Loving Friends..Craig Denison Ministries

 Loving Friends

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Loving others is one of the most important and difficult commands Jesus gave us. We are a messy, broken, needy, and sinful people. We constantly deal with our own wounds and those of others. Because there is no perfect person, the foundation for loving others must be based outside of the merit or worth of others. The foundation for love must come from the God who is love. As believers we must be constantly tapped into the love and grace of our heavenly Father so that we can love others selflessly and powerfully. May you receive the love of your Father and be empowered to love others this week as we look to grow in our obedience of Jesus’ command to love people.

Scripture:“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” >Proverbs 17:17

Devotional:

Good friends are one of God’s greatest gifts. Not one of us is meant to go through life alone and without help. God longs to use you as his hands and feet to those he has placed in your midst. He longs to make you a friend as he is a friend to us, in order to bless others and extend the reach of his kingdom.

1 Samuel 18:1-3 tells of the powerful friendship of David and Jonathan. Scripture says, “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.”

Jonathan was an incredible example of God’s heart for friendship. Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne of Israel. Behind Saul’s pursuit of killing David was his desire to make Jonathan king. But instead of seeking earthly success, Jonathan humbled himself before David and served him, thereby serving his heavenly Father as well. Jonathan chose friendship over worldly power. As a result, David became Israel’s greatest king and ushered in the lineage of Christ.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” God longs to transform you into a friend who loves others unconditionally. It’s in the hard times that we most need our friends. Yet in the hard times, many friends abandon us for relationships that require less of them. The heart of God is to stick with us through trials, sin, and bad decisions. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and he longs to make us like him. He longs to make us friends that will love through every season of life. He longs to empower us to love, serve, honor, and bless those he has intentionally given us.

God is calling you to love your friends “at all times.” He is calling you to a lifestyle of service and grace. What friend of yours needs your help right now? Who can you choose to serve over yourself? What friend is God calling you to love with the love he has shown you today?

1 Corinthians 13:7 says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” May you exhibit the heart of your heavenly Father to your friends by loving them as he has loved you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire for you to pursue godly friendship. Allow Scripture to stir up your desire to love friends well today.

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.” >1 Samuel 18:1-3

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” >Proverbs 17:17

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” >Proverbs 18:24

2. How can you be a better friend today? In what ways can you love those God has given you as friends? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways you can better love those around you today.

3. Ask God to empower you to be a friend who loves unconditionally. Ask him to make you like himself. Spend time resting in his presence and allowing his love to fill you and empower you.

“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

Living sacrificially without the burden of entitlement and self-satisfaction is absolutely the most peaceful and joyful way to live. You deserve nothing from others. Christ, Lord of all who deserved everything, sacrificed his life to the point of death for the very people who shouted, “Crucify him!” (Luke 23:21).If he pursued love over what was owed him, you are called to do the same. Choose to follow the example of Jesus and love others around you well today. If you do, you will discover a wellspring of abundant life directly connected to the heart of your heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: 1 Samuel 20

Take Up Your Bed and Walk..KELLY ANNE BURNS

 Take Up Your Bed and Walk

KELLY ANNE BURNS

“… ‘Do you want to be made well?’… Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.” John 5:6, 8-9a (NKJV)

I have always struggled with fear. In fact, there was a time not so long ago when you could say, from a worldly stance, fear owned me.

It owned my thoughts.
It owned my actions.
It owned my perspective.
And it certainly owned my emotions.

For over 20 years, I prayed for an instantaneous, healing miracle I never received. I desperately wanted God to set me free from the fear that plagued me.

After all, miracles had happened to others around me. So why that person and not me? Why were they miraculously freed, while I was left here in this awful darkness? Why did God pick and choose like that?

And worst of all was this thought: Why didn't God choose me?

Yes. I said and thought and yelled out these things (and so much more) in my anger at what I saw as God intentionally not rescuing or protecting me. Or just simply not caring enough to help me. I was disillusioned with the fact that I sought Him out consistently while others did not, and He gave me back what felt like a big, fat nothing.

So the only reasonable thing in my mind was to stop trusting God. If He wasn’t going to protect me, then I would have to protect myself.

And I did … until I couldn't anymore.

In my resolve to do this came an ever-increasing awareness of my own powerlessness to help myself or change what was. And that is where we find the afflicted man in the following passage:

“In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water … Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well? … Rise, take up your bed and walk.’ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked” (John 5:3, 5-6, 8-9a, NKJV).

This is a man who knew suffering well, who knew the frustration of being overlooked and forgotten.

And in the world? He was.

But what he didn't know yet was that God had not forgotten him. And the time had finally come for him to be healed.

So why did God wait so long? Why didn't He heal the man years earlier?

Because, friends, there is so much more to what God is doing than what is happening around us — and to us. A purpose is being worked out in the heavens that is so much bigger than our minds can presently conceptualize.

In the end, all that is real and lasting is God’s glory displayed through us to touch a dark and weary world that does not yet know Him.

Is God willing to sacrifice something in our story for something grander in scale? Well … yes. Yet sometimes we are surprised, disappointed and disillusioned when this happens, even though our lives belong to Him. We feel forgotten, out of control, afraid.

But if we believe God’s promises as they are laid out in His Word, then we will know …

We are not forgotten. (Isaiah 44:21)
We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us. (2 Timothy 1:7; John 16:13)
We have nothing to fear. (Isaiah 41:10)

God has made you a key player in His redemption story. So what will you believe about Him, His promises and His purposes?

I used to see my weakness as a crutch I had to eliminate to feel normal. But it is through my weakness that God displays His life-changing, fear-fleeing glory.

And friends, when that happens, guess what? We become the miracle.

Dear Lord, help me to see the truth in my weakness. And give me the courage I need to be a key player in Your amazing story. Thank You for loving me enough to make me part of it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

When Faith Wavers..Dr. Charles Stanley

 When Faith Wavers

Dr. Charles Stanley

James 1:5-8

If we believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised, why do so many of us habitually waver in our prayers? Instead of exercising bold faith, we come to the Lord “hoping” He will hear us and answer our requests, but we’re just not sure He will. With this kind of thinking, we cannot expect to receive anything from Him.

One reason we are so prone to doubt is that we fail to see God at work in our circumstances. We asked, and nothing happened. But the Lord is not some cosmic bellhop who jumps in response to our requests. He sees past, present, and future and knows the right time for every answer. His invisible hand is already at work on our behalf—arranging situations to accomplish His will, opening hearts,
and preparing us to receive what He wants to give.

Another cause for uncertainty is ignorance. If we don’t know God’s ways, we will be disappointed in His response. All too often our prayers are accompanied by expectations of how He will work. When He fails to intervene according to our timetable or anticipated method, we start to doubt. But placing our faith in the Lord and trusting in His good and perfect ways gives us stability as we wait for His answer.

To overcome doubts, spend time in the Word to learn God’s principles and ways. Then you’ll begin to grasp what He wants to achieve in your life and how He goes about it. Examine your past from a biblical perspective—faith will grow as you see the unexpected ways He answered your prayers.

Bible Writers Spoke from God..Matt Brown

 Bible Writers Spoke from God

by Matt Brown

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."  (<>2 Peter 1:20-21)

“Scripture is not fanciful tales, or incorrect history. It is pure, true and trustworthy because it has come to us from our faithful God. Archeology has consistently proven the accuracy of the Bible, and all doubt cast on these points by secular society fall flat to the honest scholar. There is far more evidence pointing to the accuracy of the Scriptures than we could ever fathom possible.

The Bible is not just nice words from men. It is not simply the oldest and most accurate history book. It is not just the bestselling book of all time, packed with wonderful stories.

The Bible is God's words to us today, and everyday. God has spoken, and is now speaking through the Bible.

The Bible is wisdom, peace, comfort, correction and direction for your tomorrow. The Bible is the life-blood of the Christian, drawing them ever closer to Christ. The Bible is the greatest Book in all of humanity, and our greatest potential opportunity to know God more.”

According to the NIV Zondervan Study Bible,

“…the human authors of Scripture did not think up what they wrote on their own; God is the origin of what they prophesied. Humans used their own word, and those words were just what God wanted them to use.”

 What Peter is telling us in this passage is that we can be assured of the holy inspiration of Scripture—that though these words were written by human hands they were sovereignly inspired and put in place by God. God is the true Author of the story, and we can trust His Word.

 

 

A Prayer for Scripture to Comfort Us..Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer for Scripture to Comfort Us

By Betsy de Cruz

“Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.” – Psalm 119:54

Nothing prepared me for the loss and grief I faced when our family returned to America after 16 years on the mission field. Supposedly we had come back “home,” but we had to leave 16 years of friends, ministry, and community to do it. I’d lost the life I knew, and I was standing on shaky ground.

Maybe your world has suddenly altered due to a move, a new job, loss, or illness. You may feel upended and unsteady.

Life changes constantly, yet God remains the same. His Word is our constant companion. As long as we remain on this earth, God’s Word can speak strength and hope into any situation we face. Even in times of trial, His Word can awaken songs of gratitude and trust in our hearts.

However, sometimes the very trials that should drive us closer to our Heavenly Father interrupt our daily habits of Bible reading and prayer.

What transitions or challenges are you facing right now? How about renewing your commitment to reading the Scriptures? If you’re going through difficulty, search the Scriptures for words that speak encouragement to your situation. Look for promises you can pray over and affirmations of God’s love for you. 

Psalm 119 reminds us of the comfort, guidance, and hope we find in Scripture.

The Bible provides comfort when we are hurting. Consider Psalm 119:50: “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” God’s promises soothe our hearts by reminding us of His faithfulness.

Scripture provides guidance when we feel confused about our next steps. Meditate on Psalm 119:105 the next time you need direction: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ask God to guide you as you open His Word each day. 

The pages of our Bibles speak hope when we feel discouraged. Ponder Psalm 119:114: “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” Spend a few quiet moments reading Scripture today and see if you don’t feel more hopeful.

Let’s resolve not to let any trial separate us from God’s Word. We’ll find the comfort, guidance, and hope we need when we open the pages of Scripture.

Let’s pray:

Father,
I thank you for the great treasure you have given me through the Bible. Renew my love for your Word. Pour your Holy Spirit into my heart and speak to me when I read it. Help me to see you and hear your voice through your Word. 

Forgive me for taking this treasure for granted. Forgive me for my lack of desire and commitment to read and study Scripture. Have mercy on me and convict me by your Holy Spirit when I’d rather sleep in or watch television than read your Word. Revive my heart and rekindle in me a desire for Scripture. Give me a renewed hunger for you.

Lord, when I face trouble and trial, teach me to turn to prayer and the Scriptures as my first response. Bring the Bible to life when I read it. Help me find comfort, guidance, and hope for each day through reading the Holy Scriptures and use me to share your Word with others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Seasoned in Prayer..Rev. Kyle Norman

 Seasoned in Prayer

by Rev. Kyle Norman

“When Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened to Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” (Daniel 6:10)

The Book of Daniel is filled with exciting tales. Daniel stands before kings proclaiming the sovereignty of God. His friends are cast into fiery furnaces, and he himself is fed to the lions. Yet through it all, Daniel remains unharmed. Daniel’s life stands as a testimony that faithfulness overcomes fear. God’s power is mightier than the power of would-be kings and tyrants.

Of course, the secret of Daniel’s life, and the strength within his faith, is his heart of prayer.  Daniel pours his heart out to God in prayer, passionately and consistently. Daniel’s prayer life, therefore, serves as a model for our own.

It is Daniel’s dedication to prayer that gets him in trouble with the Babylonian straps and administrators. We read about this in Daniel 6. Daniel is an old man at this point, well-seasoned in life and in prayer. In fact, Daniel’s life of dedicated prayer was well known. It was public knowledge. We read that Daniel prayed three times a day “as he had done before.” Daniel had long established himself as a man of prayer. This was one of the reasons why his advice and counsel were so sought after. People knew that Daniel communicated with the Lord, that he enjoyed an interactive relationship with his God. Daniel spoke to God, and God spoke to Daniel. True, Daniel’s prayers occurred in private; he knelt down in his room with a window opened towards Jerusalem. Yet while his prayers were private, they were not hidden. This is how Daniel was caught defying the King’s decree.

It is no surprise that Daniel responds to the King’s decree with prayer; it is the way he responds to all things. Scripture describes the scene this way, “When Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went to his upstairs room. . .three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed.” Daniel knew that the decree meant trouble for the faithful Israelites living in Babylon. He wasn’t the only one who remained faithful to Yahweh. Daniel, a man gifted with interpretation, knew what the decree meant. King Darius had been manipulated by the Babylonian administrators. He had signed a decree that all in Babylon must bow down to the king in prayer, an act which violated God’s first commandment. The trap has been set, and all the faithful Israelites could now be targeted and sent to the lions. 

Do we respond to life’s difficulties in prayer? When we find ourselves caught unawares by the twists and turns of life, do we drop to our knees? Or, instead, do we try to meet the challenge head-on, trusting in the strength of our will and the sweat of our brow? How deep does our reservoir of prayer go?

Daniel could have acted from strength and power. He could have leveraged his own political clout; he was, after all, third in power over all of the Babylonian kingdom. Or, he could have chosen to bide his time. After all, the decree was only good for 30 days. Daniel could have refrained from prayer for a season, thus ensuring his safety. Daniel, however, was a humble man. He didn’t combat manipulation with manipulation, politics with politics, or power with power. Daniel was a man of prayer, and his prayerful connection to God could not be sacrificed. And so, Daniel knelt and called out to God. His prayer was timely and specific. Scripture records that “The administrators went as a group and found Daniel, praying and asking God for help” (Daniel 6:11). In response to the obstacles before him, Daniel sought the one he knew could protect and save. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How might we follow Daniel’s example? It can be easy to view our prayers as something so intensely personal that we rarely speak about it. True, Jesus does teach that “when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6). This is exactly what Daniel models. And yet, as private as his prayers were, they were also public. They were known. 

How might you make your life of prayer known? What might it mean for others to know that you begin or end the day in prayer? Like Daniel, could your reliance on prayer be so integrated into your life that it becomes the very foundation of who you are and how you live in this world? Of course, this doesn’t have to occur in a self-aggrandizing way. Jesus warns his followers about praying out of a desire for human praise (Matthew 6:5). Yet this verse doesn’t mean that our dependence on prayer, especially in the difficult moments of our life, cannot be public knowledge.

Daniel’s example proves that the life of prayer testifies to the strength of prayer. Like Daniel emerging from the den of lions, people see the effect of our prayers.   When others know that we respond to the events of life prayerfully, they are able to witness the result of prayer. And maybe, like Darius, they will praise the Lord as a result. 

Further Reading:

• Philippians 4:6
• Matthew 6: 5-14