God Demonstrates His Grace..Craig Denison Ministries

 God Demonstrates His Grace

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

The story of the prodigal son moves my heart to delve into the depths of God’s limitless grace. I find myself in every facet of Jesus’ words. I identify with both the son’s rebellion and the power of the father’s love. As children of God we are in constant need of reminders about God’s mercy toward us. When the world rejects us, God calls us in. When the world writes us off, God clothes us with righteousness and honor. May this transformative story of the prodigal son guide you to a deeper and more intimate relationship with your loving heavenly Father.

Scripture:“And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” >John 1:6

Devotional:

No single passage of Scripture has impacted my life in greater ways than Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. I find myself in every facet of this story. I see my own sin and pride in the foolishness of the son to run from the Father. I see the despair and destitution that results from my own sin as the son longs for the slop he feeds to pigs. I see my desperate need for forgiveness, grace, and restoration in the son’s return. And more than anything, I see the unfathomable grace of my heavenly Father as the father in the story runs out to embrace his disobedient and wayward child.

Rather than beginning this week on the prodigal son with my own thoughts, take time to allow the entirety of Jesus’ words in this transformative story to impact your life. Ask the Holy Spirit for fresh eyes today. Find yourself in Jesus’ words. I pray that you will feel the selfishness and rebellion in the prodigal son. I pray that you will feel the despair and loneliness that comes from sin and separation from the Father. And I pray that you will feel the loving embrace of your heavenly Father as the heart of your God is clearly displayed through this life-changing story.

“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’” (Luke 15:11-32).

Guided Prayer:

1. Place yourself in every facet of the story. Find your own story of redemption and reconciliation in Jesus’ words.

2. Where do you need the grace of your heavenly Father today? What part of your life needs the redeeming love of God?

3. Turn to the Father and confess your sin. Confess your need of his embrace and forgiveness. Allow him to forgive and heal the areas of your life wrought with the destruction of sin.

We are in constant need of God’s grace. We will never live a perfect day. We will never step outside an immense need to be unconditionally loved and forgiven by our Father. Sin robs us of the abundant life available to us in Jesus every day. And until we allow God to forgive and heal the sinful places in our lives we will not experience the tremendous power and grace of our heavenly Father in those areas. May you spend the entirety of your day wrapped up in the arms of your Father. May he speak a new identity over you as his child both forgiven and empowered for freedom. And may you experience the abundant life only found in receiving the overwhelming and free grace of God.

Extended Reading: Romans 6

The Side Effects of Fear..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Side Effects of Fear

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 6:25-34

Fear obviously produces anxiety, but it also creates chaos in our lives and even affects those around us.

Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.

Fear hinders us from becoming the people God wants us to be. When we are dominated by negative emotions, we cannot achieve the goals He has in mind for us. A lack of self-confidence stymies our belief in what the Lord can do with our lives.

Fear can drive people to destructive habits. To numb the pain of overbearing distress and foreboding, some turn to things like drugs and alcohol for artificial relief.

Fear steals peace and contentment. When we're always afraid, our life becomes centered on pessimism and gloom.

Fear creates doubt. God promises us an abundant life, but if we surrender instead to the chains of fear, our prayers won’t be worth very much.

What are you afraid of--loss, rejection, poverty, or death? Everybody will face such realities at some point. All you need to know is, God will never reject you. Whether you accept Him is your decision.

The Bible tells us that God will meet all our needs. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass with the splendor of lilies. How much more, then, will He care for us, who are made in His image? Our only concern is to obey the heavenly Father and leave the consequences to Him.

4 Ways to Pray About Anything in Every Situation..Lynette Kittle

 4 Ways to Pray About Anything in Every Situation

by Lynette Kittle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6

Over the years I’ve been growing in my understanding of prayer and how God wants to have an ongoing dialogue with me throughout my day, where I am accessible to Him in every aspect of my life.

Through prayer, I invite and involve God into my everydayness. Below are four ways I’ve been learning to include prayer into my daily life.

1. Seize the Moment

Instead of telling people “I’ll pray” when someone asks for prayer, my goal is to take time to actually pray right in the moment, because it’s easy to forget. Also when someone asks for prayer, it reflects openness on his or her part towards God, something that may not be present later on.

Sometimes the simplest of phrases can touch a hardened or hurting heart. Psalm 49:3 reassures me that God can help my mouth speak words of wisdom.

Even if words are awkward and don’t come easy, or if they flow easily, I trust God to give me words to speak that will encourage, comfort, and touch hearts.

2. Let God Lead

Scriptures states as a child of God, I’m to be led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14). Doing so helps me in so many ways such as recognizing when someone is open to prayer, situations where prayer is needed, and how to pray.

In asking the Lord to guide my prayers, I find myself praying in new and unexpected ways and places, trusting Him to lead my thoughts and prayers.

Letting God lead also frees me from things such as feelings of self-consciousness and trying to impress with well-expressed words or phrasing. Psalm 25:6 states that the Lord guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

3. Take Time

When someone asks for prayer through an email, Facebook, or Twitter, take time to respond. Find a few minutes to send or post a thoughtful response to requests for prayer, trusting God to minister through your words.

Even with all of social media’s issues, there are still opportunities to bring a refreshing word.

Like Proverbs 15:23 states, “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word!”

4. Be Available

Let God know you are available, willing, and asking Him for opportunities to pray. When you do, commit to being on-call to pray 24/7, along with being open to surprising situations.

Unexpected opportunities in my life have included praying with a stranger outside an amusement park ride, during a Christmas party, on a crowded airliner, in a store’s check-out line, and more.

Like 2 Timothy 4:2 urges, I aim to be prepared in season and out of season, ready to reach out to others.

A Prayer for a Restful Mind..Megan Evans

 A Prayer for a Restful Mind

By Megan Evans

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

Does your thought life run a mile a minute? With constant information coming at us throughout the day, it’s easy to find our minds pulled in multiple directions--and sometimes all at once! If you’re prone to multi-tasking like I am, then you know how these tugs for our attention can easily compete. And who can fault us in this crazy, busy world that we live in today? Yet, the Lord wants so much more for you and me than simply our ability to keep up with life’s constant distraction. God calls us to enjoy daily peace of mind.

This morning, I found myself simultaneously talking on the phone, glancing down to read messages from a group text, and sorting clothes for the washing machine. When I finally had a chance to sit down with a cup of coffee, I found myself reaching for my phone rather than enjoying the pause and rest. Does this pattern of distraction sound familiar to you? Lord, guide my thoughts and actions today and help me recognize the many opportunities to savor the peace of Your presence. 

Perhaps more than ever, we crave stillness. We may seek rest for our body, but do we seek out rest for our mind? For this, the Bible points us to the importance of focusing on God and letting our minds enjoy resting in His goodness.

God created mankind beautifully with brains for thinking, emotions for feeling, and daily experiences for interacting. Yet, we don’t always respond in ways that lead us to live in the daily peace He wants for us. This activity can leave our minds overwhelmed but thankfully not overlooked. As we are reminded in Matthew 10:30, our Heavenly Father cares about us down to the very number of hairs on our heads. This kind of loving detail assures us that God cares for our entire body, including our minds. Lord, train me to take good care of my whole self and make me aware of any unhealthy areas. 

It is easy to reflexively reach for fillers that will distract and entertain us instead of seeking true moments of rest for our minds. Philippians 4:8 gives us eight prayerful areas to reset our focus back on Jesus. It is life-giving to think about what is: true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. 

This list is a much-needed call to take a brain break throughout our day. It also reminds us to be selective about what we see and hear so that we can experience God’s best for us, including our thought life. When we keep our mind numb and soaked in dishonoring or distracting content day in and day out, it becomes hard to hear the lead and counsel of the Holy Spirit. When our thoughts are fixed on the world, the enemy is all too happy to fill us with his worldly lies. Yet, in Christ, we can be set free from a mind full of unrest and untruth. Lord, I don’t want to settle for anything less than Your very best for my mind today.

When we struggle to stay focused on what matters most, it can leave us experiencing weariness. Psalm 97:2 proclaims that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne. Therefore, the rightful place for our every concern is at the feet of King Jesus today. With God’s Word as our standard of measurement for decision-making in this world and the Holy Spirit as our guide and wise counsel, we can begin to triage our thought life one step at a time. We can take brain breaks in prayer and worship or simply enjoy God’s undivided attention. We can rest our minds daily and begin to experience the peace of God.

What thoughts are you dwelling on today? What needs to be released into God’s care and exchanged for His Truth?

Let’s pray for a restful mind today.

Dear Lord, I surrender my thought life to the cross. Help me learn to view my world through the lens of Your Truth, rather than fixing my thoughts on earthly perception, assumption, or opinion. Reveal and forgive the areas of my mind that do not bring You glory today. Slow me down and help me stay focused on You, Jesus. Rather than just reacting to distraction, train my mind to focus and respond to Your lead. Give me discernment and the desire to live out Philippians 4:8 daily, reminding me often to rest, pray, and reflect on Your ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What to Do If Hurt Happens..Lynette Kittle

 What to Do If Hurt Happens

By Lynette Kittle

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” - Colossians 3:13

As Christians, we hope we can count on those we meet in church or Christian settings to be loving, kind, and compassionate in every situation. Unfortunately, disillusionment, wounds, and hurts can occur when these unrealistic ideas of perfect Christian relationships shatter, collapse, and leave us feeling devastated and lost in many ways. 

Dealing With Failed Expectations
A few years ago, a friend asked for prayer for her father, who felt driven away from the church where her family had served for over a decade. Following the separation, he seemed broken from the experience, leaving her deeply concerned with her Dad’s lack of focus and passion for the things of God. Sadly like so many individuals, the fellow Christians at his church had disappointed him and let him down in a spiritually devastating way. Because they are individuals who say they love God, his expectations for their behavior and treatment of one another were so much higher than what he experienced.

Experiencing the Wounds of Others
Growing up as a pastor’s kid and then later as a pastor’s wife, I’ve experienced deep hurt within church walls and through the actions of fellow Christians. Like me, many, if not most, who enter and serve full-time ministry will also experience the painful sting of well-intended church members who have the ability to wound their leaders right to the core of who they are, like knife wounds to the heart.

Unfortunately, wounds aren't restricted to just church leadership but to many who actively attend and participate in church. Individuals can be totally surprised by brutal, cutthroat attacks from within the body of Christ inflicted by those they trusted as fellow believers.

What Can Be Done?
Gratefully we can take measures to prepare our hearts ahead of time for possible wounding, rather than thinking it won’t ever happen, especially since these types of hurts often blindside people when they least expect it. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, people hurt people, and that includes believers in Jesus Christ. Below are five ways to help safeguard and prepare for possible disappointment and hurt within the Church so if it comes, it won’t shake our faith and knock us off track in our relationship with God.

1. Put on the full armor of God. As Ephesians 6:12 explains, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

It’s not just people, even within the Church. There are spiritual forces and powers at work to divide and destroy from within our church walls. To be prepared, we are instructed in Ephesians 6:14-17 to put on the full armor of God so that we can against them.

2. Activate prayer. Prayer is a powerful resource we have to turn to and put into motion. As Ephesians 6:18 urges, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

3. Forgive. Cultivate a tenderness to forgive others as God has forgiven us. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

4. Resist disillusionment with God. Like my friend’s Dad, disappointment and hurt can cause Christians to disconnect from God. The devil works through wounding to cause us to doubt God, to believe He didn’t protect us in the situation, and even more so, that maybe He’s really behind those who caused the hurtful actions.

Hurt blurs our vision, causing us to blame God rather than imperfect people who are being led by divisive spiritual influences. It’s vital in these situations to guard our hearts from letting others cause disillusionment with Him.

5. Fix our eyes on Jesus. As Hebrews 12:2 urges, it’s important for us to fix our eyes on Jesus rather than what other Christians may say or do in the name of God. It’s key to loving the Church even when the people within it have caused pain.

Intersecting Faith & Life:
Have you been hurt in a Church situation or by another Christian? If so, ask God to help you to forgive those who disappointed you. Also, seek His wisdom and understanding in recognizing the wounding came from within their hearts and not from His heart.