God Does the Drawing..Craig Denison Ministries

 God Does the Drawing

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

The Christmas season is a powerful and unique time of year to remember that Jesus came to make a way for us to be near God. In his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus built a bridge between us and God allowing us to have continual, unhindered communion with our Creator. But God can’t force us into nearness with him. Even as believers filled with the Holy Spirit, we can choose to live as if God is still far off. So this Christmas season, may we choose to open our hearts to the living God that we might experience fullness of joy in his loving presence.

Scripture:

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Devotional:

The eyes of God are always set upon us. He looks at us with a smile on his face and love in his heart. Because of who he is—namely his nature of love—he is in constant pursuit of us. His love never relents. His grace is like an ever-flowing river making its way to replenish the earth and those who fill it. The only question that remains is, are we willing to dive in?

1 John 4:19 says in beautiful simplicity, “We love because he first loved us.” If we have one iota of love in our hearts toward God it is because he has loved us first. If we have even an inkling of desire to seek after him, it is because he has sought after us every moment of our lives.

If your desire is to experience God, if you long to live in communion with him, you need look no further than the truth that he is pursuing you. To experience him is simply to let him in. To love him is simply to receive his love. Intimacy with God is as pure and simple as breathing.

In a world filled with complicated doctrines and strenuous programs it’s time for the people of God to rest in the simplicity of God. Abundant life boils down to the truth that God is available. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). He never turns his heart away from us. But in love he draws us to himself knowing that the absolute best place for us is in his arms.

If you will choose to experience God—to respond to his drawing—know that the Holy Spirit is within you to help you. There is nothing in the way of you knowing the heart of God because God himself couldn’t be any closer. The Holy Spirit can and will reveal how God feels and what God’s saying if you’ll ask. He will give you the eyes to see the Father drawing you close if you’ll open your heart to him. And in response to his drawing he will show you how you can seek him in return.

Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Take time in guided prayer today to respond to the drawing of the Lord by seeking after him with all you are and have.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the heart of God to draw you close to him.

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s heart for you. Pay attention to anything you hear, feel, or see. Trust that God longs to reveal his love to you.

“For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

3. Respond to the love of God by offering him your heart in return. Tell him that you love him. Tell him what you’re thankful for. Spend time receiving and giving love that you might rest in intimacy with your Creator.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” Lamentations 3:25

“You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’” Psalm 27:8

In The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer wrote, “God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust.” May you yield to the drawing of God today. May you find peace through trusting in his steadfast love. And may you discover more and more ways God has loved you from the first.

Extended Reading: Psalm 27

At Christmas and Always: God’s Word Never Fails..Lynette Kittle

 At Christmas and Always: God’s Word Never Fails

By Lynette Kittle

“For no word from God will ever fail” - Luke 1:37

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary with news of her being highly favored and chosen to carry and give birth to God’s only son on earth, he left her with a promise that we can all hold onto (Luke 1:37).

In our world today, where countless people are rewriting God’s Word to say things He isn’t saying and to support causes that go against His will, we need to remember that God’s Word will never fail. Especially now with the changing times, individuals and groups are believing God’s Word needs a new spin on it and updating, a modernization to keep up with the changing times.

But these are foolish, untrue thoughts and attitudes because they are dead wrong. 2 Corinthians 4:4 explains the source behind their ideas. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

When people think they can rewrite what God said and meant, they are revealing their lack of knowledge and faith in Him and exposing their underlying unbelief in His Word. As John 8:47 explains, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 

Still, God’s Word cannot really ever be changed, rewritten, or torn down. In fact, it can’t even be touched, damaged, or modified in any way that lasts. Humans do not have the power or authority to make His word void. Whether people are being deceived and really believe what they are promoting is true or knowingly determined to tear down God’s Word, all their efforts are in vain As Psalm 119:89 confirms, “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

God’s Unchanging Word
Although some individuals and groups may think they can rewrite and reword what God is saying to us, they are actually powerless to do so because His word comes with an everlasting promise, to stand eternally (1 Peter 1:25) and to never, ever fail us. To help us in understanding how God’s word is lasting and never changes, Isaiah 40:8 describes, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

As well, Matthew 24:35 explains, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

The Living Word
God’s Word is not like human words written in the past. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Because God’s Word is living, it is timeless, untouched by changing times, and able to speak to hearts through all generations. “So is my word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

In choosing our words, let us speak, write, and share God’s Word over our own whenever given the opportunity. Whereas our own words may at times fall flat, be outdated, or fail to have a good effect, God’s Word is never void or falls short of its divine purpose.

A Sure Foundation
Because God’s Word is solid and steadfast, we can count on it being a strong foundation for us to build our lives upon. We can have confidence in God’s Word because it doesn’t change with the times, politics, or culture. It will not fail us, ever.

We can base every day of our lives on its principles because modern-day thoughts and opinions do not change the truth of His word. As 1 Corinthians 3:11 reminds us, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Take time in the coming weeks to commit to reading God’s Word. Ask God to reveal His truth to you and show you how to apply it to your daily life. If you're uncertain what God’s Word says about a situation, check His Word before making a decision. When tempted to choose what the world tells you to do over what God says is right, commit to following and trusting His Word over worldly advice.

When God Says “No” ..Anne Peterson

 When God Says “No” (Psalm 84:11)

By: Anne Peterson

Today’s Bible Verse - For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. - Psalm 84:11

God meets our needs. We know this because He calls himself Jehovah Jireh, which means The Lord Will Provide. Paul tells us in Scripture God will supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19). But can we talk about something we all find difficult? It’s those times when God says no to us. I’ve had times like that in my life, and I’m sure you have as well.

I had been staying with my brother and his wife, helping them with their brand new son, a beautiful baby boy. I held him, rocked him and loved him at first sight, their first child. After about six days I headed back home to my family, about an hour away. The phone rang.

“Anne, pray! Joseph is all blue. I called 911.”

I paced back and forth, saying over and over, “Not the baby, Lord.”

One hour later I got another call, “He’s gone. They said it was crib death.”

I wrestled with this one for a long time. They never had another child.

Maybe you’ve had God tell you no, even when you pleaded with Him. I confess, I was angry for a long time. But God understood my struggle. It wasn’t the first person we lost, nor would it be the last. In time, I realized I needed to trust God based on who He was, not how many of my prayers He answered. I am a finite being, but God is infinite. His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). This was a hard concept for me to grasp, but eventually I realized that God and I are different, and we don’t think alike.

God knows the future, we don’t. He knows the plans He has for us and those plans are to prosper us, not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). The definition of harm is physical injury, especially that which is deliberately inflicted.”

When God says no, He’s not trying to harm us. Does it hurt? Yes. But sickness and death are results of living in this fallen world. One day there will be no more sickness, no more death. But that is when we get to heaven. When God tells us no, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us. As parents, we’ve had to tell our children, no, haven’t we? And our intent was not to hurt them, but instead we’ve done it out of love. God is our Heavenly Father. Our walk with God requires faith, just like when we received Christ (Colossians 2:6).

Psalm 84:11 says, “no good thing will He withhold.” How can we understand this when we know the things we’ve been asking for are good? We must remember that we don’t know what God’s purposes are for our individual lives, only God knows.

Job lost ten children and yet, he acknowledged that the Lord gives and takes away (Job 1:21). Job still trusted God. Knowing God is sovereign comforts me. He knows even the number of days we will each live on this earth (Psalm 139:16).

I remember reading the book, Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud. One section talked about being able to accept the word no from someone you loved. It surprised me, because coming from my dysfunctional home, I had believed if someone loved me, they would never tell me no. It took reading that book over and over to fully understand that concept. When you love someone, you can accept their no because your love is greater than one little part. You trust them.

If you are struggling because of a no God has given you, please know I’m praying for you. I’m praying God will draw you to Himself. I’m praying He will continually remind you of how much He loves you. Because no one has ever loved you like God has, and no one ever will.

A Prayer for Holiday Meal Conversations..Ashley Moore

A Prayer for Holiday Meal Conversations
By Ashley Moore

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” - Colossians 4:6, ESV

We have a running joke in our house that all conversations around the dinner table somehow always come back to poop. Maybe it’s the season of life we are in with small children, but somehow we always end up there no matter where the conversation starts. But lately, conversations around the table seem to be a bit more on the serious side. Maybe it’s the political climate. Or Covid left us all a little dusty on conversation etiquette.  

It could be because of the constant advancements in technology and the ability to air our unedited opinions openly. We forget that our words impact people. Who could have guessed that I would long for the days when the conversations centered around bodily functions? With the holidays quickly approaching, we know we will soon be gathered around the table again. Perhaps we will be dining with family and friends we haven’t seen in some time. 

Let us heed the scriptures as these times of fellowship over a meal draw closer. In our key passage, Paul addressed the church at Colossae, reminding them to be mindful of the words they say. He counseled them to use conversations as an opportunity to be salt for listeners. Paul was saying that each time we open our mouths to talk to those close to us, we have two choices, we can be divisive, or we can be ministers of reconciliation for Jesus Christ. 

In those days, salt was used as a preservative because they didn’t have the modern-day luxury of refrigeration. So they would salt their food heavily to make it last longer to provide sustenance that stretched beyond a single meal. I’m wondering if we could apply this scripture by asking ourselves a simple question before we engage in conversation during the upcoming gatherings: “Will what I’m about to say preserve relationships or cause them to deteriorate?”

With the Spirit’s help, we can control what we say. We can let our speech set the tone by being gracious to each guest. We can be perfectly seasoned with the good news of the gospel if conversations become overly negative, worldly, or divisive. We can pray before and during holiday gatherings asking God for wisdom to know how we ought to respond to each person (James 1:5). 

Although we don’t have much control over the words other people will say around the table, we can pray beforehand for holiday meal conversations to be glorifying and Christ-centered. And should someone begin to say something that is not gracious or seasoned with salt, we can pray that the Lord would set a guard over our mouths and keep watch over our lips (Psalm 141:3). 

Let’s pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that we can come boldly before your throne of grace and find help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Lord, you know your children are going to be gathering around tables soon. And God, you know how difficult it has been to relate to one another lately with all the divisive news and controversy in the media. We have so many differing opinions, leading to relational strife between the people we love most.

God, forgive us when our conversations do not honor you. Forgive us when we place more value on our opinions than on the people who bear your image right in front of us. Thank you for covering our past, present, and future sins with the blood of your Son. God, will you set guards over our mouths and watch over our lips at these gatherings? Give us the wisdom to respond to each person with grace and truth. God, help us to be fluent in the gospel, pointing others to the hope we have in you. And Lord, remind us, even if things don’t go perfectly at these gatherings, that we have been promised perfect communion with you and our brothers and sisters for all eternity when we are reconciled to you after this earthly life passes away. Our hope is not in the perfect holiday gathering but in you! But Lord, if you will, let these gatherings be a shadow of the glory to come when we sit at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with you!
In Jesus’ name, amen.