A Commitment to Obey..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 A Commitment to Obey

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 1

The Bible declares the Lord's great power and majesty while also revealing His deep mercy and love. He is worthy of wholehearted, passionate submission, but He doesn't often get it. Are you among the few who offer themselves to Him without reservation?

Complete obedience is a choice to follow God regardless of the consequences. This means that we obey the Lord even if our friends choose a different path or when suffering or embarrassment is guaranteed. Seeing His will done is more important than our own comfort or personal ambition. We commit the consequences to God and cling to His promises: He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5), and He makes good out of every situation (Rom. 8:28).

Notice the word 'commitment' in the title of today's devotion. I'm not writing about obedience that is born of the moment (as in, I choose to follow God in this instance) but about submission as a way of life. Setting restrictions on compliance is so tempting--we want to be able to change our mind when obeying upsets our lifestyle, the final result is unclear, or we're just plain scared. But let me ask you this one sobering question: If Jesus is the Lord of your life, what right do you have to limit how and when you'll do His will?

Believers have no right to set their own limits; their one criterion for making decisions should be, What does God want me to do? The answer at times may cause suffering, but obedience is always right. And following God in all things is the surest path to favor and spiritual growth.

Light and Dark..... Craig Denison

 

Light and Dark

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

We live in the reality that there is both light and darkness around us at all times. This world has both good and evil, right and wrong. As believers we must grow in both our acceptance of this reality and our pursuit of the light. We must allow God to mold and shape us into those who rid ourselves of any darkness, become fully known to God, and allow his light to transform us into reflections of his Son. May the Lord open our eyes to see the glorious light before us this week.

Scripture:“For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians 5:14

Devotional:

All throughout Scripture God reiterates a consistent, powerful metaphor: light and dark. Scripture depicts the darkness as that which is without God and light as that which has God in it. As “children of light,” it’s vital for us to dive deeply into this concept of light and dark that we might experience the fullness of all God has made available to us (1 Thessalonians 5:5). We must accept that both light and dark exist, that we can engage with both, and learn what it is to choose light at every turn.

In Isaiah 42:16 God says, “I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” God has not left us to wander in darkness. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6). We who were blind to the paths of God have had our eyes opened through the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. We now have relationship with the Holy Spirit who seeks to guide us into the light with every thought, emotion, action, and decision.

Ephesians 5:14 says, “For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” It’s time for you and me to arise from any part of darkness and live in the shining light of Christ Jesus. It’s time for us to wake up from our former lives that were consumed with chaos, lies, and sin, come out of the shadows, and find true life in the light of God’s presence, will, and word.

God has so much more in store for you than a life lived working to escape darkness. The power of Jesus’ sacrifice has hidden you in him. His light is your light. But before we can experience this fullness of life available to us, we must allow him to open our eyes. We must allow him into the darkest places of our past, thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. We must allow his light to illuminate our darkest of sins in order that those which cause us the most shame might be healed and broken off of our lives.

Just as light can hurt a little at first when we’ve become accustomed to darkness, seeing the parts of our lives that we’ve shut off to God, others, and even ourselves can be painful. But, once we’ve allowed God to illuminate our whole lives that we might see ourselves as we truly are, we will discover a wealth of grace, love, and forgiveness unlike any we’ve ever known. Once we experience the unconditional love of a God who knows all we’ve ever done, thought, and felt, our lives begin to change by his overwhelming goodness. Light is powerful in its ability to heal, set free, and empower.

Take time in guided prayer to open your heart to your heavenly Father and reflect on this biblical principle of light and dark. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to seek the light of God in all things. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the places in your life he longs to heal. And find grace, rest, and forgiveness in the loving presence of your heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on this biblical metaphor of light and dark. Reflect on the truth of Scripture that your mind would be renewed to the reality of the choice before you to live in the light.

“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

“For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians 5:14

2. What areas of your life have yet to be fully illuminated, healed, set free, and empowered by God? Where do you need God’s grace, truth, and help in choosing light over darkness?

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

3. Ask God to show you how he feels about the dark places in your life. Ask him to speak truth to your areas of need. Ask his forgiveness for any ways in which you’ve been living in darkness.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

“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.” 1 Peter 2:9

The fullness of life is only available in the light. Anything we experience in darkness is a mere shadow of what is available to us with God. Any pleasure we find in impurity, lies, and pride is nothing compared to the inexhaustible satisfaction available in God’s light. Trust God that he absolutely has the best life in store for you if you choose him. Trust him that the fullness of joy, peace, purpose, and pleasure is found in him alone. May your day be filled with the peace and joy that comes from living in the light of God.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 5

Grace Space..... MICHAEL TODD

 Grace Space

MICHAEL TODD

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) 

As the parents of four small children who are becoming increasingly confident in asking for what they want, my wife Natalie and I have found that one of the most useful words in the English language is “maybe.” “Maybe” means “perhaps,” “possibly,” “we’ll see” or “yes with a hint of uncertainty.”

“Daddy, can we get a slushy?”
“Maybe.”

“Daddy, can we go to the park?”
“Maybe.”

“Daddy, can we go to Disney World?”
“Maybe.”

“Daddy, can we get a dog?”
“No.” (Until Natalie chimes in, “Maybe.”)

Because they know their father’s nature, my children look at “maybe” optimistically. When Daddy says “maybe,” they get their hopes up. They see possibilities instead of problems.

I’m encouraging you to adopt this principle. When you wonder if “maybe” God will do something incredible, try not to list all the reasons it can’t happen. Instead, every time you hear “maybe” from God, what if you thought of all the reasons something incredible could happen?

In my faith journey, the word “maybe” has become unexpectedly valuable. It allows me to look at things that seem impossible and think, Maybe God wants this for me.

“Perhaps I can walk in that level of leadership.”

“It’s possible that my relationship could be whole.”

“We’ll see what comes from this baby step of faith.”

“Maybe” does not have to kill your momentum. It may be the start of a miracle.

So how can you be confident that God will answer your prayers in the way you want?

You ready for this answer? Brace yourself. You can’t be sure. It’s almost always a “maybe.”

However, you can be sure that God hears your prayers and is moving on your behalf, for your good, right now. We are promised that in His Word. (Jeremiah 29:12-13; 1 John 5:14-15; Romans 8:28)

Your walk with Jesus is not based on facts — because you can never have all the facts. It’s based on faith, as 2 Corinthians 5:7 says: “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV). Even when you’re not sure about what’s coming, you can be assured that Jesus doesn’t start anything He doesn’t intend to finish. He is “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV).

Faith in God begins where human understanding ends. In other words, faith starts where we stop. Faith begins when we acknowledge we don’t know everything, and there are things at work in our lives and in the world around us that are way beyond our ability to comprehend.

God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts … And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” God’s lowest thoughts are still higher than our greatest plans, programs and philosophies — and accepting that takes humility.

When you open your mind to the possibility of a miracle and think to yourself, Maybe that could actually happen, that’s real faith. The “maybe” doesn’t cancel out the faith — it leaves the ultimate “yes” or “no” in God’s sovereign hands.

When you feel a strong calling to sell your business and move overseas for missions, but then someone you respect questions your decision and asks, “Are you sure this is God?” — it’s OK to be in the gray space of not being completely sure. I like to call this the “grace space.” You don’t have to be sure as long as you trust that God is. Faith is being OK with not knowing, OK with the maybe.

Faith grows as we learn more about the God who knows everything. Our spiritual journeys are all about learning — progression, not perfection. Faith also grows wherever it’s planted, which is why it’s so important that your faith be deeply rooted in the Word of God.

The answers to your questions are not found in what you are believing for. They’re found in who you are believing in.

God, it’s hard to have faith sometimes. But today, I’m asking You to help me trust that You are at work whether I’m 100% sure of You or not. Your Word says that Your ways are higher than mine. I pray that You will fill me with joy and peace in knowing that You know everything, and I don’t need to. I want to wholeheartedly trust You, even in the “maybes.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

He Does Not Treat Us As Our Sins Deserve ..... By Lynette Kittle

 He Does Not Treat Us As Our Sins Deserve (Psalm 103:10)

By Lynette Kittle

Today's Bible Verse: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” - Psalm 103:10

Whether it’s talking about a relationship, work, or home situation, I’ve been hearing individuals saying, “I deserve better.”

It’s not surprising because our culture is all about focusing on ourselves and on what we believe we deserve.

But what comes to mind in hearing their words is my gratefulness to God for not receiving what I deserve. Ephesians 2:3 reminds us how by a sinful nature, we are deserving of God’s wrath.

Yet it’s difficult for many to understand because they don’t see themselves as undeserving, not recognizing their sin and need to be forgiven. Rather they believe that on their own merit, they are well deserving of all life has to offer.

1 John 2:16 explains why, “For everything in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

Clouded by worldly mindsets, many believe its lies and buy into its prideful claims of being well deserving of goodness on their own, not recognizing their need for a Savior to pay the penalty for their sin.

Asking to receive what we deserve reveals a misled heart deceived by worldly thinking.

Salvation Comes to the Undeserving

Yet Salvation comes to the undeserving because God offers it as a gift to us based on who He is and not on what we deserve. As Romans 6:23 clarifies: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Because sin hinders us from ever being able to earn forgiveness on our own, God made it possible for us to receive a gift we don’t deserve.

Although some may believe seeing ourselves as undeserving of God’s gift diminishes our value and worth but instead it opens our eyes to see how much God loves us in our weaknesses.

An Offer Too Good to Be True

Because society teaches people that nothing in life is free, it’s every man for himself, and God only helps those who help themselves, they reject an offer that seems too good to be true.

But the truth is God freely gives, does not leave us alone, and helps those who cannot help themselves.

As well, worldly thinking doesn’t understand how evildoers are able to receive God’s gift just as freely as every do-gooder on earth. It doesn’t seem fair to them.

Likewise, it doesn’t make sense to them why God would offer forgiveness and eternal life to the undeserving? Yet Romans 2:4 reminds us how it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance.

Only the Undeserving Receive

The truth is, we as sinful men and women are completely undeserving of God’s kindness, His grace, and forgiveness. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Thankfully God doesn’t offer us Salvation based on what we’ve done or haven’t done. He offers it based on His love and goodness to every undeserving person who will receive it.

Flying Lessons..... by Meghan Kleppinger

 Flying Lessons

by Meghan Kleppinger

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11, NAS

While traveling to Chattanooga, TN a few years ago, I read the autobiography, Dorie: The Girl Nobody Loved, by Dorie Van Stone. The book retraces the past of a deeply wounded child transformed into a woman with heart on fire for the God who loves her.

As a child, Dorie was rejected and abandoned by her mother, and abused by orphanage workers, foster parents, and relatives. In the midst of a horrendous childhood filled with daily mistreatment, Dorie was introduced to the One who did love her and would never abandon her. Her life is now one that reflects not her past, but her Savior.

As I finished reading the final chapter on the plane, I shared with the Lord that I wanted to meet Dorie, give her a huge hug, and thank her for writing the book.

During my layover in Atlanta, I saw a woman resembling Dorie in one of the airport stores. I pulled the book out of my bag to compare the woman in the store with the photo on the back cover. I shook off the possibility and thought the same thing you are thinking now, “There is no way!” I proceeded to my gate promising myself if I saw her again I would ask if she was, in fact, “Dorie.”

I’m not proud to admit that when she appeared at my departure gate, I was a complete wimp and did not approach her. She sat two seats behind me on the plane, and still I said nothing. In Chattanooga’s airport she kept popping up, but I continued to come up with excuses for not asking a simple question. Finally, while waiting for my baggage, I heard someone say, "Mrs. Van Stone."

I turned to her and finally asked, "Are you Dorie Van Stone?" She answered “yes” (of course). "Oh my!" was my intelligent response. I continued with, "I just finished your book on the plane."

"What did you think?" She asked, smiling.

“It was wonderful!” I managed to gurgle out. “I promised myself that if I ever met you I would give you a big hug!”

Without hesitation, she dropped her bags and gave me the biggest bear hug imaginable. I thanked her for writing the book and we quickly embraced again before going our separate ways.

I was amazed by the marvelous gift God gave me in meeting Dorie Van Stone. My adrenaline high was cut short with the reality that I could have spent a lot more time talking with her, but was too afraid. God was prompting me, but I ignored Him. Instead of listening, I waited until it was safe to ask. To this day, I regret the lost time I could have spent with Dorie.

I committed to never again allowing fear to guide my decisions.

Every day, in little ways, God asks us to step out and trust Him. Sometimes He is asking us to share the gospel or help someone in need … and sometimes He is answering a prayer or simply asking us to receive a gift. Isn’t it easy to make excuses or justify saying “no?” We cheat ourselves when we respond this way. He offers us His goodness, shows us His glory, invites to be part of His work, and all we have to do is sensitive to His prompting and say “yes.”

Intersecting Faith & Life: Remember what I learned that day: when God asks you to do something that is a little challenging or out of your comfort zone, He’s not asking you to blindly jump off a bridge to your death, He’s offering you a chance to fly! So, prepare for flight, find comfort in the shadow of His wings (Psalms 36:7), and experience His goodness and love.

Further Reading

2 Timothy: 1:7

A Prayer to Love Our Neighbor..... By Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer to Love Our Neighbor

By Tiffany Thibault

Love your neighbor as yourself. - Mark 12:31

We live in a fallen world, a world full of self-gratification, a world full of hurting people. The theme of our society has become that what is most important in life is that each of us be more self-focused, more self-satisfied and insist more on our opinions, regardless of anyone else's.

Turn on any news channel or talk show, scroll through social media and it will not take long until you start to see a common thread. Everyone has an opinion and everyone feels that their opinion is what matters most, regardless of how it is said, regardless of how it is enforced, and regardless of how it is delivered.

Growing up, I was taught “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I often think about that phrase as I see the ugly delivery of opinions, beliefs and personal rights increasing in the past few years. Yet behind all the pain that you see, and all the ugly words that you hear, the reality is that it all pours out from hurting hearts, ours, and theirs.

Truth is that there absolutely needs to be a change in our society! The Bible gives us a better solution to change our world than all the yelling and fighting that is seen in the news. Jesus told us to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.” Love.

That change can start with one person. That change must start with me. That change must start with you.

Love your neighbor as yourself. The kind neighbor? Absolutely easy to do. The one who is rude, intolerant, angry and pushing their opinion on me? Surely the Lord didn’t mean that neighbor! Yes, He did. Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Love your neighbor as well as you love yourself.

Loving your neighbor means that you are helping them, not hurting them. It means respecting them, not tearing them down. Loving your neighbor is about what they get from you - a feeling, an act of kindness, a healing hand, a shoulder to cry on. Loving your neighbor can be a bunch of flowers, a kind note, and taking the trash can to the curb. Loving your neighbor can mean a big smile and wave, it can mean walking their dog when they can’t, it can mean making an extra batch of cookies to surprise them at the end of a long day. Loving your neighbor is never about gossip, negativity, harm or shoving your rights or opinions on them. Loving your neighbor is a command from our Lord, regardless of that person's race, religion, social status, or choices. Loving your neighbor is a command from our Lord, regardless of how we feel about that person.

Love your neighbor as yourself. This can only come from a place of truly knowing how to love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. As we pursue learning to love God with every part of ourselves, only then we are able to love our neighbor as the Lord commands.

As you think about your relationship with your neighbors, is it hard or easy? As you think about your relationship with the Lord, is it deep or shallow? There is a definite correlation. Loving the Lord should be our deepest desire. Is it your deepest desire? As we are committed to loving the Lord, then loving our neighbors should be the easiest thing to do. Love your neighbor - this command from our Lord will absolutely change our world. Will you join me in obeying the Lord in this area and watch this world turn itself around?

Dear Lord, 

Thank you, Lord, that you love me despite all of my faults and issues. Lord, I ask that you help me to love my neighbors with that same kind of love that you extend towards me. Lord help me to see my neighbors through your eyes. Show me practical ways that I can help them, and through that help, then be able to show them the love of Jesus. Help me to put aside my agenda Lord to simply love them, to meet them where they are and to love them as You love them. 

In Your name, I pray, 

Amen

 Encountering God through Thanksgiving

Weekly Overview:

Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.

Scripture: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4

Devotional:

Thanksgiving is a gift given to us by the good and loving nature of our heavenly Father. In and out of every season of life, we have a reason to give thanks because we serve a wholly faithful, good, and loving God. We serve the only King who would lay down his life for his unworthy, rebellious servants. We serve a God perfectly worthy of all the thanksgiving and praise we could possibly give.

In using the incredible gift of thanksgiving, we remind ourselves of how truly good our Father is. In thanksgiving, we experience the joy of a proper perspective and have our hearts stirred by the renewing of our minds. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” When we come before God with thanksgiving, we seek the face of our Father while grounding ourselves firmly in the truth of his perfect nature. When we begin our days, prayers, worship, reading, and fellowship with a heart of thanksgiving, we live out of a place of faith and reality found in the kingdom of God come to earth.

Our God is bigger and better than our circumstances, fears, wounds, misconceptions, and past failures. There is security and joy in declaring the goodness, kindness, loving, and eternal nature of our Father. We dictate the emotions we feel by what we choose to dwell on and believe. Our minds are the battleground for our emotions, actions, and desire to dwell in communion with our good God.

Ephesians 5:20 says we are to be “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And Psalm 92:1-5 says:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!

Our hearts become glad when we offer continual thanksgiving. Five minutes of thanksgiving and praise has the power to change the direction of each day. It has the power to stir our hearts and make us open to and aware of God’s will for us in every situation. It fills us with an atmosphere of joy and of the Spirit. And it can greatly assist us in choosing the life of communion with the Father over the pursuits of the world as temptations and situations arise. May you be empowered and filled with transcendent joy as you engage in continual thanksgiving.

Take time in guided prayer to practice thanksgiving and enjoy the fruits of a renewed mind and a heart filled with joy and truth.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of thanksgiving. Allow Scripture to stir up your desire to offer thanksgiving in every season.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:2

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:1-2

2. Take time to give thanks to God. Think about how he sent Jesus to die for you. Think about how faithful he is and always will be. Think about how good heaven will be. Give thanks for any gift he’s given you.

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.” Psalm 69:30-31

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.” Psalm 75:1

3. How do you feel after taking time to engage in thanksgiving? Have your concerns, desires, and perspectives shifted? Journal about the effects of thanksgiving on your heart and mind.

We are continually commanded by Scripture to remember the deeds of our God. When the world comes crashing down around us, it’s hard sometimes to remember how faithful God has been and will be. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the fleeting cares and problems of this life and forget how perfect and never-ending the next life will be. Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” May you be quick to remember the benefits of restored relationship with your heavenly Father today as you take time to bless and thank the Lord for all the wonderful things he’s given you.

Extended Reading: Deuteronomy 8