Don't Pray Like a Pharisee.....By Joe McKeever

 Don't Pray Like a Pharisee

By Joe McKeever

“And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites… Therefore, do not be like them…” (Matthew 6:8).

If you expect to be the next generation of hypocrites, you need to give me your full attention. The old Pharisees will be passing off the scene before long, and we’ll need a new class of the double-minded–you know, the play-actors–ready to step up and fill their ranks.

Tongue firmly planted in cheek now, everyone? All right. Let us proceed…

It's not easy being a hypocrite. Praying like a hypocrite–the Pharisaical model–is not for the weak of heart. Only the top 10 percent of the class will be able to meet the stringent requirements. Consider, for example…

First - A Pharisee must be able to pray effectively in public (Matthew 6:5).

He does it in public because that’s the whole point: to impress people.

Second - A Pharisee piles up flowery words and pet phrases which mean little but sound mighty impressive (Matthew 6:7).

Now, we’re not sure if God is impressed by high-sounding rhetoric. But one thing we know for sure: most people are.

Third - A Pharisee measures the effectiveness of his prayers in several ways, but mostly by the length.

Pharisees think they will be heard “for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

Once you have mastered the art of impressive prayer language, you will soon be able to string together massive amounts of this filler. Eventually, you will be able to boast about all the time you spend in prayer.

Fourth - A Pharisee calls attention to his achievements and faithfulness in prayer.

The Lord gave a perfect example of this in Luke 18:11-12.

Here’s how it’s done: “O Lord, how we thank Thee that I was able to finish my doctoral work last semester. Thank you, Lord, for my new book which is being published next week, and for the acclaim it’s already receiving from critics. And how we praise Thee, Father, for the lovely new car we were able to purchase since I received the raise in salary. How great Thou art, O Lord. It’s such a joy, therefore, to tithe our income to Thee and give beyond the tithe…”

Finally - A good Pharisee will find occasion to belittle other people in his prayer (Luke 18:11-12).

“Lord, I thank Thee that I am not like other people. They’re swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector…”

So, How We Should Really Pray?

This is just so much foolishness, of course. No one should want to pray meaningless prayers. It’s the faithful prayer of the righteous which goes straight into Heaven and is welcomed at the Throne by the Father. Let us pray with faith to a loving Father through His Son our Savior the Lord Jesus.

Let us get serious about prayer. After all, a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways and should expect nothing in prayer. Perhaps we should begin by praying, “Unite my heart to fear Thy name,” from Psalm 86:11.

In Grace God Teaches Us.....Craig Denison Ministries

 In Grace God Teaches Us

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Grace is a gift most of us don’t know how to receive. We’ve been so inundated with the earthly systems of give-and-get and work-and-earn that grace is a concept few ever fully grasp. Yet it’s grace alone that has the power to transform lives. Grace alone has the power to bring freedom to the captives. By grace alone we are saved. There could be no better use of our time than consistently and passionately pursuing a greater revelation of God’s grace.

Scripture:“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Devotional:    

By God’s grace we have been given an entire book of his teaching. The Bible offers you practical wisdom, insight, and revelation that has the power to transform your life. Its very pages are miraculous, the voice of God breaking supernaturally into the physical world—paper and ink in your own language.

Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The Bible holds the perfect and eternal words of the Creator of heaven and earth. Even more, as believers we’ve been filled with the very Author of the Bible, the Holy Spirit. We have available to us by God’s grace both the word and its Author, capable together of leading us to the abundant life God desires for us. Today as we look at all that God desires to accomplish in us through his word, may your heart be filled with the longing to engage in the process of transformation that comes through the teaching of Scripture.  Psalm 19:7-11 says:

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

David understood the incredible value of the word he’d been given. God’s word revives the soul, brings wisdom, rejoices the heart, and enlightens those who read it. How greatly do you need what God’s word gives you? Where do you need to be revived? Where do you need wisdom, rejoicing, and enlightenment?

Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Those who make God’s word their foundation and delight are immovable, fruitful, and prosperous. It has the power to lead you away from a life of sin and worldly counsel to a life of abundance and prosperity in the counsel of the Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” The Bible is capable of taking a broken, weak, and useless man and teaching, correcting, and training him in righteousness that he might be equipped for incredible works. God desires to take any area of your life that isn’t yielding the fruit of righteousness or accomplishing good works and revive them through his word into areas of strength and life.

Because your heavenly Father loves you, he will always lead you through the Spirit and his word into better and more fruitful living. God has incredible plans in store for you as you grow in your relationship with him, and he desires to use his word to both equip you for and guide you to the abundant life he has for you. Meditate on his word day and night. Read it with the guidance of the Spirit. Receive the revelation, wisdom, and insight he longs to share with you. And choose to live your life in response to Scripture, living in obedience to all that you read.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on all that God wants to do in you through his word.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” Psalm 37:30-31

2. Reflect on your own life. Where do you need transformation? Where do you need restoration? Where do you need wisdom?

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

3. Commit to engaging with God’s word. Ask the Spirit to guide you to all that he longs to show you. Receive a greater hunger for God’s teaching. Allow your desires to be stirred toward transformation by hearing and doing the word of God.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23

We’ll spend the next week being taught by the parables of Jesus, so make it your goal to receive a hunger for his word in prayer. Meditate on all that God wants to do in you through his word. Allow desire for his teaching to be stirred as you think about the abundant life he wants to lead you to through Scripture. Think of areas in which you need restoration and wisdom. And commit to engaging in the process of incredible transformation God has in store for you.

Extended Reading: Psalm 1

If You Don’t Feel Content, Read This.....MEGHAN RYAN

 If You Don’t Feel Content, Read This

MEGHAN RYAN

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Sometimes I have a hard time with the word “contentment.”

Maybe it’s because I’m single, and well-meaning people like to tell me, “You’ll meet someone once you’re truly content with where you are now.” Or maybe it’s because, single or not, this contentment thing has always felt like an impossible game to win.

It's almost like I believe that if I want something, I won’t get it. But if I don’t want something, then I will get it. Whether it’s longing for a new season, an exciting change or something deeper, I struggle to make myself not want it because I’ve believed that’s what contentment is.

Maybe you’ve felt similarly in a situation in your own life. You’ve tried to make yourself not want something you deeply desire — because you think not wanting it will lead to contentment with what you currently have. But I think we’ve missed something important: Desire and contentment are not mutually exclusive.

Scripture is clear: We have desires. Sometimes they are good and godly. (Psalm 37:4) Sometimes they are not. (Jude 1:8)

But in Philippians 4, Paul tells us he learned the secret of contentment, and it's not what I expected. The secret wasn't to deny his needs and wants. Contentment wasn’t something he was faking. Nor was he content because his circumstances were perfect. No, the contentment he found was in Christ, not his own strength.

Contentment means living in God’s fullness. Which means contentment is possible because it’s independent of our circumstances. That doesn’t mean we won’t still have desires. You can be content in Christ and still desire for something to be different.

If you’re like me and wrestle with this, the Bible offers us practical ways to be content in our wanting. We can:

Fix our thoughts on godly things. (Philippians 4:8)
Remember what God has already done. (Psalm 103:1-2)
Talk to God, asking for what we want, and seek His will in prayer. (Matthew 7:7-12)

The reality is, even when we finally get that one big thing we desired for so long, it won’t be long before we want something else.

In fact, I don’t know if we can truly be without desire on this side of heaven. As long as we are alive, we are waiting for Jesus to come make all things new. Our longing for something more isn’t going to go away. But we can trust the Holy Spirit to help us experience contentment, regardless of our circumstances.

We can be content being single and still desire to be married.
We can be content in our jobs and still desire different ones.
We can be content with a newborn and still desire more sleep.
We can be content in whatever season we are in and still desire for something to be different.

Our longing for more is a good, eternal desire. Those desires move us to lean on the strength that comes from Christ, who gives us everything we need to live fully, right in the middle of our wanting, today.

Contentment looks like being honest about what we want but trusting that God is not withholding His best from us. He gives us the strength to live fully and joyfully where we are because He has given us Christ.

God, I praise You that You care about the deepest desires of my heart. Even in the middle of my wanting something to change, You offer a way to be content in any circumstance. Show me the ways I can live in the tension of being content and still wanting more today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Choosing to Believe.....Dr. Charles Stanley

 Choosing to Believe

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 3:1-21

Faith isn't something we can lay claim to because we were born to believing parents or have citizenship in a Christian country. Nor can we attain it by attending or even teaching Sunday school, though I've often heard such incorrect assertions. Instead, the following should be true of genuine believers.

A clear understanding of the gospel is essential for a person to believe and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was the only sacrifice required to remove our sins. God offers His grace as a gift to anyone who will receive it.

A definite decision at a particular point in time serves as a sort of landmark of the heart and mind. People do not just slip into Christianity; faith in Jesus must be chosen. Believers are those who have made a deliberate decision to trust the Lord and follow in His ways.

A blessed assurance follows the clear-cut decision so that believers can be certain of their salvation. God wants confident, assured children (1 John 5:13).

A visible symbol of what happens when someone receives the Savior--namely, baptism--illustrates dying to one's old ways and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. Believers are to take this step as a public way of identifying with Him (Matt. 28:19).

A man or woman of faith chooses to surrender to Christ, embraces the Word of God, and lives fully for the Lord. True believers no longer muddle through the practices of religion out of habit, but instead worship and rejoice in a vibrant personal relationship with the Lord.

I Am the Vine.....by Emma Danzey

 I Am the Vine

by Emma Danzey

John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Why Does Jesus Describe Himself as the Vine?
I love that Jesus describes Himself as the Vine and us as the branches. He is the Source of our very lives. Without the vine, there can be no branches. Without Jesus, we cannot thrive and grow. Our entire lives are dependent upon the Lord.  When we remember how Jesus gave up His life and His blood for us, there is a powerful connection because of His provision of communion at the Last Supper. Jesus compares His blood to wine. As we think about Jesus having declared Himself to be The Vine, He also produced the sacrifice that would atone for our sins by His blood. It is interesting that wine is described as the blood of grapes in Genesis 49:11 and Deuteronomy 32:14. Jesus is the Vine and He poured out His blood for us.

Beth Moore shares in her book Chasing Vines, “Because the grape was proudly multipurpose, the shelf life it had to offer the ancient world was practically without rival. Grapes could be eaten fresh, straight from the vine. Dried, they were renamed raisins, and in the Bible, they were eaten plain or baked into cakes. Pressed, the grapes produced fresh juice, or far more significantly, they could be utterly transformed, possessing new properties and chemistry, into vinegars and wines.”

When we think about how Jesus described Himself as the Vine and ponder the many uses of a grape, it reminds us that our Savior reveals Himself to the world in a variety of ways. He is able to save and rescue anyone. What He produces is diverse and desirable. When we begin to believe that we finally comprehend Him, He shows us another part of Himself that leaves us in awe. 

What Does it Mean for Us Today That Jesus Is the Vine?
This is valuable for us today in our lives because when we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, then we are branches attached to His Vine. He becomes our main source for living, we become surrendered to fully depend on Him. Jesus gives us everything that we need to accomplish His will for our lives. We see this especially in the word remain (or abide). 

Remain 
Strong’s Greek shares that the word in John 15:5 is menōn, which is translated: remain, abide, or dwell. The word literally means to stay. When we are staying with our Savior, we are learning from Him, growing deeper in our love for Him, and able to reach outward to others and show them who Jesus is. 

How Can We Remain Connected to the Vine?

1. Spend Time with Him: Making time each day in the Bible and in prayer is a key way to staying connected with Jesus. If we are actively seeking Him and reading His Scriptures, we will be growing and changed by His living and active Word.
2. Be Still Before Him: This one is convicting. When was the last time you were just simply still before the Lord? When we take an opportunity to rest before His presence, we can be still and know that He is Lord. Remain is a term that involves resting in the work that has already been done. We are branches, but Jesus is the Vine. We can stop striving for salvation but rest in a permanent gift from Jesus our Vine. We can abide in Him in stillness and solitude, knowing that our souls find rest in God alone.
3. Share His Love with Others: Part of the joy of vines is that they produce fruit. Part of our greatest gifts as believers in Christ is that we not only watch God work, we are involved in what He is doing around the world. When we share His love and gospel with others, we can help multiply those connected with the Vine and see the Holy Spirit produce more fruit from the Vine who is Jesus.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How are you connecting with Jesus today? He is the Vine and we are the branches. May we remember to spend time with Him, be still before Him, and share His love with others. 

Further Reading:

• Jeremiah 6:9
• Matthew 20:1-16
• John 6:55

A Prayer to Trade Lies for Truth.....By Meg Bucher

 A Prayer to Trade Lies for Truth

By Meg Bucher

“They traded the truth about God for a lie.” - Romans 1:25a NLT

A weeping mess, fully believing all sorts of lies about herself, I held my sobbing daughter in my arms as I did when she skinned her knee as a toddler. To her, the sting of what she felt was equal to a bloody knee. The heartache poured out as we unraveled one lie at a time. 

“You're not fat… you’re fearfully and wonderfully made.”

“You're not misplaced… you are here for such a time as this.”

“You don’t feel loved… but you are- I love you- God loves you …and you are never alone.”

Countering lies with the Truth God speaks over us is important. We are His precious creation. Scripture assures us His heart aches along with ours. Today’s verse in Paul’s letter to the Romans talks about trading the truth of God for a lie. In full context, this part of the letter states: 

"Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” Romans 1:22-25 NLT

The ‘they’ Paul refers to is revealed in verse 18: “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” (NLT)

It would be nice to point a finger at whomever “they” are in our lives, and shift the blame for the roots of the lies we believe onto them. But they …are us. We are all sinful, the difference is the sacrifice Christ Jesus made on the cross to redeem us, and our willingness to submit to His authority in our lives. Then, and only then, do we have the power through His Truth to dispute and disclaim the everyday lies we entertain. 

Father,

Praise and glory to You for this day, and Your purpose for it. This is the day You have made. We choose, this day, to rejoice and be glad. Father, You are the One True, Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Abba, Yahweh; Jesus, Messiah; Spirit, Strengthener. Glory to You in the highest. 

Let us not be people who trade truth for lies. We want to know You Father. Draw us close to You today, as we search for the truth You proclaim over our lives. The world has a lot to say about what it true, but only You have the authority to declare who we are. Father, help us to discern what is true, and what is a lie. Help us to see ourselves the way You see us; and to see others the way You see them, too. Allow us the strength and wisdom to refute lies in our own thoughts, and take them captive to the Truth of Your Word. Use us, Lord, to help others identify lies in their lives, and equip us to replace those lies with truths. Make us aware of who You are trying to draw near to You through our lives, Lord Jesus. Let Your presence fill us and guide us. We submit our agendas, and pray Your will over our lives. 

Search our hearts for lies, Father, and replace them with Your Truth. Forgive us for our daily sins, and teach us how to repent and draw closer to You, Lord God. Restore us, and put a willing, focused, and repentant spirit in us. Expand our territory, Father, according to Your will. We lift our worries up to You, because You care for us. Calm our minds and our hearts with the Truth of who You are, God. Teach us more about Your character, and Your love for us. For You so loved the world You gave Your one and only Son, Christ Jesus, to save our lives. Let the truth of who You are, and who we are in Christ, reign true in our lives, disputing every lie which attempts to distract us.

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen.