Gratitude in Affliction..... Dr. Charles Stanley

Gratitude in Affliction

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 119:65-72

At Thanksgiving, we typically express gratitude for God's blessings. But did you ever consider thanking Him for something that doesn't seem like a blessing—such as a trying circumstance you want Him to remove or change? A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks. By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with appreciation.    

Believe and trust the Lord. Only by viewing life from a scriptural perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them.

Accept the situation as coming from God—either directly sent or permissively allowed. If we truly believe He's working for our good (Rom 8:28-29), we can choose to receive each difficulty as coming from His loving hand. Then we can say "Thank You."

Submit to God in the circumstance. Although we may not like the situation, knowing that God "[is] good and does good" (v. 68) allows us to confidently place our lives under His authority.

Draw from Him the strength to endure. No one has the ability within himself to endure hardships with gratefulness. Only by relying on the Lord can believers go through adversity with an appreciative heart.

Now, think about that circumstance you would like changed, and with a new mindset, offer this prayer to God: "Lord, I accept this situation as coming from You. In faith and trust, I place myself under Your loving authority, and draw from You the strength I need to endure with gratitude." 

Sanctification..... Craig Denison

 

Sanctification

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

Trust is something we are not created to give away lightly. We value trust like we value our own lives, constantly scrutinizing others to see if they're worthy of our trust. But still we are made to do life with help. We are made to place our trust in that which will provide us with more life, joy, and peace. I pray that this week you and I will discover how trustworthy our heavenly Father is. I pray that we will willingly hand over control of our lives to a capable, loving, and near God. And I pray we will experience the abundant life that can only come through placing our trust in a God who gives up everything for relationship with us.

Scripture:“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6

Devotional:

Sanctification and holiness are words that used to strike terror into my heart. As a believer I have always tried to pursue holiness, and I always seem to fail. It seems like no matter what I do I can’t escape sin and can’t get past my own brokenness and mess. Even in seasons where I am experiencing freedom from some sins, there always seems to be something else I need to fix or get better at. I’ve felt like I was on this endless tightrope of spiritual development that I kept falling off of and of which I couldn’t seem to find the end.

While God’s heart is most definitely for our sanctification and holiness, his perspective is far different than what I just described. You see, God knows that sanctification doesn’t come about through our efforts. I can in no way sanctify myself because in and of myself I have no holiness. The truth God has for us today is simply this: sanctification comes about by true relationship with our heavenly Father alone. Holiness is the direct result of openly and continually encountering the nature of a perfect, loving, and available God.

If we are going to experience the fruit of righteousness, we must learn to trust God in his plan for our sanctification. We must learn to trust that in encountering him we will experience freedom from our sin and healing for the wounds that drive us to the things of the world.

Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” When we trust God to bring about our righteousness by simply committing our way to him and trusting in him, we engage in a process of sanctification founded on encounters with his loving grace.

Sanctification is not meant to be this heady process of turmoil and striving that we so often experience. While it may be difficult, it is designed to be filled with the continually forgiving and loving heart of our good Father. It is designed to be based on experiencing Jesus that we might become more like him.

Spend time today seeking the heart of your heavenly Father. Commit your ways to him and trust in him. Ask him to reveal his heart for your righteousness. Ask him to guide you into a process of sanctification marked by his grace, love, and nearness. Stop seeing the process of sanctification as a never-ending timeline and instead center it wholly around relationship with your heavenly Father. May you experience righteousness and holiness today as you encounter the perfect nature of Jesus. May your day be marked by peace as you commit your spiritual development to the hands of the Potter. And may you be transformed into the image of Jesus as you engage in the process of sanctification based on relationship with a good, near God.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the process of sanctification. Allow God’s heart as described in Scripture to stir up your desire to engage in relationship-based sanctification.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

2. In what ways have you been striving for your own righteousness and holiness rather than receiving it from God? In what ways have you been looking at sanctification as a timeline or tightrope rather than as a relationship with a good God?

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:21

3. Take time to encounter the holiness of your loving Father. Open your heart and receive his presence. And in his presence commit to him the process of your sanctification. Allow peace and rest to fill your heart as the burden of striving for sanctification falls off in light of God’s glorious grace.

“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” 1 Peter 1:15

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’” Isaiah 6:1-5

I pray that 2 Peter 1:2-4 will fill you with the courage to have grace and rest in the process of sanctification. May your life be marked by God’s forgiveness and grace.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Extended Reading: 1 Peter 1

Is Your Family Out of Orbit?.... ROB SINGLETON

 Is Your Family Out of Orbit?

ROB SINGLETON 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

There’s a recurring theme as I talk to parents in today’s culture — an undercurrent of panic as they witness their children’s love grow cold for all things Christian and even for Jesus. What makes it especially heartbreaking is the complete shock I hear as many parents seem to have been caught completely off guard.

How could their kids not only stray from the Christian faith but, in many cases, head in the polar opposite direction?

I feel like every believing parent wants to know how they can teach their kids to follow Jesus wholeheartedly — but not all have taken an honest, hard look at whether the way they are raising their children is helpful or harmful to that end.

Here’s what I mean. Following Christ has become little more than a slogan or moniker for far too many Christians today — a comfortable addition to their hobbies, interests, religious resume and political prerequisites, or even a safety net to assure a spot in heaven. That hardly aligns with “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33, ESV). And it has little or no chance at lodging Jesus securely on the throne of our hearts, high above anyone or anything else. Therein lies the problem.

Jesus isn’t a spiritual accessory or some sort of divine decoration mostly for show. Jesus can’t be an add-on.

And if He’s an add-on for parents and grandparents, what hope do we have that He will be more than that for our kids?

So, if our desire is to teach this generation and the next to follow Jesus over anything or anyone, then we have to show them that He’s worth following in our own lives.

Practically, this means we don’t simply put Him first on a daily priority list we glance at on the fridge door before leaving for work, golf, book club, meet-ups with friends and family, or anything else. The problem with giving Jesus a place on a list — even if it’s number one — is that we tend to think “first things first” instead of “first things all.”

No, Jesus has to be the center of our (and our children’s) orbit today and for the rest of our lives. That means Christ is permanently on the throne of our hearts, unaffected by the changing culture around us.

If Jesus is the center of every orbit of our lives, then — rather than just giving Him the first and smallest portion of our day, a five-minute prayer or one-verse Bible reading — we have to live like it. Make Him central. The difference will be huge … Our entire spiritual orbit will change!

Now, instead of being the smallest token at the start of your day, He shows up everywhere. He’s central to how you interact with your colleagues at work, central to how you talk to your neighbors and central to how you interact with your spouse. And He’ll be central in your kids’ relationships, friend groups, hobbies, social media time and sports practices, and even the internet sites they choose to visit and the things they tend to say and text.

Too much to hope for? I don’t think so. Otherwise God’s Word wouldn’t indicate His centrality time and time again. Like the orbit-changing verses of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (emphasis added). And Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (ESV). While this isn’t a promise, it is a principle — a path that most often results in the previously mentioned outcome. It’s an orbit changer!

If you want your children’s lives to orbit around the Savior, change the atmosphere by changing your orbit first. God desires to help parents who want to raise godly kids — He’s not a hands-off God. All it takes is a choice to change the spiritual orbits of our families.

Dear Jesus, thank You for not being a hands-off God. We know You want us to follow You wholeheartedly, and we pray that You would give us that desire, too. Show us how we can put You on the throne of our hearts in our daily lives. Help us to change our spiritual orbits and so lead the next generation to do so. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The Lord Detests Lying Lips..... By Bible Pathway

 The Lord Detests Lying Lips

By Bible Pathway

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. – Proverbs 12:22

Christ exposed the fact that all lies originate from Satan (John 8:44). It was Satan who lied to Eve and brought death into the world. This lie caused sin, pain and destruction to become reality. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). One lie can cause many problems for both — the one being lied about and the liar himself.

A lying tongue can destroy the effectiveness of another person's life. Just one conversation can do irreparable damage. Though the lying tongue is but for a moment (Prov. 12:19), its effects can last a lifetime and maybe for generations.

A vicious lie can strip a man of his good name and destroy his character. But sincere, thoughtful words help heal the wounded spirit that has been crushed by the slandering tongue. It is so important that we keep our tongues in subjection. We need to think before we speak. Ask yourself, how is what I am about to say going to impact God's Kingdom? Am I going to defame someone's character? Will what I say help this person and be pleasing to the Lord? Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation (I Pet. 2:12).

The tongue that is controlled by the Holy Spirit becomes an instrument of imparting His life to others. Often, we only think of the tongue as being an instrument for evil. There are so many Scriptures that describe it so. However, the tongue can be used to edify, encourage, uplift, teach and counsel, among other things that will do good to and for the Body of Christ. Many tongues had spoken against the woman of Samaria who met Jesus at the well. After meeting Jesus face to face she used her voice to bring others unto Him. Through her witness many believed. . . . that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world (John 4:6-42). Likewise, Jesus met ten men that were lepers who lifted up their voices for mercy and were healed. The Lord instructed them to go show the priests (Luke 17:13-14).

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God (Luke 17:15).

Thought for Today:

Guard your tongue — speak only those things that build up another.

Optional Reading: Philemon 1

God's Reminder for Today: Don’t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled..... by Debbie McDaniel

 God's Reminder for Today: Don’t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

by Debbie McDaniel

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." John 14:1

Sometimes we face circumstances in life that are just out of our control. No amount of our own planning and effort can make it better, or could have even prevented it from occurring. Hard things happen. We feel at a loss in how to fix it all. Sometimes it seems too broken. We may try hard to regain some sense of order, but life can still feel unbalanced, uncertain, even chaotic, because of the pressures that cling too tightly.

Jesus Himself understood these pressures. Over and over in His Word, He reminds us not to worry, not to fear, not to be "troubled" in our hearts.

And on the heels of the Last Supper, before His difficult journey to the cross, Christ offers comfort to His disciples, for He knew what lay ahead. He knew the trials they would all soon face. He could have said so many things in that moment, but these are the words He chose then, and the words that have such power for us still today:

"Do not let your hearts (inmost part, center of your spiritual life and physical being), be troubled (agitated, restless, disturbed). Trust (believe, to have full confidence) in God, trust also in me." John 14:1

4 Truths from this verse to help us live wisely:

- Many around us will have troubled hearts in this world, troubled souls, but Jesus reminds us, don't let "your" heart be troubled. Don't follow the crowd, stand apart, for we know where our true peace and security are found.

- Take care of your "heart" for it is "the fountain and seat of all the thoughts, passions, affections, and purposes" in our lives. Our hearts compel us in every action, thought, and decision. He reminds us to guard our hearts for "everything we do flows from it."

- Don't be "troubled." Sounds easy enough, but quite possibly the most difficult thing in the world. How can we not be troubled when facing huge trials, loss, illness, uncertainty? The only answer lies in Him, and it's how He ends this verse.

- "Trust. Believe." Have full confidence in God, in Christ. For He is the answer for our troubles, every single one. He is our help for each need that we face. He knows our road, the one ahead, and also the tough one we may have just passed through, for He is with us every step. This world is not all we have. This one may be riddled with obstacles, potholes, and even dangerous cliffs. Often we find ourselves struggling just to stay the course.

But we can have hope, still. Right in the very midst of it, in the tough stuff, in the battle. For He is secure. He is trustworthy. He is faithful.

And He has much better, and great blessing, still in store...

Peace.

Intersecting Faith & Life: That one thing that’s been pressing on your heart? Give it to God. And make the choice to leave it there. Choose to trust and believe He’s working on your behalf, even behind the scenes where you can’t see. Ask Him for His Presence of peace to fill your life today.

Further Reading: John 14: 2-7, John 14:27, Proverbs 4:23

A Prayer of Thanksgiving to the Great Shepherd..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer of Thanksgiving to the Great Shepherd

By: Emily Rose Massey

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NIV).

Recently, I was asked, “So, Emily… how long have you known the Lord?”

I wanted to be as concise as possible but also transparent. I explained that I have been coming to grips recently that I was most likely a false convert when I was a teen into my early 20s and didn’t truly start following Christ until around 2008, the summer after I graduated college. It’s the only way I can seem to make sense of the mess. I lived in for six years after my profession of faith, after responding to an alter call at a youth conference.

As I walked the aisle at that church, I responded to the news that Jesus died for my sins to be forgiven then eventually ran right back into the same ditch like a dumb sheep thinking I could rely on my own works and not Christ’s finished work of the cross, and God allowed me to fail, fall, and create a home in my pit of self-righteousness and sin for six years. But thanks be to God, that wasn’t the end of my story- the Lord didn’t leave me in that pit because one day, I was rescued.

We must remember that we cannot rescue ourselves out of a pit of sin- Jesus is the Great Shepherd who rescues His sheep. It is God who begins the work in our hearts, turning them from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. As God’s creation, we are either sheep or we are goats. One day Jesus will separate people into those two categories (Matthew 25:32-33).

Goats can never become sheep. If you’re a sheep, you’ll always be one. One day lost, and in a moment, you will be found and rescued and spiritually healed if you are His. God chose the day I would join His fold; Apart from God’s Spirit, I cannot choose Him. My salvation was determined before the foundation of the world; Jesus rescued me from the pit, regardless of when I fully know the moment it happened or not.

I don’t believe all our testimonies of coming to faith in Christ can be packaged up into a nice little box with a bow. It’s because we aren’t the author of the story- our Sovereign Lord is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Scripture tells us that He is faithful to complete that work that He began in us:

 “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NIV).

You may also have a messy and complicated testimony and cannot fully explain all of what you think the Lord was doing in your heart and when, but I can tell you that even when you have been faithless, God has been incredibly faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Even when I’m extremely dumb, hard-headed, and rebellious, He is wise, patient, and perfect on my behalf. Cling to Him, beloved sheep, you are His!

Heavenly Father, 

I rest in the finished work of the cross, not my own works. I trust that you are the only One who can save me from my sins. I will never be able to earn your forgiveness, so I receive the gift of grace and thank You for the gift of faith in Christ alone for my salvation. Because of this, I know that You are my Great Shepherd, and I am Your sheep whom You have rescued from the pit of destruction. I praise You and thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I ask that You give me an opportunity to praise You by sharing my testimony of how You have rescued me and changed me. 

Thank You Jesus for not letting me stay in that pit!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE?..... Pastor Jeff Schreve

 WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE?

Pastor Jeff Schreve

"And Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine--where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?'"  Luke 17:17-18

In Luke 17, we read the story of the ten lepers. These ten guys had the dreaded, disfiguring disease that made a person unclean, unfit for society, and virtually subhuman. The tremendous physical toll inflicted by this incurable disease was only surpassed by the great emotional toll of feeling worthless, vile, and unlovable.

When these men saw Jesus, they cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:13).  Jesus responded with compassion and a challenge, telling them to show themselves to the priests, an obvious reference to Leviticus 14 about the cleansing of a leper.  Luke 17:15 says, "As they were going, they were cleansed" (Luke 17:14).  Do you see that?  "AS THEY WERE GOING, they were cleansed." That's always the way it works with faith.  You have to believe God's Word enough to obey it.  When you take a step of faith, then you see God do miracles.

EXHILARATION

Can you imagine the overwhelming exhilaration these guys must have felt? Their leprosy was cleansed! The vile disease that had taken virtually everything from them was now gone! They could return to their families! They could return to society! They could really live again!

Nine of them scurried away to enjoy their great blessing.  But one turned back ... and he was a hated Samaritan.  This guy was also overcome with exhilaration at his cleansing, and he wanted to give thanks and praise to the One who made it possible. He couldn't dream of taking another step without glorifying God and expressing his sincere gratitude. And the Lord responded to his thanksgiving by bestowing on him a far greater gift, the gift of salvation.

Interestingly, Jesus was wondering aloud about the other guys. Where were they? Why was this "foreigner" alone in his thanks?

The question for our day is clear: why do so many experience the goodness of God and so few return with grateful thanksgiving?

THIS THANKSGIVING

Let me challenge you as I challenge myself to emulate the Samaritan in this story and give thanks, first and foremost. To be sure, thanksgiving can be a sacrifice.  Life can be cruel and hard. Circumstances can knock us down and leave us devastated. If we are not careful, we can easily become disillusioned, depressed, critical, cynical, and bitter.

This is the key to rising above the circumstances: focus on what you do have, not what you don't have. Rejoice in the Lord! Give thanks for the cross and the empty tomb! Give thanks for His unfailing love! I truly believe the greatest witnesses for Christ are those who have experienced the worst of life and yet have the best of attitudes, continuing to praise God no matter what.

Make this Thanksgiving a Thanksgiving to remember as you set aside time to glorify the King. He will be honored, and you will be blessed.