Daily Bible Reading - Monday September 2nd

I found an introduction to Ecclesiastes that I thought might be helpful as we start reading the book.  We’re gonna hear a lot about wisdom again in this book.  All this time reading the bible, you think God is trying to tell us something about wisdom? 

We do not know who wrote Ecclesiastes. Its writer was certainly a very wise man. He calls himself ‘the Teacher’. The Teacher said some strange things. This is the reason many people do not know about God. So they try to find reasons for all the things that happen. But they cannot find reasons. The Teacher tells us what these people think. Sometimes people do things that have no purpose. He says that this is like somebody who tries to catch the wind. He means that it is very silly. The Teacher tells us how these people think. He does this when he uses the words ‘on the earth’. These people find that life on the earth has no purpose.

The Teacher uses the words wise and wisdom many times. In the Word List, we can read what these words mean. Often people who do not know God try to be wise. But if you want to be really wise, you need to know God. The Teacher wants us to know God. And he wants us to believe God. Also, he wants us to obey God. He wants us to enjoy the good things that God has given to us. We will still have questions about our life on the earth. Some of them are questions that nobody can answer. But God will be with us during our lives. One day each of us will die. The Teacher is not sure what will happen then. He says, 'Our spirits will return to God' (Ecclesiastes 12:7). In the New Testament, we learn what else will happen.

This morning the devotional really spoke to me again.  Now faith.  Faith isn’t well I’ll wait until tomorrow to have faith, or next week, nope! Faith is for NOW, right now we need to have faith.  Just those two words really hit my heart today for some reason.

Today’s Reading

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Psalm 46:1-11
Proverbs 22:15

Daily Devotional

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"

What are you hoping for in your life today? The Bible says that faith gives substance to the things you hope for. Notice this verse starts by saying, "Now faith…" It's not "later" faith or "one day" faith. We have to have faith for today, right now.

So, what does it mean to have "now" faith? The Bible tells us that faith is simply believing in God's goodness and knowing that He rewards the people who seek after Him. It's believing that His Word is true–right now. Can you believe that God wants to move in your life, today? Do you believe He can provide for your need, today? Do you believe He can heal your relationship, today? Do you believe He can give you that promotion, today?

Whatever you are hoping for, open your heart and expect that God is working on your behalf, right now. Dare to believe that God will come through for you, today. Stand strong and declare that the victory is yours! As you water your faith with your words, you'll receive His strength and power and see God's hand moving in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today:

"Father in heaven, today I choose to believe that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. I trust that You have a good plan for me and that You are leading and guiding my every step. Help me stand strong in You, today. In Jesus' Name. Amen. "