God Is Sovereign over Delays..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 God Is Sovereign over Delays

Dr. Charles Stanley

Proverbs 16:9

No one likes to wait, but have you ever wondered why? It's because delays show us that we are not in control. Someone or something else is calling the shots. Although we may be able to identify the immediate cause--like a traffic light or the long checkout line--ultimately the One who controls all our delays is the Lord. Since He is sovereign over everything in heaven and on earth, even our time and schedules are in His hands.

This means that in every delay, we are actually waiting for God in one way or another. You might have thought that the expression "waiting upon the Lord" applies only to seeking guidance from Him or an answer to prayer. But it can mean so much more when you remember that He controls all your day-to-day inconveniences and frustrations.

In the Christian life, learning to wait is vitally important because until you do, you'll never be able to walk in obedience to God, have an effective prayer life, or experience the peace of resting in His loving sovereignty. We must learn to trust His judgment--about not just the big events in our lives, but also the trivial ones which cause us to become irritated, impatient, or even angry. If we're sensitive to His instruction, each delay has a lesson.

The next time you face an unexpected or unwanted wait, remember that it comes as no surprise to God. He wants to teach you patience and increase your faith. He's more interested in developing godly character than He is in making sure your schedule runs according to your plans.

God Promises Freedom.....Craig Denison

God Promises Freedom

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

There is only one constant in this ever-changing world, and that’s the character of our heavenly Father. The very earth itself is undergoing changes constantly. What seems the most immovable now will one day be done away with. But God is unchanging. God is unwavering. He’s completely faithful and committed to seeing through the promises he’s made you. As we look this week at the promises of God may you ground yourself in his unchanging love. May God’s character become your source and refuge—your constant and unshakable foundation.

Scripture:“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Devotional:

Freedom is an idea we spend most of our lives striving to experience. The bonds of slavery to the world in any fashion choke out our ability to thrive and enjoy life. We as a culture celebrate monumental events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the global civil rights movement because we know freedom to be necessary for a life to be lived to its fullest. We fight for the freedom of those held in captivity. We advocate for those silenced by the bonds of slavery. And Scripture makes it clear that God is no different.

One of the most pervasive themes in Scripture is freedom. Its pages are filled with stories of God delivering his people from the bondage of slavery. Jesus himself freed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. God shut up the mouths of lions to free Daniel. And we see God deliver the entire nation of Israel from slavery under the Egyptians through an onslaught of plagues. The Bible is clear that God works constantly to deliver his children from the yoke of slavery.

The Bible contains stories of God’s deliverance from not only physical slavery but spiritual slavery as well. Romans 6:17-18 says, “Thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” And later Paul writes in Romans 8:1-4, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” And in Galatians 5:1, Paul writes, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Jesus in John 8:36 states, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Scripture is explicit that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we as believers have been set free from the bondage of sin. Sin is no longer our master. The bonds to sin that entangled you to the consequences of separation from God were sacrificially broken by the blood of your Savior. You see, in the death of Jesus, God made to you his promise of freedom. He’s promised that you no longer have to live life as a slave to sin. You now have available to you a life lived in the joy and power of righteousness.

God’s promised you his freedom, now all that’s required is for you to live in light of what God has already done for you. Cut off ties to your former life. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:22-24, “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Clothe yourself every day in the knowledge of who you are in Christ. Choose to live in freedom instead of sin. When you feel the tug back to your former ways, take a minute and ask the Spirit to guide you away from your former life. God’s promised you his freedom. He’s worked his miracle of freedom in you at salvation. You have been made new.Now live in response to God’s incredible work by pursuing a life lived in righteousness. Spend time in God’s presence allowing his truth and love to mold and shape you into the likeness of the very one who’s saved you.

Guided Prayer:         

1. Meditate on God’s promise of your freedom from sin.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

2. Now reflect on areas of your own life in which you need to experience God’s promise of freedom. Where do you feel chained to the world? What sin seems to plague you?

3. Renew your mind to the truth of what God’s word says about that area. Declare the freedom Christ paid for in your life. Spend some time really thinking about God’s power over your sin. Go to war with the enemy using God’s truth as your weapon.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“Thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:17-18

Follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit today as he directs you away from sin. The enemy is driven to draw you back into the sin that entangled you, but “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The victory is already yours. Jesus has won your freedom. The battle now is for your mind. Maintain victory over that area through the power of God’s word, and the sin that seemed to be habitual will no longer have a hold over you.

Extended Reading: Romans 6–8. (These are all meant to be read together. For a full understanding read all three chapters in one sitting.)

In the Crumbling, Christ is the Constant..... JASMINE WILLIAMS

 In the Crumbling, Christ is the Constant

JASMINE WILLIAMS

“He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 (CSB)

Add it to the list, I said to myself, making yet another note of something that needed my attention. Somewhere after “study the Bible more” and “read to the kids,” I added another item: “Eat more vegetables.”

Before putting the list away, I thought of something else: “Work on being a better listener.”

Perhaps the saying is true that we’re our own worst critics, but despite how hard I try, sometimes it feels like every area is sort of falling apart.

Sitting there in what was supposed to be a moment of self-reflection, my attempt at fixing things turned into shame and discouragement. I was reminded of everything I’m not doing well, everything I had said I’d do for months — who am I kidding, for years now.

Sinking into a bout of self-pity, I needed to remember the light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how gloomy things feel or how badly I believe I’m doing, Jesus is there, ever bright, ever loving.

It’s during those moments when we seem to be failing at all the important things, that we need to take our eyes off of us and put them on Christ. He’s still good.

He’s our constant.

When I only look at what I’m not, the entrapment of my perceived failures keeps me focused on the shadows in the tunnel instead of seeing His hope-filled light. Sometimes the way out is merely a perspective change. I can beat myself up about too many French fries and not enough quality time, or I can look to Jesus, letting His light pierce through my dark moment and guide me closer to Him.

Colossians 1:17 tells us, “He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.”

That includes me! I may be struggling to hold things together, but the Lover of my soul holds all things together.

When we commit to Him our victories, our failures and our efforts that land somewhere in the middle, He holds them together.

The verse says He’s before all things. Jesus knew our struggles long before we knew them, and He’s rooting for us to see beyond those struggles and look to Him. If we take our gaze off of all that we’re not, we can embrace who He says we are.

Though we may need to work on our friendships, Jesus says we’re His friends. (John 15:15)

When we feel disconnected and inadequate, He says we’re branches of the true vine, able to bear fruit in Him. (John 15:1, 5)

While we’re being hard on ourselves and sparing all grace, Christ says there’s no condemnation for those in Him. (Romans 8:1)

There are times when it feels like everything is either falling apart or, at best, an extremely long work in progress. Even then, though, Jesus is solid, and He offers strength that will carry us through.

He’s our constant.

I don’t have to have it all together. I just have to know the One who does. He’s there whether I’m checking all the boxes or barely making it along. I know He wants me to be a better friend, wife, mom and servant, but I’ll only become better by looking toward the Light, the Refiner.

See, when I make my struggles all about me, it becomes harder and harder to pull myself out. But when I connect my unmet desires to His desires for me, I gain strength to keep pushing. He wants us to succeed!

There will be more days when I wonder, Am I being a good friend? Am I giving enough? The answer may very well be “no,” but you know what? I can praise God that He gives me a mind to even care about those things. I can look to Him with a soft heart and let His Word show me how to get to where I need to be.

When we become better for those around us and can say Jesus is the reason, He gets the glory, and our struggle is not in vain.

Lord, help me to see that Your greatness outweighs my shortcomings, and You’re right here with me as I grow to become more like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (CSB)

Never Give Up through Unanswered Prayers..... By: Lynette Kittle

 Never Give Up through Unanswered Prayers

By: Lynette Kittle

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. - Luke 18:1

Some believe if you ask God once, you don’t need to ask Him again. However, Jesus taught His disciples to always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1).

In one of His parables on prayer, Jesus proposed what you might do if a friend comes to you in the middle of the night seeking food for an unexpected guest. You might be tempted to tell him to go away because it’s late, and you and your family are in bed.

However, because he’s your friend and has so boldly approached and asked you for help, you most likely will get up and give him all He needs (Luke 11:5-8).

In summing it up, Jesus said, “So I say to you; Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; know and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11: 9,10).

Jesus tells in another parable of a godless judge’s dealings with a widow who refused to accept his unwillingness to grant her justice from her adversary. After relentlessly pursuing the judge with her case, he gave into her merely because she refused to give up.

To His followers, Jesus reassures that if an unjust judge who doesn’t fear God will bring about justice to a widow simply because she kept bothering him, how much more will God do for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night (Luke 18:2-8).

Jesus also urges in Matthew 7:7 to, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

So instead of seeing unanswered prayer as a reason to stop praying, view it as a motivator to not ever give up. As Thessalonians 5:17 encourages, “Pray continually.”

Keep Praying!

If you’ve been struggling with unanswered prayer, find comfort in knowing God has not forgotten you.

So instead of withdrawing from Him when it seems like He isn’t answering, consider what He might be teaching you during these times, knowing as you draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to you (James 4:8).

Kill Me Now..... by Shawn McEvoy

 Kill Me Now

by Shawn McEvoy

If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now -- if I have found favor in your eyes -- and do not let me face my own ruin." - Numbers 11:15

...while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die."I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."- 1 Kings 19:4

Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live. - Jonah 4:3

What kind of person feels like this? A schmo like me, at times, sure. Maybe you, or people you know. Surely not the heroes of the Old Testament.

Well, truth is, even God's greatest leaders and prophets got to the point in their respective stories where, even after witnessing indescribable miracles and blessings, their circumstances were so overwhelming, impossible and undesirable their attitude was, "Just kill me now, Lord!" Exhausted in body, soul, and spirit, they cried out that they had had enough. They could go no longer in their own power.

The first quote above is from Moses, who had a People Problem. The wandering Israelites were hungry, and as usual, it fell to Moses to solve the problem. He cried out to the Lord, "Was it I who conceived these people? Was it I who brought them forth?" He looked around and couldn't figure out how to satisfy everyone.

The second quote is from Elijah, who had a Pity Problem. This was a prophet who had just called down fire from heaven, destroyed the prophets of Baal, and witnessed the end of a long drought. But just a few verses later, one vow from one wicked queen has him in such despair that he fears he can't go on like this.

The third quote is from Jonah, who had a Pouting Problem. He'd finally obeyed to the point of going to Nineveh and preaching repentance, but when the Lord relented and stayed his hand rather than destroying the city, Jonah wasn't happy. He folded his hands and "became angry" that the destruction he forecast never arrived.

Consider who these men were and what they had seen, what the Lord had done through them. Moses parted the Red Sea and led a people out of slavery. Elijah stood strong during a time of tremendous pagan influence, prayed down fire and rain, and actually never died (so chalk up at least one unanswered prayer!). Jonah is one of the first stories we tell our children, about how God provided a great fish to swallow him for such a period as he could learn about obedience and repentance.

Not only that, but these guys all show up in the Gospels, in one way or another. Moses and Elijah are present at Jesus' transfiguration (Mark 9). In Matthew 12:38-41, Jesus tells the Pharisees they won't get any sign from him other than the sign of Jonah, foreshadowing the three days He Himself would spend in the belly of the Earth.

But interestingly enough, Jesus, even with all he had going on, apparently never felt this way. He knew his destiny was to die, but even so prayed that such a cup might pass from him. And let's not forget that he is our example, not Moses, not Elijah, and not Jonah, great as they were.

When we feel the way that these guys did, we need to realize that anyone wanting to die rather than trust God through adversity is under attack. And our enemy can bring that attack through people, pity, and pouting. It comes when our body is not healthy, our soul is not happy, and our spirit is not holy.

But conveniently enough, Paul shows us a prayer that covers all these bases. He writes in 1 Thessalonians 5, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

You aren't alone when you feel like you can't go on, or like you would be better off dead than standing strong in the face of the overwhelming task God has given you, especially when you are weak in body, soul, and spirit, and the enemy is on the attack. And truly, it is comforting to know that some of the Bible's greatest faith warriors and miracle workers shared these feelings. But it doesn't mean they were right. Let us not indulge hopelessness, for it may always be found. Instead, let us remember that we serve a God of hope and of miracles and we follow the One who never copped to people, pity, or pouting, but willingly laid his life down for others, not for himself.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Develop a plan that gives you exercise and rest in proper amounts for your body, soul, and spirit, so that you will be less prone to attack.

A Prayer for Your Teen’s Faith..... By Kristine Brown

 A Prayer for Your Teen’s Faith

By Kristine Brown

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1)

It’s every parent’s worry. How does my child continue trusting God when today's culture teaches him to question his faith? I discussed this topic with my teen. His fresh perspective gave me renewed hope.

Our open conversation uncovered three practical things parents can do to help our teens keep the faith in an increasingly faithless world. Let’s learn together how to help our teens stay grounded in unshakeable faith, even in the midst of the madness.

It’s not about controlling what they see, but controlling what they see in you.

Our teens may not always listen to what we say, but they will absorb every detail of our actions. Are we displaying Christ-like character at home? Are we treating others with unconditional love and kindness? Do we rely on God’s Word in times of trouble?

God designed us to shine His light. Our kids will learn most about what it means to be a Christ-follower from watching our example.

Listen, even when you dread what they might say.

I want my kids to feel comfortable coming to me with their deepest thoughts and greatest fears, but I don’t always act like it. I need to create an atmosphere of trust – a safe place to share burdens.

When we teach them about God at home, His comforting peace will stay with them as they go about their daily lives. Let’s pray our home will be a place of praising God and receiving His peace. Each day, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to abide there. His presence will provide that safe place for them to speak and strength for us to listen.

Remind him often who God says he is.

God’s Word is alive, powerful, and true. Just hearing Scripture spoken can revive hurting hearts and refresh tired bodies. We would never intentionally deprive our kids of the benefits of hearing what God says about them. Yet so often we let busy schedules get in the way of proclaiming God’s goodness to our teens.

If my child has any questions about how God sees him, this verse makes it clear. Sharing this promise with my teen will give him confidence in who he is – a child of the Creator of the universe.

Please pray with me:

Dear Father, thank you for our children. Thank you for loving them even more than we do, and for calling them out of darkness into your wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9) They see a world of confusion. They hear messages condemning their beliefs. Yet Your Word is more powerful than any negativity that comes their way. Help them keep their faith in You, Lord. Give us wisdom to guide them as they grow into the mighty men and women you created them to be.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Sorts of Folks Got Crucified?.....Senior Living Ministries

 What Sorts of Folks Got Crucified?

Senior Living Ministries

[Jesus said]: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
--John 5:24

Early in Julius Caesar's political career, the people of Rome hated him so badly that he thought it best to leave his country. He sailed for the Aegean island of Rhodes, but on the way pirates attacked his ship and Caesar was captured.

The pirates demanded a ransom of 12,000 gold pieces, and Caesar's staff was sent to make the arrangements for payment. For almost 40 days, the pirates held Caesar captive.

He would jokingly tell them that he would someday capture and crucify them. The amused kidnappers dismissed his threats. But when the ransom was paid and Caesar was released, the first thing he did was gather his army together to pursue the pirates.

The pirates indeed were captured and crucified!

This was the Romans' attitude toward crucifixion. This cruel death was reserved only for the worst criminals. It was meant to show extreme contempt for the condemned. And the pain and humiliation experienced by someone crucified by the Romans was unmatched by any other.

They condemned and humiliated the person and name of Jesus thousands of years ago just as many people do today. And even though He died a lowly death, we as believers can rejoice in knowing that "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Romans 4:25).

Jesus died for the sins of all--including those who beat Him and nailed Him to the cross. You may know of someone today who doesn't know Jesus. Will you be the one to tell them about the forgiveness He gives? Will you be the one who points them toward eternal life through Jesus?

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to bring someone into your life this Easter who you can share the story of His death, burial, and resurrection, and the price He paid for their sins.