Our Heavenly Father..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Heavenly Father

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 6:8-13

When Christ taught His disciples to pray, He told them to address God as "Our Father." They had previously heard Jesus say, "My Father," but now they, too, shared in that privileged family relationship. All of us who has been born again into the household of God have this same right.

Since our concepts of God are shaped by our earthly fathers, we all have different perceptions of Him, but Jesus is the only one who has a completely accurate understanding of the heavenly Father. Consider some of the ways He cares for His children:

• Loves: God's love is unconditional, since it's based on His nature rather than our performance (1 John 4:16).

• Listens: When we pray, He gives us His full attention (Ps. 55:16-17).

• Provides: The Father assumes responsibility for meeting all our needs (Phil. 4:19).

* Guides: He is the one who directs our path when we trust in Him (Prov. 3:5-6).

• Protects: The Lord shields us spiritually, emotionally, and physically, sifting every experience through His sovereign fingers. (Ps. 121:1-8).

• Stays: He's not an absentee parent, since He'll never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:8).

•  Disciplines: The Lord disciplines us
for our good, so that we may share in His holiness (Heb. 12:5-11).

Though experiences with our earthly dads may have distorted our view of the heavenly Father, we can learn to see Him as He truly is. By viewing Him through the truth of Scripture instead of our preconceptions, we will see evidence of His loving care and discover a security we've never known before.

Seeking Wealth in Heaven..... Craig Denison

 

Seeking Wealth in Heaven

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

The biblical concept of being poor in spirit is foundational to every aspect of the Christian life. Foundational to salvation is a heart-level acknowledgment of our need for a Savior. Foundational to experiencing God’s love is acknowledging our great need of love. Foundational to heavenly peace and joy is an acknowledgment that this world truly offers us neither. If we want all that God in his grace offers, we must pursue a lifestyle of being poor in spirit. May you experience more of the depth of God’s love this week as you discover God’s heart to minister to those desperate for him.

Scripture:“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Devotional:

To be poor in spirit is to seek wealth in heaven rather than in the things of the world. Jesus says in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We have no reason to be poor in spirit if we’re after the world. The world does not reward those who acknowledge their weaknesses. The world does not revere and honor those who are open and honest about their brokenness. But God says in Proverbs 29:23, “One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” Seeking wealth in heaven and honor from the One, True God requires us to live in light of the fact that we are dust. God rewards only those who obey his command to be poor in spirit.

Scripture is clear that our actions here on earth affect our eternal life. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, 24,

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . . No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

What Jesus is not saying in Matthew 6 is that we are not to have any form of money here on earth. God knows our needs, and in the very next section of Scripture he tells us not to fear for them because he promises to provide (Matthew 6:31-32). What he is saying is summed up in in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

To be poor in spirit on earth is to be rich in heaven. God honors and blesses those who live according to his commands rather than seeking pleasure in the world. Psalm 113:7-8 says, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.” When we seek earthly wealth, it dies with us. But when we live in truth, acknowledging that we are dust and that all the worldly pursuits are fleeting and folly, all that’s left is to give our heart to God.

Take time today to assess whether you are pursuing the things of the world or if your heart is solely devoted to God’s kingdom. Assess whether you are seeking fulfillment for your spiritual need or attempting to fill the voids in your life with earthly success. And commit your heart to the Lord alone that you might receive heavenly reward that will satisfy you for all eternity. God longs to bless his children. He longs to provide abundantly for all your needs both here on earth and in heaven. But the gateway to both is narrow and requires you to be poor in spirit. May your heart be entirely God’s today as you seek satisfaction and provision in him alone.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the value of seeking the kingdom of God above all else. Allow Scripture to inform the posture of your heart toward being poor in spirit.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

2. In what ways are you seeking the things of the world over the kingdom of God? In what ways are you attempting to appear spiritually rich rather than poor in spirit? In what ways are you seeking wealth here rather than in heaven?

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." Matthew 6:5

3. Take time to confess any pursuits of the world to God and receive his forgiveness. Ask him to show you how your work and relationships fit into seeking his kingdom first. Commit all your finances, friends, and family to him.

The Bible speaks so strongly about earthly wealth because it can be so tempting, and because it carries with it a false sense of satisfaction. It’s so easy for our hearts to become wrapped up in the things of this world when they’re readily available to us. Earthly success and wealth are so enticing. But if we make time to discover the wealth of affection, satisfaction, joy, peace, and purpose that are found in seeking God’s kingdom alone, the things of this world begin to come into a correct perspective. What is wealth here in comparison to eternal reward given to us by God himself? What is worldly pleasure in comparison to honor and blessing from the King of kings? Make space to simply enjoy God today in order that all other pursuits might fall into place in light of his unconditional love and desire to bless you.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

Joyous Gratitude..... KAREN WINGATE

 Joyous Gratitude

KAREN WINGATE 

“… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

I hovered over a neighbor’s flower — a Mexican bird of paradise — reveling in the brilliant orange, yellow and red blooms and the curvature of the petals that give this unique desert flower its name. “Oh, thank You, God, for eyes to see,” I breathed for perhaps the thousandth time.

What would make me so exuberant about a neighbor’s flower? After spending more than 50 years labeled as legally blind, I underwent a routine surgery that unexpectedly doubled the vision in one of my eyes.

Now I’m seeing the world in ways I have never seen it before. I’m infatuated with an incredibly designed creation. I’m grateful for this heaven-sent gift that has allowed me to gain sight when I feared I would lose it all.

I wonder if the blind beggar whom Jesus healed felt that way, too. When he heard Jesus was walking past him, he called out in a loud voice for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus stopped and asked what he wanted. “Lord, I want to see,” the beggar said (Luke 18:41b). Jesus restored his sight, and the man followed him, praising God. (See Luke 18:35-43.) Can you imagine his gratitude and joy, the glint in his newly healed eyes?

We all appreciate something to a greater extent when we’ve had to do without it. We’re far more grateful for electricity and water after a storm has cut power for several days. The ease of inhaling a breath of air is so wonderful after recovery from a respiratory infection.

Yet 1 Thessalonians 5:18 directs us to be thankful in all circumstances, whether for newfound delights, once-in-a-lifetime deliverance or restoration, or blessings woven into everyday life: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Far more than a perfunctory thank-you, our gratitude can become a joyful overflow of praise and delight for what God does for us. How can we capture that kind of gratitude even for the ordinary moments of life?

My gift of new sight has taught me to look with intentionality for ways to thank God for His good gifts. Here’s the three-step process I’ve used to retain that joy-laced sense of gratitude.

Pause in the middle of your day. Survey your surroundings. What do you see, hear or feel? What is happening around you? If your mind fills with things that you don’t have, turn it around and look at what you do have. Leftovers for dinner? You have food. A messy home? You have an abundance, whether of family or stuff, to make messes.

Ponder what you discover. Focus on one aspect of creation and marvel at the intricate details. For example, think about the recipe for a sunset: the ingredients of light, color, vapor and energy all mixed together in perfect proportion, changing second by second, and completely different each evening. What does that sunset tell you about the character of God?

Praise God for the new details you see. Your praise shows that you recognize creation’s existence isn’t coincidental; it had to come from somewhere. Joyous gratitude appreciates the Giver as well as the gift and overflows with the realization that God has such interest in you and love for you that He chooses to give you such abundance.

Let your gratitude leap to a new level of spontaneous joy. Get excited about what others would call “ordinary.” As you look at the things of life like you’ve never seen them before, you’ll see a God who has the infinite capacity and desire to give you all good things.

Oh, Lord, the earth is filled with Your glory. Help me see my life and Your world with greater clarity so my thankfulness for what You do will bubble over with spontaneous joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

4 Things We Can Learn about Prayer from Elijah..... By Dena Johnson

 4 Things We Can Learn about Prayer from Elijah

By Dena Johnson

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” - James 5:17-18

Over the last few years, Elijah has become one of my favorite biblical characters. But as I read through the stories of his life yet again, I began to reflect on the biblical truth that Elijah was a man just like us. And yet, his life was so powerful!

What was it about Elijah that made his prayers, his life, so powerful and effective? What can we learn from the life of Elijah to help our own prayer lives?

Here are 4 things we can learn about prayer from Elijah:

1. Elijah learned to be completely dependent on God.

Elijah was in hiding from the evil King Ahab. He had no way to meet his own needs. He was completely at the mercy of God himself, doing his best to walk in obedience. And God, Jehovah Jireh, provided as only He can.

Even when the brook dried up, Elijah had no need to fear. His source of provision dried up, but His God’s faithfulness didn’t. He went to the widow of Zarephath, completely convinced of God’s faithfulness to provide for his needs. And, as before, God did what only He could do.

2. Elijah prayed boldly for God-sized miracles.

“Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!” 1 Kings 18:36, 38

Elijah was bold. He asked with incredible faith, believing that God was able. And, without fail, God answered those audacious prayers. He poured out His power repeatedly, giving Elijah opportunity to proclaim God’s greatness.

3. Elijah’s prayers pointed the world back to God.

O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” 1 Kings 18:37

Yes, Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume the water and the sacrifices not for his own glory, but so others would know that Yahweh is God and there is no other God in heaven or earth. Elijah’s prayers were about pointing the world back to God.

4. Elijah prayed fervently until he saw the answer.

Elijah had prayed the drought into existence. Now, it was time for the drought to end. He began to petition the God of the universe for rain. Not a little rain, but enough rain to quench the thirst of the land. He asked. No response. He asked again. Still no response. Seven times he asked and sent his servant to look for an answer. He prayed expecting an answer.

Finally, after seven times, a small cloud began to form. Even just a small indication that God had heard his prayer was enough. He knew a small cloud indicated God was moving in response to his prayers. And, God did exactly what he asked. He ended the drought. He sent rain on the land.

Elijah prayed through until he received an answer.

We must remember that it is God’s faithfulness that we are calling on, his character. It’s about a God who longs to connect with us, to help us in our time of need. We must have faith that He is willing and able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine.

We must remember prayer is about ordinary people calling on an Omnipotent God. Will you join Him?

The Last Days..... by Sarah Phillips

 The Last Days

by Sarah Phillips

"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:25

Most of us don't love to wait. We want to get on with things. Tie things up neatly so we can move on to the next thing. We often forget that in some cases, the opportunity to wait is an expression of God's mercy.

You see, this Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. It came quickly this year. I was so busy preparing for Thanksgiving, I almost forgot about Advent. Thankfully, our reliable pastor will be decked out in purple this Sunday, scripture readings and hymns ready to go.

Advent isn't really an event so much as a season set aside to wait for an event. We can choose how we want to practice Advent. We can see it as a burden, an afterthought, or a hindrance. Or we can see its greater application to all of life. We can recognize it for what it is: a reminder to stop, clear away some of the normal "stuff" of life, and remember that throughout our life here we are waiting for something big, something that needs our attention and preparation: The second coming of Christ.

Many times I've heard fellow Christians express the desire for the day to just get here already. Can't we just end the wars and suffering… the waiting… and get on with Christ's return? Many pick apart the Scriptures, looking for details, for signs, that Christ is coming soon. Groups form and debates rage about the finer details of the end times.

While I am sure God appreciates our interest in and desire for his arrival, I am not so sure we really know what we're asking for when we say we wish he would hurry up and appear.

Think about it. Are we really ready? Is the world really ready? If you had to stand before Christ tomorrow, would you be ready? I don't mean "ready" as having correctly predicted the dramatic events that would unfold during the end times. I mean would your life reflect service to him? Love of him? Submission to him?

Mine wouldn't. At least not to the extent that it should. I'd like a few days, or um decades, to straighten things out. And to the best of my humble abilities, help a few more of those living in the dark find the light.

Suddenly, waiting doesn't seem too bad. God's plan to give me and the rest of the world a little more time doused with a lot of his grace doesn't seem so frustrating.

After reading the above dramatic passage from Luke at an Advent Sunday service past, our pastor did not delve into prophecy or speculation about the last days. He backtracked a little, and instead opted to focus on the here and now. He challenged us to avoid the "drowsiness" that comes with our everyday cares and concerns. He challenged us to become disciplined people, Christians whose lives are truly transformed by Christ instead of by the seductive "spirit of the age." He held up examples of fellow Christians who came before us and conquered their own contemporary challenges.

He reminded us that we will each have our own "last day" even if our lives here do not witness the Last Day.

That's what Advent is really about… grace today for whatever may come tomorrow. It's about God's incredible patience and love for children who have much to learn and need plenty of precious time to allow for stumbling along the way. As for the final days, set aside the speculation and leave that to God's perfect timing. He'll know when we're ready.

Intersecting Faith & Life: A disciplined prayer life opens our lives to God's transforming graces. Set aside a little extra time every single week, from now until Christmas, to spend time in prayer.

Further Reading

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

A Prayer to Set Your Mind on Things Above..... By: Alisha Headley

 A Prayer to Set Your Mind on Things Above

By: Alisha Headley

“Set your mind on things above, not on things of this world.” (Colossians 3:2)

Thinking about “things above” sounds fantastic in theory. It would keep our minds from constantly dwelling on the local news, world pandemics, political controversy, or even the mundane life tasks in front of us.

But how is one to possibly think about thoughts from above, when we are inundated with thousands of thoughts all day? Research shows we can think up to 60,000 thoughts each day. 80% of those thoughts tend to be negative.

In today’s verse, Paul instructs the Colossian church to think on things above. He means, keep a heavenly perspective as you go about your day. How can we do this when our natural tendency is to think from an earthly perspective?

Paul encourages us to think about what God is thinking about. To see life from God’s perspective and not the world’s perspective. To do this, we must go to the source of God’s thinking: the Word. We must put God’s Word above the world’s word each day, all throughout the day. We see life from God’s perspective when we know His Word above all else.

If we don’t have God’s “word so engraved on the tablet of our heart,” as Proverbs 7:3 says, then the world’s perspective on our lives will soon overtake us, overwhelm us, and ultimately become what we think about and begin to believe as truth.

In a world full of negative thoughts and evil ideas thrown at us every day, let’s be warriors for our minds, and to do so, let’s know the Word. Let us know God’s “living, breathing and active word” (Hebrews 4:12) more than we know the world’s word. We must fill up with the truth of God’s Word over the lies of the world, for the world is led by the enemy and he is “the father of all lies.” (John 8:44)

So, let’s take Paul’s instructions today, and begin to think about things above, things that our Creator thinks about and His purposes, rather than what we can see in the world around us.

Let’s pray:

Father,

We need you. We need your strength to be aware of our thoughts. We need your discernment to bring Scripture to our mind, to fill our minds with your truth. We need the reminder that anything that contradicts your Word is a lie. And if what we are thinking about doesn’t align with your Word that you speak to us in the Bible, help us to see it for what it is and to stop thinking about it.

Thank you that you left us with the Bible to walk through this world, so that we don’t have to walk around aimlessly. Thank you for leaving us with the Holy Spirit to guide and continually lead us back to your truth. We ask that you would prompt us throughout every day to ask ourselves with every thought that enters our mind if it is from your Word or the world’s word. We want to be servants for you and warriors for you, and there is a battle for our minds, and we ask that you remind us that we serve you – the one who conquered this war years ago by sending your son to die on the cross for us defeating death (Colossians 2:15).

Thank you for giving us the “power and authority to tramples on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19), and to overcome the battle for our thought life. We are victors though you.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen

Reset Your Gratitude Meter..... Daniel Darling

 Reset Your Gratitude Meter

Daniel Darling

What are you thankful for? We gather, every year at this time, to reflect on the blessings of God over the past year. But in most families, Thanksgiving is less about real gratitude and more about stuffing your face, watching football, and hanging with the family. Some actually dread Thanksgiving, because they're forced to sit in a room with people they really don't enjoy. 

Now I'm all in favor of the food and the football. But this year, let's make Thanksgiving about giving and about thanks. This year, more than any, might force us to dig deeper. For many, it will mark a year since they've had employment. For others, Thanksgiving will bring another reminder that they haven't found that significant other. And there are those couples who have to face the family questions of why they still can't have children. 

For many, this was a year marked by pain. So how do we summon the gratitude? Well, if you're a Christian, you're basis is not your circumstances, but something greater. Paul tells the people of Thessalonica that they could "give thanks in everything." Why? Because this was the "will of God in Christ." 

In other words, followers of Christ believe that every piece of hardship is a grace gift from the Lord, sent for their growth, sanctification, and further intimacy with the Almighty. We don't believe we're here on this earth all alone. We believe God is firmly in charge. 

Though life may get hard--and it does--it all falls under God's sovereign will. And so we give thanks. 

As Americans, we really have cause for gratitude. I have to periodically remind myself of this and remind my family. We so easily get caught up in the easy lust for more stuff. Bigger house, nicer car, better clothes, newest gadgets. But then I remember my travels to third world countries, where I've seen real poverty--and real gratitude on the part of the Christians there. 

Tonight, my kids will go to bed with full stomachs. They'll have a roof over their heads. They will have two parents in the next room. They will ride in a nice car. They will have a future that includes a good education. All of those are things most kids in the world don't have. And so, they should be grateful. 

Let's not sit around the table carping about the election, complaining about our job status, whining about injustices from friends. Let's instead reset our gratitude meters and offer genuine, heartfelt thanks to God. For salvation in Christ. For His daily care. And for friends and family He graciously provides. Oh, and for wives that allow us to stuff our faces and watch football.