Personal Devotions
Notes from Mark's personal Bible reading and meditation
With a goal to apply one truth from each day's reading to my life that day
Mar 6, 2026, 6:58 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 2
Meditation Verses: 2 Kings 24:2-4
Thought
It has not been that long since the northern kingdom was wiped out. How did all Judah not take warning? How could any king arise and not fear the Lord? Was it because of the confusing testimony of Josiah, who loved the Lord and cleansed the land and was killed by the king of Egypt?
Mar 5, 2026, 6:49 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 20-23
Meditation Verse: 23:25
Thought
With this statement, Scripture makes Josiah an example of what it means to love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. Josiah heard the words of the Law and was distraught, because he knew all Israel was in trouble. He sent messengers to ask the Lord for confirmation and perhaps direction on what to do to make things right.
Mar 4, 2026, 6:57 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 16-19
Meditation Verses: 19:25-28
Thought
The king of Assyria thinks he is great by his own wisdom and strength, but the Lord has been watching over him and using him to carry out His plans all along. Assyria didn't worship the Lord or know Him. They forgot Him long, long ago. But the Lord knows all the nations and uses them, one against the other, to rebuke and punish those who do evil.
Mar 3, 2026, 9:32 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 12-15
Meditation Verse: 13:23
Thought
Joash is one of the few kings of Israel that had something of a good relationship with God's prophets. He seems to have been on good terms with Elisha, and the Lord granted him some success as king. But Israel never turned away from Jeroboam's idols. Generation after generation, they provoked the Lord to anger.
Mar 2, 2026, 8:42 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 8-11
Meditation Verse: 8:18
Thought
The choice of a wife is very important, even in a culture where wives seem to have no voice. An unbelieving wife will entice or encourage her husband towards godlessness, a path he is already on if he chooses to marry an unbeliever. A God-hating wife will encourage her husband to abandon the Lord altogether, a path he is on if he chooses to marry such a woman.
Mar 1, 2026, 8:19 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 4-7
Meditation Verses: 7:18-20
Thought
It is not good to doubt the power or ability or word of the Lord. This officer questioned whether the Lord could bring about His promise to cause flour and barley to be sold so cheaply the next day. His doubt cost him his life, no chance to repent. That was it for him. He should have known who Elisha was, even if he didn't believe in the Lord.
Feb 28, 2026, 9:28 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 22 - 2 Kings 3
Meditation Verses: 2 Kings 2:2-3
Thought
Most men jump at the opportunity to break free of their leader. Everyone wants to lead rather than follow. Everyone wants to be in charge rather than submit to another. There does come a time in some men's lives when the Lord removes his head from over him and makes him his own head. It is not explicitly sin or wrong not to be submitted to another human authority.
Feb 27, 2025, 12:40 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 24 - 1 Chronicles 2
Meditation Verse: 2 Kings 24:20
Thought
Zedekiah and his brothers and their sons were all of a rebellious nature, despite having known and followed in the footsteps of Josiah. Some barely had any time to express it, two rebelled deliberately against Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over them.
Feb 25, 2025, 3:15 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 20-23 Meditation Verse: 23:3
Thought
Josiah didn't just say the right words, he zealously followed through with action, decisive and dramatic action.
Feb 24, 2025, 8:18 AM
Passage Read: 2 Kings 16-19
Meditation Verses: 19:32-34
Thought
The Lord defends Jerusalem by His own mighty power. Hezekiah has proven faithful and trusted in the Lord. He had no other hope of deliverance. He had tried to appease the king of Assyria with gold, but either that wasn't enough or else he couldn't maintain the tribute, and now the king was threatening to destroy Jerusalem.