Fully Loved..Craig Denison Ministries

 Fully Loved

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of the Most High God, we have been granted access to unconditional, tangible, and perfect love. All we need we have in relationship with our Father in heaven. He longs to reveal himself to us as a loving, real Father. He longs for us to live in the fullness of restored relationship with him. He longs for us to experience his vast and limitless affections. May we grow in our understanding and experience of God as our good and loving Father this week as we look at what it is to be his child.

Scripture:“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” >1 John 4:9-10

Devotional:

What could true love possibly look like if not the willing sacrifice of King Jesus for us, his unworthy and helpless disciples? What greater love could we possibly know than the love of a Father who would send his own spotless, blameless Son to die for the sins of a rebellious and prideful people? 1 John 4:9-10 says,

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

You and I are fully, overwhelmingly, and passionately loved by our God. We have been granted access by the blood of Jesus into an eternal relationship with our Creator who considers restored relationship with us worth the death of his blameless Son. As children of God, we never again have to wonder if we are loved. God proved through the death of his Son once and for all that he will never stop pursuing us, never stop loving us, and that he will do whatever it takes to gain back what our sin took from him: a face-to-face, tangible relationship with him.

Too often we go through life wandering from person to person, possession to possession, and success to success trying to find the love we long to experience. We wake up every morning striving to be fully loved by a world that has brokenness at the core of all it does. We search high and low for that which is already ours in Christ Jesus.

God longs to overwhelm you with his love today. He paid the highest price for you to simply experience and know the depth of his love. Isaiah 49:15-16 says, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” You are God’s child today and forever. You are fully loved by the Creator and Lord of all. God’s love is vast, limitless, and real. His affections for you know no bounds. And he is patiently waiting for you to cast aside all other pursuits of love and simply let him satisfy your need to be loved in ways far greater than you could ever imagine.

Take time in guided prayer to let God love you. Confess any ways in which you have pursued love that weren’t rooted in him. Allow him to heal any wounds that have kept you from experiencing his love. And receive the incredible, vast affections your heavenly Father has for you as his beloved child.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the limitless and unconditional love your heavenly Father has for you. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to pursue being loved by God and to cease pursuing love from the world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” >John 3:16

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” >Romans 8:35-39

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” >1 John 4:9-10

2. In what ways have you pursued being loved by the world instead of God? What person have you been working to please so that they would love you? What success have you been trying to achieve to feel loved? What possession have you been trying to buy in order to feel fulfilled?

“Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.” >Jonah 2:8

3. Confess any sin of idolatry and take time to receive the conditionless affections of your Father. Ask him to show you how much he loves you. Ask him to help you receive his love in the untouched places of your heart. Rest in his presence, and allow him to lay a new foundation of grace-filled love in your life.

“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

Often when we hear the word idolatry our minds immediately think of golden statues and other Old Testament images of false gods. The sin of idolatry is just as real and rampant today as it ever was in the days of the Old Testament. We’ve replaced golden statues with other possessions. We worship and place our hope in that which is fleeting and vain. Any time we value something above our God and his will we are engaging in idolatry. May we as God’s children have the perspective and humility to cast down anything we’ve valued above him. May we repent and receive forgiveness and healing that we might serve him alone. And may we experience his love offered to us without measure and without condition.

Extended Reading: 1 John 4

Perseverance in Prayer..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Perseverance in Prayer

Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 12:11-13

As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey. From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith, and time with God feels empty. Most likely, this is why many Christians pray so little and so passionlessly.

Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life. Let’s explore one more hindrance that blocks vibrant communication between God and us: impatience.

Most of us have at some point brought our supplication to Jesus vigorously but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans are, by nature, fainthearted. We get weary of asking and listening when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God is not some “cosmic bellhop”; He does not act on our cue. In fact, if we could see the big picture as He can, we would gladly wait for His way and time.

Actually, I believe that we benefit by not receiving all that we request. Understanding this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord’s presence, our relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don’t get all we ask. When that is the case, we grasp what prayer is—not a long want list, but a relationship.

Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God but nothing changes. Continue to pray. Beyond this “wall,” you’ll sense God’s presence, where you will find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives you exactly what you requested.

How to Live with God as Your Portion..Kristine Brown

 How to Live with God as Your Portion

By Kristine Brown

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever,” ( Psalm 73:26).

Hannah knew what it meant to live with God as her portion, but not at first. We all learn our greatest lessons by trusting God through difficult times, and Hannah was no exception. From her story, we too can discover a deeper trust in the One who is above all, even in the scariest times. We can learn what it means when God is our portion. God is my portion when I don’t have enough.

“But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb,” ( 1 Samuel 1:5).

Hannah wanted a child more than anything. 1 Samuel 1:8 describes her as “downhearted.” Something was missing from her life, and her husband Elkanah did everything he could to console her, even giving her a double portion.

There will be times when we don’t have enough. We may even wonder why God isn’t providing the way we think He should. It could be one of life’s basic needs, like money to pay bills or food in the pantry. We may seek answers, like I did when my heart problem returned. We may long for healing. Whatever the desire, let’s remember this truth: God knows more about what we need than we do. Sometimes He doesn’t take the pain away, but instead comforts us through it. How we handle difficulties can encourage others and draw His children closer to Him. Your journey can become just the inspiration someone else needs.

Just like Elkanah’s gift to his beloved wife, God satisfies us with more than we could ask for. He gave us His only son as a sacrifice to show the depth of His love. God is our portion that fills the void when - like Hannah - something is missing in our lives.

Hannah didn’t hide away like I’m tempted to do. She didn’t vent, although the tears did flow. She went straight to the Source of all comfort. Hannah decided to put her hope in God.

“And she made a vow, saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head,’” ( 1 Samuel 1:11 NIV).

Hannah’s resolve to trust in God changed her entire outlook. Instead of staying downhearted, she became hopeful. She traded discouraging thoughts for triumph. Let’s take a lesson from Hannah’s commitment. When we’ve had enough and we’re tempted to soothe our spirits with short-term comforts, let’s put down the remote and go straight to God in prayer. His comforting presence will be our portion when enough is enough.

Is something missing in your life today? Are you feeling unworthy, or are you fed up with daily frustrations? Lamentations 3:24 says, “The Lord is my portion.” On the day of my heart surgery, I learned what this means in a real, tangible way. I didn’t have the answers or know the outcome, but I did know this. In all things, He is enough.

A Prayer for Patience..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Patience

By Emma Danzey

Proverbs 16:32 says, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Patience is not easy for everyone; in fact, it is a struggle for everyone to some degree. The fact is that we are all sinners, and patience does not come naturally to us. However, when we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can live out the fruit of the Spirit. I always hear that it is a dangerous prayer to ask God for patience because you do not know how He will answer that. Will it be waiting in terrible traffic, being patient with people, or learning that we do not get what we want when we want it even after we pray and pray?

The process of patience refines us and takes us on a journey of learning to trust in God. When we pray for patience, we are asking boldly for the Lord to give us more confidence in who He is regardless of what we see. We are asking Him to help us to slow down and believe that He cares for us and our individual needs and desires. Today, let’s go to His throne and ask Him to grow us in this amazing way.

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord,
Patience is something I desire but so often fall short in. Today, I ask that Your Holy Spirit would move me to follow You in this area. Would you please give me the ability to choose to live by the Spirit instead of my flesh? You say in Proverbs 14:21, “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Forgive me for the times when I have been quick-tempered and mistrusting in the waiting. Enable me to have great understanding and live out patience in ways that I have failed before. Give me the ability to be slower and less impulsive in decision-making and in life.

At the root of patience is love. You say in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” The very first description of love is patience. God, you know that I do not always love well in my impatience with others, especially those closest to me. Would You please help me in this struggle to choose Your love and to be patient through Your strength? Help me to be more like You in the ways that I talk, act, and live towards others who I am waiting on.

God, you say in Romans 12:2, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Help me to be patient in the difficulties that surround me. Give me Your wisdom to navigate the trials that come my way. Guide me to have joy in hope and be faithful in praying to You. Lord, you know it is so hard to wait through difficulties, persecutions, and temptations in this life, but thank You that You never leave me in them. Remind me that even though hard seasons can appear to drag on, You are forever with me and love me always. Give me the ability to learn from You and model Your patience with others around me. Allow them to see unearthly patience in me that points to You. Let this be a witness and a testimony to others of Your working power in a sinner’s life.

Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

God, You tell me to be still before You and wait for You patiently. I ask that You would give me the ability to slow down and focus my heart and mind on You. Help me not to live in hurry, but out of a place of rest for my soul found in You. Thank You for Your continuous and abundant patience with me and Your second chances in helping me to grow in patience. Amen.

God Will Call You Out of the Boat..Jessica Van Roekel

 God Will Call You Out of the Boat

By Jessica Van Roekel

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” - Matthew 14:30-31, ESV.

One of my daughters didn’t like it when I declared, “Let’s go on an adventure!” She was five and afraid of getting lost, but we always made it back home. She needed to trust that I knew where I was going and what I was doing. Fear of the unknown can create a feeling of distrust in our hearts. We ask, “What if it doesn’t work out? What if we fail? What if we get lost?”

After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee, but he stayed behind to dismiss the crowds and spend time in prayer. Later that windy night when the boat was a long way from land, Jesus headed toward them walking on the water. This miracle terrified the disciples, but brash and bold Peter asked Jesus to confirm his identity by commanding Peter to get out of the boat and walk to him. So, Jesus did, and Peter stepped out of the boat.

There have been times in my life when I felt the Lord calling me out of the boat and to walk toward him. After my miscarriage, it was to walk the waters of grief. Later, when I was pregnant again, it was to walk the waters of trust. Life is full of adventures, but not every adventure leads us in a straight path. Sometimes they lead us through ravines and along cliffs. The winds of uncertainty and fear and unknowns buffet us, and we lose sight of Jesus.

The Bible has story after story that lays down evidence after evidence of the power of fixing our eyes on the Lord to provide what we need when we need it. Abraham is one of them. God called him to leave his homeland and go to a new land. Abraham went. God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars through his son, Isaac. But then God asked him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. And Abraham did.

Can you imagine the difficulty these two commands created? Yet, Abraham kept his focus on the Lord. He left his homeland and lived a nomad’s life. He climbed the rocky mountain, built an altar, bound his son, and trusted God to provide a burnt offering. This was an adventure that took him to a deeper place of trust and confirmed his belief that God keeps his promises. His hope in God held firm.

When Peter first climbed out of the boat, he kept his eyes on Jesus. Bold Peter walked on water as the wind and waves raged around him. He walked into the storm. He made it to Jesus. But then the wind pierced his laser-beam focus on the Lord and he began to sink. Sometimes God calls us to do something impossible, like walk the road of grief or step into a new calling, and when we focus on the Lord, our steps remain firm.

Sometimes, though, the distractions of the unknowns in new adventures cause us to lose our footing. In these moments, we don’t have to sink because Jesus reaches down to pull us up. Grief can overwhelm us with its waves, and we sink deep into depression. New paths can overwhelm us with the fear of failure, and we sink deep into perfectionism. But when we look up and fix our eyes on Jesus, he enables us to walk through the winds and the waves. He grabs our hand and lifts us up. Our trust in him grows with each wave we walk over. It’s a daily choice to fix our eyes on him.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What are you facing today? Has God called you to step out of the boat and to walk by faith? The winds might be blowing strong against you, but Jesus is your firm foundation. You might be wondering how this new adventure will turn out, but God is your provider. He is your strength, your joy, and your refuge. Like Peter, we can step out of the boat and face the wind. Like Abraham, we can have faith that God will provide. Set your distractions aside and fix your eyes on Jesus. He is mighty to save.

Further Reading:
Matthew 14:22-33
Genesis 22