Continual Transformation..Craig Denison Ministries

 Continual Transformation

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 appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

Devotional:

Oftentimes we see transformation as a one-time act. We find a problem and work on it until it gets better, then we go back to living life as normal. But the heart of God is for continual transformation. God longs that we would be so open and aware of the desire of the Spirit that we allow him to transform us every moment of every day.

Too often we just accept that we are who we are as if the God we serve didn’t have the power to continually set us free. We live as if the Holy Spirit is a God who only shows up every now and then to shake things up then retreats back into the heavens. But God is both loving and present. He is always there for us. He is always filled with desire for us. And the Holy Spirit is constantly ready to lead us, in love, out of the darkness and into the marvelous light of abundant life.

So what does continual transformation look like? How do we live in sync with the Spirit who can constantly change us from the inside out? Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Continual transformation will come when we decide to stop living for ourselves and instead become a living sacrifice to God as our “holy, acceptable” act of “spiritual worship.”

You see, when we live for ourselves we naturally take control of our own lives and therefore subjugate God and his desire to transform us. When our limited perspective on what’s good in life guides us rather than the perfect, transcendent perspective of God, we will only receive transformation from God when we desperately need it. But, when we seek to be a living sacrifice to God at all times our hearts become open to all the Spirit is doing, saying, and feeling in every moment. If you want to be continually transformed by the powerful, life-changing love of God, you have to choose every day to center your life around the will and desires of God.

Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” May David’s prayer be our prayer today as we enter into a time of guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s heart to continually transform you. Reflect on his nearness and his desire to heal you, deliver you, and empower you.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.” Zephaniah 3:17

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

2. Take a moment to assess your heart. Are you seeking to be a living sacrifice to God in all you do? Or are you living with your own desires and will as the foundation of your life?

3. Decide to be a living sacrifice today. Decide to live with the desires and will of God as your foundation. Center your life around the goodness, nearness, and power of your loving Father.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

Choosing to be a living sacrifice is a daily decision. Without spending consistent time in God’s presence there is no hope for continual transformation. It’s only when we encounter the kindness of God that we are able to respond with surrender. It’s only upon meeting with God that we live with his power and love as our foundation. Living sacrificially is not something you do in your own strength. Rather, it is the natural response of those who see God for who he truly is. May you commit yourself to experience the reality of God’s presence today. And may your life be an act of worship in response to the great love you’ve been shown.

Extended Reading: Psalm 139

Promise-Filled Words for a Weary Heart..LYSA TERKEURST

 Promise-Filled Words for a Weary Heart

LYSA TERKEURST 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Romans 8:26a (NIV) Can I encourage you with something today, friend? Even if you don’t see it, you are healing. You are growing. God is shaping you into who He created you to be. I know it can be tempting to doubt it, but today is another step forward into a future that God is paving for you. A future that may look different than you thought … but a future He has deemed good. You see, the longer I live, the less I see healing as a destination and the more I see it as a daily choice. In case your heart is feeling a little weary today, I hope you’ll feel a little more encouraged that you’re not alone and that your beautiful, unique story is still unfolding. The circumstances of today are part of your story, but they are not the whole story. I understand that sometimes all this pain can feel so very pointless. I know what it’s like to: Start to wonder if these hard situations will be never-ending … Feel that the hurt will last forever … Question if you’ll survive this time of suffering and come out on the other side … Process even more devastating news that makes your mind race, your throat tighten, and your eyes swell with tears … Try to pray in moments when God feels incredibly distant … Over the last couple of years, I’ve had to face one hardship after another. At many points I’ve wondered how I would make it through. Even now, I’m still very much in process. Yes, I’ve done the hard work with my counselor and processed all the things with my closest friends. I’ve been healing. I’ve gained perspective and understanding for how to move forward. I’ve made progress. But none of that changes the deep heartbreak I went through. The reality is: Sometimes it still stings. And when that pain bubbles back to the surface, I wonder why God doesn’t just take it all away. Wasn’t it enough that I had to suffer through the trauma? Why do I now have to suffer with random memories that pop into my brain and cause me to face the loss over and over again? It’s hard to feel confident in the goodness of God when parts of our story don’t at all feel good. But, friend, whether we’re trying to make sense of relational fallout, processing fresh grief, or just desperate for a few moments of encouragement, there’s something so very important God wants you and me to know: He is near to us in our heartbreak, and He cares about our despair. Past, present and future, God is still here. Right this very minute, in the middle of our own difficult circumstances, we get to choose to cling to truth more than ever before. We can allow hope to be infused into even the most impossible-looking circumstances. And when we do, we let the devil know he has messed with the wrong girl this time. We can command our weary hearts to remember God is in charge and we are not, and that’s a freeing place to be. As you wrestle with it all, the progress made, the steps forward still to be endured — the painful, time-consuming, beautifully refining process of healing — I want us to read a few verses in Romans 8 that are so comforting: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Romans 8:26a (NIV) Can I encourage you with something today, friend? Even if you don’t see it, you are healing. You are growing. God is shaping you into who He created you to be. I know it can be tempting to doubt it, but today is another step forward into a future that God is paving for you. A future that may look different than you thought … but a future He has deemed good. You see, the longer I live, the less I see healing as a destination and the more I see it as a daily choice. In case your heart is feeling a little weary today, I hope you’ll feel a little more encouraged that you’re not alone and that your beautiful, unique story is still unfolding. The circumstances of today are part of your story, but they are not the whole story. I understand that sometimes all this pain can feel so very pointless. I know what it’s like to: Start to wonder if these hard situations will be never-ending … Feel that the hurt will last forever … Question if you’ll survive this time of suffering and come out on the other side … Process even more devastating news that makes your mind race, your throat tighten, and your eyes swell with tears … Try to pray in moments when God feels incredibly distant … Over the last couple of years, I’ve had to face one hardship after another. At many points I’ve wondered how I would make it through. Even now, I’m still very much in process. Yes, I’ve done the hard work with my counselor and processed all the things with my closest friends. I’ve been healing. I’ve gained perspective and understanding for how to move forward. I’ve made progress. But none of that changes the deep heartbreak I went through.  Every time I read these words, I’m reminded I can simply surrender to Jesus and trust Him with every part of the journey I’m on. The more I surrender to trusting the Lord rather than trying to make my own way through this, the less I will suffer. And that brings great peace to my healing heart. Jesus, thank You for reminding me of Your promises today. My weary soul needed to be encouraged that You haven’t left me, that You still have a plan, and that healing is possible for me. Show me someone else who also needs to be reminded of these truths, and give me the strength to share with them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What Does It Mean to Be Saved..Dr. Charles Stanley

 What Does It Mean to Be Saved

Dr. Charles Stanley

Psalms 25:12

What makes a person acceptable to God? The path to redemption begins not with the decision to live a better life or to stop doing something wrong, but with the realization that we cannot correct our sinful nature. To find favor with the Lord, we must grasp that it's impossible to make ourselves righteous; instead, we need to depend on the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, God the Father applies the benefit of Jesus' atoning sacrifice to our sin debt, thereby making us "saved," or acceptable in His eyes.

Your good works and righteous acts are of absolutely no value in the mind of God. Compared to others' actions, your generosity and good works might seem like enough to bring favor with the Lord, but Jesus said, "Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:9). When you stand before God, the only way you can be forgiven of your sins is through Jesus Christ and His sacrificial, substitutionary atoning death at Calvary. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Jesus' public crucifixion was a demonstration of God's hatred for sin and immense love for mankind. He who was blameless bore the penalty for all in order that wicked, corrupt people could be made righteous.

No matter what you've done, you can be cleansed of the stain left by sin. Confess any known transgressions and turn from them; then Jesus will forgive you and write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life (1 John 1:9; Rev. 21:27). By trusting in Him, you are assured of eternity in His presence.

Finding Comfort from Financial Woes..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 

Finding Comfort from Financial Woes
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?” (Matthew 6:26-27)

The Fear and the Reality
Though you and I don’t know one another, we and many others living in America likely share a similar fear, especially today. One of the most relatable fears known to man is not having enough money. While Scripture admonishes us not to love money, the world reminds us how much we need it. The love of money is the root of many evils, but the lack thereof is the cause of much anxiety. Money keeps the lights on, food on the table, and a roof over our heads. We work to make money, hoping to provide ourselves with essentials and non-essentials. At the same time, we try to maintain our faith in God. We remind ourselves that money comes and goes, but He does not. Especially when the flow of our finances goes out more than coming in week to week, month to month, and sometimes year to year.

These days no one would blame us for being anxious about our incomes. Gas prices have gone down recently, but are still higher than they were years ago. The price of food has risen, along with cars and homes. Paying for anything feels like a choice worth considering at least three times. The places we have grown accustomed to, we don’t visit as often. Places we want to go tend to wait for a later date. Money’s just that tight. Yet, even if people can’t blame us for financial angst these days, they aren’t serving us if they don’t help us regain our financial confidence. Not by looking at our bank accounts, but by turning to God.

Money keeps us torn between the two - wanting to provide for ourselves and needing to trust God for provision. When fear sets in, we start to believe we are on our own. Worse, we are doomed to an unfortunate fate. Not having enough means we’ll be evicted, left homeless, and maybe even die. The reality, however hard it may be to see, says something different. Scripture tells us we do not need to worry about our finances. In His time, God will provide, just as He does for the birds of the sky. Even better, He loves us more. Not worrying about finances doesn’t equate to being nonchalant. Instead, we demonstrate faith by properly managing our finances, all the while knowing God will sustain us. Only when we get to this place do we make these deeply rooted fears face reality.

Intersecting Faith and Life
When we force our fears to face reality, we start to find comfort in regard to financial woes. Getting there requires some effort, but through Christ all things are possible. Here are five ways to start shrinking those fears.
1. Capture Thoughts
When money is on our minds and fear stirs up, what does the fear tell us? The more aware we are of that internal voice, the better we can become at refuting negative beliefs.
2. Pray
God promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. This is an open invitation to bring Him into our situation, whatever it may be. We can pray for financial stability, prosperity, and to use our money wisely. 
3. Read Scripture
Watching our bank accounts rise and fall like the ocean tide is an uncomfortable feeling. We can mitigate that by turning our focus to what Scripture says about money, and how much we are reminded not to fear. God said what He said for a reason.
4. Budget
We can pray for financial stability or prosperity, but proper money management requires a budget. Not just for eating out, not just for groceries, but everywhere we take in and put out money. A budget puts finances in perspective and helps us see details we would otherwise miss.
5. Save Money
Knowing where our money is coming from and where it is going will help us figure out how we can save. Saving is a smart strategy when in debt and attempting to sustain a financial hardship or reach a specific financial goal.

Each of these strategies can help overcome fears that wreak havoc on our minds. Just remember, money is temporary, but our confidence in God’s provision should be eternal, no matter what numbers we see in our bank accounts.

Further Reading 

• Matthew 6:19-21
• Matthew 6:25-34
• 2 Corinthians 10:5
• Hebrews 13:5
• Proverbs 22:1

A Prayer for Invitation..Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer for Invitation

By Chelsey DeMatteis

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

I recently read that as a church body, we've abandoned living room gatherings and personal discipleship. While this isn't surprising, it's not something we should feel comfortable with! The modern-day church has quickly chosen following platforms over personal relationships. And chosen to go with surface-level conversation and connection over doing meaningful, at times messy, real life with others.

It's so sad, right? But I have good news to share with you. It doesn't have to be this way! We can bring back living room gatherings, personal discipleship, and meaningful relationships. We can see Jesus from His life that these things were deeply important when it came to sharing the gospel. He told us in Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The way we get to live this out is by being in real relationships and inviting people in. By in, I mean in our hearts and in our homes. One of the sweetest blessings God has given me is two younger women (who happen to be sisters) to pour into. They are so special to me and my family.  They know they are always loved and welcomed - no matter what. 

There are times they may step into my home with it looking orderly and times when there's been a toy explosion. There are times I may be cooking, loading dishes in the dishwasher, or folding laundry, and times when the littles are napping and we can enjoy the peace together. Regardless of what is taking place, they know they can have a seat next to me and I'm ready to talk about anything. 

My challenge to you and myself is this, let's give God the glory in our homes as we open the doors to host and invite Believers of all ages to spend time with us. No longer can we sink back and think our homes aren't big enough, pretty enough, or we don't have the time or capacity. Whatever lies the enemy has tried to sow, rebuke them in Jesus's name. If you have a roof over your head, a floor for someone to sit on, and a heart willing to extend an invitation...do it! Be on mission for God through relationships. Do not delay! Walk in obedience to the Lord and leave the outcomes up to Him!

Let’s pray:

Lord, I pray for the confidence to invite people into my home and into my heart to be real with. I pray this will be a year when I see fruit from Godly friendships. Thank you Lord for the way you open doors and make connections with people. In Jesus' name, amen.

Finished!..Greg Laurie

 Finished!

Greg Laurie

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. —John 19:30 

The cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning. His birth was so there would be His death. The incarnation was for our atonement. He was born to die so that we might live. And when He had accomplished the purpose He had come to fulfill, He summed it up with a single word: “finished.”

In the original Greek, it was a common word. Jesus probably used it after He finished a project that He and Joseph might have been working on together in the carpentry shop. Jesus might have turned to Joseph and said, “Finished. Now let’s go have lunch.” It is finished. Mission accomplished. It is done. It is made an end of.

So what was finished? Finished and completed were the horrendous sufferings of Christ. Never again would He experience pain at the hand of wicked men. Never again would He have to bear the sins of the world. Never again would He, even for a moment, be forsaken of God. That was completed. That was taken care of.

Also finished was Satan’s stronghold on humanity. Jesus came to deal a decisive blow against the devil and his demons at the cross of Calvary. Hebrews 2:14 says, “Only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who hadthe power of death.” This means that you no longer have to be under the power of sin. Because of Jesus’ accomplishment at the cross, finished was the stronghold of Satan on humanity.