God is a Fun Father..Craig Denison Ministries

 God is a Fun Father

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:“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Psalm 30:11-12

Devotional:    

There is a terrible misconception in the church today that our Father is not a fun God. For most Christians, what they know of God comes through worship services rather than direct encounters with the living God. As the body of Christ, we have not cultivated a culture of restored relationship well. But regardless of faults in the church today, God longs to give you a revelation of how incredibly fun it is to have him as your Father. He longs to guide you into a lifestyle of abundant joy as you grow in your relationship with him.

While God’s fun may look different than the world’s, every form of fun apart from his is a cheap imitation. We see countless examples in Scripture of God’s children experiencing a depth of joy unattainable apart from God. David writes in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The fullness of fun is found with God because he alone guides us to the path of true life. He alone frees us, heals us, loves us, rejoices over us, has grace for us, and longs to fully satisfy our desires. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” God longs to lead you to the fullness of life today. He longs to guide you to the riches of his love that you might experience how fun it is to be truly loved by your Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.

Our Father loves parties. He loves to celebrate and have fun with his children. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine to keep a wedding feast going (John 2:1-11). The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is the story Jesus told of an earthly father and son and a parallel to our relationship with the heavenly Father. When the prodigal son returns home, the father tells his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22-24). While the older son was out in the field, he heard everyone celebrating with music and dancing. He couldn't help but go see what was going on. And Revelation 19 foretells the great marriage supper of the Lamb where we will celebrate our total and complete union with God, the party to end all parties.

Psalm 30:11-12 says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Your heavenly Father longs to lead you to the fullness of fun today. He longs to clothe you with gladness and turn your mourning into dancing. The God you serve is the inventor of fun. He loves to celebrate with his children. He longs to fill your days with that which will satisfy the deepest longings of your heart, including your need for fun. May you encounter the fun heart of your heavenly Father today as you enter into guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to give you a fun life. Allow Scripture to reorient your understanding of what it’s like to live life with your heavenly Father.

“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

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Psalm 30:11-12

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

2. Where do you need more fun in your life? Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to have the fullness of fun today. What is he providing for you that you might experience all the joy and celebration available to you? What is keeping you from living a more fun life? He wants to free you today. Spend timing resting in his presence and allow him to do a work in your heart today.

Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Extended Reading: Luke 15

Proven Faith..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Proven Faith

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Peter 1:3-9

Faith is perhaps the most central element in the Christian life because it is the means by which we enter into salvation. But that’s only the beginning. From then onward, our faith—or lack of it—shapes our lives and determines what happens to us when the winds of adversity blow. Some Christians never lose their footing even in hurricane-force winds, but others are toppled by the slightest gust. To understand why this is true, we need to examine the source of our faith.

Inherited faith: If you grew up in a Christian home, you probably adopted some of the beliefs of your parents. This kind of godly foundation is a wonderful gift from the Lord, but eventually, each person must assume responsibility for his own beliefs.

Textbook faith: The Bible is the ultimate guide for establishing our beliefs. But that’s not the only source of influence. Books, preachers, teachers, and friends all impact our convictions. Our theology may in fact be sound, but faith is merely mental acceptance until it’s put to the test.

Proven Faith: Only when we trust the Lord through the fires of adversity will we have faith that can stand. It is no longer based on what others have told us or what we’ve accepted as true but on our firsthand experience of His faithfulness.

To evaluate your faith, consider how you react to adversity. Do you cling to the Lord or get angry at Him? Is your attitude one of rejoicing because He’s making you more like His Son, or are you bitter? No one can escape adversity, but those with proven faith will benefit from it.

Water and Renewal..Whitney Hopler

 Water and Renewal

By Whitney Hopler

“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.” – Isaiah 43:19 NIV 

I love to take prayer walks in nature. Recently, I was walking on the nature trail in my neighborhood, which runs alongside a creek. Watching the freshwater rush along there, I thought about how often water brings renewal. Water quenches our thirst. There's nothing better to drink than a refreshing cup of pure water. Water helps us relax. Simply watching the water flow is naturally calming and peaceful. Water washes us clean. We bathe in it, shower in it, and wash our dishes and clothes in it. 

Just as water renews us physically, God renews us spiritually. Our bodies need water, and our souls need God in vital ways. To be healthy, we must stay hydrated physically and connected to God spiritually regularly. Water can remind us of the need for regular spiritual renewal, just as our physical bodies require hydration to thrive. 

In Isaiah 43:19 (NIV), God tells us that the renewal he brings into our lives is like a spring of water and streams in a wasteland. No matter our circumstances, God can renew our souls and make way for us to move forward well. That's because God renews us spiritually with living water. In John chapter 4, Jesus meets a woman at a well and tells her in John 4:10 that God offers "living water." He continues in John 4:13-14 NIV by saying,

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

In John 7:37-38 NIV, Jesus proclaims: "… 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.'" Water holds significant symbolism throughout the Bible, representing various concepts such as cleansing, renewal, and spiritual nourishment. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the renewing work of God's Holy Spirit in our lives. In Titus 3:5-6 NIV, we read that God "… saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the Holy Spirit's washing of rebirth and renewal, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior." 

How do you need to be renewed right now? The next time you interact with water – such as when you enjoy a refreshing drink or when you take a shower – use that time to reflect on how God can renew you with his living water. Consider how you can ask God in prayer for more living water in your life. Try planning some breaks in your busy schedule for spiritual practices that help you notice God's presence with you. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind. Be willing to act on whatever you sense God calling you to do. 

As you perceive God's new work in your life, keep seeking spiritual renewal. Allow God's living water to transform you from within regularly. The more you welcome God's Spirit to flow through your life, the more your soul will be refreshed! 

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
As you reflect on how water can remind you of your need for spiritual renewal, consider these questions: 

• In what ways do you need God's living water in your life right now? 
• Consider how water nourishes your body, such as quenching your thirst and keeping your cells functioning. How can you prioritize nourishing your soul through regular spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and Bible study? 
• Reflect on moments when you've witnessed the power of water, such as experiencing a rainstorm or watching waves crash on a shoreline. How does the awe-inspiring power of water remind you of God's powerful transformative work in your life? 
• When you think of how important water is for cleaning, how does that inspire you to seek God's forgiveness and invite his spiritual cleaning work in your life? 
• Think about the stillness of a body of water, reflecting the world around it like a mirror. How can you create moments of stillness and silence in your own life to reflect on your spiritual well-being and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal areas needing renewal? 

Further Reading:

• Psalm 51:10
• Isaiah 12:3
• Isaiah 44:3
• Ezekiel 36:25
• Revelation 21:6

Jehovah Rohi – God is Our Good Shepherd.. Jennifer Kostick

 Jehovah Rohi – God is Our Good Shepherd

By Jennifer Kostick

Today's Bible Verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. - Psalm 23:1

When I was a little girl, age ten, my grandfather passed away. The paternal side of my family was not active in church and to my knowledge knew nothing about the Jesus my next door neighbors introduced me to so intimately. I have a vivid memory of sitting in the living room at my grandparent’s home when the pastor, who would be conducting the funeral asked, “Is there a specific passage of scripture you would like mentioned at the service?” I was shocked as I heard my great uncle say, “Yes, Psalm 23.” A family who never spoke of the Word of God seemed to actually be familiar with something in the Bible. I remember that moment as if it happened yesterday.

Throughout adulthood, as I’ve thought back to that grief-filled living room and the faces inside it, I’m forever grateful to realize Psalm 23 is so much more than a familiarly recited passage read graveside. After all, the Bible is a book about giving life while abolishing death. It provides instruction for abundant living while actively giving spiritual CPR to the weary.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.- Psalm 23:1

When I read Psalm 23:1 I make it personal and speak, “My Jehovah is my Good Shepherd. He watches over, protecting me from all things. I want for nothing, because He is all I need.”

I’ll tell you why:

One of the names of God is Jehovah Rohi. It speaks of a Good Shepherd. When doing research into the occupation of shepherds, we learn that a shepherd’s position is one of authority and protection. It is a dangerous job requiring much sacrifice. King David himself in 1 Samuel 17 spoke of rescuing lambs from mouths of lions and bears.

King David authored Psalm 23, and because he began his life as a shepherd, he was obviously familiar with the role. A true shepherd puts his flock at ease by giving everything it needs. Psalm 23 is actually quite prophetic, especially now that we have a clear view of Jesus’ work on the cross.

In John 10:11, Jesus said, “I am the good Shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” In the New Living Translation, it uses the word sacrifices. “The good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.” It is Jesus who sacrificed Himself to protect us. When we read this small section of scripture with this in mind, we can be confident that we will never want for anything. Our Jesus sacrificed His life for us, the work is done and we can find confidence and contentment in light of the cross.

A Prayer to Overflow with Thankfulness..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Overflow with Thankfulness

By Kristine Brown

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” - Colossians 2:6-7 NIV

“Thank - you - for - this - day.” I open my prayer every morning with those five little words. But lately, I’ve wondered if I truly mean what I say. Am I thankful for the day ahead, or am I stuck in a pattern of repeating words without thinking about their significance? As I think about those words, I recall a time in my career when all the demands overwhelmed me. Even though I loved my work, I felt like I wanted to quit. It was hard to be thankful. I remember many times walking through the door after a long day at work and wanting to vent about the difficulties of my day. I didn’t realize I was spending more time complaining than giving thanks.

It’s easy to get distracted by negativity, especially when balancing work, home, family, and everything else. Sometimes it feels like the bad outweighs the good in life. We want to discuss our problems because it helps us feel better to get it all out. But that good feeling is only temporary. Unless we take our frustrations to God in prayer, they can linger in the atmosphere like a cloud, affecting those around us. Colossians 2:6 reminds us of the importance of living our lives for Jesus. Verse seven encourages us to stay “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” I have a friend who keeps a gratitude list in her journal. She’s been adding to her list for years. Reading today’s passage reminded me of my friend’s routine. What a great example of overflowing with thankfulness! In our weakness, the struggles of daily life can take their toll on our hearts, but gratitude is key to staying encouraged.

A gratitude journal is a practical way to put God’s Word into action today. What other ways can we overflow with thankfulness when negativity threatens? I’ve resolved to start my mornings thinking about the meaning of those five short but powerful words. As I begin praying, “Thank you for this day,” I will mean what I say. No matter how we put it into practice, overflowing with thankfulness is always a good idea. 

Let’s pray.
Dear God,
Thank you. I am grateful for this day and all it brings. Forgive me for complaining and letting my struggles take my attention away from you and your goodness. Help me overflow with thankfulness. Father, help me to replace frustration with gratitude. Bring to my thoughts the many blessings in my life, both big and small. Help me keep my heart and mind focused on being thankful. As I begin listing everything I am grateful for, I feel uplifted. Gratitude is a gift. When I remember to be grateful, you restore my joy and peace. The difficulties of this life have become a heavy weight, but thankfulness lifts that weight. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds me to 

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

I will begin today by giving thanks in all circumstances— not only when things are going well or convenient. Give me the wisdom and strength to remain thankful even in suffering. Gratitude will help me persevere through the pains of this world. I have so much to be grateful for today and every day. Your blessings are never-ending. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.