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Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 25
Emmanuel: God with Us

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 146:1-10 | Zechariah 8:1-23 | Revelation 16:1-21 |
Proverbs 30:29-31

Today’s Scripture Focus: Zechariah 8

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, [21] and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ [22] And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.” [23] This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”…

Generous Hearts

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 145:14-21 | Zechariah 6:1-7:14 | Revelation 15:1-8 | Proverbs 30:24-28

Today’s Scripture Focus: Zechariah 6-7

“Was it really for me that you fasted?” “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” (Zechariah 7:5b, 9-10 NIV)

The people of Bethel went to the priests and prophets asking, “Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month as I have done for so many years?” The hypocrisy of the hearts of the questioners was immediately revealed by the words given to Zechariah. “Was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?”

While fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline when used rightly…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 23
Not by Might

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 145:8-13 | Zechariah 4:1 – 5:11 | Revelation 14:1-20 | Proverbs 30:21-23

Today’s Scripture Focus: Zechariah 4-5

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)

“Who despises the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10)

God had chosen Joshua and Zerubabbel to complete the task of building the temple. The key to their success in accomplishing their God-given task was not their human wisdom or strength. They key to their success was the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

We often look to natural talents thinking they are the sure predictor of future success. But God’s work calls for more than human talents and human strength. God’s work demands so much more–it…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 22
Sing His Praise

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 145:1-7 | Zechariah 2:1-3:10 | Revelation 13:2-18 | Proverbs 30:18-29

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 145:1-7

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:1 NIV)

Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:2 NIV)

For the psalmist, praise was a daily practice that he intended to continue for a lifetime. “Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.” Praise can transform your life. It takes our eyes off of ourselves and our problems and turns them to see the greatness and glory of our God. As we see his glory, our perspective changes. Praise shakes off the gloom and brings deep joy.

For the psalmist, meditation on the good…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 21
The Accuser

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 144:9-15 | Zechariah 1:1-21 | Revelation 12:1-13:1 | Proverbs 30:17

Today’s Scripture Focus: Revelation 12:1-13:1

“Now have come salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”

He’s a liar, a thief, a deceiver. He’s the accuser of our brothers and sisters in Christ. An enemy to God and all his ways, Satan tries desperately to cause as much damage and havoc as he can. But his days are numbered: “He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short” (12:12) and he has been “hurled down” (12:10).

He has made an occupation of accusing us before the throne of God. Remember the story of Job?

December 20
Missing Out on the Blessing

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 144:1-8 | Hag 1:1-2:23 | Revelation 11:1-19 | Proverbs 30:15-16

Today’s Scripture Focus: Haggai 1-2

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.’ Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: [4] “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:2-4 NIV)

God had been faithful to remember the Jewish exiles. They began to return to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon and began the task of rebuilding the temple. Opposition arose and the job turned out to be much more difficult and more costly than they had imagined. They became discouraged and gave up on their God-given vision and mission.

The people procrastinated their obedience. They told…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson (available in the Kindle Store at Amazon)

December 19
Making God Sing

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 143:7-12 | Zephaniah 1:1-3:20 | Revelation 10:1-11 | Proverbs 30:11-14

Today’s Scripture Focus: Zephaniah 1-3

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV)

Children know how to enjoy the moment. Imagine a beautiful sunny day. You stretch out your arms and spin around and around, laughing and singing–utter delight. Do you remember the delight of just spinning around and finding delight in the moment?

Such is the delight of God in his faithful remnant—the humble and meek. In sharp contrast to all the warnings of the day of reckoning for the proud that dominates the majority of the…

December 18
From Questions to Praise

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 143:1-6 | Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 | Revelation 9:1-21 | Proverbs 30:10

Today’s Scripture Focus: Habakkuk 1-3

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV)

Habakkuk was a prophet who asked a lot of questions. Tough questions. The big questions we would all like to ask God, even if we wouldn’t have the boldness to ask them. “How long, O Lord?” “Why don’t you answer my prayers?” “Are you ignoring me, Lord?” “Could you please explain why you are doing this Lord? It doesn’t make sense.” These are the kinds of questions…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 17
Never Alone

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 142:1-7 | Nahum 1:1-3:19 | Rev.8:1-13 | Proverbs 30:7-9

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 142

“Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.” (Psalms 142:4 NIV)

Christmas can be a lonely time. Memories of family and friends who are no longer with us haunt us especially this time of the year. Separation from those you love when you’d rather be “home for Christmas” brings a sense of loneliness. Singles sometimes feel left out and lonely this time of year. Even in the midst of the crowds, it is common to feel lonely this time of year.

The psalmist found himself in a lonely place where he felt abandoned. His spirit was growing faint and he was…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

December 16
O Little Town of Bethlehem

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 141:1-10 | Micah 5:1-7:20 | Rev.7:1-17 | Proverbs 30:5-6

Today’s Scripture Focus: Micah 5-7

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2 NIV)

The gospel writers repeatedly stress that the story of Christmas—the birth of Jesus–was foretold in numerous passages by several Old Testament prophets. One of the most famous is the prophecy of Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times”
Micah 5:2 NIV.

In that simple prophecy, the fact…