What God Chooses to Accomplish His Will.....By: Amanda Idleman

 What God Chooses to Accomplish His Will

By: Amanda Idleman

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. - 1 Corinthians 1:27

Have you ever felt the nudge to do something, say something, or try something that felt outside your ability? As soon as the thought came into your head another did as well, discrediting your qualifications. Yet, the idea brought a quickening in your heart. The undeniable feeling this could be great./p>

These are the moments when God wants to step in to do something bigger than what we believe is possible with our seemingly unqualified lives. The amazing truth is that we are not left to ourselves in these moments! When God lays something on our heart to do or brings on a challenge for us to conquer for Him, then HE is the one who is going to be sufficient to see us through! He pushes us into uncomfortable places so that we are able to recognize His power at work.

If God only called us to what we felt capable to do, then would we even recognize God’s hand at work in our lives? When we feel like we have it all together, when things make sense in our own minds then we stop seeking God for his help. Our pride so easily steals our need for a Savior.

It is for this reason that God allows us to face obstacles that feel insurmountable at the moment. In these moments we must be faithful to take a step of faith. God will meet us and miraculously provide so that His glory can be seen in our lives. God enables his people to accomplish what He desires them to do with their lives.

God’s plan for humanity is not one that we can make sense of on our own. God came in a form that no one expected, died a criminal's death, and yet used these lowly circumstances as the tool to free humanity from the chains of sin and death.

If we are to be ones who accomplish God’s plan for our lives or even to be those who are able to accept the truth of the cross, we have to be willing to lay aside our expectation, known limitations, and step out in faith that God will meet us where we are. He uses a foolish cross to redeem our lives.

He gives us the strength we need to minister to those who need His love in our daily lives. God will carry us through dark days. He will provide for our families when we see no way forward. God is able and uses our powerlessness to show His great ability to carry us through whatever it is that He calls us to.

Pause to consider in what ways you need to invite God to show His mighty hand at work in your life? Are you only relying on what “makes sense” to you or is there an area in your life in which God is nudging you to step out in faith so He can do something great? God only gave the Israelites in the desert the manna they needed each day so they would have to learn to trust in God as their provider. How is God teaching you to trust in him as your daily provider?

The Parable of the Prodigal Son.....Craig Denison Ministries

 The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Jesus loved to use stories to illustrate profound, life-transforming concepts. He loved to use real and genuine settings, characters, and ideas that apply to all of us to reveal God’s heart of pursuit and love. This week we’re going to spend time allowing the parables of Jesus to speak directly to our situations, mindsets, and core beliefs about who God is. Open your heart and mind to be transformed by the powerful and captivating stories of Jesus.

Scripture:“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’” Luke 15:21-24

Devotional:     

There isn’t a single passage of Scripture that better illustrates the heart of our heavenly Father than the parable of the prodigal son. So as to not miss any of the details of this life-changing passage, open your heart to the Spirit as you read it in its entirety.

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’” (Luke 15:11-32).

The life-changing core of the gospel is that when we feel far from God, he is never far from us. The moment we turn back toward him, he runs out to meet us. The moment we lower ourselves in response to our sin, he exalts us, calls us his child, and throws a party in our honor. Sometimes the most important truths are the simple ones. Sometimes the very word we need most is the truth we’ve heard thousands of times. My prayer for you today is that you wouldn’t extend yourself past the foundation of the gospel. God’s desire is that we would linger in the revelation of the aftermath of Jesus’ work, that through his life, death, and resurrection we have been raised to newness of life (Romans 6:4). Get lost today in the profound grace of your loving God. Of no work of your own, you have been set free from the bonds of this earth and brought back into the fold of your loving heavenly Father. Through the sacrifice of King Jesus you have been crowned as a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Take time today to simply rest in the foundational truth of the gospel. Run toward God with all humility and allow your heart to be raised up as he exalts you. Humble yourself in light of his majesty and allow him to pour out a joy over you like you have never felt before. God has every reason to condemn you, but out of his overwhelming love he has chosen to call you his beloved child. Meditate on this life-changing truth and respond to his love with the offering of your life. 

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the profound truth of the gospel that you are fully loved only through the grace of your heavenly Father.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17

2. Where do you need to turn and run toward your heavenly Father? Acknowledge your total need of his grace and receive the abundant mercy he is waiting to pour over you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

“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

3. Spend time resting in the knowledge of Jesus’ finished work. Rest in the love of your heavenly Father. Allow his presence and his love to change you from the inside out today. Allow the Spirit to guide you into the heart of God.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

There is nothing you could do that could separate you from the love of your heavenly Father. The prodigal son sinned against his father in the worst way a son could. And still the father ran out to meet him at first glance of his son’s return. Your heavenly Father runs to meet you anytime you turn toward him. Don’t let the enemy spread lies to you that you are too dirty for God or that you have to fix yourself before you can spend time in his presence. Your relationship with God is based completely on grace, not on works. He loves you because he loves you, not because of what you do. Go out today in the knowledge that you are eternally loved by your heavenly Father, regardless of what you do. And may his love spur you toward a life lived in the abundance of restored relationship.

Extended Reading: Romans 8

Does It Really Matter if I Read God’s Word Today?...LYSA TERKEURST

 Does It Really Matter if I Read God’s Word Today?

LYSA TERKEURST 

“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

Do you ever get overwhelmed when you sit down to read your Bible?

Me too … especially when I’m feeling worn down and worn out.

When we’re in these desperate places, it’s easy to simply want God to rain down “right now” wisdom full of answers and solutions for what’s breaking our hearts. But spending time in God’s Word actually offers us so much more than quick fixes. You see, the Bible doesn’t just give us instruction for today — it also plants wisdom in our hearts for the future.

We see this powerful truth in Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV), which says:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

This water imagery would have been quite significant to the people of Israel. Because of where they lived, they were heavily dependent on seasonal rains for water. Water simply wasn’t as easily accessible to Israel as it was for other nations like Egypt with its Nile River.

The Israelites’ need to depend on God for physical sustenance and satisfaction served as a continual reminder of their need to depend upon Him spiritually as well.

They didn’t just need the rain for immediate relief for themselves or nourishment for their plants. The rains served a dual purpose — enabling the crops to flourish for food that year as well as enabling the crops to produce the seeds necessary for the following year.

The water provided not only sustenance for the present but assurance for the future.

How like the Word of God.

Scripture, like rain, brings us immediate nourishment and refreshment for our present circumstances, (Psalm 19:7-10) and it also waters seeds to sustain us in the future. (Isaiah 55:10) God already sees everything coming our way, and that means He knows exactly how to begin preparing our hearts today for tomorrow.

I’ve seen this to be so true in my own life.

Recently, I was at a women's gathering where I was about to walk out and study the Bible with others. And just minutes before, I got a call that ripped my heart out of my chest. The news absolutely devastated me … but I also had an assignment before me.

So I took a deep breath.

I wiped my tears.

I whispered the one shred of truth I could remember from Bible verses that had been on repeat in my mind: God is faithful. Living water for my soul. (Isaiah 55:10-11; John 7:38; John 4:13-14)

Then I turned to my friends who were with me and said, “This is what it looks like to walk in the strength of the Lord. Never forget this. He is always faithful.” I stepped into studying Scripture and was astounded by the power of the Holy Spirit that poured out.

I don’t tell you this to highlight my own strength because frankly I didn’t feel like I had much at that moment. But if you’re asking yourself, Does it really matter if I read God’s Word today? … remember that storing Scripture deep in our hearts prepares us for the most unpredictable moments. The unforeseeable circumstances. The moments that take our breath away, leaving us no other option but to trust God to carry us through.

So friend, let’s open God’s Word today. Whether you feel like it or you’re not sure you can, even if it’s just one or two verses, read Scripture. And more than just reading His words, we must choose to receive them. Even more importantly, we must live them.

Because the more we apply God’s teaching to our lives, the more it becomes part of us. For today. For one day. For every day.

Lord, when I feel worn down and tired, help me to be intentional with spending time in Your Word. Let the truth on the pages sink deeply into my heart and remind me of who You are, even when I am faced with difficult circumstances. When I don’t know what to do, I know I can rely on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Influences from Childhood.....Dr. Charles Stanley

 Influences from Childhood

Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 61:1-3

No one's childhood is perfect. What we experienced during those years has a profound impact, even into adulthood. Things we saw, heard, felt, and even things we did not feel can affect us later in life.

As one might expect, external influences do help to shape our personality. However, the result is not always predictable. For example, early years full of painful experiences leave deep wounds in some, but in others, they contribute to the development of depth and perseverance.

Whether your younger years were joyful or painful, it can be valuable to consider what their impact was, back then as well as in the present. You might start by exploring your responses to key childhood events. Next, identify traits that you appreciated in your parents and others--qualities you'd like to nurture in your own life. Finally, think about people with characteristics that impacted you negatively. Ask God for healing and freedom from the patterns you may have developed in response. Then shift your focus to godly attributes you want to exhibit instead, such as peace, grace, and gentleness.

The heavenly Father wants to free you from any negative trends that took root early in life. He can break any unhealthy pattern and replace it with hope and deep satisfaction in Him.

As you explore the effects of childhood experiences, pray to see through a lens of truth. When you recognize ways that others negatively influenced you, pray for strength to forgive and God's help in mending areas of brokenness--whether spiritual, emotional, relational, or mental.

Submission in Marriage.....By Amanda Idleman

 Submission in Marriage 

By Amanda Idleman

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” - Genesis 2:18 

The story of the relationship between men and women goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. At the start of human history, God created Adam and the animals. God quickly realized that Adam was in need of a “helper” because the animals weren’t quite cutting it. Genesis 2;18 says, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” God created Eve; that long sought after “helper.” While helper sometimes can bring to mind a weaker being, the Hebrew word in these passages of Scripture is ezer which in the Hebrew Bible was only used in reference to a superior or an equal. 

As time goes on the relationship between men and women grows more complex. Sin and death enter the human story and suddenly this equal partnership becomes more difficult to maintain. In Genesis 3, one of the many consequences of Adam and Eve choosing to become like God by eating from the tree of knowledge is that the woman's desire will be for the man and he shall rule over you (Genesis 3:16). It is in the Garden that a struggle between men and women enters the scene. Men and Women now have to strive to be that perfect pair that God intended male and female to be. 

Since then God wrote a book intended to be a guide for how to live our lives. God is love and his word is filled with advice on how to best love the people he has placed in our lives. Submission in marriage is a part of that relational advice God gives us. The Hebrew word for submit is a verb meaning apply, serve, present, bring near. What a beautiful definition when applied to marriage! 

We have to apply effort to our marriages, we have to serve one another in love daily, our marriages only are able to thrive when we commit to being present in our communication with one another, and marriage is all about being near to each other, sharing all the details of our days with one another. Submitting to our spouse, when the Hebrew definition is applied, feels like the recipe for a thriving marriage relationship! 

The Bible talks a lot about marriage. The church is called ‘the bride of Christ’ which makes a strong connection between God’s amazing story he is writing through history and the marriage that we are living out in our homes. God is a relational God. He wants to be in close communion with us and he knows we need each other to find peace and joy in this life. 

Ephesians 5:21-33 says, “Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” 

These words help us understand that it is through service to one another that our relationships thrive. We don’t get far when we approach others with obstinence, pride, and selfishness. When we become followers of Christ, we live a submitted life! We submit to one another and ultimately in all things we submit ourselves to the leadership of Christ Jesus. 

Submission can almost feel like a bad word because it has been abused and turned into a justification for inflating the superiority of one gender over another. This was not at all the truth that God tries to impart to us through his Word. His truth is about partnership, service, love, respect, intimacy, and more than anything else it points us to the truth that He is the essential piece of the puzzle of marriage. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Submission looks like serving one another with love, it requires a culture of love and respect in your home, and most of all we need God’s help to follow the instructions he has given us for our marriages! What is one act of service you can perform for your spouse this week? How can you affirm your spouse so they feel loved and respected this week? Pray daily that God gives you the strength to humbly work together as one unit with your spouse. 

Further Reading:

• Galatians 5:13
• Ephesians 5:21-33

A Prayer to Turn Our Eyes from Worthless Things..By: Victoria Riollano

 A Prayer to Turn Our Eyes from Worthless Things

By: Victoria Riollano

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. - Psalm 119:37

Years ago, I suffered from paralyzing nightmares. While others rested peacefully, I would toss and turn and imagine what could be lurking through the house. There were nights when I would wake my husband up three times or more to see who was breaking in or what the creepy sound was in the hall. No matter how hard I tried to shake the terror or pray my way through it, it seemed I never quite got relief. Each day I would be restless from the long nights and anxiously dreading the evening to come.

Then one day, I prayed to the Lord, “Please show me how to be free from this fear, reveal what I can do to make it go away.” After this prayer, I turned on the television and was immediately convicted. The Lord started to reveal to me that my evening routine of watching scary movies, daytime indulgence of the local news, and surfing the internet about unsolved mysteries were the culprit for my constant fear.

In many ways, I was constantly feeding my spirit things that were “worthless” and that didn’t lead to life. When I made the choice to be intentional about no longer watching these things, I was instantly set free from the years of bondage. I finally found rest.

In Psalm 119, David shares the heart of one who desperately wants to follow the Lord. In verse 10, he states that he will seek the Lord with all his heart and asks the Lord to help him not to stray. In the longest chapter of the Bible, David cries out to the Lord to help him to carry His testimony, precepts, and laws all the days of his life. We can’t help but hear David’s intense desire as speaks to the Lord:

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. - Psalm 119:147-148

David was a man who had enemies and hard times. From jealous brothers, to the death of his infant son, and a lifelong battle with Saul, it seemed David had his fair share of troubles. Yet, God had also blessed David with victory over Absalom, Saul, and Goliath. In all this, David learned that it was imperative that he sought the Lord in all things. He recognized that his focus on God’s words is what preserved him.

Quite frankly, David did not have time for useless things and worthless conversations. His life was on the line so many times that he knew without God’s protection, he would surely die. His focus had to be immersed in who God was and following His standards in order to continue to walk in victory.

In this hour, we have a great opportunity to pause and consider where we have placed our focus. Have we used our time on things that lead toward life or death? In my life, I spent years pouring into things that were useless for my spirit. As a result, I lived a life of feeling anxious, aggravated and fearful.

I am certain that if I had the prayer of David to “turn my eyes from worthless things” I would have walked in freedom much earlier. You see, David gives us a great example of how we can be amid turmoil but make a choice to allow God’s word to be the center of our focus. When we inundate our lives with other things that don’t bring glory to God, we find ourselves never in a state of peace.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, I pray today that You would turn my eyes from worthless things. Preserve my life according to Your Word. Would You reveal anything that is hindering me from walking in victory?

I pray I would have eyes to see worldly distractions for what they are. I pray for eyes that see with an eternal perspective. Align my heart and your will, O Lord! Give me freedom over the temptations and distractions that threaten my close relationship with you. Grow my love for you over all things.

May your Word be the center of my attention. In Jesus’ name, Amen!