Living from Union..Craig Denison Ministries

 Living from Union

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This life is marked by a single choice: who or what will we center our lives around? This choice takes each of us down a path of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who or what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days. To center our lives around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to destruction. But, to center our lives around meeting with God fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God’s love, provision, and transcendent peace. May your life be marked by union with your Creator as we explore what it means to center our lives around meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Devotional:           

One of the greatest scandals of the Christian faith is that God himself, in all his holiness and love, would dwell in the heart of man. You and I have been brought into union with God by the blood of Jesus. Nothing can separate us from him any longer. He is closer than our breath. He is more real than the very ground beneath our feet.

The New Testament is filled with truth about our union with God. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 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.” And Colossians 1:27 says,“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

There is never a single moment that you are apart from God. God is in you and with you through every trial, success, victory, and defeat. He is for you and available to you all day, every day. Even in our sin, God remains. Even in our rebellion, God dwells within us. What’s left for us to do is learn how to allow this union to permeate every area of our lives. To work out our salvation is to learn to cast aside that which belongs to our former self and live out of our new identity as unified with Christ himself.

If we’re going to truly center our lives around meeting with God, we must learn to acknowledge the fact that he is already with us. He is not a distant God who has to travel from his throne in heaven down to us whenever we make time for him. He’s not a God who only dwells in churches, fellowships, ministries, or clergy. He is the God who dwells within you, loves you, likes you, and longs to be with you in constant communion.

Take time today to renew your mind to the truth of your union with God. Ask him to reveal his nearness that you might “walk in newness of life” today (Romans 6:4). Make space in your heart and mind to allow the presence of God to permeate every area of your life. May today mark a radical change in your life as God himself begins to move, work, bless, and speak in all you do.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on your union with God. Renew your mind by placing your trust in Scripture rather than your feelings or past experiences.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

2. What areas of your life are not marked by union with the Holy Spirit? Where are you doing life as if God isn’t with you? Where are you striving and working for that which is already yours in Christ Jesus?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal his nearness. Ask him to help you be a person who receives rather than strives and who rests rather than toils.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Oftentimes we take feelings of loneliness, rejection, shame, and guilt and believe that they must be truth. Truth isn’t found in our emotions, but rather in the word of God. Our mind is the gateway to our emotions. We feel the way we do because of what we perceive and believe. If we engage in the process of renewing our mind to God’s word, our emotions will get in line with truth. You and God are one. There is nothing you or anyone else can do to change that. May the truth of Scripture guide you into a lifestyle of centering your life around the union already available to you in Christ.

Extended Reading: 2 Corinthians 5

Making Disciples..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Making Disciples

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:18-20

Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers. Many don't know where to begin reading in the Bible or how to spend time with their heavenly Father.

Of course, God takes each person's spiritual journey seriously, and He won't leave a seeking heart unsatisfied. At the same time, we have a responsibility to invest in the lives of spiritual brothers and sisters by sharing our understanding and experience.

This type of teaching is called discipleship, and it is both an honor and a great responsibility. As you commence this type of relationship, consider the following points.

First, make sure to continually spend time with the Lord so that you are growing and in tune with His Spirit. Second, be prepared with a plan. Your friend needs to understand the basics, such as how to read the Bible, what prayer is, and where to find fellowship. New believers will have questions--answers are important, as is your ability to find resources when you are unsure of how to reply. Third, help the individual understand generally what to expect as he embarks on his Christian walk. Tomorrow, we will explore the stages of a believer's journey.

Most of us learned, struggled, and learned some more till we began to understand the basics of life in Christ. Godly mentors can be a tremendous help. And remember, no matter how long we've believed, we never stop needing advice and encouragement from those farther along in the journey.

Don’t Be Offended..Meg Bucher

 Don’t Be Offended

By Meg Bucher

“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9 NLT

The tears soaked my sleeve, and I began to seethe. Logically, I understand the human brain isn’t fully developed until sometime in our twenties. But it’s difficult to be logical when someone else’s kid hurts my kid. The older they get, the less accidental it is. I jokingly send momma bear emojis…but the struggle is actually real. The amount of deep breathing I have to employ before I react to a situation I’ve just digested is surreal. The old saying goes, “don’t poke the bear.” When momma bear is engaged, it’s a run-for-your-life situation. And I run …right to God …for my life. 

Hurt people hurt people. It’s a phrase I’ve heard preached from many pulpits and find to be pointedly true. It’s the reason taking a deep breath before we react is so important. Otherwise, momma bear attacks back with more hurt, because she is hurt. We hurt when our kids hurt. It’s painfully hard to separate ourselves from the pain they endure. There is evil in the world. There is hurt, unfairness, sickness, and tragedy. Scripture reminds us what to do before we react: 

1. Don’t repay evil for evil. 

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” - Colossians 3:13 NLT

Unforgiveness damages our hearts. Scripture is clear, take all the deep breaths to calm down. When we exercise enough restraint to pause before reacting, we allow the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to overcome the pit of anger in our stomachs.

2. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. 

“Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” - Proverbs 16:24 NLT

The words we speak are powerful, and so are the motivating thoughts behind them. Though we cannot control every thought that pops into our minds, but we do have control over what we choose to think and how we choose to use our words once they arrive in our minds. It’s important to pause and choose to use our words for good …to build up and not to tear down. 

3. Pay them back with a blessing. 

“So let’s not get tired doing what is right, for at just the right time we will reap harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9 NLT

When my kids were in elementary school, I would reward them with a free choice from our “prize box” for doing the right thing. Eventually, the positive affirmation meant more than the sticker or pencil they picked from the box. Making the right choices is important. The decision to bless those who wrong us isn’t easy, but the reward is great.

4. God will bless our obedience.

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” - John 20:29 NLT

The way we live our everyday lives points to the One we follow. God’s blessing isn’t like the family prize box my kids picked from when they were little. We often pray for blessings but are not willing to do the work required to walk in the favor of the Lord. There’s nothing we need to do to earn our salvation or keep it, but the Lord does honor our obedience. It brings glory to Him. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Offense is an easy habit to pick up. It’s one the world will applaud and help us to justify. When life is unfair, it’s okay to be righteously angry. But the pause we take before we put our emotions on display is important to God. The pause, and our reaction to bless instead of curse, are behaviors which set us apart from the rest of the world. And we represent the One who is drawing everyone to Himself, giving everyone an opportunity to embrace Jesus as our Savior. We are to lead with love to the One who is Love, Himself. 

Further Reading
James 5:16
Luke 6:37
Ephesians 4:31-32

 

The Master Musician..Jack Graham

 The Master Musician

By Jack Graham

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: "He said: 'LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.'" - 2 Chronicles 6:14

Heavenly father, you are the artist and we are the instrument. Through your hands all things are possible. Amen.  

Several years ago, a noted violinist was playing a concert to a very prominent crowd. He walked out on stage and showed the audience his violin. He told them, “This violin is a Stradivarius, one of the rarest and most valuable violins in the world.”

The violinist then proceeded to play one of the most beautiful tunes the audience had ever heard on his violin. But after he was finished and the crowd had applauded heartily, he took that violin and broke it into a thousand pieces.

A collective gasp could be heard throughout the auditorium. So after a few moments of silence, that violinist said, “That wasn’t actually a Stradivarius violin. I bought it today at a pawn shop for 40 dollars. But I did this to make a point: the violinist is much more important than the violin.” With that, he brought out the real Stradivarius and finished his concert.

What’s true in music is true with people. It’s not the talent or charisma of people, but the one who’s making the music that matters. I realized long ago that I was just an old violin… completely inadequate on my own. But in the hands of the Master, He can make beautiful music in both my life and yours as well!

A Prayer to Surrender..Victoria Riollano

 A Prayer to Surrender

By Victoria Riollano

"Your eyes saw my unformed body;  all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:16

I was the child who needed her way in every situation. Growing up as an only child for twelve years came with a great advantage; I learned quickly that I was my mother’s center of attention. With great ease, I could bat my eyes at the grocery store counter for a beloved piece of candy or release a tear for any situation and guarantee my mother would relent to my request. Having my way turned into a determination that transcended every situation into adulthood. If I couldn’t get it, I would figure out how to get it no matter how much work, begging, or overanalyzing it took. On one hand, this created a sense of resiliency, but on another, I quickly found that my urge to control would become a hindrance.

In fact, this need to control every scenario was the opposite of what God would want for my life. For it's in the place of needing to control the outcome that my heart was fooled into believing that I didn’t need God at all. Yet, the more I have walked with the Lord, the more He has taught me the beauty of allowing Him to have the final say and direct my life.

In Psalm 139, the Bible says that He knew the days of my life and recorded them before I had even breathed my first breath. He knew what was best for me, more than I certainly knew for myself. Yet, it took many hard moments, such as being a military spouse and being states from home and my daughter being diagnosed with epilepsy, to realize that there were so many things I couldn’t control. Instead of relying on my wit, I needed to truly learn the beauty of trusting in the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us of this truth, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

I love this verse because we have our end of the bargain, and the Lord does the rest. Our role is to trust in the Lord. In doing so, we know that His plans for us are good and to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). From there, we have to make a choice to not allow our earthly understanding to overhaul the knowledge of His infinite wisdom. On our best day, we couldn’t make a choice that would supersede God’s vast knowledge. And our last course of action is to submit my ways to Him. When we do this, my friends, certainly He will make our paths straight. He will ensure that we no longer have to carry the burden of being in control or having our way. His way is always the best.

Let’s pray.

Father, I thank you that you know what is best for me. You know all the days you have planned for me. Help me to walk in them and not be like the entitled child insisting on my way. Help me to fully submit to your will and allow you to take the lead. I trust you and look forward to walking down the path you have for me. I relinquish control today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Making the Most of Our Time..Craig Denison Ministries

 Making the Most of Our Time

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

This life is marked by a single choice: who or what will we center our lives around? This choice takes each of us down a path of decisions that shape who we are, what we feel, who or what we value, and what we will have accomplished at the end of our days. To center our lives around ourselves or the things of this world leads only to destruction. But, to center our lives around meeting with God fills each moment with the glorious abundance of God’s love, provision, and transcendent peace. May your life be marked by union with your Creator as we explore what it means to center our lives around meeting with God this week.

Scripture:“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16

Devotional:           

Ephesians 5:15-16 warns us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Our time is of the utmost importance here on earth. We’ll never get back the days we spend frivolously pursuing the things of the world. We’ll never get back the time spent outside of God’s purposes of receiving and giving love. Our time here is too limited and too important to spend on burdens, stresses, sin, and worldly pursuits. If we’re going to make the most of this life, we must learn to center our time around the eternal value of meeting with God. It’s for this reason James 4:13-15 says,

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Looking at the ways in which we spend our time is one of the best ways to assess the posture of our heart. If we spend all our time working for and thinking about the things of the world, we can know that we have not yet come into a right revelation of God’s purposes for us. If we spend the majority of our time simply getting through our days trying to find happiness rather than seeking the face of our heavenly Father that we might receive sustaining, transcendent joy, we can know that we have yet to surrender our lives fully to our King.            

The great thing about the nature of time is that it is completely ours to do with what we will. We can, right now, decide to make the best use of our time according to the purposes of God as revealed to us through Scripture. We can, right now, decide to stop wasting precious minutes on that which is fleeting and temporal and instead invest our days in the lasting, eternal, and fruitful purposes of our heavenly Father.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” God longs to teach us how to use our days wisely. He longs to give us a heart of wisdom that we might center our lives around meeting with him. You have God himself dwelling within you, ready to guide you into a lifestyle of purposeful living. Choose today to open your heart and mind to the Teacher, the very Spirit of God, and live according to his will. May you find peace, joy, and purpose in the ways in which you invest your time today.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the importance of using your time wisely.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any ways in which you’ve been using your time unwisely. Know that he is not a God who takes away all the things you enjoy. He’s not anti-entertainment, friends, and parties. He’s a fun God who truly loves you. Don’t mix religion and the heart of your heavenly Father. Trust that whatever he leads you to change will result in the absolute most fun, fruitful, and satisfying way you can live.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15

3. Ask God to help you spend your time wisely today. Ask him to help you follow his direction as you go about the day set before you.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7           

You can trust that God has the absolute best plan for your time. Matthew 6:8 promises, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” He has every one of your needs sorted out. He will provide for you perfectly. You can trust him with your life and know that your job, family, and circumstances will be better in the capable and loving hands of your heavenly Father. Devote your time, job, money, and relationships to him that they might be filled with the blessing of God.

Extended Reading: Ephesians 5