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

Is Proverbs 22:6 Really a Promise? Or Is It Just a Proverb?..Sarah Beth Marr

 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6

Is Proverbs 22:6 Really a Promise? Or Is It Just a Proverb?
By Sarah Beth Marr

To be a parent is to be a heart-shaper. And being a heart-shaper can be the most heart-wrenching job in the world. As parents, the thing we wrestle with the most, the thing we long for the most, is simply to know that our children will turn out okay. We don't expect perfection, just that they would be okay. We long to know that they will make wise decisions as young adults. We long to know that they will grow up to be healthy spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. If we could just have that assurance, parenting might be a lot less heart-wrenching.

This brings us to Proverbs 22:6, a nugget of truth tucked subtly into the book of Proverbs. But maybe like me you have wondered in your own heart, is Proverbs 22:6 a promise or just a proverb?

When we read that verse as parents, we hope that verse is true of our children. We hope that something we've taught them, the way we loved them, the lessons we’ve ingrained in them… we hope it’s all enough. We hope that somehow, despite our mess-ups, they turn out okay.

The way we look at Proverbs 22:6 is really a reflection of our faith in the God of the universe. I think we want to believe this verse is true, but do we really believe it’s a promise or just a wise saying, a catch phrase, or a motto? Is it just luck that our kids turn out okay? Or is there a deeper promise hiding in this verse… a jewel of wisdom that we can take into our parenting?

The first part of this verse implores us to “train a child in the way he should go.”

According to the dictionary, “train” means, “to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior by discipline and instruction.” Other words for “train” are words like “aim”, “focus”, “target”, “zero in on”. Let’s unpack this a little bit. Heart-shaper, this verse is not asking you to produce the results of your parenting. This verse is inviting you to simply aim your child in the right direction. And the only safe direction to aim your child is in the beautiful grace of God’s direction.

We know, as Christian parents, that “the way he should go” is in the direction of God. We know that that is the only place where our children will find the wisdom, the peace, the guidance, and the light that they need to navigate this life. But can we bank on our children continuing in that direction once they leave the nest?

Our Father in heaven "is a jealous God" ( Deuteronomy 6:15). As we reflect on His character, goodness, faithfulness, and love for us, we can count on Him to keep our children aiming in His direction. It may not be a perfect route. Our children may wander and get lost for a little while. But Proverbs 22:6 promises that there is something ground-breaking, soul-shaping, and heart-shaping about training our children with the wisdom of the Bible and the gospel… that it grabs hold of a heart.

That wisdom shapes a heart. That wisdom holds a heart close because it’s wisdom that is full of the love of a jealous God, a God who longs to rescue each and every one of His children.

So dear heart-shaper, you can rest in the promise of Proverbs 22:6. But the thing is, you don’t have to be the sole heart-shaper anymore, you can let God and the Holy Spirit shape your child’s heart as you teach your child the lessons of the Lord. You can take your grip off a little bit, trusting that the Holy Spirit is wooing your child’s heart, pursuing your child’s soul, and jealously running after your child’s heart to win his or her heart. What's your part? Your part is simply to aim your child in the right direction with a lot of grace, love, faith, and prayer. You will mess up. You will make bad decisions. You will sometimes model bad behavior. You will have rough days. Often you won’t feel like teaching your child about Jesus because it’s hard and it’s awkward sometimes and you are still trying to understand Jesus and your relationship with Him yourself. But know, dear parent, that every bit of your love, your teaching, your helping, your directing your child, your praying… every bit matters.

You can take the pressure off of yourself, dear parent, to produce a child that turns out okay because we serve a God of grace, of love, and of power. And the greatest thing you can do today in training up your child in the way he should go is to focus on YOUR relationship with Jesus. As you keep that first in your life, the blessings and the lessons and the heart of the gospel will spill out over your child’s life.

A Prayer to Diligently Ask for God’s Sustaining Grace..Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer to Diligently Ask for God’s Sustaining Grace

By Emily Rose Massey

 “…You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:2b-3, ESV).

When we are taking strides to walk in obedience to God, the resistance to push forward gets stronger, and it feels like we are treading through mud just to take a step. My husband, Paul, and I have been experiencing this since starting to lead a new ministry at our church, in addition to juggling all the rest of our responsibilities caring for our boys and our own individual lives. 

Even though it’s exhausting and sometimes discouraging when things feel so chaotic and stressful, I must remind my heart that our God is stronger and will use whatever seems to be standing against us (especially our own sinful flesh!) to grow and deepen our faith and sanctify us. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t painful or that I am quick to learn how to depend on Him!

For me, personally, I am working on resting in the new mercies of today and being quick to repent and ask for forgiveness. I feel like I have failed a lot in my behavior towards Paul and my boys these last few weeks. I don’t want to blame it on hormones and lack of sleep (although I know this adds fuel to the fire so to speak). Because God’s grace is available to me. But am I asking for it diligently? Probably not as much as I should.

If His grace is truly sufficient (and it is), do I live like I’m dependent upon it daily and praying without ceasing throughout my day? The book of James is a wonderful book of instructions for believers. In chapter 4, we discover that we must protect our hearts from worldly thinking. Often when we are trying to take control of our life and not rest in God’s grace and provision daily, we resort to either neglecting God’s ever-presenting help or asking God with wrong motives:

“…You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:2b-3, ESV).

James 4 merely tells us that, if there is something we want, we need to ask God for it, instead of resorting to sinful means. It stands to reason that there are some things that we will not get unless we ask for them, but, if we ask, we will receive them. So, if there is something that we want, we need to ask. Christians should be praying and asking God, especially for His supernatural grace.

Instead of trying to control what feels so uncontrollable in our lives and allowing our circumstances to dictate our mood or behavior, let us boldly come to the throne of grace and ask our Father for His unwavering and sustaining grace. He is faithful to provide.

Let’s Pray:

Father God,

I know that Your grace is sufficient and that You are my ever-present help in time of need, but sometimes my actions do not reflect these truths. It’s much easier for me to either complain about my stressful and difficult circumstances or try to take matters into my own hands to try to fix or change what seems to be causing me to feel so overwhelmed. But I know that I need to come to You and ask for grace when I have reached my limit. You are faithful to provide all things that I need because You are a gracious Father who cares deeply for Your children. I come to You as Your child today, boldly and humbling asking for Your sustaining and powerful grace carry me through each challenging moment. You are faithful in every season, and I thank You for reminding me to come to You first and foremost and pray without ceasing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A Car for Hayley..Lynette Kittle

 A Car for Hayley

by Lynette Kittle

“And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” - 1 John 5:15

At five years old, our daughter Hayley started pleading to us for a child's battery-operated car. Seeing them advertised on television and neighborhood kids driving them around, she longed to have one of her own. With my husband serving full-time as a pastor, along with taking on varying side jobs to provide for our growing family, and me at home as a full-time wife, mother, and home school teacher, our family of six lived on an extremely tight budget.

When Hayley shared her heart’s desire with me, I said, “Oh, wouldn’t that be fun! Why don’t you ask God for a car?” Ask God, she thought? I could see it written all over her face as she asked "Well, how can God get me a car?" "God can do anything. Nothing is too difficult for Him," I explained. "God loves you Hayley, even more than we do. Ask Him because He tells us, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

Cultivating Our Parental Faith
It’s tough being a parent at times, wrestling with not wanting our children to be disappointed in God, questioning whether to try and figure out some way to get them the answer they want. Yet more importantly as a parent, it’s vital for our children to develop their own relationship with God. As a mother or father, it comes down to trusting God more than we trust ourselves. It’s developing faith as a parent to believe God’s ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30), and better than our ways of meeting our kids’ requests. It’s cultivating trust in how and when He answers their prayers.

Nurturing Our Children’s Faith
So Hayley’s daily prayer became, "Dear God, please give me a motor car.” As she persisted in her request, I silently echoed her petition reminding myself how God says, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”(John 14:14). Likewise, prayers for her faith to be deepened and for her face to be set like flint in determination to keep praying (Isaiah 50:7). Also, prayers for her to grow and cultivate a strong don’t ever give up kind of faith deep within her heart.

In watching her faith journey, my comfort came in knowing, “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him,”(1 John 5:15). Although some believers make a point of saying we can’t take what Jesus said literally, He knew how people would take His words to heart. He could have worded it differently so that it had limits and restraints on our asking but Jesus didn’t set those limits over it.

As weeks passed by, I kept encouraging Hayley to, "Keep praying!" even though she often responded to my words by rolling her eyes and stomping her little foot in frustration.

Faith Rolls In on Wheels
Then one day my husband arrived home with a surprise. He beamed as he placed a beaten-up car on our driveway. It looked rough, very rough, but it was a child’s motorcar. While on a clergy visit he noticed the car in the family's backyard. In asking the woman about it, he discovered it belonged to her granddaughter. Asking if she might consider selling it, the woman promised to ask her grandchild about it.

A few weeks later he returned to visit the woman again. While there, her granddaughter told him after praying about it; she believed Jesus wanted her to give her outgrown car to our daughter as a gift from Him. Beaten up and without a working battery the car needed work, but when Hayley spotted it in our driveway, she was delighted. "I have a car! I have a car! Thank you God!" she yelled as she jumped up and down with excitement.

In the weeks following, Hayley and my husband transformed the car into a freshly pink-painted, new battery-operated, polished-up chrome motorcar. Soon Hayley was driving her answer-to-prayer car around the driveway with her little sister, Kaitlyn, in tow. Because God’s ways are perfect and better than my own, through prayer, we saw Him speak to one little girl’s heart to answer the prayer of another little girl’s heart. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Look for ways to encourage your children to pray to God. Help them understand how God is the One we turn to first in our requests and how He is faithful to hear us and answer when we ask Him.