He knows our thoughts

"You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know thoroughly everything I do." Psalm 139:3

Perhaps the reason that God doesn't always give us the answer to the whys of our existence is that He knows we haven't got the capacity to understand the answer. In learning to depend on God, we must accept that we may not know all the answers, but we know who knows the answers.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Asking Questions

"But I will call t God for help, and the Lord will save me. Morning, noon, and night. I am troubled and upset, but He will listen to me." Psalm 55:16-17

It's not a sin to doubt. Disbelief is sin, but questioning - sincerely seeking - is acceptable to God because in the presence of God you may ask any question you want.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Why?

"No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." I Corinthians 2:11

A misconception people have in dealing with life's troubles is that it's wrong to ask why - that a Christian simply accepts and never questions. Abraham, Moses, and David all interceded and struggled to understand God. but the lives of these men model for us a total reliance on God, even in the midst of questioning.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

No One is Useless to God

"God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

No one is useless to God. No one, at any point in his life, is useless to God - not a little child, not the unattractive, not the clumsy, not the tired, not the discouraged. God uses his children.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: John 3-4
Old and New Testaments Together: Jer. 34-36 & Hebrews 2
Historical: Mark 1-3
Chronological: Matthew 23 & Luke 20-21
Blended: Habakkuk & Col. 3

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

He is waiting for us

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds His people now and forever." Psalm 125:2

We have a Father who is filled with compassion, a feeling Father who hurts when His children hurt. We serve a god who says that even when we're under pressure and feel like nothing is going to go right, He's waiting for us, to embrace us whether we succeed or fail.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Mark 10-11
Old and New Testaments Together: Isaiah 56-58 & 2 Thess. 2
Historical: 1 Cor. 10-13
Chronological: Matthew 15 & Mark 7
Blended: I Samuel 17-18 & 2 Peter 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

What will you be doing in Heaven?

"Those who win the victory will sit with me on my throne in the same way that I won the victory and sat down with my Father on His throne." Revelation 3:21

I believe that praise and prayer develop us for what we will do when we arrive in heaven. What's your picture of what you'll be doing there - sitting on a cloud? Polishing your halo? Playing your harp? That's not what you're going to be doing. You're going to be involved in the ongoing process of coreigning with God.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"w

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Ezek. 9-12
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 135-136 and I Cor. 12
Historical: Daniel 9-10
Chronological: Ezek. 18-19
Blended: Psalm 135-136 & 2 Cor. 11:1-15

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

How Do we Approach Him?

"I love the Lord, because He listens to my prayers for help. He paid attention to me, so I will call to HIm for help as long as I live." Psalm 116:1-2

God is an exalted friend, a holy Father, and an elevated King. How do we approach Him - as king, as father, or as friend? The answer is: yes!

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Micah
Old and New Testaments Together: Song of Sol. 6-85 & Gal. 4
Historical: 2 Chron. 1-4
Chronological: Ezra 7-10
Blended: Ezek 14-15 & John 11:1-29

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Praising the King!

"Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying; "To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." Revelation 5:13

The whole purpose of coming before the KIng is to praise Him, to live in recognition of His splendor. Praise - lifting up our hearts and hands, exulting with our voices, singing His praises - is the occupation of those who dwell in the kingdom.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 84-86 & Romans 12
Historical: Job 24-28
Chronological: Jeremiah 18-22
Blended: Psalm 84-86 & I Peter 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Biblical Act of Worship

"Come into His city with songs of thanksgiving and into His courtyards with songs and praise. Thank Him and praise His name." Psalm 100:4

Our biblical act to worship is not what we do on Sunday mornings in ties and dresses, but our act of worship is a lifelong, seven-days-a-week process of placing ourselves upon an alter of sacrifice. Worship is living the principles of Christ in everything we do. You're worshiping God by what you do all week long.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Proverbs 7-8
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 13-15 & Acts 19:21-41
Historical: Psalm 96-102
Chronological: 2 Chron. 28 & 2 Kings 16-17
Blended: Psalm 13-15 & Acts 11

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Open your Bible to Teach Someone

"This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; . . . that you will do many good things with the help of Christ to bring glory and praise to God." Philippians 1:9 & 11

When you take food to the poor, that's an act of worship.

When you give a word of kindness to someone who needs it, that's an act of worship.

WHen you write someone a letter to encourage them or sit down and open your Bible with someone to teach them, that's an act of worship.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Psalm 58-65
Old and New Testaments Together: Job 1-2 & Acts 7:22-43
Historical: Zech. 1-7
Chronological: 2 Chron. 10-12
Blended: Jeremiah 50 & Phil. 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

He is like a bright light

"His glory covers the skies, and His praise fills the earth. He is like a bright light. Rays of light shine from His hand, and there He hides His power." Habakkuk 3:3-4

Father, you never promised us that this world would be easy. And yet, all of us can look ahead to the city that's set on a hill, to the lights that call us to eternity. And we take hope.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Job 24-28
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Chron. 30-31 & John 18:1-18
Historical: Ezek. 28-31
Chronological: Proverbs 16-18
Blended: Jeremiah 9-11 & Matthew 22:1-22

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

What's Your Emotion?

"Lord, I will thank you with all my heart; I will sing to you." Psalm 138:1

It's incredible that anyone could look at the kindness of God, the faithfulness of God, and the goodness of God and not feel any emotion of gratitude.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Saviour"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: I Chron. 9-11
Old and New Testaments Together: 1 Kings 16-18 & Luke 22:47-71
Historical: Isaiah 23-27
Chronological: 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23 & I Chron. 13-16
Blended: Numbers 17-19 & Rev. 21

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

"Because He is worthy of our Praise"

"Because He is worthy of praise, Because He is God." Pealm 34:1-2

We should serve God even if there is darkness enveloping our I will praise the Lord at all times; life and even if we don't understand what's happening . . . His praise is always on my lips. Even when the circumstances of our life don't make sense: My whole being praises the Lord.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: 2 Kings 6-8
Old and New Testaments Together: 2 Samuel 16-18 & Luke 17:20-37
Historical: 2 Kings 9-11
Chronological: I Chron. 3-5
Blended: Eccles. 1-3 & Revelation 10

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Gratitude

"God, I will thank you forever for what you have done. With those who worship you, I will trust you because you are good." Psalm 52:9

Gratitude comes from having the right perspective. It's being able to look at what you have and being thankful for that, rather than longing for what you don't have.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Judges 13-15
Old and New Testaments Together: Joshua 13-15 & Luke 1:57-80
Historical: Joshua 1-4
Chronological: Deut. 28-29
Blended: Proverbs 1-2 & I Cor. 14:21-40

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Praise the Lord

"Praise the Lord for the glory of His name; worship the Lord because He is holy." Psalm 29:2

Praise is the highest occupation of any being. What happens when we praise the Father/ We reestablish the proper chain of command, we recognize that the King is on the throne and that He has saved His people.

By Max Lucado taken from "Walking with the Savior"


Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Numbers 33-34
Old and New Testaments Together: Numbers 9-11 & Mark 5:1-20
Historical: Numbers 33-34
Chronological: Numbers 5-6
Blended: Exodus 21-22 & 2 Thess. 1

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

The Prayer of Jesus

"But dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up, praying in the Holy Spirit." Jude 1:20

When Jesus talks about prayer, He doesn't present it as an arduous task, he doesn't describe it as a requirement, He doesn't say that it's something you do and hopefully beautifully so that some divine audience will throw flowers to you. That's not what prayer is. It's the divine relationship that allows us to stand before god and express the deepest concerns of our hearts.

By Max Lucado taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Genesis 16-18
Old and New Testaments Together: Genesis 13-15 & Matthew 5:1-26
Historical: Genesis 16-18
Chronological: Job 6-9
Blended: Genesis 13-15 & Romans 5

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Continuing Praying

"Continue praying, keep alert, and always thank God." Colossians 4:2

Father, when you were on earth, you prayed. You prayed in the morning, you prayed at night, you prayed alone, you prayed with people. In your hours of distress you retreated into times of prayer. In your hours of joy you lifted your heart and hands to the Father in prayer. Help us to be more like you this way . . . help us to make prayer a priority in our daily lives.

By Max Lucado, taken from, "Walking with the Savior"

The Power of a Strong Relationship

"God's power protects you through your faith until Salvation is shown to you at the end of time." I Peter 1:5

The power of a strong relationship sustains us and gives us strength - it's that power in knowing, "If I fail, my friend is still there," or, "If I fail, I have a wife who still loves me." It's the power in knowing that - no matter what - we have a Father who still loves us."

By Max Lucado, taken from, "Walking with the Savior"

Laying Your Cares at His Feet

"Give your worries to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will never let good people down." Psalm 55:22

Only you can surrender your concerns to the Father. No one else can take those away and give them to God. Only you can cast all your anxieties on the one who cares for you. What better way to start the day than by laying your cares at His feet?

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Where's Our Battleground?

"Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world." Ephesians 6:12

Where's our battleground in life? Is our battle against our neighbor? Is our battle against our family? No. The battle is with the invisible forces of darkness, the evil one who has invaded the earth, whose goal is to win the battle within every Christian. Satan failed in his desire to control God, and it's only with God's help that we can defeat him.

By Max Lucado, "Walking with the Savior"