Start Your Day with the Best Thing.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

Start Your Day with the Best Thing

Craig Denison Ministries

Start Your Day with the Best Thing

Weekly Overview:

Why should we spend time alone with God? Why is meeting with God in the secret place so important? Until we gain an understanding of the immense value and availability of encountering God, we will never consistently engage in this foundational, vital practice. As we discover God’s heart to meet with us in order that we might experience the depths of his love, I pray that your life would be marked by a new grace to consistently and powerfully encounter the living God.

Scripture:“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.” Psalm 31:19

Devotional:

As Christians we know we are supposed to start our day off with God. If you have been a believer for any length of time, you have likely been encouraged by a pastor, teacher, mentor or friend to spend time every morning in God’s presence. However, many of us have never been told why God wants us to spend time with him in the morning. We’ve never discovered all God longs to do in the first moments of our days. We just carry the weight of knowing we should spend time alone with God. We spent last week in First15 going over how to practically spend time with God. This week we're going to talk about the why. Why should you spend time with God every morning?

God longs for your day to begin with the absolute best thing, and the best thing is his presence. If encountering God’s presence is the best part of your day, then you already know the impact it has made on you. I'm glad you're using the tool of First15 as a part of encountering him, and you are incredibly welcome here. For most of us though, I am going to bet that we’ve yet to fully discover how great spending time with God is. Take a look at your life. How often do you spend time with God? This isn't a report card where the people with the most consistent quiet times get a gold star. Be real with yourself. This is for your benefit. Take a moment and assess how often you actually spend time meeting with God.

You see, we will only ever consistently do that which we want to do, especially with our free time. We might have to go to work. We might feel obligated to people or practices. But with our personal time, our wants will always win out over our obligations. For many years I tried to spend time with God out of obligation. As a result, I hardly ever did it. It wasn’t until I encountered the incredible love and peace inherent in God’s presence that I began to actually  desire to spend time with him. Once I felt the satisfaction only his presence can bring, I began to crave time with him out of a need to satisfy my longings for love, purpose, and relationship. I discovered that my time spent with God was the absolute best part of my day.

Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” And Psalm 84:1-2 says, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” I can attest that consistently receiving a revelation of God's love has been the single most transformative part of my life. The days I don't start with the best thing, being in his presence, are my worst days by far. His presence ignites me with passion, love, purpose, and a sense of belonging that nothing else can give.

Wherever you are in relation to God today, do you want to know him more? Do you want a deeper revelation of his goodness and love? Take time to open your heart to God and allow him to satisfy your eternal need for communion with the Father. Allow him to fill you with his presence that you might experience the reality of his love. And let a true, transformative encounter with the living God fill you with a greater hunger to consistently encounter God in the first moments of each day.

May your time spent today encountering God in guided prayer be filled with the “fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). 

Guided Prayer:

1. Take some time to receive God's presence.Meditate on the truth of Scripture and allow God to reveal the reality of his nearness.

“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.” Psalm 31:19

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2

2. Assess your own heart. How consistently do you spend time with God? Do you feel like spending time with him is in any way an obligation rather than a desire? Be honest with God! He longs to pour out his limitless grace over anything that is holding you back from experiencing the fullness of his love.

3. Ask God to reveal his desire to meet with you. Ask him how he feels about you. Ask him to reveal the desires of your heart that he longs to satisfy in spending time alone with him. Journal anything he shows you.

Before you go to bed tonight take a minute to get in God’s presence. Let his goodness be the last thing you think of before you go to sleep and the first thing you wake up to in the morning. Throughout the day, if you feel down, passionless, or weary, take a minute to reflect on the goodness of God. He longs to spend time with you throughout your day, filling you with joy, passion, and purpose for bringing his kingdom to earth in all you do. May your day be filled with the fullness of God today.

Extended Reading: Psalm 84

Sit Down and Be Seen by Jesus..Shawn McEvoy

 Sit Down and Be Seen by Jesus

By Shawn McEvoy

He went up on a mountainside and sat down… and he began to teach them… (Matt. 5: 1-2)

I don’t really appreciate the way I learned the Beatitudes.

I’m in my late forties now and I think I’m only starting to understand what’s happening in this passage at the beginning of The Sermon on the Mount, courtesy of a fantastic sermon and sweet, wonderful context.

I’ve been able to rotely rattle off “Blessed are the poor in spirit… blessed are those who mourn… blessed are the meek” for decades. Because I was given that passage to memorize as a church child. And it sounded deep, and beautiful, but also a little empty and off. I’d learned that Matthew 5:2-12 was a passage known as The Beatitudes, and that the word “blessed” repeated nine times here meant “happy.”

Okay.

But the people listed here didn’t sound very happy to me. More than that, knowing these words came from Jesus, it sounded as if The Lord was commanding his followers to be mourners and peacemakers, merciful and persecuted. One of those examples of upside-down living in the Kingdom of God that we know were part of Christ’s teaching.

I don’t think that’s what this text is showing, though.

Think about where this passage appears. These are the FIRST WORDS of The Sermon on the Mount. The very beginning. The first thing Jesus has to say after he “saw the crowds” from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan referenced at the end of Chapter 4. He’d been teaching and healing and proclaiming the good news, and many are gathering.

And what kind of people are in this crowd? I think we know. We know because this is the Introduction to the largest uninterrupted session of teaching we have recorded from Jesus. And in an introduction, it’s common to address your audience directly.

Our Lord, we’re told, sees the crowds. He goes to a higher place from which to see them, then sits down and rests among them. I can imagine a lot of eye contact and a few deep breaths before Christ, who sees into their souls and knows every cell of their bodies, speaks right to their hearts and the issues of their life that have brought them to his feet. He gestures to a group gathered nearby and says, “Blesses are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

What a strange way to start a sermon.

Unless it’s actually the most beautiful way to speak to someone there could possibly be.

Who are the “poor in spirit,” after all? I never really knew, until I heard a sermon about this Sermon during a time I was being treated for anxiety and depression. For the first time in my life, I certainly related to being “poor in spirit.”

And Jesus continues his way around the crowd, next finding those who are mourning. His heart breaks for them, too. Maybe sees someone meek shyly lurking near the edge. He knows some are there because they have a deep longing for truth and righteousness. He finds some rich in mercy who may be downtrodden or taken advantage of in life. He sees the pure and the peacemakers, and know the loneliness these types can experience, but tells them they will see God and be called children – part of his family. And finally, the persecuted, the cast-out, the misfits, who dare to seek him out anyway.

He sees and addresses them all, all these types who are drawn to want to know God.

HE SEES THEM. He sees you. Before Jesus has anything else to say, he sees you. And what’s more, he knows what you’re going through. He knows that whether you are pure in heart or poor in spirit, that very condition has brought you to him in a way thirsting for self or needing nothing could never do.

And he wants you to know: not only do I see you, not only has your character or your current life situation brought you to me, but I have a nugget for each and every one of you, a warm blanket to your chill, a silver lining to your cloud.

You, poor in spirit, you feel ill at ease in this world. Jesus sees you, and wants you to know, yours is the Kingdom of Heaven. A time is coming when you’ll know peace and a deep, rich purpose. There is reason to hold fast in faith.

You, mourner, you feel abandoned and lost. But Jesus sees you and wants you to know: lean into those who will pamper you, cry with you, feed you and comfort you. That’s a good, good feeling, and one you’ll certainly be able to reciprocate to others in turn.

You, feeling meek, mild, powerless. Jesus sees you. He knows things aren’t easy, but he wants you to know you have an inheritance! The meek in the world are given nothing. Jesus says he plans to give them everything. Talk about a silver lining.

You, the merciful, Jesus sees you. He knows your forgiving heart, and he knows maybe this causes you to feel walked over at times. He also knows you will be shown mercy for having treated others as you would want to be treated.

It goes on and on through the list.

Before Jesus teaches anything, he lets you know he sees you there ready to learn from him, that he appreciates how this very thing has brought you to him, and that there is good news on the flip side of your coin.

What a difference!

Take a rest on this hillside now and go through The Beatitudes again calmly, quietly, with wisdom and insight, considering what it was that first brought you to the feet of Jesus. And how that very condition has caused you to be called blessed.

Happy.

Amen.

A Prayer for Flexibility in Our Planning..Laura Bailey

 A Prayer for Flexibility in Our Planning

By Laura Bailey

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” - Proverbs 19:21 NLT

My phone buzzed, and my children’s school appeared on the caller ID. My initial thought was to send it to voicemail with only thirty minutes left in the day; this couldn’t be anything of major importance– probably, just one of those automatic dialers. But something told me I should answer, “Mrs. Bailey; your child has a fever; you need to come to pick her up.”

My heart sank, but not for the right reason. Yes, I was concerned that my child was sick, and I hated to think of her sitting in the nurse’s office, pitifully waiting for me to come and rescue her. I was upset because her sickness meant that our weekend plans were out the window. I know; I probably won't win any mother of the year awards with that admission. 

The last few weeks had been incredibly busy for our family. My husband and I barely got a chance to speak most days, surviving off a peck and a few text messages to sustain our relationship. We needed a  date night, and just that morning, a relative offered to keep the girls so we could have dinner sans three rambunctious kiddos.

On the way to school, I became more agitated, thinking about the numerous times illnesses or something else with the kids thwarted our attempts at some mommy and daddy alone time. Spending time with my husband is a good thing, and working on our marriage is vital, so why did it seem that something always came up every time we planned to go out?

In Proverbs 19: 21, Solomon understood the importance of having a good plan. He most assuredly ascribed to the “those who fail to plan, plan to fail” mentality. Maybe his reason for stressing the importance of a good plan was that he oversaw all the intricate details involved in designing and building the temple and other important structures in his kingdom. Whatever the reason, in Solomon's wisdom, he reinforced throughout Proverbs the importance of consulting with godly counsel, seeking God's will, and all the vital parts of the planning process. 

However, Solomon also warns us that we mustn’t hold our plans with a tight fist but rather an open palm. Humans can provide the perfect plan, outline the right roadmap for success, or perfect their proposal, but only the Lord’s intentions will come to fruition.   That doesn’t mean we should neglect to make any arrangements, abandon thinking about the future, or squash excitement for an upcoming event. However, we do have to remain flexible in our planning because sometimes our plans don't work out the way we hope. Sometimes we need the reminder that God's will trumps our plans (James 4:15).

After I got my daughter home and settled, I updated the sitter that we wouldn't be coming tonight and canceled the weekend plans, and instead of annoyance, I felt relief. More than we needed date night, God knew our family needed to rest and relax. The unforeseen illness and canceled plans resulted in a cleared calendar and reminded us how God works all things, good and bad, out for our good and His glory.

May we approach planning humbly, learning to adjust and adapt when things don’t work out how we’d hoped. Because God is all-knowing and loves us dearly, we can trust His plans are always better than anything we orchestrate. May this truth free us to hold our plans loosely and adapt quickly when things don't work out the way we hope.

Let’s Pray

Dear God,
Thank you for your sovereign control over all areas of our lives. Please guide us as we seek to do Your will by leaning on Your words in the Scriptures. Help us to be flexible in our planning, approaching planning with humility and surrender. 

May we not rely on our own ability, leaning on godly wisdom and trusting that You're always working for the good of your people. When our plans fail, give us the grace to adjust and adapt, finding an opportunity to be joyful in our circumstances. Let us be encouraged not to boast about tomorrow but take great delight in serving you today in everything we say and do. 

Thank you for your salvation plan, sending your Son to redeem your creation from this fallen world. We love you. Amen.

Who Do You Say I Am?..Amanda Idleman

 Who Do You Say I Am?

by Amanda Idleman

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” - Matthew 16:15

Men and women often die needlessly difficult deaths, what makes Jesus' death on the cross meaningful? Why does Jesus matter? 

The answer to that question is really the centerpiece of the Christian faith. What we each believe about the identity of Jesus has the power to transform him from being just a prophet, clever speaker, or possibly even a crazy man into the living breathing son of God. 

Jesus proves his divinity to humanity most remarkably through his death on the cross that fulfilled the prophecies laid out about our Savior in scripture and his subsequent resurrection. No one else in human history has the power to overcome death. Jesus’ death is his living sacrifice for our sins and his resurrection defies the rules of this world in a way that only God can accomplish. 

God’s love is displayed through his incredible sacrifice. If Jesus only came to Earth in order to display his divine power to humans so we would worship him then our need for him in our lives as a personal savior would be diminished. If he only showed up on Earth to parade his power and coerce us into worshiping him then he would be just like those cruel Greek and Roman gods that were filled with pride and selfishness. 

Jesus is different from the other gods of this world because he clearly tells and demonstrates to us the purpose of his incarnation. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” His arrival on Earth was a well-thought-out rescue mission. He came to redeem his fallen creation.

Jesus’ existence on Earth is a gracious invitation to all of humanity to engage in a real, life-changing, and eternity-impacting relationship with the one true living God! 

Jesus asks Peter, one of his disciples, the question ‘Who do you say I am?” Jesus knows that it’s important to Peter’s faith that he grasp that Jesus is fully a man but also fully God. Jesus Is the truth, the way, and the light. Without his disciples understanding all of who Jesus the man was they would not be able to receive the gift of salvation that God was offering. 

The question of “Who do you say I am” continues to be the most foundational question for people of faith. Our ability to recognize Jesus as our Lord and Savior is where our path towards transformation and adoption into God’s ‘heaven family’ begins. 

If you are in a season of questioning or feel a sense of disillusionment with the Church, I ask you to just go back to this question: Who is Jesus? What did he come to do? How has knowing him impacted your life? That’s the place to start when we are wanting to deconstruct our beliefs. 

Build back a stronger, more firm faith foundation that begins with Jesus your Savior. God embraces our questions but we have to be open to hear the answers he came down to Earth to give us. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Go back and read the Gospels from the Bible. Study the life, words, and teachings of Jesus. Let the alive and active Word of God be the foundation you build your belief system on.

When God Is Doing Something New, and We're Still Stuck in the Old..Debbie McDaniel

 When God Is Doing Something New, and We're Still Stuck in the Old

by Debbie McDaniel

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Is. 43:18-19

Sometimes... God is wanting to do something "new" and yet we're still stuck in the "old." It's hard at times. To let go. Of what's familiar, and what we know. It seems easier to stay "comfortable," to just keep going with the flow, not to mess anything up. But then "new" happens, and often sends us spiraling, on one big, long loop.

For those who like change - "new" is mostly exciting.

For those who don't like change - "new" is mostly stressful.

Your family, if you're like most, is probably a mix of those two traits.

But here's what I love about God. He thinks and works outside our own box of thinking. He doesn't always work in the ways that we would have chosen for our "new." If we had to have a "new."

He sees the big picture. He knows what He's doing. He works behind the scenes of life that unfold our every day, in the places where we can't always see or understand all the “why's.”

So we can trust...that He has our best in mind. That He's got our back. He’s with us right now. And He's secured our future too.

Sometimes our "new" comes out of great blessing, new opportunities. And sometimes it comes through great pain, huge loss.

People move, life happens, decisions are made, many change jobs, kids grow up, and there are times we might go through some really tough struggles. We may even start to feel cheated. Like life is unfair.

But it still breathes this truth: God is not finished with our lives yet. You're still here. And He has great purpose in all that you walk through, even in every life change and season.

Whether we recognize it or not, we’re rubbing shoulders everyday with people that we needed to meet in our "new," however hard that new thing may be.

We can rest in His care for us. He knows. He sees. He works in ways we don't always "get," but there's peace in knowing we don't have to try to control it all. We can let go - of the need to figure it all out, and the striving to make things happen.

We can trust Him.

Our future awaits, and there's still good around the bend. God has more in store.

Peace.

Intersecting Faith & Life: If you find yourself in a new season right now, or you’re struggling to find the good in changing times, be assured that God has the best in store. Choose to trust that He’s working on your behalf today, even in ways you may not fully see or understand.

Further Reading: 
Isaiah 55:8-9
Jeremiah 29:11
Revelation 21:5