Living with a Christlike Heart

Living with a Christlike Heart ARLENE PELLICANE “The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’” Acts 16:27-28 (NIV) It was a rare retreat I really wanted to attend. Healthy meals and exercise, plus chapel services and morning devotions. Focused on healthy living, nutrition and studying God’s Word, it sounded like a reset I needed. But there was a problem: It was five days long. That would be five days my husband James would need to watch our three kids and work, while I was relaxing (and occasionally sweating) in retreat mode. It seemed a lot to ask, but I decided to ask anyway. James said he would; he made the sacrifice so I could go refuel at the retreat. He chose to put me first and allow his calendar to be rearranged for my benefit. In the Bible, we find many stories of men and women sacrificing for someone else’s good, like Paul and Silas and the radically sacrificial choice they made in Acts 16. Ministering in the city of Philippi, Paul commanded a spirit of divination to depart from a fortune-telling slave. This woman brought tremendous profit, so her outraged masters seized Paul and Silas and reported them to the authorities. Paul and Silas were hastily beaten without a hearing, lashed with many stripes, and thrown in the inner prison. Yet in that stinky, filthy prison, with bruised and bloodied bodies, Paul and Silas sang praise to God at midnight. Praise! Acts 16:26 says suddenly there was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison. The prison doors flung open and every prisoner’s chains came loose. Can you imagine such a dramatic scene? Our key verse says, “The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’” Under Roman law, any guard who allowed a prisoner to escape was liable for the same penalty the prisoner received. If the prisoners escaped, the guard would be executed. When the jailer saw every person in the prison free from their chains, he figured his best option was to take his own life. As a prisoner, what would you have done? I might have interpreted that whole “earthquake, prison-doors-open” miracle as my cue to escape. But Paul doesn’t think about his own safety. He thinks of the jailer, and he shouts, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” This Christlike attitude stuns the jailer, who goes from trying to take his own life one moment to finding eternal life through Jesus Christ the next. The jailer immediately called for lights and rushed in, confirming none of the prisoners escaped. Then he fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Verse 30 says the jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas put the needs of the jailer ahead of their own. They didn’t run and escape to save their own skin; they stayed and shared the good news of Jesus Christ. God used them to bring salvation to the jailer and his whole household. When we put other people ahead of ourselves, considering their needs, hopes and dreams, we become more like Christ. It might be as small as watching someone’s kids or as big as giving money sacrificially or forgiving a spouse. In this selfie-driven, social media culture, life can easily revolve around me, myself and I. But in God’s Kingdom, the focus is “What can I do for you?” That’s exactly what Paul demonstrated when he chose to save the jailer’s life in Philippi. Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me eternal life as You gave the Philippian jailer. Help me be more like Paul and Silas, putting other people ahead of myself. May I recognize others’ needs and their cries for help, and may I say the right words to them today by the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. TRUTH FOR TODAY: Hebrews 13:16, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (NIV) Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Bringing Others to Jesus

Bringing Others to Jesus

By Dr. Charles Stanley

John 1:35-42

Andrew is the disciple known for bringing people to Jesus. Immediately after meeting the Lord, he introduced his brother Simon to the Messiah. Another time, when a great multitude was hungry, he found a boy with five loaves and two fishes and brought him to Jesus (John 6:8-9). When some Greeks wanted to meet Christ, Andrew and Philip made the introductions (12:20-22). This disciple never lost his enthusiasm for the Savior.

Andrew's own conversion experience motivated him to let others know about the One who'd changed his life (1:36-37). How about you--have you lost the joy of your salvation? If your Christian life has become stale and musty, it's time to remember what Christ has done for you and to ask that He restore your excitement.

In addition, Andrew longed to know the Savior and spend time with Him (vv. 38-39). The disciple's example is a good reminder that sweet fellowship with the Lord isn't supposed to end with devotional times. It should also stimulate a desire to share with others the joy we find in our relationship with Christ.

Finally, Andrew was motivated by his conviction that Jesus was the Messiah (v. 41). He'd found the answer for a lost and hurting world and wanted others to know.

When Andrew answered the call to discipleship, Jesus told him he'd be "catching men" instead of fish (Luke 5:10). Since we, too, are followers of Christ, we have this same assignment. Our styles and opportunities vary, but we're each responsible to develop a lifelong habit of bringing others to Jesus.

A Prayer to Soothe an Anxious Heart

A Prayer to Soothe an Anxious Heart
By Jennifer Heeren

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Feelings of worry and nervousness will inevitably pop up as you travel your life’s path. Things will happen that you don’t understand. You will be called to do something even when you don’t have a clue about the outcome. Anxiety will present itself to your uncertain mind. But you don’t have to live there. The answer to anxieties is to go to God as soon as you sense a worry. Don’t wait. Pray immediately and ask for His strength to carry you.

Philippians 4:6 has the first three steps to talk to God about your anxiety:

1. Pray about everything. Does it say only pray about the big problems? I know I have the tendency to try and muddle through in my own meager strength until I can’t go on anymore. But if I do what Philippians says and pray about everything, that really does include everything. God is strong enough to handle ALL my worries. Whereas, I often break from the pressure that I put on myself. 

2. Tell God what you need. Don’t use the excuse that He already knows. Of course, He knows already. He’s God. Actually, He knows even more than you do. I tend to get so caught up in my wants, that my real needs are often hidden from view. God may already know what I need but He wants me to always come to Him about everything. Even when I ramble on, He probably just smiles and listens and is glad that I felt comfortable talking with Him

3. Thank Him for all He has done (and will do). Gratefulness goes a long way to cover my anxieties. When I keep a long mental list of all that God has blessed me with, they often crowd out my anxieties. Also, I can keep a mental list of hopes and promises for my future, that also takes up the space that fears try to live. Doubts may seek to fill my mind but thoughts of comfort give me renewed hope and cheer (Psa 94:19).

Go straight to the psalms. The psalms are a great place to go when anxieties seek to overwhelm you. They often begin with a problem and a crying out to the Lord. Then they explain what they want. Finally, the Spirit within the author remembers the truths about just who God is and extreme comfort is the result. The situation may not go away but the attitude changes.

Bring your emotions; don’t hold back. In Psa 31, David comes to the Lord with tears blurring his eyes. He feels as if his body and soul are withering away. He feels sadness is shortening his years. His strength is gone. Like David, we should come to God with all our emotions showing. God knows about them anyway so why should I try to hold something back from him?

Remember that God is very near to you. Psalm 23:4 says that even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, when I remember that the Lord is close beside me. I can remind myself often of this fact that God is indeed very near to me. Then, I don’t have to worry about fighting off my enemies. I can simply let God be God.

Remember that the Lord is your light and salvation. Doubts, fears, and anxieties seek to surround me with darkness—so much that I can’t keep moving forward on my journey. This is Satan’s goal—to stop me from living out my faith in God. But God is my light always, especially when anxiety threatens to darken my path. With that much light all around me, why should I be afraid (Psa 27:1)?

Be desperate. Psalm 34:6 tells me that when I pray out of desperation, the Lord listens and saves me from all my troubles. I can be real and honest with him and I can come to Him like my life depends on it. Just like a parent runs to their child’s cries of distress, God will run to mine. And the more brokenhearted I am, the closer the Lord seems to me (Psa 34:18).

Remember that He is a Good, Good Father. God is indeed a Good Father. Like a mother eagle to her eaglets, God longs to cover you with His feathers and give you full refuge along with a warm place of safety to rest your head (Psa 91:2-4). God promises that He will rescue those who love and trust Him (Psa 91:14). He really does want the best for me and you.

Trust that He has overcome the world and its trials and troubles. Trials, and even sorrows are inevitable in this fallen world where evil so often appears to be winning. But I can have peace despite those troubles. I can take heart and have courage because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). And His Spirit lives within me so I am an overcomer too!

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” (Psa 27:8)

Pray with me:

Dear Lord, I thank you that I can come to You always for any reason. I’m grateful that when I pray to You, You answer me. Help me to come to You at the beginning of my fears and anxieties instead of waiting until I can’t stand them anymore. The quicker I come to You the better. You want to free me from ALL my fears. Help me look to You for help more often so that I can be radiant with Your joy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Video - A Partner For Accountability

1/2 Hour of God's Power with Scott Ralls
Lesson  for 9/29/19
A Partner For Accountability
By
 Dr. Charles Stanley

Heaven's Tribunal

Heaven's Tribunal
by Max Lucado

Some people will stand before God on the judgement day who didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him.  They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. They spent a lifetime dishonoring God and hurting his people. They mocked his name and made life miserable for their neighbors.

Even our judicial system forces no defense on the accused. The defendant is offered an advocate, but if he chooses to stand before the judge alone, the system permits it.  So does God.  He offers his Son as an advocate.  At the judgment Jesus will stand at the side of every person except those who refuse him.  When their deeds are read, heaven’s tribunal will hear nothing—but silence!  It’s a sobering truth in Acts 17:31, “The day is coming when God will judge the world.”

Video - When The Lord Calls, He Equips

1/2 Hour of God's Power with Scott Ralls
Lesson for 9/28/19
When The Lord Calls, He Equips
 By
 Jennifer Waddle 

How to Recognize and Defeat the Top 5 Professional Fears

• David Sanford

For more than 15 years I have had the privilege of getting to know and working with some of the most interesting and successful people in the world. You may be an entertainer taking home $35,000 per hour. You may be a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. You may be a Wall Street corporate merger guru.

And, not surprisingly, most (not all) successful individuals initially assume they are the exception: “Fear? Who me? No way.” The truth is that all of us would do well to understand, quickly recognize, and know how to defeat the top personal and professional fears.

“No fear” isn’t just a motto for the adventurous. It’s a way of life. I know all this, yet the other day I got hit with 1 of the 5 professional fears and responded 180 degrees opposite of what I know to do in such situations.

I still believe “No fear” is a way of life, but it’s an imperfect way. Every time we give into fear, we need to humbly acknowledge it, remind ourselves what to do next time, and then move toward that “next time” as quickly as possible.

It begins with a biblical understanding of who the God is and what He has to say about fear. It’s clear: He hates cowardice, but He also despises bravado. Let’s look at the top 5 professional fears:

1. The Fear of Silence

This fear is seen in our obsession with all things digital. Ironically, without silence, we can’t truly know ourselves, let alone tap into our amazing gifts of intuition, deduction, creativity, and more.

The fastest test? Ask a room full of people to put away all things electronic and all reading materials. Then have them stop all conversations and stop looking around. Then ask them to simply remain silent for 5 minutes.

Often, you will discover that waiting out those 5 minutes can be excruciating. Test yourself over and over until you can do it. Then move to 10 minutes. Then to 15 minutes.

If you master this in front of a room full of people, you’ll be well on your way to mastering it when you’re alone. In time, your natural gifts of intuition, deduction, and creativity will begin to take flight. Enjoy!

2. The Fear of Sharing

This fear walks us all the way back to grade school. In kindergarten, we freely and sometimes enthusiastically shared our artwork with the teacher, our classmates, and our family. By third or fourth grade, however, we lock in on the fact that our sharing isn’t always received the way we expected.

That’s okay when you’re a kid. Now, blink twice. You’re back in the real world. Don’t give into irrational fears (“a friend may steal my idea if I told her,” “a colleague might think it’s stupid”). The biggest and best ideas thrive in an atmosphere of camaraderie.

3. The Fear of Selling

This fear is seen in our reluctance to invite others to teach, mentor, assist, encourage, strengthen, and open doors for us.

I highly recommend Leaders Open Doors by Bill Treasurer. Without ever using the word “sell” or “selling” or “sales” or any version, Bill Treasurer takes his in-depth research, shows how it’s applied in his own life, and then invites you to do the same.

4. The Twin Fears of Rejection and Failure

These fears are well-known and covered extensively in other great Crosswalk articles here and here, so I’ll keep moving...

5. The Fear of Success

When I bring up this fear, people laugh almost every time. Yes, it sounds completely backward. Then again, that’s what fear does most of the time: It causes us to fight, flee, or freeze up. So, tell the truth: Do we want to be successful? If so, great! If not, what are our other options? I’ll take success any day. I hope you will too! 

So What Is God Calling Us to Do about Fear?

God wants us to live unchained by the fears that steal our hope and faith. Here are 3 biblical directives, backed up by Scriptures, to conquer your fears and thrive:

1. Fear the Lord Alone.

The Bible instructs us to fear the Lord, which is the beginning of true wisdom (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, and Ecclesiastes 12:13).

As Christians, we’re encouraged to fear the Lord and do what He says (Genesis 22:12, Deuteronomy 5:29, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 10:20, Psalm 122:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13, and Philippians 2:12).

2. Keep Trusting the Lord. Don’t Fear Anyone or Anything Else.

As Christians, we are to trust the Lord continually without wavering or doubting (1 Kings 18:21, Psalm 17:5, Psalm 26:1, Matthew 21:21, Mark 9:24, Romans 4:20-22, Hebrews 10:23, and Jude 1:21).

We trust the Lord by continually doing what is good and right (Genesis 22:1, Psalm 106:31, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Galatians 5:6, Philippians 1:25, Colossians 2:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, and James 2:14).

We trust the Lord so that we do not fear what others might to do (Joshua 5:1, 2 Chronicles 20:15, Nehemiah 4:14, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 8:13, Isaiah 40:9-11, Isaiah 41:10, and Matthew 10:28).

And we trust the Lord no matter what is happening (Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, 2 Timothy 2:3, Hebrews 10:35-36, James 1:3, James 5:11, 1 Peter 1:5-7, 1 Peter 5:8-11, and Revelation 2:10).

3. Take Courage in the Lord and Encourage Others.

Take courage in the Lord again today (Joshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 27:14, Haggai 2:4, John 16:33, and 1 John 5:5).

Encourage others to continue trusting the Lord (Numbers 14:6-9, Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:9, 1 Corinthians 16:13, and 1 Timothy 6:11-12).

Why not print and post this article to remind you to trust when you’re tempted to fear? Review it often. Remember you’ll give in to your fears from time to time. That’s okay. Just promise yourself that you’ll always get right back to doing what the Lord has called you to do.

The Blacksmith's Shop

The Blacksmith's Shop
by Max Lucado

In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools. There are tools on the junk pile:
outdated, broken, dull, rusty.

They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling.

There are tools on the anvil:
melted down, molten hot, moldable, changeable.

They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling.

There are tools of usefulness:
sharpened, primed, defined, mobile.

They lie ready in the blacksmith’s tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.

Some people lie useless:
lives broken, talents wasting, fires quenched, dreams dashed.

They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose.

Others lie on the anvil:
hearts open, hungry to change, wounds healing, visions clearing.

They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith’s hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called.

Others lie in their Master’s hands:
well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive.

They respond to their Master’s forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all.

We are all somewhere in the blacksmith’s shop. We are either on the scrap pile, in the Master’s hands on the anvil, or in the tool chest. (Some of us have been in all three.)

From the shelves to the workbench, from the water to the fire…I’m sure that somewhere you will see yourself.

Paul spoke of becoming “an instrument for noble purposes.” And what a becoming it is! The rubbish pile of broken tools, the anvil of recasting, the hands of the Master- it’s a simultaneously joyful and painful voyage.

And for you who make the journey—who leave the heap and enter the fire, dare to be pounded on God’s anvil, and doggedly seek to discover your own purpose—take courage, for you await the privilege of being called “God’s chosen instruments.”

How to End Well

How to End Well

By Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Many people think about the last years of life as an opportunity to just relax. But this does not align with God's purpose for us; He wants us to serve Him all the days of our lives.

Let's look at the apostle Paul's journey and explore what it means to finish well. He spent time pouring into others until the very end of his life. Consider the letters he wrote to Timothy from a prison cell prior to being executed. In every season of life, God calls us to serve others.

And notice how, when writing about his life, the apostle chose words descriptive of a battle. He understood the human struggle against sin as well as the challenges of pain and persecution in the trials we all face--even in doing kingdom work like preaching Christ to a fiercely resistant society.

This godly servant's life was also marked by surrender. His mindset is obvious in these words: "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Rom. 12:1). He was not afraid of Nero, nor was he struggling to stay alive. Paul trusted God to determine everything about his life, including where he would go, what he would do, and when he would die. Death did not scare him, because he knew he would dwell with Jesus forever.

God doesn't require our lives to be perfect in order to finish strong. We can live life fully and be ready to meet our Maker by surrendering, walking victoriously with Christ, and serving others. If Jesus called you home today, would you--like Paul--be confident that you lived well until the end?

3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness

3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness
By Jennifer Waddle

Worship is not only an expression of the soul to our loving Creator, it is also a choice. For in times of ease, we find it delightful to lift hands of praise. But in times of hardship, we struggle to even find the strength to worship.

As life sometimes takes on the form of barrenness, through empty womb or lonely heart, finding joy in the God of our salvation can be challenging. Rejoicing in the emptiness can feel counterintuitive, but it is the exact thing needed for the journey.

God is in the barrenness. We have to believe that, even when we don’t feel it. For without Him, there is no hope.

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

Here and now, in the midst of the “lonely,” the Lord is worthy to be praised. He is still on the throne and He is good. Above every situation, He remains steadfast and holy.

Do we believe that?

Here are 3 reasons to worship God in the barrenness.

1. God has a divine purpose for every season.

There is a foundational and divine purpose for everything we are allowed to go through in this life. That isn’t an easy truth to accept, but it is necessary for rising above the pain, enough to praise God through it.

Remember, the enemy wants to steal our praise. And in the midst of intense trial, he will pounce on our vulnerabilities and lie to us concerning God’s divine purpose. However, when we declare  that God is Sovereign over every situation, we can then look upward instead of inward, and worship Him in the barrenness.

To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

2. Jesus is our First Love.

I’m afraid it is part of human nature to love ourselves the most. Self-centeredness is a struggle for even the most serving of hearts. Especially when we face difficult seasons, our attention is quickly turned inward. Almost by default, we strive to make the “uncomfortable” go away.

Therefore, it is crucial to remember our “First Love” in times of barrenness. By loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we will still be able to worship no matter what comes.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 ESV

3. God will turn our mourning into dancing.

Barrenness is but a season, a painful time of yearning and wandering. But God is faithful. He is with us in it and He sees us through it. No matter how long the road seems, how dark the night is, there is joy in the morning. The Lord turns every sorrow into rejoicing and our mourning into dancing.

For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Choosing to worship in times of barrenness is a beautiful and sacrificial act of love and obedience to a worthy Creator. By loving Him with our whole heart, and knowing His divine purpose exceeds our current circumstances, we will indeed dance with joy again.

God is Present

God is Present
by Boyd Bailey, Author of Two Minutes In The Bible™ Through Psalms

There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous. Psalm 14:5

God is present in your predicament. You don’t have to pray, “God be with us”; He’s there already. He’s there because He cares. He’s there because you are extremely valuable to Him. God cherishes His children. He loves to give His own good gifts (Matthew 7:11). His presence alone is a present. He’s present to give wisdom. He’s present to give you direction. He’s present to give you courage. In His presence there is peace. He is ever present.

God’s presence is there to calm and convict us. His peace is what propels us forward by faith. Don’t give up on doing the right thing. Sinful compromise for short-term satisfaction never ends well. Why put your family at risk by running after forbidden fruit? God hasn’t left you. He doesn’t wink at wicked deeds. He’s right by your side to see you through this sinful temptation. Indeed the fruit of His presence is the fear of God. He reminds us to remain pure.

“How then could I [Joseph] do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

His presence is made manifest in a company of Christ followers. In community, the body of Christ is in full expression. Sin pushes us to seclusion. It’s an illusion to think we can isolate ourselves from Almighty God. But in authentic community there’s nowhere to hide. In the presence of committed Christ followers, we feed our faith. Don’t fight temptation alone. Tell someone. Stay engaged with the righteous. This is the presence of God personified.

Stay in the presence of God-fearing followers. This time of engagement with others facilitates our alone time with our heavenly Father. Stay hard after your heavenly Father in solitude and prayer. His presence is inviting you into intimacy. Design your life around a daily retreat into His presence. Look into His face and feel His love. In His presence He provides just what we need in the moment. Therefore persevere in prayer without ceasing. Be present in His presence!

“God is our refuge and strength, 
an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

A Prayer for the Redeemed

A Prayer for the Redeemed
By Beth Moore

“I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:22 (ESV)

I don’t think any prefix in the English Bible could be more beautiful than “re.” Two little letters that simply mean: “again.” God appears to have a particular affinity for “re” verbs. For instance, “return to me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44:22, ESV). It looks like He’d just turn His back on us when we turn our backs on Him, but He doesn’t. Instead He echoes throughout Scripture, “Return to me!”

Return. You’ll find that one “re” verb over 400 times in the Bible. But that’s not the only fabulous “re” verb in the Bible. Here’s a list of some of my favorites (with emphasis added in bold).

There’s renew: “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31a, ESV). And revive: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15b, ESV). And restore: “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3a, ESV). And repair. Oh, and rebuild and sometimes in the same verse: “In that day ‘I will restore David’s fallen shelter — I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins — and will rebuild it as it used to be’” (Amos 9:11, NIV). And replant: “I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it” (Ezekiel 36:36b, ESV).

Astonishingly, there appears to be no limit to what God will lovingly and lavishly redo and refresh for those simply willing to return and repent.

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:19-21, ESV).

Simon Peter is Exhibit A for those of us in Christ who could use a redo.

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’” (Luke 22:31-32, NKJV).

So, you blew it again? Been rejected again? Been broken again? Fallen in that trap again? Been foolish again? Faithless again? I know a Savior willing to put you back together again. Go back to Jesus. Yes, you get to return, because “re” is the most beautiful prefix in history.

Our all-glorious God and Father, we are awed by Your grace, patience and love. Thank You for the endless power of resurrection because of the cross of Christ. Apply it to us lavishly this day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.