Serving Christ..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Serving Christ

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 25:34-40

Stop for a moment and consider the purpose of your life. Are you living to pursue your own interests or success? Does your energy revolve around your family members? Perhaps your ambition is to change the world for the better.

All of these aims—even the last one, which sounds so selfless—are futile. The only goal of lasting value and fulfillment is serving Christ. As His followers, we should model our life after His. And Mark 10:45 tells us that "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” We honor Him by doing likewise.

Yet, sometimes we can feel overwhelmed when we consider the amazing ways that other believers are serving the Lord. With God on His side, King David led great armies into war. Today, there are evangelists who speak to tens of thousands, and many lives are saved. How could anything we do compare to accomplishments like these? And while comparisons may discourage us, Christians use other excuses for not trying—such as a lack of experience or having the wrong personality for the task. But God’s call for each person is unique. He will provide the words, ability, and circumstances so that you can achieve what He wants done. Remember, our Father is the one who makes the difference. We are merely tools, and we’re blessed to be used by Him.

EL: Are you demonstrating your love for the Lord by serving others? Live in such a way that each evening you can tell Him, “Lord, as best I know how, I have attempted to serve Your purpose today.”

God Promises His Presence..... Craig Denison

 God Promises His Presence

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:“If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:9-10

Devotional:

One of the most life-giving promises God makes to us as his children is his promise to be near. David wrote in Psalm 139:9-10, “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” What an incredible image David paints of the nearness of God! If we were to explore the ends of the earth, God would still be there. If we were to dive to the depths of the ocean, God would still be there. If we descend into the darkest places of our inner being, we will still find God. There’s no place we can go that he isn’t present. God’s presence floods the earth like the early morning fog, saturating everything with its haze.His presence is his promise.

So, what do we do with the knowledge of God’s nearness? What does it mean for us? In Deuteronomy 31:6 we’re told, “He will not leave you or forsake you.” And in Psalm 23:4 David exemplifies this command in saying, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 46:1 says it this way: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

God’s nearness is meant to be our source of courage and strength. We are to find refuge in the knowledge and experience of his presence. His presence means everything for us. It means we’re not alone anymore. It means he will guide and shepherd us through the various situations we may find ourselves in: “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” When you wake up in the morning, God is there to love and prepare you. When you go about your day, God is there for you, desiring to empower you. When you lay down at night, God is there to give you rest and peace. God’s presence is the foundation on which so many of his other promises are fulfilled.

So if he’s truly present always, why is it that we don’t feel him? Why is it that we at times feel lonely, dissatisfied, weary, and weak? Encountering God’s presence starts with having faith in what Scripture says. Feeling God’s nearness starts with trusting that he’s right next to you and wants you to know him. God doesn’t force himself on us. He doesn’t occupy space in our hearts that we fill with other things. So simply make space for God today, trust in his word that “He will not leave you or forsake you,” and encounter the nearness of your heavenly Father. Don’t worry if you aren’t feeling him. Your only job is to make space in your heart and trust him. He’ll take care of the rest. Spend time today in prayer renewing your mind to the promise of God’s presence and letting his nearness become your source of courage, strength, and rest.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the truth of God’s nearness as promised in his word.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”Isaiah 43:1-3

2. Make space in your heart for him to fill. Trust his word. Tell him that you believe that he’s right there with you. Ask the Spirit to help you make room for him to fill.

3. Now simply receive God’s tangible presence. Ask him to make himself known to you. Ask him to manifest his presence to you. Remember it’s really not about feeling him. Experiencing him is just the byproduct of being his child. The weight of it is all on him.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10           

In response to God’s presence pray this prayer of Brother Lawrence to God. May his words articulate the prayer of your heart:

O my God, since thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech thee to grant me the grace to continue in thy presence; and to this end do thou prosper me with thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections.

Extended Reading: Psalm 139

God’s Provision in Our Moment of Greatest Need..... EMILY G. STROUD

 God’s Provision in Our Moment of Greatest Need

EMILY G. STROUD

“He does not ignore those who need help. He does not hate them. He does not turn away from them. He listens when they cry for help.” Psalm 22:24 (ERV) 

My mom has Alzheimer’s.

It’s rare for me to say it out loud. The label. The diagnosis. This was not the plan for my parents’ golden years in retirement. This is a shattered dream.

Alzheimer’s is a slow, painful process of dying that forces family members to continually grieve each and every stage of loss. There is no ripping off of the proverbial “Band-Aid.” And just when you think you have figured out your new normal, it changes again.

For many years, my approach to my mother’s Alzheimer’s was to try to “fix” her. I’m a financial advisor by trade, and people come to me to create plans to “fix” and manage their financial lives.

I treated my mom’s diagnosis just like a client case study. I had action plans and spreadsheets listing the contact information for the very best people to care for her emotional, physical and financial needs. I thought if I worked hard enough, we could change the trajectory of her future health.

But none of it worked the way I thought it would, leaving me devastated. I begged God to explain to me why she had to continue to suffer. Like David in Psalm 22, I cried out to Him, and as David testifies in Psalm 22:24, God stepped in to my moment of greatest need: “He does not ignore those who need help. He does not hate them. He does not turn away from them. He listens when they cry for help.”

God told me through His Holy Spirit that my job was not to fix her. My job was to love her well through every stage and to listen. Don’t correct her when she repeats herself or asks the same question over and over. Do help her live as comfortably as possible with the correct care. But don’t think for one minute that I needed to fix her.

God is the only one in the business of “fixing” people. Even then, He loves us well through every stage of our lives — through the messes and confusion and in our moments of greatest need.

And you know what else I soon realized? My mom doesn’t need the fixing I can provide. She knows exactly who her heavenly Father is and that her salvation is real and her eternity in heaven is secure. She would love to tell you all about it. This is a truth that she still knows, understands and lives out each and every day. She is at peace.

Helping care for her has changed me — making me a better friend, parent and advisor to others. I am more empathetic and authentic. It has drawn me closer to my heavenly Father and kept me on my knees praying for wisdom and guidance, dependent on Him.

God has also reminded me over and over that He loves us through the helpers He’s brought to our family. We are reminded often that He “… does not ignore those who need help” (Psalm 22:24) through the care my mom receives from nurses, therapists and other caregivers at her nursing home. They are truly acting as the hands and feet of Jesus.

God will provide for all of our needs. It may look different than what we ever imagined or even planned for. It certainly may not be glamorous, but God will provide.

For example, my parents bought long-term care insurance many years ago just after my father had triple bypass heart surgery. We thought he might be the one who would need long-term care one day. That insurance has been a monumental financial blessing to our family. We never imagined my mom having Alzheimer’s or being the recipient of the insurance when it was purchased many years ago. However, she now benefits financially and is very well taken care of.

Friend, while I don’t know your specific situation or what your “greatest need” is right now, God does. He is intimately acquainted with your struggles, and He sees the ways you may be trying to fix them on your own. Choose to surrender those struggles and the fixing to Him today … and then watch how He draws you close and provides just what you need at just the right time.

Heavenly Father, today we honor and praise You. Thank You for providing for all of our needs. We ask forgiveness for the ways we have doubted Your sovereignty. Help us to trust You more and ourselves less in all areas of our life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

A Balanced Life Is Not the Impossible Dream..... Mary Southerland

 A Balanced Life Is Not the Impossible Dream

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52, NIV).

Friend to Friend
A friend recently sent me the following message in an email with a subject line that said, “I immediately thought of you when I read this!”

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride!’ "

As I read the words on the computer screen, I wasn’t sure if I had just received a sweet compliment or some badly needed correction – or both. The part about arriving at the grave in a pretty and well-preserved body was flattering, but the part about being thoroughly used up and totally worn out – well, not so much. My next thought was, “Boredom is highly underrated!” I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between, maybe around the area of balance. 

Contrary to popular belief and the way that I have lived a great deal of my life, “balance” is not a dirty word. A busy life is not necessarily a productive life. A balanced life is a powerful life. 

Being out of balance is not a good thing. When our finances are out of balance, we hear from the bank. When the washer is out of balance, it dances across the floor. When the tires on our car are out of balance, the ride is rough. But when our life is out of balance, disaster is just around the corner. 

When I was in elementary school, firemen came to our school to teach us what we should do in case of a fire. I remember the drill clearly. Stop! Drop! Roll! Let’s apply that same drill to the area of balance. 

Stop! When was the last time you stopped and took a hard look at your life? It is so easy to live each day just doing “the next thing” that comes along. The “one size fits all” approach about life plans is a mental trap. God has a plan for each life that is unique. 

You are the only person who can be “you.” Build on your strengths. Accept your limitations and yield to the seasons of life. Get in the Word and ask God to show you His plan.

Drop! As you begin to discover God’s plan, drop anything that does not fit that plan. Learn to invest time instead of merely spending it or allowing others to steal it. Learn to say “no” without feeling guilty. We are all responsible for how we spend the time God has given us. Every morning we are credited with 86,400 seconds. No balance is carried into the next day and every night erases what we fail to use. 

Roll! Roll away the burdens you are carrying and learn the value of resting in God. Every opportunity to worry is also an opportunity to trust Him. The promises of God will not break under the weight of any problem or trial you will ever face. Let God be God in your life and trust Him. 

When Jesus was twelve years old, He traveled to Jerusalem with His parents for the annual Passover Celebration. As Mary and Joseph began the long trip home, they assumed Jesus was traveling with friends. When they realized Jesus was missing, their search found Him at the temple, teaching. 

Jesus returned home with His parents and spent the next twenty years growing and maturing. Luke 2:52 tells us “Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and men.” Then in Luke 3, we see Jesus as He began His ministry on earth. 

Don’t miss this important truth! Jesus grew mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially. His life was balanced before He began His ministry. You may be waiting for your life to just fall into place, hoping that the things you are doing will achieve balance. The opposite is true. A powerful life comes from a balanced life. Now is the time for us all to stop … drop … and roll.

Let’s Pray
Father, I am tired. My life is out of control and I need You. Please help me examine my priorities and live for Your glory. I choose now to trust You, knowing You are in control whether it looks like it or not. My faith is weak, Lord. Strengthen me to do what You created me to do.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Do your priorities line up with God’s priorities? 

What one change do you need to make today to have a more balanced life?

When Prayer is Desperate, Psalms Satisfy (Psalm 86:11-13)..... By: Lia Martin

 When Prayer is Desperate, Psalms Satisfy (Psalm 86:11-13)

By: Lia Martin

Today’s Bible verse is Psalm 86:11-13 — Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

The other day I was spending my communion time with God among the Psalms. And in response to my searching, he paused me at Psalm 86. Have you ever tried inviting God’s leading in this way?

Simply opening your Bible and moving your hands through the pages—eyes closed and heart in prayer—can be a meaningful way to exercise faith.

I sought God’s presence in this time of prayer for an answer to my anxious thoughts. Confession: I have a tendency to seek God in prayer to “help me” or “deliver me” or, quite frankly, make my wishes come true.

But today, he would remind me...that we seek God because of who He is.

As I desperately prayed back the words of Psalm 86 in its entirety out loud, it seemed as though the Spirit had commandeered my voice. I felt mysteriously connected to the terrified David of ancient days. Call me crazy, or faithful, but I felt David’s voice supernaturally comingling with mine in harmony.

I was humbled and struck by a realization that the entire story...all of humanity and all of time...is in God’s hands.

And even though David may have been afraid, there’s a really bright side to this psalm. The beloved Charles Spurgeon comments on this psalm that it can be “divided into three portions, each ending with a note of gratitude or of confidence.”

If you read it aloud, you will see that as a prayer, it cries for help. However, it consistently surrenders that anxious longing in favor of grateful praise for the One who the psalm describes as merciful, incomparable, marvelous, and abounding in love.

Its final words declare that the Lord has indeed “...helped me and comforted me.” My Bible sidenotes suggest that as you read Psalm 86, you can then choose one of the loving attributes of God it contains...and thank him for it all week.

An exposition of this verse reveals that the words of Psalm 86 are being spoken through David and into our hands today, by Jesus. One commentary explains,

“In this Psalm, Christ the Son of God and Son of Man, one God with the Father, one man with men, to whom we pray as God, prays in the form of a servant. For he prays for us, and he prays in us, and he is prayed to by us. He prays for us as our Priest. He prays in us as our Head. He is prayed to by us as our God."

Maybe this is why God desires us to open our Bible. Because He’s speaking to us in words that delivered then, now, tomorrow, and for eternity. And what you’re crying out to God about, Jesus has also been through. And he’s seeing you through it, right beside you, now.

He writes this psalm for you as a way of casting your anxiety on him, and choosing instead to be thankful. To know that God was, is, and will forever be your provider; and the source of all hope, joy, and life.

Each line that falls down in desperation is picked up by praise. And you come away, having prayed this psalm, knowing that God can teach you the truth, give you undivided heart, and deliver you from the depths...of even the grave.

Burning Your Ships..... by Ryan Duncan

 Burning Your Ships

by Ryan Duncan

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:33

Every now and then, when I’ve got some time to spare, I’ll turn on the History Channel and let myself get lost in the past. Recently, I started watching a documentary on the Age of Exploration, when the kingdoms of Europe were sending out ships to explore the Americas. To the Europeans, the New World was a place of limitless promise but also great danger. Faced with new cultures, strange animals, and deadly plagues, many explorations returned home in failure.

Then in February 1519, an explorer named Hernando Cortez was commissioned by the Spanish Crown to sail to the Yucatan and conquer it in the name of Spain. Cortez and his army set out at once, and when they reached the shores of the Yucatan, Cortez turned to his men and said,

“Burn the boats.”

Cortez refused to let turning back be an option. For the sake of his mission, it would be all or nothing. To many of us, this may sound a bit extreme, but as it turns out, Jesus had the same principle when he started his ministry.

“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” -Luke 9:57-62

Being a true Christian is something bold and dangerous. We live in a world that loves compromises, and teaches us that we are free to pick and choose what parts of religion we want to follow. Christ is different. When we become his followers, he tells us to take up our crosses and never look back. To follow him is all or nothing. So take some time today and renew your relationship with Christ, because God never claims a victory until he finally gets it all.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Are you holding onto something that is keeping you from God? Take some time to consider.

Further Reading

Matthew 8

A Prayer While You Wait for God to Work..... By Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer While You Wait for God to Work

By Betsy de Cruz

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.” – Psalm 130:4

Do you ever wish God would just answer your prayer or solve your problem now? Most of us are not good at waiting. Instead of trusting God, we wring our hands and worry.

Whether you’re waiting for God to provide a need, heal an illness, or bring your prodigal home, you probably know God’s answers don’t usually come as quickly as you’d like.

When a difficult situation lingers, discouragement makes waiting even harder. While you wait on God to answer your prayer for a new job or healing in your marriage, doubt creeps in. We want our problem solved now, but God wants us to learn to trust Him with our needs.

One little verse helps us understand how to wait well: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.” (Psalm 130:4)

We need to cling to God’s Word while we wait on Him to act.

The Bible is full of encouragement to fuel our faith during those hard times when we cannot see God moving as we would like. On its pages we find:

- Reminders of God’s unchanging character

- Assurance of His presence with us

- Stories of His faithfulness in the past

- Promises we can claim today

As we read, remember, and meditate on the truths we find in Scripture, our hope grows. We can be sure we’re praying in accordance with God’s will when we pray through God’s Word.

We need to fill our minds and hearts with truth from Scripture.

While we wait on God, we have to choose our focus carefully. Will we focus on what isn’t happening in our lives until our hearts grow bitter? Or will we choose to focus on God’s presence, His faithful love, and His power to do more than we can even ask for?

If you are waiting for an answer to prayer, may I encourage you to cling to God’s Word and feed your faith with Scripture today? Your trust in God will grow as you choose to stand on His Word and praise His faithfulness.

Let’s pray:

Lord, while I wait for you to answer my prayer, I will hope in your Word and praise you for the blessings of salvation. Thank you for your presence in my life. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Scriptures to encourage my faith. Lord, today I’m choosing to cling to your Word. Help me grow in the daily habit of reading my Bible each day. As I read the Scriptures, open my eyes so I can see you. Open my ears to hear your voice through your Word.

Father, I continue asking you to do what only you can do, but today I will praise you for your faithfulness even when I cannot see it as clearly as I’d like. I choose to trust your love and your perfect plans for me. Strengthen my faith and hope as I continue to wait on you.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An Easter Prayer of Celebration: He Is Risen!..... By Debbie McDaniel

 An Easter Prayer of Celebration: He Is Risen!

By Debbie McDaniel

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…” Matthew 28:6

Such incredible, miraculous, life-changing words. “He is not here, for he has risen…”

His power could not be contained in a grave. His love could not be conquered by death. His truth could never be buried and forgotten.

Jesus Christ rose again, He is Victorious!

And He makes all things new.

The very purpose of this Easter weekend reminds us, that no matter what we’ve been through in the past, what we might be facing today, or what uncertainties tomorrow may hold, Christ alone is our Hope. He conquered death, He rose from the grave, He is all Powerful.

He breathes new life, so that we can live…free.

We have so much to celebrate today, for He has risen!

He has risen indeed!

Dear God,

Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the Victory and Power in your Name. Thank you that you hold the keys over death, and that by your might, Christ was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to live free. Thank you that you had plan, thank you that you made a way. 

We praise you for your great strength, we praise you for your lavish love. We praise you for you are Conqueror, Victor, Redeemer, and Friend. We praise you that you alone are our Deliverer, you are Worthy, you are our everlasting Father, our great and awesome God.

We confess our need for you. We ask that you would renew our hearts, minds, and lives, for the days ahead. We pray for your spirit of refreshing to fill us again.

Keep your words of truth planted firmly within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us of where we have been, whispering his lies and hurling attacks our way, may he be reminded again of his future. For we have a future and a hope in you. We’ve been set free, redeemed, the old has lost its grip, the new has come.

Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set you way before us. May all your plans succeed. We may reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.

Thanks be to you God, for your indescribable gift!

To you be glory and honor, on this Resurrection Day, and forever.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.