April 12

Today's Reading

Joshua. Today's reading moves like an action adventure book. It is full of points about listening to God, being courageous and obeying what God says. I recently read this question: "Are you trying to pray yourself out of a situation that you behaved yourself into?" Reading the reaction to the defeat at Ai reminds me of trying to do exactly that. God's answer for them was to behave themselves back to the place they should have been.

Luke. I received powerful new insight into the story of the Prodigal son recently.  A loved one who has known Christ for many years said, "I realized that I wasn't intimate with God.  I had taken all He gave me and squandered it on things to fill my life up with what I wanted to do.  Rather than feasting with my Father, I was living off scraps."  My heart ran to repentance when I heard those words, for they described the way I have often lived.

Psalms. Today's passage is a clear window into the heart of God. He longs for us to follow His ways, not because He's the boss, but because His ways open the door for intimacy with Him.

Proverbs is an echo of Psalms, except the relationship is between children and their earthly parents.

What are your thoughts today? How about your questions?