January 24, 2018 START YOUR YEAR WITH FASTING, DAY 10: TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS. Pray for a true understanding of righteousness in your daily walk.

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1 January 24, 2018 START YOUR YEAR WITH FASTING, DAY 10: TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS Pray for a true understanding of righteousness in your daily walk.... Your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. (Is 58:8) In Jesus s time on earth, the most disciplined religious leaders were the scribes and Pharisees. They knew the Scriptures better than any other people of the time and followed the law very diligently. Yet they were missing the very core of what they were to do. Jesus was dealing with the same religious attitude in His day that God spoke through His prophet in Isaiah 58. That is why our Lord said, For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:20). Isaiah 58:8 shows us what true righteousness means. It is a result of daily practicing Isaiah 58:6-7, to set people free, to love and serve the hungry, poor, and those in need. Even today we can struggle with the same tendency to focus on religious acts to display our own righteousness. God is focusing more on the heart, not of what we do but who we truly are. Are we people who truly love God, not just do deeds so we look like we love God? Are we people who truly love others, and not just people who do deeds that look like we love others? Think of Jesus s reputation. Did He truly minister to people, care about them, feed them, set them free, love them, and meet their needs sacrificially? Did He consider others ahead of himself? What was the righteousness that went before Him? It was inner righteousness, the real thing and not for show. Can you think of an example of someone you know, someone whose righteousness goes before him or her? How do you feel when they walk into the room? People who exhibit this kind of righteousness tend to always speak kindly about other people, look to serve others above themselves, and are genuinely loving. If others who know you well are reading this devotion would they think of you as this type of example? What is the righteousness that goes before you? In your time seeking God today:

2 Read Matthew chapter 23. What similarities do you see in the Pharisees that relate to what God is addressing in Isaiah 58:1-8? In your prayer journal, list anyone you think is an example of having an Isaiah 58:8 righteous reputation that goes before him or her. Think about qualities that those people in your list have and why they made your list. Ask God to help you take stock in your life and show you the righteousness He cares about. Think about the difference between religious righteousness versus the Isaiah 58 righteousness. How does this apply to you personally? How do you think this applies to the Church as a whole? Finally, how does this apply to our nation? Spend some time to repent for any of these areas that you see a need (personally, the Church, and for our nation). Related Scripture: Matthew 5:20; Matthew 23 (all) IN CROWDED PRIMARIES, FIGHTS FOR PARTIES FUTURE Ask the Lord to give us fair and equitable candidates with a respect for God s law. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Is 41:10) The long-anticipated 2018 midterm elections are rapidly approaching a referendum on President Trump and the GOP majority, and a gauge of Americans expectations of government. But first the parties and their voters must chart a course through their nominating contests. Between March 6 in Texas and Sept. 18 in Massachusetts, thousands of contenders, Republican and Democrat, will compete at every level of elected office below the presidency for the chance to appear on the ballot in November. On the Republican side, contests will test the power of the establishment over a restless base, with conservative disrupters and donors seeking to upset the current balance of power within the party. Some races that give Republicans the best chance to pick up seats have become GOP mud fights, while in others, the threat of incumbent defeats could complicate the party s ability to retain its majorities in the fall. Democrats are mired in their own conflicts. How, if at all, should they campaign against Trump?... The outcome of these contests, a warm-up for a general election that will decide control of the House and Senate as well as statehouses, will help define the priorities and leaders of both parties in advance of the 2020 presidential campaign.

3 Several Republican races in Arizona, Nevada and an expected contest in Mississippi have become proxy fights for the battle between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and conservative activists, including former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon. Trump, meanwhile, has thrown his support behind incumbents such as Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), while also weighing into early primaries. The president s fierce criticism of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) helped force him into retirement, and Trump has publicly predicted that his longtime supporter Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) is going to win big in his competitive Senate primary in that state. Both parties are facing competitive primaries in the Midwest and South as well as in some of the largest swing states. In Florida, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) won Trump s backing in a gubernatorial primary against Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. A race that Republicans hoped could serve as a coronation for Putnam has been scrambled as Las Vegas Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, hedge fund heiress Rebekah Mercer and Wyoming investor Foster Friess piled in behind DeSantis. Republicans have argued that the candidate glut will end up hurting Democrats. In some of the districts won by Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, but represented by Republicans, Democrats are embroiled in pricey seven- or eight-way primaries. Democrats acknowledge that they re not clearing the field as they have in midterms past. (Excerpts from David Weigel and Michael Scherer's article in The Washington Post) TOWARD A BETTER 2018 Continue to pray for a positive impact from this year's March for Life. "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Gen 1:27) Tens of thousands of pro-life supporters descended on the nation s capital [last] Friday for the 45th annual March for Life hoping positive rhetoric leads to action to protect the unborn. This year s march marked the first time a sitting president has addressed the event live. President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence, delivered an uplifting message via a live-streamed video from the Rose Garden touting the administration s commitment to restrict abortion and protect the consciences of those who don t want to participate in the practice. A year ago, pro-life groups anticipated a historic season to advance pro-life policies with a friendly White House and a Congress sympathetic to their cause. Twelve months later, many agenda items remain on the to-do list, but that hasn t soured expectations for The March for Life is a movement born out of love, Trump said. We are with you all the way." Peg Howson, from Massachusetts, cheered as she watched Trump deliver his prepared remarks. She was a junior in high school when she attended the first march in 1974: It was much smaller back then, Howson said with a laugh.

4 That first March for Life started as a small demonstration to protest the Roe v. Wade decision and has grown into the largest annual pro-life event in the world. For many march attendees, the Trump administration has brought hope for 2018 and years to come a sharp turnaround from the previous White House. I was pro-life even before I even knew what it meant, Maureen Trettel from Boston claimed. She now volunteers in a crisis pregnancy center and said simply having a White House that acknowledges the prolife movement makes all the difference to raise awareness: The majority of this country is pro-life, and they just need to see more of the truth to shut down abortion. [Pastor Bill] Peters told me many of his evangelical friends turned their backs on Trump because of the president s brash style and colored past, but he s remained supportive for one reason: The proof is in what he does and not the sometimes awkward words that he uses. (Excerpts from Evan Wilt's article in WORLD Magazine) GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND THAT 'ALARMING' MEMO ON FISA ABUSES BE MADE PUBLIC Pray that the deeds done in darkness will be brought into the light. "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 Jn 1:5) A four-page memo circulating in Congress that reveals alleged United States government surveillance abuses is being described by lawmakers as shocking, troubling and alarming, with one congressman likening the details to KGB activity in Russia. Speaking with Fox News, the lawmakers said they could not yet discuss the contents of the memo they reviewed on Thursday after it was released to members by the House Intelligence Committee. But they say the memo should be immediately made public. It is so alarming the American people have to see this, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan said. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said he believed people could lose their jobs after the memo is released. I believe the consequence of its release will be major changes in people currently working at the FBI and the Department of Justice, he said, referencing DOJ officials Rod Rosenstein and Bruce Ohr. You think about, is this happening in America or is this the KGB? That's how alarming it is, Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry said. The House Intelligence Committee on Thursday approved a motion by New York Rep. Pete King to release the memo on abuses of FISA, or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to all House members. A source close to the matter said the memo details the Intelligence Committee s oversight work for the FBI and Justice, including the controversy over unmasking and FISA surveillance.

5 The vote Thursday morning on releasing the memo to lawmakers was along party lines, with Democrats voting against making it available for all members. On Thursday, the Senate voted to reauthorize a FISA provision that allows U.S. spy agencies to conduct surveillance on foreign targets abroad for six years. The bill, which already has been passed by the House, now heads to the White House, where President Donald Trump has said he will sign it into law. (Excerpts from Catherine Herridge article on Fox News)

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