May 20th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

I Samuel 26:1-28:25 / John 11:1-57 / Psalm 117:1-2 / Proverbs 15:22-23

Standout Verse:

Proverbs 15:22

“Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.”

The saying “you become the company you keep” is so true.  We must make it a priority to surround ourselves with men and women who are seeking the Lord with all their hearts…iron sharpening iron!  How incredible to know that when challenges come, there are comrades around us with maturing faith and life experience who are also hotly pursuing the Lord (as if life depended on it, BECAUSE IT DOES!!!). We will be able to glean their counsel and then take it to the Lord and ask Him to help us decipher the things He is calling us to do.  It is always important to note that as wonderful and refreshing as the counsel of “others” can be, it can also shoot us off in directions the Lord never intended us to go in.  Counsel from people should never replace us seeking the Lord and waiting on Him to lead us into His best for our lives!

Thank You Lord that we don’t have to live alone.  Help us see those people You want us to connect with so we can run this race with good, Godly company! 

May 19th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

I Samuel 24:1-25:44 / John 10:22-42 / Psalm 116:1-19 / Proverbs 15:20-21

1Samuel 24.   David spares Saul.

This is an account of a bunch of guys who loved David and wanted him to be freed from Saul’s continuous attempts to end his life.  When they saw an easy opportunity for David to do away with Saul, they immediately assumed it was the Lord will and quickly told him (on behalf of the Lord) to go for it.  David secretly cut off the corner of Saul's robe to prove he could have killed him. Afterward, His conscience kicked in and he knew he shouldn't have done what he did.

The fact is that there will always be well meaning people wanting to tell us the Lords will for our lives. However, it's our responsibility to receive counsel and then take it straight to the Lord ourselves BEFORE we rush out and act on it.  Most of the time good counsel will confirm what we're already sensing the Lord's saying and leading us toward OR away from. That's why it's so important to stay close to God, starting our day in the word, TUNING OUR EARS TO HIS VOICE IN A WORLD FULL OF VOICES.

John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me."

May 18th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

 I Samuel 22:1-23:29 / John 10:1-21 / Psalm 115:1-18 / Proverbs 15:18-19

Standout Verse:

I Samuel, Chapters 22 and 23 Saul was in hot pursuit of David in order to take his life! God’s hand of protection was upon David each step of the way. At each close call, God provided a way of escape for him. This was a very strange season for David – lots of waiting, hiding out, facing the fear of death, constantly on the move fleeing from Saul’s various assaults. Through it all he continually inquired of the Lord, seeking each "next move" from Him. He was fully dependent and yielded to the Lord’s direction and strategy. Though this season in his life seemed to go on forever, the Lord was drawing his heart closer to Him as he learned to fully rely upon his God to save him. It was abundantly clear to David that the Lord’s providential hand was upon him leading and protecting him step by step.

When we face difficult seasons in our lives that seem to drag on forever, let it tie our hearts closer to the Lord.  He may have us in a season of total dependency on Him for the very purpose of stripping away distractions and getting us used to being close to Him.  And, when our circumstances do change, we will easily continue in that closeness.  

May 17th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

I Samuel 20:1-21:15 / John 9:1-41 / Psalm 113:1-114:8 / Proverbs 15:15-17

Standout verse: Proverbs 15:14
“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on foolishness.”

The more truth we learn, the more understanding comes, and wisdom is gained.  As we feed on the truth found in God’s word, we continue to be transformed by it and we are hungry for more.  Our appetite is no longer satisfied by snacks and junk food that the world promises will fill us.  That kind of food does fill us for a moment, but quickly burns up leaving us hungry again and no better off spiritually.  As we intake healthy portions of God’s word, we become stronger and stronger; spiritually fit.  Our craving for what the world offers becomes significantly less and less.

We hunger for what we feed on and we feed on what we hunger for.  A good question to ask ourselves is this: What am I hungry for?

May 16th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

I Samuel 18:1-19:24 / John 8:31-59 / Psalm 112:1-10 / Proverbs 15:12-14

Standout verse:
John 8:31-32
“If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed, and you will know the Truth and the truth will make you free.”  

ABIDE - To dwell, to remain in a place, to wait patiently for, to continue to be sure or firm
DISCIPLE - Somebody who strongly believes in the teachings of a leader, a philosophy, or a religion, and tries to act according to them
KNOW – To perceive, gain knowledge, recognize, realize, come to know
TRUTH - something that is so clearly true that it hardly needs to be stated, accuracy in description or portrayal, faithfulness to a person or a cause (in this case, Jesus!)
FREE - Freedom, liberation
 A breakdown of what the Lord is saying in this power-packed verse: IF YOU ABIDE - Dwell, remain in, continue to spend time with

IN MY WORD - The Bible, time with Me, building our relationship YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES - I will know you really want to follow Me because I will see the intentions of your heart being backed by how you live; ACTION

YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH – You will gain knowledge of who I am, you will recognize Me, you will realize what truth is and will be able to combat the lies of the enemy that would attempt to cause you to stumble

AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE - You will come to know Me in a way that will liberate you, free you, and allow you to become all that I’ve created You to be