God’s Patient Heart..Craig Denison Ministries

 God’s Patient Heart

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:“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

Devotional:

Our heavenly Father is abundantly patient with us. So vast is his love that our hearts can always be filled with his affection. So perfect is his leadership and wisdom that he makes available to us a perfect and pleasing life through every season. And yet he is patient to guide us into the fullness of life afforded to us by Christ’s sacrifice. He waits, sweetly beckoning us to simply trust him and cultivate a heart of constant communion with him.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells us of a prodigal son who foolishly and pridefully leaves perfect communion with his father to chase after worldly satisfaction. The father lovingly obliges his son, offers him his inheritance as if he himself were dead, and watches as his son leaves a life in his father’s care to lead a lifestyle of destruction. And the father waits, patiently hoping for the return of his child.

I find myself daily leaving the perfection of communion with my heavenly Father to seek the things of the world. I seek after success and admiration from the lost and broken rather than simply receiving the unconditional acceptance of my Father. I abandon perfect peace for the striving and stress of worldly gain. I reject the loving and perfect thoughts of my Father for the fleeting and unfounded affection of others.

I am the prodigal son. We all are. And yet our heavenly Father has a patient heart toward us. He waits to run out to meet us. Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Just when I think my heavenly Father will reject me for my sin and rebellion, he runs out to clothe me with the best robe, a ring, and new shoes (Luke 15:22). Just when I think he’ll send me off to the fields as a slave for punishment, he throws a feast in my honor (Luke 15:23-24). Just when I think I am unworthy of his affections and attention, he reminds me of the death of his Son, sacrificed that I might receive the abundance of unconditional love and grace my Father has toward me.

I long to live in the embrace of my Father. I long to end my days of wayward pursuits. I long to rest in the perfect communion available to me in Jesus. There is no source of true love apart from him. There is no relationship more satisfying than one with our God. There is no identity more freeing than being the child of the Creator. And there is no real grace outside of his overwhelmingly patient heart.

May we, as the bride of Christ, turn our feet toward the home of our Father and confess our need of him. May we humble ourselves before a God who is both patient and powerful. And may we allow him to pick us up off our knees, clothe us with honor and love, and wrap us up in his grace-filled arms. Your God is patient toward you, waiting with expectation in his heart for what he can do in your life. Receive the love he longs to give and experience the abundant life that comes only through restored relationship with your patient Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the patient heart of God. Allow his patience to draw you into the deeper places of his heart. Receive his presence and rest in the knowledge of his love.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” >2 Peter 3:9

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15

“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:28

2. In what ways have you been living like the prodigal son? Where have you gone your own way and abandoned the perfect peace that comes from total communion with the Father?

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” >Isaiah 26:3

3. Turn your heart toward the Father, repent of your sin, and allow him to fill you with his abundant love. Ask him to reveal his love to you today right where you’re at. Ask him how he feels about you. And let his love wash away any shame or guilt that would keep you from experiencing the full breadth of his affection.

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” Psalm 34:4-5

The patience of our Father is by no means a weakness as the world might think. Our God is patient because he has perfect perspective and purpose. He values that which actually matters and doesn’t concern himself with worldly pursuits. He sees the full path of your life. He knows the reasons for which you were created. He knows the highs and lows you will go through. And he is patient toward you. Rest in his patience. Allow his perspectives to become yours. And live today at the pace at which he guides you, trusting that his patient heart will lead you to his perfect and pleasing will.

Extended Reading: 2 Peter 3

Real Life Hide-and-Seek..Jennifer Waddle

 Real Life Hide-and-Seek

by Jennifer Waddle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: And those you know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. -  Psalm 9:10

In the childhood game of hide-and-seek, the seeker looks for those who are hiding, but if he can’t find them, he throws his hands up in defeat. In the game of life, however, those who seek the Lord find Him, for He is not hiding from men, but rather standing in plain sight. Sadly, there are many who refuse to be the seeker. Fooled by self-sufficiency, they’ve convinced themselves they have no need to look for the Savior. Instead, they carry on with a sense of independence, self-confidence, and pride.

Admitting the need for a Savior is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is the yielding of one’s life to the magnificent purpose of the Creator, who loves them and longs to draw them near. The Lord does not forsake those who seek Him.

Well-known author, C.S. Lewis, struggled with this very thing. He wrote in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, that on three separate occasions he felt a “sudden, piercing pang of longing─a bittersweet ache and yearning for something far-off…” Later, he wrote about his reluctance to convert to Christianity, and described himself as“kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape.” (Read more here.)

The beautiful thing about the real-life game of hide-and-seek is that the seeker is always the winner. He or she never comes up empty-handed, unable to find what they are looking for.

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

Deep down, in the soul of every person, there is an empty hole that can never be filled by anything else. Wealth, notoriety, or self-sufficiency will never completely fulfill the longing of every person’s heart. Only the all-consuming, everlasting love of the Father, made manifest in His Son, Jesus Christ, can make a person whole. And those who know His name, and put their trust in Him, will, in the end, find much more than they ever thought possible.

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19.

A Prayer for Stamina.. Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Stamina

By: Emma Danzey

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Walking with God is a blessing but also a struggle. We are called to join in with Jesus and pick up our crosses and follow Him. The Christian walk is very challenging because we are called to live very differently from the world around us. Many times this involves sacrifices, humility, patience, and great endurance.

Today as we take time to pray for stamina, may the Lord remind us what we are working towards. He has already completed the work on the cross and we are His forever. We can then live out our faith from a place of resting in Him rather than striving. In fact, enduring doesn’t mean striving. We are told in Psalm 46:10 to stop striving and know that He is God. Our Lord is sovereign. We are invited into the work that He is accomplishing on this earth, it is hard and long at times, but it is for a great eternal purpose of sharing the gospel with many. As you run the race set out before you, may you remember that Christ is your stamina on the journey.

Let's Pray:

God, You say in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Help me not to grow weary in the good things that You have called me to. Readjust my mindset if I am focused too much on the work, but not the Savior. Remind me who I am serving and why.

Lord, you remind me in Romans 5:3-4 that I can glory in suffering because it ultimately produces character and hope. Give me the courage to trust in You and persevere through the trials that come my way today and this week. Thank You that You never leave me in the midst of my struggles. As I run the race, You are right there next to me cheering me on in this life. I desire to honor Your name and to represent You well. I am sinful and need Your help through the Holy Spirit to love well.

Give me eyes to not fixate on what is temporary around me but on what is eternal. Please help me to keep You first. You say in James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” When times get hard and the enemy attacks, help me to stand strong under the trials and temptations that come my way. Give me the ability to stay true to Jesus in a world that wants me to deny and reject Him. Sustain me, hold me up, lead me when I am weary. Give me a renewed sense of hope and purpose in following You.

I pray against apathy or laziness in my faith. Help me to continually grow by reading Your Bible, worshiping You through song and prayer, telling others about Your gospel, and making decisions that honor You. Part of stamina is the daily walk, remind me the value in a steady relationship with You. Remind me that it is not about the spiritually high moments but about the moment-by-moment decisions.

Thank You for inviting me into Your purposes and Your greater plan. Thank You for creating me and calling me to Yourself. Thank You for giving me hope in this life and after this life. Thank You for community; help me to reach out to others when I feel discouraged, and prevent me from isolating myself. Give me Your strength to reach out when I need others to remind me that I am not alone on this narrow path. Thank You for prayer and for the prayer warriors who come alongside me. Help me to be an encourager of others' journeys as well. You are so good. Thank You for being my stamina in life. Amen.

  

Be Transformed..Emma Danzey

 Be Transformed

By Emma Danzey

Romans 12:2 says, "Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature."

Do Not Be Conformed to the Patterns of this World
At the start of this verse, we notice the command from God not to be conformed. There is so much around us demanding us to be like the world. We are called to be set apart from this world. The pattern of this world is sin. Throughout Scripture, we see the same sins cycling through each generation. We are asked to follow Jesus even when the world is not. We are asked to be holy when the world is unholy.

How often do we find criticism and hate when we are trying to live for Christ? 1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

We should not be surprised by the way the world views us. We can be aware that they will desire us to conform, but that is not what Christ has for us. His Spirit in us is our strength. 

Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Minds
There is an emphasis on the renewal of the mind. In order for us to be transformed, Christ has to renew our minds. Our thoughts are powerful and effective. The enemy wants to get into our minds and create thought processes that are similar to the sinful world around us. We must be active in taking our thoughts captive. Each day we can come to God and ask His Holy Spirit to renew us and change us into becoming more like Him. When our mind is set on the ways of the world, we will think and live like the world. When our mind is set on the ways of Jesus, we will think and live like Jesus. This is not by our own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So You Can Figure Out What God’s Will is - What is Good and Pleasing and Mature

So many times people ask what God’s will is. When we are not conformed by the world but transformed by renewing our minds in Christ, God tells us that we can know HIs good, pleasing, and mature will. When we spend time with the Lord, when we worship Him, when we read His Word, and when we share His gospel, we are growing and being changed by the Holy Spirit. So often it is hard to know God’s will in the difficult decisions we have to make in our societies today. When we are transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, we are able to discern His will. Being transformed is a process. We are not perfect, but we are being sanctified day by day and hopefully looking more like Christ. 

The darkness around us continues to grow and spread. It is vital that the Light of Jesus is revealed in our lives. We can be light bearers and point others to Him because we are not conformed by the world but transformed by the Savior. It is necessary and needed for believers to live out their faith and not hide away in times of uncertainty. We are called to be different. We will experience persecutions, but God tells us to take heart because. He has overcome the world. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How is the world around you trying to influence you away from Christ and towards sin? What are some sinful patterns in your life that need to be fought against with the help of the Holy Spirit? Take time to renew your mind in Jesus today. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Will to you through His Word. 

Further Reading:

• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• 2 Thessalonians 3:5
• Colossians 3:5