Handling Difficult Circumstances..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Handling Difficult Circumstances

Dr. Charles Stanley

Philippians 3:8-11

The apostle Paul understood how to handle tough circumstances. Even while he was confined in a prison cell, he kept his eyes on Christ and trusted firmly in the Savior. Therefore, despite being in chains, he was able to celebrate the Lord’s work in his life. In fact, the epistle he wrote from jail to the Philippians was filled with rejoicing (1:18; 2:18; 3:1).

Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one. Our instinct is to dwell on the situation at hand, searching for solutions or stewing over the pain and difficulty. As a result, troubles look scary and overwhelm us with a sense of defeat.

However, fear and defeat cannot live long in a heart that trusts the Lord. I’m not saying you’ll forget what you’re going through, but you can choose to dwell on His provision and care instead. He is the Deliverer (2 Cor. 1:10). He is the Healer (Deut. 32:39). He is the Guide (Prov. 3:6).  The believer who lays claim to divine promises discovers that God pushes back negative emotions. In their place, hope, confidence, and contentment take up residence (Phil. 4:11). You aren’t going to be happy about a difficult situation, but you can be satisfied that God is in control and up to something good in the midst of trouble.

The Lord’s principles and promises don’t change, no matter how severe or painful the situation is. Focus on Christ instead of the circumstances—God will comfort your heart and bring you safely through the trial. Then you can answer Paul’s call to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4).

Joy in Every Circumstance..... Craig Denison

 Joy in Every Circumstance

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

As children of the Most High God, we are to be marked by contagious, unceasing joy. Through the Holy Spirit we have access to an unending supply of joy that comes from the wellspring of restored relationship with our heavenly Father. God longs to fill us with his joy that we might live the abundant life Jesus died to give us. He longs to make us children fashioned in the image of our Father that we might share his unending joy to a world without hope. May you discover the greater portion of joy available to you through the Spirit as you encounter the heart of your Father this week.

Scripture:“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

Devotional:

The joy of the Lord available to us in the Holy Spirit transcends all circumstances, relationships, and possessions. It is an internal joy fed to our hearts by the wellspring of joy the Father has toward us. God longs to make us a people marked by his joy. He longs to fill us with the knowledge of how thrilled he is to be our Father. He longs to make us a joyful people in every circumstance and season. 1 Peter 1:6-9 says,

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We can have joy in the midst of trial and tribulation because we have a genuine faith that this life is not all there is. Our hope reaches far beyond the confines of this fleeting age of sin and separation from God and looks toward the day when we will live in perfect, face-to-face relationship with our Creator. Every trial and tribulation is an opportunity to cling to the truth that this world is not our home and to be filled with joy at the thought of what awaits us on the other side of this life.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” While God may not cause the various trials we face, he most certainly uses them to cause our joy to find its source in him alone. Our heavenly Father knows that if we place our joy in the fleeting and fickle circumstances of this life our lives will be an emotional rollercoaster rather than a reflection of how consistently good he is.

Your heavenly Father has a compassionate heart toward the problems you face. He never desires for you to act or try and drum up faith that everything will be all right. He longs to meet you at the very core of your trial and fill you with abundant joy that’s rooted in his love alone. He longs to guide you through the tough seasons of life that try and rob you of your allotted portion of joy. He longs to make your faith steadfast and sure so you can meet the tribulations of this world head-on with joy. Run to your Father today with every weight and problem. Ask him to guide you to the still waters that your soul might be restored. And receive all the joy he longs to give you today as you encounter his deep and powerful love for you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to fill you with joy in every circumstance.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

2. What trial or tribulation are you facing that God longs to use to strengthen your faith with joy? Where does God want to meet you today that you might live with the joy of his love rather than the weight of the world?

3. Ask God to guide you to the source of joy for your circumstance. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you proper perspective about your life. Open your heart and allow God to come and love you where you’re at.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

May Mother Teresa's words spur you toward a lifestyle of joy today:

“Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.”

Extended Reading: James 1

Moving Beyond Failure..... SHARON JAYNES

 Moving Beyond Failure

SHARON JAYNES

“When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’” Exodus 3:4a (NIV)

Sometimes, walking or running away from my failure is easier than facing it.

I’ve walked away from a struggling friendship rather than working through the rough patch to keep it strong.

I've walked away from an open door of opportunity because the closed door of a past failure still resounded in my ears.

But what opportunities we miss when we abandon something, whether it be a relationship, job or a ministry. We don’t even consider that something better is beyond our failure! And that’s where we find Moses in Exodus 2-3.

Moses was raised as an Egyptian, but one day Moses was walking among his people and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. After glancing first one way and then another to make sure no one was looking, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

The very next day, Moses realized his actions were widely known. Pharaoh was out to kill him, and his fellow Hebrews mocked him. Moses had failed on many levels, so he bailed.

Moses fled to a place called Midian, married a woman named Zipporah and joined her family business taking care of sheep. The next time we see Moses, 40 years have passed, and his life has not gone as he expected. Born into a palace and placed in the perfect position to alleviate his people’s oppression, he blew it all with one mistake.

Oh, sister, I’ve been there. Have you?

Moses was stuck hiding in Midian, held hostage by his failures. He had settled for less than what he was made for. Less than what God had prepared him for. Less than what he had hoped for in himself.

This is where many people plant themselves and settle. They make a mistake, fall flat on their face and run away to the far side of the wilderness, hoping no one will notice, maybe hoping to forget about it themselves. Praying everyone will just leave them alone while at the same time absolutely miserable that life has morphed into a monotonous, lackluster checklist. Like Moses, many bury their hopes and dreams to protect their hearts from further disappointment.

But that’s not where God wanted Moses to stay, and that’s not where God wants you to stay, either. We all fail. We all make mistakes. Peter did. Moses did. Jacob did. Samson did. David did. But just because you failed does not mean you ARE a failure. You are a child of God … a child who makes mistakes.

At just the right time, God set a bush on fire right in front of Moses. Exodus 3:4a tells us, “When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’”

Once God had Moses’ attention, God told him it was time to get unstuck and move forward. God wasn’t finished with Moses. In the following chapters of Exodus, we see that God brought Moses back to Egypt, where he was a wanted man. God placed him right in front of Pharaoh, where God spoke through Moses and eventually freed the Hebrews — the Israelites — to put them on the path to His promised land.

God is not finished with you or me, either. He has a plan … a good and perfect plan. And no failure of yours is big enough to thwart it.

So if you feel stuck, if you’ve failed and bailed to your far side of the wilderness, it’s time to get unstuck and move forward. God is calling you to let go of your failure, move forward in all He has for you to do and live boldly.

Dear God, I cringe at the times I’ve failed and bailed. But I am thankful for Your love that calls me out of the wilderness of failure and into the well-watered garden of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Who Does God Call?..... By: Lynette Kittle

 Who Does God Call? (1 Corinthians 1:26)

By: Lynette Kittle

Today’s Bible Verse: “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth” (1 Corinthians 1:26).

Here is a question I have been considering as of late: have we forgotten the kinds of people whom God calls and reveals His power in and through? Does it seem like many of us are looking to the cultural standards around us to decide who is qualified for spiritual leadership?

The world around us believes more in educational degrees, prestigious titles and awards, and those who seem polished and cultured. They are quick to disqualify or overlook those who lack certain bells and whistles.

For those who don’t fit into the world’s standards of importance, it can make them feel like they don’t quite measure up. But be encouraged because God loves to call those deemed unqualified, underestimated, and overlooked by people to accomplish His will. Often God calls the weary, worn out, and even the way out to move through on earth.

How God Chooses

It seems more and more that believers are adopting the standards of the world inside the Church. But God sees deeper than outward appearances and achievements. He’s much more concerned with the condition of our hearts than the degrees hanging on our walls.

1 Samuel 16:7 explains how people look at the outward appearance of men and women, but God looks at the heart.

How many times have you heard individuals criticizing, maybe even making fun of, or laughing at ministries or individuals who aren’t using the highest technology or presenting themselves in the most polished way when presenting the Gospel?

Some believe God only works through the cultured and refined. 1 Corinthians 1:27 gives us a different standard of assessment: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

People who criticize who God calls are assessing their efforts on worldly standards instead of God’s vision for spreading His truth. 1 Corinthians 1:28 goes on to explain how he works. “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him."

Think of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4) – Elijah (1 Kings 17:5-6), Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2) and more unlikely individuals described in the Bible. They didn’t fit society’s vision of an influencer, and still, God chose to reveal Himself through them.

God Empowers Us

God doesn’t want us boasting in how many degrees we possess, what technology we use, or in our polished looks. Rather, as 1 Corinthians 1:31 tells us, “Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'"

God chooses to work through our weaknesses, so that those who see and hear us know the power demonstrated through us is from God and not us. 2 Corinthians 4:7, explains, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Unqualified..... by Ryan Duncan

 Unqualified

by Ryan Duncan

It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. - Deuteronomy 13:4

Sometimes I feel like, as a Christian, I’m no good. I have no memory for Bible verses, I don’t have any gifts in leadership or preaching, and I’ve done some pretty stupid, not to mention embarrassing, things while trying to serve Christ in the past. In moments like these, I try to remember Gladys Alyward.

Gladys Alyward was a London-born woman who became a missionary to China in the 1930’s. Another missionary named Mrs. Lawson had invited Alyward to China, where the two women would run an inn and tell Bible stories to the passing travelers. Lawson and Alyward were the only foreigners in the city, at a time when Europeans were looked on with great distrust by the Chinese, and not long after her arrival, Mrs. Lawson suffered a severe fall and died a few days later.

Only a few weeks after Lawson’s death, Alyward was approached by the city’s Mandarin. The government had decided to put an end to the ancient practice of foot-binding, and this meant the government needed a foot-inspector, a woman (someone who could invade the women's quarters without scandal) who would patrol the district and enforce the decree. Though Alyward was now running the inn by herself, she chose to accept the position and used it to minister to countless individuals.

A year after that, Alyward was once again summoned by the Mandarin. A riot had broken out at a local prison, and Alyward was told to calm it. The prison guards had heard of her strange religion and wanted to put it to the test, so Alyward had no choice but to walk into the rampaging prison. To everyone’s surprise, when Alyward called for the rioting prisoners to stop, they did. She told them to select a spokesman for the prisoners whom she could speak with, which again, they did without argument. It turned out the prisoners were confined to close quarters all day, with nothing to do and nothing to eat but food sent to them by family members. Though prison reform was unheard of at the time, Alyward managed to gather equipment the men could use to grind grain, earning them money for food.

As the years passed, the people of the city gave Alyward the name Ai-weh-deh, meaning "Virtuous One." Her inn expanded to become an orphanage where she cared for over 100 children, and when the Japanese threatened to invade in WWII, it was she who led the children over the mountains to safety. Alyward continued to preach the message of Christ all her life until she died in 1970.

Funny thing about Gladys Alyward: when she first applied to be a missionary, she was turned down. The organization she’d applied for considered her "unqualified" to minister in a foreign country.

God loves unqualified Christians. Look at Peter - a day laborer and a coward. Look at Matthew, who was a tax collector and an outcast. Look at Mary, who the scripture say Jesus cast twelve demons from. Don’t underestimate what Christ can do with your life. Give God one willing Christian, and he can change the face of the world.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Do you feel like an unqualified Christian? Don’t feel down; pray to God and seek a place where you can serve him.

Further Reading
Romans 12:11

A Prayer of Praise for God’s Sovereignty..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer of Praise for God’s Sovereignty

By: Emily Rose Massey

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” - Romans 8:28, NASB

Providence is the act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation.

That is the word that comes to mind when I think about my experience with the birth of my third son, Jude. I had been listening to sermons the entire week about not being anxious or worried leading up until the day I went into labor with him. I’m so glad I prepared my heart with those teachings because I had no idea how much I would need to trust the Lord as I prepared to give birth to our sweet baby Jude.

When Jude entered the world, he was lifeless and not breathing for what seemed like an eternity. It was a scary several minutes for me not knowing what was happening as they rushed him to the other end of the room, but now I continue to praise Him for His great sovereignty, knowing that He was faithful to hear my cries of “Please Father” and saved my son. In His providence, He prepared me for an extremely anxious-filled situation.

I cannot truly put into words the gratitude that my heart has felt these last six months as I reflect on those extremely intense moments after Jude’s birth and the moments of seeing my little man with all the tubes and wires on his tiny body when I nursed him for the first time in the NICU. Truly, the Lord was so incredibly merciful to us that day.

Nothing with God is coincidence or happenstance; He is sovereign and in control of every detail in our life, guiding our every step. His work in our lives is providential through and through, and He causes all things to work out for our good and for His glory.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB).

After this life-changing experience, this verse has had a profound impact upon my heart as I continue to reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God.

We serve a mighty God who is completely providential and sovereign over all things in our lives. Because of that, He can be trusted and you can find rest. Let’s pray.

Father God,

I praise You for Your mighty providential hand in my life. You are in control and You work every detail for my good and for Your glory. Even amid the unknown, that may cause anxiety, I choose to trust You and rest in Your sovereignty.

You are worthy to be praised for who You are. I am so thankful for Your sovereignty that guides, protects, and holds my life together. Continue to strengthen my faith in you. Help me be a light to others who also need to trust your sovereignty.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.