Equipping Children with God’s Word..... By: Rhonda Stoppe

 Equipping Children with God’s Word

By: Rhonda Stoppe

Jesus said, “The student will become like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

Notice Jesus didn’t say the student will be like the teacher teaches him to be, but rather he will emulate the characteristics and values he observes in his teacher. As a parent, you my friend are that teacher.

So, how can you equip your child for a future that brings glory to God? One way is to teach them to think biblically. What does this mean? Simply stated, it means to filter all of life’s experiences through God’s Word.

To instill a scriptural foundation in your child, you’ll need to know the Bible well enough to season with sound doctrine the conversations you have with them.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, you’ll find a simple outline for developing a biblical worldview in your child’s mind:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Let’s break this down:

Verse 4-5: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Your wholehearted commitment to God and His Word will demonstrate to your child how much you love God and value Scripture.

Verse 6: Think about, meditate on, and memorize Scripture, so your obedience to God will be a response based upon biblical precepts. When you transform your thinking with Scripture you will be prepared to teach your kids how to speak and act in God-honoring ways, without hypocrisy.

Verse 7-9: Relate your child’s everyday experiences to the Bible. This practice will make talking about spiritual matters a normal part of your conversations.

When you arm your children with godly knowledge, they will learn to recognize when others are attempting to deceive them.

The Faithfulness of God..... Denison Ministries

 The Faithfulness of God

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This week we’ll spend time simply stirring up our affections for God. God has designed us to see him, to know his character and to let the truth of his goodness lead us into deeper relationship with him. Augustine wrote, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” In seeing God for who he is our hearts are naturally stirred to find rest in his goodness. May your heart be stirred at a revelation of God’s wonderful character.

Scripture: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19

Devotional:

Numbers 23:19 describes a foundational aspect of God’s character, his faithfulness. Scripture says, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” As believers, we need a revelation of God’s faithfulness. Being able to fully trust God is the beginning of living an abundant life. If you don’t fully believe that God is faithful to lead you into the best possible life you could live, then you won’t seek out his will, trust him with your possessions, or be able to fully enjoy his presence.

God’s word promises us in Numbers 23:19 that God is perfectly faithful, steadfast, and true. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:28 promises, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Your God is wholly faithful to you. No matter what you do, he will be there for you. His faithfulness isn’t dependent upon your works. All he requires is a willing heart to bring about the incredible fruit of the Spirit in your life.

You aren’t meant to live life apart from the knowledge of God’s faithfulness. You aren’t meant to live with the weight of doing life on your own. Man may fail you, but your God will not. Family and friends may not be there when you need them, but your God will always be there for you.

Where do you feel on your own? In what ways do you need a fresh revelation of God’s faithfulness? He promises to be true to you. He promises to see you through any situation you find yourself in. Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Faithfulness is foundational to the very character of God. God’s steadfast love for you is more sure than the very ground you walk on.

So respond to God’s faithfulness today. Let his promises steady the parts of your life that feel unsure. As you step outside today, take time to look at the world around you. Think about the things you’ve put your trust in. And remember, God promises that his faithfulness will outlast anything your eyes can see. May your affections for him be stirred today. May you respond to his faithfulness with your own. And may you experience the love and joy of a Father who loves you perfectly and completely.

Guided Prayer:           

1. Meditate on God’s promise to be faithful to you.

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”Numbers 23:19

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

2. Now reflect on your own life. Where in your life do you feel unsure? What situations seem to toss your emotions around like a boat in the middle of a storm? Where do you need a firmer foundation today?

3. Ask the Spirit for a revelation of God’s faithfulness in those areas. Ask God to help you trust in his promise of faithfulness. Ask him how he plans on bringing peace to those areas that are disturbing you today. Listen to him as he speaks.

Not only does God promise you his faithfulness, but he will actually reveal to you how he is working in your life. You can ask him for his plans, and he will show you! You can ask him how he feels about you and your life, and he will tell you! Within his promise of faithfulness is the promise of his voice. You will hear him speak today if you open your heart, listen to the Spirit and be alert for God to speak through whatever avenue he chooses. Your heavenly Father loves you. Spend your day establishing the foundation of his faithfulness in your own life. And experience a life lived in the abundance of God’s assurance and peace.

Extended Reading: Isaiah 54

Defend against Temptation..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Defend against Temptation

Dr. Charles Stanley

James 1:12-16

To build a defense against temptation, we must understand how it works. Every sin originates as a thought, often the result of a flaming arrow the Evil One shoots our way (Eph. 6:16). If a believer holds on to the thought, it becomes a fantasy—the chance to imagine what it would be like to pursue that notion without actually doing so. The problem with fantasies is that they can easily become entangled with a person’s emotions. This creates a desire, which brings the believer to the point where a choice must be made: he or she must either consent to the sin or refuse. This process is quite dangerous, as the progression from thought to choice can be almost instantaneous.

Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation—before it enters their consciousness. There are two cornerstones to a good defense: the commitment to obey God, and the recognition that He is in control and has limited what Satan can do (1 Cor. 10:13).

We can further fortify our defense when temptation actually comes. Satan has a way of spotlighting the pleasure of sin until that’s all we see. But with conscious effort, we can retrain our focus to take in the bigger picture: Is this choice a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences? Am I prepared to pay that price?

No defense against temptation is complete without Scripture and prayer. Every moment spent meditating on the Word and communicating with God builds our faith. As the bulwark around our mind and heart strengthens, we are ever more prepared to douse Satan’s flaming arrows.

Healing From Divorce That Stole the Life You Once Knew..... TRACIE MILES

 Healing From Divorce That Stole the Life You Once Knew

TRACIE MILES 

“… the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!” Job 42:10 (NLT)

I was still trying to accept that my marriage was over when life got harder and scarier than I knew was possible.

In a short period of time, the financial situation for my three children and me went from secure and life-giving to insufficient, not sustaining even our basic needs. With no time to plan, I found myself a single mom and sole provider of our family. My house, car and everything we had was in jeopardy of being taken away. Fears of how to provide for my family became all-consuming, pulling me into a pit of fear, desperation, depression and despair.

Crying and pleading with God each day, I felt forgotten, unseen and unloved by the One who promises never to leave me. Until the night I had a dream that changed everything.

In the dream, I was curled up on my couch, hoping sleep might wash away my pain. Tears poured down my face with sobs of sorrow. I was completely broken, spent and at the end of my rope — my waking emotions played out in my sleeping subconscious.

Then, through the blurring tears in my eyes, I noticed a figure entering the room. I immediately knew in my spirit it was Jesus. Rather than fear, a strange sense of peace, calm and safety washed over me. He spoke softly and gently, with a deep, tender and loving voice, and said, “Tracie, why didn’t you come to Me earlier? I will restore all that has been lost and broken.”

Hearing His voice startled me into consciousness. I abruptly awoke, staring into the blackness of the night, fully believing I had just experienced a divine, supernatural encounter.

I will restore all that has been lost and broken echoed over and over in my mind — comforting words I had longed to hear, which planted a whisper of hope in my soul. Words that reaffirmed He did see me and I wasn’t forgotten or unloved. Words that reassured me He not only had the power to restore all that had been taken from my life, but He indeed had plans for it. As a tear dripped onto my pillow, the story of Job came to mind.

In the course of one day and due to no fault of his own, Job lost all 10 of his children, all his possessions, his wealth and his health. He didn’t understand why he was suffering, and throughout the book of Job, we see him expressing heartache and anger at all the pain God was allowing in his life. We also see evidence of his impatience regarding how long it was taking God to bring about restoration.

Yet through it all and despite his human emotions, Job never doubted that full surrender and trust were necessary. In Job 1:21b-c, he even says, “The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” (NLT). Despite Job’s suffering, he trusted God’s plans and continued to praise Him. As a result, not only did Job’s faith soar but his life eventually did as well.

In Chapter 42 of the book of Job, we read how God blessed Job and his faithfulness in every way. Today’s key verse, Job 42:10, says, “… the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!” God gave him a double portion of all he had lost, restored his marriage and family, and allowed him to live happily to a ripe, old age. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen.

Job’s restoration gave me hope, but as I thought back to my dream, I couldn’t help wondering about the first question I had heard: “Why didn’t you come to Me sooner?” I honestly believed I had gone to Jesus. A million times, in fact.

But what I had not gone to Him with was total surrender and trust. You see, instead of surrendering my problems to Him, I had been telling Him about them constantly, worrying incessantly, then trying to solve them on my own. Rather than trusting for miraculous provision, I doubted whether He would really come through. I doubted if restoration of all that had been lost — from my peace to my physical well-being — was even in the cards.

Yet, over time, I learned total surrender and unwavering faithfulness in God’s sovereignty will always open the door for His restoration to begin.

Divorce can steal a lot from us, but it doesn’t have to steal our peace and joy. Whether it’s hearts, finances, relationships or lives that need mending, God always has a plan to heal and restore. I fully believe the restoration of my heart, and my life, is on God’s holy to-do list … as is yours.

Dear Jesus, You know my deepest worries, hurts and the areas where I desperately long for healing and restoration. Today I fully surrender those to You and ask You to help me have joyous, expectant faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Anxious Heart..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer for the Anxious Heart

By: Emily Rose Massey

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, HSCB).

Growing up, I learned very early on that not much in my life would stay consistent and that the pattern of my life would include a lot of change, and sometimes drastic change. It did not take long for a heart of anxiety to be formed in my life because there was not much in my life that I could run to for security.

As I got older, I ran toward other things, other people, trying to fill a void in my heart only God could fill. As a result, I was constantly anxious and depressed.

But, after I graduated from college, my eyes were truly opened to my selfish existence and my deep desire to find something firm and secure. I realized God was the security and peace I was searching for, even in the midst of change.

Change is just a part of life. How we handle that change is where we will discover where our hope and sense of security lies. If change is causing you to worry or stress out, you need not to run to other things or people to try to fix your anxiousness. You will always be disappointed, left feeling empty and even more anxious. You must run to God.

Philippians 4:6 tells us that we must not allow anxiety to overwhelm us, but instead, we are to come to God in prayer and cry out to Him with our requests, full of a thankful heart knowing He hears us.

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Nothing is too small when it comes to our prayers to God; He wants us to come to Him about everything! God not only hears our prayers; He responds with giving us His peace and protection.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

God’s peace is like nothing else this world can offer; it is beyond all human logic or reasoning. He promises to protect our hearts and minds when we dwell on our position in Jesus, as forgiven children of God. He is not only the Creator and sustainer of life, but He is our heavenly Father that longs to protect and provide for us.

When you are anxious, do you find yourself looking to other things or people to calm your heart? We must learn to run to the throne of God first and ask for His peace to invade your troubled heart when we are faced with changes in our life that may bring about many unknowns and uncertainties. The Lord is faithful to bring peace to our lives that will carry us through the storms of life when we are tempted to worry and live in fear.

Father,

My heart is full of anxiety. Things feel so out of my control. I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. But I know You are the author of my future. I trust that You hold my life in Your hands.

Help me to grow in that trust when I am tempted to fear the unknown. Holy Spirit, remind me to cry out to God when I am scared instead of looking to other things or people to try to distract myself from the worry. Like scripture encourages us to do, I cast all my anxieties upon You, Lord, knowing that You care for me because You are a good Father that longs to provide for my needs, both physical and emotional.

I remind my heart right now to remain thankful; You hear every request and every cry. I continue to cry out for help. I lift my eyes to heaven and fix my gaze upon my ever-present help in time of need.

Lord, thank You for being a constant in my life. Thank you for being my solid rock when everything around me seems to be shaking. I choose to rest in Your peace- a promise that You are faithful to keep.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Jesus Wept..... by Ryan Duncan

 Jesus Wept

by Ryan Duncan

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. – Matthew 4:1-2

I once heard a story of a woman who lost her only daughter in a tragic accident. After the funeral, she fell into deep despair, and many of her friends began to worry about her safety. In desperation, one of them asked their local priest if he would go to her house and speak with her, but the moment the woman saw him she flew into a rage.

“Get out!” She screamed, “I already know what you’re going to say. You’re going to tell me that everything happens for a reason, that this is God’s will, and I don’t want to hear that.” The priest did not move. Eventually, the woman began to calm down and started to sob. It was at that the priest spoke, quietly and gently.

“Listen,” he told her, “I don’t know why your daughter died, and I do not know why God allowed it to happen, but I do know that God understands what it is to lose a child, and that he is standing next to you, and that he cannot stop your suffering but that he loves you and he loves your daughter, and if you let him into your heart you will see her again.”

What really struck me the first time I heard this story was that God really did understand the pain of losing someone. I realized that for a long time I’d had a false view of Jesus. I’d always pictured him as this tall, soft-spoken man who was completely serene no matter what the world threw at him. I didn’t understand that when God became a man he embraced all human sensations, even the ones that hurt.

Jesus got hungry, just like us (Mark 11:12). He got frustrated, just like us (Mark 11:14). He got sad (John 11:35), and angry (John 2:16-17), and scared (Luke 22:44). Jesus probably laughed with his friends, and grew stern with the Pharisees. The Bible says that Jesus lived a sinless life, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t human.

Some of you may be having a fairly nice day while reading this and some of you may be having a pretty miserable one. Regardless of what is happening to you, know that God understands how you feel, and that he will always love you.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Follow Christ through his years of ministry. Take note of the times when Christ displays his emotions.

Further Reading

Matthew 4:1-11