I know that God can do anything, anytime, anywhere. However my prayer life is often far too weak, and I fail to pray boldly. I build walls and boundaries to keep me safe, preventing me to even talk with someone that is far away from Christ. I’m assuming a person is distant from following Christ but I’m limiting my concern, love and investment in that person. May God change my practice and behavior!
“Christianity that isn’t supernatural is superficial.” - Leonard Ravenhill
Listening to many in the news and to a few I’m acquainted with can be demoralizing. Some days it is difficult to rise above the quagmire of confusion if I do not have the perspective that God is the King of kings and Lord of all things. He will bring true justice and fairness which might be quite different than what we think. He is the Creator and Sustainer, so why should I doubt His grace each day?
“Grace is God’s multifaceted resource of divine help that is yours because of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Where there’s divine help, there’s hope.” - Paul David Tripp
I’ve read that the most important part of a job interview is the first seven seconds. First impressions are made by a person’s nonverbal behavior, including tone of voice, facial expressions, eye contact, and hand shake. Post Covid behavior avoids much of that first impression building, taking much longer to develop the potential for a relationship. I’m learning and relearning the importance of focusing on the person to really get to know them, not just go with my first impression. I’m glad our Father accepts us just as we are rather than trivial impressions.
“You’re in spiritual trouble if in your view the people around you are way more in need of grace than you are.” - Paul David Tripp
I may be off base, but Joyce Meyer’s solution to keeping focus is somewhat lacking. It’s hard to be in depth with a short reflection but keeping my focus with today’s cultural issues takes more than a positive attitude. It’s more than trying harder or following a ritual. The fruits of the Spirit include peace, joy, and hope, which can happen instantly during an obedient decision or can develop as a process of seeking God no matter the circumstances. He is alive in us and we in Him, which is a process that is more than trying harder.
“Any power that you and I hold is God’s and has been given to us by Him for the sole purpose of glorifying Him and blessing others. Any time we use power to damage or use another in a way that dishonors God, we fail in our handling of the gift He has given.” - Diane Langberg
Not leaning on my own understanding is not my main method of operation. Surrendering and trusting Him in the worst of times comes faster than surrendering to Him on ordinary days. The daily frustrations and disappointments can accumulate and I fail to trust Him, remaining frustrated and disillusioned. Lord, help us to trust you in all situations, looking to You for wisdom and insight, that we may be filled with faith, hope, and love, being the light to others that they need.
“God longs for us to be fully alive, soaring into the sky and bearing witness to God’s good life that is available to us. But if we hope to be shaped and changed in this way of life, we must have a root system powerful enough to hold us together.” Excerpt, The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
In a perfect world, I may not get upset about a crisis or tough times. Anxiety today seems at an all time high, yet God has not left His throne. Our culture may be further away His reign failing to listen to His Word. I hope to get better at being a non anxious presence when the next tough time arrives. It will surely come, because we are not living in perfection yet. The more we can link arms, encouraging each other, praying boldly, the less anxiety we will feel, trusting Him for the outcome.
“Sinful humans do not turn into godly ones quickly. Our own lives attest to that. You cannot tell if repentance is genuine for a long, long time. If you think you can, you will have not only fooled yourself, but you will risk vulnerable people.” - Diane Langberg
I am my own worst critic and enemy. I allow myself to be discouraged, have doubts, and blame others for circumstances beyond anyone’s control. It’s like I the the world is all about me and circumstances should go my way. But such negative thinking gets me in downward spiral every time. When I look upward toward our Father, I’m less likely to look horizontal or inwardly. The more I praise and worship Him, the less I chase circles of defeat.
Wherever “you find yourself on the journey today, know that God is gracious. He knows we are from dust. Christ knows our weaknesses, as he was human himself. The Spirit resides in us to comfort and strengthen us. The body of Christ exists to be the presence of Jesus on earth. You are not alone. God has the power to redeem all things.” Excerpt, The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
I’m relearning in new ways that each day is a choice to look to our Lord for meaning and purpose. The more I dwell on what is wrong, the more negative I begin to think and feel. It is so easy to be disillusioned and disappointed in the world, especially when I compare myself to these standards. But each day when I feel discouragement creeping in, it’s important for me to pray my way through it, idk g a verse of two to move above the worldly turmoil. Even if you and I experience the worst crisis, the Lord is still near the broken hearted.
“You don’t get over something important. Your sufferings count. The goal is to find a way through it that comes out in good place." – David Powlison
Transformation and renewal of the mind is the reality / struggle of following Christ each day. My default is to conform to the world’s standards, not resisting the pull to be negative, blaming and shaming, living in defeat. But His grace and power enable me to be renewed and to live with a fresh start each day. I cannot change the past or control what lies ahead, but I can rely on Him to be renewed.
“When you, the people of God, live under the word of God, you discover the Spirit of God increasing your experience of the presence of God.” - Nicky Gumbel
Jesus is the King of Kings, not an elected leader. He used the term kingdom a lot and indicated that His reign is much different than any government or leader. His Kingdom will last forever and He invites every person to accept His Reign as the Authoritative rule of the heart. I used to think that these words were poetic or illustrative of a perfect world. But I’m learning that His rule can be and should be the absolute reign of our lives. It’s a battle each day to live in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, which changes everything about us.
“Throughout His ministry, Jesus spent a lot of time describing that kingdom. He told His followers not to waste their time worrying about what they would eat, drink, or wear but to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (6:33). He declared, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough” (13:33). He meant the kingdom has a way of spreading within cultures. It grows. And Jesus taught Nicodemus, the teacher, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3).” - Excerpt, At the Table with Jesus by Louie Giglio
Our redemption has been complete. We have been bought and paid in full from the slave market of sin, set free to live in Christ. I’m relearning this all the time as my core default is to think like a slave trader or slave victim in sin, trying to break free. But as I set my mind on the things above, rather than on the things of earth, I’m more resolved to experience His grace and mercy, not the frustration and disillusion of loving for my self made idols. Each day is a new choice to live in Christ.
“Jesus takes away the sin of the world in general, yes, but He takes away your sin specifically. All of it. When you join Him at the table of your heart, you can offer up everything you’ve ever done that’s wrong or shortsighted or violent or sneaky or deceptive or bitter or mean-spirited or egotistical. You can offer everything, and He will take it. And you’ll be clean.” - Excerpt, At the Table with Jesus by Louie Giglio
The Lordship of Jesus is no small thing. This theme in the Bible is hard to grasp when we live in a world that revolves around ourselves. The selfie picture is a perfect description of today and our indifference to Jesus as Lord over all aspects of life. The pain or suffering we endure in our lives will be forgotten we we see the fullness of His Lordship. Let’s pray that we catch a glimpse of who Jesus really is as we live each day.
“No one celebrates the presence and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ more than the person who has embraced his desperate and daily need of it.” - Paul David Tripp, Dangerous Calling
The more you and I study Scripture and pray our way through life, the better glimpse we have of who Jesus really is. He is more than we ever thought He could be and He is more than we could ever imagine. Our lives are not really about us, but about Him and His plans from the very beginning. Our lives are preparing us for a future yet to be shown, and a fulfillment that is beyond any joy we can have in this life. It’s astounding how I can trifle away my time and not worship Him for who He is, the Great I Am.
“If only we knew what was happening when we pray, we would never cease to pray.” - Louie Giglio
Our culture hardly ever uses the word sin. Violence, division, inequality, addiction, or crime are each explained away as an economic, environmental, or genetic issue. I can look back on my own life and describe patterns that I’ve tried to adopt or avoid. But my sinful core is hardly addressed in any public debate or discussion. Scripture is clear that the core problem is our sin. I need, we all need a Savior. I need, we need to surrender ourselves to Him and live for Him.
“It’s worth chewing on the truth of Jesus’ divinity for a few moments. Jesus is not just an ambassador for God. Jesus is not just part of God. Jesus is not just someone who lived a good life and taught some helpful things and deserves to be remembered favorably by history because He helped us find a better understanding of God.
No, Jesus is God.” - Excerpt, At the Table with Jesus, by Louie Giglio
Our culture minimizes the fact that Jesus is God bee rationalize or explain all things to environmental, genetic, or chemical causes. Survival of the fit means we should strive for power, possessions, influence, and manipulation. Advertising, marketing schemes convince us that we need flash, glitz, and the stage to make a difference. But if Jesus is God, the One who created all things, our identity and purpose becomes revolutionary and counter cultural.
It’s worth chewing on the truth of Jesus’ divinity for a few moments. Jesus is not just an ambassador for God. Jesus is not just part of God. Jesus is not just someone who lived a good life and taught some helpful things and deserves to be remembered favorably by history because He helped us find a better understanding of God.
No, Jesus is God.” - Excerpt, At the Table with Jesus, by Louie Giglio
I like my comfort zone and usually do not step out in faith, much to my shame. But God nudges me when I’m listening to move, to follow through, or to courageously say something that might help. I’m often praying that I do not stick my foot in my mouth, or get ahead of where God wants me to be. But most times, I’m hesitant to be adventurous, to think outside my box, or reach out. When I do, what a fulfillment of purpose that is felt. Wiersbe’s insight (below) captures the wisdom of stepping out in faith, yet being respectful to what others have learned and being willing to put time and study into moving in the right direction
“Four Lessons on Life 1. Never take down a fence until you know why it was put up. 2. If you get too far ahead of the army, your soldiers may mistake you for the enemy. 3. Don't complain about the bottom rungs of the ladder; they helped to get you higher. 4. If you want to enjoy the rainbow, be prepared to endure the storm.” - Warren W. Wiersbe
I’m sure each of us has had times when the walls seemed to be closing in or when there seemed to be no option but to run or get on our knees and pray. Our faith has to be tested for strength because life will absolutely throw us curve balls, and storms will happen. I’m hoping to always remember to wonder and expect what God will do with this crisis or predicament. What will He accomplish? How will He be honored through this? What wisdom is He teaching?
“If you are going to live by faith, then expect your faith to be tested. A faith that can't be tested can't be trusted.” - Warren W. Wiersbe
There are so many issues that make me think that I’m the prodigal or the prodigal’s brother. I wander away from my Father seeking my own delusions but He takes me back. I get frustrated, angry, and disillusioned when I see someone who has the right words to say but they continue to live in their sin or self made kingdom. But my Father takes me back, restores fellowship, and shows me glimpses of His kingdom. He reminds me how foolish I am to seek anything other than Him. He reminds me how foolish it is to set up people to be the standard of behavior.
If you look to others you will be distracted; if you look to yourselves you will be discouraged; but if you look to Christ you'll be delighted.
I often remind myself of past mistakes, blunders, and the feeling of not measuring up. Guilt and shame often plague my thinking which lead to doubting God’s goodness and love. Sin has a lot far reaching consequences. But I’m learning how much I’ve wanted to build my own reputation rather than focus on God’s kingdom. Even though I have said all the right words, I secretly was working for my own kingdom.
“Our lives are lived well only when they are lived on the terms of their creation, with God loving and us being loved, with God making and us being made, with God revealing and us understanding, with God commanding and us responding.” - Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
The past two years have been full of disappointments and setbacks. At least that’s one way to look at a global pandemic, divisive political talk, health issues, and loss of friends. Accumulating hundreds of disappointments over a short period of time can leave a person with grief and trauma like consequences. But I’m relearning that my faith does not rest on circumstances or how many good things happen. It rests on the Man of Sorrows who is our Creator and King who gives grace and strength when our endurance seems at an all time low.
Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions. It is not compelled to work away at keeping up appearances with a bogus spirituality. It is the opposite of desperate and panicky manipulations, of scurrying and worrying.
And hoping is not dreaming. It is not spinning an illusion or fantasy to protect us from our boredom or our pain. It means a confident, alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do. It is imagination put in the harness of faith. It is a willingness to let God do it his way and in his time. It is the opposite of making plans that we demand that God put into effect, telling him both how and when to do it. That is not hoping in God but bullying God. "I pray to GOD-my life a prayer-and wait for what he'll say and do. My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.
There is so much wisdom in today’a comments. God loves you and me far more than we can grasp and we are made for a purpose, on purpose. Asking God to give us a deep abiding love for His Word is a bold move in the right direction, totally trusting God for the future. These insights transform our identities away from any cultural goal or delusions of our own kingdom building. We become all about Him because He is all about building His kingdom now and for the future.
“His grace must be in the heart before His praise can be on the lips.” - Warren Wiersbe
“It’s his grace that keeps you in the faith, not your faith that keeps you in his grace. That’s spectacular news.” - Matthew Smethurst
“Jesus loves us more than we know, understand, and believe. The devil hates us and wants us to be preoccupied with people, not Jesus. We have a Jesus-shaped hunger/hole/vacuum in us NO human can satisfy. Let's choose Jesus’ love over the devil’s hate.” - David Cassidy
Max Lucado states: “David sees the giant; he just sees God more so: "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel" (1 Sam 17:45). Rush your giant with a God-saturated soul.” There are plenty of giant looking issues all around us. I now that God is bigger than all of them put together but I’m weak emotionally to charge ahead with my words and actions. May God give us wisdom to walk humbly, demonstrating love, justice, and kindness.
How many of us live our lives as if we were on automatic pilot, not reflecting on many of the decisions we make throughout each day. I know I fail to pray as I plan, even though I may have good intentions. But the verses cited today clearly indicate how God desires to lead and provide. Let’s pray that we will be the watered garden producing a crop that honors our Lord.
“And yet I decide, every day, to set aside what I can do best and attempt what I do very clumsily--open myself to the frustrations and failures of loving, daring to believe that failing in love is better than succeeding in pride.” - Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
When I Wed direction and help, most of the time I do not even realize my predicament. I’m so into myself that I do not pray or reflect on my needs. I often worry about my reputation and appearance than glorifying my Lord. Not that I’m going to go in a wrong direction or commit an overt public sin, but I don’t consider that God May as me to do something outside the box. He may be up to something subversive or countercultural and I could easily miss an opportunity as I remain in my self righteous or self justification mode.
“Some of us try desperately to hold on to ourselves, to live for ourselves. We look so bedraggled and pathetic doing it, hanging on to the dead branch of a bank account for dear life, afraid to risk ourselves on the untried wings of giving. We don’t think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, and the longer we wait the less time we have for the soaring and swooping life of grace.” - Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the Horses
I often am not focusing on God’s presence or leading. My mode of operation is self sufficiency until I run into a brick wall or am face to face with my weakness and fragility. Like the devotional indicated, it’s like being lost in a city and realizing that maybe I’d better turn on the GPS. I think the pandemic has shaken us into realizing that much of life is beyond our control. The stabilizing forces in culture may not be so stabilizing after all. But talking my life details out with the Lord helps, asking Him to lead and give me wisdom is a huge step in the right direction.
“Scripture is not the answer book to all of our problems but a doorway into the world of God’s mystery. And one of the mysteries of this life is that God isn’t interested in solving all our problems in the ways we think they should be solved. “ - Eugene Peterson
Todays advice is so helpful but I seem to make worry much more than worrying about paying bills, filling the car with gas, or getting high priced groceries. I want to be in control of what I cannot control: health issues, others’ spiritual well being, anger in some family members, or evil influences on those who are close. In addition, I add politics, victims of war, madmen who shoot the innocent or terrible car drivers. So much of what we live with cannot be grasped by the human mind my only option is to trust in our Creator and King.
“The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day.” - E.M. Bounds
Many times my prayers have been far too shallow and short lived. Other times it’s been a battle to put into words what the struggle is. Today’s devotional inspires me to go to war with prayer. Endurance and perseverance are needed as never before with so many needs at the door step. Not praying is like sticking my head in the sand, thinking that I’m merely going through a short phase or the movie will be over soon. God is work g and we need to lay all concerns, worries, and needs before Him.
“Praying gives sense, brings wisdom, and broadens and strengthens the mind. The prayer closet is a perfect schoolteacher and schoolhouse for the preacher. Thought is not only brightened and clarified in prayer, but thought is born in prayer.” - E.M. Bounds
Every day is a battle between my self sufficient kingdom building and surrendering to God’s Kingdom. My delusions include wanting go live up to cultural standards, wanting to be liked, or avoiding discomfort. I’m often scared to step out and be all in. May God break down my resistance and build His love in me.
“Lord, burn eternity into my eyeballs.” - Joseph Bayly
Waiting for God to change a situation takes enormous patience, especially when we see suffering and trauma happening. Seeing those who are trying to live their lives as Christ followers, yet going through horrendous issues is hard to understand. I’m reminded that I’m not in control and cannot see the big picture nor what God is doing beyond eye sight or human understanding. I wonder if those who endure the trauma yet trust in our Father will receive greater eternal reward than mere understanding or earthly comfort
“If everybody believed as Job believed—that God does not always punish the wicked and reward the godly—then what motive would people have for obeying God? Religion would not be worth it! But this is the Devil’s theology, the very thing that God was using Job to refute! If people serve God only for what they get out of it, then they are not serving God at all; they are only serving themselves by making God their servant. Their “religion” is only a pious system for promoting selfishness and not for glorifying God.” - Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Patient
