God Promises His Return..Craig Denison Ministries

 God Promises His Return

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

There is only one constant in this ever-changing world, and that’s the character of our heavenly Father. The very earth itself is undergoing changes constantly. What seems the most immovable now will one day be done away with. But God is unchanging. God is unwavering. He’s completely faithful and committed to seeing through the promises he’s made you. As we look this week at the promises of God may you ground yourself in his unchanging love. May God’s character become your source and refuge—your constant and unshakable foundation.

Scripture:“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3

Devotional:

The second coming of Christ will mark the end of this age with resounding and final punctuation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.” Jesus promises that he is coming back for you and me. He’s returning to make his lordship known to all the earth. Upon his return, he will destroy once and for all the destructive works of the enemy. He’s going to rid the earth of the damage sin has caused, and bring about the final restoration of all things to himself.

Jesus’ return will be both powerful and triumphant. It will be a time of sorrow for those who did not believe in him and a time of rejoicing for us, his Bride. Jesus is coming back in all his glory, lovesick for those who have been brought into his fold by faith. You see, he’s coming back for you because he loves you. He longs for the day when you can be with him, face to face, held back by nothing. He’s so overjoyed to walk in relationship with you right now, but like you, he longs for something greater. Like a bridegroom patiently awaits the marriage ceremony, he’s waiting, expectant for what is to come.

It’s his love that is our source of hope. It’s his desire for our final restoration to him that is meant to give us cause for joy here on the earth. What you’ve known of life thus far is not all there is. What you’ve experienced of God is just a drop in the vast ocean of his loving kindness. Jesus says in John 14:2-3, “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” He desperately wants you to be where he is. If you are a believer, he’s promised that you have a place in his kingdom. You can have hope here that all the suffering, trials, temptations and heartache you’ve experienced on earth will pass away with his return. Written within his promise to return is his promise of a life lived free from all the destruction sin has caused.

We’re meant for relationship with our Savior both here and in the age to come. He’s made a way for us to experience him both now and forever by his death and resurrection. Your greatest joy should come from this truth. Your highest calling is meant to be drawn from his promise of relationship. All of eternity hinges on his promise to return. And he who gave up his life for you will return to lead you to the Father. Spend time in his presence today. Experience the very God who will return in all his glory. Live today in light of his promise, and experience the love and hope of your God who is faithful to bring to fruition all that he’s promised you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the powerful, hope-filled truth of Christ’ return.

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3

2. Where do you need hope today? Where do you need the truth of Jesus’ return to transform your emotions?

3. Let the truth of Christ’s return sink into your heart. Allow it to heal any place in your heart that feels hopeless.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

Looking toward the day of final restoration is meant to give you fuel to live in light of eternity. This life on earth is but a vapor in the scope of your eternal life. It’s a dust blowing in the wind. It doesn’t mean today doesn’t matter. What it does mean is that you know how your life will turn out. You know how the story ends. May the glorious, triumphant ending of your story produce steadfastness and hope in your heart today.

Extended Reading: John 14

God's Grand Plan..Dr. Charles Stanley

 God's Grand Plan

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

It's amazing but true that God's grand plan for your life is far greater than you can imagine. In fact, this earth-bound existence has us so preoccupied with the demands of life that most of us give little thought to what it will mean to be completely sanctified.

In the Christian life, sanctification is a three-stage process. At the moment of salvation, God sets us apart for Himself. Then throughout the rest of our earthly life, He works to transform us into the image of His Son. One day, however, there will be a glorious culmination to our sanctification. Presently, we all struggle with sin, but when we die, our spirits and souls will ascend to heaven and be completely sinless. Then we'll see our Savior face to face and experience unimaginable joy. No longer will we struggle with the pride of life or the lusts of the flesh and the eyes (1 John 2:16).

However, as great as this will be, it's not yet the final step. Some day in the future, Jesus will descend from heaven, bringing with Him the souls of those who have died in Christ. They will be united with their resurrected bodies, and believers who are still alive on the earth will be changed (1 Thess. 4:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54). Then sanctification will be complete--spirit, soul, and body.

This is not a fairy tale, but the believer appointed destiny. God Himself promises to bring it to pass. We'll walk in His presence, spotless and without blame, for all eternity. Knowing this, how will you live today? The promise of salvation isn’t meant just to give hope, but to spur us on to holy living.

Trusting God for Daily Provision..Ashley Moore

 Trusting God for Daily Provision 

By Ashley Moore

“Give us this day our daily bread…” - Matthew 6:11, ESV

It is so hard to make decisions when we aren’t sure if we will have the resources to follow through. For example, based on where we sensed the Lord leading, my husband and I put our three kids in a very expensive school when we weren’t sure how we would pay the monthly tuition. Another time, my husband was in between jobs and we felt sure it was time for him to launch a business but we had no idea how to get started. Then other times, we would be so close to hitting a certain savings goal only to have a big unexpected expense come and obliterate the account. 

Those are a few more extreme examples, but there have been small ones as well. Maybe you can relate to the following scenarios.

Have you ever felt prompted to give financially to a cause but the amount exceeded the number in your bank account?

Or have you ever chosen to send a few Christmas presents to a family in need even though you still needed to shop for your family and friends? 

Perhaps you received a large refund from your taxes and thought about buying the car you’ve had your eyes on, but decided instead to tithe the money first and trusted the Lord to make your car last a little longer.

In each of these situations, the temptation to worry about the future presents itself. We often withhold generosity for fear that we may not have enough in the future. But something the Lord continues to remind us through His Word is that He provides daily. This means each day, God gives us generously what we need and enough that we can also share with others (2 Corinthians 9:8). What would it look like to live as though we believe that God will give us our daily bread?

Overflowing with Thanksgiving 
Before Jesus performed the miracle of feeding five thousand people, He gave thanks for the five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:19). Jesus, being fully God and fully man, understood that God was powerful enough to take this tiny meal and make it enough to feed whoever was hungry. And His response was to first, give thanks for what was already there. A tell-tale sign of a person who believes that God gives daily provision is a person who overflows with thankfulness for what they already have.

Generously Sharing with Others
Immediately after giving thanks for the five loaves and two fish, Jesus broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples (Matthew 14:19). Jesus thanked God and then He broke what He had into pieces and gave it away to others! Jesus was so confident that he would have what He needed that He freely shared it with the people in need around Him. A generous person is a person who is confident that their God will give them what they need and more than enough to share. 

As humans, we will worry from time to time about what we will eat, how we will afford certain things, and if there will be enough to go around should something go wrong. But God gently reminds us to look at the birds and the flowers, who don’t do anything to earn their clothes or food, but God provides for them ( Matthew 6:26-29). He tells us to pray as Jesus did for God to give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). When we trust God for our daily needs and turn from fixating on future needs we can overflow with thankfulness and share generously to meet the needs of others. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Do you feel overly concerned about a need you are facing? Maybe an unexpected car repair or a bill that needs to be paid soon. Take a moment to jot down three to five things that you are thankful for praising God for each thing, and then ask God to provide for your specific need. Trust Him and thank Him in advance for daily bread.  

Further Reading:

• Matthew 6:26-29

2 Simple Ways God Reveals Himself..Mandy Smith

 2 Simple Ways God Reveals Himself (Romans 1:20)

By: Mandy Smith

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. - Romans 1:20

God is everywhere. Take a step outside and you will be surrounded by the intricacies and fascinating systematic creation that was created by our God. He is in the mountains, the beaches, jungles, ocean depths, prairies, farmland, desserts, and valleys. To see His creation is to see a piece of Him. As it says in Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Not only can we feel His presence in His creation but there is more knowledge that He wants to share with us through it all.

1. He Delights in Beauty

Look around as the seasons change and you will see beauty upon beauty emerging from its cocoon. An orange fiery sunset, crystal clear waters, snowcapped mountain peaks, miles of sunflower fields…the list goes on and on. Sometimes something is so beautiful we can only stand in awe of its presence.

God shines from His creation. It is just a glimpse of the beauty we will fully behold in Heaven. Eden was perfect. The trees, food, river watering all the vegetation, and the first two people created in perfection, Adam and Eve. Though sin entered the world shortly after, the beauty of the remains is all we see of a glimpse of the New Eden that will be restored in Heaven.

To see God’s creation is to see God. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

2. His Timing Is Perfect

God not only times our lives into a patchwork quilt of His will but also the cyclical timing of a 24-hour day, 365-day year, and constant motion of planets spinning on their axis at just the right angle is a testament to His control. To see the change of seasons in nature is to see God’s perfect timing, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”

Your dream may not be visible, or your heart may be aching from a loss. Remember that the same God that ordains the sun to rise and set is the same God that has your heart in the palm of His hands. In His timing, all is made right whether here on earth or in glory, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

A Prayer to Help Me Stop Overthinking..Kristine Brown

A Prayer to Help Me Stop Overthinking
By Kristine Brown

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:2 NLT

I’m a classic overthinker. Give me a problem to solve, and I’ll come up with every outcome imaginable. This character trait comes in handy when my child forgets about a project due tomorrow. Or when I’m trying to fit all the family’s activities into one cohesive calendar. But when I’m facing deeper issues, my overthinking can lead to worry and stress. 

I’ll fret over a problem until exhaustion takes over, getting no closer to an answer. Because even though I know I can’t solve it on my own, I struggle with giving my cares to God and letting go.

Have you ever thought and thought about a problem until you worried yourself sick? I’ve been there, and I’ve felt the effects that worry and stress can have on our physical bodies and on the lives of our loved ones. But God’s powerful Word in Colossians 3:2 shows us a better way to occupy our minds, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”

In chapter 3 of Colossians, the apostle Paul gave believers unquestionable direction for how to live their lives. He offered a mindset shift.

Paul showed the church what mattered most as new Christians, “Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” (Colossians 3:11b) He pointed them away from sinful desires and encouraged them to clothe themselves in “tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” 

Paul’s letter still applies to our lives today— when sinful desires tempt us or when we focus too intently on our worldly problems rather than our heavenly hope. “Focusing on the things of heaven” can be our battle cry when we fall into the trap of overthinking. 

Turning our thoughts to Jesus calms our weary hearts and relieves the heaviness of carrying the weight of our problems. We will discover less stress and more peace when we stop overthinking and focus on God and his goodness. Let’s begin with this prayer.

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
I’ve been worrying again. I’ve let my problems consume me, and I’ve forgotten to give my cares to you in prayer. Forgive me, Lord, for focusing too much on my circumstances. Help me stop overthinking everything and trust you in all things.

I know you created me with unique traits and abilities. I want to help and to serve others, but my overthinking can get in the way. I spend time trying to solve problems rather than trusting you. Help me remember the truth of your promises when I’m tempted to worry. Help me remember to, “think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

You are a loving and faithful Father. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) shows me this, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Thinking about your faithfulness brings joy and peace to my weary heart. Stress fades away when I focus on who you are rather than on my problems. I trust you in all things because you are good. Have your way in my life, God. 
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen. 

Resurrection Culture..Craig Denison Ministries

 Resurrection Culture

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

We serve a God of powerful transformations. All throughout Scripture God takes those whom the world deemed the lowest, the hopeless, and the helpless and uses them to change the world. You are not beyond transformation. God longs to break off that which inhibits you from experiencing fullness of life. He longs to heal you, deliver you, and set you free. May your life be forever changed as we spend time discovering God’s heart for transformation.

Scripture:“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

Devotional:    

Through the resurrection of Jesus, we have been given the opportunity to live life in a new way. Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” The power of the resurrection is not just over our deaths, but over our lives. God didn’t just pay for our freedom for all of eternity, but for right now—for this very moment. He’s calling you and me to live a resurrected lifestyle. He’s ushering us into a resurrection culture.

Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 even says, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Your life is changed because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Because Christ rose from the dead, you have been raised from spiritual death.

Too often we are content to live our lives apart from the present reality of new life in Jesus. Too often we are satisfied living according to the flesh when we have been given a whole new way of living according the very Spirit of God who dwells within us as believers. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” We have been freed from condemnation through the new law of the Spirit ratified by the death and resurrection of Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation.” Let that sink in for a minute. Through the grace of God, not by anything you could ever do, you have been freed from condemnation. The only one who could ever truly condemn you is now your heavenly Father. You are the child of the only Judge, and he has offered you continual and uncompromising pardon because of his love for you.

And past being pardoned from condemnation, Romans 8 tells us that we have now been crowned as co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” Because of the life we have been given in the Spirit, we are “fellow heirs with Christ.” I’m not sure we even fully understand all that means for us. So often we live as if we are forced into submission to the world. We live according to the principles of the flesh rather than life in the Spirit. You have been freed from slavery to sin. You have been freed from the condemnation of the world. Christ defeated the enemy at the cross, and through him you have obtained total and complete victory. You are now crowned with Christ and given his authority to see heaven come to earth through your life.

And most importantly, Romans 8 concludes by telling us of the incredible love available to us in our resurrection and victory with Christ. Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” There is nothing you or anyone else could do to separate you from the love of God. Through Christ’s resurrection, you have been offered unchanging and unshakable love. Living life in the Spirit is living with the constant knowledge that you are and will forever be loved.

Spend time today allowing the word and presence of God to stir up your desire to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the life available to you in the Spirit. Allow your desire to walk in fullness of life to be stirred up by God’s word.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:16-17

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

2. Reflect on your own life. Where are you still living your life according to the flesh? Where do you feel condemned or unloved? Where do you feel conquered rather than a conqueror?

3. Ask the Lord to guide you into life in the Spirit today. Life your live with a renewed mind according to God’s word.

As you go throughout your day, know that you have the choice to live your life differently. You are not bound by the way you’ve lived your life in the past. There is “newness of life” available to you every single day through the power of the Spirit working in you as a believer. Yield to the Spirit’s leadership and live in light of the freedom purchased for you by the death of Jesus.

Extended Reading: Romans 8