Trusting in God's Faithfulness..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Trusting in God's Faithfulness

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Is there something God has told you to do that seems just too difficult? You can be sure that if He has called you to carry out His will, He’s going to be faithful to accomplish it through His Spirit living and working in you. So if you tell Him, “I can’t do that, Lord—what if I fail?” you’re really saying, “God doesn’t keep His word.” And yet, our total expectation should be in Him—not in our own energy, ability, or experience.

When you doubt God’s trustworthiness, that unbelief becomes a gap in your spiritual armor, and you can be sure that’s exactly where Satan will attack you. You’ll begin to doubt even more about God’s character, such as His goodness—and that distrust will become a heavy load of baggage you’ll needlessly drag through every area of your life.

You might feel that you do not have enough faith to obey, but the Lord isn’t asking you to have faith in favorable circumstances. He’s asking you to trust that He is who He says He is.

Do you believe that God is a liar? It’s really that simple: either He is truthful or He’s not. But if you believe that faithfulness is His character, then you can do anything He requires. You’ll be strengthened by your dependence on Him—whether a deluge or trials or a flood of blessing comes.

It’s actually when life gets rough and rugged that the sweetness of God’s faithfulness makes itself real in your heart. As you walk through those storms in complete reliance on His strength, your trust in His character becomes part of who you are and strengthens from within.

The Merciful King..... Craig Denison

 

The Merciful King

Craig Denison

Weekly Overview:

What a gift we have in the Christmas season. God himself took on flesh and dwelt among us that we might find eternal relationship in him. His coming serves as a continual reminder of his grace and pursuit of us who are lost without him. As we look to Jesus this week to celebrate who he is and what he’s done, may you find life-giving hope and foundational joy.

Scripture:

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13

Devotional:

The ministry of Jesus is laden with acts of mercy. From acts of healing and forgiveness to meals shared with those entirely undeserving of his attention, his heart was filled with mercy for his people.

Have you ever thought that God might delight in showing you mercy? Have you ever thought that he might actually enjoy stepping into your world and offering that which you are wholly unworthy of? Does a good father loathe the times he needs to step in and forgive a child? Does a good father always force his kids to toe the line of perfection and offer only harsh words when they inevitably fail?

The very coming of Christ was an act of mercy. We who were left to try and find relationship under the law discovered our inability to live up to God’s standards. When left to live by our own strength, we quickly reveal ourselves to be made of dust. But Jesus’ coming demonstrated a part of God’s heart we still find hard to believe today. God’s desire is to step into the lives of his children and offer compassion and forgiveness where there is only failure and guilt. His desire is to pick us up even after we’ve made a mess and comfort us, while at the same time empowering us to live differently. We serve a merciful King.

Psalm 103:2-4 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Jesus bore a crown of thorns that we might be crowned with his steadfast love and mercy. Jesus, the only one deserving of God’s love, took on the guilt and shame we deserved that our lives might be marked by compassion and grace. 

In this life you will make mistakes. There will not be a single day in which you experience perfection. But Jesus’ birth, life, and death reveal to us that life is not about our imperfections but about God’s perfect love. Life is not about our failures or successes but about the God who loves us through it all.

Take time today to allow God to crown you with his steadfast love and mercy that your heart might find peace in the arms of your merciful King.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the mercy of God. Allow Scripture to fill you with faith to receive what you do not deserve.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4

2. Where do you need a revelation of God’s mercy today? Where are you feeling frustration or guilt around your weaknesses?

3. Ask God for a revelation of his mercy. Ask him how he sees your weaknesses. Allow his mercy to lay a new foundation for your life that you might live by grace today.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” We are called to live as agents of God’s mercy. One of the most powerful ways we can reflect the character of Jesus is by offering mercy to those in desperate need of it. Don’t hold others to standards of perfection. Rather, show forgiveness and love to those who, like you, are in desperate need of grace. May you find joy in being used by God to bring light and love to others today.

Extended Reading: Psalm 103

If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed Today … Remember This..... SHAE TATE

 If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed Today … Remember This

SHAE TATE 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits …” Psalm 103:2 (ESV)

Phone, wallet, keys, computer, computer charger, lunch, coffee …

Can you relate to this mental checklist I run through as I race out the door in the morning? I laugh at myself because sometimes, when I’m walking out my front door, I have so many things in my hands that it looks like I’m leaving home for a week.

Nope … just for the workday!

I don’t know if your mornings look anything like this, but as I’ve thought about the fast pace of not just my mornings but sometimes my whole life, this is what I’ve realized: Sometimes I get moving so fast I forget to slow down and remember what is most important. And while there’s a lot of good advice and wisdom to live by, the most important words to remember are the truth-filled words in the pages of Scripture.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed today … if the pace of your life feels out of control … if your heart feels discouraged and weary … turn with me to Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV):

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

I love how the psalmist instructs his soul to “forget not.” He reminds himself of all the “benefits” (v. 2) of who God is and what He offers us: forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, mercy, good, renewal.

I know what it’s like to read these words and struggle to believe they’re true — because maybe what you’re facing doesn’t look like any of those things. You don’t feel healed. You don’t feel loved. You don’t feel renewed. I know what it’s like to believe in Jesus and know He’s here but not feel Him at all. I’ve been there, too.

But you see, the trustworthy component of Truth is this: it’s true forever. No matter what we’re going through, no matter what we feel, Truth is still true. And when we feel overwhelmed, sometimes the best thing we can do is come back into alignment with what’s ultimately true.

God forgives …
God heals …
God redeems …
God crowns us with love and mercy …
God satisfies us with goodness …

When we take time to remember what’s true about God and therefore what’s true for us, we can then reframe any thought that’s setting itself up to be opposite of that.

Philippians 4:8 even tells us, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV, emphasis added).

Yes, these things. This is what I need more of in my life. These are the things I need to fix my thoughts on in the morning … not just my mental checklist of everything I need for my day.

Reframing your thoughts doesn’t mean you ignore the reality of what you’re facing. It doesn’t mean you overlook hurt or abuse or discouragement or unanswered prayers. Reframing your thoughts isn’t a choice to ignore the realities of your situation. It’s a choice to factor God back into the equation. To remember who He is and what is true in the middle of what feels scary and overwhelming.

Today, as you recall to mind what is true and instruct your soul to “forget not,” live comforted in the truth that God has not forgotten you. He hears your prayers. He’s listening. He’s doing more than you think He is. He’s here right now. And if all you can do this morning is show up with your needs, questions and hurting heart, that’s OK. God’s Truth-filled promises are still for you today no matter what you’re facing. Remember this today, friend.

God, thank You for the promise that Your Word is true at all times. No matter what I’m walking through … no matter what I feel … no matter what is overwhelming me … You are the source of my strength and are my safe place for what is ultimately true. Remind me of what’s true, especially when I’m overwhelmed by what’s in front of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Your Life Is Like the Morning Fog..... By: Jennifer Heeren

 Your Life Is Like the Morning Fog

By: Jennifer Heeren

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY - “Your life is like the morning fog—here for a little while—then gone.”  - James 4:14

It’s inevitable. One day you will pass from this life and go into the next. So, in light of this fact, the Bible says that whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. We are meant to bring glory to our Creator. You didn’t do anything to bring yourself into this life, so what you do with your days on earth shouldn’t be solely about you. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Do everything out of love.

Act with love, compassion, mercy, and kindness as often as you can. Once you believe in Christ and are covered by His righteousness, your good works are no longer rubbish. They shine like diamonds to point people to your heavenly Father.

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love"( 1 Corinthians 16:13-14). You will never feel as fulfilled as when you’re serving other people in some way. Give food. Give money. Give away a possession. Give your time. Give encouragement. Give a hug. Give of yourself. You won’t regret this kind of living.

Remember that this life is short.

Even if you live to be 100, that is still a minute amount of time compared to eternity.

No one knows the day or the hour that they will be called home to heaven. Babies and young children go. Teenagers and young adults on the brink of discovering their life’s purpose go. People have passed away in every decade of a typical life. No one knows the length of their life, so we need to work on developing the breadth of it, which means making the most of each day.

We need to always remember this brevity and uncertainty. Doing so is the prescription to cure the common ailment of procrastination.

Always press forward and never give up.

I like that the Apostle Paul wanted to assure his readers by telling them that he hasn’t achieved the perfection of always living right for God (Philippians 3:12). None of us are perfect and none of us glorify God perfectly. I know I don’t. But I strive to do my best as excellently as possible each day.

I can press onward to learn from my mistakes and then do better the next time until I reach the end of my race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, called me (Philippians 3:14).

The Audacity of Christmas..... By Mike Pohlman

 The Audacity of Christmas

By Mike Pohlman

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. – 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

This Christmas millions of children (and adults) will find under their Christmas tree a Wii or Xbox or the latest Playstation. When the wrapping paper is ripped and the contents revealed shouts of joy will fill the room. (I’m planning on this as our kids open their Wii!) Each of these game consoles will bring countless hours of pleasure to the players. But as amazing as these machines are, they in no way compare to the audacity of God’s gift given at Christmas.

Consider the staggering promise of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:21. He says, “all things are yours” by virtue of being in Christ. And what does Paul include in “all things”? Things like the world, life, death, the present and the future. Breathtaking. How can this be?

Galatians 4:4-7 shows how the Christian comes to inherit “all things.”

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Christmas marks the “fullness of time” when God, in his sovereign freedom, “sent forth his Son.” The One who dispenses times and seasons determined that it was time to send forth the Son who had existed with the Father from eternity. Indeed, the second person of the Trinity “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). He was “born of a woman, born under the law.” Here we have the wonder of the Incarnation: God of very God assuming a human nature.

Why would the Son of God take on flesh and dwell among sinful mankind? Why would divinity take on humanity and “become obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8)?

He did it to secure salvation. In other words, “to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:5). Christ came into the world not only to free us from the tyranny of sin, death and the devil, but also to crown us with unimaginable glory.

It is true that at the Cross Christ “redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). But we have not been saved only in this “negative” sense. We have been adopted into God’s family and given all the rights and privileges of legitimate heirs. Paul captures this beautifully in 2 Corinthians 2:8-9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” And the riches that are ours in Christ are far greater than anything merely monetary. These riches are in fact “all things” for “all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:23). This is the audacity of Christmas and it is intended to redound “to the praise of [God’s] glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).

Intersecting Faith & Life: This Christmas I want to think and live as one adopted. One way to do this is to let every gift given to a loved one serve as a pointer to the Gospel. And when we consider how excited we are for the new Wii or Xbox or Playstation with its temporal pleasures, let us remember the eternal weight of glory that awaits the heirs of the King.

A Prayer During Times of Trouble..... By Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer During Times of Trouble

By Tiffany Thibault

"For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock." - Psalm 27:5

Troubles come and they come often in our lives. We work hard to try and stall trouble. We do our best at work, we follow the laws, we treat others with respect, and we save for a rainy day. Yet despite all our efforts, we still get blindsided when people turn on us and things don’t go as planned. We are left reeling, overwhelmed, and discouraged.

David, the writer of Psalm 27, knew what it felt like to face trouble. Despite being a national hero, and praised by all, he found himself in BIG trouble with his wife, leaving him and his father-in-law, the jealous king, hunting for him, forcing him to live in caves and to live in hiding for many years. David probably didn’t know who to trust, and perhaps even daily wondered who would turn him into the king. Day after day, year after year his trouble became a constant companion to him.

Living this way, with constant trouble knocking at your door, can cause you to become angry, bitter, resentful and hopeless. David faced all these emotions as well, but the secret to him walking through his troubles successfully was that he turned to the Lord often about them. He poured out his heart to the Lord. So many of his concerns, worries, and seemingly hopeless situations all were written down for us to read in the book of Psalms. This man faced great troubles, but this man also brought his concern before the Lord whom he knew, loved, and trusted.

God honored him and walked with him through the days and years as the troubles continued. This is why David could write that “the Lord will hide him in the day of trouble.” He knew the Lord because he intentionally spent time with Him in prayer and worship.

This is why he could write these words: “He will conceal me in the cover of His tent.” David knew that peace and protection were found in His tent (presence). David knew that he needed to intentionally seek the Lord.

He loved the Lord and believed he would be placed upon a rock of safety where troubles could not destroy him. The image of this rock is that it is set up high, unreachable from the enemy, a place of complete safety. David trusted in his God, because he spent his life seeking and pursuing a relationship with Him. Keeping his faith strong, and his eyes on the Lord didn’t remove his problems, but it did give him the strength to walk through them.

As you navigate the hard circumstances and troubles of your lives, where are your eyes looking? Are they focusing on the troubles or are they focusing on your God? Are your troubles dictating your emotions, or is your faith telling your troubles that God is at work and that you can trust Him today to do the impossible? We can’t control the troubles, but we can control how much we will trust God through them. Today, can you trust Him a little more for the troubles and keep seeking more of Him? He loves you and longs to have you know Him more.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the promise that this psalm gives me today. Thank you, Lord, that you promise to see me through times of trouble. Thank you, Lord, that you lift me high upon a rock. When my troubles come, Lord, I know that in you I can find safety and peace. You are my hope, you are my refuge, you are my God. Help me to keep my eyes on you today, trusting you for each moment.

In your name I pray, 

Amen