Goal Setting The Key to Success..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Goal Setting The Key to Success

Dr. Charles Stanley

Philippians 3:7-14

What three goals would you set for your life if you knew that you could achieve them? Would any of them be spiritual in nature? The apostle Paul was one of the most goal-oriented people in the Bible, yet he understood which pursuits were the most important. His chief ambition was to know Christ, His resurrection power, and the fellowship of His suffering (v. 10).

We'd all do well to adopt these goals, but they sound so broad. How do we put them into practice? First, it's important to comprehend that a goal is a purpose or direction toward which we work. This concept is fairly easy to understand when we're talking about specific objectives like going to bed earlier or losing ten pounds, but what steps would you need to take in order to achieve spiritual goals like Paul's?

Success requires choosing steps that are specific, reasonable, and measurable. For example, if you want to know Christ more intimately, you might commit to spending 30 minutes each day praying and reading His Word. After developing your plan and the steps to accomplish it, put your desire into action. If you don't take the necessary steps, it will simply remain a wish. No one develops intimacy with Christ through good intentions; it takes commitment, diligence, and perseverance.

If you feel as if your faith is lacking vitality, it may be that you've become spiritually lazy. No one intends to slip into complacency. But unless you set some specific goals and work to achieve them, you'll drift through life and miss the greatest accomplishment of all--learning to know Christ intimately.

God Desires to be Encountered..... Craig Denison

 God Desires to be Encountered

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview: 

It’s vital to the Christian life that we as sons and daughters of the most high God allow our affections to be stirred by the loving, powerful nature of our heavenly Father. Too often we feel that God is distant or separated from us. Too often we allow misconceptions or lies to place a rift between us and experiencing God. It’s in reminding ourselves of God’s character that lies are broken and a pathway is laid for us to encounter his tangible love. Open your heart and mind and receive fresh revelation of the goodness of God this week. Allow your affections to be stirred and your heart to be filled with desire to seek the face of your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Devotional:

There is a misconception in Christianity that we cannot tangibly encounter our heavenly Father. Often we’re taught that we are too broken, dirty, or sinful to experience God. We’re told that experiencing God is only for some people, or only for some nations and cultures. Or maybe as a result of a lack of experiencing God in the past we believe that we are made without something that allows us to encounter God. Maybe we believe that encountering God is for other people, but not for us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We encounter God because he desires to be encountered, not because we possess some special ability. We encounter God because he longs for us to know him, not because we are more holy than someone else. You see, encountering God is entirely based on his grace and love for us.

In Jeremiah 29:13 God promises us, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” All that is required of us to experience God is time and energy set aside to seek him. Let that truth settle into your heart for a moment. Allow your beliefs about encountering God to be renewed by his word. You can undoubtedly experience the living, active, and most high God right now because he desires for you to. He longs for you to experience him. His greatest desire is for his children to walk in the fullness of relationship available to them. He gets excited about the idea of tangibly revealing himself to you. He is filled with joy at the idea that you would experience all the love he has in his heart for you.

says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus did what no one else could. He made a way for us to tangibly experience our heavenly Father. Nothing can separate us from the love of our heavenly Father because Jesus has restored us completely into the fold of God. The curtain of the holy of holies was torn in two. The manifest presence of God

What do you feel is in the way of you experiencing your heavenly Father today? What past experience or present thoughts are keeping you from seeking God with all your heart. May Hebrews 10:19-22 guide you into a powerful encounter with your loving heavenly Father who desires for you to experience him today:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire for you to encounter him.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27

2. Reflect on your own life. What do you believe stands between you and experiencing your heavenly Father? What sin do you believe has separated you from him? What belief has kept you from seeking God? What lie have you believed?

3. Allow Scripture to stir your confidence to seek the face of God. Believe Scripture over past experiences or beliefs. God desires you to seek him!

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” - Hebrews 10:19-22

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38-39

The enemy’s greatest desire for those of us already saved is to keep us from walking in the fullness of what God intends for his children. Satan can’t keep us from eternal life with God, but he can keep us from experiencing the abundant life available to us here. He knows God’s greatest desire is for relationship with us, so he will stop at nothing to keep God from having his desires satisfied. May your life be one marked by the fullness of what’s available to you in Christ. May you be a child of God who consistently and fully experiences the love of your heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: Acts 17:22-34

Our Reluctance to Return to Normal..... LYNN COWELL

Our Reluctance to Return to Normal
LYNN COWELL

“And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” Joshua 3:13 (ESV)

The news headline grabbed my attention: “People With ‘Cave Syndrome’ Are Reluctant to Return to Normal Life After COVID.” I completely get that, I thought. For over a year we’ve been told, “Don’t leave your home. Don’t go out.” Separated from our family, friends, churches and offices, we’ve stayed away in order to stay safe.

As the world opens up again, I wonder: What if we’re not supposed to return to the way it was before? What if part of God’s purpose for us is not to go back, but to move forward?

At the beginning of the book of Joshua, “normal” for the Israelites has just ended. Moses, their leader for over 40 years, has died. What would the future look like? They knew what to expect of Moses’ leadership, but what about Joshua’s?

Joshua begins his new role with this command to the officers of the people: “… ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess’” (Joshua 1:11, ESV). 

Sounds great, except that crossing the Jordan River would be a very scary experience, especially at flood stage. (Joshua 3:15) Reluctance would have reeled through the camp. Yet, the people answer, “… All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go” (Joshua 1:16, ESV). They knew the life God had for them could only be obtained by moving forward.

As God’s people headed into the unknown, He promised He would cause His people to “… know that the living God is among you …” (Joshua 3:10, ESV). God said He would position His presence before them, with the priests and the ark of the covenant going first. (Joshua 3:11)

He promised that the water would stop flowing so they could go through, as our key verse says: “And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap” (Joshua 3:13). However, notice the one requirement before any of this would happen: The soles of their feet had to touch the water first.

God promised to protect them as they crossed the waters. What God didn’t promise was to first remove their fear of the rushing waters.

Instead, He promised to take His step after they took theirs.

Sure enough, as soon as their feet “… were dipped in the brink of the water …” the waters “… rose up in a heap very far away …” (Joshua 3:15, 16, ESV). Any fear they had floated down the Jordan as they moved across the river on dry ground.

Maybe the reluctance some of us feel about returning to normal is actually a gift from God — an opportunity like the Israelites had to move out in faith and find our new forward.

We may have to step out in faith before God steps out to fulfill His promises.

It’s possible God doesn't want some of us to go back to the hustle of normal, but instead He has been using this season to reveal a part of life we were missing before.

For me, everything coming to a halt brought more time with family and more time to invest in a local organization helping women build new lives after prison walls. I’ve had more space to be able to love on those who need compassion and support in my local community.

In this season, each of us has a unique opportunity to ask God how He wants us to move forward. He may want to give you new insight into how to spend your moments and invest your days for His glory.

Take a moment now to ask Him what dipping your feet in the water looks like for you. How does He want you to move forward? No matter what that looks like, you can trust that He’ll be with you each step of the way.

Jesus, as the world around me picks up speed again, reveal to me what my forward looks like. Give me the faith to step in that direction. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (ESV)

Proverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” (ESV)

How to Stop Judging By Appearance Alone (1 Samuel 16:7) ..... By Rachael Adams

 How to Stop Judging By Appearance Alone (1 Samuel 16:7)

By Rachael Adams

Today’s Bible Verse: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7

The first time I saw my husband, he had a black eye. My immediate thought was, He sure is cute, but I’ll bet he’s trouble. I better stay away from him. I imagine God getting a good chuckle from this first interaction. He knew what Bryan would mean to me in the future, but I didn’t.

Later, I learned the real reason behind his questionable appearance. He was a college athlete and the black eye was from playing competitively during practice earlier that day. We laugh about it now, but I can’t help thinking: What if I had let my inaccurate assumption about him prevent him from becoming my husband? What a tragedy that would have been to my now-happy family of four.

I wish I could tell you I’ve learned my lesson about judging based on appearance alone, but it’s something with which I still struggle. I wonder if you struggle with this tendency, too? Perhaps, like me, you're tempted to make inaccurate assumptions based on gender, race, age, and even personal style.

It’s so easy to assume that we won’t have anything in common with those who are different from we are, so we don’t make an effort to connect at all. But what kind of beautiful relationship could God be trying to give you if you only opened your heart and mind to it?

One of my favorite biblical teachings on this subject is from 1 Samuel 16. The Lord commanded Samuel to visit Jesse to anoint one of his sons as king. When Samuel arrived, he saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel sent for him, and when David arrived, the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

Samuel made wrong assumptions and even David’s own father made wrong assumptions about who would be king. People made wrong assumptions about Jesus as King too. They thought He would come into the world with pomp and circumstance, but He came as a humble baby in a manger. All the way to the cross, people made the wrong assumptions about the Man who was the Savior of the world. And how heartbreaking to miss Him?

Let us not make the same mistake. We don’t want to be judged or counted out based on our own appearance. Therefore, may we view everyone as a person made in God’s image—each person fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. With this truth in mind, the only safe assumption is that everyone has value and is worthy of love. Let us not focus on the outer appearance and risk missing out on God-given connections. Instead, may we look at the heart and see the beautiful relationships God might have in store.

Kintsukuroi..... by Ryan Duncan

 Kintsukuroi

by Ryan Duncan

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. – 1 Peter 5:10

My father and sister both enjoy making pottery, so over the years I’ve felt obligated to brush up on the subject whenever I have the chance. Recently I came across a Japanese pottery technique called "Kintsukuroi," which roughly translates to mean "Golden Repair." As its name suggests, the procedure has more to do with fixing pottery than creating it. In Kintsukuroi, broken pottery is repaired with a lacquer resin that’s been mixed with gold or silver powder. Once the object has been properly cleaned and dried, its cracks are highlighted by thin veins of metal running throughout its form.

To the Japanese, the breakage and repair become part of the object's history, transforming it from something old into a new creation. One sculpture put it like this,

"The art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken."

I can remember reading this description and being struck by how wonderfully it captures the message of the Gospel. God created us to be holy and sanctified reflections of Himself, but because of sin, we became a group of broken and malformed prodigals. Yet instead of throwing us out, God picks up the pieces and restores us, transforming us into something new and beautiful. The memory of our sins may remain, but now they have been filled with the precious love of Jesus Christ. Every Christian is a work of art adorned with grace, and when people see our lives, they should think only of God.

But that is not the end, the Bible tells us the best is yet to come. One day, Christ will repair our world the same way he repaired our souls. One day, he will make all things new.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’" - Revelation 21:1-4

Intersecting Faith and Life: Remember that in God we are new creations, the old has gone, the new has come.

Further Reading
2 Corinthians 5:17

A Prayer to Forgive Yourself..... By Sarah Coleman

 A Prayer to Forgive Yourself

By Sarah Coleman

“Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” ( James 3:2)

"What an idiot," I whisper in condescension to myself. "Such a loser."

I am not very kind to myself. Oh, I'm patient, compassionate and encouraging to others. I have all the tolerance in the world for others, but I'm brutal to myself.

From whom did I learn this insidious habit? None other than Satan, the father of lies. He loves to remind me of all the times I have failed. He loves to pile guilt and shame as high as the sky. But he is the father of lies and the names he calls me (and insists I call myself) are false.

So why do I listen when I have a Father who tenderly whispers the opposite?

Nowhere in the Bible do I read of God's disappointment, impatience or hatred toward me. Instead, I read His sheer delight. It's time I listened to the One who speaks truth over my soul.

The names you call yourself matter.

What sayest the tongue, so goest everything else. Your words matter. Words build or tear down, create or destroy. We all make mistakes, but if we control our words, we control everything else. You better believe they matter.

God calls us a different name.

By grace He calls us chosen ( 1 Peter 2:9). He calls us loved ( Ephesians 1:4). He calls us delight ( Isaiah 62:4). The apple of His eye ( Psalm 17:8). He loves us so He carved our names on the palm of His hand ( Isaiah 49:16).

Forgive yourself.

Of all the people I have had to forgive, I have been the most difficult. Unforgiveness toward myself is a cancer that will eat away at my heart. I have to forgive myself in order to move forward.

The self-abuse has to stop. My voice should not curse one who has been made in the image of God.

Father, today I ask forgiveness of all the negative and harmful words I have spoken about myself. I do not want to abuse myself in such a way again. Transform my thoughts and let me understand how marvelously you made me. Change my habits so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon my life. In Jesus' name.