Understanding..Craig Denison Ministries

 

Understanding

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Trust is something we are not created to give away lightly. We value trust like we value our own lives, constantly scrutinizing others to see if they're worthy of our trust. But still we are made to do life with help. We are made to place our trust in that which will provide us with more life, joy, and peace. I pray that this week you and I will discover how trustworthy our heavenly Father is. I pray that we will willingly hand over control of our lives to a capable, loving, and near God. And I pray we will experience the abundant life that can only come through placing our trust in a God who gives up everything for relationship with us.

Scripture:“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

Devotional:

True understanding about ourselves, others, and this life only comes through trust in God. God alone has perspective and truth. God alone has understanding about what matters, who we are, and what will happen. And the good news for you and me today is that our heavenly Father is absolutely longing to share his understanding. God yearns for us to think and see through the lens of the Holy Spirit and his word. Proverbs 3:5-8 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. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Why is it that when Scripture promises us God’s understanding we still do life apart from his wisdom? Why do we look to our own minds and go our own ways when God makes his understanding and will so available? You and I are only capable of looking for understanding in that which we fully trust. If we don’t trust that God’s wisdom and will are truly the best path laid before us, we will go our own ways. If we don’t trust that God’s commands will actually produce the most abundant life, we will choose the ways of the world. To live with godly understanding and wisdom is to look to God alone as our Truth.

Proverbs 3:13-18 stirs my heart to lean on God for my understanding. Scripture says,

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

While all the world is declaring to you its understanding of truth, I pray that you will look to its One, True Source today. I pray that you will lean on your loving heavenly Father for understanding about yourself, your life, and others. May today be marked by a continual overflow of revelation. May you know how God feels about you and base your image off his understanding. May you experience to greater depths the perfect mind of Jesus. And may God’s word transform your life as it plants seeds of wisdom that grow into beautiful, plentiful trees of peace and life.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the availability of God’s understanding. Allow Scripture to stir up a desire to lean on your heavenly Father for truth and wisdom.

“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5

“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. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8

2. In what ways do you lean on yourself or something of the world for understanding and truth? What do you look to for your perspectives and source of value?

3. Take time to lean on God for his understanding. Search out Scripture and the Spirit for wisdom and understanding concerning yourself, your life, and others. Ask him to help you be one who seeks understanding from him in every area. Take time to rest in his presence and discover the wealth of his affections for you.

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

“The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5

Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-10 is my prayer for you. May your life bear the fruit of heavenly understanding today:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Extended Reading: Proverbs 3

The Good Shepherd’s Comfort..DANIELLE HITCHEN

 The Good Shepherd’s Comfort

DANIELLE HITCHEN 

“The LORD is my shepherd … your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:1, 4 (ESV) 

“Stop eating play dough,” I tell my 3-year-old for what feels like the millionth time.

“BE KIND,” she hollers back at the top of her lungs.

Sighing, I insist that the kindest thing I can do is ensure she doesn’t ingest the indigestible. Much to her loud and obvious displeasure, I remove the play dough and put it away in a bin out of her reach.

While her ongoing reaction grates on me, I remind myself that after persistently warning the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience, God allowed them to be taken captive and enslaved. Hopefully, most of us (preschoolers and adults alike) don’t need to experience Old Testament-level discipline before we listen and obey.

In our day-to-day usage, the word “discipline” tends to be associated with punishment — but Scripture describes discipline more like instruction and protection. Psalm 23 wonderfully illustrates this type of discipline, saying of God, our Shepherd: “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Shepherds regularly employed both these instruments to ensure their flocks were safe:

• A rod was a short club for prodding the sheep in the right direction and fighting off threats.
• A staff had a long crook on the end for redirecting the sheep — pulling them away from danger and placing them back on the correct path.

As I reflect on the discipline of the Lord in my own life, I find the psalmist’s language helpful in understanding and identifying how God has been at work.

The Good Shepherd’s rod is in play every time I open my Bible. Like a standard shepherd’s rod prodded sheep, God’s Word prods me in the right direction and fends off the lies and attacks of the enemy.

The Good Shepherd’s staff is more subtle. It is most visible to me in circumstances like the unexpectedly closed doors that redirect my plans or the sermons or conversations that convict and redirect my spirit.

While I often want to respond to the frustration, disappointment, pain or discomfort of “staff” experiences like my 3-year-old did (hollering at God, “BE KIND”), I remind myself that no matter how I feel, the objective truth is that the Lord’s discipline is an act of loving kindness. In retrospect, I’m always grateful for God’s protection — for His severe mercy in refusing to allow me to eat the metaphorical play dough.

Friends, the Good Shepherd desires the flourishing of His beloved flock. His rod and His staff are there for our comfort — a persistent reminder that the Shepherd is present, watchful and protective, guiding us in the way of life eternal.

By the use of His rod and His staff, the Good Shepherd guides us deeper into His will and encourages us to cling to the promises of His Truth that we might walk in faith and repentance, following the way of life.

May His rod and His staff be a comfort to you this day and every day.

Good Shepherd — thank You for loving us enough to discipline us. Guide us with Your rod and hem us in by Your staff so that we may walk in obedience and obtain the joy of eternal life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The Power of a Discerning Spirit..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Power of a Discerning Spirit

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 5:11-14

In a world filled with endless sources of information and opinions, believers need to develop a discerning spirit. Otherwise, how will we know what is true? Much of what we see and hear is based on a worldly perspective that is influenced by Satan, the Father of Lies. Deception is found even in the religious realm: cults mix lies with enough truth to make some people consider them legitimate Christian institutions.

The only way believers can guard against deception is to ground themselves in God's Word. The more time you spend filling your mind with the Lord's thoughts, the more discerning you will be. However, just knowing biblical truth isn't enough. You must put what you learn into practice so that it becomes more than head knowledge.

The goal is to let God's Word become such an integral part of your thinking that it guides all your decisions. Even if the situation you're facing isn't specifically addressed in the Bible, scriptural principles provide the needed wisdom for every choice. In addition, the Holy Spirit was given to each believer as a Helper, whose job is to guide you into all the truth (John 14:26; 16:13). However, your responsibility is to put God's Word into your mind so that He can bring it to your remembrance. If you neglect the Word, you'll lack discernment.

What are you allowing into your mind? Is Scripture high in your priorities? Unless you're careful, worldly thinking will overpower spiritual discernment. It's difficult to keep God's perspective in the forefront if you spend two or three hours in front of the television and only ten minutes in the Bible.

Let Prayer Be My First Response..Lynette Kittle

 Let Prayer Be My First Response

By Lynette Kittle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. - Colossians 4:2

Especially during the holidays, it’s easy to be weighed down with all the stresses connected to gift-giving, holiday gatherings, family dynamics, and much more. All this added to life’s daily demands can be overwhelming. Yet scripture encourages me to devote myself to prayer.

So how can I be devoted to prayer with so much going on, along with being watchful and thankful in the process?

Pray First

In a culture where “making things happen” is often valued over seeking God first, Scripture directs me to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

Often in hearing others tell stories of dealing with difficulties, first I’ll hear a list of all the approaches and methods attempted in resolving the situation until finally coming to a point where the storyteller says, “All that was left was to pray.”

In hearing these words, I often think, “What might happen if prayer is the first response? Like people call 911 in an emergency, what if prayer is the first option?

As most when faced with challenges, worry, fear, and anxiety try to take over my thoughts and direct my responses but Philippians 4:6 encourages me to, “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my request to God.”

Devotion to prayer begins when I make it my priority in responding to everything and anything. Like 1Timothy 2:1 urges me to first of all, make petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for all people.

Keep Alert

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to tune out what’s happening around me. Still, Scripture directs me to, “be alert and of sober mind because the enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

As I become watchful, my eyes open up more to my surroundings, alert to what is taking place around me. Things I didn’t notice before or considered praying about seem to stand out, increasing my prayers for others and situations.

Being observant helps to turn my thoughts continually to living out 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing throughout my day and week.

Give Thanks Often

Scripture advises me to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 116:17), which can be as simple as thanking God for His faithfulness, comfort, presence, and peace regardless of daily challenges and events.

It’s expressing my gratitude for His never leaving or forsaking me (Hebrews 13:5), the act of being grateful He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and thankfulness for being able to cast all my anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7).

A Prayer to Help Us Stand Firm..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Help Us Stand Firm

By Kristine Brown

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT)

Do you ever feel like you’re going through the same battle again and again? Like you never find relief from the struggles you’re facing? Maybe, like me, you’ve heard the saying— that each one of us is either about to enter a battle, right in the middle of one, or coming out of one into a time of rest. That can easily cause worry or fear unless we’ve prepared ourselves by having God’s armor firmly in place.

Many of us get introduced to the Full Armor of God described in Ephesians early in our journey as Christ-followers. God’s armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:13-17)

It’s both comforting and reassuring to know God provides all the protection we need for life’s battles. We may see the enemy approaching and know a war is imminent, or we may have been fighting for our lives and the lives of our families for years. Regardless of where we are on that journey, God’s armor helps us to stand firm.

Paul’s instruction to the church at Ephesus about how to wear God’s armor gave them hope and encouragement to persevere through difficulties. God’s Word through Paul still applies to our lives today. “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT)

In this verse, we discover an important truth about the enemy’s attempts to attack. The devil has a collection of strategies he will use against us. He knows where we are vulnerable, and he will try to exploit that. But God’s plan is more powerful than any tactic of the enemy. God’s Word says we will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. What a promise! By daily putting on God’s armor, we will have the power to stand firm, whatever we face. Praise God for equipping us for battle.

In verse 13, Paul reaffirms this promise. “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” Our armor provides what we need before, during, and even after the battle. With it, we will still be standing.

So whatever we’re marching toward today, let’s face it with our armor on. Let’s also follow Paul’s advice in Ephesians 6:18, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.” Our Mighty King will never leave us to fight alone.

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for equipping us with mighty armor for the battles we face in life. When we feel like struggles will never end, we have the promise of your protection and your presence. Help us begin each day prepared for battle with your armor in place. 

Thank you for the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation. And may we always rely on our weapon of warfare, the sword of the Spirit, which is your powerful Word. With it, we can stand firm against any strategy the enemy throws at us. We are overcomers because we are children of God. Help us remember that truth each and every day. Because of your son Jesus, we have victory over the enemy’s schemes. We stand firm today in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Hope for the Hopeless..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 Hope for the Hopeless

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit. One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:17-20)

Where Do We Find Hope for the Hopeless?

“I just don’t know what to do,” he told me, fighting back tears. For five years he worked to find a job, and for five years he had none; at least, not one that was steady, lucrative, or desired. The man said that he did everything possible: submit job applications, contact employers directly, and reach out to his personal contacts for help. Even with multiple degrees, decades of experience, and “fifty different resumes,” somehow, he remained empty-handed. No one and nothing seemed to help, not even God, according to his estimation. As his faith waned, he lamented his situation, and as far as he could tell, all hope was lost.

Have you ever noticed how easy encouraging someone is as opposed to encouraging ourselves? The man’s situation was not as detrimental as he feared, financially or otherwise, but from his perspective, he couldn’t see a way out. The clarity I felt listening to his predicament is the same clarity my friend has when encouraging me. This is the same clarity we often have when listening to the suffering of others. When they are without hope, we provide what they lack. When we are without hope, we rely on others to do the same. And if we have no one, the results can be fatal.

So, where do we find this hope for the hopeless? Either for others or for ourselves? A friend once told me to consider while I may be rushing to escape my quandary, moving from Point A to Point Z seamlessly, God may have other intentions. In my despair, He could be working to edify me, test me, and make me more like Christ. Whatever the case, he said to remember, God was with me, and he was too. Hope, for all of us, is rooted in knowing, knowing the truth. And one truth we can always count on is that there is always hope.

The man, or myself, or anyone, bemoaning their circumstance do so because we have lost sight of God. We have forgotten His goodness. And as we lose sight, we turn our backs on him, talking, thinking, and acting in ways we would not have had we maintained our faith. Then, far too often, our choices make the situation worse. If only we would recall there is always hope.

Hopelessness may be where you are today. If so, maybe God is using your struggle to shape you into a person who is more like Christ. You want to go from Point A to Z, but B, F, and P have some valuable lessons. No matter the reason, and no matter how hopeless we may feel, there is always hope. 

When those doubts sink in, and your bright skies begin to fade, remember these three ways to bring hope to the hopeless.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Remember
My parents used to say I had “selective amnesia” when disobeying their rules as a kid. In reality, I would forget their commands for lack of paying attention. Their made-up term better describes how I respond to God, knowing what’s true but choosing to “forget” instead. How often do all of us know what Scripture says about God’s love for us, but we give more credence to our situations anyway?

The way we restore hope for others, and ourselves, is by remembering His love, His provision, His blessings, and His everything. We can accomplish this through reading the Bible, memorizing and reciting verses, accountability, and more. If we don’t recall the good God has done on our behalf, fighting off the negative thoughts is going to prove challenging, even impossible. However, when we compare our situations to God’s Word, suddenly, our spiritual ailments are not as bad.

Encourage Others
God did not design us to be alone. He designed us for community. This truth applied to Adam way back when and applies to you and me today (Genesis 2:18). God’s desire for human companionship becomes all the clearer when we face trials and tribulations. Some situations are just too much for us to stand on our own. Divorce. Death. Illness. Aging. No one is completely independent. No one can go through life without needing the help of someone else. With this in mind, one solution to hopelessness is the encouragement of others. They can remind you of God’s goodness and point out how a bad mindset is leading you to go astray.

Pray
Hopelessness can be a powerful feeling, like a rain cloud that hovers over you no matter where you go. This seemingly unending quality of hopelessness could explain why Paul says to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulations, and be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Finding hope requires effort on our part because, for many of us, hopelessness comes naturally. Forgetting the truth comes naturally, but remembering takes effort. And prayer helps us remember.

We would do well to recall Paul’s words, to pray without ceasing, and without holding back. We don’t pray to inform God, He already knows; rather, we pray to conform ourselves to His image. Prayer gives us the guidance and awareness we need to seek God despite what we’re going through. Prayer offers an emotional release, a reminder that God is not just with us, but He will strengthen us enough to overcome whatever comes our way. Prayer reminds us that there is hope.

How do we know there is always hope? We know God. We know His promises. We know He hears us. We know His love. Now, don’t be confused. Hopelessness may one day return, today, or tomorrow, a year from now. Whenever the dreary feeling comes back, just remember there is hope for the hopeless. There is always hope for the hopeless.

Further Reading:

• Jeremiah 29:11
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Ecclesiastes 4:11-13

3 Ways to Be Thankful Through the Holidays..Lynette Kittle

 3 Ways to Be Thankful Through the Holidays

By Lynette Kittle

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” - Colossians 3:15

Especially during the holidays, it’s easy for a heart of thankfulness to fade. And as with most things in life, it’s easier said than done. So how do I go through the holiday season with a thankful heart?

Scripture offers three directives in how to prepare my heart towards an attitude of gratefulness.

1. Be Thankful in Actions. Colossians 3:17 gives me clear direction stating “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thank to God the Father through Him,” encouraging me to live out my faith through my actions and reactions.

This can be anything and everything I do from waking up in the morning and deciding to thank God for the day, to being a courteous and safe driver on the roadways. With each action and reaction, I can determine beforehand to have an attitude of gratitude towards God.

2. Be Thankful By Remembering. Psalm 77:11 encourages me to remember the deeds of the Lord, which can be as simple as thanking God for His comfort, presence, and peace in daily challenges, remembering that He never leaves me or forsakes me (Hebrews 13:5). Of thinking how I can cast all my anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7).

It can be as easy as picking up my Bible and reminiscing through the underlined and highlighted verses and passages, remembering God’s goodness, mercy, and love.

Likewise as Psalm 105:5 urges me to remember the wonders God has done, it’s good to talk with family members and friends of the ways God has answered prayers and met needs.

Reminding myself of His faithfulness stirs my heart towards thankfulness.

3. Be Thankful in Everything. Giving thanks in everything can seem like a hard task to accomplish at times, especially in difficult circumstances. Even so, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 directs me to make this choice stating, “give thanks in all circumstance; for this is God’ will for you in Christ Jesus.”

One way our family lived this out was when my husband’s job at a church ended rather abruptly. Being the only breadwinner at the time, along with hitting us unexpectedly, we felt tremendous disappoint with what had happened in the situation, as well as combating the uncertainty associated with the loss of income.

Wanting to respond in a way that pleased God and set a godly example for our four young daughters, we looked to express it in a way they would understand and could also be involved in, which resulted in baking a “Thankfulness” cake.

Even though at the time being thankful felt like an opposite kind of reaction to have in such a serious circumstance, doing so made a life-long impression on all of us and surprisingly not only comforted us but also cheered our hearts concerning God’s plans for our future.