God Longs to Share His Will.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

God Longs to Share His Will

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

One of the most scandalous truths of the gospel is that our Creator longs to be encountered by his creation. God longs to meet with us. His greatest desire is for relationship with us. I can’t fathom why God in all his holiness and goodness makes himself available to us, but it is the powerful truth of Scripture. God is pursuing each of us with his relentless love, seeking out those who might respond to his open invitation by opening the door of their hearts to him. My prayer is that in response to God’s desire to meet with his people we would be those who say yes to centering our lives around his nearness. May your week be marked by the reality of God’s presence and love.

Scripture:“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11

Devotional:           

One of the most peaceful truths of Scripture is that God longs to share his will with his people. God is not one who leaves us to our own devices. He’s not even one who leaves us with the Bible and says, “Good luck. I hope you figure it out.” He’s the God who dwells within us, longing to speak into our lives and guide us into his perfect, pleasing plans.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 is an often quoted passage in Christian circles. But I pray that the powerful promise contained in its words will be revealed to you today in a fresh, transformative way. Scripture says,

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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

We can place our hope in the revealed will of our heavenly Father. We can trust that we are not sheep without a shepherd, but rather those in the flock of a perfect, loving God who came to lay down his life for us. Through the Holy Spirit, God is perfectly capable of guiding us into his plans for “welfare and not for evil.” Behind his leading is always a more abundant, presence-filled life. Behind his leading is always more of him and more of who we are in him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” God longs to make straight our paths. But in order to follow his leading, we must assess where our trust is and who we are acknowledging with our lives. We will never follow that which we don’t fully trust. If we are to be led by the Spirit we must trust that everything he tells us to do is absolutely the best thing for us.

Trust is meant to be the fruit of relationship. It’s meant to be birthed out of an experiential knowledge of God’s trustworthiness. If you haven’t given God much of a chance to prove himself trustworthy in your life, today is the day. We as the people of God must place our hope in him alone if we are to experience all the wealth of life his promises have to offer. We must place our trust in him if we are to receive a full knowledge of his will.

Take time to meditate on the trustworthiness of your God. Meditate on his desire to share with you his will. Take time to place your trust in him alone and commit yourself to following his leading. May your day be marked by all the fruit of God’s perfect, pleasing plans for your life.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s trustworthiness and desire to share his will with you.

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11

“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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

2. Where do you have a hard time trusting God? Where is your life not marked by his perfect, pleasing plans?

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

3. Ask God to reveal his will to you in those areas. Align your heart with his desires for you that you might experience the fruit of truly following his will. Place your trust in God alone for every area of your life.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Oftentimes God’s perfect, pleasing plans don’t conform to the desires and wants of the world. But we have to place our trust in him that his ways are higher than ours. His desires and wants for us are better than anything we can imagine. He has eternity in mind when he leads us along with our present circumstances and desires. Trust that as you align your heart with him and place your hope in him alone, his leading will perfectly satisfy the deep desires of your heart.

Extended Reading: Isaiah 58

What if Our Pain Is the Stage for Miracles?..BECKY KEIFE

 What if Our Pain Is the Stage for Miracles?

BECKY KEIFE 

“He replied, ‘What is impossible for people is possible with God.’” Luke 18:27 (NLT)

There was a time in my life when my parents couldn’t be in the same room with each other.

As a kid, I’d wait on the wicker love seat and stare impatiently out the big picture window. As soon as my dad’s black sedan pulled into the driveway, I’d race out the front door. Was I that excited to see my dad? Honestly, not really. I was just that eager to avoid a possible confrontation between him and my mom.

There were a thousand spoken and unspoken hurts between my parents that spilled over into my heart.

I never longed for them to get back together — I just wanted things to be different. I just wanted to escape the shrapnel of their pain.

Later, several verbal blowups, low blows, and family drama at my college graduation and wedding left me gutted. I wondered if it would always be like this.

I share this not as a catalog of grievances against my parents but to set the stage for the miracle I never expected.

Fast-forward several years to when my dad was in a really difficult place in his life. His second marriage had failed, as had his business and health. Thanksgiving was approaching. Holidays are always extra complicated for kids of divorce. My sisters and I were all married and had to juggle time with our in-laws and separate celebrations with Mom and Dad.

So you can imagine my surprise when, one day, my mom asked, “How would you feel if I invited your dad to join us for Thanksgiving?”

She went on to explain how she understood what a burden it was to navigate three family gatherings. She said she wasn’t sure if Dad would accept an invitation from her, but she felt like the Lord was asking her to extend it.

Honestly? My first thought was, No way! I pictured the awkwardness of being in the same house all together. I thought about how I would rather take the chaos of bouncing from one Thanksgiving meal to the next than the tension of sitting at the same table with both my parents. The family chasm caused by their divorce was way too wide to bridge with some mashed potatoes and gravy. Years of conflict and failed resolutions proved that reconciliation was impossible, right? So why even try?

Given our family history, this knee-jerk reaction was understandable — but it was also rooted in fear. I’m grateful to tell you that my initial response didn’t win out.

The first miracle was my mom inviting my dad to Thanksgiving dinner. The second miracle was the doorbell ringing and my dad showing up with a bottle of cider. The miracles after that were too many to count.

Jesus was clear when He said, “What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). This is true for our salvation and our sanctification, for our eternal hope and our present healing.

As little ones threw corn kernels from highchairs, and unspoken words passed in sideways glances between sisters, we made it through that shared Thanksgiving — the first of many to come. Dad thanked Mom for inviting him and complimented her cooking. Mom thanked Dad for coming and gave him another piece of homemade pie to-go.

It was hard and uncomfortable and so very worth it. I left that dinner with a belly full of turkey and a heart full of praise. What I thought was surely impossible turned out not to be. From our pain, God produced a miracle — and I’m still giving thanks to this day.

God, thank You for working in my life at all times — even in situations and relationships that feel too broken to be healed. Help me to live surrendered to Your Spirit so that Your power and goodness might be on display in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Work..Dr. Charles Stanley

 How to Get the Most Out of Your Work

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 20:25-28 

According to Scripture, work is to be part of the believer's life. We all have daily tasks, and many Christians hold jobs outside the home. Some people view these as drudgery. Others wake up excited to face the day's challenges. What is your outlook?

There is an important biblical principle to follow if you are going to enjoy your work: View yourself as a servant. This might be hard if you feel unappreciated or your coworkers are difficult. But consider the example that the Lord set for us. He was rejected, tortured, and crucified. Yet Jesus was willing to serve even His tormentors with His attitude and, ultimately, with His life. Colossians 3:23-24 states, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men . . . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

When I was in college, this proved to be a valuable perspective. I worked in the bleachery, which was the hottest and most uncomfortable job at the local textile mill. At first, I focused on how much I disliked this position. But I decided to change my attitude and look for opportunities to serve Jesus through my work. For the first time, the heat did not bother me. In fact, I was eager to share my faith with those around me. People listened and responded because they noticed my demeanor.

No job is perfect; each position has negative aspects. But we can find joy and excitement even in the most menial task when we decide to work for God. Choose to serve Christ in all you do. After all, why face each day with dread when you could experience excitement and anticipation?

What It Means to Believe Jesus..Jonathan Parnell

 What It Means to Believe Jesus

by Jonathan Parnell

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." -2 Cor. 4:4

Jesus is raised from the dead, and therefore the Christian story is not just a story. It demands a response, and that response, because Jesus is raised and real, is personal—the gospel calls us to believe him.

But what exactly is faith? What does it mean to believe Jesus?

Because Jesus is a person, a real person who has been raised from the dead, he has intangible, aesthetic qualities that faith comprehends.

Even on the level of our common relationships, when we talk about putting our faith in someone, we mean that we deem the qualities of that person worthy of our trust. Trusting someone—believing that person—inevitably taps into our affections. This is why it hurts so much when the object of our trust doesn’t pan out like we hoped. Relying upon someone involves the heart.

Two passages in the Bible stand out when it comes to faith in Jesus and to our affections. The first is from Paul in 2 Corinthians. In the context of describing his ministry, Paul mentioned the negative effect of his preaching. It wasn’t always so cheery when he talked about Jesus. There were some folks who didn’t get it. They might have heard what he said, but they were oblivious to its magnitude. He wrote, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (4:4).

In the eighteenth century, the American theologian Jonathan Edwards commented on this verse: “Nothing can be more evident, than that a saving belief of the gospel is here spoken of, by the apostle, as arising from the mind being enlightened to behold the divine glory of the things it exhibits.”

Translation: faith comes from seeing the worthiness of Jesus.

Paul said that those who do not believe the gospel fail to see Jesus for who he is. Edwards, therefore, inferred that those who do believe the gospel must see Jesus for who he is.

According to Paul, believing is “seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Faith is getting the glory of Jesus. It’s when it clicks. It’s when people see his character and qualities and say, “Yes!”

Believing in Jesus is the affectional embrace of Jesus as worthy and glorious.

A Prayer for Victory..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Victory

By Emma Danzey

1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever felt stuck? Have you been feeling like you cannot come out on top lately? The Lord does not want us to walk in defeat day after day. He did not come to this earth to save us so that we would continue to live in fear and frustration. However, the enemy loves to remind us daily that we are fallen, weak, and defeated. These are quite honestly lies in our heads that we need to be not only taken captive to Christ but prayed for regularly.

Is the enemy telling you that you will never amount to anything? Is he reminding you of your history of past failures? Do you feel unable to move forward because of so much defeat? Today, we are going to pray boldly for the Holy Spirit to renew us and reveal victory in our lives. We do not have this by anything that we can do, but because of what Jesus has already done for us.

Let's Pray:

Jesus,
You are my victory. I claim You today over every area of my life. For the places I feel confident in, thank You for giving me that confidence. For the places where I feel absolutely defeated, thank You for the future victories that I am going to have in You. I cannot do this on my own. I cannot defeat the enemy or sin. I cannot live a perfect life. This is why You have already done this for me.

You say in Deuteronomy 20:4 that You are the one who goes with me to fight for me against my enemies to give me victory. You say in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that no temptation has overtaken me except what is common to mankind. And You are faithful; You will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. But when I am tempted, You will also provide a way out so that I can endure it. You have told me in Ephesians 6:13 to put on your full armor so that when the day of evil comes, I may be able to stand my ground, and after I have done everything, to stand.

These are not just words of encouragement; these are living and active, they are powerful, they have great meaning, and by Your Word, lives are changed. Change my situation today. Move the mountains that stand in my way, or give me the endurance to climb them with You. When I feel hard-pressed on every side, remind me that I am not crushed. When I am perplexed, remind me I am not in despair. When I am persecuted, remind me that I am not abandoned. When I am struck down, remind me that I am not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Lord, I lift up my specific situation to you today. I pray for victory in my own life. I pray for the specific areas needing victory in the lives of my family and friends. I pray over my local church to live in victory where we have felt defeated. I pray for those who I love who have been in cycles of feeling conquered to know the power of Jesus in their lives and not to give up. You can get them to new places. I pray for those in my life who have felt defeated because they are defeated and in need of Jesus as their Savior. Help their trials open their eyes to the gospel and reveal to them the confidence and peace that they can have in Christ when they put their faith in You. Help them to stop trying to win in this life on their own but to surrender to the greater purpose of being wholly Yours.

Thank You in advance, God, for the way that You are going to move and change my situation. Thank You for the guaranteed victory through Jesus I already have right now. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being in my life and for helping me to live out this victory. Amen.

Fishers of Men..Emma Danzey

 Fishers of Men

By Emma Danzey

Matthew 4:18-20 says, “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” And at once they left their nets and followed Him.”

They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
The life of a fisherman has a lot of reliance and trust in God to provide. Much like farmers who rely on rain for crops, fishermen rely on the Lord to bring fish to their nets. When Jesus was calling Andrew, Peter, James, and John, they were all in their regular daily routine. It was just another night out on the sea trying to get some fish to sell.

We first read here of Andrew and Peter’s call. These two brothers were working together in the family business of fishing. You are likely not a professional fisherman; however, you have some type of mundane job every day. Imagine Jesus coming to your place of work or your school. This is where He approached His disciples in the everyday.

“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to leave what they were seeking for success and to follow Him. Now, God is likely not calling you to leave your job, but whatever we are working towards, He is inviting us into the better. He is asking us to follow Him. When we accept His sacrifice for us on the cross and His resurrection on behalf of our sins, He gives us His Holy Spirit, and we commit to following Him with our lives too.

Jesus was showing Peter and Andrew that although fishing for fish was good, fishing for men would be greater. Sharing the gospel and being His disciples would be a more fulfilling journey than they could ever have dreamed. Jesus welcomes us into this journey as well. We trade out the good for the best.

And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

The response from Peter and Andrew was immediate. When they encountered Jesus, there was no question if He was the One worth following; they knew. They were willing to put their livelihoods on the line to give up what they knew for what the Lord had for them. How often are we this quick to respond and obey when God leads us to act on something? It is one thing to read about it, but when we reflect on our own lives and our own choices, it is convicting.

“At once” shares action towards God. Are we slow to obey the Holy Spirit’s leading? Do we take a long time to trust Him? Or are we quick to realize the moving of the Lord in our lives to follow Him? “They left” means that they were not afraid to sacrifice for the sake of Christ. Going to be Jesus’ disciples came at a cost. They just gave up their fishing business, left their net, left their boat, etc. Following Jesus does not come without sacrifice. We must be willing to let go of the lesser things for the greater ones found in Christ.

“Followed Him” means that they were all in. They made up their minds, and this wasn’t a momentary choice but a life-changing decision. I am not sure if they fully understood the weight of their choice that day at that moment; however, I know that they made the right decision. When we encounter Jesus, we have to make a choice. We can either reject Him or follow Him.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How is Jesus meeting you in your mundane moments in life? How have you chosen good over Christ’s best? How can you choose to follow Him closer in the future? How can you be quicker to follow Jesus? What would it cost you to leave everything behind and go after Him? How can you follow Jesus with your heart and life each day?

Further Reading:

• Matthew 16:24
• John 12:26
• Galatians 5:25

A Season of Thanks..Kelly McFadden

 A Season of Thanks

This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. —Psalms 119:160 

This holiday season, you will most likely hear the song “My Favorite Things” from the Broadway musical The Sound of Music. To me this song has always felt out of place during the holidays, until recently. I have begun to hear it in a new light, recognizing the famous list of “favorite things” as a list of reasons to be thankful. The character Maria, who sings this song, thinks about her list of favorite things when she seeks comfort.

Christians have a list as well. Found in the Bible are promises from our Lord – keepsakes we can cling to at all times including periods of worry, trouble, or despair. These promises urge Christ-followers not to be troubled or to feel alone. They are words offering great hope because they are not the words of mere men. They are inspired, never-changing words given to us from our Savior and Lord. Read through a few of these promises below:

The Lord will give His people strength. Psalm 29:11

The Lord hears our cries. Psalm 34:17

The Lord will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4-5

The Lord will answer when you call to Him. Jeremiah 33:3

You need not be afraid. God is with you. Isaiah 41:13

The Lord will give rest to your burdened soul. Matthew 11:28-29

The Lord will comfort you. John 14:27

The Lord has given us His Spirit to guide us. Acts 1:8

You will have everlasting life when you believe. John 3:16

The list can go on and on. The Lord promises us mercy, protection, strength, eternity, love, and forgiveness. As it says in the Bible, God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18) and His word is truth (John 17:1). We cannot look at God’s promises like we do those of our friends and family. As people, we often promise, but don’t follow through, even when we have the best of intentions. God’s Word is binding and true. These promises hold fast. We do not have to wonder if they will happen. Rather, we ought to wait in expectation. So “when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when you’re feeling sad,” I encourage you to remember all God has promised you. It is in these promises you will find great strength.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving, in addition to thinking through all you are thankful for, take time to thank God for His many promises.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Spend some time today reflecting on some of God’s amazing promises.

2. Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all He has given you as His adopted child.

FURTHER READING: Isaiah 40:31; John 16:15; Mark 11:23-26