The Joy of the Lord..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Joy of the Lord

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

We have a great High Priest who constantly intercedes on our behalf. The Son of God and Man loves you more deeply than you can fathom. He prays for you, that you might walk in the abundant life his death affords you. And in John 17 we get a glimpse into the fullness of his desire for all those who would believe in him. As we dive deeply into the riches of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer this week, may your heart be awakened and your life be transformed by the riches of God’s love.

Scripture:“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”>John 17:13

Devotional:

Jesus came to bring about the fullness of joy in man. Often we see Christians who are not exhibiting a lifestyle of joy, and therefore we assume God is not a happy God. We see all the darkness that surrounds and assume that God is most often angry or sad. But in John 17:13 Jesus prayed to the Father, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Jesus’ prayer in John 17:13 demonstrates two important, life-changing truths for you and me today. First, Jesus had joy. We could not have his joy fulfilled in us if he doesn’t have joy to start with. And the whole of Scripture supports the truth that within God dwells the fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” And Galatians 5:22 tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. The God whom you have been filled with at salvation longs to produce the fruit of joy in your life. He longs to make you a joyful person from the inside out, that your joy wouldn’t be based on circumstances or the fleeting whims of the world.

Second, John 17 tells us that we can have the joy of Jesus for ourselves. The God of joy longs to fill you to overflowing with satisfaction and hope. He longs to make your joy abundant and transcendent of the good or bad around you. God is joyful because it’s a part of his nature. And he longs for it to be the same with you.

Do you believe that God is a joyful god? Have you experienced how happy he is? Have you met with him and encountered the joy and peace in his heart toward you? Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” God longs to meet with you today and fill you with joy to overflowing. In Romans 15:13 Paul prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Joy is available to you today as you believe. There is hope in the Holy Spirit.

Come to God today with all your cares and burdens. Lay them at his feet and allow him to fill you with peace and joy where only heaviness abounded. God longs to set you free from the burdens of anxiety. He longs to lead you to a life of happiness and freedom in the Spirit. As you enter into guided prayer, choose to commit to God anything that has been weighing you down. Come before him with faith that he will shepherd you to greener pastures as you offer him your heart and follow his guidance.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to fill you with the joy of Jesus.

“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” >John 17:13

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” >Galatians 5:22-23

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

2. Lay your burdens at the feet of God. What concern, problem, circumstance, or relationship has been weighing on you? What has been stealing your joy lately? Cast all your cares at the feet of your heavenly Father who loves you.

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” >1 Peter 5:7

3. Ask God to fill you with joy inexpressible. Ask him to reveal to you his joy, and to help you bear the fruit of his Spirit.

Oftentimes we allow ourselves to be continually downcast rather than fighting for the joy available to us in God. Joy is a vital part of the Christian life. We are not made to carry burdens that steal our joy and keep us from the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Psalm 16:6 says, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” God has plans to lead you to a life filled with the fullness of joy. May you pursue all the wonders and blessings God has in store for you today through the powerful sacrifice of Jesus.

Extended Reading: Psalm 16

The Risk of Not Being Able To Listen..LYNN COWELL

The Risk of Not Being Able To Listen
LYNN COWELL

“When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.” Esther 2:15 (ESV)

I was doing it again.

Though my eyes were looking at my friend and I was even nodding, my thoughts were far ahead. Crafting how I would respond to her messy situation, I prepared my “sage” advice in my head.

Do you sometimes do that, too? Think of what you’ll say instead of listening to what is being said?

I’m beginning to see that when I don’t listen I’m taking a huge risk: I could suffer the loss of gaining the wisdom I need.

In the past couple of years, I’ve begun to see how much I have to learn when it comes to listening. One person I’m learning from is none other than Esther from the Old Testament.

In the book of Esther, Chapter 2, Esther found herself in an uncertain situation. She was a woman up to her neck in precarious circumstances beyond her control, living in a culture that didn't worship the way she did.

The king had dethroned his queen; now he was ready to fill the empty spot. Perhaps with mixed motives of their own, advisers gave the king counsel to search throughout his kingdom for the best fit. Commissioners then went to every province to collect young, beautiful virgins to be tested by the king and ultimately to become part of his harem. Only one would be chosen as queen. 

This is where we find Esther, taken into the palace. One night determined where she’d spend the rest of her life: on a queen’s throne or in a harem.

Before her night with the king, each woman “was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace” (Esther 2:13, ESV). Since each woman took whatever she desired, the wisdom she needed fell to herself. Though Esther would have only lived in the palace for a year, in a foreign environment, she needed to take what she deemed best.

Esther realized she didn’t know what she needed to know. There was a huge risk here; her future was at stake.

Instead of thinking ahead to what she thought she should do or say next, Esther listened to Hegai, a servant employed directly by the king. While Hegai was not a Jew or God-follower like Esther, he was someone who did know what Esther needed to know.

“When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.” (Esther 2:15)

We know Esther listened because she did what Hegai advised.

Listening requires humility. Esther’s actions said, “I don’t know what I need to know. You do. Teach me. Guide me.”

Humility is not something I typically run toward because humility and humiliation often feel like the same thing. If I humble myself and admit what I don’t know (but need to know), I’m afraid I’ll look weak or unqualified — even overly vulnerable.

Instead, my old self, the part of me resistant to change and being made new by Jesus, wants to “fake it till I make it” instead of listening and learning.

Listening gave Esther exactly what she needed: wisdom. Listening gave her tools to move from outsider to insider, the place of true influence. Listening to someone on the inside — humbling herself before she went to the king — allowed Esther not to be humiliated when she met the king.

Listening will do the same for you and me. Instead of thinking only of ourselves and what we want to do or say next, we can listen to learn. Developing a listening and learning heart makes room for God to use us for His glory and to draw others to Himself — a very worthy outcome.

Father, help me to humble myself and to become one who truly listens to learn, for I can learn something from every person because every person has been made in Your image. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Can You Trust Your Conscience?..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Can You Trust Your Conscience?

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Timothy 1:5-7

Let your conscience be your guide. This bit of folk wisdom seems to make sense since our conscience is designed to help us discern right from wrong. However, people cannot always trust their internal radar to steer them correctly; this is the case particularly with unbelievers, who don’t have the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and offer guidance for wise decisions. And while Christians do have God’s indwelling Spirit, they should be careful not to harbor sin in their lives, as that can interfere with the way their morality sensor functions.

A trustworthy conscience is programmed with scriptural teaching. Believers build a stable and sensitive spiritual radar system by applying God’s truth to their lives. They are committed to thinking and acting in ways that honor and please the Lord. Then, when sinful thoughts or choices come across that radar, it will deliver a sharp warning.

A person with a reliable conscience will have a strong desire to obey God. He won’t settle for what feels right or looks good, but instead prayerfully seeks the Lord’s will. In other words, he does not rely solely on his conscience but incorporates all of the Holy Spirit’s tools into his daily life: Scripture, prayer, etc. Moreover, when his spiritual radar sounds the alarm, he is quick to draw back and reject unwise choices.

A conscience isn’t designed to be our guide; it is a tool of the Guide. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path. He uses a variety of tools to conform us to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

What it Looks Like to Pray and Fast for Change..Lynette Kittle

 What it Looks Like to Pray and Fast for Change

By Lynette Kittle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “And we know that in all things God works for the good those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28

It was so upsetting as a mother of four with husband and kids in tow, to drive past dozens of suggestive billboards on our route from South Florida to various attractions near Orlando. One after another, a certain surf shop presented sensual messages on the public roadways.

With all the families vacationing in Florida, why would this company advertise in such a manner? Didn’t they realize their inappropriate imagery and messages meant to woo customers to their store, was actually keeping family-friendly shoppers away?

Unable to just ignore it every time we ventured out, my thoughts turned to 1 John 5:14, which encourages me to have confidence in approaching God with my requests. So I began to pray about the situation, asking God to change the billboards’ to family-friendly marketing or remove them entirely.

Next, I wrote the company’s executives asking them to please reconsider their marketing approach.

With no response, I started writing to the state highway offices and the Governor, asking to have this company remove or change their billboards on the public highways. All the while, I prayed and fasted for a change, taking comfort in verses like Psalm 145:18 reminding myself that “the Lord is near to all who call on Him.”

Nothing seemed to budge the billboards. Still, I continued to pray, fast, and seek ways to bring a positive difference to the area. My fervent pursuit to transform the highway landscape seemed to fit the description in Isaiah 50:7 as, "I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed."

Then one day after years of on-going prayers and efforts with seemingly no results, Hurricane Wilma blew through Florida with a fury. While enduring 12 days of no-electricity, our family decided to take a weekend away in Orlando where we could enjoy warm water, cool rooms, and hot food.

To my surprise the roadways revealed a storm result I hadn’t expected. Billboard after billboard had been blown away.

In my wildest dreams, I hadn’t imagined this scenario. After years of writing letters, praying, and fasting for the billboards to be changed or removed, through one hurricane my prayers were answered.

In seeing the new landscape, Romans 8:28 came to mind reminding me that, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Months later the company’s billboards were replaced with family-friendly marketing. Our family cheered as we drove past each one, appreciating and amazed at how God had worked it all together for good.

A Prayer to Trust God’s Promises..Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer to Trust God’s Promises

By Chelsey DeMatteis

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” - Psalm 91:14

If you were sitting across the table from me today and asked if I’d open to Psalm 91, you’d see the word “peace” written above the text. Years ago, I was in the midst of an intense season of spiritual battle. Nighttime was especially hard for me, even harder on the nights my husband was traveling for work. But one particular night I realized I had to hand my battle over to the Lord.

I reached out to my Bible study teacher and asked her if there was a place in Scripture she’d recommend I should go. She pointed my heart to Psalm 91. She told me to not only read it, but to pray it, and study the promises that God had woven all throughout it.

This portion of God’s Word became a safe haven for my heart, and it still is. What I love (and what you’ll read if you study) is that this Psalm has “I will” or “he will” promises from the Lord all throughout. Here are just a few:

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…”

“He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;”

It’s laced with the promises we find in the Lord when we make Him our dwelling place, our refuge, and as we trust Him to be our protector. It’s places like this in scripture where the Lord has spelled out for us what we mean to Him and all that He desires for us as a good Father, the perfect Father.

Though hardships, attacks, and pain happen to us in this life, we see the confirmation here through Psalm 91 that when we “hold fast to the Lord in love, He will deliver us; He will protect us because we know His name. When we call to Him, He will answer us, He will be with us in trouble, He will rescue us, satisfy us, and show us His salvation.” Isn’t that amazing? He will show us His salvation — we get to see His salvation poured out by His grace and mercy over our lives, and the eternal security that awaits us.

What a comfort this is. Psalm 91 is not the only place we see these types of promises, but all throughout His word He continues to concrete His desires and promises to our heart. He reveals to us what peace, joy, goodness, and sanctification look like through a life tethered to Him. He teaches us what it means to trust in Him. He teaches us that as we as believers don’t need to live in fear of what lies ahead or be overcome when the enemy attacks, because we get to take refuge in our all-knowing, always pursuing Heavenly Father.

Let's pray:

Lord, as waves of fear come, I pray you would stir up in me a heart that desires to run to you. I pray for an unwavering trust in your goodness and the praise that you are my refuge. Thank you for your unfailing love, grace, and mercy over my life.

I pray the promises of Psalm 91 over my life. Right now, that no harm would overtake me, that no disaster would come near me. I pray that your angels would guard me in all my ways. I pray that because you love me, you would rescue me, protect me, and be with me in my troubles… even if those troubles are all in my imagination. Calm my fears and bring your peace to my heart.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Who Do You Fear?..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 Who Do You Fear?

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)

Who Do You Fear?
Just this week, I had one of those days most of us can understand. From the moment I awoke, a long list ran through my mind, a list of all the things that could be better in life. Work. Finances. Family. Dating. As I mulled over the list of uncertainties I wondered, when will God do something?

Within that question was so much doubt, impatience, and fear. The question reminded me of David in Psalm 13 when he asked, “How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day?” (Psalm 13:2)

If God is all-good and all-powerful, why not act? David asked his questions, but by the end of the chapter, he also offered his unbridled confidence in God (Psalm 13:5-6) I had all the questions for God, but none of the confidence. Who did I fear? My circumstances, not God. Does that sound like you? 

For one reason or another, we think to ourselves that worrying causes change. More so than change, we convince ourselves that worrying brings control. If only we believed what Jesus said about worry (Matthew 6:27). Instead of mulling over detail after detail, trying to ascertain control, we’d recognize what’s really happening. Fear is controlling us. Who do you fear today? Or what?

If we look at Scripture, we see too that the Israelites were no strangers to fear. In their journey from bondage to freedom, Egypt to the Promised Land, they had plenty of reason for praise. Yet, that didn’t stop fear from cropping up.

“The entire Israelite community departed from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt. The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!’” (Exodus 16:1-3)

God was guiding them from one place to another, but we also see where fear led the Israelites. Instead of focusing on the Lord, they focused on circumstances. These days when we read their story, there’s a temptation to see ourselves as being vastly different from the Israelites, but are we really? I confess, I’m not. When life is good, God is good. When life is bad, God’s goodness comes into question. If God was good, what reason would we have to fear?

That’s what we think, that’s what I think, but that’s the wrong perspective. We suffer from the same forgetfulness the Israelites did. We forget where God has brought us from because we focus on what we see now. If the issue is forgetting, then the solution is to remember.

One piece of wisdom that the apostle Paul shares is to “dwell” on good things (Philippians 4:8). By training our minds to think about positivity, we alter our perspective. Instead of focusing on the bad, we see God’s blessings. Of course, changing our perspective, especially if we’ve gone through life as a pessimist or cynic, is not easy. However, with gratitude we can accept the suffering that comes our way while taking explicit notice of our blessings. With more gratitude then, will come more remembrance.

God’s blessings are in fact, so grand, so inspiring, and so clear. We just need the right perspective to see.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Building a sense of gratitude requires time and effort. That’s why we have to remind children so often! When we want to build gratitude within ourselves though, especially as an adult, we can’t rely on others to tell us. Instead, there are other practical ways to remember God’s goodness. Here are just a few.

-Gratitude List
Keep an ongoing list of God’s blessings inside a journal, on a refrigerator, or on a bathroom mirror, anywhere where you will see the list often. By seeing the list, you will be reminded that you have reasons to be grateful. The longer the list, the more reasons, and the less excuses you have to grumble against God.

-Tell a Friend
If you often rely on friends for venting out your frustrations, try a different approach. Express praise instead. Tell someone the good things God has done for you. In turn, they may even share blessings going on in their life. With gratitude can come hope, love, and encouragement. 

-Rehearse Scripture
Make a habit for a week or a month of studying Bible verses that speak directly to gratitude. This will remind you of the virtue’s importance and the benefits you can reap. We feel better, think better, and act better, when we’re grateful. Science confirms such.

In addition to these few practical steps, here’s a prayer to help you remember who you should fear.

Lord,
I stand in awe of all that you do. From the stars in the distant galaxy to the blades of grass beneath my window, you created it all. If I were being honest with myself at all times, there would be no reason to doubt. Not one. I would stand in fear of your majesty everyday, believing in what you can do, and acknowledging there’s nothing you can’t.

You deserve the honor and the praise, not my fear and worry. Thank you for loving me in a way that I don’t deserve, and please forgive me Father, for treating you in a way that you don't deserve. Please bring peace to my heart and silence my doubts. Help me to always rest and remain in your eternal goodness.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Further Reading:

• Psalm 13
• Exodus 16
• Matthew 6:27
• Philippians 4:8
• Romans 8:28