Reasons to Surrender..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Reasons to Surrender

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As we learned yesterday, God tells us to surrender our lives to Him. This is no small task. All our plans, every desire we feel, each entitlement that once seemed our right—everything is put aside in order to make way for our King’s will. But perhaps you have wondered why God can ask this of us.

The Lord has every right to demand that we give Him our all. First, Scripture teaches us that He is sovereign—the King and Ruler over the entire universe. As a result, we are under His authority, whether we choose to submit or not. Next, through His death and resurrection, Jesus saved us from our sin and its consequences. Therefore, we are indebted to Him more than we could ever repay. And finally, He sustains us; we should consider each breath and heartbeat a gift from Him.

Undoubtedly, God is entitled to ask that we yield our life to Him. At the same time, surrender is in our best interest. The Father promises that following Him leads to hope and an established future. Psalm 31:19 states, “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You . . .” So, while He is the Almighty One with all authority to demand our life, He promises to care for us and to do what will benefit us most.

Are you willing to put yourself aside in order to follow Jesus? His way is best, and it offers hope, joy, and peace. We will not always like everything He chooses at the moment, but He promises to work all things for good. Will you trust God enough to hand the reins over to Him?

A Wealth of Fatherly Affections..... Craig Denison

 A Wealth of Fatherly Affections

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:“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” Psalm 36:5

Devotional:

Being the child of God gives us an open invitation into the endless affections our heavenly Father has for us. There is no end to the wealth of his love. There is no limit to how deeply and tangibly we can experience his heart. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we can live our lives totally and completely experiencing the love of the Creator and Sustainer of all.

Psalm 36:5 says, “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” When you look across the horizon as far as your eye can see, picture the arms of your heavenly Father stretching even farther than the faintest speck of blue sky. When you see the clouds in their immensity and wonder, picture the enormity of your God’s faithful love toward you.

So great is the wealth of affections your heavenly Father has toward you that he would send his pure, blameless Son as payment for the sins that have kept you from experiencing his love. So great was his desire for you to know his heart that Jesus gave his life, creating a bridge across the vast chasm of sin that separated you and the Father.

1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Most of us wander through life looking for any source of love we can find. We give ourselves to people, jobs, society, and wrongful expectations trying our hardest to satiate an insatiable need to be loved. Only in making time to receive God’s perfect, tangible, and transformative affections will our need to be loved finally be satisfied. Only when we look to the cross as a continual reminder that we are fully and forever loved will we stop searching for affections from a world that will only ever reject and disappoint us.

Your heavenly Father longs for you to experience the wealth of his affections today. He longs to guide you into a safe place of simply being loved by him. This broken and needy world has taught us to shield the wounded places of our hearts from any outside contact. We’re taught to just get over our wounds, pick ourselves up, and let our scars be signs of our inner strength. God wants to take your wounds and heal them with his perfect love. He wants to take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it into real, eternal good. He’s waiting right now to love you and make you whole. He’s waiting right now to satisfy the deep longing to be loved you’ve carried with you all your life.

Take time in guided prayer to truly encounter the love of your heavenly Father. Wait on his presence and open your heart to him in response to his love and faithfulness. He will shepherd you to green pastures and still waters if you make time and follow his leadership. May you experience the wealth of affections your heavenly Father has for you as you pray.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the wealth of affections your heavenly Father has for you.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” - Isaiah 49:15-16

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” - 1 John 4:10

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” - Luke 15:20

2. What wound are you carrying that God longs to heal with his love? What past experience has affected you for too long? What part of your heart have you kept shielded that God longs to speak to today?

3. Ask the Lord to guide you into a transformational encounter with his love. Ask him to help you receive all the love he has to give you today. Take time to wait on him and rest in his presence. Don’t leave this place of rest until you feel satisfied and renewed.

May Ephesians 1:3-10 stir your heart to pursue the depth of affections your heavenly Father has for you throughout your day today:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 1

When Life Doesn’t Follow Your Plans..... BRENDA BRADFORD OTTINGER

 When Life Doesn’t Follow Your Plans

BRENDA BRADFORD OTTINGER

“‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.” Matthew 14:29 (NLT)

Short on time and long on impatience, I jotted a nearby address into my GPS one morning, and to my surprise, the highlighted route stretched wide and winding across the dashboard map.

As I backed out of the driveway, I thought, What ever happened to “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line”?

But as my speed calmed and reason returned, I was glad to be guided along the rambling, paved route rather than the short, straight line through a dense forest of pine trees where no path existed.

And it occurred to me that day that straight lines in life are rare.

So often, I’ve wanted to navigate my own route, bypassing the bends and backroads of life, seeking a direct path to my plans — when God hasn’t paved a way for them yet.

As a result, I’ve spent miles of life recalculating, circling in confusion, fearful to move along unfamiliar paths.

Yet I’ve come to realize that straight lines aren’t always in God’s navigational system either. God’s way is often a winding path paved on the waters of faith.

Consider Peter. He and some of Jesus’ other disciples had spent the evening with Jesus, healing and miraculously feeding a crowd of over 5,000. As the disciples travelled home across the lake, a sudden storm stirred up. As their vessel struggled against the waves, they looked up and saw Jesus walking toward them on the surface of the water. “Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.’ ‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.” (Matthew 14:28-29, NLT)

Peter’s testimony of faith that day wasn’t simply in his toes strolling through the waves but in his acceptance of a holy invitation to join Jesus on an unconventional path.

In that moment, Peter didn’t walk on shallow waters where his feet could catch the sandy shores of security. Rather, Jesus invited Peter to walk in the deep — and that’s His invitation to us, as well.

The path He leads us on is often a winding, meandering route on the waves of life, not the simple, straight line we might choose. But, just as Jesus calmed His disciples with the comfort of His presence that night, He does the same for us: “‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’” (Matthew 14:27b-c, NLT).

Friend, even when God’s plan for us feels long and divergent, take heart — He’s here, ordering every mile as we release our routes and join Him on the path He prepared in advance for us. (Ephesians 2:10)

Sometimes faith looks like remaining on an unexpected path in life and choosing courage, resting in the assurance that the Guide of our lives will never lead us where His presence won’t meet us.

For, at its very essence, faith is a safe shelter for our souls, bridging the gap between the known and unknown, freeing us to rest in the God who’s with us.

When we’re tempted to rush toward plans we long for, eager to bypass unexpected routes, may we instead quiet our bustling spirits and press into the tender leadership of God.

And when those times come along when our faith begins to sink, as Peter’s eventually did that night, and we’re distracted by the storms of life … even still, the very same Jesus who remained beside Peter to lift him up remains beside us, ready to answer our cries for help. (Matthew 14:30-33)

Dear Lord, thank You for being the Guide of my life. Please help me surrender my will to Your way today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How to Recognize a Rebellious Heart..... By Lynette Kittle

 How to Recognize a Rebellious Heart (Isaiah 14:13)

By Lynette Kittle

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15

My family was surprised with my results from the online quiz we took just for fun, designed to see which of a favorite classic TV show’s character we’re most like.

Yet when my answer identified me with the rebellious one, I wasn’t shocked. “You’re not rebellious at all,” they said, dismissing the outcome, trying to comfort me and make me feel better.

While I know the silly quiz was a marketing tool designed to engage online readers’ participation, it still seemed as if God was gently speaking to me. Inside, I know the truth. And God knows the truth, too. Sometimes my heart has been rebellious.

So what is rebellion, where does it come from, and do I need to be concerned?

Although worldly culture celebrates rebellion and loves the heart of a rebel, like the 1955 classic film Rebel Without a Cause, rebellion is nothing to celebrate. There is arrogance behind it. It is all about rejecting and challenging God’s authority, setting ourselves above Him.

Isaiah 14:13-14 describes the scene where Satan rebelled against God. “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Satan’s rebellion was the height of arrogance, rejection and challenge.

Unlike the world’s opinion, God sees rebellion as a serious issue. In response to Satan’s rebellious uprising, Isaiah 14:12 reports the results. “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You’ve been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!”

Luke 10:18, further describes the scene. “He (Jesus) replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”

Revelation 12:9 gives us another angle on the story. “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

Why does this all matter? Finding where rebellion originated and the consequences of it helps to lessen its day-to-day appeal. Still, simply identifying the origin of our rebellion doesn’t mean we are aware of the ways it might express itself in our lives. Here are just a few ways rebellion shows up:

• Refusing to listen to God’s instructions for life (Isaiah 30:9)
• Being disloyal to God in our thoughts and actions (Psalm 78:8)
• Carrying out our own plans rather than God’s will for our lives (Isaiah 30:1)

• Forming alliances with ungodly businesses, entertainment, and personalities (Isaiah 30:1)
• Turning away from God and going our own way (Jeremiah 5:23)
• Selling out to the world by following their counsel rather than God’s Word (Isaiah 1:23)

The next time we’re tempted to be rebellious, instead of turning away from God, let’s choose to turn toward Him. Joel 2:13, urges us to return to God, who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

The Hardest Prayer You Can Pray..... by Liz Kanoy

 The Hardest Prayer You Can Pray

by Liz Kanoy

“Jesus said, ’Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing’” ( Luke 23:34).

The context of this verse occurs when Jesus is being crucified. Though He was innocent, He carried His cross alongside two criminals to the place where they would be crucified, called The Skull (Golgotha). On the cross, the Son of God—situated between two sinners deserving of death—spoke to His Father and said, ’Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing’” ( Luke 23:34). This was and is the worst crime in the history of the world; the only innocent Man to live on this earth, the only Man undeserving of death and punishment was put to death in the most humiliating and unfair way … and He said what?

This prayer was directed toward the taunting crowd, religious leaders happily observing His death, apathetic Roman soldiers placing bets for His clothing, and the criminals on either side of Him. Could you forgive someone for a terrible crime simply because they do not know God? This is the hardest prayer anyone can pray. To forgive someone undeserving of forgiveness; to forgive someone who does not even recognize their need for forgiveness.

Could you pray this prayer for terrorists, for killers, for gunmen, for bullies, for family members who hurt you deeply, for friends who stab you in the back, for co-workers who use you, for any number of circumstances that cause you or someone you love pain.

On my own, I know I cannot pray this prayer—for I am far too angered by injustice, by acts of evil, by selfish deceit. But with the Holy Spirit as my Helper and my Advocate, I can seek to grow in this prayer. To see people as not just wrong or evil but incredibly lost … and to pray most of all for God to make Himself known to them, for He is the One whom all wrongs are ultimately committed against.

Jesus forgave those who murdered Him not only on the cross but also in their hearts. He saw their state of lostness and just as He had compassion on the crowds who surrounded him during his ministry he had compassion on His persecutors.

Intersecting Faith and Life: If Jesus is our utmost example for Holy living according to God’s will, then we can follow His example even in this—the offering of forgiveness to those who persecute us. Let us pray for our persecutors and our enemies that they might know the love of God and the freedom of forgiveness and grace.

Further Reading:
Acts 3:17
Acts 13:27
Acts 14:16
Acts 17:30
Acts 26:9

A Prayer for Walking in the Unknown..... By: Chelsey DeMatteis­

 A Prayer for Walking in the Unknown

By: Chelsey DeMatteis­

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

The unknown isn’t a season any of us enjoy. It causes us to look deep inside ourselves and examine our faith. We wrestle with questions that look a lot like these; Do I really trust what God is doing? Do I really trust that He knows how to handle this?

I believe these are natural things to ask when we’re suddenly in the fire. Here, we suddenly see we have little to no control over what’s ahead of us. If you’re like me, you’ve asked these questions - not because you doubt who God is, but because your heart is so heavy from what’s taking place.

The question I typically ask is, “Do I really trust what God is doing?” I know God is good, but I know God’s version of good and my version of good can look drastically different. Which will I turn toward? God’s goodness or mine?

As my husband and I have been journeying through an issue with his eye health, I’ve had to continue refocusing on Jesus. I have to remember that God is good and I can trust what He’s doing while we’re in the limbo of things being completely fine or something serious.

Your season of unknown may not be a medical diagnosis, but I’m certain whatever it is, it’s been one that has left you questioning God. I’m sure you’ve also had to refocus your heart and mind on the truth that God is good.

One of my friends shared Isaiah 41:10 with me while we’ve been in this season of the unknown. She prompted me to place my husband's name in place of “your” in this scripture. This was powerful. It was in this conversation that I was reminded why we must pray God’s Word back to Him. While there isn’t much clarity in the season of the unknown, I believe when we begin to cry out to God through His Word, we begin to get heavenly clarity in our hearts. That clarity results in His peace.

Peace and unknowns don’t seem like they should go together, but what if these two things are exactly what God uses so we can sense His presence in a supernatural way. Only He can turn unknowns into holy ground, and I’ve watched Him turn this season into holy ground for us. It’s caused me to pray aloud over my husband more than ever before, we’ve reached out for prayer to our whole church community in a way we’ve not done before, we’ve called friends to pray in very specific ways, and we’ve seen God move in detailed ways. Ways that without this circumstance we’d never see or experience.

God desires this same thing for you. He wants to take the unknowns in your life and turn them into holy ground. He wants to turn them into seasons where you learn more about Him and His deep love for you.

Pray with me:

Lord, today as we walk through the seasons of the unknown help us to see you. God, encourage my heart with the truth of your word - you are with me, I am yours, you will strengthen me, you will help me, and you will hold me. Jesus, as I look at my circumstances help me to be overcome with your peace. Blanket my family in your protection and please give us discernment as we journey this out with you leading the way. In Jesus’s name, Amen.