Peace, Joy, and Contentment..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Peace, Joy, and Contentment 

Dr. Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 2:1-8

Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment. But I have great news if you feel disheartened: You’re not stuck!

I’ve known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation. A few years later, however, they were in a terrific place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions. The reason? They never gave up. Instead of sulking in self-pity, they chose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit.

Nehemiah is a good example. He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble. After receiving news that the city wall had been destroyed, this man of God acknowledged profound disappointment and grieved. Though pain flooded his soul, he didn’t allow himself to stay in that low place. Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God, seeking direction.

Sadness in the presence of royalty was punishable by death. But the Lord answered Nehemiah’s prayer with amazing power, prompting the king to notice his servant’s sad countenance and then toask what he could do to help. This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God’s people.

The Lord can take an impossible situation—no matter what it is—and move in ways mightier than you can imagine.

Do you live in eager expectation of what the Lord will do? Or have you chosen to linger in the depths of despair? Like Nehemiah, turn your disappointment into a petition for God’s help. He can restore your hope and prevent negative emotions from gaining a stranglehold on your life.

Love God: It’s All about Relationship..... Craig Denison

 Love God: It’s All about Relationship

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

The Christian life is meant to be marked by simplicity. Jesus summed up our purpose with two statements: love God and love people. But in our humanity we have made complex what God designed to be peaceful, purposeful, and simple. A. W. Tozer remarks in The Pursuit of God, “Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all. If we would find God amid all the religious externals, we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity.” May we discover the peace and joy that come from pursuing a simple Christianity this week.

Scripture:“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” - Matthew 22:37-38

Devotional:

The world is an exhausted place. We search constantly for what should be most important or what deserves our attention from moment to moment. As the tides of societal values ebb and flow, so do our affections. We invest value and love into that which offers us nothing in return. And unfortunately the cares of this world have creeped into the people of God. Our gatherings are often marked by complexity and exhaustion. With program goals and achievements, we make complex what God intended to be so blessedly simple. We give our attention, energy, and love to that which isn’t always rooted in simply loving God.

When asked to highlight the most important commandment in all of Scripture, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). All of Christianity boils down to this one pursuit. And because we are to pursue loving God in all we do, all of life boils down to this single pursuit. Every single thing we do, whether it involves work, family, friends, church, entertainment, school, or solitude, is meant to be marked by the simplicity of loving God.

At the end of our days, the way we loved our heavenly Father will matter most. Our love for God matters more than any achievement, success, or program. It matters more than any possession, status, or relationship. And when we align our perspective with the first and greatest commandment, everything else comes into focus. When we pursue loving God above all else, all other pursuits fall into their proper places.

We were not created to offer our affections to anyone or anything but God first and foremost. To do otherwise is simply idolatry, and it will ruin the heavenly peace and simplicity God intends for his children. We create our own golden calves and ask them to satisfy us in ways only God can. We look to the world to offer us love it never had to begin with. But your heavenly Father is a wellspring of love and affection for you.

The commonly quoted verse John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” You will never be satisfied until you rest in the powerfully simple truth of Scripture that God has loved you and will always love you. And you will never experience the fullness of what Christ died to give you until you respond to his ceaseless love by crowning him Lord and loving him with every fiber of your being.

May you come to realize the beauty and fulfillment of a life lived in pursuit of God above all else as you spend time in prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the first and greatest commandment. Allow Scripture to be your foundation for truth and life.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” - Matthew 22:37-38

2. Reflect on your own life. What pursuits have become more important than loving God? What are you giving energy and affection to above relationship with your heavenly Father? What areas of your life are not being done as worship?

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” - John 17:24-26

3. Confess your pursuits and receive God’s loving forgiveness. Crown him as Lord of your heart and life, and ask him to help you respond to his love with your own. Ask the Spirit to help you do all that is set before you as worship to your King. Take time to give him your affections now. Worship him. Thank him. Love him. Offer him the deepest places of your heart.

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” - 1 John 4:16

You were created for worship. And until all that you do is done as worship to God, you will not experience the fullness of peace, joy, and purpose available to you through Christ. Rest, fun, work, friends, family, and church are all to be filled with the joy of loving God and being loved by him. He is the God of fun, parties, rest, and love. He has the absolute most abundant and joyful life in store for you if you will simply love him first and foremost. May you experience deeper relationship with your heavenly Father today and love him as he has loved you.

Extended Reading: Matthew 22

Getting Through One of “Those Days” When You’re Feeling Stretched Thin..... TRACIE MILES

 Getting Through One of “Those Days” When You’re Feeling Stretched Thin

TRACIE MILES

“I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 (NLT)

It had been another one of “those days” in a house with teenage daughters where dramatic reactions seemed to prevail in every conversation.

While my girls sat upstairs dealing with their runaway emotions, I was overwhelmed by my own. The challenges of parenting, on top of juggling the weight of work and life, had begun to wear me down.

Desperately needing some serenity, I quietly retreated to my front porch to be alone with my thoughts and God. I longed for the days when life seemed simpler and less chaotic, when my daughters were little, and the biggest issue of the day used to be whether or not they could have a snack before dinner.

It was then that I noticed something partially sticking out of the pine needles underneath a huge holly bush. Reaching underneath, I pulled out forgotten pieces of the past: two faded, plastic Easter eggs.

Instantly, I saw a mental picture of two blond-headed little girls in pink, frilly Easter dresses, playing in thick, green grass in the front yard. Little fingers wrapped tightly around wicker baskets topped with big, pastel bows as they excitedly hid brightly colored eggs under the holly bushes and pine straw. Bushes that were then 12 inches tall now stood at 12 feet.

As I longed even more for those long-gone days, a lump formed in my throat and tears welled up in my eyes.

My daughters came outside and sat on both sides of me, exchanging perplexed glances with each other, wondering why mom was crying over dirty old plastic eggs. We all burst into laughter and shared a few hugs, which opened my eyes to realize that those Easter eggs were a little reminder from God that peace and joy are still available, even on “those days.” Then, today’s key verse came to mind like a breath of fresh air:

“I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)

In John 14:15-31, Jesus shares with His disciples about the Holy Spirit, promising that this Spirit will help them carry on even after Jesus has ascended into heaven. He talks about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within all believers (vv. 16-17) and how the Spirit is what equips us to keep persevering when we are stressed to the max. (vv. 26-27)

Jesus wanted to give comfort and encouragement to His disciples by letting them know His peace would always be within reach. If we are Christ-followers, that promise of peace and comfort is for us today as well.

While still sitting on the front porch steps with my girls, I began to pray and soon felt God’s gift of peace warming me on the inside as the bright sun warmed me on the outside. I found myself feeling thankful for the blessing of family, even on the hardest of days, and especially for the blessing of God’s peace amid chaos.

In every stage of life, there will be “those days” when we feel stretched thin. Days when peace seems unattainable due to stressful or heartbreaking situations. Days when we feel frustrated, hopeless or emotionally exhausted as we face the seemingly never-ending struggles of life. What a comfort to know that, because of Jesus, we can have true peace even in less-than-peaceful circumstances.

On this particular day when my heart felt heavy, God used two faded Easter eggs as reminders that, despite the daily challenges of being a mom and of the various stressors that seemed to consume my days, peace is always available in Him.

Dear Lord, next time I have one of “those days,” please give me a peace that surpasses understanding. Help me to trust You enough to remember that I don’t need to let stress and worry steal my joy. Help me to appreciate what is right in front of me, no matter how hard “those days” are. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

A Call to Return Home..... By Becca Stevens

 A Call to Return Home

By Becca Stevens

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19)

At Thistle Farms, it is our mission to heal, empower, and employ women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Our community believes that in every mistake, there is potential for healing. Nothing a person can do will close the door forever with God and with a loving community- even if that person feels beyond redemption, is put back in prison, or cannot find sobriety in this life. Our practice is simple: take a step back, apologize, make amends, learn something new, and move on.

Once, one of our residents relapsed after she had been in our community for more than a year. During that time, she borrowed money she would never pay back. She stole from her friends, and lied to them too. The damage to her relationships was like a tsunami of destruction. Her downward spiral of devastation ended when she found herself back in prison. One of the first steps on her journey to restoration was to write letters to those she had hurt to say how sorry she was for the things she had done.

Sometimes, the pain in our lives comes from our own thoughts, words, and deeds. In those moments, we must embrace the truth that healing often begins with repentance. In Acts 3:19, Paul challenged his readers to “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” It is language that rings familiar for lovers of the Old Testament. In Ezekiel chapter 14, the prophet challenges Israel’s wayward elders to cast away their idols, and return to their God. “…Repent and turn away from your idols… (Ezekiel 14:6).” Here, the Hebrew word for repent indicates more than a challenge to live differently. It is a call to “return home.”

When we humbly and wholeheartedly repent of the things we have done, as well as the things we have left undone, we find we are once again able to love with our whole hearts. Repentance clears the way for us to enjoy restored relationship with each other.

And through the gift of repentance, we once again rest in God’s great love… our one true home.

When our friend slipped back into her former destructive lifestyle, she deeply hurt those who loved her most. Sadly, she has years in prison ahead of her. Her time behind bars which will afford her the opportunity to build bridges over the trouble waters she stirred during the season in which she wandered away from love. Yet, she may still make it home. The door to healing and reconciliation is open to her because she understands that true freedom is rooted in repentance and forgiveness.

Let's Pray - 

Loving God,

Anoint my head with the balm of peace, and set me on the right path. Give me courage to get back up when I stumble. Give me the eyes to see Your hand at work in the world around me. Teach me to pray for others even in my own suffering. Show me how to love again from the deepest part of my heart and with my whole being. Amen.

Creating Rainbows..... by Katherine Britton

 Creating Rainbows

by Katherine Britton

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” -- Genesis 9:8

That Friday evening, I saw one of the most beautiful sights I will ever see. No, I wasn’t hiking in the mountains or watching the sunset. I was in a very ordinary setting actually – just driving home through downtown Richmond in rush hour traffic. The weather had developed schizophrenia and my windshield wipers were flashing at full speed even though the sun was shining. People were huddled under trees as they waited for their bus, and businessmen in suits were dashing toward their parking garages. The traffic report was not in my favor, and I resigned myself to a long drive home. That’s when I saw it.

One end of a rainbow touched the end of my street, seeming completely out of place with the city skyline and blaring horns. But the rainbow was there all the same; in fact, it grew brighter, until the colors were as distinct as they are in a child’s coloring book. Then a second rainbow appeared over this first one, and as I got closer I could see both ends of the rainbows. I kept snapping pictures on my cell phone, even though I knew that no camera in the world could really capture those colors. That dreary late afternoon commute changed into something that was, well, magical – or, as Noah would have said, miraculous. That very ordinary day was transformed by the visible reminder of God’s promise to Noah. 

The commentator Matthew Henry read the Genesis passage and wrote these words: “The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the sun, which intimates that all the glory and significancy of the seals of the covenant are derived from Christ the Sun of righteousness… As God looks upon the bow, that he may remember the covenant, so should we, that we also may be ever mindful of the covenant, with faith and thankfulness.”

God displayed a visible reminder of His everyday grace on Friday for anyone who looked up, reminding me of the promise He made to extend a common grace to all living things. How often do I take that promise for granted? The truth is, I nearly yelled at a driver on that same drive home after I saw the rainbows, letting a momentary panic get in the way of meditating on an eternal promise. My perspective so often slips into the ordinary, when God’s daily grace is all around me. My prayer this week is that I will not lose focus, but instead, remember the rainbow. Everything else pales in comparison with the brilliance of His glory.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Rainbows appear where the circumstances are just right – where there’s rain and sun. Am I letting rainy day blues crowd out the sun, like I did in responding to the driver who cut me off? Or am I letting the sun break through the ordinary clouds and circumstances? The glory of the Lord shines most brilliantly not when everything is right with the world, but when I live my daily life in remembrance of what He has done for me.

 

A Prayer for When You are Waiting on the Lord..... By Christina Fox

 A Prayer for When You are Waiting on the Lord

By Christina Fox

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope" (Psalm 130:5).

Are you currently in a place of waiting? Perhaps you are waiting for a job, for healing, for restoration in a relationship, or for wisdom to know where you should go next. That place of waiting is a place we are all familiar with. It's a place we find ourselves in often over the course of our lives. Though it's a familiar place and one we know well, we can often grow wearing in our waiting. Sometimes our hearts grow heavy with worry and doubt. Sometimes we might wonder if God has forgotten about us or given up on us.

Father in Heaven, I come before you with my heart filled with so many different thoughts and feelings. I am tense and uncertain about what I should be doing and where I should go. I feel weak and helpless. Powerless. I am worried about what happens next and whether I have the strength to handle it. Deep down I wonder, how long will I be here? Will I be stuck in this place of waiting forever? But most of all, I wonder, where are you? Why haven't you responded to my cries for help?

But even as I pray that, I know you are right where you've always said you would be. You've never left me and you will never forsake me. You hear all my cries. In fact, as David wrote in Psalm 139, you know my thoughts before I even think them. You know exactly what is happening in my life and what will happen next. All things are in your control and nothing can happen apart from your will. Not a sparrow falls to earth without your willing it to and you know the number of hairs on my head. You are never surprised. Even about this issue in my life today. You know why this is happening and will use it for your glory and my good.

As the prophet wrote in Lamentations, "It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" (3:26). Help me to remember that it is good to wait for you. In this place of waiting, help me to remember all that you have done for me through Jesus Christ. Help me to remember that your grace is sufficient to not only save me from sin, but to sustain me each and every day. Your grace is at work in me right now, transforming me and making me more like your Son. Nothing can separate me from you. I am safe in your love.

May I live for you even while I wait. Help me to obey and remain faithful, no matter how long I am in this place of waiting. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.