Childlike Faith..Craig Denison Ministries

 Childlike Faith

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:“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” - Mark 10:15

Devotional:

To have faith like a child is to blindly trust the goodness, care, leadership, and provision of a father. Jesus continually called his disciples to a lifestyle of surrender and trust in him, but never so simply as in Mark 10:13-16. Scripture says,

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Mark 10 teaches that it’s in having childlike faith that we will receive the kingdom of God. Childlike faith is what fills us with the unshakable hope that we will one day dwell in heaven with our Father for all of eternity. As Christians, we’ve placed all our hope in the truth that Jesus came, died, and rose again, and that if we place our trust in him we will have a resurrection like his. We succeed in having childlike faith when it comes to salvation, but often we fail in placing our trust in our heavenly Father on a daily basis.

Being the child of God affords us the opportunity to live under his constant provision and leadership. As our good Father, he longs to provide for us a wonderfully abundant life full of joy, peace, purpose, laughter, friends, and unconditional love. But so often we go our own way and live our lives apart from all that’s available to us in God. Whether it be by a lack of revelation, impatience, fear, wrong teaching, or past experiences, we so often fail to have faith that God will shepherd us to his perfect plans.

God is calling you to a greater lifestyle of childlike faith. He is calling you to place your trust in him alone for your finances, relationships, future, past, and present. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” What brings our Father pleasure is unadulterated, unveiled, and glorious relationship with his children. He longs for us to draw near to him with full assurance that he is good, real, and that he longs to bless us.

Take time in guided prayer to place your full trust in your heavenly Father. Confess to him any ways in which you have been living in your own strength. Ask him to show you the root of your lack of faith. And receive his help in pursuing a lifestyle of childlike faith. May you experience the transcendent peace and joy that only comes through living by faith.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of having childlike faith.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” >2 Corinthians 5:7

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” >Hebrews 11:6

“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” >Mark 10:15

2. Where do you struggle in trusting God? What area of your life is not producing the fruit of his goodness, reality, and love for you? Where are you under the stress of living in your own strength?

“One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” >Proverbs 29:23

3. Confess your need of God’s help, and ask him to help you live with increased faith. Lay down any ways in which you’ve been living apart from faith, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with patience and trust in your heavenly Father.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” >1 Peter 5:6

“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” >Proverbs 22:4

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” >Colossians 3:12

In speaking of Abraham, Romans 4:20-21 says, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” May we be children as faithful to our good and loving heavenly Father as Abraham was. May we pursue wholeheartedly the abundant life that comes from trusting in God’s reality and nearness. And may we be greater reflections of God’s unconditional love and purpose for all those weary and burdened by the stress of doing life apart from the help of the Father.

Extended Reading: Romans 4

Give Everyone and Everything to God..JOHN ELDREDGE

 Give Everyone and Everything to God

JOHN ELDREDGE 

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Boy, oh boy, is it hard to disentangle from our world.

I’ve spent the previous 24 hours obsessing over a comment someone made to me during a business meeting.

Honestly, it was only a simple observation on their part, shared within a larger conversation. But the observation was about me, and you know how that goes — in a 20-minute conversation, it became the one thing I seized upon, like that chia seed caught between your teeth. You can’t think about anything else; your tongue searches it out and hovers around it.

Over time, the quite simple, rather benign remark has become filled with implication and all sorts of subterfuge as I wonder and worry and speculate over what this colleague meant. I think you know well the experience I’m talking about — somebody says something to you in passing, and later you find yourself wondering, then worrying, what they meant by it.

I don’t think of myself as an obsessive person, but in looking back upon the conversation, the comment feels loaded — which leads me to wonder what the subtext was, which leads me to wonder about the subtext to everything this person said to me in the conversation. Which leads me to wonder what the subtext is to our relationship, and have I been misinterpreting everything that has been taking place?!

One small comment in a marketing meeting triggered an avalanche of speculation in me — speculation about motives, my leadership and the integrity of this relationship altogether.

Lord, help me.

Over the course of these very unhelpful 24 hours, every time I turned to Jesus to try to get some peace and orientation, He simply kept saying, Give this to Me. Release this to Me. Give that person to Me, echoing 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” And I was struck by how difficult that is, especially once I'm really worked up in speculation, worry, genuine concern or anxiety.

As I began to practice the smallest measure of release, the relief was almost immediate.

To make room for God to fill the vessel of our soul, we have to begin moving out some unnecessary clutter that continually accumulates there like the junk drawer in our kitchen. Our souls accumulate stuff, too, pulling it in like a magnet. And so, as the philosopher and theologian Augustine said, we must empty ourselves of all that fills us so that we may be filled with what we are empty of.

Over time, I’ve found no better practice to help clear out my cluttered soul than the practice of benevolent detachment: the ability to let it go, walk away — not so much physically but emotionally, soulfully.

Mature adults have learned how to create a healthy distance between themselves and the things they have become entangled with. Thus the word “detachment.” It means getting untangled, stepping out of the quagmire; it means peeling apart the Velcro by which this person, relationship, crisis or global issue has attached itself to you, or you to it. Detachment means getting some healthy distance.

Social media overloads our empathy. So I use the word “benevolent” in referring to this necessary kind of detachment because we’re not talking about cynicism or resignation. Benevolence means kindness, something done in love. Jesus invites us into a way of living where we are genuinely comfortable turning things over to Him:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG).

Jesus declares there is a way “to live freely and lightly.”

Jesus began teaching me about benevolent detachment almost two years ago. Every time I would turn to Him with a question, He would say, Give everyone and everything to Me. The invitation rang so true; I knew I needed to learn this. I’d be asking about something entirely unrelated to the people in my life — car repairs, scheduling a trip, my tax returns — and Jesus would reply, Give everyone and everything to Me.

Jesus asks you to release the world, to release people, crises, trauma, intrigue, all of it. The soul was never meant to inhabit a world like this. It’s way too much. Somewhere, sometime in your day, you’ve just got to release it. You’ve got to let it go.

And as you practice release, what you’re doing is creating soul space, carving out the intellectual and emotional space for God to come in.

God, I give everyone and everything to You. I give You my day, God. I release my family and my children to You. God, I give You my worries and fears. I give everyone and everything to You now, Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Praying for Change..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Praying for Change

Dr. Charles Stanley

James 5:16

Hanging above the door in our house, my mother's favorite plaque constantly reminded us, "Prayer changes things." From an early age, I witnessed this powerful truth through her example. She'd tell me about some difficulties she was facing and then have me pray about them with her. And later, she'd always be sure to give God the glory when sharing the awesome news that He had answered those prayers.

Indeed, this is our confidence: Anything we pray for that aligns with the Father's plan will be granted. And the more time we spend with Him, the more we'll come to understand His will and how to pray for it.

Remember, prayer doesn't change God's mind, but it does transform the believer's heart. Some requests are granted immediately, simply because we asked with the realization that our Father loves to give us good gifts. Other requests may require time or certain divine preparations before they can be given. We, meanwhile, must simply be diligent to persevere in prayer.

Whatever the Lord's response or timing, we trust that He has only the very best in store for His children. That means we might not receive exactly what we're asking for, but something even better. Such is God's great pleasure, for He alone perfectly knows each heart's desire and wishes to fulfill it.

Our most powerful tool for shaping the world and lives around us is always available. Prayer lets us witness God's hand in any situation. And as we give attention, time, and perseverance to conversation with Him, we find no limit to what He can achieve in people's hearts and circumstances.

The Lord Is with Us..Greg Laurie

 The Lord Is with Us

By Greg Laurie

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

Sometimes when we end up in a certain situation, we’ll say, “Why did God allow this to happen to me?” Then later on, after a few years pass by and we have the hindsight of 20/20, we are able to look back on certain circumstances and see why the Lord did what He did—or why He did not do what we thought He should do.

To be honest, I’m glad that I don’t always know what is going on around me. We may not know the things that are happening in the supernatural as well as the natural realm, about the plots that might be out there against us, or about those who want to destroy us. But we know this: the Lord is with us wherever we are.

David, who knew something about potentially fearing for his life, wrote these words in Psalm 27:5: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (NKJV).

Then we’re told in Isaiah 54:17, “‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says the Lord” (NKJV).

People may be able to lie and fool everyone for a time, but eventually it all will come to light. It all will be declared for what it is. The good thing is that even if people are plotting against you as a child of God, you don’t have to be afraid. The Lord is with you. He was there with Paul in his prison cell, and He is there with you wherever you are.

Heavenly Lord, in times of fear and anger, we ask you to give us peace, wisdom, and hope. Let your truth be our comfort in difficult times. Amen.

A Prayer to Stay The Course..Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer to Stay The Course

By Chelsey DeMatteis 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

The battle of Jericho has become a favorite Bible story in our house. This comes as no surprise as we have an almost 5-year-old little boy! We read the story, sing the song, and act out the walls tumbling down. And while this story easily captures the hearts of little ones, its incredible theme of obedience often falls to the wayside as we grow older. For that reason, this past summer, I decided to go through my 5-year-old’s current favorite book of the Bible.

For some back story and context, Joshua was the one whom God appointed to lead the Israelites (God’s chosen people) into the Promised Land after Moses passed away. You’ll see in the opening chapter a command of the Lord given to Joshua that most Christians are very familiar with. 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

This may be the most memorable part of the entire story of Joshua next to the walls of Jericho tumbling down. Why? I believe it’s because we, too, need this reminder as we navigate the places God calls us to go. Whether that is the mission field across the world, within the states, within your church, or within your home.

We must be both strong and courageous: Strong and steadfast in our faith as we trust God’s promises. Courageous as we walk into the unknown with God who knows fully. We must be obedient and willing: Obedient to follow the call no matter what. Willing to surrender the way in which we think things should go. We must be unafraid and stand against dismay by standing upon the living, active Word of God.

As Joshua’s story unfolds, we see many other stories unfold within it. We see God’s people choosing to live out the very same words He commanded of Joshua. We see this in the obedience of Rehab the prostitute, the two spies sent into Jericho, and the whole people of God who faithfully marched around the city for seven days.

I felt both encouraged and enlightened when I read this story, but I also felt deep conviction. Do I live like the people of God in Joshua’s day where the Lord has me now? Am I genuinely seeking to be strong and courageous in Christ, or do I choose the more comfortable route? What took place before and at the Battle of Jericho was anything but comfortable. It took an enormous amount of faith and trust in the Lord to do all He had commanded. Not only that, but once those walls came tumbling down, God was only getting started.

We have 18 more chapters of watching God command His people to obey, submit, be strong, and stand firm. You will see the wrath of God, the love of God, and the leading of God on display in ways that will cause you to look at how you live for Him.

Do we live strong and courageous? Or do we live so comfortably and content that we pass by where God is directing us? Do we store up things that God tells us to lead to destruction? Or do we live from a posture of knowing we can trust our Heavenly Father, who holds all things?

Let’s Pray:

Lord, thank you for your Word and the way it captures our hearts. We praise you for the stories in scripture that draw the youngest souls. I pray that the Holy Spirit would use Joshua’s story to change the way I not only live but the way in which I lead. I pray to be a follower of Christ that chooses to be strong in the faith and courageous wherever you call me because You, Lord, hold all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What Does Your Righteousness Look Like?..Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

 What Does Your Righteousness Look Like?

By Clarence L. Haynes Jr. 

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20

If there is one thing you can say about Jesus, he has a way with words. In this teaching on the sermon on the mount, he makes a statement that could only be seen as shocking. Especially when you consider who he is talking about. In those days, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were the ones the people looked up to. They were the ones people were supposed to follow, and in one sentence, Jesus says, whatever they are doing, you must do better. 

Why was this such an important statement? To grasp this, you need to understand the nature of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. This was not the only time Jesus ever mentioned their righteousness or the way they lived. He had a lot more to say. Here is one instance which relates well to what he said in this verse.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” – Matthew 23:25-26

In this verse, Jesus identifies the problem with the righteousness of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Their righteousness was outward only. It never went beyond the surface. They did a good job of making the outside look good because they looked the part. The problem was on the inside, they missed the part. In effect, what Jesus was saying is this type of righteousness is not righteousness at all therefore don’t practice it.

What is righteousness?
Before we go further and get to a personal application, let’s define the type of righteousness Jesus was referring to. There are two ways to look at this verse. In one context, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were attempting to gain righteousness through their own efforts. If you believe that is the way to righteousness, Jesus says it’s not. In another context, the righteousness Jesus was talking about emphasizes what you say in comparison to what you do. This is where I want to focus your attention. Look at what Jesus says in the previous verse.

“Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:19 (emphasis added)

The problem the Pharisees and teachers of the law had is they did not practice what they were teaching. Their righteousness was only superficial.

What does your righteousness look like?
This leads to a question to ponder in this moment. What does your righteousness look like? Consider what would happen if we were to pull back the curtain of your life. What would that reveal? Would there be a clean outside but a heart that was not? Hopefully, this is not the case. To be clear, ultimately, we are justified and made righteous through Christ. However, in this context, Jesus is also talking about your words and your actions. Is your outside truly a reflection of what is inside, or is it just for appearance’s sake? 

Jesus was trying to help his disciples see that the part of you no one sees is more important than the part of you that everyone sees because the part no one sees is who you really are. So how do your insides look, and who are you when it is just you and Jesus and no one else around? The way you answer that question will help determine if your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. 

As we search our hearts today, it is safe to say we all have areas where what we say and what we do don’t always align. This is why we ultimately depend on Jesus’ righteousness and not our own. But beyond that, we need to seek to be people who desire an outward life that reflects an inward transformation. When that becomes your heart's desire, you are on your way to having a righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
“There are two sorts of hypocrites: ones that are deceived with their outward morality and external religion; and the others are those that are deceived with false discoveries and elevation; which often cry down works, and men's own righteousness.” – Jonathan Edwards