Faith and Trust.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

Faith and Trust

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

God’s goodness over our lives far exceeds anything we’ve experienced. We’ve only yet splashed around in the shallows of God’s deep love and mercy. In order to dive deeper into the fullness of life available to us, we must learn how to posture our hearts. May your relationship with God be enriched this week as you position yourself to receive all your loving heavenly Father has to give.

Scripture:“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10

Devotional:           

Where we place our faith and trust is like the currency of our hearts. We have a limited amount of faith and trust to invest and real returns to gain or lose depending on where we choose to invest them. Scripture is clear that we cannot place our faith and trust in both God and the world. We cannot choose money and God as our anchors of hope. We cannot choose both the opinion of man and God’s opinion. We cannot choose our own will and his. We must, moment-by-moment, choose where we will invest our limited, valuable currency of faith and trust.

If we as children of God truly believe that his word is truth, a vast reservoir of peace and joy is available to us today. The Bible is clear about what we get in return for placing our faith and trust in God alone. Jesus said in Matthew 6:30, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” And then later in verse 34, Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” What would it look like for us to truly have faith in God to the level that we really didn’t worry about tomorrow? What kind of peace would it bring to truly place the cares, burdens, and stresses of this world squarely on the shoulders of the Almighty, all-loving God?

To go deeper into the fullness of life available to us in Jesus requires putting our faith and trust in God alone. We will never experience the peace of heaven if our hope is in this earth. We will never experience the power and help of the Holy Spirit if our hope is in our own abilities, talents, and strengths. We will never fully experience the satisfaction of truly being loved if we place our hope of affirmation in the opinions of others. The only path to truly experiencing the abundant life available to us in Jesus is placing our faith and trust in him alone.

Jeremiah 29:13 promises, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Choose to place your faith and trust in God alone today that you might seek him with “all of your heart.” Place your hope in him alone for he alone is faithful. Do as 1 Peter 5:7 commands and “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (NIV). You will never find a return on your investment of faith and trust in anything of the world like you will in God. God will take your faith and trust and multiply it until your life is a perfect reflection of his loving-kindness. May you find true satisfaction, peace, and joy in God today as you crown him King of your heart.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of placing your faith and trust in God alone.

“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

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10

2. What have you been placing your faith and trust in other than God? What have you put your hope in? Where have you been storing up treasure on earth rather than with your Father in heaven?

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20

3. Confess those sins to God, and place your faith and trust in him alone. Receive his love and rest in his faithful presence. Allow him to reveal his heart for you that you might know the wonders of his amazing hopes and dreams for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

“That they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:27

To place your faith and trust in God alone is not to free yourself from the need to act, be responsible, and work, but rather to position yourself to receive empowerment, guidance, and grace for every action, responsibility, and work. To place our faith and trust in God alone is to humble ourselves before God as our King, Shepherd, Helper, and Provider so that all we do is done through him. May your life be filled with his loving presence, guidance, and power as you place your faith and trust in him alone.

Extended Reading: Hebrews 11

One Way To Actually Guard Your Heart..LYSA TERKEURST

 One Way To Actually Guard Your Heart

LYSA TERKEURST 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)  Relationships are wonderful. Until they’re not. I’ve spent years trying to identify what to do when we fully open our heart to someone who, over time, isn’t responsible with that kind of trust. When my grandson Ryser was born and my daughter was getting ready to take him home, his nurse said something I’ve never forgotten as she was giving her parting instructions: “Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships.” I thought the nurse had come in to teach us about properly holding Ryser or changing his diaper. Instead, she wanted my daughter to know that every cry from a baby is an opportunity to build trust. Trust was easy with Ryser because as long as we were responsible to properly care for him, he was satisfied. He wasn’t opinionated or scarred by past trauma, and he didn’t bring in emotionally unhealthy habits and patterns. Things are not so easy with relationships as we get older. Here’s what I’ve realized: When we allow someone else access to us emotionally, physically, financially, mentally, etc., we need to require them to be responsible with that access. If I give someone level-10 access, but they only have the willingness or capability to demonstrate level-three responsibility … relational tension will exist. Trust will erode. And frustration will be ever increasing. Why? Because level-10 access requires level-10 responsibility. Here’s a tangible example. When you trust someone with access to your bank account, you should be able to trust them not to steal your money, use your debit card to pay for charges you didn’t approve of, or put you in debt with their irresponsible choices. Sadly, this does happen. And not just with money — with our emotions, our capacity and our time. We give people level-10 access when they’re only demonstrating level-three responsibility, and then we find ourselves more frustrated and exhausted by the gap we’re experiencing. But, friend, there is hope today. Instead of feeling stuck because we can’t control the choices of another person, we can reduce their access to match the level of responsibility they are capable of. That solution is called a boundary. Simply put, setting a boundary is being responsible enough to reduce the access we grant to others based on their ability to be responsible with that access. In the past, I’ve made the mistake of trying to put boundaries on another person, hoping to get them to increase their level of responsibility to match the access I’ve granted them. But it never worked. You see, you can ask someone to demonstrate more responsibility, but you can’t “boundary” them into making changes they aren’t willing to make. So the only really productive choice is for you to put boundaries in place that reduce the level of access you give that person to match their level of responsibility. Why is this important? Because people who are irresponsible with our hearts should not be granted great access to our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 speaks into this very thing as it instructs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  In the past, I’ve often heard this verse taught in the context of dating relationships and purity. But I think it also applies to guarding the access to our hearts in other relationships as well. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “guard,” mišmār, communicates an active nature of how someone should guard, as Ludwig Koehler mentions in The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. What this means is that guarding is active, not passive. We aren’t trying to protect ourselves from love. If we love, we will risk being hurt. But we are trying to protect ourselves for love. We don’t want to get so consumed with the pain and chaos of unhealthy relationship patterns that we become a carrier of human hurt rather than a conduit of God’s love. I know this is heavy stuff. And you may be thinking, Whoa, Lysa, I’m just trying to figure out a few wonky relationship dynamics. I don’t really know about all this boundaries stuff. I can feel that way too. But after countless hours of studying and processing this topic of boundaries, I’m more convinced than ever that boundaries are the only fighting chance we have to live in the peace we all really long for inside our relationships. Love can be unconditional … but relational access never should be. And boundaries help us protect this. Boundaries help us keep ourselves together so we can be the people God has called us to be. Boundaries help us protect trust. Boundaries help us cultivate the hearts toward one another that God always intended for us to have — motivated toward real love and away from selfishness. And that is a way I’m determined to live. Lord, the greatest desire of my heart is to love and treasure others the way You treasure us. Sometimes, difficult relationship dynamics make it incredibly hard to do that. I ask today that You guide me and help me walk in Your ways. Show me how to approach my closest relationships with both compassion and a commitment to emotional health. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Our Divine Teacher..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Divine Teacher

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

One of the reasons that many people—including believers—don’t read the Bible is because they can’t understand it. We would expect that to be the case for those who don’t know Christ, but why do so many believers fail to comprehend the truths of Scripture? Maybe it’s because they haven’t asked for help from their divine Teacher. One of the Holy Spirit’s chief responsibilities is to enable Christians to understand the things of God.

When looking at believers who know more than we do, we’ll sometimes think, I will never be able to reach that level. The issue, however, isn’t how much knowledge you have right now, but whether you are growing in your understanding. The Spirit will teach you what you need to know, not necessarily what others know. Because He wants to make us godly people, He’ll give us enough truth each day to change our lives. He will interpret the meaning and give an application designed specifically for each person.

The Spirit’s goal is not to fill your mind with information but to bring you to a deeper level in your relationship with the Lord. He wants you to understand the truth so you will fall in love with Jesus. Then you’ll long to spend time in the Word, thereby getting to know Him even better.

But all these treasures of God’s Word could remain out of reach if you never ask the Teacher to unlock them. Each time you read your Bible, ask the Lord for understanding. A wonderfully intimate love relationship with Christ awaits those who let the Spirit reveal to them the thoughts of God.

Let Us Fear God..Mark Altrogge

 Let Us Fear God

By Mark Altrogge

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Ps 147:10-11)

What does it mean to fear God? Consider the words of Psalm 147:10-11.

I have a friend who describes his grandfather as a cantankerous old man who would sit in his chair all day and thwack him and his cousins with his cane anytime they walked in front of him. Is this what God is like?

Sitting in his chair, trying to keep people from having fun? A cosmic grouch?

God commands us to fear him and says that he takes pleasure in us when we fear him. Why? Does he enjoy us being afraid of him? I know I don’t want my children to be afraid of me. I want them to love me and enjoy being with me.

A Humble Fear Of God

So, in what sense are we to fear God? The “fear” that brings God pleasure is not our being afraid of him, but our having a high and exalted, reverential view of him.

To “fear him” means to stand in awe of him: “Let all the earth FEAR the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world STAND IN AWE OF HIM!” (Ps 33:8).

To fear the Lord is to stand in awe of his majesty, power, wisdom, justice and mercy, especially in Christ – in his life, death and resurrection – that is, to have an exalted view of God. To see God in all his glory and then respond to him appropriately. To humble ourselves before him. To adore him.

We tend to be in awe of worldly power, talent, intelligence, and beauty. But these things don’t impress God because “His delight is not in the strength of the horse (mighty armies, worldly power) nor his pleasure in the legs of a man (human strength).”

But God delights in those who fear him – those who stand in awe of him – and instead of trusting in their own human abilities or resources, “hope in his steadfast love.”

The Wicked Do Not Fear God

By way of contrast, the wicked person doesn’t fear God – he doesn’t stand in awe of God. The wicked has a low view of God:

Transgression speaks to the wicked

deep in his heart;

there is no fear of God

before his eyes.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes

that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;

he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

He plots trouble while on his bed;

he sets himself in a way that is not good;

he does not reject evil.” (PS 36:1-4)

The wicked person has such a low view of God and such a lack of awe for God that he doesn’t think God can find out his sin or hate it. He doesn’t act wisely or do good because he doesn’t view God as holy and just and serious about punishing sin. He trusts in his own wits and strength. Obviously, the Lord doesn’t find any pleasure in the wicked.

The wicked refuses to fear God.

So let us fear God – stand in awe of him, take refuge in him, and hope in his steadfast love. For it brings the Lord pleasure when we trust in him for strength and help, not our own wits and resources.

A Prayer to Submit to God and Resist the Enemy..Alisha Headley

 A Prayer to Submit to God and Resist the Enemy

By Alisha Headley

“Submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Many times, the things we are dealing with in our daily life are none other than the enemy having his way with us. In our flesh, we tend to fight another person, fight our circumstances, or fight with ourselves. Perhaps, we focus solely on the problem itself attempting to put it all in our own hands as we frantically try to control it with the hopes of diminishing it altogether.

But have you ever thought it might not be the person or problem you are actually needed to take control of? Perhaps it’s the enemy itself whom you need to control and put in his place?

Remember, we are fighting a spiritual battle daily as we are taught in Ephesians 6. The enemy wakes up with the same goal each day and that’s to keep us from walking in the Lord’s provision and purpose for our lives. Satan has a great day when he accomplishes to discourage us in any way he can.

This leaves us feeling hopeless, helpless, and often times we are left feeling defeated.

Looking at today’s passage, an important part of “submitting ourselves to God” means taking everything back from Satan. We do this by “resisting him”: to no longer give him footholds and power in our lives. When we begin to remove all influences of the enemy and take back our power, the issues we face will either disappear or downsize to a workable level. The enemy no longer has the control.

Once we “submit to God, then resist the devil.” The result is that the devil will “flee from you.”  So, in order to have this beautiful promise come to pass where the devil leaves your situation, we must do our part first: submit all our issues to God, then resist the enemy.

Rest assured that we have the power to overcome whatever it is we are facing. We have the power through submitting all to God to overcome the enemy. God already overcame and defeated the enemy for eternity when our Savior bore the cross. Satan is already a defeated foe.  But while we are here on earth, before the enemy’s eternal destruction comes to pass, we can resist him in our daily lives, and he will leave. Scripture promises this.

What a relief that we have the power to defeat our issues and the enemy behind them daily. Therefore, let us remain in that promise today. We have the victory in the middle of this earthly battle.

Let's pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving us the power to command that the enemy flee from us anytime we recognize the need to. Thank you for your promises that we don’t have to be a slave to sin and all the issues the enemy tries to entangle us in and keep us trapped in. Through submitting them to you, and resisting the enemy, he is commanded to leave. Thank you for this promise. 

We ask for the Holy Spirit to slow us down and remind us every time we are battling something, that it’s not the problem or person itself we are battling, but rather the enemy behind it. Remind us that you are bigger than any problem. Remind us to hand everything over to you as we take everything back from the enemy by resisting him. 

Thank you for the secret weapon of victory to submit and resist. Thank you for being the greatest leader in this spiritual battle we face. We thank you in advance for your provision and guidance in this daily fight. We submit to you this day, and every day, are so grateful for your power and victory that has already been won. The power to overcome the defeated foe and all of the enemy’s tactics. We love you Lord and are grateful for your mighty power.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Let Him Lead..Meg Bucher

 Let Him Lead

By Meg Bucher

“Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in his arms!”  - Psalm 68:19 NLT

The scene raced in front me: the lake, trees, and dark blue track faded into the back of my mind as my body illustrated what it felt like to go 90 mph down a hill. I took one deep breath after another, loud and long enough to assure myself I was still conscious until my vision matched my present reality. By the time my whole self was in sync again, the ride was halfway over.

“But mom, please?!?!?!” My daughter begged, “There’s no line!!!”
“I can’t,” I said …defeated, “I don’t like the way that made me feel.” 

The psalmist didn’t understand what it was like to ride a roller coaster, but he clearly knew what it felt like to be carried through something he felt helpless to take himself through. Raising teens, to me, feels like blacking out on that roller coaster at times. I find myself asking a lot of questions, often unable to sync reality with what I am seeing or hearing. Savior, in the original Hebrew text it was written in, means “salvation, deliverance, help, rescue from a dangerous circumstance or harmful state by a savior; divine salvation usually has its focus on rescue from earthy enemies, occasionally referring to salvation from guilt, sin, and punishment.” (NIV)

Life can feel akin to being strapped into a rollercoaster going 90MPH, with no way to call for help or stop the ride if something goes wrong. In those moments, we call out to our God, who is faithful to save us. The definition refers not just to physical danger, but guilt, sin and punishment. Before Christ, we were strapped in by sin with no escape from it. When Jesus defeated death on the cross, He saved us from the punishment of sin which is death. 

The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46:4 NLT

Intersecting Faith and Life:
When I got off the roller coaster that day, I was thankful for all of the basics: breathing, seeing, walking, and living. Everyday, God’s mercies are new. Everyday, He yanks us back from the edge. There are times in our lives, we will look back and wonder how we got through the season we just came through. Every one of us can look back and see the tracks of God’s faithfulness in our lives. He is for us, not against us. He created each of us with unique purpose on this earth, to bring glory to His name through His will for our lives. We can trust, when we black out at 90mph, He is still with us. He is never surprised, and always providing what we need in life. Rescue looks different from His perspective. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Praise Him for who He is. Our Savior. The One who carries us in His arms. 

This season of my family’s lives has been the hardest to date. With the diagnosis of my oldest daughters type 1 diabetes, and the passing of my father-in-law, we have been riding the 90mph roller coaster. There have been many days I don’t know how I get through. Days in which my vision did not line up with reality. In pressing seasons, we often feel we can’t keep up. We are tired, and every resource seems to be depleted beyond explanation. It’s then, God carries us. 

To allow God to carry us when we cannot stand, means to live in submission to His authority over our lives. Its obeying His commands and the wisdom in His Word, one right decision and disciplined step at at time. Allowing God to carry us requires us to follow His lead on our lives, even when we know it will end in discomfort and challenges we’d rather not face. He is faithful. He is merciful. And there is power in the name of Jesus.

Further Reading 

• Deuteronomy 32:11
• Psalm 91:11-12
• Matthew 4:6