Vision for Yourself..Craig Denison Ministries

 Vision for Yourself

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

We serve a God of boundaries. In his limitless capacity, endless creativity, and boundless existence he still chose to create boundaries. He still had vision for what was good, right, pleasing, and perfect. And as children made in his image, we are to live, think, and create as he does. In a world marked by busyness from seemingly infinite opportunities, it’s important now more than ever for us to create boundaries. May you find freedom and joy this week as you receive vision and set boundaries under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture:

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Devotional:

For a long time I believed that all God wanted from me was more. I feared he would lead me to more work, more giving, more sacrifice, and less fun. I viewed fun and God as mutually exclusive, as if he was the great cosmic killjoy who only wanted me to sing, fast, pray, and evangelize.

Wrapped up in all my misconceptions was a very me-centric point of view. I thought if I didn’t work my fingers to the bone day in and day out for the kingdom that God’s will wasn’t going to be accomplished. It’s as if I believed that I was a savior, the sole hope of the world. And all these misconceptions led to a constant weight I couldn’t seem to shake. But Isaiah 55:10-11 says,

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

The truth is that God absolutely has good works laid out before me every single day. He has a plan for me that will impact eternity. But his chief desire in everything he asks of me is that we would do it together. He doesn’t need me. He wants me. He is not a taskmaster, and I am not his slave. Rather, he calls himself my heavenly Father, and I am to see myself as his son, a coheir with Christ.

God doesn’t desire me to lift a finger if it’s not out of love for him. He doesn’t need or want any of my works birthed out of a place of striving. He doesn’t need or want petty activity, reluctant yeses, programmed words, or burnt-out offerings. Allow the full impact of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 to hit your heart today. Read it slowly. Allow it to shift your perception of the heart of God:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

In response to the truth of God’s word, we need to have vision for ourselves. We need to set boundaries around our own emotional, physical, and spiritual health. We need to allow God to minister to our weary hearts, shift our perspectives on work, and empower us to live a life marked by inward abundance. What do you need today to enjoy life? What can you do with God rather than for God? What would he use to fill you up to a state of overflowing rather than running on empty?

As you enter into a time of guided prayer, may you find freedom today from the mentality of a slave and live with the joy and peace of a child of the One, True God.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the sovereignty and omnipotence of your heavenly Father. Reflect on his unstoppable ability to accomplish his will.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

2. Meditate on God’s desire for love rather than activity.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

3. What would it look like to live an abundant life today? What do you need to create boundaries around? What would God use today to fill you up and satisfy the dry and weary places in your heart? Take time to rest in the love of God.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

The best boundary for maintaining a sense of health is a having a weekly sabbath. Genesis 2:3 tells us, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” To rest is holy. It’s a declaration to yourself and the world that life is about far more than work. It’s a reminder that work is just a way that we live in relationship with God. May you find grace and courage to live in line with the culture of God’s kingdom as you set boundaries around what you need in order to live an abundant life.

Extended Reading: Matthew 11

Courage for the Table..Jessica Van Roekel

 Courage for the Table

By Jessica Van Roekel

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” - Psalm 23:4-5, ESV

How do you spend the holidays with someone who rejected you? Once they were like family, and now, they’re your enemy. What if you’re at the same table? Or bump into each other in the buffet line? The sting of betrayal feels like a fire. Over time the flames turn into embers, but an encounter with the one who wounded you stirs them into flickers that want to consume your peace and joy.

It’s the season of light with twinkly lights hanging from every street corner, in businesses and homes. We deck the halls with garland and play songs of joy, but underneath it all, the hurt lies still and quiet, yet grumbles and rumbles as the day grows nearer when we will see our once friend, now enemy, face to face.

Families are a blessing because they are a gift from God. He created the family to reflect himself to the world, yet, because of sin, families shatter. Brokenness fills homes and hearts. Sometimes the break is irreparable, and other times we put on a smile to hide the hurt as we wrestle to forgive.

Our Lord is a Good Shepherd, and when we follow him, we can trust him to lead and protect us from our enemies. Sometimes that looks different than what we imagine protection should be. When a storm comes, the shepherd gathers the sheep so they can weather it together. Lightening crackles and thunder booms above the sheep’s heads. They are exposed to the storm yet secure because their shepherd is with them.

Our imperfect relationships can rumble like a devastating storm. I live in the Midwest and saw my first derecho this year. A wall of black dirt overtook my home and my sight. It blackened the bright sun, and every one of my yard lights flickered on to pierce the darkness. It looked like the middle of the night, but it was five p.m. on a midsummer day. The wind shook the house and rattled the windows. I couldn’t see, but I knew damage ensued. All I could do was wait it out, helpless to do anything to change the outcome.

When rejection sweeps through one of our relationships, we can feel helpless too. We know there is damage, but we don’t know the extent of it till after the storm passes. The depth of the hurt relates to the depth of the relationship. Taking time to acknowledge the pain helps us to heal. Walking through the stages of grief over a relationship gone awry is necessary. Trusting our Good Shepherd, Jesus, to carry us through the rocky path is healing.

Psalm 23:4-5 holds much promise of the Lord’s presence amid our sorrow. We don’t have to wait until we’re sufficiently healed to know that He is with us. He walks with us. He guides us. He prepares abundance for us during our pain and among our enemies, even at the holiday table.

When a relationship, as we once experienced it ends, it can feel like a death occurred. We can no longer trust the person with whom we shared our heart. We wonder if the confidences we once shared will now become ammunition against us. Our friend or family member is now our enemy. Sometimes both parties are part of the same family and rather than breaking the family in two, we end up at the same table. Yet, because of God’s promise, we can retain our peace and joy.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
You can rest assured that God is with you. He guides you to green pastures even though wolves stalk the shadows. He sets an abundant table for you and invites you to sit at it in the presence of your enemies. God’s abundance means that you can have peace while you heal from the wounds of rejection. Even though your heart aches from the pain of a relationship wound, you can sit tall at the holiday table and remember that God chose you to be his own.

Further Reading:

• Psalm 23

How to Certainly Know the Plans God Has for You..John UpChurch

 How to Certainly Know the Plans God Has for You

By John UpChurch

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

All around the prophet Jeremiah, the whole world seemed to be falling apart. His home, his nation, his people—everything continued to slip away. But right in the midst of this dark time, God gave a promise that still fills us with hope today.

Perhaps you have come face to face with the sorrow that Jeremiah felt. Perhaps you, too, know what it’s like to see everything fall apart all around you. You know the pain, the uncertainty.

But do you know the promise?

God gave this pledge to the people of Israel who lived in exile, but it’s no less true to any of us who follow Jesus. He does have a plan and purpose for us that—while not always easy—is assuredly for our good and His glory (Romans 8).

So, how can we know this plan He has for us? And how can we walk confidently in it?

Listen Up

Before God gave this famous promise, He warned the people of Israel not to listen to false voices (Jeremiah 29:8–9). The same is true for you. All around, you’ll hear advice from a number of sources about what your purpose is, why you’re here on earth, and how to overcome challenges. In fact, all these voices can be deafening.

But knowing the plans God has for you means listening to the One who has them. You need to make time in your daily life to stop and read God’s Word and speak to Him. That’s the only way you can navigate the cacophony of opinions that come barreling at you. When you know your Creator and His voice, you can hear Him above the noise.

The more you grow accustomed to His Word, the more confident you’ll feel in His guidance through the Holy Spirit.

Action step: Make margin in your life for prayer and Bible study. You need to hear God’s voice above the roar of the world.

Keep Your Head Up

God spoke this passage to the people of Israel who had been dragged away in exile far from their homes. They faced some very tough times, but He didn’t want the former loss to be their focus. Instead, He wanted them to focus on the future hope.

The same is true for you. When you face challenges, you’ll want to quit or change directions. But if you’ve been spending time listening to God, challenges don’t necessarily mean that you need to throw in the towel. In fact, it could very well be the challenges themselves that prepare you for God’s purpose in your life.

When officials tossed the apostle Paul in prison, he didn’t take that as a sign that he should pack it up and return home. He used the opportunity to sing praises and witness to the jailer and his family (Acts 16).

If your children seem like they’re running farther and farther from Christ, if your marriage isn’t getting any better, if no job has opened up, don’t let those circumstances drag you down. Look for opportunities to shine the light of Christ even more. Ask God to keep molding you through the trials.

Keep believing that God is up to something, even if you can’t see it yet. After all, God’s purpose for our lives often leads us through the valley to refine us.

Action step: If you’re in the heart of a bad situation, take a moment to pray about and look for opportunities that God may have for you. Take stock of how God is using this tough time to change you.

Look up—to the Cross

God gave an amazing promise to the Israelites of Jeremiah’s day:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Not long afterward, God would fulfill all the promises He’d made to them. You see, from Genesis 3:15 to the exile into Babylon (and their later return), God had been telling them of a Savior, a promised One, a Messiah. And God wanted His people to remember that He would fulfill His Word to them.

In our case, all of God’s plans and promises for our lives begin with the cross. Our purpose on this earth starts at Calvary with the death of Jesus and proceeds to the tomb with His resurrection. As a Christian, we’re here to share that good news in all that we do. That’s at the heart of what God intends for us, and His purpose will never take you away from being ambassadors of His grace (2 Corinthians 5:20).

So, any plan God has for you will start and end with Jesus. You’ll have the opportunity to share the good news about Him in whatever situation God intends for you.

Action step: Take inventory of your goals and aspirations. Is Jesus at the center of them? If not or you’re not sure, ask God to help you keep the cross in sight.

A Prayer for When Money Is Tight during the Holidays..Ashley Moore

 A Prayer for When Money Is Tight during the Holidays

By Ashley Moore

“Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.” - Luke 12:24-30, NLT

One of my family’s biggest sources of worry is money. We earn our living from my husband’s ever-fluctuating contracting business and my part-time ministry position, all while footing the bill for three kids to go to private school. Needless to say, money is tight. While others are loading their carts with toys, hosting lavish parties, and giving generously to those in need, I'm struggling to keep my scarcity mentality at bay.

A scarcity mentality is when you believe there isn’t enough of a particular resource. The result? Someone will have to go without something. And the problem with this mindset is that it can make people overly inwardly focused and selfish. We don’t want to be the one who has to sacrifice, so we attempt to store up or cling to whatever resources we have or accumulate more. 

Do any of the following scenarios ring true for you this holiday season? 

• Christmas is coming, and my husband's bonus wasn't what we expected. How will we buy gifts?
• We can barely get ahead of all our bills. We can't sponsor a child in need this Christmas.
• Food prices keep rising! We can't afford to open our home and feed visitors this year.

During the holidays, we are easily convinced with marketing strategies that we need to spend a lot of money to make holiday gatherings special, provide lavish gifts, and shop all the holiday deals. This pressure makes me cling to my wallet and fret about our already overextended budget. Do you feel this way too? Or maybe you have financial freedom but are overly anxious about the future, keeping a tight grip on your earnings.

I’m always comforted by the words of our savior in the book of Luke. He reminded us of the timeless truth that He loves us and always provides for us. And He sprinkled proof of this truth throughout His creation. And because of this, we really can be free of worry and a scarcity mentality, even during the holidays. 

Worry causes us to go against God’s desire for His people to be generous. So this holiday season, let’s combat that temptation by doing what Jesus said. Look at the birds and the flowers and remember that we don’t have to strive or store up resources. Let’s look at our budget and decide in our hearts what we can give cheerfully, without the pressure from the world or the expectations of others (2 Corinthians 9:7). And finally, trust that God will meet our needs and the needs of others when money is tight. 

Worrying has never changed anything or solved our family’s money problems. What has changed our money problems? Praying and trusting God’s Word over what we understand about circumstances has changed our mindset about our money altogether. So this holiday season, let’s worry a little less and trust God a little more. 

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord, 
Thank you for your love and provision. We can trust each day you give us our daily bread, and you know exactly what we need. Lord, forgive us when we turn inward because of a scarcity mindset. Lord, you are a God of abundance, and you turn our little offerings of generosity into more than enough. Lord, I pray for those struggling this holiday season with money problems. God, remind them that you are Jehovah Jireh, our provider. Help us to be creative in our generosity by giving our time or talents or in other ways. Help us stay free from worrying and focusing on what we don’t have, by praising you for all the blessings we do have.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Turning Christmas Chaos into Christmas Joy..Mary Southerland

 Turning Christmas Chaos into Christmas Joy

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told (Luke 2:16-20, NIV).                     

Friend to Friend
According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress-related causes each week. During the holiday season, another one million people battle what experts refer to as the holiday blues.

I am very familiar with depression and the pain it holds and must constantly battle to stay out of that pit.  

To deal with depression, we must first come to a place of total surrender to God and His plan of healing, even if we cannot see or understand that plan. The bottom line of God’s heart toward His children is always restoration and healing.   

While I am not a big fan of television, I do enjoy watching home improvement shows. On a recent program, an interior decorator and homeowner were discussing a list of changes that needed to be made in order to update the home.

“First, we have to do something about those windows,” the decorator announced. I was surprised that she listed this task first – until I saw the house.

The existing glass was not only an ugly shade of gold, but it was thick and chunky as well. The windows let in no light and made it virtually impossible to see in or out. The result was a dark isolated home. The distressed homeowner protested, “But I like my privacy. And if I thought anyone could see in, I would feel totally exposed.” When it comes to dealing with depression, many people feel the same way.  

We construct walls over which no one can climb because the cost of friendship is too high. We fill the windows of our soul with emotional excuses in order to avoid dealing with pain. The result is darkness, loneliness, and missed opportunities for restoration. We don’t want to understand depression or find the treasures of that darkness; we simply want to be rid of it.

Many people try to understand and deal with depression on a surface level – refusing to face painful experiences, difficult relationships, and the broken places where darkness lives. We look for the nearest exit, hoping to bypass transparency because the price is just too high to pay.

Emotional integrity is an essential step to dealing with depression. We must be real before we can be right. Until we are willing to risk being transparent, we can neither understand nor effectively deal with depression during the holidays or any other time of the year.    

The holidays seem to tug at the masks we carefully hold in place and push the emotional buttons we desperately try to hide. The arrival of certain family members can resurrect painful issues that have never really been resolved. Financial pressure opens up like a sinkhole, waiting to steal our joy and destroy our peace. Schedules demand every ounce of energy, and false expectations leave us empty and hollow. The dark slimy pit waits for us to fall in.

We can choose to make this Christmas different. Choose to give God praise. Choose to focus on the victories and joys you have experienced during the year, and then find ways to share that victory and joy with others.

Christmas can be a true celebration of fresh starts and new beginnings if we choose to focus on a tiny baby born in a manger, come to save us and give us true life. The darkness can be destroyed if we choose to face and deal with whatever it holds.

Right now, choose an attitude of joy by focusing your mind on the things of heaven – not earth, and by fixing your heart on Jesus Christ. Your Christmas chaos will turn into Christmas joy!

Let’s Pray
Father, I want this holiday season to be filled with light instead of darkness. Please help me discard my emotional masks and be real before You as well as my family and friends. Father, help me make this holiday season an offering of praise to You.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Read Luke 2:1-16. Answer the following questions after reading the Christmas story.

• What was the attitude of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem?
• How did the shepherds react to the news of Jesus’ birth? What did they do?
• How would you describe the emotions and thoughts of Mary?
• How can your choice to “ponder” the miracles of Jesus’ birth change your perspective of the holidays?

Write a letter of commitment to Jesus, asking Him to empower the choices you have made. Make a plan or a list of “dos” and “don’ts” that will help you experience the best holiday season of your life. Include your family in making this plan, and make the commitment to hold each other accountable.