Trust and Obey..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Trust and Obey

 Dr. Charles Stanley

Joshua 6:1-5

One of my favorite songs is "Trust and Obey" because it sums up God's purpose for our lives. When we practice these two commands, a beautiful cycle begins. Trusting the Lord makes obedience easier, and obedience produces ever-increasing trust. Can you recall facing a challenge that was difficult or perplexing? If so, you know how important these two commands are.

When the Lord calls you to a task that seems unreasonable, you have two options. You can obey Him even though you don't understand what will happen, or you can become fearful and attempt to find a way out. Joshua chose the first option. Because he trusted the Lord, he disregarded all his military experience and adopted God's bizarre battle plan. Over the years, he had learned that the Lord is trustworthy.

The way we respond to God's challenging assignments reveals our level of commitment. We may feel as if we're right in step with Him--until He proposes a change of direction. That's when our resistance kicks in, and with it, the realization we aren't as close to Him as we thought. At that point, our decision determines whether the Lord will be able to use us as He desires. Because Joshua never lost his commitment, he continued to serve the Lord for the remainder of his life.

At times obedience is a struggle, as your mind runs through all the reasons God's path is illogical. Fear dominates and your will battles to comply when everything within is screaming to run the other way. But obedience is always the best choice, because the Lord is trustworthy and wise.

The Day Is Approaching..... Craig Denison

 The Day Is Approaching

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven this week: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” - Colossians 3:1-4

Scripture:“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” - Matthew 24:36

Devotional:

Have you ever counted down the days until you’ll be able to see a good friend? Have you ever felt anticipation and butterflies as the time separating you and a loved one grows smaller? I grew up knowing that I should feel this way about heaven, but if I am honest I never truly felt the same anticipation and longings for perfect communion with my Savior as I did for a dear friend.

I think the idea of an eternal worship service scared me. Having to worship God for all eternity sounded far worse than spending time hanging out with my best friends here on earth. The truth is I didn’t have a true, tangible revelation of God’s love for me. I didn’t have an understanding of the incredible, deep, overwhelming satisfaction I feel when my heart touches God’s heart in worship. I honestly didn’t know the person of Jesus enough to want to spend all of eternity with him. Jesus teaches in Matthew 25:1-13,

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered, saying, “Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.” And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he answered, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The day of Jesus’ return is approaching. Matthew 24:36 says, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Our Savior, the King of kings, will return with love in his heart for all those who have come to know him. The question before us today is this: are we like the five wise virgins who have prepared ourselves? Are our lamps burning with the intimacy of unveiled relationship with our Creator while here on the earth? Are we preparing for the return of our King by cultivating a lifestyle of love for both our bridegroom and others around us?

I’ve spent most of my life declaring I knew God by going to church, going on mission trips, saying the right things, and trying to do nothing wrong. My actions represented fear and a desire for inclusion in the Christian culture more than actual love and desire for Christ himself. Take time in guided prayer to truly analyze your heart. There is abundant grace today for wherever you find yourself in relation to your Savior. Be honest with yourself and look at how you feel about heaven. Are you prepared for the return of the King or living for the earth over heaven? Is the oil of relationship with Jesus in your lamp or are your fumes running out with the cares and pursuits of the world? May the Holy Spirit draw each of us into greater depths of intimacy with Jesus until the day our bridegroom returns.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the parable of the ten virgins. Allow Scripture to stir your heart toward deeper relationship with Jesus.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” - Matthew 25:1-13

2. Are you prepared for the return of Jesus? Truly look at your heart. What longings are driving you? Are you living for heaven or pursuing the things of the world? Is the oil of intimacy with Jesus in your lamp or are you running on the fumes of cultural Christianity?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into greater depths of relationship with Jesus. Ask him to reveal to you the depths of God’s love and grace.

God has a plan to guide you to a path of greater relationship with him if you will simply choose to follow his leadership. If you will daily say yes to him over the world, you will begin to feel a fire growing in your heart for Jesus’ return. Once we experience the relationship with God we were created for, nothing else truly satisfies. His love is greater, purer, more real, and more powerful than anything else we will ever experience. Choose today to follow the leadership of the Spirit and grow in intimacy with the King who laid down his life for you to know his love.

Extended Reading: Matthew 25

Who Decides What Is Hard?..... TRACY DOUGHTERY

 Who Decides What Is Hard?

TRACY DOUGHTERY

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had …” Romans 15:5 (NIV)

We often hear on the news and social media the stories people share of the hard things they are going through. I have to admit that sometimes I want to roll my eyes at what people say is “hard.”

But recently, God reminded me of an experience I had when my family was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana. My husband was part of the invasion into Iraq, and we didn’t know when he would return home. We didn’t know if he would return home.

I was in a leadership position for a women's ministry that serves military spouses. One morning, I was in the front yard with our daughters when my phone rang. When I answered, a soft voice on the other end said, “Hi, Tracy. You don't know me. My name is Susan. I don't know who else to call, but I need prayer."

I responded, “Yes, of course, any time! How can I pray for you?”

She said, "We just moved here, and I know many husbands are deployed to Iraq. My husband just left for two weeks’ Temporary Duty to the Pentagon. I have a 2-year-old and a newborn, and I’m really nervous."

Immediately, I thought, Her husband is gone for only two weeks — he’s still in the U.S. — and no one is shooting at him. Really?! I haven't even talked to my husband in almost three months! 

Fortunately, the Holy Spirit got a hold of my mouth before I could say anything insensitive or unkind. Then the Holy Spirit got a hold of my heart. What this woman was experiencing was hard! Two weeks by herself in a new place with a 2-year-old and a newborn — that’s certainly hard.

What’s considered “hard” in our lives isn't up for comparison.

So I got the young mother’s contact information and invited her to some kid-friendly events that I thought she would enjoy and where she could connect with other women. Then I prayed for her while we were on the phone. I checked back in with her a few days later. As I ended the call that day, I realized this:

It's not up to me to decide what's hard. I just need to love others through their hard.

Just as Romans 15:5 says, we are to have the same “attitude of mind” toward others that Christ has toward us — one of grace, love and understanding. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had …” (Romans 15:5)

So how can I have an attitude like Jesus toward other people? The key is to ask God. We can depend on God to provide; He is faithful.

No matter what we’re all going through, our current situations may very well be hard — they’re just hard in different ways. The situation I deem easy — our college-aged daughter coming home from school during the pandemic to live with us temporarily — is hard for the single mother who now has her children home with no childcare and can’t go to work. That’s hard … but we can’t dwell on the hard. We can’t allow all our focus to be on the hard. But we can love and encourage one another through the hard … and, in fact, that’s exactly what we’re called to do.

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to the challenges others around me are experiencing. Give me a Christ-like attitude toward them and a desire to love them well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Finding Peace in the Midst of Pain..... By John D. Barry

 Finding Peace in the Midst of Pain

By John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus' Economy

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” (NIV) - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

There are moments in life that seem to lack all peace. Instead, they are only full of pain. How can we find peace in times such as these? Paul the apostle, who was deeply familiar with pain, had some thoughts on that.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18. Reflect on  2 Thessalonians 3:16

The church at Thessalonica had endured incredible pain, as had Paul. From those who didn’t believe in Jesus, they had experienced persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:4; 3:1–2). Thus, Paul does not tritely offer these words about peace.

For Paul, peace was a real and enduring reality in his life, despite the pain. If only such was the case for all of us.Paul achieved this sense of peace from a deep understanding that Jesus would work through all things—no matter how dire they seemed (compare Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28). Paul believed in a resurrected Lord who could bring resurrected life to even the most painful moments of death and despair.

I remember an intense moment of despair in my life, when I felt like I could no longer see the beauty of the moon or the stars. When I looked up and out, I felt nothing but pain. I questioned everything and was left paralyzed by indecision—despairing. I found my way out by praying through my pain. And when I couldn’t find words to pray, I prayed through the Psalms and the Book of Common Prayer.

And this was Paul’s solution. He went to prayer:

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 NRSV).

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18 NRSV).

It wasn’t that Paul didn’t feel pain or experience movements of anxiety or despair. It’s what Paul did with those moments. He prayed. He prayed. He prayed.

What is God asking you to bring to him in prayer today? How can peace in Jesus be your answer to even the most painful of moments?

I Want Answers Now!..... by Laura MacCorkle

 I Want Answers Now!

by Laura MacCorkle

In his heart, a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9, NIV

Living in the Information Age, we’re so used to getting what we want as soon as we want it.

We’re becoming more and more accustomed to not having to wait for anything, as instant gratification is the norm in many areas of our lives.

• A gourmet, meat-and-three meal ready in less than three minutes from the microwave. Check.
• Instant text messages sent directly to our handheld communication devices. Check.
• Mobile phone reception and extensive coverage wherever we may travel. Check.
• Wireless Internet access so we can log on whenever and wherever we want. Check.
• A new group of “friends” in an online social network who we don’t have to spend face-time with in order to call friends. Check.

Can you relate? God forbid that we should ever have to wait on something, because that’s when the real whining and the complaining kick in. I should know.

I’ve been struggling with an ongoing life situation that has got me journaling and praying and reading and discussing up a storm. I don’t understand what God is doing, and I want answers and a flowchart of how this will all be worked out. Right now.

I want to plan my course and make something happen—move the situation along, if I can, and get the results that I think should be had and on my time schedule.

Not long after I have a mental outburst such as this, I am immediately convicted. And I know that this is not the right way to respond. How must God interpret this type of thinking? Does he lovingly shake his head and murmur, “Oh, sweet child. Someday she’ll learn.” Or perhaps I disappoint him because I cannot trust in him without struggling with my desire to first know all the steps he’s planning for me to get from Point A to Point Z.

While flipping through my Bible this week, I found that the words of Psalm 145:3-7 have helped me to see this struggle in a different light:

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
They will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

After reading this passage, I was reminded that it doesn’t matter that I understand what is going on in the world. It doesn’t matter that I can’t control what is or isn’t happening. What matters is that I know and profess that God is great, and that he is good. Period.

Why even struggle with trying to understand the ways of a sovereign God? He alone is worthy of our praise and adoration. Why not just immediately respond with celebration for who he is? Why not just surrender and rest in him? For his answers for our lives are never late and always arrive at just the right time.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Are you wrestling with God, as Jacob did at Peniel (Gen. 32)? It is God—not you—who holds your destiny in his hands. Ask him to help you take one day at a time as you trust in him and his plan and timetable for your life.

Further Reading:
Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV
Romans 8:28, NIV

A Prayer for God to Direct Our Next Steps..... By Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer for God to Direct Our Next Steps

By Tiffany Thibault

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. - Proverbs 16:9

Making big decisions is really hard. Making decisions that require our time, our finances and our energy can make us feel absolutely overwhelmed. As the internal and external pressures build, we can begin to feel desperate. Unfortunately, that is when we either tend to make poor decisions, or don’t make any plans in fear of making the wrong choice.

When Christians are struggling to make decisions, they might ask themselves, “What does God want me to do?” Or, “Should I do this activity or should I spend my time doing that one?”

As Christians, we can have peace in making plans for our today and our tomorrows, knowing that if it doesn’t go against the truth and principles found in God’s Word, then we can move forward! So go ahead, make those plans and dream about your amazing ideas. God has given you such a unique and creative mind to allow you to do the things he has gifted you to do.

As you determine what those plans are and as you keep your heart and mind open to the Lord, you can move forward in confidence, knowing that He will determine your steps. He has given you a mind to choose between right and wrong. He has given you a heart to know what is good. He has given you a soul to crave fellowship with Him. He loves you too much to want you to travel too far from Him. This is why God will determine your steps.

He will bring people and circumstances your way that may cause you to slow down, to reevaluate your path. He does this because He is good. He wants only the very best for you. If your plan gets muddled or destroyed, thank Him. He is protecting you because He cherishes you. He has something even more amazing than you can ever imagine in your future plans!

Today, let’s pray for the plans you are making, for God to direct your steps into his good and perfect will.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for each new day that you have given us. Thank you for creating our minds to dream. You designed each of us with a need to create, to develop, to dream of new possibilities. Thank you for giving us the freedom to make our own plans.

There are times Lord, when I don’t know which decision to make. Your Word says that You determine my steps. Thank you for the freedom that brings to my mind and heart. You are a good God, and you desire good things for me!

As I make my plans for today and tomorrow, and as I step forward in faith, guide my steps Lord where you want me to go. Turn me away from the direction of anything that I make plans for that will take my eyes off of you. In Jesus' name, Amen.