Seeking Guidance: The First Step..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Seeking Guidance: The First Step

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 John 1:8-10

By forsaking the broad worldly way, believers have chosen a narrow path (Matt. 7:13). However, we’re not wandering blindly on it. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He directs our steps toward new opportunities and offers discernment so we can make wise decisions that keep us on course for God’s will.

It is the nature of this journey that we have to stop often and seek guidance. God is pleased to respond to earnest requests for direction, as He wants to keep His followers in the center of His will. But I’ve discovered that many Christians wonder how to pursue divine guidance.

Seeking God’s direction involves a pattern that begins with cleansing—in other words, the first place to look is at ourselves. Ask, “Father, do You see anything in my life that might interfere with my understanding what You are saying?” Sin shuts down the guidance process: it strangles the power flowing from the Holy Spirit and thereby clouds our judgment (1 Thess. 5:19). First John 1:9 tells us that God cleanses unrighteousness when we confess our sins. The Bible also contains a clear warning for those who refuse to relinquish a rebellious habit or attitude—the Lord does not hear their cries (Ps. 66:18). As He brings to mind problem areas, lay them before the cross.

Cleansing is actually woven into the entire process of gaining divine guidance. God brings sin to our attention as we’re equipped to deal with it. So on the way to receiving His clear direction, we may revisit this “first” step often and in that way can experience a time of rich spiritual growth and renewal.

Evangelism..... Craig Denison

 Evangelism

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

In response to knowing the heart of God we are called to share the wonders of his invisible nature with a world in desperate need of him. God has chosen to use us to reveal himself. He’s filled us with the Spirit and empowered us to proclaim the good news of salvation and restored relationship with our Creator. May you discover this week that you were made to share God’s heart. And may you find joy and passion in God’s longing to use you in powerful and unique ways.

Scripture:

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15

Devotional:    

The idea of evangelism has always been terrifying to me. Going up to someone and interrupting their day to tell them about Jesus, no matter how real and good I know him to be, has never been comfortable for me. But you can’t read Scripture and escape God’s command to share the gospel. You can’t read through the New Testament and discount the reality that the disciples gave themselves entirely—to the point of death—that the world might come to know Jesus.

Verses like Mark 16:15-16 couldn’t be more clear. Jesus commands us, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Evangelism is meant to be a part of our normal lives. It’s not just for the few. It’s not just for pastors or the intensely extroverted. It’s for you and me.

When I assess my own heart I discover that my fears related to evangelism are entirely selfish. In fact, I don’t know if I could do something more selfish than hold back the one hope for the world just to protect my own image. Jesus is clear in Mark 16:16 that those who don’t believe in him will be condemned. It’s like I contain the cure for a deadly disease and rather than sacrificing my image to love them by sharing the one cure, I just let them continue to suffer.

In pondering my own heart I realize that the way to engage in evangelism isn’t fixing myself; it’s getting over myself. Is my image really so important that it’s worth condemnation for another? Are the opinions of others really so important to me that I would withhold from them eternal, abundant life with a God who loves them relentlessly and perfectly?

I am made to share God’s light. I have been commissioned by my King to go out and share his heart. It’s time that we obey God’s command in Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Sure, people might think I’m weird. Sure, it might be a little awkward. But God is after the hearts of his creation, and he’s called me to help. May we be those who set aside our pride, seek humility, and love others whatever the cost. May we be so bold as to set our eyes on heaven and sacrifice this life for the sake of eternity. And may the world change around us as we humbly and courageously proclaim the goodness of our heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s call for you to engage in evangelism.

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

2. What are your fears in regard to evangelism? What holds you back from telling others about the good news of God’s unconditional love?

3. Take time to humble yourself before God and others. Ask him for grace to love others above yourself. Set your eyes on him and open your heart to receive his affection.

In Jesus’ conclusion of the Great Commission he tells his disciples, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Our power for evangelism is that God is with us. He doesn’t send us out alone. His love, power, and presence are fully available to us when we seek to share the gospel with others. When you tell others about Jesus, don’t speak of him as if he’s not with you. Don’t pray as if he doesn’t move and work miracles. Instead, share the reality of God’s nearness with a world that needs to be touched by a revelation of his love. May you be empowered to share the gospel with someone today that they might come to know the power and presence of God.

Extended Reading: Matthew 28

The Opportunity of Insomnia..... SARAH GERINGER

 The Opportunity of Insomnia

SARAH GERINGER

“The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)

I rolled over in the darkness to peek at the clock, hoping it was somewhere close to daylight. But no, it was the 3 a.m. hour. Again.

Frustrated, I rolled over as quietly as possible so as not to disturb my husband’s sleep. I didn’t want to get up and wake everyone in the house. Plus, rising that early invites fatigue the rest of the day.

Yet I was awake, and I needed something to occupy my thoughts. My to-do list proffered an enticing pull. My worries cried out for another round of rumination. But I sensed another possibility as I had before in the increasing frequency of my 3 a.m. awakenings.

What came to mind was a story from my childhood Sunday school classes, when the boy Samuel was sleeping in the temple. He thought he heard Eli, the priest, calling for him in the night. On Samuel’s third approach to him, Eli realized the Lord was calling to Samuel. He coached Samuel to respond, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

When Samuel responded to God with willingness, he received fresh insight from God. The middle of the night was the time God chose to give Samuel a new message.

With a mixture of hesitation and hope, I mouthed that phrase to God in the 3 a.m. darkness, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” That’s how I discovered a secret place of communion with God, right there in the middle of the night.

Studies show we need either five or six 90-minute sleep cycles to feel rested. By nudging me awake in the 3 a.m. hour, God was inviting me to meet with Him between cycles four and five. When I started viewing my insomnia as an opportunity rather than an annoyance, I began experiencing deeper fellowship with God.

Why did God designate that time for our fellowship? I believe He knows He has my undivided attention in that quiet darkness. I’m so busy throughout the day it’s harder for me to hear His still, small voice among all the noise. But in the middle of the night, I can hear Him calling to me, loud and clear.

Jesus Himself intentionally rose early to spend time with His Father in the predawn darkness. (Mark 1:35) Perhaps He knew it was the best time to hear His Father’s voice before His to-do list began for the day.

Since Jesus made the most of His predawn hours, He will help me do the same. I began designating the 3 a.m. hour as a time for meditation, prayer, praise and thanksgiving. A time to cast my cares on the Lord instead of fretting about them. (1 Peter 5:7) A time to be still and know God is in control over every item on my to-do list. (Psalm 46:10)

My insomnia is now a reminder to seek God’s presence. When I roll over and see 3 a.m. on the clock, I assume it’s an invitation. Like Samuel, I say, “Here I am, Lord. Speak, for your servant is listening.” And God is faithful to give me fresh insights, new encouragement and greater peace, even in the predawn darkness.

Father God, thank You for the opportunity to meet You in my insomnia. Help me hear Your voice in those quiet hours before my busy day begins. I want to deepen my relationship with You even in the middle of the night. May I seize this opportunity for sweet fellowship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 63:6, “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” (NIV)

The Struggle to Rest..... By: Jennifer Waddle

 The Struggle to Rest

By: Jennifer Waddle

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. - Genesis 2:1-3

I was raised by hard-working parents who set a good example of what it meant to have a strong work ethic. Even today, as they enter retirement, both of them can work circles around me. Unfortunately, I didn’t automatically acquire my parent’s diligence.

I still remember the summer when I was fourteen and decided that sleeping until noon and watching soap operas all day was the best plan ever. Until…my dad had enough of my laziness and set an alarm for nine a.m. Not only did he set an alarm, he gave my brother and I a list of chores to complete before he got home. He even got creative, as one day, he had us move a stack of lumber from one end of the yard to the other. Then, the next day, he had us move it back!

A strong work ethic is something to be valued, and is mentioned many times throughout the Scriptures. But what about rest?

“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.”

Nowadays, it isn’t so much that people struggle to work hard, it’s that they struggle to set their work aside. Think about how many times we bring our work home with us, spend weekends on projects, and even lose sleep over our jobs. There is a definite struggle to stop working and enter into a time of much-needed rest.

Interestingly, it’s been proven in certain cultures that nap time, even during the workday, is highly productive, not only with job performance, but for peoples’ sense of wellbeing. God created us to work hard, but He also intended for us to take a break when needed and to devote one day of the week to rest. It’s not complicated. But for so many of us, we simply don’t know what it means to switch gears and take a full day off.

If you struggle in this area, here are several small steps you can take to make rest a priority in your life:

• Schedule your day of rest and post it for the whole family to see.
• Plan how you will spend the day so you won’t fall back into your work routine.
• Make preparations for meals so that no one has to cook.
• Do something special, such as taking a leisurely walk or having a time of worship as a family.
• Devote an afternoon of quiet reading and napping.

• Try out a new hobby such as painting or learning an instrument.
• Write letters to loved ones—physical letters with pen and paper.
• Start a new Bible study or devotion.
• Spend time in your prayer closet, interceding for others and listening for God’s direction.

Learning to rest isn’t rocket science. It’s simply a matter of making it a priority and determining to follow God’s example. We can still maintain a strong work ethic, and set the alarm for our kids who want to sleep all day, while also being an example of what it means to enjoy God-given rest.

Bursting the Bubble..... by Meghan Kleppinger

 Bursting the Bubble

by Meghan Kleppinger

“…We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”- 2 Peter 3:13

Washington D.C. is a politically powerful city and it’s easy for young professionals working there to get carried away by all of its bells and whistles. As a recent college graduate who experienced this firsthand, I found that it doesn’t take long to adapt to the culture. It’s an exciting place to be, but the problem with becoming a full-blown Washingtonian is that too often, people forget why they are there to begin with.

Most people move to Washington to support a cause or to work for a politician representing a state. I, for example, worked for a non-profit that worked to preserve family values, and many of my peers worked for their state senators or representatives.

To help pop the D.C. bubble we were living in, several of us developed the discipline of reading our hometown papers online each morning. By reading the Richmond Times-Dispatch every day, I was reminded of my roots, culture, where I was from, and for whom I was really working. This practice, along with repeating our mantra, “this isn’t the real world,” enabled many of us to start each day in Washington as Virginians, Pennsylvanians, Texans, etc., representing the states we called home.

Sometimes life gets tough, circumstances cause confusion and doubt, purpose becomes unclear, and faith seems irrelevant and far removed from everyday struggles. It doesn’t take much for the line between the world we currently live in, and the promise of our eternal home, to become blurry – it’s those times when “home” with Christ sometimes seems so far away.

For me, these bleak moments almost always coincide with periods of times that I’ve stepped away from praying and spending time in God’s Word each day.

It’s not that prayer and study act like a magic formula changing my circumstances, though sometimes God does change them; usually, it is simply this set-aside time that causes me to regroup and change my perspective of the circumstances.

God is greater than man. He’s our creator, sustainer, and He’s in control of everything. He loves us, gives us purpose, and promises us a future with Him. This life is temporal and is nothing in comparison to spending eternity with Christ. How do I know these things? It’s all in God’s Word.

Revisiting scripture and praying on a daily basis acts as a needle bursting the bubble I live in. Like reading my hometown paper each day, scripture reminds me that this world doesn’t own me. No matter how long I’m on earth, it’s not my home and I’m not here to represent it – instead, I need to be an ambassador for my Father until it’s time to go home to Him.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Go to God’s Word to rediscover who you are in Christ, your purpose, and most importantly, to remember where home really is.

A Prayer for God’s Provision in Times of Need..... By Debbie McDaniel

 A Prayer for God’s Provision in Times of Need

By Debbie McDaniel

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Sometimes the needs in our lives seem to mount up high. Maybe you're waiting, or have been praying, for help, for a breakthrough. Maybe you feel like it's been slow in coming, or that you can't see a way out of your current situation. Maybe the needs seem to far outweigh the reality you're living in. You've lost hope, feel alone in the struggle, and the weight of stress seems too hard to keep shouldering.

Whatever the need - physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, relational - His Truth reminds us that He's got “this thing,” whatever it is, that concerns you.

He is able.

Fully.

To provide what you need.

“And my God will meet (supply, provide for, accomplish, complete)

all your needs (necessities, tasks)

according to his glorious (bright, majestic, splendor)

riches (wealth, abundance) in Christ Jesus.”

Our God who created the entire world and designed you and I with such purpose and intent can provide, will provide, out of His richness, fullness, wealth and treasure, for every single need we have. He gives favor. He lines up our pathways to be in the right place at the right time. He miraculously accomplishes so many things for us every day that we may not even be aware of. And He will bend over backwards just to give to you out of His riches. Whether we realize it or not.

Because He loves us.

We will never out give the richness of God for us. Because His provision is really not based on us. It's based on His character, and He is Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.

Resting there today. Right smack in the middle of His abundance.

Hope you are too.

Grace.

Dear God,

We thank you that no situation is too far out of your control to provide. For you are Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides. We thank you that you own it all, and hold everything in your hands. We thank you that you know our needs before we even ask, before we even come to you. You’re aware of all that concerns us, and you have a plan. You hold the provision, you have the solution. You alone can move mountains to make a way for your children. We ask for your answer, in your timing, in your plan, to be given for every need that weighs our hearts down. Forgive us for doubting you, for worrying, and for trying so hard to work everything out on our own. Help us to trust you more, help us in our unbelief. We choose to recognize and to believe that you are Able to accomplish far more, to do far greater, than we even thought possible. We thank you in advance for your miracles, for paving out pathways, for your provision for those who love you. Thank you for the abundance of blessing and goodness you have already stored up. We trust you this day, and every day, and are so grateful for your Power and joy that fills our lives. Thank you for teaching us to be content in all circumstances, we love you Lord, we’re leaning on you,

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.