In Step With God..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 In Step With God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Ephesians 4

People are saved when they trust Jesus Christ as Savior and choose to follow Him. Right then, most Christians realize that they will dwell with Him forever in heaven. But many don’t understand what they can expect for the remainder of their lives on earth.

One benefit that’s available immediately is a growing relationship with the Lord. The Father’s oneness with Jesus (John 10:30) illustrates the intimacy God wants to have with His children. He had this type of closeness in mind at creation—a relationship with man is an avenue for Him to express His love and for us to worship and understand our Maker.

Another advantage is that Christ-followers are promised clear guidance through God’s Holy Spirit. Decision making is a part of everyday life. It is impossible for a mere human to know every variable and nuance before choosing which path to take. But the Lord knows all things—past, present, and future. With godly wisdom available, it’s hard to understand why anyone would prefer to trust his own hunches.

Provision is yet another blessing guaranteed for believers. There will be hard times, but God gives Christians everything necessary for following Him (Phil. 4:19). And His grace will always prove more than sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).

How abundantly God gives to His children! One word of caution, though: these gifts are effective only when believers walk obediently with Him. Sin can stifle them.

The heavenly Father desires that all of His sons and daughters have these blessings; if you’re living in obedience before Him, they are available to you. Is anything getting in the way of your total submission to Him?

God Promises His Comfort..... Craig Denison

 God Promises His Comfort

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:“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3

Devotional:

2 Corinthians 1:3 tells us of a wonderful aspect of God’s character, that he is “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” In a world wrought with depression and hurt, we have a Father who is the source of all comfort. We serve the God of compassion and love. Let’s allow the truth of God’s comfort to fill us today. Let’s rest in the goodness of God’s presence and let him minister to any areas in which we feel hurt or depressed.

David tells us in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34 comes in the context of David fleeing from Saul’s persecution. David, in this season of his life, knew all too well what it’s like to need comfort. His circumstances were anything but peaceful. But in this moment, God faithfully delivered him again from the hands of Saul. David writes, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,  for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:6-10). David took refuge in his faithful God and found comfort. He placed his trust in the Father of all comfort and found deliverance.

It really is true that “those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” The same God of David is your God. You are his child. Seek him today that you might “taste and see that the Lord is good!” All of us are broken. All of us are hurting. All of us need the love of our heavenly Father. Where in your life today do you feel hurt? Big or small, God cares about whatever pain you might be going through. Your Father longs to heal whatever is holding you back from fullness of life in him.

Deuteronomy 33:12 says, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” You are God’s beloved. You were bought at an incredible price. He’s opening up his arms to you today, asking you to simply come and find refuge from all the hurt and pain of the world in him. He desires to hold your heart today and speak his healing love over any part of you wounded by the things of the world. Spend time in his presence today allowing the Spirit of God to mend you. Allow God to cry with you, hold you, speak to you, and draw you into his process of inner healing. God’s promised you his comfort, and he’s always faithful to deliver on his promises. All that he asks of you is to make space in your heart for him and receive. Spend time today talking with the “Father of all mercies and God of all comfort,” and experience the power of being wrapped up in the powerful and loving arms of God.

Guided Prayer:

1. Ask God to make his nearness known to you today. Receive his presence and experience his profound, limitless peace.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

2. Open to God any part of your heart that is wounded or needs comfort. It could be the wound of a parent, spouse, friend, colleague, etc. Whatever you feel hurt by today, talk to your loving heavenly Father about it.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

3. Receive God’s comfort. So often healing comes simply by the compassionate love of God. As our Father, God suffers as we suffer. He hurts when we hurt. Let his nearness and love comfort you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3

Healing takes time, but it is time well worth spending. We are not meant to go without the love and comfort of our heavenly Father. Seek out his presence. Spend time at length simply being loved by him. Make space for God to work and find out how willing and able he is to bind up and heal any area of your heart that feels broken.

Extended Reading: Psalm 34

If God Said It, He’ll Do It ..... ALICIA BRUXVOORT

 If God Said It, He’ll Do It

ALICIA BRUXVOORT

“But Abraham never doubted. He believed God, for his faith and trust grew ever stronger, and he praised God for this blessing even before it happened.” Romans 4:20 (TLB)

I was heading to the kitchen for my pre-dawn cup of coffee when his words cut though my half-awake haze: “Hi, Mommy! Thanks for taking me to the park today.”

As rain pattered on the roof and thunder rumbled low somewhere in the distance, I questioned if I’d heard his words correctly.

Two feet shy of the coffee pot, I turned to face him. The first streaks of sunrise had yet to paint the sky, but my preschooler was sitting at the front door with his little blue backpack and an expectant smile.

I stared in groggy bewilderment as he unzipped the backpack and pulled out a box of crackers and a couple of juice boxes. “I’m all ready to go,” he announced. “I’ve even packed our snacks.”

It was then I remembered the conversation we’d shared the night before. My son hadn’t been ready to trade the fun of play for the necessity of sleep. “My feet aren’t even tired!” he’d complained as he’d jiggled his legs beneath the blankets. “And my hands still want to play baseball with Daddy!” He’d wiggled his fingers in the air and punctuated his declaration with an exasperated sigh.

Planting a kiss on his head, I’d murmured a gentle promise to help him surrender to sleep: “Get some rest now. Tomorrow, I’m taking you to the park.”

My son’s legs had slowed. His fingers had stilled. And soon the din of his moonlight grievances was swallowed by the sound of subtle snoring.

In the light of my bedtime pledge, my little boy’s greeting suddenly made sense. My son had simply taken me at my word. The sight of darkness beyond the window hadn’t discouraged him. The sound of the raindrops on the roof hadn’t dissuaded him.

He hadn’t checked the forecast or consulted the clock. He hadn’t asked for an agenda or probed my intentions. He’d simply aligned his plans with my promise.

As I stood there in the kitchen, I felt a somber pang of conviction. For years, I’d been asking God to grow me into a woman of faith. I didn’t want to merely trust the Lord for my salvation. I wanted to trust Him with my steps on earth, too. I’d read books on faith and established habits of faith. I’d talked about faith and prayed about faith. But as I peered at my preschooler and his little blue backpack, I realized I’d been making faith too complicated.

Faith isn’t a feeling or a philosophy.
Faith isn’t a principle or a prescription.
Faith is taking God at His word.

In Romans 4, the Apostle Paul uses the story of Abraham to teach us about faith that pleases God. Though Abraham was old and his wife was barren, Abraham believed God’s pledge to make him the father of many nations. (Romans 4:18) According to Romans 4:20, “Abraham never doubted. He believed God, for his faith and trust grew ever stronger, and he praised God for this blessing even before it happened.”

Abraham’s tale reminds us that faith isn’t an abstract theology, but an active response. Faith may not always change the way we feel about God, but it should consistently change the way we walk with Him. Like Abraham, when we take God at His word, we align our steps with the promises He has spoken rather than the probabilities we can see.

Even if faith seems simple, it’s not always easy. However, when my trust begins to waver, I remember a little boy with a little blue backpack, and I pray for courage to imitate his childlike faith. Because if he can trust the promise of an imperfect parent, then you and I can trust the word of our perfect Father.

Dear Father, thank You for always doing what You say You’ll do. Please show me where I’ve made faith too complicated, and reveal the ways I’m living like Your Word isn’t true. Help me to align my faith with Your faithfulness. I want to trade my doubts for praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 Thessalonians 5:24, “The One Who called you is faithful and will do what He promised.” (NLV)

Which Book of the Bible Should You Read Next?..... By Kristi Woods

 Which Book of the Bible Should You Read Next?

By Kristi Woods

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16

Sometimes my Bible reading is alive and full – somewhat like a scenic picture bursting with color.

And some days I simply don’t know what to read or where to start. The mountain of words, verses, and books of the Bible bring rise to an overwhelmed stare.

A few books of the Bible rush to the rescue for situations like these. They help us grow. Consider the options below.

1. Calling New and Old Christians Alike!

Twelve disciples + 1 Messiah make for four fabulous Gospels. If you’re new to the Bible, why not start at the beginning of the New Testament? Seasoned Christian? It’s a solid review as well.

Allow the pages to flip to Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Start at the beginning, and work your way to the end.

Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:  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.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12:29-30 WEB

2. No Time to Read?

Sometimes life’s schedule fills with work responsibilities, kids’ activities, workouts, a sick family member, and more. The calendar bursts at its seams. Bible reading becomes somewhat of a lost art in the mix.

In those times, what’s a person to do? Consider a short book of the Bible, one containing six or fewer chapters.

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians are my go-to when the schedule overflows. They read with ease, packing power and applicable instruction in their short length. James, 1st , 2nd, and 3rd John, the Peters, and Jude read likewise.

In their chapters, armor, unity, and freedom dance to life. God’s love does as well. Encouragement to press on toward the goal cheers for readers. Rules for Christian households opens wide for acceptance. Everyday application awaits.

3. A Plan Sounds Great. Help!

You want a plan. You try to plan. You’re simply out of time to organize a plan. Sounds like the perfect time to consider Proverbs.

Proverbs contains 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. How easy, right? If it’s the 14th of the month, read Proverbs 14, Proverbs 15 on the 15th, and so forth. No bookmark needed!

The bonus? This method helps readers keep track of the date, too!

What book of the Bible are you reading right now? What is your favorite book of the Bible?

Why Jesus Came: He Is Greater Than the Ashes..... By Debbie McDaniel

Why Jesus Came: He Is Greater Than the Ashes
By Debbie McDaniel

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:1-3

Throughout the Bible and ancient practices, ashes have often been the symbol of deep repentance and grief. As the days of Lent are acknowledged each year, we see all around us the visual reminders of ashes on foreheads, and are reminded of this one Truth, “…for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19

Not exactly a nice thought to get your day going. But the reality of it all sinks in deep. Because, as many of us know, life is not always “happy.” Sometimes, it’s difficult. We feel pain, loneliness, even deep grief and despair.

You may understand if…

-  You’ve ever lost a loved one or had to say good-bye too soon, left to journey through dark days of grief, wondering if you’d ever be able to carry on without them at your side…

-  You’ve ever received a hard diagnosis, faced the fear of the unknown, and felt the effects of disease and pain…

-  You’ve ever set at the bedside of a dying friend, and held a hand that once was strong, whose life had been cut short from the ravages of cancer…

-  You’ve ever been to a funeral for a sweet baby, or a precious child, and watched endless tears flow from hurting souls of a Mama and Daddy….

-  You’ve ever been deeply wounded, betrayed, abused, or mistreated…

It’s true, life is not always easy. It deals harshly sometimes, it seems unfair, and we may wonder where God is, or why He didn’t stop that difficult event or illness from happening.

Job was there too. This righteous man who loved and honored God. Yet he lost everything. It crumbled around him, all he held dear. And he knew without God, he was nothing. And we find him in the beginning of the book of Job, “…he sat in the ashes.” Job 2:8

Daniel was there. He and the people had suffered under captivity, he prayed to God on behalf of his people, that God would have mercy. He repented, and confessed his own sin, his deep need for Him. He knew where true strength and help came from, “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3

Tamar was there. She had trusted and yet was betrayed. David’s own daughter had been taken advantage of, then was left on her own, alone, with no hope for her future, to pick up the broken pieces of shattered life. “And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.” 2 Samuel 13:19

And in their times of ashes, they may have wondered too…

Where was God in it all? Deep grief, crime, captivity, illness, death of loved ones, shattered hope, and broken dreams?

His Truth says this: He was there, in the midst of it.

And though we may not always see it, or feel it, or even understand it, we can know beyond a doubt, that He is with us now too. Always.

Jesus came to bring life, freedom, restoration, redemption, healing, favor, goodness, joy, and so much more. He came to trade our brokenness and ashes for hope and beauty. He will never waste our pain, but will bring His greater purposes from it all. We can trust Him even in the most difficult of days and know that the ashes on our lives will fade away, as His beauty within us shines brightly through.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you sometimes felt as if your life has been marked by ashes, pain, or difficulty? Choose to thank God today, that even in the hard times, He’s with you and has greater purpose and hope in store. Remember, there’s beauty ahead, straight out of ashes. Christ redeems and is greater than anything we may face in this world.

Further Reading:
Matthew 28:20
1 John 4:4
Jeremiah 29:11
John 16:33

A Prayer for Clarity..... By Meg Bucher

 A Prayer for Clarity

By Meg Bucher

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 NIV

“Okay,” chirped the receptionist, “we’ll order you six months for the left eye’s prescription and six months for the right eye’s prescription.” And in that moment, I realized I’d been wearing my contacts in the wrong eyes for most of the summer.

Right before 2020, my age-old prescription had finally changed. But for most of 2020, I had worn my glasses. I had forgotten both my eyes were no longer remedied by the same prescription. It was no wonder I felt slightly cross-eyed a lot of the summer. It’s hard to see clearly without the right prescription. It’s still hard to see with the right prescription in the wrong eyes.

Simon Peter wrote his second letter to the church later in his life, to encourage and instruct Christ-followers in how to live a godly life. “Because God has given Christians all they need to become spiritually mature,” NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible explains, “they must actively pursue spiritual maturity if they expect to receive a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom.”

Peter was one of the three who witnessed the transfiguration of Christ. He was in Jesus’ close circle of friends. He knew what it meant to follow the Shepherd. He knew it wasn’t just enough to know about Jesus. For those early church members, and us today, spiritual warfare wages to distract and confuse us. Peter knew it would be important then, as it is to us now, to live our lives as a reflection of God’s glory.

How do we do that? With the right prescription. The correct perspective. Our physical human sight, and insight, is limited. We must learn to seek God in His Word and yield to the Spirit’s nudge in our lives. He’s given us everything we need to live a godly life that glorifies His name. The more earnestly we seek Him, the more clearly we can see.

Father,

You have made this day, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Abba, Father. Savior, Jesus. Spirit, Comforter. All glory and honor we lift to You. We look to You for provision and healing. We stand in awe of the beauty and blessing You surround our lives with, even when we can’t see straight.

Help us to see ourselves, others, and creation through Your perspective, God. Help us see clearly, having eyes to see as you want us to see.

We want Your will for our lives, Father, because Your promises are greater than anything we can ask for or imagine, and beyond our perspective sight.

Help us to remember You are our Creator, our Author, our compassionate and caring Father. Christ Jesus, may we follow You faithfully, and look to You before scrambling for our own solutions. Heal our eyes, and our insight, so we may truly see.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Easter Celebrates That Jesus Is Alive Today..... By Rick Warren

 Easter Celebrates That Jesus Is Alive Today

By Rick Warren

“The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4 NLT, second edition).

Although we study the passion of Jesus, his death on the cross, Easter is a celebration of his Resurrection: God brought Jesus back from the dead, proving he’d broken the power of sin and death.

After Jesus died, they took his body down and put him in the tomb, and a giant millstone was set in front of the cave. The religious leaders, worried that Jesus’ body might be stolen, asked for Roman guards to be posted in front of the tomb. They didn’t want him coming out!

But of course, he did.

You know the story. But it’s important to remember that Easter is not some memorial to a nice, good religious teacher who lived 2,000 years ago. It’s a celebration of the fact that he is alive today!

I’m living proof — and so are the approximately 1 billion Christians who celebrate Easter. Jesus “was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4 NLT, second edition).

Easter is the Good News about God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came to Earth as a human baby, born into King David’s royal family line. Four historical records say that after his Resurrection he showed himself to 500 people at one gathering.

Can you imagine witnessing his death and then seeing him walking around Jerusalem three days later? What an amazing thing!

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, the skeptics and critics mocked him and said, “If you’re the Son of God, why don’t you just pull yourself down from that cross? Why don’t you just come down and show that you’re really God?”

Jesus had something more spectacular planned. He said, “I’m going to let you bury me for three days, and then I’ll come back to life to prove that I am who I say I am.”

Talk It Over

• Why is it important to remember Jesus’ death and his Resurrection at Easter?
• What did Jesus’ death accomplish? What did his Resurrection accomplish?
• How do you think it felt for the people who knew that Jesus had been killed but saw him in the flesh a few days later?