This verse is a great reminder that we are truly all on the same playing field. Whether we walk with God on a daily basis or we have lived a life away from God, we are all the same in His eyes. This brings humbleness to people that have walked with God most of their lives and great hope to those that have lived a life away from Him.

Questions for further thought:
1. Honestly, have there been moments in your life that you have thought of yourself as “better” than others?

2. In what ways have you grown past this feeling or are you still working on it?

Challenge: At Hillcrest we strive to be a welcoming place for people regardless of where they are in their faith. We do a good job but can always be better. Be on the lookout for ways you can make others feel welcome no matter where they are on their faith walk.

Paul says not to worry about anything and instead pray about everything.  Easier said than done?!  But here’s the catch: tell God what you need.  You and I can’t control this virus or its consequences, from lost work to staying home.  But we can control what we do, and one thing we can do is pray.  Tell God what we need.  Be bold and don’t sugar coat it.  God’s answer to our prayer might differ from what we want, but we can expect to receive His peace.

What do you need from God today?

What can you thank God for today?

Challenge: Boldly tell God what you need.  Write it down and also write down what you’re thanking God for today.  

Seinfeld fans hopefully get the reference!  But before the serenity prayer and pop culture jokes, there was the Apostle Paul telling us to put on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  You and I need these ‘garments’ today and in the days to come.  We’ll need to let more stuff go and extend much more grace to our family, to our roommates, to people online.  

Which of the ‘garments’ from Colossians 3:12 do you need to put on today?

​Challenge: Let more stuff go today.  Don’t parent or over correct the annoying thing your kid is doing.  Don’t get into a rabbit hole with a Facebook friend over a conspiracy theory.  With God’s power, extend grace, mercy, patience, etc to all you can today.

While these times can be scary and uncertain, this is no time to hide.  Nurses, doctors and medical people: let your light shine.  Grocery store workers and delivery drivers: let your light shine.  Volunteers for food drives and distributions: let your light shine.  Teachers, students, parents, caregivers, everyone: let your light shine.

How can you let your light shine today?

Challenge: Do one thing to let your light shine.  Call a friend.  Text a coworker. Deliver necessities to a shut-in.  Pray with your family.  Do something today to let your light shine and offer hope.

​The psalmist is real here: doubts filled his mind.  Doubts have filled mine and doubts likely have filled yours.  It’s tempting to think doubt is bad or even sinful, but it’s not.  It’s normal.  And there will be times when doubt will fill your mind multiple times throughout a day!  The psalmist also offers that God’s comfort gives us renewed hope and cheer. When the doubts come, remember the truth of God’s comfort.

What doubts do you have today?

How can God give you hope and cheer in the midst of these doubts?

​Challenge: Memorize Psalm 94:19 and say it out loud whenever doubts enter your mind.

We want deadlines for our struggles and trials.  We want to see proverbial lights at the end of tunnels.  We want to know when the danger is going to pass us by.  Here the psalmist exclaims that he will hide beneath the shadow of God’s wings until the danger passes by, whenever that may be.

What’s does “hiding beneath God’s wings” mean to you?

How has God protected you from previous dangers?

​Challenge: Write down or talk to someone about all you can be thankful for during this time.  Try this practice each day to remind you of everything God has provided for you.

Immediately after Jesus tells a parable about a manager being shrewd with his wealth, He begins teaching the disciples. It seems Jesus wants to make a point about the faithfulness involved in stewarding wealth. God and wealth cannot be served together, you will choose one and reject the other, so the better option is to serve one with the other! May not your love of money lead you to serve wealth, but may your love for God lead you to use wealth to serve His Kingdom.

Questions for further thought:
1. In what ways are you serving God’s Kingdom?

2. What are some ways that you serve wealth? 

3. What are ways that you serve God?

Challenge: Find a way to use your things (money, materials, etc.) to bless someone who needs to hear about God’s love today.

God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and his plan for our salvation is worth more than any of the greatest wealth on this earth. Wealth won’t buy any of us eternity in Heaven, The Blood of Jesus has paid the price for that. How sweet a gift that is. Because of who God is, you can rest knowing that contentment comes in Him, not in anything else.

Questions for further thought:
1. What is comforting about these two verses?

2. How have you found contentment in the Lord lately?

Challenge: Make a list of all the things you know about God’s character, then give Him thanks and praise for who he is.

God is faithful in his covenant to Israel that He made in Genesis. Because this speaks to God’s glory, Moses wants to remind his audience to not be prideful about their wealth, for everything they have was God’s first. Moses’ plea to his audience is this: to glorify God with the wealth He has allowed you to receive, whatever that wealth may look like.

Questions for further thought:
1. In what ways have you been prideful about your wealth?

2. How can you use your material wealth to give God glory?

Challenge: Look for opportunities to use your possessions in ways that remind you of the Creator. 

The teacher in Ecclesiastes says the wealth is not worth losing sleep over in the context of understanding the meaning of life. Wealth is meant to be enjoyed as a gift from God. Wealth ought to be seen as God’s good gift to those who are faithful in labor. May the things you have received from the work of your hands remind you of the joy found in the Lord.

Questions for further thought:
1. What are ways that you can faithfully enjoy what you have?

2. How does wealth bring us into closer relationship with God?

Challenge: Spend some time thanking God for the material things you have been able to enjoy as a product of your labor.