God Our Great Protector...Craig Denison Ministries

 God Our Great Protector

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview: 

It’s vital to the Christian life that we as sons and daughters of the most high God allow our affections to be stirred by the loving, powerful nature of our heavenly Father. Too often we feel that God is distant or separated from us. Too often we allow misconceptions or lies to place a rift between us and experiencing God. It’s in reminding ourselves of God’s character that lies are broken and a pathway is laid for us to encounter his tangible love. Open your heart and mind and receive fresh revelation of the goodness of God this week. Allow your affections to be stirred and your heart to be filled with desire to seek the face of your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Devotional:    

I used to be scared to death any time I heard someone talking about the devil. He always seemed so cunning, too cunning, for me to handle. I saw Christian after Christian enveloped in temptation fall away from what seemed to be God’s will for their life. I heard about the ways in which the world was so tricked by his schemes. And I thought I would never be able to fully defeat this strong and cunning foe.

Do you feel that way? Does your enemy seem too strong to defeat? Does he seem too cunning to outwit? Does it feel like he has so grasped you in his clutches that escape is impossible? The most important fact for you to know about Satan is that he is the father of all lies. John 8:44 says, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Let that truth sink in for a minute. Everything the devil tells you is a lie. He cannot speak full truth. Everything he tells you is in opposition to God, who is the author of all truth. All of the devil’s whispers about his strength and your inability to defeat him are in opposition to the word of God. May we find blissful freedom today in the powerful words of our loving, truthful heavenly Father. May we allow his Spirit to come in and correct the lies of the enemy we have believed so that we might walk in the abundant life available to us through Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” Our heavenly Father is a perfect, capable protector from Satan. He promises to establish us and guard us. He is always with us and always knows exactly what we need in order to withstand the temptations of the evil one. 1 Corinthians 10:13 teaches us, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” The Holy Spirit will always provide us an exit from temptation. Always. There will never be a temptation that comes your way that you cannot escape when you are under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

One of the enemy’s most used weapons is the lie that you cannot defeat him. He reminds us of our past failures, of his great cunning ways, and of his victories over us. He whispers that he is stronger than us and that we will give in eventually. All lies. Past failures do not have to dictate the outcome of future battles. In fact, if we will allow the Holy Spirit to use past failures to reveal to us ways in which he longed to lead us away from temptation, past sins become stepping stones on which we achieve future victories. Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” God’s grace lays the foundation for our victory over the enemy, not our own works. It was in his grace that Jesus died to set us free from this world and restore us to God. His grace leads us away from temptation. And it’s his grace that he offers us every time we confess our sins to him. God’s grace is powerful, freeing, perfect, and full of love. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our frame. But he is also perfectly capable of being strong in our weakness if we allow him to be.

You never have to fall into temptation again. God has a perfect plan for every temptation that comes your way. The enemy is not stronger than you. He is not more cunning than you. And he will not have victory over you because you have God, and God has defeated him. Your protector and guard is the very God who defeated the enemy at the cross and will throw him into the lake of fire, resulting in his ultimate destruction. That God lives inside of you, has grace for you, and plans to use your past failures and current weaknesses to powerfully defeat your enemy.

Spend time in prayer meditating on the truth of God’s power over the enemy. Reflect on your own life and allow the Spirit to take your past failures and turn them into future victories. And allow Scripture to fill you with truth to combat the future lies of the enemy.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s faithful protection over you.

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

2. Reflect on your past failures. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you ways in which he was leading you away from temptation. What did he desire you to do so that you might walk in victory over your enemy? In what ways did he desire to protect you?

3. Allow the Spirit to empower you for future victories. Ask him to make you more aware of his leadership in future temptations and to empower you to follow him. Meditate on the truth of who you are in Christ and the truth of the enemy’s plans for you. May Scripture and the Holy Spirit empower you during this time for every temptation the enemy has planned for you.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:1-5

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

It’s critical that we renew our mind to the truth of who we are in Christ on a daily basis. The enemy will never stop tempting us because he will never stop hating us and the God whom we belong to. But you can achieve victory over the enemy every single time because victory is already yours in Christ. You are the enemy’s no longer. You have been given a new nature of righteousness. The most powerful weapon you have is God’s word. Memorize Scripture about your new nature and allow it to redefine the way you see yourself. Walk in light of the incredible grace of God working in and through your life today.

Extended Reading: 1 Corinthians 10

The Power of Yet...By Brent Rinehart

 The Power of Yet

By Brent Rinehart

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength” - Habakkuk 3:17-19b)

Have you experienced times in your life where you can’t feel God’s presence? When the worst happens in our lives, while we do our best to cling to our faith, it’s easy to question God. Where is He when a loved one dies far too young? Where is God in divorce, disease and death? Where is He when war rages? These are age-old questions humans have struggled with for centuries, and questions we can easily ask today. It seems as if the world is on the brink of disaster, so we are left searching for God through all of it.

Habakkuk wrote his prophecy at time when he and God’s people were asking the same questions. The Babylonians were preparing to invade Judah where the remnant of God’s people remained. This was a direct judgment from the Lord, for they had experienced rapid moral and spiritually decline. Habakkuk complains against God, not understanding how he could use a downright wicked nation in Babylon to judge a less wicked one in Judah. But, we know that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The Lord answers Habakkuk and reminds him that He is a God of justice and mercy and that the righteous have to live by faith (2:4) and trust Him. Habakkuk’s ultimate summary is that no matter what comes, he will choose joy and trust God. Though the world seems to crumble, YET he will rejoice in the Lord.

I can’t read this passage and not think about the classic hymn “It is Well With My Soul.” Many people know the dramatic story behind it. Horatio Spafford wrote the lyrics after a series of traumatic events: his two sons died in the Chicago fire of 1871 and the rest of his family perished two years later when their ship crossing the Atlantic sank. YET, even after all of those things, he was able to write: “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

What are you going through today? Does it seem like your world is falling apart? Know this: you don’t choose what you go through, but you can choose how you go through it. Choose joy, and know that God is good, just and merciful. No matter what you face, you can choose to say, “YET, I will rejoice in the Lord…the God of my salvation.”

A Prayer to Have a Heart of Humility..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Have a Heart of Humility

by Kristine Brown

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

The day my boss informed me I’d been chosen as our school district's Teacher of the Year, excitement overwhelmed me. I couldn’t believe I’d been selected for such an honor! Each year, the Teacher of the Year award was announced at the end-of-semester district luncheon, surrounded by lots of fanfare. This was certain to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

The announcement was kept secret until that special day, but the more my excitement grew, the more my pride swelled. I anticipated the feeling of being recognized in front of my peers. I started focusing more on my moment, and less on the One who equipped me to do the important work I’d been called to do.

To my surprise, the much-anticipated luncheon came and went without much fanfare at all. Because of last-minute scheduling changes, I was invited to the front of the room to quickly accept my 5-inch square plaque and enjoy a few brief seconds of applause for a job well done. Then back to my seat I went, as the rest of the announcements carried on.

I sat in stunned silence wondering how I’d let my pride get so out of control. A familiar verse came to mind, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

I’d always loved that verse. It perfectly represented the kind of teacher I wanted to be— someone who showed compassion, kindness, and gentleness in my classroom. And with junior high students, I had daily opportunities to practice patience! But thinking about Paul’s words to the Colossians, I realized I’d conveniently skipped over an important part of that verse: the word humility.

When we go through our daily routines, working in positions out of the spotlight, we may not get recognized for the good works we do. We may feel unnoticed, or even unappreciated. Yet God wants us to keep humble hearts for a reason. The Believer’s Bible Commentary defines humility in this context as “lowliness, or the willingness to be humbled and to esteem others better than oneself.” By putting others before ourselves, we shine a light on the work Jesus has done in us rather than the work we do every day.

For the next several years, my teacher of the year award sat on a shelf in my classroom. Countless young people strolled past it without a second glance, and that’s okay. It became a symbol which reminded me to keep a humble heart. Those precious students won’t remember our time together because of a plaque on the shelf. They will remember the encouragement and support they received, and that’s what matters.

Let’s give thanks today for God’s gentle reminders to “set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1). We will reach others with the love of Jesus when we seek a heart of humility and put Him first. 

Let's pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for being prideful. Sometimes I get carried away with the desire to be noticed for the work that I do. Thank you for reminding me not to chase after worldly accolades and awards. Help me to set my heart on you and your son Jesus.

Lord, your Word teaches me to “clothe myself with humility.” Help me remember the humility Jesus showed as he endured the cross. Philippians 2:8 says, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Forgive me for thinking of myself as deserving recognition, and help me live under Jesus’ example of true humility. I will put others first today, Lord. I pray that the people in my life will see the light of Jesus shine through.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Set Your Face like a Flint...by Anne Peterson

 Set Your Face like a Flint

by Anne Peterson

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." - Isaiah 50:7

 One Christmas, our Bible teacher gave each of us a specially chosen verse. Mine was Isaiah 50:7. Lois knew me. She knew coming from an abusive home, I wore shame like a well-fitted sweater. Our father was authoritarian. We were not cherished, we were physically abused. 

Lois also taught us that we needed to grow in our faith for our journeys ahead. There were truths I would unpack even years after Lois slipped into heaven to be with the one she served, both as a missionary with her husband, Don, and as a Bible teacher to a bunch of us who met weekly in their home. How would I ever make it in the real world, outside of that fellowship? 

… the Sovereign Lord helps me…
After we trust in Christ, we still need the Lord’s help. God is sovereign. He is the one who possesses ultimate power.  Little by little, I learned about that power. How it was unparalleled. How no one ever had, nor ever would have power like God’s power. I learned God’s salvation was not the only thing He provided for us. God became the father I needed. One who would help me when I turned to Him.

First, God showed me that I did need His help. I want to confess I used to be a controller. It’s something I learned growing up in a house that lacked boundaries and tenderness. After we lost our mother, when I was in my teens, I decided I would have to look out for myself. But I was unequipped. But being sovereign, God knew that. He was there to help me grow up in faith, and learn to trust Him. But first, I needed to get rid of something.

…I will not be disgraced
One thing I lacked was self confidence. God showed me I could give Him the shame I had carried. God showed me I was valued because He created me. He loved me and wanted me to grow up in that love, and to trust Him for everything I needed because He is our sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5).  And just as David learned how to rely on God’s strength, God taught me the same thing. Instead of carrying shame as I had for years, God told me in His Word what He thought of me as His daughter. 

I started learning how to trust God and His unfailing love. As a child, we attended Awana clubs where seeds were planted about Jesus. But now that I knew Him personally, God would grow me up in Him. So what was first?

I set my face like flint…
I would have to learn determination, perseverance, and commitment. My trials were my training ground. I learned to fix my eyes on the Lord. For when we trust God alone, that pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Sometimes we read scripture, but we have our own understanding of it. Like when Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Jesus spoke of how He is the vine and we are the branches who totally rely on Him. But we act as if without Him we can do less, almost as if God needs our help.  And though I see how silly that sounds, why else will I refuse to let go as God works?

Learning to let go is difficult, but when we actually do, we see that God will ultimately come through for us. And He continues to do that over and over. The answers God provides may look different than what we prayed for, but God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). And what is another byproduct of my trusting God?

I will not be put to shame…
God comes through for us. We’re not just left with our needs unmet. It reminds me of the story of a little girl who stood up to recite the 23rd Psalm, and she said, “The Lord is my shepherd and that’s all I want.”

God is Jehovah Jireh - the Lord who provides. He’ll always come through for us. We need to learn how to wait on His timing. And God will teach us how to wait well.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What trials are you facing in your life? What verse(s) have you leaned on in your present circumstances? Another helpful thing is to memorize those verses so the Holy Spirit can recall them when we need that encouragement.

Let Go

My hands are clenched,
my knuckles white,
I’m hanging on with all my might.
And then I hear God whisper low,
“Come on, My Child, let go.”  
 -Anne Peterson © 2020