Joy in Every Circumstance..Craig Denison Ministries

 Joy in Every Circumstance

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of the Most High God, we are to be marked by contagious, unceasing joy. Through the Holy Spirit we have access to an unending supply of joy that comes from the wellspring of restored relationship with our heavenly Father. God longs to fill us with his joy that we might live the abundant life Jesus died to give us. He longs to make us children fashioned in the image of our Father that we might share his unending joy to a world without hope. May you discover the greater portion of joy available to you through the Spirit as you encounter the heart of your Father this week.

Scripture: “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

Devotional:   

The joy of the Lord available to us in the Holy Spirit transcends all circumstances, relationships, and possessions. It is an internal joy fed to our hearts by the wellspring of joy the Father has toward us. God longs to make us a people marked by his joy. He longs to fill us with the knowledge of how thrilled he is to be our Father. He longs to make us a joyful people in every circumstance and season. 1 Peter 1:6-9 says,

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We can have joy in the midst of trial and tribulation because we have a genuine faith that this life is not all there is. Our hope reaches far beyond the confines of this fleeting age of sin and separation from God and looks toward the day when we will live in perfect, face-to-face relationship with our Creator. Every trial and tribulation is an opportunity to cling to the truth that this world is not our home and to be filled with joy at the thought of what awaits us on the other side of this life.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” While God may not cause the various trials we face, he most certainly uses them to cause our joy to find its source in him alone. Our heavenly Father knows that if we place our joy in the fleeting and fickle circumstances of this life our lives will be an emotional rollercoaster rather than a reflection of how consistently good he is.

Your heavenly Father has a compassionate heart toward the problems you face. He never desires for you to act or try and drum up faith that everything will be all right. He longs to meet you at the very core of your trial and fill you with abundant joy that’s rooted in his love alone. He longs to guide you through the tough seasons of life that try and rob you of your allotted portion of joy. He longs to make your faith steadfast and sure so you can meet the tribulations of this world head-on with joy. Run to your Father today with every weight and problem. Ask him to guide you to the still waters that your soul might be restored. And receive all the joy he longs to give you today as you encounter his deep and powerful love for you.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire to fill you with joy in every circumstance.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

2. What trial or tribulation are you facing that God longs to use to strengthen your faith with joy? Where does God want to meet you today that you might live with the joy of his love rather than the weight of the world?

3. Ask God to guide you to the source of joy for your circumstance. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you proper perspective about your life. Open your heart and allow God to come and love you where you’re at.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

May Mother Teresa's words spur you toward a lifestyle of joy today:

“Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.”

Extended Reading: James 1

Handling Difficult Circumstances..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Handling Difficult Circumstances

Dr. Charles Stanley

Philippians 3:8-11

The apostle Paul understood how to handle tough circumstances. Even while he was confined in a prison cell, he kept his eyes on Christ and trusted firmly in the Savior. Therefore, despite being in chains, he was able to celebrate the Lord’s work in his life. In fact, the epistle he wrote from jail to the Philippians was filled with rejoicing (1:18; 2:18; 3:1).

Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one. Our instinct is to dwell on the situation at hand, searching for solutions or stewing over the pain and difficulty. As a result, troubles look scary and overwhelm us with a sense of defeat.

However, fear and defeat cannot live long in a heart that trusts the Lord. I’m not saying you’ll forget what you’re going through, but you can choose to dwell on His provision and care instead. He is the Deliverer (2 Cor. 1:10). He is the Healer (Deut. 32:39). He is the Guide (Prov. 3:6).  The believer who lays claim to divine promises discovers that God pushes back negative emotions. In their place, hope, confidence, and contentment take up residence (Phil. 4:11). You aren’t going to be happy about a difficult situation, but you can be satisfied that God is in control and up to something good in the midst of trouble.

The Lord’s principles and promises don’t change, no matter how severe or painful the situation is. Focus on Christ instead of the circumstances—God will comfort your heart and bring you safely through the trial. Then you can answer Paul’s call to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4).

Compelled to Compassionate Action..Rachael Adams

 Compelled to Compassionate Action

By Rachael Adams

“Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” - Mark 2:3-4

My dad very rarely misses my kids' extracurricular activities. He makes an effort to attend as many of their events as his schedule allows, regardless of the weather or the location of the activity. Whether on the sidelines, court, bleachers, pool deck, or auditorium stage, my kids can look up to see his smiling face there to support them. He did the same thing for my brothers and me growing up. We knew we were his priority, and his effort to show up was proof. He doesn't have to be there, but he wants to be, and it makes my children and I feel loved. 

It means so much when people make an effort for us. God appreciates our effort too. As unfathomable as it seems, God chooses to use us to fulfill his purposes on earth. He could easily do it all on his own, and there is no doubt he is in control, but he often requires our participation before he acts. Scripture shows that he works through those willing to make an effort for him. 

Of course, our levels of effort can vary, but one of my favorite examples of a display of extra effort is from Mark 2. It all started when people heard that Jesus had come home to Capernaum. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left in the house where Jesus was, not even outside the door. As Jesus preached the word to the people, four men came, carrying a paralyzed man. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he forgave the paralyzed man. He then told the man to "get up, take your mat and go home." So the man got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone, and they all praised God (Mark 2:1-12).

After reading this account and putting myself in the place of these four friends, I wonder if it would have occurred to me to help my paralyzed friend in the first place. I want to think I would have, but the more likely scenario is that I would have been more concerned about hearing Jesus or getting healing for myself. 

Even if I had the intention of helping my friend, seeing such a large crowd would have caused me to hesitate. When I realized the door was blocked, I'm not sure I would have pursued an alternative and likely would have given up, shrugging my shoulders and proud of myself for trying. But these men didn't stop at the crowd or the door; instead, they plotted and planned an alternative route. And this route involved a lot of effort. 

Houses in Bible times were built of stone with flat mud roofs mixed with straw. These men carried their friend up the outside stairway to the roof. It took four of them, so he must have been heavy. Once they were on top of the house, they took apart as much of the mud and straw mixture as was necessary to lower him in front of Jesus. Digging a hole and lowering him down took a lot of work! They allowed no obstacle to prevent them from helping their friend.

In this story, I also notice the effort of the paralyzed man. If you'll remember, Jesus first healed the man's spiritual life, forgiving his sins because of his friends' faith. But then, for his physical body to be healed, Jesus required effort from him. The paralyzed man had to get up, take his mat, and go home. The man obeyed, and, as a result, he received his healing, but not until he took action.

I'm convicted as I read this short story of faith, action, and effort. Personally, it causes me to ponder if God is waiting for me to show effort and take action before healing me physically and spiritually. Is he waiting for you? On a communal level, am I moved to act when I see a need? These are challenging thoughts. Some so many people have physical and spiritual needs we can meet. Human need moved these four men. I pray we also allow human need to compel us to compassionate action. Let's make an effort and allow nothing to stop us from bringing others to the feet of Jesus. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see the need of others. Be intentional to prioritize meeting those needs.  

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for meeting all my needs. I come to your feet for healing. Forgive me for not being concerned about the needs of others, being lackadaisical, and giving up too soon. Strengthen me and embolden me to care for others enough to bring them to you. Amen.

Further Reading: 
Mark 2

What the Bible Can Tell Us about Knowing God’s Will..Christina Fox

 What the Bible Can Tell Us about Knowing God’s Will

By Christina Fox

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Have you ever had to make an important decision and felt stuck as to what to do? Perhaps you stood at a crossroads with two paths before you and you didn't know which one to take.

GOD'S WILL AND MAKING DECISIONS

Theologians often refer to God's will in terms of his sovereign will and his perceptive (or revealed) will. God's sovereign will refers to the fact that he ordains all things. Everything is under his control, including every detail of our lives. Nothing can or will happen outside of his will. He is never surprised or taken off guard by what happens. Whatever choice we make, we can be sure it is God's will.

We don't know his plan for us for tomorrow, next week, or next year. His secret will is not for us to know. But, as believers, we can take great comfort in the doctrine of God's sovereignty. Whatever decisions we make, we can be assured that God will use it for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28-29).

So what should we do when we have to make a difficult decision? First, we need to know where wisdom is found. God's Word tells us that wisdom originates in him. He is the source and fountain of wisdom. John 1:14 tells us that God's Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is wisdom incarnate. Isaiah prophesied about him, "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:2). Paul tells us that Christ is our wisdom, "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). He says something similar in Colossians 3:2 "Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

So when we have a decision to make, we need to turn to God's Word. As we read and study, we can ask ourselves: Is this choice sinful? By choosing this, am I doing something God has told me not to do or failing to do something God has told me to do? Does it conflict with God's calling on my life? Another question to ask is, will this choice bring God glory? Will it honor him? We can also ask ourselves, what does the Bible tell me about Christ, who he is and what he has done? We can be assured that as we study the Word, and as our minds are conformed to it, we will discern what God's will is.

Secondly, we should always seek God in prayer about our decisions. We should ask for wisdom and discernment. We should ask that our choices and actions bring him glory. As Jesus taught us, we should pray that God's will would be done.

Thirdly, we should ask others who are wise in the Word to advise us in making decisions. God has not left us alone, he's given us brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ who can give us the wisdom they have gleaned from Scripture. Many older and wiser believers have had to make difficult decisions in their lives and there is much we can learn from them (see also Titus 2). "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22).

I remember a college professor once talking to our class about choosing between A and B. In the example he gave, it was the choice between attending two colleges. He said that if a choice is not sinful, if we have prayed and sought God's Word for wisdom, as well as the wisdom of others, then we just make a choice. We simply move forward. We trust that God will use the decision for his glory. We rest in his sovereign control over all things. We remember the gospel and who we are in Christ, and know that nothing can separate us from his love for us.

A Prayer to Make Time for Others..Ashley Moore

 A Prayer to Make Time for Others

By Ashley Moore 

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” - Luke 15:7, ESV

A friend recently shared her desire to see her neighbor attend church. She was so passionate about this; she began to pursue an intentional relationship with the family. She relentlessly invited her and her kids to dinner, playdates at the park, and to hang out at the pool. They were at her daughter’s birthday parties and other events at their house. Though it took time, she and her daughters started attending church regularly with my friend. 

I was amazed at how my friend consistently and purposefully invited this family into her life and eventually into the gathering of God’s people. Her actions reflected a facet of the gospel I must often be reminded of. We serve a God who pursues His lost sheep. He goes after the one. He is relentless in His pursuit. When that one lost sheep is found, heaven rejoices. This great phenomenon is because everyone who comes to know Christ and joins the eternal family is worth pursuing and celebrating. 

• But do we always live as if God’s lost sheep are worth pursuing?
• Do we rearrange our schedule to include time with someone who doesn’t know Jesus?
• Do we pray for a list of lost friends and family?
• Or do we risk discomfort to invite someone outside of the family of God to join us for dinner or an evening Bible Study at church? 

If I answer honestly, I don’t always consider people worthy of making these sacrifices. I don’t intentionally try to exclude people from my days; life just gets busy. We have grocery shopping to do. We have full-time jobs. And we need to spend quality time with our families when we're done doing everything else on our plates. 

I get it, and it’s hard to manage everything. We are all busy and usually busy with good things. But maybe, like my friend who was following our even greater example, we can consider others worthy of our pursuit. What would it look like to chat on the phone with someone as you do your grocery shopping? Or add a list of names to pray over at your desk? Could you invite someone to join you for your family dinner once a month?  

My friend’s persistence may have meant a celebration in heaven or multiple instances of heaven rejoicing when her neighbor’s children or future generations come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. May we all purposefully and joyfully consider what it could look like to pursue someone like our Savior who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one who has lost their way. 

Let’s pray:
Dear Lord, 
Thank you for chasing us down when we were far from you! Thank you for putting us in people’s hearts to pray for our salvation and spend time with us to show us how much you love and want to be with us forever. Lord, I pray you forgive us for not prioritizing the pursuit of those in need of the gospel with that same tenacity. Lord, break our hearts for what breaks yours. Teach us how to pursue people even in the middle of our busy lives. 

Lord, show us moments when we need to speak up, reach out, and open our lives to those around us. Lord, help us see people and love people as you do! And help us learn to pray for others as much as we pray for our own needs. Lord, send your lost sheep to intersect our lives. Give us eyes to see them and the courage to walk with them. Lord, help us to pursue them relentlessly. Help us to see how much you value them and to rejoice with heaven when they come to know You. Lord, thank You for allowing us to be a part of the process of people coming to know You and following You. Lord, that is so special. May we never take it for granted. We look forward to when we can all celebrate together in heaven with you forever! In Jesus’ name, Amen.