabbath to be a day to relax, be with family, study, and reflect.  It was truly a gift. Help me to receive this gift.  Whether my day of Sabbath rest is on Saturday, Sunday, or a day during the week help me to be intentional is pulling away from the cares of the world.

Holy Spirit speak to me and teach me how to rest in a way that’s pleasing to You!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 25:24-26:46

Lord, I Want to be Set Apart to be Your Very Own–Leviticus 20:26

February 23, 2011 in Becoming a Christ Follower, Christian Living, Discipleship, Giving Our Best to God, Holiness, Leviticus with 3 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 20:1-22:33

Today’s Devotion: What is Spiritual Prostitution?

Heavenly Father, in the days of The Law Your requirements for priests to be set apart were almost impossible to remember much less attain.  Father, if You were to hold me to that standard today, I’m sure I would be thrown out of the camp or killed!

You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own. Leviticus 20:26

But because of the amazing gift You gave us, Your Son; because of Jesus, all Christians are priests.  All Christians are called to “set apart.”

…you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Lord, forgive me.

Most of the time I don’t act like a royal priest, chosen by God.

Forgive me for taking the fact that You called me out of darkness for granted.

Forgive me for taking Your grace for granted.

Forgive me for

trying to live as close to the world as I can and still make heaven

instead of

trying to live as close to You as I can and still function in this world.

Lord, in today’s reading You said over and over, “I am the Lord who makes them holy.”  Father, make me holy.  Set me a part from the things of this world, not to make me so “heavenly minded I’m no earthly good,” but to make me so much like You, Jesus that I can help others “Know You More.”

Father, thank You for choosing me!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!


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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 23:1-25:23

Lord, What Do Think of My Choices? Leviticus 18:1-3

February 22, 2011 in Christian Living, Discipleship, Giving Our Best to God, Holiness, Leviticus, Sin, The 2011 Prayer Journey with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 17:1-19:37

Today’s Devotion: Everyone Else is Doing It

Heavenly Father, as I read today’s scriptures about the many ways in which the Israelites could become defiled, I thought what does that word really mean?

Dictionary.com agrees with the biblical meaning of the word defiled:

  1. To make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debased.
  2. To violate the chastity of.
  3. To make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.

Lord, many things in these two chapters of defilements are still seen as sinful acts by today’s Christ followers, but there are several things that we wouldn’t think twice about; like trimming the hair on our temples or trimming our beards (Leviticus 19:27).

Heavenly Father, what do You think about our choices?

Lord, it would be so easy to talk about the sinfulness of our country, celebrities, or next-door neighbors and then we could be off the hook.

But, that’s not what our prayer journey is about.  This year we’re focusing on ourselves and our lives as it relates to Your Word.

So Lord…

What do You see in me?

What do You think about my choices?

What areas in my life seem foul, dirty, unclean, or in violation of the chastity You expect from Your children?

In my humanness I want to say, “We don’t have to live by the Levitical law!”  While that is thankfully true, I still believe we are called to live a life that is pleasing to You Lord, a life that’s not defiled.

Holy Spirit, speak to us.  Show us the areas in our lives that need some work.  We want to be pure in Your eyes.  Jesus, make us like you!  Help us to have a clean heart (Psalm 51:10).

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!


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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 20:1-22:33

Do You Need a Scapegoat? Leviticus 16:20-22

February 21, 2011 in Becoming a Christ Follower, Christian Living, Leviticus, Sin, The 2011 Prayer Journey, The Journey to Knowing Him More with 2 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 14:33-16:34

I can’t remember the first time I heard the word scapegoat…. Dictionary.com’s definition was my definition:

A person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.

In today’s reading we learned the original meaning of the word and saw it used for the first time.

The other goat, the scapegoat chosen by lot to be sent away, will be kept alive, standing before the Lord. Leviticus 16:10a

When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place and the Tabernacle and the altar, he must present the live goat. He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to the head of the goat. Then a man specially chosen for the task will drive the goat into the wilderness. As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land. Leviticus 16:20-22

…laying the sins of the people on the head of the goat and then driving the goat and the sins into the wilderness.

That sounds like a great idea… Right?

It worked about as well as placing blame on another person and allowing them to suffer in our place.

When all was said and done

The Israelites

and

you

and

I

were still sinful people.

Still dealing with the guilt of our sin.

Until one day our Heavenly Father decided the Israelites had experienced enough failure to realize…

  • They could not keep the law
  • They could not be good enough to be free from sin and guilt
  • They were hopelessly sinful

That’s the day God sent His son Jesus to this earth to live as a man, suffer, and die for our sins–To be our scapegoat.

It must have been easy for the Jews to understand Jesus’ message of redemption.  They had been using scapegoats for hundreds of years.

They knew something (or someone) had to bear their sins.

They knew a goat wasn’t working.

What or who have you been using as your scapegoat?

Who have you been blaming for your sins?

  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Siblings
  • Spouses, significant others
  • Peers
  • Society
  • Our corrupt world

Friends, there’s only one scapegoat that will take your sins so far away they can never show their ugly head again–Jesus Christ.

If you’ve never asked Jesus Christ to be your scapegoat repeat this prayer with me:

Jesus, I know that I was born with a sinful nature and I’m hopelessly lost without You.  I believe You came to this earth, suffered and died for my sins, and rose from the grave to defeat the enemy of my soul.  I believe that if I was the only sinner You would have come just for me.

I ask you to forgive me of my sins, take them from me, and be my scapegoat.  I ask You to come into my heart and live forever.  I believe I’m a different person because of You and Your love for me.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

If you prayed this prayer I’d love to hear from you.  Click on the [share a prayer request] tab at the top of this page and send me a short note.  I want to pray for you!

Thanking God for you!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 17:1-19:37

Only Jesus Can Make Me Clean–Leviticus 13:17

February 20, 2011 in Leviticus, Prayer, Sin, The 2011 Prayer Journey, The Journey to Knowing Him More with 1 Comment


Today’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 12:1-14:32

…the priest will then pronounce the person ceremonially clean by declaring, ‘You are clean! Leviticus 13:17

Leviticus can certainly be a tough read!  It was hard to find something “”life-changing” to take away

but

the Holy Spirit is faithful.

If we ask and wait, HE WILL TEACH US!

There are many practical aspects to Leviticus.  It sounds sort like a crash course in disease prevention.  One thing for sure, it God tells us to do or not to do something, there is a reason…

It’s really interesting to think about walking up to a priest unclean and walking away clean.

How can that happen?

The unclean person had to do something, make a sacrifice.

But were they really clean?  Were they really changed?

Probably not.  That’s the reason they had to make sacrifices for their sins on a daily basis.  It wasn’t just that they had sinned, they were sinners.

In the days of Leviticus most folks spent a lot of time in front of the priest trying to get clean.

Can you say with me,

“Thank the Lord we don’t live in the day’s of Leviticus!”

Thank you Jesus, our High Priest for settling the sin issue on the cross 2,000 years ago.

  • A priest can’t make us clean
  • Punishing ourselves can’t make us clean
  • Ignoring our sins can’t make us clean
  • Numbing our pain with drugs, alcohol, sex, work, etc. can’t make us clean

Only You Lord can make us free from the guilt and responsibility of our sins.

Only You Lord can make us clean.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the cross.  Thank You for thinking we were worth the sacrifice of Your Son.  Jesus, thank You for forgiving me of my sins and making a way for me to come to Your once and be free from the pain of my sinful nature.  Thank You Lord that I can come to You anytime I mess up and You are faithful and just to forgive me (1 John 1:9).  Father, thank You for Jesus!

In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen and Amen!

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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Leviticus 14:33-16:34

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