Patrick Mahomes' hometown of Whitehouse cheered him on as he won the Super Bowl

Patrick Mahomes' hometown of Whitehouse cheered him on as he won the Super  Bowl 

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Video Bible Lesson - A Prayer to Remind You of Your Worth By Julie Sunne

A Prayer to Remind You of Your Worth

By Julie Sunne

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

2/3/2020

02/03/2020

A Prayer to Remind You of Your Worth
By Julie Sunne
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:14
For years, I had secretly thought that if I accomplished enough I’d be accepted and worthy. Each day I spent trying to please others by earning enough money, making a name for myself and providing for every need that crossed my path.
I believed I should be the greatest mom, the perfect wife, the best friend, the hardest worker, the one who had all the answers and cared enough to respond to everyone’s requests. I bought into the lie that success equals validation.
It was beginning to strangle me. Then the thought snuck in that my worth isn’t something to be found or earned, but it’s innate because of who God created me to be.
Each of us is created in the image of God — remarkably and wonderfully made. We don’t need to prove ourselves or earn our worth. And as today’s key verse reminds us, God’s works are wonderful. We already have worth in our Creator and Redeemer. That realization alone should give us peace as we live out who we are freely in Christ.
Who are you trying to prove your worth to? Today, embrace the truth that in Christ you are already worthy.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank You for fearfully and wonderfully creating each of us. Thank You for giving us worth in Your eyes. Help us live as the one You uniquely intended us to be. Help us abide instead of strive, living peacefully and joyfully as heirs to Your Kingdom and co-heirs with Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness (Mark 1:12).

It seemed a strange proof of Divine favor. "Immediately." Immediately after what? After the opened heavens and the dove-like peace and the voice of the Father's blessing, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." It is no abnormal experience.

Thou, too, hast passed through it, O my soul. Are not the times of thy deepest depression just the moments that follow thy loftiest flight? Yesterday thou wert soaring far in the firmament, and singing in the radiance of the morn; today thy wings are folded and thy song silent. At noon thou wert basking in the sunshine of a Father's smile; at eve thou art saying in the wilderness, "My way is hid from the Lord."

Nay, but, my soul, the very suddenness of the change is a proof that it is not revolutionary. Hast thou weighed the comfort of that word "immediately"? Why does it come so soon after the blessing? Just to show that it is the sequel to the blessing. God shines on thee to make thee fit for life's desert-places--for  its Gethsemanes, for its Calvaries. He lifts thee up that He may give thee strength to go further down; He illuminates thee that He may send thee into the night, that He may make thee a help to the helpless.

Not at all times art thou worthy of the wilderness; thou art only worthy of the wilderness after the splendors of Jordan. Nothing but the Son's vision can fit thee for the Spirit's burden; only the glory of the baptism can support the hunger of the desert.
--George Matheson

After benediction comes battle.

The time of testing that marks and mightily enriches a soul's spiritual career is no ordinary one, but a period when all hell seems let loose, a period when we realize our souls are brought into a net, when we know that God is permitting us to be in the devil's hand. But it is a period which always ends in certain triumph for those who have committed the keeping of their souls to Him, a period of marvelous "nevertheless afterward" of abundant usefulness, the sixty-fold that surely follows.
--Aphra White

The Throne of Grace, Dr. Charles Stanley

The Throne of Grace

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 4:14-16

Almighty God is righteous and just. Romans 3:23 tells us that all people have sinned and are inadequate to be in His presence. As a result of His wrath against sin, we were doomed to eternal separation from Him.

But thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. In His love and mercy, God sent His Son to walk among us. Jesus experienced the hardship and temptation common to all people, yet He never sinned. The Savior chose to die a gruesome death in our place, paying the penalty for our wrongs.

There is no deeper love, Scripture tells us, than a man who gives up his life for a friend (John 15:13). Jesus went even farther—dying for us while we were still His enemies (Rom. 5:10). In fact, He would have sacrificed Himself even if you were the only person ever to exist.

Promising forgiveness and eternal life, Christ asks sinful man to believe and follow Him. When we trust in Jesus, we are adopted as God’s children and receive His indwelling Spirit, who blesses abundantly with joy, peace, and guidance. Always welcome before the Throne of Grace, believers have access to converse with the Father at any time. He promises to hear and respond to our seeking, repentant hearts. And Jesus intercedes for us, praying on our behalf.

We don’t deserve the Lord’s invitation to have an intimate relationship with Him. Yet in His grace, He is loving and compassionate toward us. What a privilege to be able to approach the King’s throne, knowing He listens, understands, and cares. Rest in God’s love, and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him.

In the Middle of Hurry and Hustle

In the Middle of Hurry and Hustle
LYNN COWELL

“My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (NASB)

Each year, the beautiful new planner sits on my desk, a collection of blank pages ready to be filled. This calendar may seem silent, but don’t let it fool you. In reality, it is sending me messages, the same messages I’ve heard for years. Action leads to achievement, it whispers to my mind. You had better get moving; time is ticking by.

Much of my life, maybe like yours, has been dedicated to developing my talents and abilities,  increasing my capacity and getting it all done. As a young professional, my worth hung on the words of my employer — positive or negative. As a mom, I needed to hear I was doing a good job. In this new, empty-nest season I call “just us,” you would think this inner drive would slow down. But it doesn’t.

See, it’s not my surroundings that drive me. It comes from me, deep inside. My worth has been unable to survive on the daily grind of doing it all. There is too much beyond my control to make something so valuable hinge on something so volatile.

Maybe a new year does this to you, too? You hear the sounds of “hustle harder,” so you make all the goals, begin the new plans and start a fail-proof system. That has defined my January for many years.

Recently, I’ve started listening to a different voice and giving myself freedom, especially in the month of February. It’s a voice that has been there all along; I’d just failed to hear it. This voice speaks to me to set aside all the demanding expectations I feel and breathe a short prayer. It calls to me with calming words, directing me to be still with God.

Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (ESV). This voice is the Holy Spirit, the One who has been with me and in me since the day I said yes to Jesus, accepting His new life and giving Him mine. He calls me to quiet and to peace. He calls me away from hustle and hurry.

I’m learning not only to listen better to this still, peaceful voice, but also to remind myself throughout the day of the messages He sends me in His Word: “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him” (Psalm 62:5).

Stillness — it goes against much of what you’d think the list of goals and new planner stands for. Yet it is everything our soul longs for: peace, contentment and serenity. Now, I’m beginning to see a new way where both my work and peace can live together.

No matter how much hustle you hoped for in January, maybe this month you can make a shift and focus on God’s peace and stillness. Whether we hit our goals or not, let’s redefine our Februarys. God’s peace is still there for us, along with His love.

Oh, Jesus, thank You for calling to me to come and be still. It goes against not only the culture, but sometimes the voice inside of me. Help me to still my heart and come to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Exodus 14:14, “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (ESV)

Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (ESV)

A Prayer to Help You Forgive Others

A Prayer to Help You Forgive Others
 By Rick Warren

“We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us.” -Romans 6:6a, NCV

Romans 6:6 says, “We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us” (NCV). What does “our sinful selves would have no power over us” mean? It means our natural inclination is to do the wrong thing.

My natural inclination when you hurt me is to hurt you back. My natural inclination when you say something bad against me is say something bad against you and hold on to it and never forgive you. All of the things that I’m naturally inclined to do actually make it worse.

But we can break that bondage to bitterness, that bondage to guilt, that bondage to resentment, that bondage to worry. We can keep from becoming slaves to the past and hurtful memories. We can choose to forgive.

The cross has the power to free you from grudges and grief and resentment. There is no other way to let go of these emotions that are weighing you down than the cross. Jesus on the cross broke the power of sin and death and bondage in your life.

I want you to think of the person you need to forgive, the person whose offense planted a seed of bitterness in you, and I want you to pray this prayer right now:

Father, only you understand how much I’ve been hurt by this person. I don’t want to carry the pain for another second. I don’t want to be a bitter person. But I need your grace and the power of the cross to release my hurt and to forgive those who’ve hurt me. This is the turning point. First, I need to experience your forgiveness. You know all the ways I’ve hurt others, and I’m so sorry for my sins. Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I accept your grace and forgiveness, and I need it daily. Today I’m turning to you, and I’m choosing to forgive the way you have forgiven me. Every time the memory comes back, I’ll forgive that person again until the pain is gone. Heal my heart with your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How to Prepare for Your Future

How to Prepare for Your Future
by Lynette Kittle

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? --John 14:2

Are you worried about your future? If so, you’re not alone.

Cultural climate feeds on fear. The fear of missing out, of being left behind, of having nothing.

Yet, Jesus encourages you to “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).

You can take comfort in Jesus’ reassuring words of, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

God doesn’t want you to be living in fear, worried about tomorrow. Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31, 32).

Riches, positions, and possessions on earth are temporary, so accumulating stuff does not secure your future. The way to prepare for your future is explained in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Scripture explains how there will be a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13), and to look forward to it.

Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2).

Not only is Jesus preparing your place, He’s also coming back to pick you up stating, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).  

So even when things on earth pass away (Revelation 21:1) you will have a home.

Revelation 21:3 describes all you have to look forward in your future, stating, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelation 21:3).

The Apostle John describes your new residence in Revelation 21:2, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

Take comfort in knowing your future is already settled. So rather than letting earthly fear consume you, 1 Peter 3:14 encourages you to look forward to all God has for you by making every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him (1 Peter 3:14).