Make Space for God to Fill..Craig Denison Ministries

 Make Space for God to Fill

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As this year comes to a close, it’s vital that we take time to both reflect on what God has done and allow him to prepare us for what’s to come. A new year marks a fresh opportunity to center our lives around the goodness of God. I pray that as you begin looking toward what is to come you will make space to gain God’s perspective, ground your hopes and pursuits on his grace, and celebrate all that God has done and is doing. May your time with God this week be filled with the loving presence of your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

Devotional:

The story of Mary, Martha, and Jesus found in Luke 10 encapsulates God’s longing for simple, unfettered relationship with his children. As this year comes to a close I pray that this story would set a fire in our hearts to live out of unhindered union with our heavenly Father. I pray that we would seek to continually make space in our lives for the one thing that truly matters. Scripture says in Luke 10:38-42,

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I want my life to be centered around “the good portion.” I want all my days to be marked by choosing to sit at the feet of Jesus rather than living a life based solely on works. At the end of my life, I want to look back and know that I sought relationship with my God above all else, and that I gave him my heart in and out of every season, no matter the cost.

The simple truth of Christian spirituality is that God longs to fill whatever space we make available to him with his nearness. The gift he gives us that far surpasses a spouse, a job, a family, earthly success, or financial stability is simply himself. The heartcry of our heavenly Father is simply this, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4).

What would it look like if your chief New Year’s resolution was making space for God to fill? What other desires of your heart would that take care of? How wonderful would it be to experience the transcendent peace and joy that comes from centering your life around meeting with God? How continually satisfied would you feel in consistently receiving the powerful love of your heavenly Father?

Take time today to reflect on what truly matters. Take time to choose “the good portion” that your life might be centered around he who alone has the power to truly satisfy your every longing. May your year be marked by unhindered union with the God who fills you with his greatest gift: himself.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God being “the good portion.” Allow the story of Mary, Martha, and Jesus to fill you with a longing to seek relationship with God above all else.

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”  Luke 10:38-42

2. Take time to make space for God to fill. Open your heart to him and center your focus on his nearness. Allow Scripture to fill you with faith to receive all he has to offer.

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

3. Rest in the nearness of God. Cast aside all other concerns, fears, and reservations and simply be with God. He will guide you into all you need, but relationship with him should always be centered around simply sitting at his feet.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10

If you center your life around abiding in God, your year will be filled with remarkable, heavenly, and eternal impact. May John 15:1-5 fill you with a desire to abide in God that all you do this year may yield lasting fruit:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Extended Reading: Psalm 139

The Believer's Purpose..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Believer's Purpose

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 5:13

God has a purpose for your life. If that weren't true, He'd have taken you home to heaven at the moment of salvation. Do you ever wonder why He left you here?

The Lord intends to influence others through you. Our purpose is to be a vessel through which Christ overflows to others--touching those who hurt and desperately need a Savior. Once we are saved, Scripture teaches, our involvement is threefold.

First, we love others. Jesus clearly stated that this was one of the two greatest commandments (Matt. 22:38-39).

Second, we share the good news of salvation (Acts 1:8). Some travel across the world to spread the gospel, while others teach neighbors across the street. The Holy Spirit will direct us to the right people if we are willing to obey.

Third, we serve in a variety of ways, like helping those in need, sharing our resources, and lifting others in prayer. Jesus is our perfect example of all three. His entire life was marked by caring for people--both those who loved Him and those who did not. In fact, the Bible teaches that He humbled Himself and became like us, willing to give up His life for our redemption. There is no greater love; there is no greater act of service.

Scripture clearly defines the believer's purpose. Aligning ourselves with God's intentions for His children--loving others, witnessing, and serving-- bring us great satisfaction. In fact, we're still on earth not merely to hear more teaching but to act on it and share with others what we learn.

How to Carry Christ into Every Room You Enter..Rachael Adams

 How to Carry Christ into Every Room You Enter (Ephesians 3:17-18)

By Rachael Adams

Today’s Bible Verse: “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is (Ephesians 3:17-18).”

In the interest of keeping an orderly home, when I was growing up, my parents taught me to tidy throughout the day. Because there was always something in any given room that needed to be taken back to its original location, we would pick up things as we moved from one room to the next, transferring them to their rightful place.

While walking through the living room, we would grab a mug left on the coffee table and put it in the kitchen sink. While passing by the front door, we would pick up stray shoes and return them to the shoe rack. While visiting a bedroom, we would gather discarded clothing and hang it in the closet.

Now that I have a home of my own, I find myself trying to instill this mindset into my own children. Rather than waiting to tidy until the mess becomes overwhelming, this habit of continuously cleaning keeps the household running smoothly.

I got to thinking about how this concept applies to our personal and spiritual lives as well. What if every time we walked into a room of people we scanned the faces to see if there was anyone that looked a bit out of place? Perhaps someone who needed to be “picked up” emotionally? Possibly even taken to the Lord—the original place where they belong? Simply initiating a conversation with someone sitting on their own, lending a helping hand to someone busy in the kitchen, or offering to pray for someone who has revealed a problem in their life can bring harmony to an otherwise disordered situation.

Considering what we can “clean” in the room is only part of the equation. We need to also be mindful of what we bring into the room. Are we adding to the mess, or are we leaving the room and the people in it better than when we first entered?

Because we have Christ’s Spirit residing in us, we carry His peace, joy, comfort, and love wherever we go. Through Him, we can change the atmosphere in any room, making it warm and inviting for all to come and stay.

I’m reminded of how Jesus modeled this behavior in His life and ministry. Throughout Scripture, we read how He simply walked along, noticing the people in His path—along the road, in the synagogues, in homes, in banquet halls, beside wells, and in the upper room. Even on the cross, He noticed the needs of the people around Him, promising to bring them into paradise with Him.

When we make room for God in our hearts, He always leaves us better than we were before. I pray we do the same as we carry Him with us into every room and try our best to leave it better than how we first found it.

A Prayer of Encouragement for Discipling..Meg Bucher

 A Prayer of Encouragement for Discipling

By Meg Bucher

“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.” - Colossians 1:6 NLT

“I’ll pray for you” or “I’m praying for you” are common responses to the trials and pains of others. Taking their needs before the Lord is called intercessory prayer, and it’s powerful. But even more so, is pausing to pray for others in the tough moments of life. Whether we take time to pray via text message or pick up the phone and call …stop in the grocery store or pull the car over to close eyes and link arms- prayer is powerful. When we are looking for a way to help, prayer is it. Prayer not only helps us take our needs and the needs of others before the Lord, but it gives us clear direction on what to do next- action steps …follow up. The personal care of actually lifting them up daily even after the moment has passed. 

Paul’s prayer to the Colossians was a reminder to them, and to us today, the gospel is spreading throughout the world as Jesus said it would. Until every ear hears, it will continue to. Despite of our mistakes and shortcomings, God uses us to deliver it to the far corners of the world and in the streets of our communities and neighborhoods. We just have to keep praying to the Lord, and for each other. We are called to make disciples and to continue equipping others to share the Gospel. It’s the biggest and most successful chain reaction of all time- God’s love spreads like wild-fire, we only have to be willing vessels to receive and deliver it. 

Let’s pray the words of Paul’s prayer for each other here, today:

Father,
Praise you for this day, our lives, and Your purposes. This is the day You have made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank You, Abba, for caring for us. You make sure we have all we need, Provider, Jireh. You take care of us, Healer, Elohim. Thank You for this prayer today, Father, which Paul wrote to the Colossians. By Your Holy Spirit, help us to be encouraged by these words today, and to digest them fully. Give us new strength and determination, Father, to continue on in discipling others. Pour into us so we may fill others up with Your love. We pray these words over our lives today:

“We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” (Colossians 1:3-14)

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

You Don’t Have to Do it on Your Own..Brent Rinehart

 You Don’t Have to Do it on Your Own

By Brent Rinehart

“Moses's father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone’” (Exodus 18: 17-18).

Country music star Reba McEntire was once asked to what she attributed her successful career. Without hesitation, she shined the light on the myriad of people on her team. “Some of my crew has been with me since the 80s,” she said. “They are family.”

While it sometimes can feel like “me against the world,” none of us were designed to face life’s challenges alone. Just like Reba, we all need support from others to find success.

We get a clear picture of this by examining the experience of Moses. After leading the Israelites out of Egypt and into the desert, Moses had a lot to deal with as the man in charge. When the people were hungry and thirsty, all the grumbling and complaining came to Moses. When they were fighting amongst themselves, all the disputes came to Moses to be settled. All the pressure and responsibility was on Moses’ shoulders.

“When Moses's father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?’” (Exodus 18:14).

 “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone” (Exodus 18: 17-18).

Jethro advised his son-in-law, Moses, to set up a better system of governance, where Moses could handle the bigger issues, while other capable leaders handle smaller matters and bear the burden with him. “If you do this, [Jethro said], God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace” (Exodus 18:23). By sharing the load, it would be much easier for Moses and the people.

Jethro’s advice came on the heels of Moses’s own first-hand experience of needing help. Israel was battling Amalek. While Moses stood on the nearby hillside, he raised his arms. As he did, Israel began to prevail against Amalek. When his arms lowered, Amalek would prevail. As Moses became tired, he was hard for him to keep his arms raised. Aaron and Hur came beside him and each held up one of his arms so Israel would win the battle.

Moses understood that he couldn’t do this alone. He needed God, of course, but he also needed support from those around him. From the beginning, it was God’s design for us to help each other. We weren’t created to do everything on our own. We see this all the way back in the Garden of Eden.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it…Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him’” (Genesis 2:15, 18).

Sometimes, life can be overwhelming with deadlines at the office, demands at home and a long list of unfinished tasks. We all have a lot of pressure on our shoulders, even if we aren’t in charge of thousands of people wandering in the desert.

But, just like with Moses, God designed helpers to come along side us to offer support. And, He created us to help others around us carry their heavy loads. Often, it’s our own pride that keeps us from accepting help, or our own self-involvement that keeps us from offering it.

Jesus Himself said to “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11: 28). Are you tired? Overwhelmed? Today, find time to share your heavy burdens with God and with others. Know that you can rest in the fact that you weren’t created to do it all on your own.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

• What does sharing the load look like, practically, in your life?
• Do you need to prioritize your day differently to avoid feeling overwhelmed?
• Are you holding on to tasks that you should delegate?
• Whose arms can you hold up today?
• Who is on your team? Spend a few moments thanking God for the helpers in your life.

Further Reading:

• Exodus 18:13-27
• Exodus 17:8-16
• Genesis 2:4-24