Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 69, Judges 16
Judges 16 has lessons for both men and women. I have been blessed with two sons as well as two daughters. I see lessons here for both of them.
Sons, guys, be careful who you fall for. The wrong woman will lead you in the wrong direction. Strong men can become weak men in a woman’s hands. Get to know who a woman really is before you give her your heart. If you see that she has a selfish, manipulative, deceitful spirit, RUN!
Daughters, ladies, be careful how you use your seductive powers. You can manipulate a man into doing things both you and he will regret. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Don’t manipulate men, making them your puppet. It will only lead you astray.
For all of my children, for all of you reading this, it’s not too late. God can work through you to accomplish HIS purposes. He is the God of second and third and fourth chances. He is the God of redemption. He is on His throne. He works even through SINFUL men and women like Samson and Delilah and Bill and Kim.
Heavenly Father, I pray for my sons and my daughters, my granddaughters and my grandsons, men and the women. May their hearts belong to You. May You be their greatest treasure. Protect them from the sins of deceit and manipulation. Teach them and strengthen them to guard their hearts. Fill their hearts with pure, holy desires, that they would love what You love and hate what You hate. And remind them that it’s never too late to return to You. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Come Thou Fount – Shane and Shane
GOD WORKS even through SINFUL MEN and WOMEN like SAMSON and ME 🙋🏻♂️🙋🏼♀️
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 68, Judges 15
In Judges 15:11b (ESV), Samson explained to the men of Judah that he had taken vengeance on the Philistines for, “As they did to me, so have I done to them.” This reminded of the words of Jesus and Paul and Peter.
“But I [Jesus] say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Luke 6:27-31 ESV
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21 ESV
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:13-23 ESV
Does God work even through our sin? Yes, certainly, He does. But, His desire is to be glorified in our humble submission to His will.
Check your motive. Is your heart fixed on God’s glory or your own? Are you thinking about bringing justice or bringing judgment? Are you seeking vengeance and vindication or repentance and restoration?
Heavenly Father, help me to be kind in the face of spite, helpful in the face of animosity, and patient in the face of irritability. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that my heart would burn with love rather than anger. Help me to remember that the anger of man will never achieve the righteousness of God. Give me a spirit that seeks to overcome evil with good. In the name of Jesus Christ, the One who ultimately and completely overcame evil with good, I pray. Amen.
Shane and Shane – Only There
If SAMSON met the GOLDEN RULE – FormerAtheist58
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 67, Judges 14
There are some parts of the Bible that I just don’t understand. I’d put the story of Samson and particularly Judges 14 in that category. That’s one reason why it’s so good to read through the whole Bible – so you can’t skip over those “not so favorite” parts.
Is it ok for me as a sold-out, all-in, evangelical follower of Jesus Christ and believer in every word of the Holy Scriptures to struggle with what the Bible means here? Yes, I think it is. When my kids don’t understand what I’m doing and why, they are forced to trust what they do know about me and obey on that basis.
I know that God is good. I know that He inspired the men who wrote the Bible. I know that He is sovereign over the affairs of humanity. That
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV
Heavenly Father, some things are hard to understand. Help me to trust You in my life, and in my reading of the Word. I know that You are good. I know that You are working all things together for good for those that love You and are called according to Your purposes. I know that Your ways are different from mine and higher than mine. I pray that I would trust You in all things and cast all of my anxieties on You, trusting that You care for me. I pray that You would give me wisdom as I read Your word and help me to apply it to my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and King, I pray. Amen
TRUSTING GOD when you don’t understand what He’s doing – FormerAtheist58
All Creatures – Shane and Shane
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 66, Judges 13
An angel appeared to Hagar in the desert (Genesis 16) and to Mary, the mother of our Savior Jesus (Luke 1). The Lord answered the prayers of Hannah when she asked for a son (1 Samuel 1). Abigail’s discernment and quick actions spared David from having revenge on foolish Nabal (1 Samuel 25).
Here, in Judges 13, the Lord has chosen Manoah’s unnamed wife, a barren, childless woman, to be His messenger to her husband.
Sisters, God wants to use YOU as a blessing to your husband, your children, your church, and your community. He has a purpose for YOU. If you’re married, encourage your husband as your head by sincerely, genuinely sharing your life with him. Whether you’re married or not, whether you have a house full of kids or not, if God has chosen you as His child, then He has chosen you to be His ambassador, a messenger of the most high God.
Brothers, God wants to use YOU as a blessing to your wife, your children, your church, and your community. He has a purpose for YOU. If you’re married, encourage your wife as your helper by sincerely, genuinely listening to her. If God has chosen YOU as His child, then He has chosen YOU to be His ambassador, a messenger of the most high God.
Heavenly Father, I pray that we would call out to You, seeking You, morning by morning and evening by evening and that we would hear Your voice as You answer me. Thank You for choosing me to be a vessel of Your grace. May that grace overflow to my husband and my children and their children. May that grace bring glory to Your Name. Give my husband and I discernment as we listen for Your voice. Help us to know when You are speaking and grant us unity in Your Holy Spirit. Help us both to be humble toward each other and to You. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Give Me Jesus – Fernando Ortega
Does God only speak to MEN? – FormerAtheist58
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In researching more about Jephthah, I stumbled upon two very interesting articles about the possibility that Jephthah didn’t actually sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering.
If you’re struggling today to understand God’s Word or God’s will, remind yourself of the things that you KNOW, the things you can be absolutely sure of.
God is by nature holy and good, and His Word is always true.
Man is by nature fallen and not good, and we can easily be led astray.
If you can’t understand what God wants you to do, study and keep studying, reminding yourself that God will never lead His children to sin.
So Good to Me – Zach Williams
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 64, Judges 11
On my wedding day, over 30 years ago, I vowed before God and a room full of witnesses, to love and cherish my husband until parted by death. I’m so thankful that the Lord has given me the strength to keep that vow.
Entering into the covenant of marriage is not something to be done lightly. If you are considering marriage yourself, please think seriously before vowing yourself to be faithful to another until death. Like Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth.”
Pray and seek wisdom from the Lord.
Seek counsel from believing friends.
Ask deep questions of your future spouse, making certain that they are committed followers of Jesus Christ before you enter into such a covenant with them.
When I started pondering this topic of keeping a difficult wedding vow, I started thinking about tough questions like these:
What if a husband is abusing his wife or his children? What if he is actively involved in an adulterous relationship and refuses to cut it off despite his wife’s pleas? What if he is destroying his family, squandering his health and his money on drugs or gambling? Would the Lord want a woman to remain with that kind of man in order to keep her marriage vows?
Charles Spurgeon said in his sermon titled, Retreat Impossible, “In Jephthah’s case there were good reasons for going back [on his vow]. He had made a rash vow, and such things are much better broken than kept…. If you have come under a rash vow, you must not dare to keep it. You ought to go before God and repent that you have made a vow which involves sin; but as to keeping the sinful vow, that were to add sin to sin.”
Do Spurgeon’s words apply to the marriage vows? Is it adding sin to sin to stay with an abusive spouse in order to keep your wedding vows or is it not? I don’t have the answers to these questions, but I’m sure thinking about them. I want my thoughts to be God’s thoughts, rooted in the character of God and the Holy Scriptures.
But, for the rest of us, who aren’t facing those kinds of marriages, whose marriage struggles are more rooted in dealing with annoyances and irritations of two selfish humans living in the same house, KEEP YOUR VOWS!
Heavenly Father, I pray for my marriage. Give me the strength to love my husband and do good to him all the days of my life. Help me to see the log in my own eye. Give me a humble heart that I might live at peace with the husband that you have given to me. I lift up my sisters who find themselves in an abusive marriage. Please protect them and guide them. Protect their children. Protect their minds, hearts, and bodies. Help them to love their neighbor as themselves and do good to their enemies. Show them the way of escape that You have for them. I don’t have all the answers, but You do. Show us the way, Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless Lamb, we pray. Amen.
In the Valley – City Alight
KEEPING VOWS when IT’S HARD – FormerAtheist58
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 63, Judges 10
Have you ever thought about this – God brought His people into the Promised Land, an abundant land flowing with milk and honey, yet the Israelites ended up worshipping the gods of the very people God sent them to conquer?
God wanted the Israelites to drive out those idol-worshipping nations, but instead the Israelites joined in worshipping those idols themselves.
How often are we guilty of these very same things? How often are we Christians bowing to the idols of our culture – the idols of sports and wealth and comfort and fame? How often do we give Jesus our leftovers – after giving the world our time, talents, and treasures – rather than seeking Him first and giving Him our best?
Repent and return to Him today.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32 ESV
Heavenly Father, Forgive us for presuming on Your kindness. Your kindness is to lead us to repentance. Forgive us for our whoring and adultery. We have chased after idols, false gods that can never deliver what they promise. We have turned to the world that You created and turned our backs on You, our Creator. Forgive us. Cleanse our hearts and hands and renew a right spirit in us. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Sinless Lamb who was slain for our sins, we pray. Amen.
Christus Victor (Amen) – Keith and Kristyn Getty, Cochren & Co
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 62, Judges 9
Sometimes it takes years for the seeds you sow to bear fruit, but I promise you, they will. If you plant pumpkin seeds, you’ll harvest pumpkins. If you plant radish seeds, you’ll harvest radishes. Things always grow according to their kinds. God designed it that way.
The fruit might be glorious – a bountiful harvest of melons and tomatoes and berries – or the fruit might be pitiful – rotten and shriveled and sparce – but like Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
If you don’t want radishes, don’t plant radish seeds.
The Lord is a good, holy, just judge and ruler. Whether in this life or in eternity, He will repay each one according to his deeds. If you sow thoughts of bitterness and jealousy, you will become bitter and jealous, and your relationships will flounder. If you sow thoughts of humility and forgiveness, you will become increasingly humble and forgiving, and your relationships will grow.
Gideon’s son, Abimelech, allowed selfish ambition to take control of his life, and he and the men who helped him, paid the price for it.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, I trust You. You are good. You are the Almighty Sovereign Ruler over all things. Let me not grow weary of doing good, knowing that at the right time I will reap a bountiful harvest. Help me to overcome evil with good and to trust You to work justice in those situations that seem unjust in my eyes. Grow my faith, Father, and make me more like You. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
SOWING & REAPING – FORMERATHEIST58
My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62) – Sovereign Grace
How Great is the Greatness of God – Matt Boswell, Bryan Fowler, Matt Papa
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Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.”
Judges 8:22-23 ESV
My heart rejoiced when I read Gideon’s words. Praise the Lord that Gideon desired for the Lord to rule over the people!
But, moments later, Gideon asks those same people to give him all the golden earrings from the spoil of their battle against the Midianites, and from those golden earrings he makes an ephod which “all Israel whored after, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family” (Judges 8:27b).
It just reminded me how quickly I can be deceived, how easily I can step off the straight and narrow path. I need to be diligent in taking every decision to the Lord, willingly following Him step by step.
Heavenly Father, You alone are the ruler of my life. I don’t want to whore after other gods, idols that make promises they’re unable to keep. Open wide my eyes that I may see You. May Your Word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, that I might follow You and You alone all the days of my life. To the glory of Your Name I pray. Amen.
How QUICKLY our Hearts can TURN. ❤️ ↪️💔🤯
Have Mercy on Me – Anchor Hymns
Don’t Forget to Remember – Ellie Holcomb
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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 60, Judges 7
The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
Judges 7:2 ESV
This passage has had a special place in my heart since one night about twenty years ago when the Holy Spirit convicted me about how often I used manipulation to get my husband to do what I wanted. That night, the Lord opened my eyes to the importance of trusting Him to fight my battles, rather than trusting my own skills of argumentation to get my way. That night, I decided to quit fighting against my husband and to start praying for him. That night, I finally recognized that I might be winning these marital battles, but I was losing the war for my marriage.
Can any of you relate?
Ask yourself what weapons you’re using to fight your own battles: Nagging and complaining? Threatening and yelling? Silence and the cold shoulder? Put those weapons away, friends. They’re not the Lord’s weapons; they’re the enemy’s.
If the Lord can cause the entire Middianite army to kill one another, giving the Israelites success by merely blowing their trumpets, then surely He conquer the heart of your stubborn loved one.
Put on the whole armor of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. And take up your weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and start praying in the Spirit, asking Him to fight for you. (Ephesians 6:12-17)
Join forces with the Lord. Remember who your real enemy is. Quit fighting your spiritual brothers and sisters and start fighting the spiritual forces of evil.
Heavenly Father, we need You to fight our battles for us. Open our eyes to see the spiritual battle that we are in. Make us soldiers in Your army, wielding that Sword of the Spirit, your Word, with excellence and accuracy, praying without ceasing, and seeking Your face for direction day after day. Let us not grow weary of well-doing. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Help us to root out those spirits of bitterness and selfishness. Protect us from pride and manipulation. Make us more like You. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Brother, we pray. Amen.
Rock of Ages
FormerAtheist58 – WHO’S FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES – Full-Length
FormerAtheist58 – WHO’S FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES – 3 minutes
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Teach What is Good 
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