God Heals Hearts..Craig Denison Ministries

 God Heals Hearts

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This week we'll spend time stirring up our affections for God through the renewing of our minds. Your mind is the gateway to your affections. What you think is worthy of your affections is what will receive them. So, as we grow in our understanding of God’s overwhelming goodness we will naturally give him our hearts. May you be stirred by the unconditional love of your heavenly Father this week as his perfect nature is revealed to you in greater, more transformative ways.

Scripture:“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

Devotional:

One of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture is Psalm 147. It’s a psalm laden with the wondrous works of God, rich with imagery and powerful in stirring our affections for God. In it we learn that God “determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names,” and that he “covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.”

The verse that I want to emphasize for us today, however, is verse 3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Jesus was a perfect example of God’s heart to do this very thing. All throughout his ministry Jesus healed those around him physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Scripture gives us insight into characters such as Mary Magdalene, who was delivered of demon possession and brought into close friendship with Christ himself. Jesus healed her spiritually, emotionally, and physically by delivering her from oppression and being her friend. Then there’s Paul. Before Jesus revealed himself to Paul, he was Saul, a man committed to destroying the very movement of Christianity that he would later give his life to build. He was a driven, successful, and prideful man. He was a religious zealot of great discipline, but a man far away from the heart of God. However, after meeting Jesus and being healed of his former ways, he was able to confidently say he counted all things “as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

God has the same heart for you he had for Mary and Paul. He knows the wounds that people, circumstances, and sin have caused in your life. He knows what you struggle with, the habits and addictions that hold you back from living the abundant life he has planned for you. And he has both a desire and plan to heal those wounds. God desires to heal your heart right now. You don’t have to wait to encounter the power of God. God wants you to live a life receptive to all the love and blessing he longs to give you.

Let the stories of Mary and Paul fill you with a longing to encounter more of God. Allow what God has done in others’ lives to stir up a yearning to be healed by God yourself. Wait on the Lord, open your heart to him, and let him do what he has promised to do in you. He’s promised his healing, transformation, and abundant life. All that’s left is for you to receive the gift of healing he longs to give as you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit today.

Take time to press into the heart of God to heal you today as you enter into a time of guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to heal any broken places in your life as revealed in Scripture.  

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psalm 103:2-4

2. Tell God of the places in your heart that are broken. Your wounds could go back to your childhood or just yesterday. Either way, God desires to heal anything that’s holding you back from fullness of life in him. 

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

3. Take action where God is leading you.Sometimes healing comes through forgiveness, a conversation, or taking some extra time to pray and be with God. Ask him how he feels about any wounds from your past, any broken relationships, or any recurring sin in your life. Journal what he says.

Healing is often a process, but know that God desires to lead you through every step of the way. If he puts it on your heart to forgive someone or to have a hard conversation, know that it’s best for you. While it may be hard today, your life will be better because of it. Even if the person that hurt you has passed away, you can still forgive that person. As these issues begin to come up, take time to be in God’s presence and allow him to heal the broken places in your life. God has healing and transformation in store for you, and that life is available to you right now.

Extended Reading: Psalm 147

What Holds the Key to Your Heart?..LYSA TERKEURST

 What Holds the Key to Your Heart?

LYSA TERKEURST 

“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” Luke 18:22 (NIV) 

I long to be a woman who follows hard after Jesus.

I want the kind of soul-satisfying closeness that can only come from daily keeping pace with Him, not a life full of “good Christian” boxes I check off.

The checklist can be such a tempting routine to fall into, can’t it?

Rules and regulations were an everyday reality for God’s people in the Old Testament. There were lists of do’s and don’ts to help sinful people maintain fellowship with a holy God. First the Ten Commandments. Then law after law about sacrifices and ceremonies, food and cleanliness.

But in the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17-18) and turned everything upside down with His message of grace. A message that declares, “Following rules won’t get you into heaven. Being good won’t earn you bonus points. Lay down your checklists … your agendas … everything … and follow Me. Believe in Me. Receive Me. Live like Me.”

It was a complete shift in thinking. One that left people perplexed, like the rich ruler in Luke 18.

We first meet the rich ruler when he approached Jesus with a question: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18, NIV).

Jesus, already knowing this man’s checklist mindset, began naming several of the Ten Commandments. It was a list the rich ruler felt he had kept well. But Jesus had more to say: “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).

It would be so easy to gloss over this moment and think Jesus was simply talking about money. But the words in this conversation are actually talking about something much deeper. The core issue Jesus was getting at is this: What holds the key to your heart?

Oh, how I want my answer to be this: “Jesus.” I want to want Him the most. To live completely captured by His love. Enthralled with His teachings. Transformed into living proof of His Truth.

There have been others who have gone before me desiring this as well. Imperfect heroes of faith we read about in the Bible who, despite their shortcomings, pleased God through faith. (Hebrews 11) It wasn’t perfect actions that carved a path to God’s heart. It was something else. Something less defined that couldn’t be outlined or dissected. Something that was sometimes messy and offensive. But something so precious at the same time …

Surrender — letting go of anything pulling them away from God.

It’s a word used to describe a little girl leaping from the bed’s edge, completely confident her daddy will catch her. It’s the same thing that fueled David’s courageous run toward Goliath with nothing but a sling and five smooth stones. It’s what fueled Joshua. And Moses. And Noah. And Paul.

And it’s the one thing Jesus was asking of the rich ruler. Not a life lived perfectly but a heart of perfect surrender. So this is the prayer I’m saying today:

Everything I have. Everything I own. Everything I hope for. Everything I fear. Everything I love. Everything I dream. It's all Yours, Jesus. I trust You in complete and utter surrender.

Sadly, this was the one thing this man felt he could not offer. He stood on the edge of everything uncertain, with the arms of all certainty waiting to catch him. And he just couldn’t jump; he lived his life entangled in lesser things.

He was not captured by, enthralled with or transformed into living proof of the reality of Jesus. And so he walked away from the only One who could ever truly satisfy his soul.

Oh, friends. Let’s not allow this to be the tragedy of our lives. Let’s be captured by Jesus’ love, enthralled with His teachings and transformed into living proof of His Truth. Let’s live with abandon and fully trust Him.

The life that follows Jesus with surrender and trust is the life that gets to experience His presence, His provision, His promises, His soul-satisfying abundance.

Father God, please forgive me for all the times I have settled for lesser things. I want to want You most. Today, I am handing You the key to my heart. The key to everything in my life. I love You. I need You. And I want to follow hard after You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Our Great Mission..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Great Mission

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:18-20

If you’re a believer, you are part of the awesome body of Christ, which is called to bring His light to the world both individually and corporately. Though many see the church as a social organization, that’s not what the Bible says it is. Sometimes we forget that our purpose isn’t simply to have fellowship, sing, preach, and worship. Jesus entrusted us with good news of the true life He offers to everyone. This calling isn’t just for foreign “missionaries”—it’s for every believer. Your mission field includes your family, friends, coworkers, and perhaps even a people group God puts on your heart, often right in your community.

Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, in which He promised to be with believers to the end of the age. That pledge still stands. He doesn’t send us out to do His work on our own. Vowing never to leave us, He gave the assurance that all tasks He assigns will be achieved through us by His Holy Spirit.

What an honor to be included in the Lord’s redemptive plan for the world! He invites you to have a vital part in His kingdom work of transforming what is broken and giving new life. Everything you do in obedience is an opportunity for His Spirit to work powerfully through you!

He is still speaking His message of assurance to us: You’ll have Me as your companion, your captain, your victory. You’ll have Me as your resource, your energy, your anointing. Everything you need, you’ll find in Me. How does recognizing the greatness of your calling change the way you see your daily life?

Proclaiming Victory..Meg Bucher

 Proclaiming Victory

By Meg Bucher

“The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.” - Psalm 145:14 NLT

Who God is in comparison to what we are going through helps us navigate the winding roads of life. I remember being lost in the woods once as a high school student. Growing up in the Cuyahoga River Valley, our cross country team ran up and down and wound around the National Park we were grateful to call home. The beauty of the trails in the fall smelled of the earth-changing seasons in the Midwest. The same trail is different in every season. 

The day I lost my sense of direction in the woods, a teammate and I started exploring off the trail. Soon, every leaf-covered hill looked the same. We made it back just fine that day, but it wasn’t the last time I would find myself lost. In college, a teammate and I wandered down the wrong country road. Laughing with the field of sheep we stumbled on, we soon found ourselves far from the rest of our team and the campus. I remember the look on my coach’s face when we finally got back. The rest of the team had stretched and left, and we walked up laughing to coach shaking his head with a smile. 

Being lost can cause us to panic, but I don’t remember feeling panicked either time I was lost …neither in the woods nor on the country roads outside of my college town. God is faithful to protect me before I even ask Him to. In so many situations in life, when we find ourselves lost, we can know God has gone before us and He is with us. We embrace a sense of calm, knowing God is our victory in every battle and compass when we find ourselves lost. 

“David may have had his army sing a hymn such as this after a battle, in gratitude for victory,” Halley’s Bible Handbook explains. David was familiar with both the battlefield and of being lost. In every situation, David learned the consistency of God, despite his lack. We, too, can rely on God as our rock-solid foundation, directional compass, and the reason we proclaim victory in the battles of our lives. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:

“Let each generation tell its children of your might acts; let them proclaim your power.” - Psalm 145:4 NLT

Psalm 145 is a collection of praise to God for victory. Each day, we face odds and ends in our lives, which rub up against our comfort zones and sometimes sense of direction. When we find ourselves lost or in a battle, we can turn to Psalm 145 as a reminder of the victory which has already been won on our behalf. We can proclaim victory in Christ Jesus every day. He has already defeated death, so in Him, we can victoriously proclaim life! “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises;” David wrote, “He is gracious in all He does.” (Psalm 145:13 NLT)

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Christ Jesus is always with us. The Holy Spirit lives in us! We who believe in Jesus can proclaim victory over every battle and look confidently to Him for direction when we are lost. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways, Scripture assures. But, we have His Holy Spirit as our Helper to interpret His Word. We faithfully follow His lead as we navigate through the proverbial woods and winding country roads in our lives. When we are distracted, the Spirit gently nudges us back onto the path toward God’s will for our lives.

We each have an important purpose in this life. When the fog sets in, and we cannot see where we are going, Psalm 145 reminds us:

“The LORD helps the fallen 
and lifts those bent beneath their loads. 
The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.

When you open your hand, 
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in everything he does; 
he is filled with kindness.

The LORD is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.”
- Psalm 145:14-18 NLT

Additional Reading

• Psalm 145 in its entirety.

Seasons of Suffering, Seasons of Joy .. Amanda Idleman

 Seasons of Suffering, Seasons of Joy (James 5:13)

By: Amanda Idleman

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. - James 5:13

Life is filled with highs and lows. Navigating the ups and downs of life can be a challenge. Thankfully the Bible gives us some insight on how to approach our hardships and our joy. God doesn’t leave us on our own in either season. In our lives, there is no struggle that He isn’t present for or celebration He doesn’t know about.

What does God say about the hard times?  The enemy of our souls wants to speak the lie of aloneness in our ears when things start to feel like more than we can handle. We become paralyzed in the belief that no one is there to support us, thoughts of guilt may stop us from being open about our struggles, and the idea that no one can understand what we are going through can keep us stuck alone.

Without the support of others or a strong grasp on God’s love for you in those hard moments, hopelessness can begin to set in like an ugly fast spreading disease. The Bible tells us that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12). This is precisely why the Bible instructs us to turn to God in prayer when we suffer.

When we begin to connect with God through prayer and study of his Word, hope can return to our hearts! We are reminded that we are loved and never alone. God gives us the strength we need to share our stories with others that can support us, further breaking the chains of hopelessness.

When you are in a season of suffering, bring it all to Jesus... bring all the frustration, desperation, loneliness, or anger and lay them at the feet of Jesus. God is not repelled by honesty. He already knows the state of our lives and hearts. You will not offend God with your sin or doubt. He pleads with us saying please come to me first. He loves you so much that He died to take away your sin and pain.

In seasons of joy, sing praises to your God! We can get so caught up in our own pleasures that we take the good for granted and only turn to God in hardship. God invites us back to be in his presence in both our seasons of joy and seasons of suffering. When prayers are answered, when a milestone is achieved, when the sunset takes your breath away, or your kids knock it out of the park, take a moment to give God the glory.

It’s our ability to see God in the joy-filled seasons that helps prepare us for the times of suffering. If we don’t have the ability to notice God’s grace, provision, and kindness when it is right in front of our faces, how will we recognize God at work when life is heavy? We need that ledger available in our minds of all the ways God has already come through for us to lean on when doubt, worry, or when suffering enters our lives.

What season are you in now?  Are you barely keeping it together or are you loving every minute of life? Either way, God is there, and He wants you to look to Him in each and every season of life brings your way. Acts 17:28 says it like this “For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.” He is our source of life, but even more than that, God wants to do life with you. Remember to offer prayer and praise in both your joy and suffering.

A Prayer to Combat Unhealthy Comparison..Ashley Moore

 A Prayer to Combat Unhealthy Comparison

By Ashley Moore

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” - Hebrews 12:2, NLT 

I hadn't been a believer long when my church invited me to take a leadership position. I didn’t come from a long lineage of Christ followers and felt my faith was still in the infant stages. How would I be able to lead and teach others? It has been an honor and a great privilege to sit under the wisdom of our elders and staff, who are such seasoned and wise leaders. They each bring nuanced perspectives, unique giftings, and much-needed insight that has helped me learn to lead well in my area. But I discovered something interesting sitting at this table full of leaders. Unhealthy comparison is the fastest way to discouragement. Regardless of our experience level, no one is immune to the deadly effects of comparison.

What about you? Have you ever found yourself admiring the success of others only to decide you don’t measure up? Or perhaps your inexperience holds you back from pursuing a new role at work? Maybe like me, you’ve allowed your past to disqualify you from present opportunities. 

Don’t get me wrong. There is so much we need to learn from each other. Great leaders are formed by learning and observing the strategies of those who have blazed the trail before them. But there is a fine line between learning from others and comparing ourselves to each other. 

We will never be able to determine our capability by looking to those to the left and right of us. Comparing ourselves to others will leave us disenchanted, disillusioned, and disappointed. We can't determine our worth by comparing ourselves to others. Our worth isn't found in what we do or how well we do it. 

As believers, our worth is determined by one thing—Jesus Christ! And as Paul points out in Hebrews 12:2, he is the one who initiates and perfects our faith. Paul commands us not to fixate on what others are doing but to fix our eyes on Jesus. The one who endured the cross, disregarding the shame of dying a criminal’s death (Hebrews 12:2).  

If we compare Jesus' ministry against the world's view of success, most would consider him a failure. Jesus had only twelve disciples, all of which deserted him when he was arrested to be crucified (Matthew 26:56). He was accused of breaking the law by the most esteemed rulers and leaders in his culture. And he died a death reserved for a criminal, naked and exposed, on a wooden cross while people spit on him (Matthew 26:67, 27:35). Nothing about his ministry screamed success. Then he was raised to life and ascended to heaven, leaving behind sick, unhealed, and lost people to be ministered to by his rebellious, misfit group of disciples (Luke 24:51)! Nothing thwarted Christ’s obedience to the Father. He knew His ministry was not a failure despite how it looked when held up against the world’s stipulations for success. 

The greatest thing I admire about the leaders I serve alongside at my church is the way they continuously point me and the people they lead back to Jesus. So yes, let’s learn what we can from the great leaders that surround us and the people God places in our lives. But let’s guard against using others as a benchmark of our success. God has uniquely placed a calling on each of our lives; we don't have to compare or compete with others to hear " well done" we only need to be faithful. What looks like a failure when comparing ourselves to others just may be the greatest thing we accomplish for the Kingdom. For that reason, we have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!  

Let’s pray:

Jesus, 
Thank you for the people in our lives who grow, shape, and sharpen us into your image! Lord, I know you created us to teach one another and learn from each other!  Jesus, forgive us when we cross the line by trying to find our worth by sizing ourselves up to others and what the world defines as successful. You alone are the source of our worth. And you loved us so much that while you were dying a gruesome death for us, you considered the joy of being with God and your children forever in heaven to help you endure! Lord, I pray you would give us the wisdom to see when the things you call us to don’t look like a success in this life. Lord, remind us and give us the strength to keep our eyes fixed on you! In Jesus’ name, amen.