This plan provides a good balance between Old Testament readings and New Testament Readings because it guides you through the New Testament twice as you read through the Old Testament once. To allow time for reflection, it follows a two-year plan.
Every week I will post the readings for that week and add the daily devotionals as time permits. If you wish to print a copy of the plan without the devotions, you can find copies of it in pdf format at the link below. I like to print and use them as bookmarks in my Bible.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing
The daily readings for this week are included below.
July 16 (Read: Nu. 8 & 9)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
July 17 (Read: Nu. 10, 11 & 12)
“Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, ‘Rise up, Lord! And may Your enemies be scattered, and those who hate You flee from Your presence.’ And when it came to rest, he said, ‘Return, Lord, to the myriad thousands of Israel.’” (Nu. 10:35,36 NASB)
In our relationship with God, there is a time to rest and a time to go. We do not decide when either occurs. For the sons of Israel, it was decided by the Lord through the movement of the cloud by day and the fire by night. For believers in Christ, it is communicated through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.” (Rom. 8:14). We must guard against the influence of a religious spirit which would lead us to follow our own desires. To follow the Spirit requires humility, faith and discipline. Coming before the Lord cannot be controlled by an agenda, whether for personal devotions or church meetings. It may be helpful to begin with a plan birthed in communion with the Lord, but we should always linger when the Spirit lingers and move when the Spirit moves. The discipline we require is not bondage to time or methods, but a determination to continually wait on the Lord.
Personally, I like to begin with thanksgiving and praise, then move into worship (Ps. 100:4). The initial time of praise and thanksgiving helps my soul to focus and become sensitive to the presence of God. During my worship time, I may sing, or I may actively wait before Him. I focus my attention on seeing what the Lord might be saying (Rev. 1:12). This requires that I watch and listen. To help me stay focused, I often include prayerful conversation. Sometimes, it is those intimate conversations that release revelation.
When the Lord is speaking, it is not time to get busy with ministry. I view worship as time spent in the Holy of Holies. When I sense the Spirit leading me to move, I look to see where He is going. He may lead me to spend time in the Holy Place to offer petitions or intercessions. Or, He may lead me to spend time in the Outer Court to minister to the people. He may even lead me outside the walls of the temple for ministry or spiritual warfare.
Teach me Lord to wait before You in worship. Too often, I have been ineffective in ministry and prayer because I have not spent enough time listening and watching in Your presence.
July 18 (Read: Nu. 13 & 14)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
July 19 (Read: Nu. 15 & 16)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
July 20 (Read: Nu. 17, 18 & 19)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
July 21 (Read: Nu. 20 & 21)
“Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey.” (Nu. 21:4 NASB)
The things that happened to the Israelites in the wilderness were written for our instruction (1Cor. 10:11). Their experience with the fiery serpents can teach us a few things. First, we know that if we come under judgment, we can be healed by turning to the Lord. He took our punishment, “for by His wounds, you were healed” (1Pe. 2:24). Our forgiveness and our healing are provided for in the atonement, but we must turn to Jesus to receive it.
Another lesson we can learn is how to avoid falling into sin. The Israelites started to complain against God and Moses after they became impatient. To avoid becoming impatient, we need to rise above our circumstances. In every situation, if we offer thanks to God, we declare His lordship over that situation. (1Thess. 5:18). The Israelites were unhappy with the long journey around the land of Edom. They had expected to go through, not around Edom’s territory. Dissatisfaction will try to take hold of us also when things do not go the way we expect. What we must do is stay in submission to God and resist the enemy (Jas. 4:7). It does not matter what we go through if we have the Lord with us. He provides the grace we need. Even if the circumstances we find ourselves in are caused by the enemy, we can still thank God amid them. Be doing so, we are not thanking Him for what the enemy is doing, we are simply declaring by faith that God is bigger than our circumstances. He will certainly cause all things to work for our good, and He will intervene to change our circumstances, if necessary (Rom. 8:28).
I thank You again, Father, that You cause all things to work together for my good. You are greater than the one who is in the world. Your grace is sufficient for every situation I go through. (Rom. 8:28; 1Jn. 4:4; 2Cor. 12:9)
July 22 (Read: Nu. 22 & 23)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Highway in the Wilderness 