Provision..Craig Denison Ministries

 

Provision

 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:“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.” Psalm 37:25-26

Devotional:

We serve a God who abundantly provides for us everything we could ever need. There are so many Scriptures about God’s promise of provision. There are so many stories of God breaking through when his people needed him and providing exceedingly. We have a good Father who longs for his children to experience the peace and joy that comes from trusting in his desire to provide.

The famous Psalm 23 begins in a way that perfectly illustrates the heart of one who trusts in God. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Let those words sink in for a second. What would it be like to go through life with the peace and security that comes from wholeheartedly believing you “shall not want”?How would you approach work, finances, and relationships if you knew you would never want?

Abundant peace and security is available for you today if you will trust in your heavenly Father’s promise to provide everything you need. He is a God of grace who loves you. You will not want in this life or for all of eternity.

Allow these Scriptures to stir up your faith and trust in your heavenly Father: “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing” (Psalm 37:25-26). “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

A large part of trusting God in the area of provision is aligning your desires with his. Trust that he will provide the absolute best life you can live. Whether he provides abundantly in the eyes of the world does not matter. He is a perfect, loving Father who has absolutely perfect plans for you. If you are truly seeking him and trusting him with all your heart, you will live the best life possible. He knows what you need. He knows the desires within you. Stop looking to the world for examples of what your life should look like and seek his will above all else. Look to loving him and being loved by him as the best thing in life and all else will fall into place. May your life be marked by the abundant provision of your loving Father today in all areas as you place your trust in him.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to abundantly provide for you. Allow Scripture to stir up trust in God’s provision.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.” Psalm 37:25-26

2. Where are you not experiencing the peace that comes from trusting in the provision of your heavenly Father? Where are you seeking more than what is best for you? Where are you looking to the world as your example of a good life rather than seeking out the heart of God?

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

“For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” James 1:11

3. Place your trust for provision in your heavenly Father alone. Take the weight of provision off your own shoulders and place it squarely on his. Stop looking to others or to circumstances to give you what you need. Look to God alone. Rest in his peace and love as you settle into a lifestyle of trusting him.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

2 Corinthians 9:8-11 lays out God’s plan to provide for you abundantly so that others might be blessed through you. May you be used by God today to be an example of his heart to provide. May what he has given you create an overflow of love and sacrifice for others:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Extended Reading: Psalm 37

Grace Has a Space in Hard Conversations..LYSA TERKEURST

 Grace Has a Space in Hard Conversations

LYSA TERKEURST 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6 (ESV)  Sometimes God’s Word can feel like an impossible order, don’t you think? Take today’s verse for example: Paul tells us we are to let our words “always be gracious” (Colossians 4:6). The NIV actually reads “full of grace.” Full of it. As in, not just sometimes gracious. A full atmosphere of graciousness even when the conversations are hard. And that's just about the moment when I admit I want to lie down on the floor and loudly declare, “But I am not Jesus!” Ugh. I don’t know about you, but sometimes gracious speech seems impossible for me. When someone's hurtful words have landed like daggers in my heart, I want to defend myself. Maybe even attack back a bit. And point out how the other person is misunderstanding my intentions. Not offer them gracious words. And even my most enjoyable relationships have moments where this doesn't feel completely possible … Relationships are just messy. I’ve been thinking about all of this as I’ve been on a recent journey of learning how to set and keep healthy boundaries in my relationships. It’s not easy. It’s hard to examine places of dysfunction, distress, distrust and maybe even destruction within relationships with those you love. When we’re in a difficult relationship or even a destructive one that isn’t sustainable, especially if addictions are involved, there does need to be a measure of grace and compassion. Because sometimes what is actually driving unhealthy behaviors in people is underlying shame or a lack of peace deep inside. Many times it’s both. What I’m not saying is that, because of grace and compassion, we condone or enable others' actions and stay in situations where there’s harm being done. But what I am saying is that, as we take a step back, we can consider having grace and compassion for whatever caused the original root of shame and chaos in their heart that then drove them to try to act and react in such unhealthy ways. We don’t want the hurt they’ve caused to make us betray who we really are. We aren’t cruel or mean-spirited, so we don’t want to bring any of that into our boundary setting. I also want to have grace because I don’t have life so figured out that I never act and react in unhealthy ways. I have my own issues that I need to work on and work through with counseling. Learning to have grace and compassion appropriately, while still also having boundaries, continues to be one of my biggest lessons. So how can we really be gracious without excusing away hurtful behavior we're experiencing or avoiding honest conversations we need to have? We can bring truth into an atmosphere of grace. We can express what needs to be expressed, set a boundary that needs to be set, say what needs to be said and stay completely committed to the reality of truth. But we can also foster it all in an environment of grace that never dishonors the other person. We can tell the hard truth, but we don't have to say it in a harsh way. This doesn’t mean we don’t say the hard things or set boundaries. It means we recognize we want conflict resolution instead of conflict escalation. So, yes, Paul's words to the Colossians remind us that our words should be gracious. But he also adds a clarifier that our words should be “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). In rabbinic tradition, this phrase would have been associated with wisdom. Paul was reminding the Colossians they were called to be people filled with godly wisdom. He wanted their words, and ours, to represent Jesus. And in order to do this, we can follow His model to pursue both grace and truth together. I don’t know who puts grace to the test in your life or what conversations you need to be reminded to bring grace into. But I do know the Holy Spirit is willing to help us choose truth-filled words presented in a gracious way if only we will pause long enough to ask Him for help. Even as we have hard conversations and implement necessary boundaries, may our words reflect that we know Jesus, love Jesus and spend time with Jesus. Father God, I want to pause for a moment and thank You for Your Son, Jesus. He could have held back His grace. But instead, He chose to pour out every single drop for me on the cross. So remind me that I give grace because I so desperately need it. Help me bring an attitude of grace into even the hardest of conversations. Give me wisdom in how to hold grace and truth together as I navigate difficult relationships in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Grace to Keep Going..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Grace to Keep Going

Dr. Charles Stanley

Acts 15:7-11

As believers, we readily attribute our salvation to God’s grace, but what does “this grace in which we stand” mean to us now (Rom. 5:2)? How does it work out in everyday life, especially when we’re going through periods of trial or suffering?

1. The Lord’s grace releases His supernatural power within us so we can endure life’s hardships with a godly attitude. In fact, we’ll even be able to rejoice in what He is doing in us through the adversity.
2. Grace builds our confidence in the sovereign Lord. Nothing looks hopeless when we focus on Him instead of on our problems.
3. We discover the assurance of God’s sustaining presence as He walks with us every step of the way.
4. Because we’ve experienced His care for us, we are able to show empathy and love to others facing hard times.
5. During fiery trials, grace works to transform our character so that others can see Jesus reflected in us.

Difficulties in life are unavoidable. So we need a daily dose of God’s grace if we are to walk through trials with confidence that there is great reward on the other side. If we rely on our own strength, however, obstacles will appear insurmountable, leaving us discouraged and ready to give up.

Too often believers rely on Christ for their salvation but then try to go solo. If God’s grace was needed to save us, then logic says we would also need it for the rest of our days. Only through a continuous infusion of His sustaining power can we live a victorious Christian life.

How to Test and Approve God's Will..Matt Erbaugh

 How to Test and Approve God's Will

By Matt Erbaugh

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  - Romans 12:2

For me, it didn’t take long before I began to think the Bible might not be big enough. During my college years, the Bible guided me through many moral choices, like alcohol consumption. But it seemed to fall short in other areas, like which career path was right for me.

This became a problem when I was offered a job. I felt called to do the work, but the job required me to move away from friends and family—and the pay was barely enough to make ends meet. While the Bible could not confirm that this job was God’s call for me, the difficult circumstances seemed to indicate that this could not possibly be God’s will.

While the Bible holds no information about specific job offers, it does give insight into judging our circumstances. Two passages in Matthew and five loaves of bread changed my perspective.

1. In Matthew 4, Jesus was tempted by Satan after fasting for 40 days: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (4:3). Satan did not ask Jesus to do something impossible (the man who changed water into wine would have no problem changing stones into bread). Rather he tempted Jesus with something that He could easily do.

2. Contrast that with Matthew 14. Here, the disciples tell Jesus, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food” (14:15). Instead of taking their advice, Jesus tells His disciples to feed a crowd of 5,000 with just five loaves of bread. He does not ask them to do something easy—He asks them to do the impossible.

I realized that there were plenty of differences between these two passages and the way I was judging God’s will for my life. The ease of the path no longer seemed to be an indicator of God’s call, as it did before. The more I studied God’s Word, the more I realized He was orchestrating my circumstances—not for comfort, but to encourage my dependence on Him. If I passed on a job opportunity simply because of how difficult it seemed, I might be missing the whole point of why God was calling me to it in the first place.

In the end, taking that job was the right move for me, not because it was the difficult path, but because it was the path God desired. Studying the Bible confirmed that when the circumstances seemed to indicate otherwise.

While the Bible does not always give us the direct answer we are looking for, we have the promise that God will renew our minds through it so we can “test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom 12:2).

A Prayer for Unbelievers..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Unbelievers

By Emma Danzey

2 Peter 3:9-10 says, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.”

I love how these verses share the heart of God. He does not delay His promise. He is so patient. He does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. This is the heart of the Creator, this is the message of the Father’s love. Often people try to separate God the Father from Jesus as difficult and almost mean in judgment. However, it is very clear throughout the Bible that it is God who loves the world, and He made a plan of redemption. However, not everyone accepts Him, and there is a lot of evil in the world, and like a good parent, He has to deal with it.

These verses remind us of the sense of urgency we should have because He will come unexpectedly. As we are surrounded by loved ones, co-workers, and strangers who do not have Jesus in their hearts, may this be a reminder for us to pray boldly for them and to speak up and share the gospel in authentic ways while we have the time. One of the most powerful ways we can minister to them is by prayer. Let’s take time today to lift up those we are burdened for to know Christ.3

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord,
You know who is on our hearts today. We name out these people before you who have not accepted You as Savior… Jesus, would you reveal Yourself to them in fresh ways? Would you break the chains in their lives and set them free from the burden and bondage of sin? Would you open their eyes to their personal need for forgiveness and a Savior? Would you remove the voices that go against Your truth and replace them with the words of Your love and hope from the Bible? Protect them from the continuous attacks of the enemy to hold them to his eternal destiny. Father, we plead that you would change their eternal trajectory and that they would be in heaven with us one day. We cannot force the gospel on them, we entrust them to Your loving care.

Would you please give us the Spirit of confidence and faith as we share Your love and Your resurrection power? Help us to know that You are working behind the scenes. Would You please move the barriers that are holding them from fully accepting You? Break down the lies of the enemy, tear apart shame in their lives from their past decisions, remove their pride in wanting to earn salvation, and help them to approach Your throne of grace humbly.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Give them the audacity to approach Your throne of grace knowing that You, Jesus died for them.

For any damage that has been done in their spiritual walk by believers or the church, please help them not to judge You based on the actions of sinners. We pray for healing in these areas and that they would not be held back from a future with You because of misrepresentation, deceit, or legalism. Help them to know the truth and help it to set them free.

We pray especially for those who we are closest with and have tried to share before. God, it is very difficult to know what to do to reach them or how to approach spiritual conversations. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit in how to lovingly talk about spiritual things and eternal life. Show up in ways that only You can. Reveal Your hope and peace with them, and we pray that You would help us not to give up praying on their behalf. Amen.

Hope as an Anchor..Emma Danzey

 Hope as an Anchor

By Emma Danzey

Hebrews 6:19-20 says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The book of Hebrews is filled with beautiful verses proclaiming that Jesus is our great High Priest. He took on the cross for us, and He broke the barricade between us and God the Father. The sin that stood in between was defeated, and Jesus became the bridge between the Lord and us. As we break down these verses today, pray that Christ would reveal Himself more and more in your heart.

This Hope Is an Anchor of the Soul, Both Sure and Reliable
Have you ever used an anchor? A seemingly small device can be cast down into the water and stabilize a boat through the wind and waves. The larger the boat, the larger the anchor. Our soul has the effects of sin and the world. However, when we have been gifted with the Holy Spirit, He can anchor us through being pulled in many different directions other than God’s best.

Ephesians 4:14 gives us insight into the way that we are spiritually impacted by the wind and waves. It says, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

We have hope that is both sure and reliable. Jesus’ sacrifice and following Him is the only true way to be steady in this life and sure of the one to come. He has fulfilled the law where we could not, He has come in and convicted us but not condemned those who say yes to Him, and He has been the One who had a once-and-for-all sacrifice sufficient for all sins.

One Which Enters within the Veil, Where Jesus Has Entered as a Forerunner for us

Back before the time of Jesus, a high priest would enter the Holy of holies within the temple (where God’s presence was) once a year on Yom Kippur to provide a blood sacrifice and incense to the Lord on behalf of the people’s sins. There was a great veil separating the Holy of holies. They would actually tie a rope to the priest’s ankle in case he died in the presence of God so they could pull him out. We are so sinful and small, and the Lord Almighty is so glorious and perfect that being in His presence is just too much. This is why even Moses, who was very faithful to the Lord, was instructed when getting the Ten Commandments not to look at God’s face or he would die. (Exodus 33:20)

This emphasizes why we needed a Savior. One man, once a year, who was a selected high priest, was able to go into God’s presence for one day to give an offering for sin. Jesus is called the “Forerunner for us” because He offered Himself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God on behalf of all of our sins. There was then no more need for the temple and the holy of holies or an earthly priest because the High Priest of Heaven had taken care of the problem of sin forever.

Matthew 27:51 shares, “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.”

If Jesus’ death and resurrection were not miracle enough, the extremely thick and heavy temple veil was torn from top to bottom right after Jesus’ death. God could not have been more clear that we are now welcome in His presence. In fact, once Jesus ascended, He sent His presence in the Holy Spirit to us who believe. This is a true miracle.

Having Become a High Priest Forever according to the Order of Melchizedek.

Jesus was not a temporary priest, He is the High Priest forever. He is the One who forever has reconciled us as sinners to our Holy Father. This verse is extra impactful to the Jewish people because Melchizedek was the high priest in Genesis whose name literally meant “king of righteousness.” He was the king of Salem, and he blessed Abraham. This is a beautiful tie to God fulfilling the Old Covenant and bringing the New Covenant through Jesus. We can celebrate our High Priest forever.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How has sin stood in the way of your relationship with God? How has Jesus been an anchor of hope for your soul? How can you thank Jesus for being your personal High Priest today?

Further Reading:

• Exodus 33:20
• Matthew 27:51
• Ephesians 4:14

 

 

A Prayer to Share a True Heart of Thankfulness.. Maggie Meadows Cooper

 A Prayer to Share a True Heart of Thankfulness

By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other." - Ecclesiastes 7:14  

It's Thanksgiving season, and I have naturally been thinking of all I am thankful for. Family, friends, jobs, material blessings, etc. Those are all things I am absolutely thankful for, but it all just seems so predictable. Too routine. Too blah.

Saying I'm thankful for my family, etc. just doesn't seem like enough for some reason. It doesn't seem honest enough. It doesn't show the reality of my days. It doesn't show the depth of my depravity. It is all just too superficial. You may get what I'm saying. You may not. But hear my heart, here. 

I have gotten to know a number of souls in the past few years who live day to day through situations and relationships I can't even begin to understand. Their hearts and minds carry burdens that I can't even fathom because, in all honesty, I have led a fairly charmed life.

There have been hiccups along the way, some unfortunate choices, and some regrets. However, through it all, I knew, without question, that I was loved and forgiven and accepted.

But some whom I speak of have never had the security I feel. They don't have "their people" who they can say with absolute certainty will always love them and stand by them as long as they are able. They don't know, without a doubt, that there is a God who loves them and will never leave them because no one in their life has modeled a love like that.

It's because of them that thankfulness takes on a new meaning this year. I can't just give a blanket statement anymore. I need to tell them and others exactly what I am thankful for and Who is responsible for every good thing in my life. Because I can't guarantee them family or friends who will always be there. But I can guarantee them that there is a Savior who loves them and will never let them go. And we, as Believers, can help introduce them to  Him….the One a true heart of thankfulness comes from.

Here are three things to consider when you share Jesus, not only this Thanksgiving season, but throughout the year:

1. Talk to the Lord and proclaim His name out loud.

When Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead he said: "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." - John 11:41-42

Jesus didn't need to talk to the Lord out loud. He did it so those around Him would hear and recognize and acknowledge that this miracle came from God. If He had not, they might have given credit to his human flesh. 

It is our turn to acknowledge, out loud, publicly, for all to hear, where all of our thankfulness is due. When we do that, when we claim the name of Jesus and share with others about all that He has done in our lives, it can't help but resonate with those who might not know Him yet. 

2. Remember to thank Him in the good and the bad. 

If we can share thankfulness in the good things, awesome. But if we want to make even more of an impression... share thankfulness for the hard things too.

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other." - Ecclesiastes 7:14

I am thankful for the times the Lord has brought me to my knees in tears because they humbled me. I am thankful for the health issues I've had from time to time because they show me my humanity. I am thankful for dealing with disobedience in my children because it makes me take a good hard look at myself when the Lord reveals my own sin nature.

When opportunities arise in everyday conversation, when you are sharing life with others, talk about the One who gives you life. Say His name out loud for others to hear. If others hear us talk about the Lord outside of church-away from the Christian setting where we are "supposed to"- it may mean more. If we show others that we think enough of Jesus to give Him credit for our good days and trust Him to guide our steps in the hard things too, it may plant seeds that will grow in time. 

3. Keep it simple and speak gently.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," - 1 Peter 3:15

The majority of the people you talk to are not Bible scholars. Many may have never even read one. You don't need fancy answers and highfalutin talk to impress anyone. You just need to speak your heart, simply. Go ahead and have an idea of what you would tell someone about the Lord and all He has done in your life, so that the next time you have an opportunity, you don't back down because you feel unprepared. Don't believe the lies Satan may whisper in your ear, that you are not qualified enough to share about the Lord or that you are undeserving of that opportunity. You are a child of the King and He wants you to share! And finally, speak gently because you never know what someone has been through or what negative experiences they may have had with "church."

Dear Jesus,
Help me take time this Thanksgiving to be still, thoughtfully consider all you’ve done in my life, and praise you for the good things as well as the hard things. Give me courage, wisdom, opportunity, and the words to share you with someone who needs you as much as I do. Thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and never letting me go. You are the reason for the hope that I have.
In Your Mighty Name,
Amen