Things Unseen..Craig Denison Ministries

 Things Unseen

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven this week: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” - Colossians 3:1-4

Scripture: “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:18

Devotional:

We have been trained through the prideful perspective of many that we are only to look to and believe that which we can see and physically experience here on earth. We’re told that there couldn’t possibly be more to life than what we’ve seen because the unseen can’t be experienced in the physical. What a self-centered perspective! Why do we have to know and be able to presently experience all there is in order for it to be real? Why are we, with our limited capacities, the ultimate judge in the debate of what is real and important? In Ephesians 1:18-20, Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus praying,

Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.

“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened . . . .” What does it mean for our hearts to have eyes? And what does it mean for those eyes to be enlightened? The truth is that all of us are given spiritual eyes. All of us know and experience things that can’t be physically seen. We’ve all received and given some type of love. We’ve all had an intuition or belief that couldn’t be physically proven. And as believers, we’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit who longs to guide us to a perspective that far exceeds the span of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Our Savior is calling us to a life lived for that which is unseen: the eternal. He is calling us out of the cycle of worldly pursuit into a greater calling of eternal significance. To live for heaven is to cast off that which is fleeting and temporary and seek that which can only be found with our heavenly Father.

Take time in guided prayer to look to that which is unseen. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart. Ask him to give you spiritual insight into your own life and the lives of others that you might call all those around you to live for heaven. Cast off those pursuits which tie you down to this world, and ask the Spirit to guide you into a lifestyle of seeking the kingdom of God above all else. May you discover the abundant life available to you in the Spirit as you worship your Father in both spirit and truth today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of looking to that which is unseen. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with a longing to live for heaven.

“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:18

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” - Hebrews 11:1-3

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” - Hebrews 11:7

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any pursuits which are solely fleeting and temporary. Write down any ways in which you have not been looking to the unseen enough.

3. Ask the Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart that you might experience all that God has for you today.

“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.” - Ephesians 1:18-20

Looking to that which is unseen is the door through which we experience the fullness of God’s presence available to us on the earth. As Jesus taught us, “God is spirit,” and to truly experience him we must cultivate a lifestyle of opening the eyes of our hearts. Our Father longs to lead us to a lifestyle of continual and transformational encounters with him. He longs to meet us at the doors of our hearts every morning that we might let him in to love us, speak to us, fill us, and transform us. May looking to that which is unseen guide you into deeper and more impactful encounters with the living God.

Extended Reading: 2 Corinthians 4

No Need To Panic..NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTH

 No Need To Panic

NANCY DEMOSS WOLGEMUTH 

“The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned, King forever.” Psalm 29:10 (CSB)

Trouble. Turmoil. False accusations. Flood warnings. We live in a world that is churning wildly. My precious husband has been through two unrelated cancers over the past couple of years. Our world has been churning. Perhaps yours has too.

When rising waters threaten to engulf your life, you may feel as though your only option is to panic. But what if you didn’t need to?

During the unforgettable ups and downs (more downs than ups, it seems) of recent years, I have found myself parked in Psalm 29. Over and over again, through trying days and sometimes wakeful nights, I have meditated on these 11 verses phrase by phrase, reciting and praying them again and again, until they’ve become a part of the fabric of my being.

The early part of this psalm describes something drastic going on in nature — possibly a massive thunderstorm — symbolizing overwhelming circumstances that threaten to take us under. And the psalm concludes with our key verse, Psalm 29:10, which issues a resounding statement of faith that affirms God’s rule over all of life and creation:

“The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned, King forever.”

This verse, if you embed it in your heart, will give you enough courage and comfort to last a lifetime, regardless of any floods and storms that may threaten to overwhelm you.

What is God doing during these storms? He is sitting. He sits above the flood; He sits as King forever. He’s not nervously pacing the celestial hallways. He’s not running around in a panic-stricken frenzy. He’s not cobbling together a council to help Him figure out what to do.

God is under control. God is in control — over and above all things. Nothing is happening in your life or mine, in our nation or anywhere else on the planet, that He is not sovereignly, providentially presiding over.

Maybe you’re thinking, How can this be true? How can God be sovereign over the painful situations I’ve endured, the hurt I’ve experienced at the hands of others? How could God have let that happen?

Friend, I get it. I’ve wept with parents at the graveside of a prodigal, with precious friends whose lives have been upended through unspeakable abuse, with women who have borne the brunt of their husbands' unfaithfulness — all trying to reconcile overwhelming circumstances with what they have been told is true about God.

I wish there were an easy answer. But until we are in His presence and all that is now mysterious becomes plain, God asks us simply to trust that He is still sovereign and good and that, through the power of the gospel, He is redeeming this broken world and making all things new.

As Psalm 29:10 says, the storms and floods of life happen beneath Him, not above Him. Though their waters swell, He is in charge of how far they can reach. And just as surely as He’s stirred up those waves, He can also cause them to be still. (Psalm 107:25; Psalm 107:29)

This doesn’t mean the floods are not dangerous.
But it does mean the floods are not final.

“The LORD gives his people strength; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11, CSB)

God, our one and only King, has made His strength and peace available to us even in situations that feel highly unstable and uncertain — panic is not our only option. Panic, in fact, makes no sense under these conditions.

Our God sits enthroned. Our God is “King forever.” And He is able to give us not only strength but also peace. So we may have fears, and we may have tears, but we don’t have to come undone. Because heaven rules.

Lord, You are the God of peace and comfort. When I am overwhelmed by this world, reassure me of Your presence. Calm my heart, and bless me with Your peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God Honors Our Commitment to Him..Dr. Charles Stanley

 God Honors Our Commitment to Him

Dr. Charles Stanley

Daniel 1

Daniel and his friends faced the same dilemma we do--how to live a holy life in a godless culture. At one time, our society readily accepted Christian values and standards, but that era is quickly passing. Our challenge today is to live under God's authority while remaining in submission to the law of the land. At times we are forced to choose between the two, but if we'll seek the Lord's guidance before marching defiantly forward, He may open an alternative approach for us.

Had Daniel bluntly declared, "I won't eat this food!" he wouldn't have lasted long, and we wouldn't have the book of Daniel in the Bible. But the Lord gave him the wisdom to humbly seek permission from the person who was in a position of authority over him. God honored his commitment and provided a way for him to live righteously in a pagan world.

We tend to hold up Daniel and his three friends as extraordinary people who lived amazing lives. But have you ever wondered what the Lord could do in the life of an ordinary person like you? The determining factor is not the greatness of the individual but, rather, his commitment to a God who can do remarkable things in a life fully devoted to Him. That's the kind of people our Lord is looking for.

Although we don't know all that God could do in our lives if we'd radically commit ourselves to Him, the thought of missing out on His plans should be enough to motivate us to obey. You don't want to arrive in heaven and discover you forfeited blessings because you weren't fully devoted to Him.

When You Ask “Why, God?”..Dr. Jeff Schreve

 When You Ask “Why, God?”

By Dr. Jeff Schreve

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?' that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?'"  - Matthew 27:46

We all grieved and mourned the brutal, unimaginable horror that took place November 5, 2017, at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. A deranged and demonized (if not demon-possessed) gunman shot and killed 26 people and wounded 20 others in the worst church shooting America has ever witnessed. The loss of life and utter decimation to individual families and the church family at large are simply heartbreaking to contemplate.

In times like this, we naturally ask, “Why, God? What gives here? These people were worshiping You, and they were senselessly and viciously gunned down in cold blood. I cannot understand why, on earth or in heaven, You would have allowed this to happen.”

You know, it is normal and natural to ask God why. Jesus asked why when He was on the cross, dying for the sins of the world. We just need to know that God does not often answer our question of why. He is not in the business of explaining. He is in the business of sustaining. We will probably never know the answer to our whys this side of heaven. But, what we can know and cling to are these truths:

God is good.
God is love.
God is perfect.

God is in control.
God never makes a mistake.
God cares for us.

God allows things to happen in life that don’t make sense to us… but they do make sense to Him. His understanding compared to our understanding is like the Pacific Ocean compared to a tea cup. When we ask God our why questions, His response is typically something akin to this, “My child, you would not understand even if I explained it to you. (Our teacup minds cannot begin to contain the enormity of the Pacific Ocean.) So how about this: just trust Me.”

TRUST AND PRAY

In the midst of this tragedy, may we trust God and pray that He would use this somehow and some way to further His Kingdom. May He use this as an opportunity for people like you and me to have spiritual conversations with those who do not know Christ. May we be faithful to pray for the families of those killed … and for the church, the pastor and the entire community. May we remember that this fallen world is not our home. We are citizens of heaven who are to hold all things loosely while on this earth. Nothing really belongs to us, not even our own children. Everything belongs to God — “Behold, all souls are Mine” (Ezekiel 18:4). We are simply the managers of His stuff. May we manage well, trusting Him to do “all things well” and “work all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

A Prayer for God’s Help in Your Challenges..Betsy de Cruz

 A Prayer for God’s Help in Your Challenges

By Betsy de Cruz

“For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.” – Psalm 44:3

Do you feel pressured to work harder, faster, and smarter to achieve success? Are challenges at home weighing you down? 

We drive ourselves as if everything depended on us, yet the stress we carry on the inside can undermine our ability to meet our challenges. We forget the Lord holds all things in His hands; we can trust Him to line up the circumstances of our lives to work out His perfect will for our good. 

What monumental task are you facing today, friend? Are you carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders as though everything depended on your efforts to make it happen? Is that project at work or your responsibility to raise children making your shoulders sag?

Maybe you’re struggling with trying to make everything okay for a loved one experiencing challenges. Yet, praying for that person and surrendering him to God’s care is the best thing you can do.

The Israelites faced a monumental task after the Lord delivered them from Egypt. To take possession of the land the Lord had promised them, they would have to conquer the people already living there. Indeed, they had to fight battles to receive their inheritance from God.

Yet Psalm 44 tells us they did not actually win the land by their own sword or their own strength. Instead, they did it by God’s right hand of favor, the strength of His arm fighting for them, and the light of His face shining on them. God blessed them with success and was with them wherever they went.

He helped His people through the most daunting circumstances, and He will help you too.

Whatever undertaking you’ve embarked on at work or in your personal life, remember God is with you. Of course, God works through our efforts, but we can rest in knowing that ultimately the grace and favor we need to complete any task and do it well come from God.

As much as we think everything depends on us, God is the one who establishes the work of our hands and grants us success. He is the one who can give us favor before our boss, co-workers, or loved ones.

Let’s pray and ask God to bless our efforts and shine the light of His face on us today.

Lord, forgive me for trying to do things in my own strength and for striving as if everything rested on me and my efforts. Father, I acknowledge that true success comes from holding fast to you and obeying your word. Give me wisdom today to order my priorities in the light of your will expressed in Scripture.

I commend to you every task I need to accomplish today, and I pray you would give me the grace and ability I need. I entrust those I love into your care. Would you bless my work and my relationships today?

Father, strengthen me with your righteous right arm. Lay your hand upon me and grant me your favor. Shine the light of your face upon me that I might live in your presence and receive your blessing this day.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

My Strength and Defense..Emma Danzey

 My Strength and Defense

By Emma Danzey

Isaiah 12:2 says, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Surely God Is My Salvation 
It is great to be reminded that we have salvation through Jesus. In Isaiah 12, the promised Messiah, Jesus, had not yet come to earth. However, the people of God believed Him at His Word. The Lord used many prophets to speak truth into hard situations and to share about the coming Savior. Isaiah was one of these prophets. In Isaiah 12, Isaiah writes a song of praise after Isaiah 11 just shares about the coming Messiah. The Israelites were well aware that they were sinful and rebellious people. This start to Isaiah 12:2 “Surely” is a confidence that the promised Messiah would be coming and their faith in the Lord who had a redemption plan to cover their sins once and for all.

I Will Trust and Not Be Afraid
The Israelites were a fearful people. Many of them wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt in the difficulty of escape, many of them did not trust in God and took matters into their own hands, and many of them lived out of fear and not faith in the Lord. In this time, Isaiah is reminding the people of their anchor in the Lord. Isaiah encourages us still today to place our trust in the Lord because He is our Peace, and we do not have to be afraid when we are resting in Him.

Our momentary trials and hardships might be extremely painful and difficult, but we can get through knowing that the Lord is with us and we have eternal security in Heaven because of Jesus. We can each declare this in our own lives today, “I will trust and not be afraid.”

The LORD, the LORD Himself Is My Strength and My Defense
When LORD is mentioned in all caps, it is referring to the proper name of God, YHWH. We as believers agree with Isaiah’s statement that God, our God Himself, is our strength and our defense. He helps us to move forward but also protects us from the attacks of the enemy. He is the perfect sacrifice from eternal separation from the Lord. When we undergo spiritual attacks from the enemy, His Spirit within us strengthens and empowers us to stand firm not in our own strength but in leaning on God’s.

In what ways do you need to be reminded that God is your strength and your defense? He is fighting for you, and He is guarding You. I love how we know that it is the Lord who holds the victory, and we are His beloved children. Even when the war seems to tarry, our Savior reminds us of His everlasting presence and His power in the midst of the battle. We can have eternal mindsets with the help of His Spirit.

He Has Become My Salvation 
More valuable than a temporary victory is the fact that when we place our faith in Jesus, He has become our salvation. This is eternal security. This is forever hope and confidence of life with Him in heaven. I love how Isaiah begins and ends this verse with this truth. He is reminding us twice that our story, our lives, begin and end with God. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Is Jesus your salvation? If you have never accepted this gift through His death and resurrection, ask Him into your heart today. When He is our salvation, we have full victory in Christ. In what ways has it been difficult for you to trust God right now? How can this verse remind you not to be afraid and to fully rely on Him? How has the Lord been a strength and defense on your behalf in the past? How does this give you encouragement that He is fighting for you now and in the future?

Further Reading:

• Exodus 15:2
• Psalm 59:16
• Revelation 22:13