God is Patient..Craig Denison Ministries

 God is Patient

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

There is no better father than Creator God. He formed us and knows us. He provides for us, loves us unconditionally, and longs for real, life-giving relationship with us. He runs out to meet us in our sin, clothes us with new identity, and restores to us the abundant life he has always planned for us. As we spend time looking at the father heart of God, may a fresh revelation of his love for you guide you into greater depths of relationship with your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Devotional:    

There is no virtue more calming than patience. A peaceful lifestyle begins with patience. When birthed by a heavenly perspective, patience can transform even the most stressful places of one’s heart into calm streams of joy and abundant life.

Our heavenly Father perfectly models a patient heart. 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” God’s perspective and overwhelming love for us fill his heart with incredible patience.

Think for a second about all the atrocities, perversions, sin, and depravity God witnesses on a continual basis. He watches in pain as humanity kills, steals, lies, and cheats. He watches as those he most cares for throw away his perfect plans for cheap imitations that only cause heartache and pain. But God in his patient mercy waits to return and bring about the complete restoration of creation that all might reach repentance. God is patient because he is love.

God is not only patient in regard to the second coming of Jesus. He is wholly patient with you in regards to your sanctification and relationship with him and others. He beckons you moment by moment, whispering to your heart about the great plans he has for your life. He waits patiently as he  transforms you into a reflection of Jesus by filling you with his abundant love. He knows your frame. He knows the wounds the world has caused. And he is patient with you.

Take time this morning to slow down and take a deep breath. Carve out some space in the busyness of your life and rest in response to God’s patience. God isn’t in a rush with his plans for you. He isn’t in a rush to fix you. He simply longs for you to take some time and be with him. He wants to overwhelm you with his patient love that you might live free from the burdens and cares of this rushed, stressed world.

Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” May you encounter the patient, merciful, gracious, peaceful, and loving presence of your heavenly Father as you enter into guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the patient heart of your heavenly Father. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation of how patient God is with you as you mull over his words.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40:28

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 103:8

2. Where do you need an increase of patience today? What burden or care doesn’t line up with the heavenly perspective of patience?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be patient like your heavenly Father. Ask him to give you a heavenly perspective about your life so that you can cast off stress and burden. Pursue patience and passion for all God has given you.

Oftentimes we believe patience and passion can’t be connected. We see examples of those who achieved so much seemingly out of a lack of patience and believe that we need to be as rushed and stressed as they were in order to have a meaningful life. That is not the case with God. God’s timing is perfect. His will can be known. If you will trust the patient heart of your heavenly Father and live as he directs, you will achieve the purpose for which you have been called. Seek the face of your heavenly Father today for wisdom and direction. Pursue passion with patience. And discover the wealth of joy and peace that comes from having patience for yourself and others as your heavenly Father does.

Extended Reading: Psalm 103

Failing to Listen to God..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Failing to Listen to God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Genesis 3

Listening to God is not a onetime event. We must continually keep His Word before us, or we'll begin to listen to the wrong voices.

In Genesis 2:16-17, the Lord gave a command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Eve began to listen to another voice and did not hold firmly to her Creator's words. All that Satan had to do was plant a single doubt about God's integrity and offer Eve one appealing advantage of doing things her own way—and she fell for it. He mentioned wisdom, but using her own reasoning, Eve added two more benefits to the temptation: the fruit is good for food and a delight to the eyes.

The schemes of the Enemy have not changed. He still whispers lies and twists truth to convince us that a) God cannot be trusted and b) His ways are not the best. In every temptation, there is a deception about the character and motive of God, plus an attractive promise of a better way.

The world is filled with voices that vie for our attention and influence our thoughts and actions. Throughout the day, consider the messages that are sent your way through the media and people. Consciously begin to compare them to what Scripture says about God and His ways.

Remembering what God says in the Bible is our safeguard against deception and temptation. Daily devotions won't protect us if they're quickly forgotten during the day. Follow Christ's example: be ready with truth in your mind and on your tongue whenever temptation strikes (Matt. 4:1-11).

How to Be Persistent in Prayer..Whitney Hopler

 How to Be Persistent in Prayer

By Whitney Hopler 

“Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.” – Colossians 4:2 GNT 

Have you been praying for something important for a long time yet still haven’t seen a response from God? God calls us to persistent prayer. However, that can sometimes be quite challenging to do. The longer we have to wait for God’s answers to our prayers, the more we can be tempted to give up. 

I once prayed about the same issue regularly for 23 long years! Every day, I would pray about my mom, asking God to give her faith in him. But Mom kept resisting a relationship with God. It became discouraging and frustrating for me to see the lack of progress. Still, I persisted in praying for Mom’s salvation, even as doubt crept into my own faith. When, I wondered, would God do something to wake Mom up to his love for her? Was I a fool for continuing to pray for something that might never happen? 

Then God surprised me with an answer that was definitely worth waiting for. He sent one of his messengers, an angel, to visit Mom while she was hospitalized with leukemia. The angel appeared in heavenly glory, capturing Mom’s attention. “She was so beautiful,” Mom told me. “She was lit from within with a very powerful light that didn’t hurt my eyes when I looked at her. And those wings! Such intricate designs, like ripples of white, cream, and chestnut brown that matched her brown hair. The angel raised her hands and started gesturing toward me like this,” she demonstrated, moving her hands gracefully back and forth in a circular sweeping motion. “And then she sent me something that looked like oval-shaped bits of energy. The outlines of the ovals were like glowing gold, and the insides were transparent.” Mom finished the story of her wondrous encounter with the angel and concluded: “I can tell you now, I’m a true believer for sure!”

Medical tests after the angel’s visit showed that Mom had gone into remission from cancer, much to her doctors’ surprise. But the greatest gift of all was the change in Mom’s soul. She finally believed in God, and in God’s love for her. Finally, Mom began to seek God, and she had just enough time to place her trust in God and grow close to him before she passed away several months later from an infection. 

God sent his answer to my persistent prayers only when Mom was ready to receive it. Not only did God have the best timing in mind, but he answered in such a wonderful way that it was beyond what I expected. As Ephesians 3:20 NIV says, God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. God will always answer our prayers. However, he may answer at different times and in different ways than we expect. Only God knows what is truly best in each situation we bring to him in prayer. 

As we wait for God to answer our prayers, it’s important to keep praying and keep believing until the answer comes. Persistent prayer helps us learn how to trust God’s perfect timing. Just because we may not see immediate answers to our prayers doesn’t mean that God is not at work. In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus shares the parable of the persistent widow, teaching that God rewards persistent prayer. Luke 18:1 NIV says that Jesus told his disciples that parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV exhorts us to: “Pray without ceasing.” Philippians 4:6-7 advises us not to be anxious about anything but to pray about everything, and God will then give us his peace. Our faith grows as we continue to seek God earnestly, believing that he hears and answers our prayers according to his divine wisdom. 

When we persevere in prayer, we also position ourselves to experience a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father. Persistent prayer aligns our desires with God’s purposes. The more we spend time in prayer, the more our prayers are shaped by God’s priorities, leading us to seek what’s truly best for us. 1 John 5:14-15 NIV assures us: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 

It can be challenging to be persistent in prayer, but it’s always worthwhile to do so! 

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
As you reflect on how to be persistent in prayer, consider these questions: 

• What is one important issue you’ve been praying about lately? How are you trying to trust God while you’re waiting for him to answer your prayers about that? 
• What are some specific ways you can seek encouragement while you’re praying persistently about something? 

Further Reading: 

• Ephesians 6:18
• Matthew 7:7-8
• James 5:16
• Romans 12:12
• Mark 11:24

What Does It Mean to be Living Stones?..Rachael Adams

 What Does It Mean to be Living Stones?

By Rachael Adams

Today’s Bible Verse: “As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:4-8

Recently, my family and I spent a day at the lake. We pulled our boat up to the shore for our kids to explore, and before long, they started skipping rocks. As I watched them having fun and enjoying nature, my eyes started to wander the shoreline. I was drawn to the beauty and variety of rocks, layered and weathered over time. If only those rocks could talk, oh the stories they could tell.

Later, I decided to learn what the Bible says about stones and found that the Bible refers to them quite often. The majority of the mentions pertain to altars built for the Lord. An altar is a memorial built to symbolize a place where God met a person or a place to offer a sacrifice. As I studied this topic, I discovered three main kinds: an altar of sacrifice, an altar of remembrance, and an altar of faith.

An Altar of Sacrifice

In my opinion, the most notable example of an altar of sacrifice was when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). Abraham obeyed by making the journey, arranging the wood, and laying his bound son on top. However, at the last second God stopped Abraham and provided a ram in Isaac’s place.

This unfathomable act foreshadows God sacrificing His one and only son Jesus, the lamb of God. In the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus offered Himself on an altar in the shape of a cross. Because of His sacrifice, we no longer have to offer sacrifices as they did in the Old Testament. However, we can offer ourselves to the Lord as living sacrifices and offer the altar of our hearts. In our lives this looks like daily laying aside our own desires to follow Him, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal, and trusting Him to guide us.

An Altar of Remembrance

One of my favorite examples of an altar of remembrance is from Joshua. If you'll recall his story, he was leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and they needed to cross the Jordan River. But they needed a miracle from the Lord to do it—the river was at flood stage, making the waters turbulent and impossible to navigate. The Lord showed up and helped them cross safely.

But before they crossed all the way over into the Promised Land, God wanted them to go back into the Jordan and gather 12 stones to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. He directed them to build a memorial to commemorate the miracle. The altar was to serve as a reminder for future generations to learn what God had done for them (Joshua 4).

Reading Joshua’s story convicts me when I think about how many times I have prayed for something and God has shown up and answered my prayer and I just moved on to the next prayer. I want to remember, but how often I forget how He has shown up and provided for me.

This prompts me to consider building metaphorical memorials in our hearts to thank Him for being present and answering our pleas. What would it look like to symbolically lay down a memorial for Him to remember His faithfulness? Could we build a figurative altar of remembrance to tell our children and our children’s children what He has done in our lives?

An Altar of Faith

I only found one altar of faith in my research and it was built by King David. Israel was experiencing a plague, so David built an altar to the Lord and prayed on behalf of the land. God answered his plea and the plague stopped (2 Samuel 24). What faith he had to build the altar first in expectation that God would meet their need. As a result of his active belief, God showed up and performed the miracle.

I’m inspired by this kind of faith. There are many areas in my life I need God to show up and act on my behalf. I’m guessing the same is true for you. Could God be asking us to lay down stones in active faith first, as David did, so He will act on our behalf?

Our Altars

Like those rocks along the shoreline of the lake, we are living stones—unique and weathered. Our stories of sacrifice, remembrance, and faith layer generation upon generation showcasing God’s presence and displaying the evidence of His work in our lives.

Peter writes, “As you come to Him, the living Stone, you are like living stones being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5).

With Christ as our Cornerstone, I pray our collective stones tell a beautiful story for His glory along the shorelines of this world. Together the altars we build to Him are also building a holy priesthood for Him, so more stones can be added to the beauty of the shoreline. If only those rocks could talk, oh the stories they could tell—God’s great story that we have the privilege to play a part. What a glorious sight to behold.

A Prayer to Love Who Jesus Loves.. Laura Bailey

 A Prayer to Love Who Jesus Loves

By Laura Bailey

“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” - John 21:17 ESV

We just finished one of my favorite weeks of the year– Vacation Bible School! For most who serve, this week brings mixed emotions, as it is equally one of the most exhausting weeks of the year. But I can’t contain my excitement when I see children make new friendships, learn about the Bible, and for some, give their lives to Christ–easily compensates for losing my voice, irreversibly staining my clothing with art supplies, and increasing my need for a little concealer to cover the tiredness under my eyes.

I have read, studied, and meditated on God’s word for years. I have devoured commentaries and other Christian resources. I even committed to two years to obtain a degree in Bible studies from the seminary. But nothing pricks my heart more than some of the lessons we covered during Vacation Bible School, and this year was no different. 

While Scripture was written for all people from various education levels, it still can be difficult to digest. Its principles are basic, yet, as adults, we tend to over-complicate or read more into the text instead of focusing on the universal Truth or how the verses point to God. For each lesson during Vacation Bible School, we widdled the passages down to one simple takeaway the children would hopefully easily remember.

Our “bottom line” on our third night was “love who Jesus loves.” Simple enough, right? As I prepared for the lesson, I learned that we love who Jesus loves by offering forgiveness when people hurt us. The Bible story came from John 21, telling how Jesus forgave Peter for denying Him and then charged Peter with sharing the Gospel and caring for God’s children. 

I’d been wrestling with offering forgiveness to someone for a while, someone that, if I was honest, I didn’t like and didn’t love. However, as I read the story of Jesus forgiving Peter, I couldn’t help but see where I was falling short of God’s commandment to “love others as yourself” ( Matthew 22:26-40). My unwillingness to forgive hindered my ability to love them the way Jesus does, and more importantly me. 

Do you, like me, sometimes suffer from this form of spiritual amnesia? Do we too often take the wrongs done against us too seriously but take our sinful slip-ups lightly?

We quickly forget the price Jesus paid for our forgiveness and reconciliation with God the Father. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we automatically forget, but over time, letting go of bitterness and resentment will help us move toward reconciliation and hopefully repair the relationship. As we go about our lives, may we remember this biblical truth: we can’t truly love others the way Jesus does until we learn to forgive like Jesus.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, why do we find it so hard to love other people? Jesus gave us two commandments: to love God and love our neighbors, and far too often, we fall short of obeying either. Help us love all image bearers, both those who show us love and those who are openly rude, mean, or hurt us. Let us never forget that because of Your great love for Your children, You sent Your Son to die on the cross for our sins. It was because of our actions, or sinful rebellion, that a price needed to be paid for our forgiveness. In remembering this Truth, we can freely choose to forgive others. We are grateful that you offer forgiveness no matter how often we sin against you. If you can use someone who called himself the "chief of sinners," you can certainly use us for your glory and to bring people to Christ. We love you, Lord; thank you for all the many ways you have blessed us. Help us in our weakness.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.