Praying for Change..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Praying for Change

Dr. Charles Stanley

James 5:16

Hanging above the door in our house, my mother's favorite plaque constantly reminded us, "Prayer changes things." From an early age, I witnessed this powerful truth through her example. She'd tell me about some difficulties she was facing and then have me pray about them with her. And later, she'd always be sure to give God the glory when sharing the awesome news that He had answered those prayers.

Indeed, this is our confidence: Anything we pray for that aligns with the Father's plan will be granted. And the more time we spend with Him, the more we'll come to understand His will and how to pray for it.

Remember, prayer doesn't change God's mind, but it does transform the believer's heart. Some requests are granted immediately, simply because we asked with the realization that our Father loves to give us good gifts. Other requests may require time or certain divine preparations before they can be given. We, meanwhile, must simply be diligent to persevere in prayer.

Whatever the Lord's response or timing, we trust that He has only the very best in store for His children. That means we might not receive exactly what we're asking for, but something even better. Such is God's great pleasure, for He alone perfectly knows each heart's desire and wishes to fulfill it.

Our most powerful tool for shaping the world and lives around us is always available. Prayer lets us witness God's hand in any situation. And as we give attention, time, and perseverance to conversation with Him, we find no limit to what He can achieve in people's hearts and circumstances.

New Bloodline of Freedom..... Craig Denison

 New Bloodline of Freedom

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child.

Scripture:“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” >1 John 3:2-3

Devotional: 

To be the child of God is to be ransomed from a nature bent against God and held captive by the bonds of sin and brought into a new life freed from sin and filled with the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” If you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. At salvation you were filled with God himself, who longs to produce the incredible fruits of righteousness and freedom instead of the sin that robs you of the abundant life afforded to you by Jesus’ sacrifice.

You’ve been given a new bloodline of freedom. The sinful nature of Adam no longer flows through your veins. You’ve been made clean and given a new nature by which you can live freed from enslavement to sin. Paul writes in Romans 6:6-7, “We know that our old self was crucified with [Jesus] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

In order to live each day experiencing the newfound freedom you’ve been given in Christ, you must spend time allowing God to give you fresh perspective. Freedom was bought for us by the blood of Jesus but is experienced through our willingness to allow God to transform and heal us. Experiencing freedom will come by allowing God to lead you away from your past mistakes and guide you into his perfect and pleasing will. Open your heart to him and make space for him to heal the wounds that drive you to sin. Renew your mind to the new nature you’ve been given in Christ, and in humility depend on him for your freedom every hour of every day.

You are the child of God now. This world is no longer your home. That which you see is but a mere shadow of the incredible glory in store for you with your heavenly Father. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” You belong to a new people of God who have the ability and authority to not only live free from sin but also to conquer the terrible acts of our enemy by proclaiming the powerful excellencies of our Father. You have been called out from a life of simply “getting by” into a greater pursuit of seeing God’s kingdom meet the earth and transform hearts and lives for God’s eternal glory.

You’ve been given a new bloodline of freedom. The sinful nature of Adam no longer flows through your veins. You’ve been made clean and given a new nature by which you can live freed from enslavement to sin. Paul writes in Romans 6:6-7, “We know that our old self was crucified with [Jesus] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

In order to live each day experiencing the newfound freedom you’ve been given in Christ, you must spend time allowing God to give you fresh perspective. Freedom was bought for us by the blood of Jesus but is experienced through our willingness to allow God to transform and heal us. Experiencing freedom will come by allowing God to lead you away from your past mistakes and guide you into his perfect and pleasing will. Open your heart to him and make space for him to heal the wounds that drive you to sin. Renew your mind to the new nature you’ve been given in Christ, and in humility depend on him for your freedom every hour of every day.

You are the child of God now. This world is no longer your home. That which you see is but a mere shadow of the incredible glory in store for you with your heavenly Father. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” You belong to a new people of God who have the ability and authority to not only live free from sin but also to conquer the terrible acts of our enemy by proclaiming the powerful excellencies of our Father. You have been called out from a life of simply “getting by” into a greater pursuit of seeing God’s kingdom meet the earth and transform hearts and lives for God’s eternal glory.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” >Titus 2:11-14

Oftentimes we give into temptation because of a past experience we are trying to medicate. Those who struggle with pride are often simply trying to gain affirmation that they’re good enough. Those who struggle with lust are simply trying to be loved. For every habitual sin there is a wound the Lord wants to heal. Take time to continually check your heart for wounds that are keeping you from an abundant life. Don’t medicate wounds with that which will never truly heal you. Instead, allow the Spirit of God to come in and guide you to the path of healing. Your heavenly Father knows every sin you’ve ever dealt with and the reason that you have struggled with it. He longs to guide you into a lifestyle of freedom afforded to you by the sacrifice of Jesus. May you live out the new bloodline of freedom that is yours as the child of the Most High God.

Extended Reading: Romans 6

The Key to Living Wisely..... By Lynette Kittle

 The Key to Living Wisely (Proverbs 11:30)

By Lynette Kittle

Today’s Bible Verse: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives” - Proverbs 11:30

We try to prove we are wise in a variety of ways. We attain degrees, make money, build buildings, and accomplish impressive physical feats like climbing mountains and running marathons.

And yet, Proverbs 11:30 tells us God’s perspective on how to live wisely, which is to save lives. You might read that and think, easier said than done. So how do we go about living this principle out?

Below are four ways we heed this proverb on a day-to-day basis.

1. Share Our Testimony

Each one of us who knows God has a story to tell. Whether dramatic or not, our testimony has the power to influence others to want to know God, too. Through sharing our experience of coming to Him as our Savior, hearts can be softened, touched, and turned towards Him.

Likewise in Luke 21:13, Jesus encourages each of us to tell His testimony for others to hear. Sometimes we think everyone has been told about Jesus and how He came to save us but many still have not heard what He died to give us.

2. Daily Live Out Our Faith

Jesus understood how living out our faith in practical ways by being good to those around us draws people to God. So much so, that the apostle John ends his gospel by describing how there aren’t enough books in the whole world to hold all the good He did while walking on earth. (John 21:25)

Jesus teaches us to not underestimate how God can move hearts through our kindness. Often, actions do speak louder than words.

3. Talk About God

2 Timothy 4:2, urges us to be prepared and ready to talk to others about God. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Yet when opportunities arise, how many times do we pass on telling others about God, thinking it’s not the right place, time, or person to talk with, deciding before even saying a word that they probably won’t be interested?

In telling others about God, we don’t have to figure it all out and understand everything before speaking but trust God to lead us in what to say (Proverbs 3:5).

When feeling insecure or threatened in talking with others, unsure how they will respond, we can ask God for boldness, like the Apostles Peter and John prayed. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts 4:29).

4. Be Willing to Help Turn People Around

People need to hear the truth, to receive instruction on how to make the right decisions in their lives, to be encouraged to trust God, and to turn away from sinful behaviors.

“Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).

Even if we’re not sure others will respond or like what we have to say, it’s important we tell them and let the Holy Spirit reveal the truth to them.

Helping Kids See the Gospel..... by John UpChurch

 Helping Kids See the Gospel

by John UpChurch

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

First, I want to blow up a common misconception. You’ve probably heard that Francis of Assisi, that saint of old, said something along the lines of: "Share the gospel. If necessary, use words." He did, but his story and evangelistic career don't end so abruptly in a manner that suggests we never speak our faith. When you study Francis's life, you find that he spoke the gospel… a lot. He preached on haystacks and street corners and pretty much anywhere people were. He preached to peasants and nobles, lepers and prisoners. So, it's safe to say that he believed in the concept that "faith comes by hearing."

But Francis did back up his preaching with some pretty amazing examples of the gospel. He demonstrated the sacrifice of Christ in ways that the people around him could see and touch. You could say that his life of poverty served as a parable for Christ giving up the riches of heaven (Philippians 2). Given the culture (which wasn’t too different), a rich man’s son choosing rags over raging parties does send a pretty potent message (it’d be like Paris Hilton choosing a monastery over Malibu Beach houses).

So, Francis and his famous quip and his demonstrations of the gospel have given me something to think about. Namely, as a father, how do I make what Christ did real to my girls? How can I show them what I teach with my words and through the Bible? Since I can’t exactly forsake all my possessions and provide for them at the same time, I’ve learned to think on a bit smaller scale.

The Exchange: I admit it. This seems kind of hokey. But I’ve found that simply exchanging something dirty for something clean (with a gospel explanation) has made quite the impact. For example, my oldest daughter hates for any two items on her plate to touch. Even a microscopic amount of mashed potatoes befouling her green beans is enough to make her queasy. So, instead of fighting about the silliness of it, I recently just traded one of my un-besmirched beans for hers. When I did so, I pointed out that this is similar to what Jesus did for us. He took our dirtiness of sin and gave us His cleanness (2 Corinthians 5:21). She studied the bean with squinty eyes and then ate it.

The Takeaway: This isn’t something I do often—just so we’re clear. But every once in a while, when my girls do something that deserves some “reflection time” in the “reflection chair,” I take away the punishment completely. That only works if I know they’re truly repentant about what they’ve done (and if they know it’s uncommon). I point out that they deserved punishment—according to our if/then Scripture chart—but they aren’t getting what they deserve (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

The Substitute: This isn’t one I’ve used just yet because I want them to be a little older. But my wife and I have planned something we hope will really drive home the point. When they mess up, I'm going to take the punishment they deserved. I'm going to lose the privilege they should have lost, to suffer the consequences of their failures. I want them to see that Jesus did just that for us (Isaiah 53).

Intersecting Faith & Life: No earthly example can truly capture what Jesus did—not Francis, not my dinner table exchanges. His sacrifice is just too ridiculously huge. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try. Be intentional with your teachable moments. A tangible example of what you preach with your lips can reach people in ways that words alone cannot.

For Further Reading

Philippians

A Prayer for More Self Control..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for More Self Control

By: Emily Rose Massey

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” - 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

2 AM.

There I was, scrolling Instagram mindlessly once again and getting sucked into the black hole of the pages of “influencers” advertising product after product, sale after sale, deal after deal. It was getting so out of hand that I was finding myself clicking “add to cart” and hiding the packages from my husband when the boxes showed up on our doorstep a few days later. I knew it was wrong, but it felt like the temptation was too strong to stop this familiar cycle of impulsive buying. But this was a lie. No temptation is too strong for us to overcome.

It is important to remember that we don’t base truth on our feelings. We must look to what God’s Word says to renew our minds with His truth and gain wisdom on making healthy and righteous choices. When it comes to self-control and overcoming any temptation that we face, we can find truth in 1 Corinthians. The apostle Paul states:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

God is faithful to help us walk in righteousness. He gives us the grace to walk in freedom from the alluring and enticing nature of sinful habits. If we allow our flesh to rule us, we will follow it into a pit of unrighteousness. There is forgiveness for us in Christ, but we must repent when we find ourselves continuing on a path of unrighteous choices. We may feel like the temptation is too much to bear, but God always provides us a way of escape; we must ask the Lord to give us wisdom and spiritual eyes to see the way out. For me, personally, the wisdom was to unfollow these influencers’ Instagram pages so that the temptation of what they were sharing was no longer before my eyes continually.

The Holy Spirit is faithful to continue to give us wisdom and guidance and strengthen us when we submit our ways to Him. He will convict our hearts, remind us of what the Bible says, and cultivate the fruit that we have received, especially the fruit of self-control. As believers, we have received the fruit of the Spirit, and just like fruit in the natural, it must be cultivated. The longer we walk with the Lord and study His Word, the more our fruit is developed and strengthened within us. May we continually ask for God’s help when we are tempted and trust that He will help us overcome sin when we are struggling.

Father God,

This life on earth comes with many trials and many temptations. We are not promised a life free from temptations, but we are promised that You will always give us the strength and grace to overcome those temptations, as well as a way of escape to make Godly choices in obedience to You. I am not able to walk in obedience without Your Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for convicting my heart when I am walking in disobedience and giving into what satisfies my flesh. I long to be obedient to You, Lord. Help me cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, especially the fruit of self-control. You are a God of self-control, and I long to look like You in everything I say and do. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.