Love God: It’s All about Relationship..Craig Denison Ministries

 Love God: It’s All about Relationship

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

The Christian life is meant to be marked by simplicity. Jesus summed up our purpose with two statements: love God and love people. But in our humanity we have made complex what God designed to be peaceful, purposeful, and simple. A. W. Tozer remarks in The Pursuit of God, “Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all. If we would find God amid all the religious externals, we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity.” May we discover the peace and joy that come from pursuing a simple Christianity this week.

Scripture:“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” - Matthew 22:37-38

Devotional:

The world is an exhausted place. We search constantly for what should be most important or what deserves our attention from moment to moment. As the tides of societal values ebb and flow, so do our affections. We invest value and love into that which offers us nothing in return. And unfortunately the cares of this world have creeped into the people of God. Our gatherings are often marked by complexity and exhaustion. With program goals and achievements, we make complex what God intended to be so blessedly simple. We give our attention, energy, and love to that which isn’t always rooted in simply loving God.

When asked to highlight the most important commandment in all of Scripture, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). All of Christianity boils down to this one pursuit. And because we are to pursue loving God in all we do, all of life boils down to this single pursuit. Every single thing we do, whether it involves work, family, friends, church, entertainment, school, or solitude, is meant to be marked by the simplicity of loving God.

At the end of our days, the way we loved our heavenly Father will matter most. Our love for God matters more than any achievement, success, or program. It matters more than any possession, status, or relationship. And when we align our perspective with the first and greatest commandment, everything else comes into focus. When we pursue loving God above all else, all other pursuits fall into their proper places.

We were not created to offer our affections to anyone or anything but God first and foremost. To do otherwise is simply idolatry, and it will ruin the heavenly peace and simplicity God intends for his children. We create our own golden calves and ask them to satisfy us in ways only God can. We look to the world to offer us love it never had to begin with. But your heavenly Father is a wellspring of love and affection for you.

The commonly quoted verse John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” You will never be satisfied until you rest in the powerfully simple truth of Scripture that God has loved you and will always love you. And you will never experience the fullness of what Christ died to give you until you respond to his ceaseless love by crowning him Lord and loving him with every fiber of your being.

May you come to realize the beauty and fulfillment of a life lived in pursuit of God above all else as you spend time in prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the first and greatest commandment. Allow Scripture to be your foundation for truth and life.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” - Matthew 22:37-38

2. Reflect on your own life. What pursuits have become more important than loving God? What are you giving energy and affection to above relationship with your heavenly Father? What areas of your life are not being done as worship?

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” - John 17:24-26

3. Confess your pursuits and receive God’s loving forgiveness. Crown him as Lord of your heart and life, and ask him to help you respond to his love with your own. Ask the Spirit to help you do all that is set before you as worship to your King. Take time to give him your affections now. Worship him. Thank him. Love him. Offer him the deepest places of your heart.

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” - 1 John 4:16

You were created for worship. And until all that you do is done as worship to God, you will not experience the fullness of peace, joy, and purpose available to you through Christ. Rest, fun, work, friends, family, and church are all to be filled with the joy of loving God and being loved by him. He is the God of fun, parties, rest, and love. He has the absolute most abundant and joyful life in store for you if you will simply love him first and foremost. May you experience deeper relationship with your heavenly Father today and love him as he has loved you.

Extended Reading: Matthew 22

Peace, Joy, and Contentment..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Peace, Joy, and Contentment 

Dr. Charles Stanley

Nehemiah 2:1-8

Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment. But I have great news if you feel disheartened: You’re not stuck!

I’ve known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation. A few years later, however, they were in a terrific place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions. The reason? They never gave up. Instead of sulking in self-pity, they chose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit.

Nehemiah is a good example. He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble. After receiving news that the city wall had been destroyed, this man of God acknowledged profound disappointment and grieved. Though pain flooded his soul, he didn’t allow himself to stay in that low place. Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God, seeking direction.

Sadness in the presence of royalty was punishable by death. But the Lord answered Nehemiah’s prayer with amazing power, prompting the king to notice his servant’s sad countenance and then toask what he could do to help. This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God’s people.

The Lord can take an impossible situation—no matter what it is—and move in ways mightier than you can imagine.

Do you live in eager expectation of what the Lord will do? Or have you chosen to linger in the depths of despair? Like Nehemiah, turn your disappointment into a petition for God’s help. He can restore your hope and prevent negative emotions from gaining a stranglehold on your life.

A Call to Return Home..Becca Stevens

 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19)

A Call to Return Home
By Becca Stevens

At Thistle Farms, it is our mission to heal, empower, and employ women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Our community believes that in every mistake, there is potential for healing. Nothing a person can do will close the door forever with God and with a loving community- even if that person feels beyond redemption, is put back in prison, or cannot find sobriety in this life. Our practice is simple: take a step back, apologize, make amends, learn something new, and move on.

Once, one of our residents relapsed after she had been in our community for more than a year. During that time, she borrowed money she would never pay back. She stole from her friends, and lied to them too. The damage to her relationships was like a tsunami of destruction. Her downward spiral of devastation ended when she found herself back in prison. One of the first steps on her journey to restoration was to write letters to those she had hurt to say how sorry she was for the things she had done.

Sometimes, the pain in our lives comes from our own thoughts, words, and deeds. In those moments, we must embrace the truth that healing often begins with repentance. In Acts 3:19, Paul challenged his readers to “Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” It is language that rings familiar for lovers of the Old Testament. In Ezekiel chapter 14, the prophet challenges Israel’s wayward elders to cast away their idols, and return to their God. “…Repent and turn away from your idols… (Ezekiel 14:6).” Here, the Hebrew word for repent indicates more than a challenge to live differently. It is a call to “return home.”

When we humbly and wholeheartedly repent of the things we have done, as well as the things we have left undone, we find we are once again able to love with our whole hearts. Repentance clears the way for us to enjoy restored relationship with each other.

And through the gift of repentance, we once again rest in God’s great love… our one true home.

When our friend slipped back into her former destructive lifestyle, she deeply hurt those who loved her most. Sadly, she has years in prison ahead of her. Her time behind bars which will afford her the opportunity to build bridges over the trouble waters she stirred during the season in which she wandered away from love. Yet, she may still make it home. The door to healing and reconciliation is open to her because she understands that true freedom is rooted in repentance and forgiveness.

Let's Pray - 

Loving God,

Anoint my head with the balm of peace, and set me on the right path. Give me courage to get back up when I stumble. Give me the eyes to see Your hand at work in the world around me. Teach me to pray for others even in my own suffering. Show me how to love again from the deepest part of my heart and with my whole being. Amen.

A Prayer of Surrender to Jesus’ Calling..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer of Surrender to Jesus’ Calling

By Kristine Brown

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34 NLT)

Sometimes my life feels like a back-and-forth battle with control. One day I’m easily relinquishing my own way in favor of God’s plan. Other days I have to keep surrendering over and over because the pull of being in control is just too strong.

“Give up your own way…” Those five simple words Jesus spoke to the crowd may be the ones I wrestle with the most. I get attached to my own way of doing things. Soon self-sufficiency rises and I start making decisions in my own strength, trying too hard, and wearing myself out. I end up exhausted instead of welcoming the peace Jesus offers.

Surrender. It’s a hard concept for us to grasp because God gave us the will to choose. Surrender means to give up complete control. To yield to the power of another. Surrender is an amazing gift offered to us. Wouldn’t we rather hand over control of our lives to the One who holds power over all things? Then why do we struggle to surrender when Jesus calls?

God designed us to hope, dream, create, and build. We long to do great things and make an impact on our world. So we must pray and find our purpose using the gifts God gave us, while daily surrendering our lives and hearts to Him.

Mark chapter 8 tells us about Jesus’ ministry—from feeding four thousand people to healing one blind man. After a private word with his disciples, Jesus turned to a crowd and explained how to surrender. Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:35-36)

In our efforts to do good, let’s not forget the presence of our Holy God. Today let’s pray this prayer of surrender. Jesus is calling us to release control and follow His ways instead of our own.

Let's pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I hear your precious son Jesus gently calling me, yet I realize I’ve let the temptation of control keep me from responding to his voice. Forgive me for trying to do things on my own when I know your ways are best. I surrender to Jesus today.

Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to draw me back to you in those times when I’ve relied on my own strength. Your Word in John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Thank you for reminding me that if I want to follow Jesus, I need to release my own way.

I have felt your Holy Spirit tugging at my heart. So I am laying down my own plans, desires, and goals. I replace those right now with total surrender to your will. I am grateful for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and that Jesus never stops pursuing a deeper relationship with me.

Your will be done in my life, Lord. I will follow where you lead me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Reminder That God’s Grace Is Sufficient..Aaron D'Anthony Brown

 A Reminder That God’s Grace Is Sufficient

By Aaron D'Anthony Brown

“Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10) 

Afraid to Share, Afraid to Think
There’s a lot of things we readily bring to conversations. We talk about our career, family life, pets, impending vacation, and even what we had for breakfast that morning. What we’re far less likely to bring to the table is our suffering. These days, in our constant flow of information, the worst news we hear or share is about other people. Not ourselves. We tuck away our struggles and imperfections behind smiling faces and picture-perfect posts when in reality, we’re in a battle for our minds.

Why are we so hesitant to share our suffering with others? Are we afraid of condemnation or afraid of what we’ll find inside ourselves? The latter is much more common than we believe. And one of the truths we discover is just how powerless we are sometimes in life. Paul provides us with the perfect example. He looked within himself and desired change. As any Christian would, he prayed to God. However, Paul didn’t get what he asked. God didn’t change the circumstance and Paul’s suffering continued. Paul was powerless.

Sometimes when we share our suffering we want to do something about our situation. And if we can’t, why talk about it? Sometimes we want God to change things. And if he won’t, then why talk about it? A lack of control shouldn’t mean we ignore our situation. Paul didn’t. That’s why we can read his words today. Moreover, Paul’s unfulfilled prayer didn’t mean God looked at him unfavorably. Paul didn’t need to be a perfect person living a perfect life to be loved by God. That’s the truth we need to remember ourselves.

God’s Grace Is Sufficient!
Paul reveals that God taught him a valuable lesson - His power is perfected in our weakness. This is an affirmation that we don’t need to be picture-perfect people at all times of the day. We will face suffering, and that suffering is real (John 16:33). Acknowledge that for God, for others, and for ourselves. Ignoring our struggles not only prevents us from moving closer to a solution but also prevents us from remembering God’s grace. If life’s perfect we don’t need His grace. Yet, when life’s a mess we can’t live without Him.

With a bit more introspection and honesty, we can be more like Paul writing to the church of Corinth. The shift in perspective requires us to think less about how or why we’re suffering and focus more on why God’s grace is enough for any ordeal.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Pretending life is bliss doesn’t erase our suffering. In fact, ignoring our circumstances could make things worse. With loneliness, depression, and other issues on the rise in society, we need to talk about issues in order to address them. Paul was willing to bring his situation to God and share it with others. Who are you willing to share with today? When was the last time you got honest about your own suffering?

Learning to communicate can help us find solutions for school, marriage, work, addiction, and more. God created us to be in community with one another. Moreover, He created us to be in fellowship with Him. We don’t always know when or if the suffering will end. Instead of dwelling on the negative, we can focus on that one great truth, God’s grace is sufficient. Every day, and in every season, especially the seasons of suffering. 

If God’s power is perfected in weakness, this means you don’t have to rely on yourself. You don’t have to rely on people or situations. Turn to Him, every day, without the smiles, without the pretending. For when we were weak, then we were strong.

Further Reading (and Listening):

• John 16:33
• Romans 8:26
• Proverbs 27:17
• Philippians 4:13